tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17298373855876398272024-03-14T02:12:58.827-07:00MaD MaRi......Mom In a Minivanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00881789851131136309noreply@blogger.comBlogger20125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1729837385587639827.post-31136388472691461042013-08-17T05:55:00.000-07:002013-08-17T06:22:09.286-07:00ENTER ONLY....<br />
<div style="font-size: 12px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 12px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">always a ramble...</span></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 12px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 12px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></span></div>
<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><b><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>ENTER ONLY</i></span></b></span><br />
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Jyb0jhvhmv8/Ug7G6LFEPpI/AAAAAAAAAJ8/26f4KPekN8s/s1600/photo+3.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Jyb0jhvhmv8/Ug7G6LFEPpI/AAAAAAAAAJ8/26f4KPekN8s/s320/photo+3.PNG" width="225" /></i></span></a></div>
<div style="min-height: 14px;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></i></span></div>
<div style="min-height: 14px;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></i></span></div>
<div style="min-height: 14px;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div style="min-height: 14px;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div style="min-height: 14px;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i> The other day I went for a run and found myself at my daughters school. My oldest daughter will be starting intermediate school this year ( I guess it is the junior high before the junior high?) I am already aging myself as we had three schools growing up: elementary, junior high, and high school. If you read through some of my previous posts, we have done the home schooling route and for now, it isn’t what our family feels we should be doing. I went to public school and became a Christian at the age of 15 through Fellowship of Christian Athletes and Young Life. I am forever thankful for those ministries.</i></span></span><br />
<div style="min-height: 14px;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></i></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">As I was on my run, visions of my senior year came to me and remembering what had happened and recalling reading the book “She Said Yes” (<a href="http://www.amazon.com/She-Said-Yes-Unlikely-Martyrdom/dp/0743400526"><span style="color: #021eaa; letter-spacing: 0px;">http://www.amazon.com/She-Said-Yes-Unlikely-Martyrdom/dp/0743400526</span></a>) The story about Cassie Bernall who was shot in the 1999 shootings, for saying she believed in God. </span>I graduated in 1999 and remember the Columbine school shootings and since then, every year or so, another school is affected by some tragedy. Including this past year, the Connecticut shootings, which also happened a week after we sent our two daughters back to public school. These thoughts were what brought me to my daughters school. </i></span><br />
<div style="min-height: 14px;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></i></span></div>
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>I found myself running full circle around this school. I prayed for each window, each class room, every sign I saw for the office, the gym, the auditorium, everything up to the back entrance and the side walk, I prayed over. I ran around it and PRAYED. I prayed for God to be invited into this school. For my daughter to be a light there. For me to be involved and to stand aware of how to be used there. I prayed for instruction on how to continue to raise my daughter to be a Christ Follower. I prayed For protection of the students and for the teachers. I prayed For Him to<b> BE THERE! </b>Just as He was there for me the fall of 1997 when I prayed for him to be in my heart at a Fellowship of Christian Athlete meeting that was held <b>IN A PUBLIC SCHOOL! </b></i></span></span><br />
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></span>
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-F6g7MYdV_rM/Ug7G5wAkFCI/AAAAAAAAAJ4/L28dQ4ONewo/s1600/photo+1.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><img border="0" height="269" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-F6g7MYdV_rM/Ug7G5wAkFCI/AAAAAAAAAJ4/L28dQ4ONewo/s320/photo+1.PNG" width="320" /></i></span></a></div>
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></span>
<br />
<div style="min-height: 14px;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></i></span></div>
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>With my run around it the story of Joshua came to mind and how he was called to march around the city of Jericho. </i></span></span><br />
<div style="min-height: 14px;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></i></span></div>
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>I plan to go back before school starts and run around there each day and pray for God to break down the walls that have been placed there for Him not to be allowed in there. The day before she starts I want to do 7 laps and give a loud shout for Him to be there not just for this year but for the remainder of time until Jesus comes back.</i></span></span><br />
<div style="min-height: 14px;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></i></span></div>
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Joshua 6:16-17 "The seventh time around, when the priests sounded the trumpet blast, Joshua commanded the army, “Shout! For the Lord has given you the city! The city and all that is in it are to be devoted to the Lord"</i></span></span><br />
<div style="min-height: 14px;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></i></span></div>
<div style="min-height: 14px;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></i></span></div>
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>I am praying the students, the parents, the teachers and the administration of my school district hear this shout and begin to hear and feel God’s presence and see restoration to where so many things are broken in our school system. I pray against the evil that will also feel His presence and that it wont be allowed into our schools any longer, as it has been in the past, and has been allowed to bring in a spirit of fear and anger. </i></span></span><br />
<div style="min-height: 14px;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></i></span></div>
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>I am looking forward to being involved in anyway possible to bring our faith into our school district. Believe me I am prepared for the fight and rejection. I am looking forward to seeing my children be light in their school. </i></span></span><br />
<div style="min-height: 14px;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></i></span></div>
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Please join me by marching around your community’s schools. As groups of churches, as groups of parents, as just YOU. </i></span></span><br />
<div style="min-height: 14px;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></i></span></div>
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>As I finished my run around the school, I noticed the “ENTER ONLY” sign to the parking lot. I made my final prayer, and asked God to “ENTER ONLY into this school”. </i></span></span><br />
<div style="min-height: 14px;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></i></span></div>
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>I then walked home. If you are a runner there is something so hard about stopping in a run to walk. It is so defeating, not to mention, when it is the run back home, you know you are almost done. I walked home thinking about how Oswald Chambers said, “There is no thrill for us in walking, yet it is the test for all of our steady and enduring qualities.” He also wrote this....</i></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Having the reality of God’s presence is not dependent on our being in a particular circumstance or place, but is only dependent on <b><u>our determination to keep the Lord before us continually.</u></b> Our problems arise when we refuse to place our trust in the reality of His presence. The experience the psalmist speaks of— “We will not fear, even though . . .” (Psalm 46:2)— will be ours once we are grounded on the truth of the reality of God’s presence, not just a simple awareness of it,<b> but an understanding of the reality of it. </b><b>Then we will exclaim, “He has been here all the time!” </b>At critical moments in our lives it is necessary to ask God for guidance, but it should be unnecessary to be constantly saying, “Oh, Lord, direct me in this, and in that.” Of course He will, and in fact, He is doing it already! If our everyday decisions are not according to His will, He will press through them, bringing restraint to our spirit. Then we must be quiet and wait for the direction of His presence.</i></span><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-style: italic; text-align: -webkit-auto;">(</span><a href="http://utmost.org/dependent-on-god" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-style: italic; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="color: #021eaa; letter-spacing: 0px;">http://utmost.org/dependent-on-god</span></a><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-style: italic; text-align: -webkit-auto;">’s-presence/)</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div style="letter-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<br />
<div style="min-height: 14px;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span>Friends He has actually never left....He is just waiting for us to march for Him and to get out of our fear and anxiety that has left us so broken as a country.....</i></span></div>
<div style="min-height: 14px;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div style="min-height: 14px;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></i></span></div>
<div style="min-height: 14px;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></i></span></div>
<div style="min-height: 14px;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></i></span></div>
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Joshua 6 (NIV)</i></span></span><br />
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>(http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Joshua+6&version=NIV)</i></span></span><br />
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>1Now the gates of Jericho were securely barred because of the Israelites. No one went out and no one came in.</i></span></span><br />
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>2 Then the Lord said to Joshua, “See, I have delivered Jericho into your hands, along with its king and its fighting men. 3 March around the city once with all the armed men. Do this for six days. 4 Have seven priests carry trumpets of rams’ horns in front of the ark. On the seventh day, march around the city seven times, with the priests blowing the trumpets. 5 When you hear them sound a long blast on the trumpets, have the whole army give a loud shout; then the wall of the city will collapse and the army will go up, everyone straight in.”</i></span></span><br />
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>6 So Joshua son of Nun called the priests and said to them, “Take up the ark of the covenant of the Lord and have seven priests carry trumpets in front of it.” 7 And he ordered the army, “Advance! March around the city, with an armed guard going ahead of the ark of the Lord.”</i></span></span><br />
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>8 When Joshua had spoken to the people, the seven priests carrying the seven trumpets before the Lord went forward, blowing their trumpets, and the ark of the Lord’s covenant followed them. 9 The armed guard marched ahead of the priests who blew the trumpets, and the rear guard followed the ark. All this time the trumpets were sounding. 10 But Joshua had commanded the army, “Do not give a war cry, do not raise your voices, do not say a word until the day I tell you to shout. Then shout!” 11 So he had the ark of the Lord carried around the city, circling it once. Then the army returned to camp and spent the night there.</i></span></span><br />
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>12 Joshua got up early the next morning and the priests took up the ark of the Lord. 13 The seven priests carrying the seven trumpets went forward, marching before the ark of the Lord and blowing the trumpets. The armed men went ahead of them and the rear guard followed the ark of the Lord, while the trumpets kept sounding. 14 So on the second day they marched around the city once and returned to the camp. They did this for six days.</i></span></span><br />
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>15 On the seventh day, they got up at daybreak and marched around the city seven times in the same manner, except that on that day they circled the city seven times. 16 The seventh time around, when the priests sounded the trumpet blast, Joshua commanded the army, “Shout! For the Lord has given you the city! 17 The city and all that is in it are to be devoted[a] to the Lord. Only Rahab the prostitute and all who are with her in her house shall be spared, because she hid the spies we sent. 18 But keep away from the devoted things, so that you will not bring about your own destruction by taking any of them. Otherwise you will make the camp of Israel liable to destruction and bring trouble on it. 19 All the silver and gold and the articles of bronze and iron are sacred to the Lord and must go into his treasury.”</i></span></span><br />
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>20 When the trumpets sounded, the army shouted, and at the sound of the trumpet, when the men gave a loud shout, the wall collapsed; so everyone charged straight in, and they took the city. 21 They devoted the city to the Lord and destroyed with the sword every living thing in it—men and women, young and old, cattle, sheep and donkeys.</i></span></span><br />
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>22 Joshua said to the two men who had spied out the land, “Go into the prostitute’s house and bring her out and all who belong to her, in accordance with your oath to her.” 23 So the young men who had done the spying went in and brought out Rahab, her father and mother, her brothers and sisters and all who belonged to her. They brought out her entire family and put them in a place outside the camp of Israel.</i></span></span><br />
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>24 Then they burned the whole city and everything in it, but they put the silver and gold and the articles of bronze and iron into the treasury of the Lord’s house. 25 But Joshua spared Rahab the prostitute, with her family and all who belonged to her, because she hid the men Joshua had sent as spies to Jericho—and she lives among the Israelites to this day.</i></span></span><br />
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>26 At that time Joshua pronounced this solemn oath: “Cursed before the Lord is the one who undertakes to rebuild this city, Jericho:</i></span></span><br />
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>“At the cost of his firstborn son<br />
he will lay its foundations;<br />
at the cost of his youngest<br />
he will set up its gates.”</i></span></span><br />
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>27 So the Lord was with Joshua, and his fame spread throughout the land.</i></span></span><br />
<div>
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><br /></span></div>
Mom In a Minivanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00881789851131136309noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1729837385587639827.post-53226185980432340912013-06-11T13:17:00.000-07:002013-06-11T13:28:17.396-07:00picking weeds....in life and in the garden...<br />
always a ramble...<br />
<br />
<br />
We bought our house at the beginning of fall this past year. I am now starting to think if we had seen it last summer, we might have passed on this house. The yard has A.D.D No joke. The woman who lived here before planted EVERYTHING, EVERYWHERE!!! The yard with spring has come alive in full force. I have to do Lamaze breathing just thinking about going outside right now as we have been conquering it one section at a time (deep breaths....)<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
On my first attempt a few weeks ago to do some "light weeding." Baby steps right? Trying to make this a family #familyrific event (ok, I need troops to get this yard in order) After about 15 minutes my oldest and youngest disappeared. The only one at my side was Mari. She so diligently got into helping me pull every weed we could find. Once we were done, or so I thought we were done, she ran back into the house to grab store bags to pick up the dog poo in the yard. She did this all without me telling her. How this girl can melt my heart. Something clicked with me as I saw her at work. Mari is a worker. I think as much as I want her to be a quiet kid, she isn't (not at all). She hasn't been made that way. As she gets older and I think it is important to learn to "be still", I see how much she just wants to get down and get dirty to do things. How I can't wait to see what God has for her as an adult. I just hope God allows me to keep up with her! </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
As we picked weeds, she asked me "why we were picking them? "how do you even know it is a weed." To be honest, I wasn't in the mood to be answering questions, I wanted to tackle my yard so the neighbors hopefully wouldn't start complaining; but as she was asking me these questions, the parables that Jesus told his disciples in Matthew 13 came to mind and I was so thankful for in the middle of just a daily chore to talk and to share a Bible story with Mari. <br />
<br />
<br /></div>
<div>
Mari and I got to talk about how even in life we need to "weed" things out. As we pulled long weeds, some with even "pretty flowers", I got to show her how a weed (even with a pretty flower) can start to choke the roots of the flowers in our yard, and like the weed, so many things and people can start to hurt us if we don't remove them. We talked about "weeding" out too much sweets (that didn't go over too well but she was listening!) We talked about how important it is to have good friends who don't get us in trouble.<br />
<br />
We talked about how Jesus said the good seed is of Heaven and the weeds are of Satan, and later read Matthew 13 together. At age 6, it is amazing to see she can grasp some of what Jesus taught to his disciples, and the visual of seeing actual weeds intertwined with the flowers roots, and even though both are living things, the bad can try so hard to take away anything from the good, but with might and even sweat, you can remove the bad. We learned this together as we had some mega weeds with some deep roots that needed to be dug out with a shovel. I love how twice in the chapter vs 9 and 43 it says, "Who ever has ears, let them hear."Such a great moment, and I almost missed it just trying to get yard work done. <br />
<br />
So like the Farmer, I hope to have verse 8 kids (seeds), who are falling on good soil, even when daily, their parents are trying to learn to be on good soil themselves, and I am reminded I myself have to keep weeding things out of my own life, to keep my kids walking toward Jesus. <br />
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
via (http://biblehub.com/niv/matthew/13.htm)</div>
<div>
<div class="sectionhead" style="background-color: #f9fdff; color: #001320; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: 700; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;">
The Parable of the Sower</div>
<div class="reg" style="background-color: #f9fdff; color: #001320; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 25px;">
<span class="reftext" style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 14px; margin-right: 2px; vertical-align: text-top;"><a href="http://biblehub.com/matthew/13-1.htm" style="color: #0092f2; text-decoration: none;"><b>1</b></a></span>That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the lake. <span class="reftext" style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 14px; margin-right: 2px; vertical-align: text-top;"><a href="http://biblehub.com/matthew/13-2.htm" style="color: #0092f2; text-decoration: none;"><b>2</b></a></span>Such large crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat in it, while all the people stood on the shore. <span class="reftext" style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 14px; margin-right: 2px; vertical-align: text-top;"><a href="http://biblehub.com/matthew/13-3.htm" style="color: #0092f2; text-decoration: none;"><b>3</b></a></span>Then he told them many things in parables, saying: <span class="red" style="color: red;">“A farmer went out to sow his seed.</span> <span class="reftext" style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 14px; margin-right: 2px; vertical-align: text-top;"><a href="http://biblehub.com/matthew/13-4.htm" style="color: #0092f2; text-decoration: none;"><b>4</b></a></span><span class="red" style="color: red;">As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up.</span> <span class="reftext" style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 14px; margin-right: 2px; vertical-align: text-top;"><a href="http://biblehub.com/matthew/13-5.htm" style="color: #0092f2; text-decoration: none;"><b>5</b></a></span><span class="red" style="color: red;">Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow.</span> <span class="reftext" style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 14px; margin-right: 2px; vertical-align: text-top;"><a href="http://biblehub.com/matthew/13-6.htm" style="color: #0092f2; text-decoration: none;"><b>6</b></a></span><span class="red" style="color: red;">But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root.</span> <span class="reftext" style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 14px; margin-right: 2px; vertical-align: text-top;"><a href="http://biblehub.com/matthew/13-7.htm" style="color: #0092f2; text-decoration: none;"><b>7</b></a></span><span class="red" style="color: red;">Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants.</span> <span class="reftext" style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 14px; margin-right: 2px; vertical-align: text-top;"><a href="http://biblehub.com/matthew/13-8.htm" style="color: #0092f2; text-decoration: none;"><b>8</b></a></span><span class="red" style="color: red;">Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.</span> <span class="reftext" style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 14px; margin-right: 2px; vertical-align: text-top;"><a href="http://biblehub.com/matthew/13-9.htm" style="color: #0092f2; text-decoration: none;"><b>9</b></a></span><span class="red" style="color: red;">Whoever has ears, let them hear.”</span></div>
<div class="reg" style="background-color: #f9fdff; color: #001320; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 25px;">
<span class="reftext" style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 14px; margin-right: 2px; vertical-align: text-top;"><a href="http://biblehub.com/matthew/13-10.htm" style="color: #0092f2; text-decoration: none;"><b>10</b></a></span>The disciples came to him and asked, “Why do you speak to the people in parables?”</div>
<div class="reg" style="background-color: #f9fdff; color: #001320; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 25px;">
<span class="reftext" style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 14px; margin-right: 2px; vertical-align: text-top;"><a href="http://biblehub.com/matthew/13-11.htm" style="color: #0092f2; text-decoration: none;"><b>11</b></a></span>He replied, <span class="red" style="color: red;">“Because the knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them.</span> <span class="reftext" style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 14px; margin-right: 2px; vertical-align: text-top;"><a href="http://biblehub.com/matthew/13-12.htm" style="color: #0092f2; text-decoration: none;"><b>12</b></a></span><span class="red" style="color: red;">Whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them.</span> <span class="reftext" style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 14px; margin-right: 2px; vertical-align: text-top;"><a href="http://biblehub.com/matthew/13-13.htm" style="color: #0092f2; text-decoration: none;"><b>13</b></a></span><span class="red" style="color: red;">This is why I speak to them in parables:</span></div>
<div class="stanza" style="background-color: #f9fdff; color: #001320; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; padding-bottom: 8px; padding-top: 8px; text-align: justify;">
<div class="line1" style="padding: 0px 25px;">
<span class="red" style="color: red;">“Though seeing, they do not see;</span></div>
<div class="line2" style="padding: 0px 25px 0px 50px;">
<span class="red" style="color: red;">though hearing, they do not hear or understand.</span></div>
</div>
<div class="pcontinued" style="background-color: #f9fdff; color: #001320; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;">
<span class="reftext" style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 14px; margin-right: 2px; vertical-align: text-top;"><a href="http://biblehub.com/matthew/13-14.htm" style="color: #0092f2; text-decoration: none;"><b>14</b></a></span><span class="red" style="color: red;">In them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah:</span></div>
<div class="stanza" style="background-color: #f9fdff; color: #001320; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; padding-bottom: 8px; padding-top: 8px; text-align: justify;">
<div class="line1" style="padding: 0px 25px;">
<span class="red" style="color: red;">“ ‘You will be ever hearing but never understanding;</span></div>
<div class="line2" style="padding: 0px 25px 0px 50px;">
<span class="red" style="color: red;">you will be ever seeing but never perceiving.</span></div>
<div class="line1" style="padding: 0px 25px;">
<span class="reftext" style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 14px; margin-right: 2px; vertical-align: text-top;"><a href="http://biblehub.com/matthew/13-15.htm" style="color: #0092f2; text-decoration: none;"><b>15</b></a></span><span class="red" style="color: red;">For this people’s heart has become calloused;</span></div>
<div class="line2" style="padding: 0px 25px 0px 50px;">
<span class="red" style="color: red;">they hardly hear with their ears,</span></div>
<div class="line2" style="padding: 0px 25px 0px 50px;">
<span class="red" style="color: red;">and they have closed their eyes.</span></div>
<div class="line1" style="padding: 0px 25px;">
<span class="red" style="color: red;">Otherwise they might see with their eyes,</span></div>
<div class="line2" style="padding: 0px 25px 0px 50px;">
<span class="red" style="color: red;">hear with their ears,</span></div>
<div class="line2" style="padding: 0px 25px 0px 50px;">
<span class="red" style="color: red;">understand with their hearts</span></div>
<div class="line1" style="padding: 0px 25px;">
<span class="red" style="color: red;">and turn, and I would heal them.’<span class="nivfootnote" style="color: #0066aa; font-size: 12px; font-style: italic; font-weight: 700; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 1px;"><sup><a href="http://biblehub.com/niv/matthew/13.htm#footnotes" style="color: #0092f2; text-decoration: none;" title="Isaiah 6:9,10 (see Septuagint)">a</a></sup></span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="pcontinued" style="background-color: #f9fdff; color: #001320; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;">
<span class="reftext" style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 14px; margin-right: 2px; vertical-align: text-top;"><a href="http://biblehub.com/matthew/13-16.htm" style="color: #0092f2; text-decoration: none;"><b>16</b></a></span><span class="red" style="color: red;">But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear.</span> <span class="reftext" style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 14px; margin-right: 2px; vertical-align: text-top;"><a href="http://biblehub.com/matthew/13-17.htm" style="color: #0092f2; text-decoration: none;"><b>17</b></a></span><span class="red" style="color: red;">For truly I tell you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.</span></div>
<div class="reg" style="background-color: #f9fdff; color: #001320; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 25px;">
<span class="reftext" style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 14px; margin-right: 2px; vertical-align: text-top;"><a href="http://biblehub.com/matthew/13-18.htm" style="color: #0092f2; text-decoration: none;"><b>18</b></a></span><span class="red" style="color: red;">“Listen then to what the parable of the sower means:</span> <span class="reftext" style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 14px; margin-right: 2px; vertical-align: text-top;"><a href="http://biblehub.com/matthew/13-19.htm" style="color: #0092f2; text-decoration: none;"><b>19</b></a></span><span class="red" style="color: red;">When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in their heart. This is the seed sown along the path.</span> <span class="reftext" style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 14px; margin-right: 2px; vertical-align: text-top;"><a href="http://biblehub.com/matthew/13-20.htm" style="color: #0092f2; text-decoration: none;"><b>20</b></a></span><span class="red" style="color: red;">The seed falling on rocky ground refers to someone who hears the word and at once receives it with joy.</span> <span class="reftext" style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 14px; margin-right: 2px; vertical-align: text-top;"><a href="http://biblehub.com/matthew/13-21.htm" style="color: #0092f2; text-decoration: none;"><b>21</b></a></span><span class="red" style="color: red;">But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away.</span> <span class="reftext" style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 14px; margin-right: 2px; vertical-align: text-top;"><a href="http://biblehub.com/matthew/13-22.htm" style="color: #0092f2; text-decoration: none;"><b>22</b></a></span><span class="red" style="color: red;">The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful.</span><span class="reftext" style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 14px; margin-right: 2px; vertical-align: text-top;"><a href="http://biblehub.com/matthew/13-23.htm" style="color: #0092f2; text-decoration: none;"><b>23</b></a></span><span class="red" style="color: red;">But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.”</span></div>
<div class="sectionhead" style="background-color: #f9fdff; color: #001320; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: 700; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;">
The Parable of the Weeds</div>
<div class="reg" style="background-color: #f9fdff; color: #001320; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 25px;">
<span class="reftext" style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 14px; margin-right: 2px; vertical-align: text-top;"><a href="http://biblehub.com/matthew/13-24.htm" style="color: #0092f2; text-decoration: none;"><b>24</b></a></span>Jesus told them another parable: <span class="red" style="color: red;">“The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field.</span> <span class="reftext" style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 14px; margin-right: 2px; vertical-align: text-top;"><a href="http://biblehub.com/matthew/13-25.htm" style="color: #0092f2; text-decoration: none;"><b>25</b></a></span><span class="red" style="color: red;">But while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and went away.</span> <span class="reftext" style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 14px; margin-right: 2px; vertical-align: text-top;"><a href="http://biblehub.com/matthew/13-26.htm" style="color: #0092f2; text-decoration: none;"><b>26</b></a></span><span class="red" style="color: red;">When the wheat sprouted and formed heads, then the weeds also appeared.</span></div>
<div class="reg" style="background-color: #f9fdff; color: #001320; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 25px;">
<span class="reftext" style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 14px; margin-right: 2px; vertical-align: text-top;"><a href="http://biblehub.com/matthew/13-27.htm" style="color: #0092f2; text-decoration: none;"><b>27</b></a></span><span class="red" style="color: red;">“The owner’s servants came to him and said, ‘Sir, didn’t you sow good seed in your field? Where then did the weeds come from?’</span></div>
<div class="reg" style="background-color: #f9fdff; color: #001320; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 25px;">
<span class="reftext" style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 14px; margin-right: 2px; vertical-align: text-top;"><a href="http://biblehub.com/matthew/13-28.htm" style="color: #0092f2; text-decoration: none;"><b>28</b></a></span><span class="red" style="color: red;">“ ‘An enemy did this,’ he replied.</span></div>
<div class="reg" style="background-color: #f9fdff; color: #001320; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 25px;">
<span class="red" style="color: red;">“The servants asked him, ‘Do you want us to go and pull them up?’</span></div>
<div class="reg" style="background-color: #f9fdff; color: #001320; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 25px;">
<span class="reftext" style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 14px; margin-right: 2px; vertical-align: text-top;"><a href="http://biblehub.com/matthew/13-29.htm" style="color: #0092f2; text-decoration: none;"><b>29</b></a></span><span class="red" style="color: red;">“ ‘No,’ he answered, ‘because while you are pulling the weeds, you may uproot the wheat with them.</span> <span class="reftext" style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 14px; margin-right: 2px; vertical-align: text-top;"><a href="http://biblehub.com/matthew/13-30.htm" style="color: #0092f2; text-decoration: none;"><b>30</b></a></span><span class="red" style="color: red;">Let both grow together until the harvest. At that time I will tell the harvesters: First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then gather the wheat and bring it into my barn.’ ”</span></div>
<div class="sectionhead" style="background-color: #f9fdff; color: #001320; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: 700; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;">
The Parables of the Mustard Seed and the Yeast</div>
<div class="reg" style="background-color: #f9fdff; color: #001320; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 25px;">
<span class="reftext" style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 14px; margin-right: 2px; vertical-align: text-top;"><a href="http://biblehub.com/matthew/13-31.htm" style="color: #0092f2; text-decoration: none;"><b>31</b></a></span>He told them another parable: <span class="red" style="color: red;">“The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field.</span><span class="reftext" style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 14px; margin-right: 2px; vertical-align: text-top;"><a href="http://biblehub.com/matthew/13-32.htm" style="color: #0092f2; text-decoration: none;"><b>32</b></a></span><span class="red" style="color: red;">Though it is the smallest of all seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds come and perch in its branches.”</span></div>
<div class="reg" style="background-color: #f9fdff; color: #001320; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 25px;">
<span class="reftext" style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 14px; margin-right: 2px; vertical-align: text-top;"><a href="http://biblehub.com/matthew/13-33.htm" style="color: #0092f2; text-decoration: none;"><b>33</b></a></span>He told them still another parable: <span class="red" style="color: red;">“The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into about sixty pounds<span class="nivfootnote" style="color: #0066aa; font-size: 12px; font-style: italic; font-weight: 700; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 1px;"><sup><a href="http://biblehub.com/niv/matthew/13.htm#footnotes" style="color: #0092f2; text-decoration: none;" title="Or about 27 kilograms">b</a></sup></span> of flour until it worked all through the dough.”</span></div>
<div class="reg" style="background-color: #f9fdff; color: #001320; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 25px;">
<span class="reftext" style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 14px; margin-right: 2px; vertical-align: text-top;"><a href="http://biblehub.com/matthew/13-34.htm" style="color: #0092f2; text-decoration: none;"><b>34</b></a></span>Jesus spoke all these things to the crowd in parables; he did not say anything to them without using a parable. <span class="reftext" style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 14px; margin-right: 2px; vertical-align: text-top;"><a href="http://biblehub.com/matthew/13-35.htm" style="color: #0092f2; text-decoration: none;"><b>35</b></a></span>So was fulfilled what was spoken through the prophet:</div>
<div class="stanza" style="background-color: #f9fdff; color: #001320; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; padding-bottom: 8px; padding-top: 8px; text-align: justify;">
<div class="line1" style="padding: 0px 25px;">
“I will open my mouth in parables,</div>
<div class="line2" style="padding: 0px 25px 0px 50px;">
I will utter things hidden since the creation of the world.”<span class="nivfootnote" style="color: #0066aa; font-size: 12px; font-style: italic; font-weight: 700; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 1px;"><sup><a href="http://biblehub.com/niv/matthew/13.htm#footnotes" style="color: #0092f2; text-decoration: none;" title="Psalm 78:2">c</a></sup></span></div>
</div>
<div class="sectionhead" style="background-color: #f9fdff; color: #001320; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: 700; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;">
The Parable of the Weeds Explained</div>
<div class="reg" style="background-color: #f9fdff; color: #001320; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 25px;">
<span class="reftext" style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 14px; margin-right: 2px; vertical-align: text-top;"><a href="http://biblehub.com/matthew/13-36.htm" style="color: #0092f2; text-decoration: none;"><b>36</b></a></span>Then he left the crowd and went into the house. His disciples came to him and said, “Explain to us the parable of the weeds in the field.”</div>
<div class="reg" style="background-color: #f9fdff; color: #001320; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 25px;">
<span class="reftext" style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 14px; margin-right: 2px; vertical-align: text-top;"><a href="http://biblehub.com/matthew/13-37.htm" style="color: #0092f2; text-decoration: none;"><b>37</b></a></span>He answered, <span class="red" style="color: red;">“The one who sowed the good seed is the Son of Man.</span> <span class="reftext" style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 14px; margin-right: 2px; vertical-align: text-top;"><a href="http://biblehub.com/matthew/13-38.htm" style="color: #0092f2; text-decoration: none;"><b>38</b></a></span><span class="red" style="color: red;">The field is the world, and the good seed stands for the people of the kingdom. The weeds are the people of the evil one,</span> <span class="reftext" style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 14px; margin-right: 2px; vertical-align: text-top;"><a href="http://biblehub.com/matthew/13-39.htm" style="color: #0092f2; text-decoration: none;"><b>39</b></a></span><span class="red" style="color: red;">and the enemy who sows them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are angels.</span></div>
<div class="reg" style="background-color: #f9fdff; color: #001320; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 25px;">
<span class="reftext" style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 14px; margin-right: 2px; vertical-align: text-top;"><a href="http://biblehub.com/matthew/13-40.htm" style="color: #0092f2; text-decoration: none;"><b>40</b></a></span><span class="red" style="color: red;">“As the weeds are pulled up and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of the age.</span> <span class="reftext" style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 14px; margin-right: 2px; vertical-align: text-top;"><a href="http://biblehub.com/matthew/13-41.htm" style="color: #0092f2; text-decoration: none;"><b>41</b></a></span><span class="red" style="color: red;">The Son of Man will send out his angels, and they will weed out of his kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil.</span> <span class="reftext" style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 14px; margin-right: 2px; vertical-align: text-top;"><a href="http://biblehub.com/matthew/13-42.htm" style="color: #0092f2; text-decoration: none;"><b>42</b></a></span><span class="red" style="color: red;">They will throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.</span> <span class="reftext" style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 14px; margin-right: 2px; vertical-align: text-top;"><a href="http://biblehub.com/matthew/13-43.htm" style="color: #0092f2; text-decoration: none;"><b>43</b></a></span><span class="red" style="color: red;">Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Whoever has ears, let them hear.</span></div>
</div>
<div>
<span class="red" style="color: red;"><br /></span></div>
Mom In a Minivanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00881789851131136309noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1729837385587639827.post-37687598178328742592013-04-24T10:01:00.001-07:002013-04-24T10:01:36.173-07:00fill my cup....<br />
<div class="mbl notesBlogText clearfix" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 15px 15px 0px; text-align: left; word-wrap: break-word; zoom: 1;">
<div style="line-height: 1.5em;">
Been reading Psalm 63 over and over the last few years.....I often find myself praying for Him to fill my cup on days when kids are yelling and screaming for me to fill thiers! </div>
<div style="line-height: 1.5em;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 1.5em;">
6<strong>3</strong></div>
<div style="line-height: 1.5em;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 1.5em;">
<strong>In your sanctuary fill me up</strong></div>
<div style="line-height: 1.5em;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 1.5em;">
<strong>fill me up, fill me up </strong></div>
<div style="line-height: 1.5em;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 1.5em;">
<strong>fill my cup</strong></div>
<div style="line-height: 1.5em;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 1.5em;">
<strong>You fill me up , you fill me up </strong></div>
<div style="line-height: 1.5em;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 1.5em;">
<strong>You fill my cup</strong></div>
<div style="line-height: 1.5em;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 1.5em;">
<strong>in this dry and weary land </strong></div>
<div style="line-height: 1.5em;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 1.5em;">
<strong> fill my cup</strong></div>
<div style="line-height: 1.5em;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 1.5em;">
<strong>fill me up, fill me up </strong></div>
<div style="line-height: 1.5em;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 1.5em;">
<strong> fill my cup</strong></div>
<div style="line-height: 1.5em;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 1.5em;">
<strong>my soul thirsts for you </strong></div>
<div style="line-height: 1.5em;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 1.5em;">
<strong>fill me up</strong></div>
<div style="line-height: 1.5em;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 1.5em;">
<strong>with singing lips and reaching hands </strong></div>
<div style="line-height: 1.5em;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 1.5em;">
<strong>fill my cup</strong></div>
<div style="line-height: 1.5em;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 1.5em;">
<strong>Because your love is better than life </strong></div>
<div style="line-height: 1.5em;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 1.5em;">
<strong>fill me up</strong></div>
<div style="line-height: 1.5em;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 1.5em;">
<strong>Be my help </strong></div>
<div style="line-height: 1.5em;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 1.5em;">
<strong>fill me up</strong></div>
<div style="line-height: 1.5em;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 1.5em;">
<strong>My body longs for you </strong></div>
<div style="line-height: 1.5em;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 1.5em;">
<strong>Fill my cup</strong></div>
<div style="line-height: 1.5em;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 1.5em;">
<strong>fill me up, fill me up </strong></div>
<div style="line-height: 1.5em;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 1.5em;">
<strong>fill my cup</strong></div>
<div style="line-height: 1.5em;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 1.5em;">
<strong>You fill me up, You fill me up</strong></div>
<div style="line-height: 1.5em;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 1.5em;">
<strong>Lord you fill my cup</strong></div>
</div>
<div class="noteFeedback" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 14px; padding: 0px 15px 10px; text-align: left;">
<div class="fbTimelineUFI" style="margin-top: -12px; position: relative; top: 12px;">
<form action="https://www.facebook.com/ajax/ufi/modify.php" class="live_446668206896_316526391751760 commentable_item autoexpand_mode" data-live="{"seq":"446668206896_13725793"}" id="u_jsonp_2_h" method="post" rel="async" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">
<div class="fbTimelineFeedbackHeader">
<div class="fbTimelineFeedbackActions clearfix" style="background-color: #edeff4; padding: 5px 12px; zoom: 1;">
<span class="UIActionLinks UIActionLinks_bottom" data-ft="{"tn":"=","type":20}" style="color: #999999;"><a aria-live="polite" class="UFILikeLink" data-ft="{"tn":">"}" href="https://www.facebook.com/allieconnors?sk=notes#" id=".reactRoot[29]" role="button" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;" title="Like this">Like</a> · <label class="uiLinkButton comment_link" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: middle;" title="Leave a comment"><input data-ft="{"type":24,"tn":"S"}" style="background-image: none; border: none; color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; font-weight: normal; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: top;" type="button" value="Comment" /></label> · <a aria-live="polite" class="UFISubscribeLink" href="https://www.facebook.com/allieconnors?sk=notes#" id=".reactRoot[30]" role="button" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;" title="Stop getting notified when someone comments">Unfollow Post</a> · <span class="boostActionLink446668206896"><a ajaxify="/fbml/ajax/dialog?app_id=122214254528646&_path=pay&method=pay&display=async&receiver=669849201&action=boosts&dev_purchase_params=%7B%22oscif%22%3Atrue%7D&order_info=%7B%22story_id%22%3A446668206896%2C%22publish_time%22%3A1366821847%2C%22share_id%22%3Anull%2C%22boost_type%22%3A1%7D&product=669849201%3A669849201%3A446668206896" href="https://www.facebook.com/allieconnors?sk=notes#" rel="dialog" role="button" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;" title="Tell friends this post is important">Promote</a></span> </span></div>
</div>
</form>
</div>
</div>
Mom In a Minivanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00881789851131136309noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1729837385587639827.post-51439181148594279202013-04-24T09:20:00.001-07:002013-04-24T09:20:33.667-07:00Morning music jam with a side of a tantrum....our daily theme song...<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I won't lie, most mornings our kids come down and the first thing they want to do is watch tv. Most days after my oldest goes to school, I let the two little ones watch a show or two and I get my time in to read a devotion, jot down a little journal and pray for the day. And in even more honesty, I am sure there has been more days then most when the tv is on for a good morning so I can do more than my God time. There I said it:) Someday I want to strive to be that mom who has that all done before my kids get up, like I said, someday. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Right now we get up with our oldest and get her ready for school. She makes me look good (when she isn't having a wardrobe melt down). We bought her a devotional as a gift a few years back and this is the first year she has really gotten into reading it. She even has a "to do" list on her wall for her mornings and she has "do devotion" on it. My heart swells just writing this. We read it and pray right before she goes to get on the bus. This morning to add a little more mom bragging, she was the one who initiated it and prayed over me as I was still sleepy eyed. Holding on to these moments. Lord please carry this into her adulthood! </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
As for the other two, I usually pray with them before I do my devotion and like I said, Mari all on her own brings me something to read to her. I will be honest sometimes I just want to be left alone doing my own devotion and having my own time with God and much rather have them in front of the tv as usually I am silently scolding myself for not getting up earlier? I am sure that is what Jesus meant when he <span style="background-color: #fffefd; color: #001320; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;">said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these." Matthew 19:14 Can I feel any more convicted?</span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: #fffefd; color: #001320; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #001320; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;">I feel like I am making my devotion time sound "Christian Perfect." It is not like that one bit. Here is a recap of how most mornings go. </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #001320; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #001320; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;">So to wait for their tv time, the two little ones eat and then go upstairs and play with these toy dinosaurs while I finish getting Dylan off to school. Somedays I feel like we are in our own version of "Ground Hog Day". It all goes and starts the same. About 9 o'clock Mari comes down as Hank is screaming in a bird like screech, "She doesn't want to play any more!!!" And he falls to my feet screaming and crying. I then ask Mari if she could give him a warning that she wants to stop in 5 minutes, and she just says, "No," as if it was nothing. Believe me, I know this is all coming most of the time and try to prepare them for it by asking Mari to give him a warning as they go up, she just looks at me with a "Yeah right" look;/ . This is usually where I start my daily deep breathing...</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #001320; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #001320; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;">In the middle of Hanks tantrum, our kitchen ipod begins to blare Toby Macs "Me Without You." And Mari starts to groove to what she calls the "Yellow Eye" song. Talk about mixed emotions as I love to watch her dance and of all songs she picks this one, but then she also has her brother upset with her? Hank usually jumps into the song and they blare it about 2 more times. Mari now have some hand motions to go with it all....We then do a little reading and then the kids watch tv. For now the routine works for us....We really are working on getting rid of the tantrum (I hope). Like Bill Murray in the movie, no matter how much he tries the day before, it still happens all the same the next day! I can relate with this tantrum. I also realize the kids will all be in school in the morning next year and mentally taking in how much I know I will miss this. And thankful now that when I hear "Me without You" these flashback moments will flood my mind. Thankful that also when Mari is in a Taylor Swift phase of her life, she picks this song to jam too! </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #001320; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #001320; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;">To be even more honest about this post, the last few weeks we have been in even more transition for us, as I am in daily orientation for a new nursing job and H and M are in "day care" ( can you hear me whispering that?) When you go from being a stay at home mom, all you can feel is the judgment arising when you tell people that, especially other stay at home moms. I need to write about that decision for us.....So I have actually been missing the daily tantrum.....So before I go to work I turn this on to get us prepared for what the day has before us as we are all counting down the days until my orientation is over and I will then work a few nights a week, so we can go back to our much later in the morning kitchen jams and tantrums (ok hoping the tantrums will not reappear!)... </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #001320; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #001320; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b style="border: 0px none; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;"> "Me Without You"</b><br style="border: 0px none; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;" /><br style="border: 0px none; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;" /><div style="border: 0px none; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px 10px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;">
Raindrops rollin' off my brim<br style="border: 0px none; font-size: 1em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />Streetlights got the pavement glistenin'<br style="border: 0px none; font-size: 1em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />Touchdown, I fall into Your arms<br style="border: 0px none; font-size: 1em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />Right where I belong<br style="border: 0px none; font-size: 1em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />Your everlasting arms<br style="border: 0px none; font-size: 1em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><br style="border: 0px none; font-size: 1em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />And where would I be<br style="border: 0px none; font-size: 1em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />Without You...<br style="border: 0px none; font-size: 1em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><br style="border: 0px none; font-size: 1em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />I'd be packin' my bags when I need to stay<br style="border: 0px none; font-size: 1em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />I'd be chasin' every breeze that blows my way<br style="border: 0px none; font-size: 1em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />I'd be building my kingdom just to watch it fade away<br style="border: 0px none; font-size: 1em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />It's true<br style="border: 0px none; font-size: 1em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />That's me without You-ou-ou-ou-ou-ou<br style="border: 0px none; font-size: 1em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />That's me without You-ou-ou-ou-ou-ou<br style="border: 0px none; font-size: 1em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />That's me without You-ou-ou-ou-ou-ou<br style="border: 0px none; font-size: 1em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />Don't know where I'd be without You<br style="border: 0px none; font-size: 1em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />(Wooooah, without you)<br style="border: 0px none; font-size: 1em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><br style="border: 0px none; font-size: 1em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />Flashback, step into the scene<br style="border: 0px none; font-size: 1em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />There's You and there's a very different me<br style="border: 0px none; font-size: 1em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />Touchdown, You had me at believe<br style="border: 0px none; font-size: 1em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />You had me at believe, You did<br style="border: 0px none; font-size: 1em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><br style="border: 0px none; font-size: 1em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />And where would I be<br style="border: 0px none; font-size: 1em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />Without You, without You...<br style="border: 0px none; font-size: 1em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><br style="border: 0px none; font-size: 1em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />I'd be packin' my bags when I need to stay<br style="border: 0px none; font-size: 1em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />I'd be chasin' every breeze that blows my way<br style="border: 0px none; font-size: 1em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />I'd be building my kingdom just to watch it fade away<br style="border: 0px none; font-size: 1em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />It's true<br style="border: 0px none; font-size: 1em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />That's me without You-ou-ou-ou-ou-ou<br style="border: 0px none; font-size: 1em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />That's me without You-ou-ou-ou-ou-ou<br style="border: 0px none; font-size: 1em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />That's me without You-ou-ou-ou-ou-ou<br style="border: 0px none; font-size: 1em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />Don't know where I'd be without You<br style="border: 0px none; font-size: 1em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><br style="border: 0px none; font-size: 1em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />(Where would I be...)<br style="border: 0px none; font-size: 1em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><br style="border: 0px none; font-size: 1em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><i style="border: 0px none; font-size: 1em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">[WHISPERING]</i><br style="border: 0px none; font-size: 1em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />(I was so deep,<br style="border: 0px none; font-size: 1em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />So incomplete<br style="border: 0px none; font-size: 1em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />Til' You rescued me<br style="border: 0px none; font-size: 1em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />Yeah, You rescued me)<br style="border: 0px none; font-size: 1em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><br style="border: 0px none; font-size: 1em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />You rescued me<br style="border: 0px none; font-size: 1em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />You are mine, I am Yours<br style="border: 0px none; font-size: 1em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />You rescued me<br style="border: 0px none; font-size: 1em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />And I am Yours forever<br style="border: 0px none; font-size: 1em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />You saved me, remade me<br style="border: 0px none; font-size: 1em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><br style="border: 0px none; font-size: 1em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />And where would I be<br style="border: 0px none; font-size: 1em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><br style="border: 0px none; font-size: 1em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />I'd be packin' my bags when I need to stay<br style="border: 0px none; font-size: 1em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />I'd be chasin' every breeze that blows my way<br style="border: 0px none; font-size: 1em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />I'd be building my kingdom just to watch it fade away<br style="border: 0px none; font-size: 1em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />It's true<br style="border: 0px none; font-size: 1em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />That I'd be packin' my bags when I need to stay<br style="border: 0px none; font-size: 1em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />I'd be chasin' every breeze that blows my way<br style="border: 0px none; font-size: 1em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />I'd be building my kingdom just to watch it fade away<br style="border: 0px none; font-size: 1em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />So true<br style="border: 0px none; font-size: 1em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />That's me without You-ou-ou-ou-ou-ou<br style="border: 0px none; font-size: 1em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />That's me without You-ou-ou-ou-ou-ou<br style="border: 0px none; font-size: 1em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />That's me without You-ou-ou-ou-ou-ou<br style="border: 0px none; font-size: 1em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />Don't know where I'd be without You<br style="border: 0px none; font-size: 1em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><br style="border: 0px none; font-size: 1em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />That's me without You-ou-ou-ou<br style="border: 0px none; font-size: 1em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />That's me without You-ou-ou-ou<br style="border: 0px none; font-size: 1em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />That's me without You-ou-ou-ou<br style="border: 0px none; font-size: 1em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />Don't know where I'd be without You</div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #001320; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #001320; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #001320; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;">These are my Mari Moments </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #001320; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #001320; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #001320; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #001320; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #001320; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #001320; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #001320; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: #fffefd; color: #001320; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: #fffefd; color: #001320; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: #fffefd; color: #001320; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;"><br /></span></div>
Mom In a Minivanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00881789851131136309noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1729837385587639827.post-46612037024145756072013-04-22T07:22:00.000-07:002013-04-22T07:48:53.161-07:00Finding Strong Connections....<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>always a ramble...</i></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>"Find people for your child to make strong influential relationships at an early age. Then have the <b>HOPE</b> they will grow to be one too."</i></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; white-space: pre-wrap;">This came to me today as we met a new friend who's wife is a zoo keeper. We are very much hoping to hit it off with this couple. Mari I already know, needs this woman in her life! </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; white-space: pre-wrap;">After fighting so much fear and an<i>x</i>iety as a kid and into adulthood. I don't want my kids to be so weighed down with their own fears and anxiety. So with that, I have realized I need to find strong friends to help surround my kids with. Friends who might be "better than me" at anything and everything. You know, those people you at your first inner most judgmental thought you might label as "PTA Mom"? Ha! Or the mom who cooks from scratch or somehow gets her kids to eat vegtables or some how kids "NEVER" fight. Or the person who makes their own clothes and jewlery. You know you just had someone come to mind!:)</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; white-space: pre-wrap;">I am so hopeful to meet this "zoo keeper" woman and be her friend, even more for Mari. I just feel Mari is meant to be something with her love for animals and I hate how already I let my worries of "will we be able to put her through vet school, if she wants to," or "what if because I didn't buy her a horse or have every stray cat live with us" and so forth ruin me. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; white-space: pre-wrap;"> I recently just met a friend of a friend who teaches sewing and no joke found out she lives down the street from us and our kids go to the same school. Random Coincidence? I honestly think not. I really believe God has heard my prayers for strong influential people to be in my kids lives. Dylan, my oldest, is a fashion diva and wants nothing but to learn to sew. She has taught herself to handsew already. Tara is this woman that when you first meet her you see "COOL" all over her and teaches sewing lessons! I am so thankful for these connections! I need to look past my own limitations and find people who dream like my kids and can connect with them at an early age in hopes they will become the adults they want to be and so they can never look back and say they weren't given the chance. Then even more, hope for them to be a connection to someone else. </span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; white-space: pre-wrap;">I have to realize I can't do be "everything" to my kids and I don't I have too. </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; white-space: pre-wrap;">As we hit the teenage years too, I might have to humble myself that I won't be able to be my kids BFF and always understand them, but have hope that they will have a strong adult in their life that they can always turn too. As a kid I had that in my aunts and my grandma. I am forever thankful for that. They were always a listening ear when I didn't think my parents understood me. I am already mentally preparing for the hurt it will even cause me for my kids to poor themselves out to someone else when it might not be me. I am also just still hopeful it could be me. Time will tell and I have to trust God to direct their paths. </span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Our neighbor across the street is the sweetest lady. She has blessed us with just tremendous love. Once a week, she invites my oldest over for "girl talk" and paints her nails and braids Dylan's hair. They sit and talk together for over an hour and Vicki just poors herself into Dylan by letting Dylan just lead the conversation. We don't have family in the area and Dylan only has one grandma who lives over 4 hours away. I had a very strong bond with my grandma and sadly Dylan might never have with my mom because of the distance, but forever, I hope, she will remember Ms. Vicki and how this one woman would just invite her over to talk all about her, when she was 9 years old. Dylan use to bite her nails. I couldn't get her to stop, even when I, her mom would paint her nails in hope it would stop. But Vicki took Dylan out and got her some special nail polish and in just "their" time together, wtih encouragment, got Dylan to stop biting her nails. Dylan now gets french manicures for her long finger nails from Vicki once a week! (I never in my life have had a french manicure! ha!) </span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; white-space: pre-wrap;">I already am forever thankful for Vicki. </span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; white-space: pre-wrap;">I am now hoping to find this connection for Mari. My animal loving girl needs someone who LOVES animals as much as her, especially when her mama bearly puts up with the dog we have;/ </span></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; white-space: pre-wrap;">I use the word HOPE a lot with this because <i>Hebrews 11:1</i> says "</span></span><span class="chapternum" style="background-color: white; bottom: -0.1em; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 1.25em; font-weight: bold; left: 0px; line-height: 0.8em; position: relative;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Hope is all about the unseen.</span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I want my kids to be "the evidence"...or the proof, that even when I couldn't see what kind of adults they would be, I already believed in who they would be. Three amazing-creative-God Fearing adults, all because at their early ages, I recognized they needed more than just me and so I prayed for and asked God for other people who could help finish designing them into who God wanted them to be....</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Holding on to Hope one day at a time....I also "Hope" not to look back at this someday when my house might be a zoo of animals and think to myself "why did I ask you that God??" </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; line-height: 18px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; line-height: 18px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; line-height: 18px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; line-height: 18px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; line-height: 18px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; line-height: 18px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
Mom In a Minivanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00881789851131136309noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1729837385587639827.post-40004616035090879512013-03-18T10:57:00.000-07:002013-03-18T11:00:07.140-07:00Been M.I.A...a lot since July<br />
<br />
We have moved twice now to different cities since 2011...we have home schooled...found new doctors, dentistis...looked for a new church, met new neighbors and friends X2 now. We now have sent the girls back to public school right before Christmas. We are thriving and surviving at the same time right now... Like most American moms, I think we all need a voice of some sort? So betwen Twitter and here can get a glispse of me here or there as life has been dragging us all over and I am learning so much right now and how my kids, espeically Mari makes me grow every day! <br />
<br />
A bit of a ramble.....<br />
<br />
<br />
Mari started Kindergarten this fall. We started off with homeschooling using K12 and loved the program and the teacher and the concept...Mari on the other hand rebelled and excelled if you can say those two words together? We would have days of trying to do school and she wouldn't show me anything she knew because she would say "I already know it so I don't need to tell you." #exhausting!!! Once we moved this last time, the school district we are in is excellent and after meeting with the teachers and also on the verge of exhaustion with so much change, sending the kids back to has been a blessing. It was hard especially a week after we sent them back, the Conneticut shooting happened. But in that moment I still felt the descion was a good one and had and continue to cover it in prayer. I went to public school and in public school is where I began my relationship with Christ. It began at a Fellowship of Christian Athlete meeting and then a year later at a Young Life event where it all of a sudden clicked, and faithfully I have been in this walk with Christ since then. Lots of valleys and highs... 17 years, one marriage, 7 moves and 3 kids later. I feel stretched, probed, and broken in my walk all at the same time strenghthed and I now want to raise my kids to be lights in the public school and in our community. That is my hope, we will evaluate it every year with the kids and the school and pray our way through this. ...I started another post on the pros and cons of homechool and public school a while ago and never posted it...will need to as we have learned so much through both...<br />
<br />
<br />
The first month after Mari began kindergarten back in brick and motar, which for us is just half day, I emailed the teacher to see how she was doing. No joke, the resonse I got, I first thought was an email to the wrong parent. I prepared myself reading the email and millions of thoughts of meetings and IEPs that were to be discussed all went through my head. I read the email holding my breath. I am now going to have it framed or placed in her baby book. This is what the email said :<br />
<br />
"<span style="font-family: Helvetica;">She is doing great! She is above where she needs to be in reading and does a great job during reading groups. She is very good at raising her hand and participating in class discussions. She always follows the rules and is a good role model to some of the other students! She is a pleasure to have..."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica;"><br /></span>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica;">Please read that again for me and share in my joy! Because I have heard and know from other parents and their experiences with their own kids, that when Mari comes home she isn't all the things the teacher has said, but I know she is going out into the world right now being an example. Since then, her report card has said she needs to be reminded not to talk during certain times, but is excelling even above the other kids. Honestly a bit of me loves that she has to be reminded not to talk and that she is loving on her friends and has a need to know them. She comes home and wants to have them all over! So right now I am thankful she is in school and continue to pray she thrives. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica;">At home she still pushes our buttons and tries to see what she can get away with. From the moment she gets up we argue about getting dressed and what she will eat at each meal. Talk about exhausting, especially because she drags her little brother and partner in crime into most of these battles;/ At night though she is the first kid to pull out the kids Jesus Bible and makes us read. In the morning she grabs my Oswald Chambers devotionl "My Utmot For His Highest" and it is the one with "thys" and "thoughs" and she says, "READ." It is these moments I know she is not mine but Gods child and He is growing her and I only day by day can help direct and guide her in my best ablity...and on some of those days we cry, or laugh or both and even sometime scream! ....</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica;"><br /></span>
<br />
<br />
taking it all day by day...ox<br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica;"><br /></span>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica;"><br /></span>
Mom In a Minivanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00881789851131136309noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1729837385587639827.post-15389189935133260692012-07-08T13:09:00.000-07:002012-07-08T13:09:18.123-07:00Mari can use the phone!Mari has learned this summer to call her dad, as our phone numbers are taped to the fridge. I can't explain it , but it just fills my heart when she asks if she can call him. I love watching her do this. She stands in front of our fridge, looking at the numbers and trying to find them on the phone. Sometimes she messes up and it takes a few trys to get it (so far she hasn't called anyone we don't know! And thank goodness that now a days we don't have to worry about long distance, as it has become a standard part of most of our phone contracts). Going to get a little concerned if I find an international call on my next bill?<br />
<br />
I have struggled having a "home phone" because it just seems like an extra bill, but now see that it is vital for us to keep it for the kids. At least until that moment where they are all old enough to be begging for cell phones (not looking forward to those moments).<br />
<br />
As a child, my parents were divorced, and my sisters and I lived with just my dad. He worked at an auto plant, and was up in a boiler room, but we could always call him when we needed too. I remember sometimes calling him 5-6 times in a row! Here was this single father, working in a plant with other men, but he would always take our calls and if he couldn't, he would call us back. Half the time, our calls were to have him settle some fight on the other line. Now as a parent, I know what he must have been thinking, " I am at work! I want to be with you but can't because I need to provide! Quit calling me! But call me back if you need to! I love those kids but they are driving me crazy!" I had forgotten all about that until Mari started wanting to use the phone to dial Dan's number. I found myself so thankful he was always so wiling to be there for us at that time of life, even when he couldn't be physically. <br />
<br />
<br />
I love hearing Mari talk to her dad, or when she can't actually talk to him, her leaving a message. Her little voice with her slight lisp, is priceless. It usually sounds like this, "Hi Dad, it's me Mari. Just want to know how work is going." She then goes to tell him every moment of her day.<br />
<br />
Mari knows daddy is working and sometimes with people, so he might not be able to always talk, but she can leave him a message and he will call her back. I shared my recent memory of my own dad and calling him at work with Dan. I love how open he was to making sure he was available for the kids when they called. <br />
<br />
This summer is proving that my kids are growing up and are little people, as I am catching these small priceless moments of them growing up. I thought Mari learning to use the phone would be about her just learning her numbers along with our phone numbers; but it has become more about learning her needs of communication, and now as a parent how I and Dan need to be aware of them, even when at some moments we are not physically available. <br />
<br />
<br />Mom In a Minivanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00881789851131136309noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1729837385587639827.post-41583383372825542772012-05-17T13:46:00.001-07:002012-05-17T14:22:59.143-07:00The dreaded Summer whine of "I'M BORED!!!"...Summer is just around the corner, and as much as I am looking forward to, "fun in the sun" and days of swimming, I know we will have those moments at home playing catch up on cleaning, laundry and bills, and I will start hearing those miserable words, <b>"I'm Bored</b>". So I am starting already to compile a list of things to do other than throwing the kids in front of the TV for a moment of silence. This idea popped into my head today, as Mari came downstairs wearing this (picture below). So this will be the first on my list. I am going to print this and tape it up on the wall in the kids room and one on the fridge, for those moments when I hear the very <i>whiny</i>,<b> "I'm Bored"</b>, <b> </b>but when my brain is exhausted and I can't think of one suggestion for them to do in our personal "Toys R Us". These are the moments I swear they know I need to play catch up on our life, <b>SO, </b>I can point them to my secret weapon, "THE LIST"....Why do I hear Jaws music thinking about this???<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><u>-------------> SUMMER "I'M BORED" LIST</u></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
1. <b>PLAY DRESS UP</b> (Just mention Halloween, they love to get their old costumes out! "FOR FUN" have them try on each other's costumes!)<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/-_1jX1qH8FlY/T7VS_aaNxMI/AAAAAAAAAHY/zpB9W32Btb4/s1600/photo+1-1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_1jX1qH8FlY/T7VS_aaNxMI/AAAAAAAAAHY/zpB9W32Btb4/s1600/photo+1-1.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mari as "SPIDER GIRL"</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
2. <b>PLAY DOUGH</b> (if you are fearful of this, get over it! It is such a savior and once it dries, it sweeps up (ok usually!) But after three kids, and a one year supply of it from an awesome friend, I really learned to pick my battles about it as it keeps the kids busy for hours and I am learning to let them be a kid...AND <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">LET </span>THEM MIX COLORS....if you want to have fun and make your own here is a link to a recipe..Thanks Lynden! (<a href="http://justagirltryingtosavemoney.blogspot.com/2012/04/lets-save-some-dough.html">http://justagirltryingtosavemoney.blogspot.com/2012/04/lets-save-some-dough.html</a>) USE THE CREAM OF TARTAR (learn from my mistake, it will be sticky if not;/)<br />
3. <b>PUZZLES</b> ($ store is great on these and maybe make it a once a week trip to get a new one)<br />
4. <b> GO "OLD SCHOOL" CRAYONS & COLORING BOOK </b> (have them color a picture to mail to i.e. friend, relative. Tell them you need a "NEW" one for your fridge or grandmas fridge!) <b>older kid idea:</b> find them a friend's kid who they can become a Pen Pail with to send pics/letters too)<br />
5. <b> CHALK ON THE SIDEWALK </b><br />
<b>(</b>chalk & pavement games <a href="http://familyfun.go.com/playtime/sports-athletic-games/chalk-pavement-games/">http://familyfun.go.com/playtime/sports-athletic-games/chalk-pavement-games/</a> )<br />
6.<b> MOVIE</b> OK, for those moments where you are tired and they need a break themselves, set up a "Popcorn and Movie Time" Try to make this a regular set-time during the day (when you are home) so they know when their screen time is and might help avoid them to keep asking to watch tv. Have more than one kid? My kids each get a day a week where they get to pick what they watch, then they already know who gets to pick what show/movie (SAVES ON THE DRAMA). (Usually the dollar bin at Target or even the dollar store sells the plastic popcorn buckets 2 for a buck? Anything to make it more fun and "real"! Also request "new" movies (ones you know they haven't seen) from the library, to make sure they are into the movie, and not bored two minutes later. Even better have them dress as the character of the movie they are watching and add DRESS UP to this activity, and they may take forever to get ready and never even sit in front of the screen!)<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sV9MuTNGCZk/T7VTMVtAYdI/AAAAAAAAAHg/hX2h0c1YRcc/s1600/photo+2-1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sV9MuTNGCZk/T7VTMVtAYdI/AAAAAAAAAHg/hX2h0c1YRcc/s1600/photo+2-1.JPG" /></a></div>
<br />
7. <b>PLAY SCHOOL</b> to keep up on skills during the summer, have worksheets for them or websites. For the older kids math sheets, for the little ones dry erase boards to practice their names. (<a href="http://www.mathfactcafe.com/">http://www.mathfactcafe.com</a>) Have an ipad? <b>The Dora Sky Writing ABCs</b> is a great app (This recently through #Starbucks app of the week was free) <a href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/dora-abcs-vol-1-letters-letter/id405566203?mt=8">http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/dora-abcs-vol-1-letters-letter/id405566203?mt=8</a>, <a href="http://www.funbrain.com/">http://www.funbrain.com/</a><br />
8. <b>BOARD GAMES </b>(here is a few that keep my HARD to keep busy kids busy...Go Ape, Lite Brite, Zingo and Connect Four are our favorites! <a href="http://www.patchproducts.com/product/0/7201/_/Go_Ape!%26%23174%3B">http://www.patchproducts.com/product/0/7201/_/Go_Ape!%26%23174%3B</a><br />
<a href="http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2266811">http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2266811</a><br />
9.<b> CUT & PASTE</b> Get glue sticks, old magazines and paper and let them cut and paste.<br />
<div>
Recently we started doing this and the kids loved it (if they do it "too fast" tell them to make their "Own Magazine") This was fun to see what pictures they cut and put together<br />
<br />
<b>AND LAST...</b><br />
<br />
10.<b>??? </b>Already drawing a blank as my moment at the computer is being brought to an end by screaming kids who need to be pushed on to something else!! See why I started making a list! Most days my kids will play with their gazillion-million stuff animals so that is always a savior....but <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">shoot me your suggestions!</span>!! would love it! Thanks! ~Al<br />
<br />
For more summer deals for those days of needing an outing or to see if you can find a good deal check this awesome site out <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://4our2cents.com/">http://4our2cents.com/</a></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"></span><br />
<div style="font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><u>Always READ the <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;"><b>small</b></span> print...:)</u></span></div>
<div style="font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">(as always...some <b><i>"FAMILYRIFIC" </i></b>ideas) If you don't know what that means, go back a few posts! </span></span></div>
<div style="font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">I sometimes allow myself to get frustrated by some bloggers who seem to have it "ALL TOGETHER" so for your peace of mind, we probably won't be as structured as I want to be this summer, but the days we are, they are so wonderful, and it is all about striving to survive most days! So all attempts get an "A" for Effort!</span></span></div>
</div>Mom In a Minivanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00881789851131136309noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1729837385587639827.post-13984479492969416122012-03-01T09:48:00.002-08:002012-03-01T09:58:49.759-08:00Mari and her Biblical insight....Mari on Wednsday nights goes to a group called Cubbies, part of a ministry called Awana. It is club meeting like boy/girl scouts where the kids earn badges for learning Bible verses. As we just moved it has been a great resource for the kids to go and meet new kids and to learn about God and not to mention, have some time away from me for a few hours so we both can re-charge. The people there have been great and highly recommend it if you are looking for something for your kids. It is affordable and in these days, a safe place to take your kids. Here is the Awana website. There are different clubs for each age group: http://awana.org/on/demandware.store/Sites-Awana-Site/default/Default-Start<br />
<br />
Mari and her brother Hank in the car last night got into a "deep" conversation for being 3 and 5. Their dad overheard them saying, "God has to be real strong because he can hold the whole world and space too." <br />
<br />
Mar also told me this morning, "You know mom, Jesus died on a cross. We made a cross last night at Cubbies. A cross looks like a lower case T." <br />
<br />
Then her and Hank also continued their God is strong thought, as Mari told me, "That if God dropped the world, we would be just falling." She also then said, "That Satan is mean and must be real ugly. <br />
<br />
I love these moments with Mari. She at 5 is already so insightful (when we wants to be). Last, she told me and then asked, "Mom, we are suppose to love our enemies. Isn't Satan our enemy? Are we suppose to love him?" <br />
<br />
Wow. I am still trying to look up how to answer that one! <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Mom In a Minivanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00881789851131136309noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1729837385587639827.post-90984782938635299502012-01-23T12:34:00.000-08:002012-01-23T12:41:31.468-08:00"familyrific" idea...Museum inspired (by Mari of course)<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">First let me try to define <b>"Familyrific" (</b>it is a term my friend of 4 kids and I of 3 use with each other): It is used in conversation to describe an "attempt" to do something as a family, but to know that even in that attempt, with all the "good intentions", and "moment of purpose and romance of FUN FAMILY FUN" , it all may turn into nothing but pure chaos, total disaster, yelling, and crying (mostly from the mother who tried so hard to do it in a moment of sanity and hope, thinking her family has "grown and matured" to the next level to achieve this attempt). It is also used as reference to things that other people have done and are successful with and can make something look WAY too easy; but for you to pull it off, it takes an arm and a leg.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><br /></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">So here is my latest "familyrific" idea: we got a new and our first "real" dining table, so with it a new "center piece" (see picture) inspired by many "MadMari At the Museum" trips! </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">At the museum, they have a kids room where there is a GIANT world map on the wall. I LOVE THIS MAP!! There have been visits where I just stare at it. I am so surprised after looking at it as an adult, that either I have never heard of some of the places on it or am dumb founded to see where they really are at in relation to us. It is just Amazing. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">I was a pretty decent student as a kid so I don't know if I can blame my education. Maybe I was just never encouraged or cared to really know where places were at. I think too I just learned about them on a "need to know" basis.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"> The biggest trips I went on as a kid were to Florida and Myrtle Beach. I don't think I really expected to be able to go anywhere else. I did get married in Canada, and last year I visited a friend in Italy to only get there and realize how much I didn't know about Italy leaving me in culture shock! Slowly now I have been exposed to other places and I think too I can thank my kids to help open my eyes to new places (and adventures).</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">So with this idea I really want to talk to the kids about the planet we live in and that God so beautifully created. We also have a list of sticky notes next to it with people we know; s</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">ome separated by states, and some separated by oceans and countries. Part of the plan is to at dinner, use the time to pray for these friends and family and even people we have never met, to make the kids aware that life doesn't literally "revolve" around them. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Mind you, like most busy, crazy families, we don't always get to sit at the table in that "Norman Rockwell" fashion. I aim at having at least 3-4 meals a week at the table and even one of those nights is a frozen pizza night! And as described "this is familyrific". In our first few attempts to do this, the kids really have cried and screamed over who gets to pick a country, who can turn the globe, and I have yelled numerous times, "QUIT SPINNING IT", and they have even fought on who gets to pray (Fighting to Pray? I know, how do those words even go together? And it doesn't matter if they all get a turn, then they are fighting over who goes first ....;/ ) I know we won't get to do it on a daily basis that my "familyrific mom mind" first planned, but I also have hope that as the globe is displayed in our house, the kids will take interest in it. Mari already has, as she is probably going to be my "world traveler" out on her "Safaris" finding new animals! </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><br /></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><br /></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;">Maybe in this attempt someday as a family we will be blessed to get to travel the world? </span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><br /></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-D8uL330H5PI/TxjVUhfEmUI/AAAAAAAAAHM/L1sVtUHCJ18/s1600/photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-D8uL330H5PI/TxjVUhfEmUI/AAAAAAAAAHM/L1sVtUHCJ18/s320/photo.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span>Mom In a Minivanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00881789851131136309noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1729837385587639827.post-67614705047680537472012-01-09T22:04:00.000-08:002012-01-09T22:04:22.709-08:00Mr. EyeballHave been wanting to post this for a while....Over Christmas we spent Christmas Eve with my husbands family and their friends, the Arbaugh's. This would be the first time Mari had met the Arbaugh's.<br />
<br />
The kids were great and Santa came and we opened presents Christmas morning with Dan's aunt and uncle. Later that morning while looking at pictures on the fridge, Mari said, "Oh look that is Mr. Eyeball." <br />
There on the fridge was a picture of another family memeber who is an older gentleman and great uncle to Mari who looked a lot like "Mr. Arbaugh" from the night before. It took us all a few minutes to put it all together but when we did her mispronunciation was priceless and a Mari moment; and forever Mr. Arbaugh will be Mr. Eyeball. <br />
<br />
Also we recently moved and Mari had lost her precious blanket "MiMi". MiMi has been with Mari since she was 9 months and one night she just started asking for "Mimi", and we gave her everything until this white silky blanket was it. As she got older I loved why she said she loved it, "Because it is cold on one side and soft on the other." (one side is satin while the other is plush). At night she just lays the silk side (the cold part) on her bare stomach and goes to sleep. Mimi at one point even became a "she". I bet you didn't know blankets had genders???:) <br />
<br />
So with a little help from ebay and "Santa", Christmas morning MiMi was brought back to us (even a little "whiter" and "cleaner"). Mari squealed and ran around like a MaD Woman!!! She was so excited!! We told her Santa had found it and brought it back just for her. This was probably the best Christmas with all our kids....Just a few updated pics...<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/-9qldypYjvDM/TwvSamq2F7I/AAAAAAAAAGs/F0v0NPzYUZ4/s1600/IMG_3943.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9qldypYjvDM/TwvSamq2F7I/AAAAAAAAAGs/F0v0NPzYUZ4/s320/IMG_3943.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mari and Aunt Lissee making crayons<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </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://4.bp.blogspot.com/-j_kS3QT2c_Y/TwvSsKdeiRI/AAAAAAAAAG0/croGVHG3W98/s1600/IMG_4091.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-j_kS3QT2c_Y/TwvSsKdeiRI/AAAAAAAAAG0/croGVHG3W98/s320/IMG_4091.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mari NYE 2011 sporting Piggie Tails:) (a big deal to do her hair <br />these days!)</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/-Hk_79fwad8I/TwvS5G7hcNI/AAAAAAAAAG8/qqiTCTP7Bms/s1600/IMG_4092.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Hk_79fwad8I/TwvS5G7hcNI/AAAAAAAAAG8/qqiTCTP7Bms/s320/IMG_4092.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Silly girl</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/-cCZMyqJVpHo/TwvTFo77ndI/AAAAAAAAAHE/2HA83faP1Uc/s1600/IMG_4117.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cCZMyqJVpHo/TwvTFo77ndI/AAAAAAAAAHE/2HA83faP1Uc/s320/IMG_4117.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mari and her Mimi (and I think she was pretending to fall asleep so she would be<br />carried up to bed;/)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />Mom In a Minivanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00881789851131136309noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1729837385587639827.post-20299684611476537252011-12-26T18:06:00.000-08:002011-12-26T18:06:42.423-08:00Mari really practicing her manners...Christmas Eve we met with my husband's Dad and Aunt for a brunch at Bob Evans. Mari was dressed in her Christmas dress and cute as ever, and even cuter as she was using her "Please and Thank You's" along with lately her favorite "Excuse me."<br />
<br />
I say favorite because she thinks because she says it, she can interrupt and be heard at any moment because she "used her manners", and now we need to work on "wait your turn".<br />
<br />
<br />
So at the restaurant (which I am SO thankful was not very crowded) we were seated right away and our orders were taken immediately (as I have learned that if we are going out, we need to plan ahead what we are ordering to keep the momentum of the moment going so that we can avoid any melt downs if at all possible and even more, "have manners" and not ruin someone else's dining experience.<br />
<br />
Well, then the momentum slowed as the food didn't come as promptly as we were seated and orders taken.<br />
<br />
The kids did very well coloring and eating the free bread (again, have to know where your going and what they offer to keep every moment occupied). The waitress even came to refill our glasses twice. On the third visit to check on us and without our order, Mari stops all of the adult conversation and says, "Excuse me," but directs it to the waitress and says, " Why are my pancakes taking so long?"<br />
<br />
We all were speechless and busted out laughing, including the wide eyed waitress who maintained her sweetness and replied, " I don't know but I will check for you."<br />
<br />
In response to all our laughing, Mari shrugged her shoulders and said, "What? I said excuse me."<br />
<br />
The food came shortly all thanks to our Mari and we had a nice brunch with family. I guess interrupting with "Excuse me" sometimes is "Mannerful"? (I need to make that a Mari word) And only some how with Mari would any of this be seen as cute. ...Merry Christmas everyone!!<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/-HdIepQjIkKU/TvkjX6_tTLI/AAAAAAAAAGk/f2Vk9Vlcaqw/s1600/Mari+and+Aunt+Marilyn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HdIepQjIkKU/TvkjX6_tTLI/AAAAAAAAAGk/f2Vk9Vlcaqw/s320/Mari+and+Aunt+Marilyn.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mari w/ her Great-Aunt Marilyn</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
Mom In a Minivanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00881789851131136309noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1729837385587639827.post-36178350682400914952011-09-14T21:33:00.000-07:002011-09-14T21:33:52.936-07:00Mari's Animals are "thinking"....<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Onc night Mari woudln't let Dylan sleep in her bed because her, "Animals were thinking about it." </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/60BC3nOKwAo?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>Mom In a Minivanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00881789851131136309noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1729837385587639827.post-71806480117335151882011-09-14T21:20:00.000-07:002011-09-14T21:22:42.884-07:00Mari's summer<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">So these are just some pictures of bits and pieces of Ms. Mari's summer...we did the beach (where Mari as usual had NO fear, and swam in high waves of Lake Erie and didn't care if she started to drift out to sea/lake:/ ) .... We hit the zoo with friends where Mari became "Monkey Mari" and climbed trees at the picnic area (higher than the boys, EVEN in her dress;/)....One of my FAVORITE Mari moments this summer was when we attempted to camp at our city camp-out where the fair was and where we were only going to "walk" around and have a look at all the rides and Mari not ONCE, but FIVE times, got free rides by being "cute" and doing a "boo boo" face to the carnie's and they let her ride the rides for free and not just get ONE time around but many!....We swam at the pool, and I am hoping Mar just has this gift for swimming (check out the first post of summer) and maybe someday it will pay for college or maybe as she seems to like to pose in her suit, can run for Miss America??...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The end of the summer finished as Mari was invited to go with her best friend Morgan to a Safari Park and she got to see and touch real African animals (and ride a camel). I love the ring of the title "Mari's Safari"....</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Last, before school started, we did a day trip to the history museum and some how managed to leave without Mari climbing on one of the dinosaur exhibits and breaking any bones...Hers or the dinosaurs...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-I7zO0c4-158/TnF1qRXf9BI/AAAAAAAAAFQ/oChcT1xPrjc/s1600/IMG_2069_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-I7zO0c4-158/TnF1qRXf9BI/AAAAAAAAAFQ/oChcT1xPrjc/s320/IMG_2069_2.jpg" width="239" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RdUkPway2G0/TnF1-Cd-NtI/AAAAAAAAAFU/9f0coui7MJ0/s1600/IMG_1820.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RdUkPway2G0/TnF1-Cd-NtI/AAAAAAAAAFU/9f0coui7MJ0/s320/IMG_1820.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sXn-fG4dmyI/TnF2IpUOe8I/AAAAAAAAAFY/0LbPfQEEqbQ/s1600/IMG_1627.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sXn-fG4dmyI/TnF2IpUOe8I/AAAAAAAAAFY/0LbPfQEEqbQ/s320/IMG_1627.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oGzEofblk6U/TnF2Ke0TPNI/AAAAAAAAAFc/qZcLBjCDtAE/s1600/IMG_1628.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oGzEofblk6U/TnF2Ke0TPNI/AAAAAAAAAFc/qZcLBjCDtAE/s320/IMG_1628.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XoyeH5NNjMM/TnF2LisWU7I/AAAAAAAAAFg/UMqZMUpZkXY/s1600/IMG_1629.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XoyeH5NNjMM/TnF2LisWU7I/AAAAAAAAAFg/UMqZMUpZkXY/s320/IMG_1629.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lKQjAWgsfgE/TnF2c2OTGjI/AAAAAAAAAFk/U2KgthXFClY/s1600/IMG_1926.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lKQjAWgsfgE/TnF2c2OTGjI/AAAAAAAAAFk/U2KgthXFClY/s320/IMG_1926.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-23OCpCDOcPw/TnF2kW6NEJI/AAAAAAAAAFo/rUrONbonrOc/s1600/IMG_1906.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-23OCpCDOcPw/TnF2kW6NEJI/AAAAAAAAAFo/rUrONbonrOc/s320/IMG_1906.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FGaDSGe7qgA/TnF2yn5uN-I/AAAAAAAAAFs/AboDADEwFRg/s1600/IMG_1575.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FGaDSGe7qgA/TnF2yn5uN-I/AAAAAAAAAFs/AboDADEwFRg/s320/IMG_1575.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-n2XzTS9a8Jo/TnF20ppugNI/AAAAAAAAAFw/SaLKprS0UQQ/s1600/IMG_1576.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-n2XzTS9a8Jo/TnF20ppugNI/AAAAAAAAAFw/SaLKprS0UQQ/s320/IMG_1576.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zgtutusjP08/TnF22q5z_wI/AAAAAAAAAF0/eHNvh0LRLiY/s1600/IMG_1577.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zgtutusjP08/TnF22q5z_wI/AAAAAAAAAF0/eHNvh0LRLiY/s320/IMG_1577.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LrLl8lOZbMU/TnF24foetXI/AAAAAAAAAF4/40Bh_pVVqmM/s1600/IMG_1578.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LrLl8lOZbMU/TnF24foetXI/AAAAAAAAAF4/40Bh_pVVqmM/s320/IMG_1578.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EfKYHGJcKaM/TnF26QUzPUI/AAAAAAAAAF8/VfzG6-MXr5w/s1600/IMG_1579.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EfKYHGJcKaM/TnF26QUzPUI/AAAAAAAAAF8/VfzG6-MXr5w/s320/IMG_1579.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rdOPrQhkaWI/TnF28DFvBUI/AAAAAAAAAGA/1VukUydFQA8/s1600/IMG_1580.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rdOPrQhkaWI/TnF28DFvBUI/AAAAAAAAAGA/1VukUydFQA8/s320/IMG_1580.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Z_jr7osSvSE/TnF29w_Pk6I/AAAAAAAAAGE/LXtZ21WoXQQ/s1600/IMG_1582.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Z_jr7osSvSE/TnF29w_Pk6I/AAAAAAAAAGE/LXtZ21WoXQQ/s320/IMG_1582.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-15QjW2Yuna0/TnF3pCk_7SI/AAAAAAAAAGI/TjWA-iNG-_I/s1600/IMG_2470.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-15QjW2Yuna0/TnF3pCk_7SI/AAAAAAAAAGI/TjWA-iNG-_I/s320/IMG_2470.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-I3LNDvAmFUk/TnF3rOwvqkI/AAAAAAAAAGM/m5M-xFzVtaM/s1600/IMG_2548.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-I3LNDvAmFUk/TnF3rOwvqkI/AAAAAAAAAGM/m5M-xFzVtaM/s320/IMG_2548.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-z14qs4rOk-k/TnF3sl0QlDI/AAAAAAAAAGQ/JKHA511-x5o/s1600/IMG_2549.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-z14qs4rOk-k/TnF3sl0QlDI/AAAAAAAAAGQ/JKHA511-x5o/s320/IMG_2549.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8CvHi02cHWc/TnF35O6XiDI/AAAAAAAAAGU/VHV5fUpNGpQ/s1600/IMG_2480.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8CvHi02cHWc/TnF35O6XiDI/AAAAAAAAAGU/VHV5fUpNGpQ/s320/IMG_2480.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qSJdru1TjT4/TnF4CHfZYII/AAAAAAAAAGY/M7dXcgkTmlU/s1600/IMG_2481.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qSJdru1TjT4/TnF4CHfZYII/AAAAAAAAAGY/M7dXcgkTmlU/s320/IMG_2481.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-O5mR025qEYc/TnF4Kr4T6AI/AAAAAAAAAGc/NKcuAAK6p9E/s1600/IMG_2482.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-O5mR025qEYc/TnF4Kr4T6AI/AAAAAAAAAGc/NKcuAAK6p9E/s320/IMG_2482.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Mom In a Minivanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00881789851131136309noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1729837385587639827.post-64537360149602311142011-07-04T11:08:00.000-07:002011-07-04T11:31:25.098-07:00Mari goes to the moviesOur last two weeks have been filled with two kids birthdays and our second family camping trip slash, 4th of July weekend slash Carnvial. Both have ended rough;/ not horrible but just not in "romantic fashion" as my husband calls it....Mari did get some free rides from the carnie's as she "boo boo" faced her way on the rides! As I am trying to keep up with this blog, I will first share the movie trip....<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Su9XMzZonMg/ThIEmoCApiI/AAAAAAAAAEo/68REwPYUOmU/s1600/photo-1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Su9XMzZonMg/ThIEmoCApiI/AAAAAAAAAEo/68REwPYUOmU/s320/photo-1.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<br />
<br />
We took the kids to see Cars 2 on the weekend it came out. We maybe see one movie a year and with it opening the weekend of two of our kids birthdays (they have back to back birthdays) we decided it was worth the trip out. We even had coupons for free popcorn for the kids (maybe that was where it was too good to be true.) We didn't see the 3D one, we are too cheap! ( I only added it to my story to make it a story!) Maybe we should have splurged and that scenario would have ended better. This was the second family "movie" outing we have ever done. The first one did end in that "romantic notion". So we were way over confident in thinking that this movie experience would go in the same way. <br />
<br />
Mari couldn't sit in her seat, neither could Hank, but for the record and for Dylan's sake, she was AWESOME ( 1 out 3 is good right?) The two little ones went from sitting on my lap to Dan's, to wanting to "try out" every seat in the isle; also any time there was music in the movie, they made it into a dance party and starting jumping and dancing to it (at least they have rhythm). We ran out of popcorn not even half way through the movies and the two kids freaked. I still want to blame the movie for not drawing the kids into the million dollar animation, but that would be too easy to do (but I still am going to say it wasn't worth the money to see in the theater and it is more of a rental movie, but I am still probably a little bitter about the whole experience and cost. The kids also talked VERY <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">VERY</span> loudly and don't get what SHHHHHH means;/ So maybe too since I didn't get to really watch it, I don't know how good of a movie it was?) We had a total of 4 bathroom trips and at one point dragged Hank out because he was screaming at me because Mari was on my lap and not him. When I finally brought him back into the theater, the seat I found to sit in was broken and just out of frustration I sat in it for the rest of the movie......The broken seat pretty much summed up the whole movie trip....We will try it again next year! When this whole experience is a blur.....<br />
<br />
<b><u>Mari goes to the movies</u></b><br />
<br />
Today my family and I went to the movies!<br />
<br />
We even got a drink and popcorn!<br />
<br />
The movie is in 3D so we get to wear special glasses that makes the characters POP out of the screen!<br />
<br />
My mom even let me bring MIMI (my special blanket) so I can stay warm during the movie. Mom says sometimes the theater gets cold. (A theater is the big room where you sit and watch the movie.)<br />
<br />
My mom told me we have to follow certain rules if we are going to sit in the theater.<br />
<br />
Here are some Movie Rules:<br />
<br />
First rule: YOU HAVE TO SIT IN YOUR SEAT! this means no getting up <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">AT all </span>during the movie. NO JUMPING, dancing, or STANDING while the movie is playing!<br />
<br />
Rule number 2: NO TALKING <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">AT ALL</span> while the movie is playing. ( My mom says if I have to say anything I can whisper very quietly to her in her ear). Talking during the movie is rude because other people are in the theater too and talking would make them miss the movie. <br />
<br />
Rule number 3: We all have to share the popcorn. (some day when I am BIG I might change this rule)<br />
<br />
Rule number 4: (This should be rule number 1) USE THE BATHROOM BEFORE THE MOVIE STARTS! my mom says we should do this so that we don't have to go while the movie is playing so we don't miss any of the movie because we can't stop it like we can at home.<br />
<br />
So now I am ready to see the movie! I used the bathroom. I found my seat. The lights go out. The theater is dark. The movie starts! SHHH! NO TALKING!!Mom In a Minivanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00881789851131136309noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1729837385587639827.post-25563020815040354872011-06-16T19:20:00.000-07:002011-06-16T20:00:42.384-07:00Mad Mari Minds Her Manners...<i>Friday my friends' came over and I watched their daughter for a few hours. As they dropped her off the kids went nuts from the attention and excitement of having people over. We have people over all the time, so you would think they would be used to guests? The ten minute drop off then became one of those moments that felt like hours and where I honestly felt I had no control of my kids. Mari was jumping on the couch, Hank was starting to throw a huge bouncy ball at my friend, and they just wouldn't stop. Hank then starts crying because he, "wants to go to their house", and not have them over ours. I was so embarrassed and pretty much felt like they were wondering if it was even safe for them to leave their child with me. As soon as they left, the kids go back into "functioning mode" and all of them play great for the next couple of hours. </i><br />
<i><br />
</i><br />
<i> So as pick up time arrives, I am thinking that by time they get back, the kids would be tired out and the earlier excitement has faded? Sadly, I was wrong. By this time, Dylan was down stairs playing and when our friends walked into the house and asked Dylan how she was, Dylan starts to get "shy". You know where your kid starts to cling to your leg and then they get all whiny and won't even look at the other person, and you the parent are internally pleading for them to snap out of it and start talking? Mari at the same time is smothering my friends baby, and Hank is crying about something, again. I am now for the second time with them, embarrassed and frustrated about feeling so out of control and trying to reassure them that they all played great and none of this chaos happened the entire time. </i><br />
<i><br />
</i><br />
<i>So the moment they leave I gather the kids, give a "lecture" ( and yes, by lecture I mean FULL blown yell, to my friends who think I don't yell, I yelled!) about how they need to treat people better and have some "manners." I come up with this brilliant idea of "acting out" how we need to use our manners. </i><br />
<i><br />
</i><br />
<i>We start role playing and the kids love it. I pretend to be my friend and repeatedly for the next hour, knock on the door over and over and then come into the house and ask them the same questions that they had been asked during our friends visit, and the kids respond very politely, correctly and so adorable...for a moment I can't believe they are the same kids....They even take turns and we even do "stranger danger" of what to do if someone comes to the door and you don't know who they are. For a day I am a hero, we have fun and the kids learned a "lesson." And I continue to hope that they are really "taking in" this long exhausting game of playing "knock knock". </i><br />
<i><br />
</i><br />
<i> Sunday, we got to practice our "game" of role playing with our friends again and the kids did awesome. ....So for the rest of the summer we will continue to "role play" with some of our MANNERS and continue to hope and pray that my kids grow up as "polite individuals". Every parents hope and dream to have your kid be used by some other family as an "example" of how you should act in public right? </i><br />
<i><br />
</i><br />
<i>As I am trying to edit this, I have to add that Tuesday I learned that this is going to be a LONG process after I took Mari by herself to a funeral with me ( I dropped off the other two kids and my 4 year old niece with my sister and her two kids, ages 3 and 2. She is also 7 months pregnant with her third. So leaving Mari with her was like entering dangerous waters, and out of fear, I took her with me).</i><br />
<i><br />
</i><br />
<i> Mari sat awesome during the service and for the most part did really well except for right after we ate. I was sitting with my friend who's mother had passed away and her friend, and Mari just comes running up, and out of now where, burps in their faces..Sigh....that may need a whole other book title and new "creative game" to come up with...As usual, I am just exhausted typing this as living it out! </i><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wlprvmMnD60/TfrALbfy-iI/AAAAAAAAAEg/XtOu8PuEhMc/s1600/DSCF6698.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wlprvmMnD60/TfrALbfy-iI/AAAAAAAAAEg/XtOu8PuEhMc/s320/DSCF6698.JPG" width="180" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-voaLSd4_Ehw/TfrAY9x0yGI/AAAAAAAAAEk/R3u-YiIP3BA/s1600/IMG_0992.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-voaLSd4_Ehw/TfrAY9x0yGI/AAAAAAAAAEk/R3u-YiIP3BA/s320/IMG_0992.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: magenta;"><i><u>Mari Minds Her Manners...</u></i></span><br />
(a rough draft)<br />
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Hi my name is Marilyn Jane but you can call me Mari (Ma R ee)....</div><div><br />
</div><br />
<br />
Today my mom said I need to mind my manners.<br />
<br />
"What's manners?" I asked her.<br />
<br />
She told me it is using words like, "Please and Thank you", "Talking quietly", "Being Nice and not Mean", "Chewing with my mouth closed", "Saying May I ", "Being patient and not interrupting and if interrupting saying 'Excuse me'", "Sharing toys (even with babies she tells me!!)" ....things like that....<br />
<br />
"Hmmm" I said. "You mean using my manners at the library and how we need to talk in our small voices?" <br />
<br />
"Yes, just like that," She said....<br />
<br />
"And like when the lady at the bank gives me a sucker and I have to say, 'Thank You?'''<br />
<br />
"Yes, just like that," She said<br />
<br />
"Oh, Oh! Like when you are talking to someone and I need to interrupt and have to say, "Excuse me?"<br />
<br />
"Yes, Mari, just like that!" My mom smiles.<br />
<br />
I can be good at this I start to think.<br />
<br />
"Mom? What do I do when I forget to use my manners?" I ask with my mouth all smushed.<br />
<br />
'''Good question Mari!" she tells me.<br />
<br />
( I smile, I like asking good questions.)<br />
<br />
Mom then tells me what I have to do.<br />
<br />
"You stop what you are doing and use your manners by saying , 'Oh, excuse me! I forgot my manners!' and start using them ALL over again!'' she says as she winks at me...<br />
<br />
I wink back and using my MANNERS, I say, "Why thank you mom for teaching me how to use my manners!"Mom In a Minivanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00881789851131136309noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1729837385587639827.post-65428339626356362972011-06-11T10:56:00.000-07:002011-06-11T11:18:43.878-07:00Mari survives DAY 1 of Summer Vacation...So Friday we went to Dylan's last day of school and they finished the day off with a parade. Mari got swept into the parade with the students and in a second I lost her. Thanks to 3 of my friends we found her. I am going to end up with an ulcer because of her. We then finished the day at the pool with my friend and her 4 kids. <br />
<br />
Mari needs a NO FEAR t-shirt. Maybe we will bring that part of the 80s/90s back and with her face on the back of it. At the pool, she swam into the deep 5 ft part of the pool, following her sister. I chased her down and brought her back. I also had her 3 year old brother in my arms. The moment we got back to the shallow part, she climb out of the pool and immediately jumped back into the deep end. Just like that, JUMPED, like it was nothing. My friend (emphasis...<b>who also has 4 kids of her own</b>) then chases after her and jumps in to grab her. Ironically, Mari can actually swim on her own my friend found out, but at 4, I am not going to let her swim in the deep end alone ( I am a responsible parent...or try to play the part).<br />
<br />
My friend and I decided that day that Mari has the ability to move at the speed of light. She can teleport herself like she is a super hero or a Xman! <br />
<br />
So, DAY ONE of summer, Mari was saved from an Amber Alert and from drowing....how many more to go?<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>"Oh Mar" is just a phrase we sigh....and she then looks at us and says, "What?" with her hands out and shoulders shrugged....I am smiling just typing this...that kid....<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NOh_p-4lBmk/TfOqnWNz8QI/AAAAAAAAAEI/Pwpggv-kQQk/s1600/photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NOh_p-4lBmk/TfOqnWNz8QI/AAAAAAAAAEI/Pwpggv-kQQk/s320/photo.JPG" width="238" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">"Day 1 at the pool, resting after her JUMP"</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><u>Video of some Mad Mari Faces....</u></div><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwAKBYidSE10q34AkRwZjyK8hyt-OIVTEQVodb6Cdi49kQzgTdHZXcd6Q_OPcEe1IFqF0ry3GupqyZtFx0uSg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Some different faces of Mari...</div><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bJYgLB-t-kI/TfOqir52v8I/AAAAAAAAAEA/fLQlnC8P-xY/s1600/photo-1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bJYgLB-t-kI/TfOqir52v8I/AAAAAAAAAEA/fLQlnC8P-xY/s320/photo-1.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uT6sRMXirKY/TfOqlZYW_LI/AAAAAAAAAEE/5AHcIR6Pvlk/s1600/photo-4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uT6sRMXirKY/TfOqlZYW_LI/AAAAAAAAAEE/5AHcIR6Pvlk/s320/photo-4.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">"I am determined"</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--BwsE7yJzSI/TfOqow1_P6I/AAAAAAAAAEM/jaozS3gh7-s/s1600/photo-2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--BwsE7yJzSI/TfOqow1_P6I/AAAAAAAAAEM/jaozS3gh7-s/s320/photo-2.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Dqu0_ut09cE/TfOqp8BY3rI/AAAAAAAAAEQ/4z7dv0nNEzs/s1600/photo-3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Dqu0_ut09cE/TfOqp8BY3rI/AAAAAAAAAEQ/4z7dv0nNEzs/s1600/photo-3.JPG" /></a></div>Mom In a Minivanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00881789851131136309noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1729837385587639827.post-49101120849140425282011-06-11T10:20:00.000-07:002011-06-11T10:20:03.918-07:00Offical Face of Mad Mari<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UwhbZMEP7yg/TfOjhkLZfyI/AAAAAAAAAD4/Ssm2xQ7jvis/s1600/IMG_0032.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UwhbZMEP7yg/TfOjhkLZfyI/AAAAAAAAAD4/Ssm2xQ7jvis/s320/IMG_0032.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vFsxgaPrjKs/TfOjqUI421I/AAAAAAAAAD8/WCulcVPdu_E/s1600/IMG_0029.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vFsxgaPrjKs/TfOjqUI421I/AAAAAAAAAD8/WCulcVPdu_E/s320/IMG_0029.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Mom In a Minivanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00881789851131136309noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1729837385587639827.post-359974672900631432011-01-31T20:24:00.000-08:002011-01-31T20:24:07.936-08:00Mari Makes a Mess(Very rough draft)<br />
<br />
HI my names is Marilyn Jane Connors but you can call me Mari ( Ma R ee)<br />
<br />
<br />
Today I made a BIG Mess.....<br />
<br />
Toys every where....<br />
<br />
I couldn't even see my floor!!!<br />
<br />
Then I got sad because I couldn't find my favorite blankie "MiMi". <br />
<br />
She was gone.<br />
<br />
I began to cry.<br />
<br />
My mom came running in and asked what was wrong. I told her I couldn't find MiMi.<br />
<br />
Mom then said, "Mari, this room is so MESSY, of course you can't find her. Making a mess means cleaning up the mess."<br />
<br />
Ugh...not what I wanted to hear....<br />
<br />
I stood up....and started to clean up my mess....<br />
<br />
Blocks in the basket...Dolls in the drawer....Clothes in the closet....and then I found her...<br />
<br />
MiMi!!!!!<br />
<br />
I found my MiMi!!!! Mom was right...cleaning up my mess worked!!<br />
<br />
Mess gone....MiMi found....<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><b><u>Some Mari Moments</u></b></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_uQ-U7Zsi9Lk/TUeA6LSJecI/AAAAAAAAAC4/Uk4ivKxoDnk/s1600/0303001337.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_uQ-U7Zsi9Lk/TUeA6LSJecI/AAAAAAAAAC4/Uk4ivKxoDnk/s320/0303001337.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_uQ-U7Zsi9Lk/TUeBCr6INWI/AAAAAAAAAC8/Vm8DWurnlkA/s1600/1108091656.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_uQ-U7Zsi9Lk/TUeBCr6INWI/AAAAAAAAAC8/Vm8DWurnlkA/s320/1108091656.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_uQ-U7Zsi9Lk/TUeBUQRvx8I/AAAAAAAAADA/a4FkhizJOhM/s1600/1127091206a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_uQ-U7Zsi9Lk/TUeBUQRvx8I/AAAAAAAAADA/a4FkhizJOhM/s320/1127091206a.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_uQ-U7Zsi9Lk/TUeBy96AYaI/AAAAAAAAADE/5PmQjHec9no/s1600/IMG_5969.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_uQ-U7Zsi9Lk/TUeBy96AYaI/AAAAAAAAADE/5PmQjHec9no/s320/IMG_5969.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_uQ-U7Zsi9Lk/TUeCGjjhWzI/AAAAAAAAADI/AjJvxmrwF60/s1600/IMG_6144.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_uQ-U7Zsi9Lk/TUeCGjjhWzI/AAAAAAAAADI/AjJvxmrwF60/s320/IMG_6144.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_uQ-U7Zsi9Lk/TUeC6utpJFI/AAAAAAAAADM/3Jl1FlQunyU/s1600/DSCN2182.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_uQ-U7Zsi9Lk/TUeC6utpJFI/AAAAAAAAADM/3Jl1FlQunyU/s320/DSCN2182.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_uQ-U7Zsi9Lk/TUeI8AaZucI/AAAAAAAAADg/0BQQlSXuJ0I/s1600/IMG_4427.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_uQ-U7Zsi9Lk/TUeI8AaZucI/AAAAAAAAADg/0BQQlSXuJ0I/s320/IMG_4427.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_uQ-U7Zsi9Lk/TUeI9SSZi3I/AAAAAAAAADk/yDR3C1wYFXI/s1600/1113091446.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_uQ-U7Zsi9Lk/TUeI9SSZi3I/AAAAAAAAADk/yDR3C1wYFXI/s320/1113091446.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_uQ-U7Zsi9Lk/TUeI-s_xE6I/AAAAAAAAADo/iC2cd-nSc8s/s1600/IMG_6181.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_uQ-U7Zsi9Lk/TUeI-s_xE6I/AAAAAAAAADo/iC2cd-nSc8s/s320/IMG_6181.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_uQ-U7Zsi9Lk/TUeJAvWP6pI/AAAAAAAAADs/3VoY-mFCKi8/s1600/0902001437.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_uQ-U7Zsi9Lk/TUeJAvWP6pI/AAAAAAAAADs/3VoY-mFCKi8/s320/0902001437.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_uQ-U7Zsi9Lk/TUeJCHcwe0I/AAAAAAAAADw/yRFH-qV4Qwg/s1600/0913000922.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_uQ-U7Zsi9Lk/TUeJCHcwe0I/AAAAAAAAADw/yRFH-qV4Qwg/s320/0913000922.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Mom In a Minivanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00881789851131136309noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1729837385587639827.post-300630604961167142010-11-07T23:47:00.000-08:002011-01-31T20:13:21.549-08:00MAD MARI.....<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/_uQ-U7Zsi9Lk/TNek7XfolyI/AAAAAAAAABg/fSyTcycaGwU/s1600/IMG_6420.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_uQ-U7Zsi9Lk/TNek7XfolyI/AAAAAAAAABg/fSyTcycaGwU/s320/IMG_6420.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">MAD MARI<br />
<br />
<br />
Hi my name is Marilyn Jane but you can call me Mari (Ma R ee)<br />
<br />
Some days I get so MAD!!!!<br />
<br />
MAD! MAD! MAD!<br />
<br />
I stomp my feet!<br />
<br />
I cry REAL LOUD!<br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I boo hoo hoo!!</span><br />
<br />
And I HOLD my breath and even start to turn BLUE!!!<br />
<br />
My mom then picks me up and says,<br />
<br />
"Mari....take a BIG BREATH and BLOW IT OUT..."<br />
<br />
I take a REAL <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">DEEP</span> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">BIG </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">BREATH</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">"hahhhhhhhhhhhhhh"</span><br />
<br />
AND THEN<br />
<br />
I BLOW out all the Madness!!!!!!!!<br />
<br />
AND....<br />
<br />
SIGH...I don't feel so Mad anymore.........<br />
<br />
<br />
<b><u>Some Past Mad Mari Moments......</u></b><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_uQ-U7Zsi9Lk/TNepnyq4wJI/AAAAAAAAABk/_piJonBJLtw/s1600/n669849201_1059937_6422.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_uQ-U7Zsi9Lk/TNepnyq4wJI/AAAAAAAAABk/_piJonBJLtw/s320/n669849201_1059937_6422.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_uQ-U7Zsi9Lk/TNepo1ot6hI/AAAAAAAAABo/o8cta07KvAk/s1600/n669849201_1059938_6735.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_uQ-U7Zsi9Lk/TNepo1ot6hI/AAAAAAAAABo/o8cta07KvAk/s320/n669849201_1059938_6735.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_uQ-U7Zsi9Lk/TNeppdzaLEI/AAAAAAAAABs/-6GuqZbSx1w/s1600/s669849201_1059935_5814.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_uQ-U7Zsi9Lk/TNeppdzaLEI/AAAAAAAAABs/-6GuqZbSx1w/s1600/s669849201_1059935_5814.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_uQ-U7Zsi9Lk/TNeppvI-qbI/AAAAAAAAABw/cEa4cBf2c7g/s1600/n669849201_1059932_4864.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_uQ-U7Zsi9Lk/TNeppvI-qbI/AAAAAAAAABw/cEa4cBf2c7g/s320/n669849201_1059932_4864.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_uQ-U7Zsi9Lk/TNepqLX-twI/AAAAAAAAAB0/b2HSTsLKIEk/s1600/n669849201_1059933_5183.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_uQ-U7Zsi9Lk/TNepqLX-twI/AAAAAAAAAB0/b2HSTsLKIEk/s320/n669849201_1059933_5183.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_uQ-U7Zsi9Lk/TNepqlOJWVI/AAAAAAAAAB4/iwG5Xs_xxsU/s1600/n669849201_1059934_5483.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_uQ-U7Zsi9Lk/TNepqlOJWVI/AAAAAAAAAB4/iwG5Xs_xxsU/s320/n669849201_1059934_5483.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_uQ-U7Zsi9Lk/TNepqzuh6wI/AAAAAAAAAB8/Vee-0-76rpE/s1600/n669849201_1059935_5814.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_uQ-U7Zsi9Lk/TNepqzuh6wI/AAAAAAAAAB8/Vee-0-76rpE/s320/n669849201_1059935_5814.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_uQ-U7Zsi9Lk/TNepriFvcdI/AAAAAAAAACA/TLWMmxaI07o/s1600/n669849201_1059936_6119.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_uQ-U7Zsi9Lk/TNepriFvcdI/AAAAAAAAACA/TLWMmxaI07o/s320/n669849201_1059936_6119.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_uQ-U7Zsi9Lk/TNepr6YZfvI/AAAAAAAAACE/wjC3FuV6OY0/s1600/n669849201_1059950_9058.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_uQ-U7Zsi9Lk/TNepr6YZfvI/AAAAAAAAACE/wjC3FuV6OY0/s320/n669849201_1059950_9058.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_uQ-U7Zsi9Lk/TNepscjaFDI/AAAAAAAAACI/Cv3-nwVD1s4/s1600/n669849201_1059951_9992.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_uQ-U7Zsi9Lk/TNepscjaFDI/AAAAAAAAACI/Cv3-nwVD1s4/s320/n669849201_1059951_9992.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_uQ-U7Zsi9Lk/TNeps5lLnaI/AAAAAAAAACM/ZmPymhOiN1s/s1600/n669849201_1060272_5552.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_uQ-U7Zsi9Lk/TNeps5lLnaI/AAAAAAAAACM/ZmPymhOiN1s/s320/n669849201_1060272_5552.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_uQ-U7Zsi9Lk/TNeptfrIm_I/AAAAAAAAACQ/cAKQ2TjBVKQ/s1600/n669849201_1060274_6192.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_uQ-U7Zsi9Lk/TNeptfrIm_I/AAAAAAAAACQ/cAKQ2TjBVKQ/s320/n669849201_1060274_6192.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_uQ-U7Zsi9Lk/TNept22hXsI/AAAAAAAAACU/LloDlfWcjBw/s1600/n669849201_1060275_6511.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_uQ-U7Zsi9Lk/TNept22hXsI/AAAAAAAAACU/LloDlfWcjBw/s320/n669849201_1060275_6511.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_uQ-U7Zsi9Lk/TNepuLDKtCI/AAAAAAAAACY/Ar8d_NQXZqA/s1600/n669849201_1060276_6841.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_uQ-U7Zsi9Lk/TNepuLDKtCI/AAAAAAAAACY/Ar8d_NQXZqA/s320/n669849201_1060276_6841.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_uQ-U7Zsi9Lk/TNepu3OPnhI/AAAAAAAAACc/EwT6uMki0jE/s1600/n669849201_1060277_8494.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_uQ-U7Zsi9Lk/TNepu3OPnhI/AAAAAAAAACc/EwT6uMki0jE/s320/n669849201_1060277_8494.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_uQ-U7Zsi9Lk/TNepvAhApqI/AAAAAAAAACg/E3rmVCY_r7k/s1600/n669849201_2259260_1181433.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_uQ-U7Zsi9Lk/TNepvAhApqI/AAAAAAAAACg/E3rmVCY_r7k/s320/n669849201_2259260_1181433.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_uQ-U7Zsi9Lk/TNepv8l4CxI/AAAAAAAAACk/O1rOQwGHO9I/s1600/n669849201_2259261_5127052.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_uQ-U7Zsi9Lk/TNepv8l4CxI/AAAAAAAAACk/O1rOQwGHO9I/s320/n669849201_2259261_5127052.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_uQ-U7Zsi9Lk/TNepwm9KzWI/AAAAAAAAACo/pYCWCcZkyYI/s1600/n669849201_2259256_2017817.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_uQ-U7Zsi9Lk/TNepwm9KzWI/AAAAAAAAACo/pYCWCcZkyYI/s320/n669849201_2259256_2017817.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Mom In a Minivanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00881789851131136309noreply@blogger.com1