tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-46132885871751794032024-02-19T04:20:29.701-05:00The Morning's BrewAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01585784922207735850noreply@blogger.comBlogger128125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4613288587175179403.post-62767180679493366722018-11-07T19:59:00.001-05:002018-11-07T19:59:06.931-05:00Autumn-Spice Granola<u>Stace's Autumn-Spice Granola</u><br />
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-4 cups rolled oats<br />
-1 cup almonds<br />
-1 cup pecans<br />
-1 cup raisins<br />
-1.5 tbsp almond butter<br />
-3 tbsp honey<br />
-4 tbsp pumpkin puree<br />
-1 tsp cinnamon<br />
-1.5 tsp pumpkin pie spice<br />
-1 tsp vanilla powder<br />
-1/2 tsp salt<br />
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Preheat over to 300 degrees.<br />
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In a large bowl, stir together oats & nuts.<br />
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In a small bowl, melt honey & almond butter together. Then add pumpkin puree & spices.<br />
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Slowly pour the syrup mixture over the oat mixture.<br />
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Spread mixture onto a baking sheet.<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Bake (center oven rack) for about 40 minutes, stirring every 15 minutes to prevent burning, until granola is crumbly and golden.</span><br />
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<li style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 0px !important; padding-bottom: 28px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Remove from oven and stir in the raisins.</span></li>
<li style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 0px !important; padding-bottom: 28px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">When the mixture is cool, store in an airtight container for up to 5 days or refrigerate for 1 month.</span></li>
</ol>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01585784922207735850noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4613288587175179403.post-39373642141894823272018-02-04T17:05:00.002-05:002018-02-07T14:53:39.686-05:00TodayWell, it's Super Bowl Sunday and my only plans include reading a Tim Keller book, snuggling with Sneaker and cooking some pan-fried, crispy chicken. Christopher is away this week with Cuddle Magic touring the Midwest. Tomorrow's my 33rd birthday (that number feels strange) and, somewhat funnily, I have jury duty.<br />
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<a href="https://www.katiereyphotography.com/" target="_blank">Katie Reynolds</a> stopped over this afternoon to drop off a framed print of her photograph called the "Jolly Roger." She had a really great show at the American Sardine Bar last month that Christopher & I were able to attend. I've been really struck by Katie's work capturing vintage signs. Her double exposures make you feel like you're in this alternate reality and I love staring into those little "worlds" that she creates.<br />
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For now, I've propped it on our living room bookshelf, front and center.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEMZkgjO9PTzNvj5LyBzzSoIORNSKGxunR5GTzjVKNApf0jumu1LDFHZN6E2SyHnZqDpOa7VyXW6ug-WW4J_0wcXTxswuJwWBr-YWHNdGGCe3LZ-XNem-lVBX_kQSOyzp9Y_EXBlDj36Q/s1600/JollyRoger-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEMZkgjO9PTzNvj5LyBzzSoIORNSKGxunR5GTzjVKNApf0jumu1LDFHZN6E2SyHnZqDpOa7VyXW6ug-WW4J_0wcXTxswuJwWBr-YWHNdGGCe3LZ-XNem-lVBX_kQSOyzp9Y_EXBlDj36Q/s640/JollyRoger-3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
It's starting to get dark (5pm) and I took this photo to capture the fact that I finally (after maybe 2 years) lit this beautiful candle that our neighbors gave to us after watching their cat Noodle while they were away. Their daughter Eliana takes piano lessons with me and is always asking me when I'll light it. I thought that burning it would ruin its beautiful etchings. However, I now see that I was wrong. It's even more beautiful now that it's melted a little.<br />
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I've been struggling a lot with my skin lately. Actually, I've been struggling for an entire 7 (perhaps 8) years now and it's only been tolerable at a few certain points. I don't really have much to say about it except that it's really hard living like this. My heart feels so heavy so often. Just typing that out feels moderately therapeutic. It's difficult having a health condition that's mysterious and not really understood by anyone (including me).<br />
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Anyway, I think it's time to start cooking some dinner. Go Eagles?<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01585784922207735850noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4613288587175179403.post-6514057224643499502017-11-21T22:09:00.000-05:002017-11-21T22:09:07.664-05:00A beautiful gift.Over the past year, my piano students have started giving "Mini Recitals" at our house. It's a chance for the kids to invite their friends & family to the studio and to perform just for them. I could talk ALL DAY about how wonderful it is and about all of the benefits that I've seen. But that's really not what this post is about!<br />
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This post is all about the beautiful gifts that I was given this past weekend after hosting one of these said recitals for my student David, age 5. His mom Anu is so lovely & warm and, truly, a kindred spirit. She handpicked the loveliest little gifts that speak right to my heart!<br />
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I felt so inspired by their beauty that had to take a few photos:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEEn1niefaoKXeYj4lt40AzbDs6QGm7HCjP8kUb052nMK2nxsDRW9BkIANIEPyG1ejoOpAcyME1socSv_2vd_G5VcVgW5ioaC06u4LnuD9pHWYYaFOZuzTRi-HwuyPJwlSUCvDnof2QVI/s1600/Orchid-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEEn1niefaoKXeYj4lt40AzbDs6QGm7HCjP8kUb052nMK2nxsDRW9BkIANIEPyG1ejoOpAcyME1socSv_2vd_G5VcVgW5ioaC06u4LnuD9pHWYYaFOZuzTRi-HwuyPJwlSUCvDnof2QVI/s640/Orchid-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Not only the orchid, but also a cat-themed calendar (PERFECTION), <span style="text-align: center;">some tea and a handmade card from David...</span></div>
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And, because he's so stinkin' cute, here's a picture of David after the recital. He's holding his recital program. He performed 11 songs and nailed it! <3</div>
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Gah, I feel so loved. And I am SO proud and happy that he already has one successful Solo Recital under his belt... at age 5!! </div>
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I've found such joy and motivation from teaching piano, especially over the last year or two, after coming through some extremely difficult times. I hope that it continues and that I'll continue to grow as a teacher. </div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01585784922207735850noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4613288587175179403.post-18367920085671720792015-04-06T17:13:00.000-04:002015-04-06T17:15:42.805-04:00Photos from todayIt's been a long time since I've felt well enough to take my camera with me on a walk. I'm so thankful for this morning. I woke up feeling generally okay (compared to my normal) and so I decided to take a walk before breakfast.<br />
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Here's a few of those photos from this morning, taken in the Woodlands Cemetery.<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01585784922207735850noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4613288587175179403.post-86733519949919458882014-09-03T12:04:00.001-04:002014-09-03T12:04:13.118-04:00Entryway bench<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Since moving into our new home in January, our front entryway had been a gaping hole of nothingness. Besides an ugly brown carpet, there was simply nothing there--no furniture, no place to hang your coat. When we'd walk in the door, we'd set our grocery bags right next to our large pile of shoes on the floor. It wasn't very welcoming and it wasn't a place that we might spend any time lingering in. </div>
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It had been on my list of to-do's to find something fitting for this area for quite some time. In my mind, I was picturing something like a hall tree (with a bench and coat hangers), but the more I looked at them, the less I liked that particular style for this particular spot in our home. My idea for the furniture that I was looking for kept morphing to new ideas. For months, I'd been scouring Craigslist and local thrift shops in search of <i>something. </i></div>
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And, well, persistence pays off. Last week, this gorgeous antique double-width school bench appeared on Craigslist and I just happened to get in contact with the seller before someone else snatched it up. I never would have thought to look for something like this but, when it turned up online, it just seemed like the perfect piece for this little corner of our home. Better than anything that I could have imagined.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-BmfOzluK9UCOwNKqMO6z16tKMdCegnAqvNU7Cc0UI4axOoLbJ8AVDAJtBkgERd7IwkFE3LugEWveNGnOHmseegeOzq2TMIS0g8vj8-r3v2Pa140qtYCnjIezscYemV2NmBKDWTFYXbY/s1600/IMG_5793.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-BmfOzluK9UCOwNKqMO6z16tKMdCegnAqvNU7Cc0UI4axOoLbJ8AVDAJtBkgERd7IwkFE3LugEWveNGnOHmseegeOzq2TMIS0g8vj8-r3v2Pa140qtYCnjIezscYemV2NmBKDWTFYXbY/s1600/IMG_5793.jpg" height="640" width="426" /></a></div>
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I love the character of it--its gorgeous wood and wrought iron legs; the inkwell and pencil holder on the desk portion. I love that it has a history (even though I don't know what that history actually is)!</div>
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<span style="text-align: left;">There's still not a place to hang up our coats when we walk in the door, but I have a feeling that I can find a solution for that before winter comes. Assuming something nice pops up somewhere.</span></div>
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<span style="text-align: left;">And these little details, here.... my mom found the cat artwork somewhere online and printed it out for us (this is just a tiny zoomed-in portion of a much larger piece of art) and then she found a used frame and personalized it with paint! Don't you just love the little paws?! HEHE</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZJC5G0t6tb5BTiDrkD-UeztiXVHChUru7NXfSiK_76ryaApxsUgLBeVhG_v0W3b4ZTfUMMFEfqPErOdiRlat6EpRpEY56vTp1-jmEoXtwOnn2pwmk1We-kdAzqc1vqCalwkjluK5U9XM/s1600/IMG_5757.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZJC5G0t6tb5BTiDrkD-UeztiXVHChUru7NXfSiK_76ryaApxsUgLBeVhG_v0W3b4ZTfUMMFEfqPErOdiRlat6EpRpEY56vTp1-jmEoXtwOnn2pwmk1We-kdAzqc1vqCalwkjluK5U9XM/s1600/IMG_5757.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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And the little metal cat (it's a tea light holder) was a gift from our friend Melissa for looking in on her cat Orpheus (above) while she was on vacation a few weeks ago. Actually, the succulent and the flowers on the other side of the desk were from Melissa too! She spoiled us with gifts for watching her baby. Meanwhile we were just so happy to spend a little time with a kitty each day! It did our hearts a lot of good.<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01585784922207735850noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4613288587175179403.post-50417530681171696852014-08-19T11:12:00.000-04:002014-09-02T12:30:40.207-04:00I've felt quiet.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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My heart and my spirit have felt so quiet lately. No words seem adequate for anything. Sometimes it's an overabundance of joy that leaves me speechless. Other times it's an overwhelming sadness. Even contentment and comfort have kept me in a quiet place.<br />
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The longer my physical disabilities continue, the more quiet I have become. I'm improving, overall, but the improvements are incredibly slow and sometimes wane from better to worse. If I've learned anything through this, it's that physical disabilities can truly weigh heavily on a person's life and spill over onto their emotional and spiritual health. Perhaps that's an obvious statement, but you truly feel the depths of it when you're dealing with chronic and life-altering issues. <br />
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I've also learned that I can't control everything myself, no matter how hard I try (and, oh, I've tried). I had more words when I truly thought that I could control my own healing process by myself. I've acquired many books-worth of information through reading and research and I wanted to share all of that information with others when I thought that I was the one in control. But, truth be told, after many, many months I don't know what's helping or what's not. I've had to adjust and readjust my course so many countless times. I've experimented for days, weeks, months at a time and still I have no answers. I'm tired of guessing and taking stabs (even "educated" stabs) in the dark. I'm not giving up, but I'm done believing that I'm the one that has hold of the reins. I am certainly not in control of any of this. My spirit feels quiet and humbled.<br />
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<i>I am laid low in the dust; preserve my life according to your word.</i> </div>
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Psalm 119:25</div>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01585784922207735850noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4613288587175179403.post-31616125923653278412014-07-03T11:18:00.000-04:002014-07-03T11:53:25.166-04:00Reflections on five years of marriage.This Saturday will mark the fifth year of our marriage. Words cannot express the feelings that I have about this anniversary. On one hand, I can barely believe that we've been married this long (time seems to be passing so quickly). On the other hand, it feels like we've been together for so much longer (it's only been five years?!). <br />
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I feel so blessed to have had Christopher by my side as my partner and my best friend. We have grown both together and individually in many ways and I pray that we will continue to grow into the best versions of ourselves that we can possibly be. I pray that we can continue to work together, bringing each other up and loving each other as wholly as we can.<br />
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The past three years have been a very difficult road for me, physically, and these difficulties have, of course, effected our marriage in many, many ways. At times, these challenges have taken a toll on our relationship, but more often than not, the difficulties have only brought us closer together. I'm truly thankful for the love and patience that Christopher has displayed during these trying times. I can only imagine what it's like to have a wife who is barely able to handle small, everyday tasks most of the time. A wife who can't plan ahead and has to "wait and see how she's feeling that day." A wife that doesn't look like herself because her face is red, puffy and rashy most of the time. A wife who shudders at the smallest, unexpected touch because her nerves are so extremely hypersensitive. Yet he remains by my side and demonstrates so much love towards me as he remains true to the vows of "in sickness and in health."<br />
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I am blessed beyond measure.<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01585784922207735850noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4613288587175179403.post-24710256884506052582014-06-30T12:29:00.002-04:002014-06-30T12:29:57.366-04:00Appreciating the small things.Just taking a moment from today to reflect on how thankful I am for some little things in life. More often than not, it's those still, small moments that bring the most joy. Despite my ongoing physical discomforts, I feel like my life is full of so many good things. I don't have the words to express my feelings but the feelings themselves are abundant.<br />
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A basket full of root vegetables, squash & plantains...<br />
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I really loved how our neighbors dead tree became surrounded by flowers.... unexpected and lovely!<br />
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Getting lost in the process of hanging art & redesigning/relocating furniture at the office.</div>
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Small but good things.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01585784922207735850noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4613288587175179403.post-91806104177827361922014-06-27T10:41:00.002-04:002014-06-27T10:41:13.939-04:00Missing our kitties.<div>
While I'm healing from my skin condition, our cats Random & Sneaker have been "on vacation" in Pittsburgh. I'm missing them so much that I'm snapping photos of every other cat that I see.</div>
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Here's a few...</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmuUBDvB8RPQPLG4xv-UbhDcs3GiXW_JimU6kQZ-Tcj14zUD3RQUUUxSm8UagxpW6g-q4pcb6AtLTkrh_roUmxl03VXPsSsuB-AFQMlFJa4bQqDNk7VnTdbWDTNWXH-1c2TTJZ4e-0XhI/s1600/IMG_5311.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmuUBDvB8RPQPLG4xv-UbhDcs3GiXW_JimU6kQZ-Tcj14zUD3RQUUUxSm8UagxpW6g-q4pcb6AtLTkrh_roUmxl03VXPsSsuB-AFQMlFJa4bQqDNk7VnTdbWDTNWXH-1c2TTJZ4e-0XhI/s1600/IMG_5311.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>
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I just want to cuddle up with all of them :) .... but I really want OUR kitties back at home. I miss their predictable/unpredictable mannerisms. I miss their sweet personalities, their playful spirits, their innocent eyes. I miss our babes.</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01585784922207735850noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4613288587175179403.post-31147881506578054952014-06-13T13:12:00.002-04:002014-06-13T13:12:46.621-04:00Lately, in pictures.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCT6ApOn5dwr3kVDXdafY7319nzm9Yv9AtPVaq_1BlwxVKu0kDJGgQkpFxzO9aTJdN_3xHpnJ4Auo2XhFNBVI6NrRi9NTjIglAVEJ7S90WNM2PFMwUhwDX3p31OK05OfF9M-zmI17jsxk/s1600/IMG_5478.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCT6ApOn5dwr3kVDXdafY7319nzm9Yv9AtPVaq_1BlwxVKu0kDJGgQkpFxzO9aTJdN_3xHpnJ4Auo2XhFNBVI6NrRi9NTjIglAVEJ7S90WNM2PFMwUhwDX3p31OK05OfF9M-zmI17jsxk/s1600/IMG_5478.jpg" height="400" width="266" /></a></div>
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Since Spring, we've been enjoying the fact that we now have a front porch! Lots of herbs, raspberry bush, lemon tree, tomatoes! And lots of meals & book reading time spent out there!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia8ns-XK-sirWr674wryPp40a-kGluXMFxnLxl4Yl4cOBEAmsHgSoAXIa-d57-9Djt6g4iZO-Vxf-eFuHUqh3-zpGF9c7h1eqtyv5cSwdvCIhYqEmELn7I-aXj8XgNxM37dNR_Kx5IbVQ/s1600/IMG_5479.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia8ns-XK-sirWr674wryPp40a-kGluXMFxnLxl4Yl4cOBEAmsHgSoAXIa-d57-9Djt6g4iZO-Vxf-eFuHUqh3-zpGF9c7h1eqtyv5cSwdvCIhYqEmELn7I-aXj8XgNxM37dNR_Kx5IbVQ/s1600/IMG_5479.jpg" height="400" width="266" /></a></div>
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We've also been enjoying flowers. And I learned that marigolds & anything with a lemony or citrusy scent is a mosquito repellent! So I'm buying more of those types of flowers & herbs!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNCFpfNzXmyDfh7feBUDf2tNfjHwXzyVvaGOL3D0IG_7r7OzxQGWHyzVHNGMxBqntIVT7ND2ErHiOs8Zk9e_QdoXqTNzIXip9cNU7H71yYRQAm_WR3PGytFtFb8_LyKXBjkEKfVfqYi3E/s1600/IMG_5502.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNCFpfNzXmyDfh7feBUDf2tNfjHwXzyVvaGOL3D0IG_7r7OzxQGWHyzVHNGMxBqntIVT7ND2ErHiOs8Zk9e_QdoXqTNzIXip9cNU7H71yYRQAm_WR3PGytFtFb8_LyKXBjkEKfVfqYi3E/s1600/IMG_5502.jpg" height="400" width="266" /></a></div>
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A cancelled concert (Notwist) turned into an exploratory evening on the river together. These types of unexpected things end up being the most memorable. I'm so thankful for time spent with Christopher!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk2Mq9hb0dzxn2xnlacPAmTcBffF56mONI4p7a3_gST8ewdNm02iRI3QhqaKhKUJRq8lq77LG8HeH2eySV9Zq6VWpDw6w6fv07VjLLOGhotqsGO20zIEaemXiR__j2Zg_tH6_GIKzABvc/s1600/IMG_5505.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk2Mq9hb0dzxn2xnlacPAmTcBffF56mONI4p7a3_gST8ewdNm02iRI3QhqaKhKUJRq8lq77LG8HeH2eySV9Zq6VWpDw6w6fv07VjLLOGhotqsGO20zIEaemXiR__j2Zg_tH6_GIKzABvc/s1600/IMG_5505.jpg" height="400" width="266" /></a></div>
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And so thankful that my skin is taking a sudden turn for the better! Everything that we've been doing to try to heal my skin is finally working. Thank you, Lord!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOUHdQEmENzMO8TvX4e3bm1RezlUcqBlCcqE0p9Mzba59NoWiK2Cf0d8mc9djPICP5P1oZ8z2hax6bHJ8SgPW1aUijqpPA-biPne8PuHA3JrVyDmjxSxXvQlvvdhvWNgCrECeUVwl_Z0I/s1600/IMG_5507.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOUHdQEmENzMO8TvX4e3bm1RezlUcqBlCcqE0p9Mzba59NoWiK2Cf0d8mc9djPICP5P1oZ8z2hax6bHJ8SgPW1aUijqpPA-biPne8PuHA3JrVyDmjxSxXvQlvvdhvWNgCrECeUVwl_Z0I/s1600/IMG_5507.JPG" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
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I'm looking forward to so much this summer!</div>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01585784922207735850noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4613288587175179403.post-91813262982966634822014-02-17T15:59:00.000-05:002014-02-17T15:59:16.513-05:00Quick House Update - Photos<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Slowly but surely, we've been getting more settled into our new house. I've been very anxious to take on new projects but have had to take it fairly easy for health reasons. Here's a few snaps of areas that we've worked on so far.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-D6YP63uP0fjPBozSYU5HpTn_CTeImyvEV7TnMDYdUXehVfkW3psKGfw4vhiX3PA2YXQ-8q-UQLKc07hwyXRHbpsS3h7IYmkdu4gwvRJfpYDAPexSPQbpLYOGNvFuUxIW2wI1gXNm3hs/s1600/IMG_4868.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVbuPJNzs0l0_1fX_u6eNB_Prdu8Qp4QZdJXM3LDezuDNX9phpvmK3-g3UHtu7py7n1rfeZ0-O47IVjoZDqm8GDw9LADYbUUPmRwJ9rxp8DoZDyk8GaNGXW6KFz6A4G4TGmKegoTBBXrs/s1600/IMG_4888.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVbuPJNzs0l0_1fX_u6eNB_Prdu8Qp4QZdJXM3LDezuDNX9phpvmK3-g3UHtu7py7n1rfeZ0-O47IVjoZDqm8GDw9LADYbUUPmRwJ9rxp8DoZDyk8GaNGXW6KFz6A4G4TGmKegoTBBXrs/s1600/IMG_4888.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyGocIt2lR4ZGOiPYymrQ8wEi4dv9K51BSpG44F0bJ1dgKh_jMeDRRsajswxME43wJuc9VCo9OZADlSnHFoKRPo1Zk7nIOf7HIWZiG1YIjsokl3davbPGH7oLWDgqsnSk1xnZoM66pMBQ/s1600/IMG_4884.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyGocIt2lR4ZGOiPYymrQ8wEi4dv9K51BSpG44F0bJ1dgKh_jMeDRRsajswxME43wJuc9VCo9OZADlSnHFoKRPo1Zk7nIOf7HIWZiG1YIjsokl3davbPGH7oLWDgqsnSk1xnZoM66pMBQ/s1600/IMG_4884.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMRPdiMeWZXTJOtcOozvZKSzBQ9Gw-HaqFA9fh6TmQkzwxguNyIkLxZxScYnrIzpZHeWqZjUXJU4m6iTHQG5Hw8QlmHfyYeS9LYUoltYfcaOnz-Fwh_wdcTzDuVhw0CAsuogjSOxd1wng/s1600/IMG_4868.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMRPdiMeWZXTJOtcOozvZKSzBQ9Gw-HaqFA9fh6TmQkzwxguNyIkLxZxScYnrIzpZHeWqZjUXJU4m6iTHQG5Hw8QlmHfyYeS9LYUoltYfcaOnz-Fwh_wdcTzDuVhw0CAsuogjSOxd1wng/s1600/IMG_4868.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
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New ceiling fixture.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-SwX41e6WHzG7TkuZdcqbKa7acvOXnwXn5Qi_k9fyQylwyTS_p-DxOSHQzpWQY7wLOGlssym6a9NUp817qtiDb60H_G9izIZTUJcNwGex-8H7SgSKo3MeFj0bfdMc5lxJoC5hWg6gu_Q/s1600/IMG_4808.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-SwX41e6WHzG7TkuZdcqbKa7acvOXnwXn5Qi_k9fyQylwyTS_p-DxOSHQzpWQY7wLOGlssym6a9NUp817qtiDb60H_G9izIZTUJcNwGex-8H7SgSKo3MeFj0bfdMc5lxJoC5hWg6gu_Q/s1600/IMG_4808.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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Haven't really done anything with our bedroom quite yet besides new bedding.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkIDwHZZUvB_dVTxiL0UdU5yPMuzDN7iS51CjQq2lc1ombJ2JVnoFOtHvm0EuOFsYBMzzFTX6o2_xficz2fmYNtTjelj1-38CmoaJ182z2ephJNqPhg4rc2fJ_KjsZe-F7S3RR2mp1Tl4/s1600/IMG_4887.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkIDwHZZUvB_dVTxiL0UdU5yPMuzDN7iS51CjQq2lc1ombJ2JVnoFOtHvm0EuOFsYBMzzFTX6o2_xficz2fmYNtTjelj1-38CmoaJ182z2ephJNqPhg4rc2fJ_KjsZe-F7S3RR2mp1Tl4/s1600/IMG_4887.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
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Finally hung a mirror & art in the mini-bath!</div>
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<b>Still to come: </b>the piano area, the office, the guest room, the kitchen </div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01585784922207735850noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4613288587175179403.post-71626251559912470412014-01-23T22:13:00.000-05:002014-01-23T22:13:48.923-05:00#thriftscorethursdayJust a quick "thank you" to everyone who has emailed me and sent their prayers in response to my last post. Today, oddly & unexpectedly, just happens to be a really great day for me.... so I wanted to post something here!<br />
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I want to send you over to my friend Megan's blog to witness the start of <a href="http://rentalrevival.com/home/2014/1/22/introducing-thrift-score-thursday" target="_blank">#thriftscorethursday</a>. Megan & I met in music school and now she runs this really awesome blog called <a href="http://rentalrevival.com/" target="_blank">Rental Revival</a>. She's a DIY-er and thrifter (which basically means that she's awesome) and it's been really fun to watch all of her projects and home decorating!<br />
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I decided to participate by posting my own "thrift score"....<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv06JIWTpwRc5gT1PdbSuV6dTfhbHinOSvnXv0YxiX8M_YJfmz-hBzj0qMRkoR-o2CPqrhQl47LU9MeMLwp9cw8kSeVEFOqjQGdLHaRRf1gZphSyoFwrrZDyLsLuepJakZIuO05446aMc/s1600/IMG_4623.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv06JIWTpwRc5gT1PdbSuV6dTfhbHinOSvnXv0YxiX8M_YJfmz-hBzj0qMRkoR-o2CPqrhQl47LU9MeMLwp9cw8kSeVEFOqjQGdLHaRRf1gZphSyoFwrrZDyLsLuepJakZIuO05446aMc/s1600/IMG_4623.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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It's an old road sign (a "median" sign, I suppose) that I bought in Columbus, OH almost 6 years ago. It was the summer of 2008 and I was killing some time the day after my good friends Katelyn & Rob got married. I ended up finding this perfect specimen of an art piece. It's been hanging over our bed for the past 5 years (it hung in my bedroom at my parents house for a year before getting married). Since Christopher & I just moved to a new house a few weeks ago, it's currently looking for a new place to hang. In the meantime, it's quite stunning sitting against the exposed brick.<br />
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If you're a fellow thrifter or have some awesome thrift scores, join the #thriftscorethursday hashtag party by posting your own pictures every Thursday! Let it be known to the world that this is the first time EVER that I've used a hashtag. Seriously. Only thrifting and home decorating can bring me out of my hashtag shell. <br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01585784922207735850noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4613288587175179403.post-27648994968054715542014-01-19T15:06:00.000-05:002014-01-19T15:06:30.818-05:00Asking for prayer.I'm not the most active blogger. I don't even know how many people follow my blog on a regular basis, especially with the sparse and irregular posts. Sometimes weeks pass between one post and the next and occasionally months. Perhaps there's a small handful of you out there?<br />
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Regardless, if you do follow this blog, could I ask for your prayer (if you're a person who prays)?<br />
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A few days ago, I started a new blog to begin documenting the "health issues" which I've been going through for the past few years. I just simply need an outlet to vent about the journey that I've been on. In the past, I've mentioned a little bit about my problems on this very blog right here but I haven't gone into too much detail about it and certainly haven't "journaled" about it here. The reason being: I like posting "pretty things" here. I didn't want to turn this "pretty" blog into something different.<br />
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So, on the good days, perhaps I'll continue to post here when I can (and perhaps, it will become my <i>one & only</i> blog again someday once I'm healed).<br />
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If you care to follow my "other" journey (which I'll probably be updating <i>very</i> regularly), you can do so here: <a href="http://itchyskinjourney.blogspot.com/">http://itchyskinjourney.blogspot.com</a><br />
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But, really, no pressure to follow. It's not the most pleasant of topics. In all honesty, I probably wouldn't follow it (at least regularly) if I didn't have reason to. But, at the very least, could you say a quick prayer for me right now, wherever you are? Could you pray that I make it through this with my faith intact? That maybe, just maybe, my healing can come sooner rather than later?<br />
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I hate to sound so dramatic, but after two years of dealing with this, I just have to tell things how they are.<br />
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Thanks so much, everyone.<br />
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Love,<br />
StaceAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01585784922207735850noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4613288587175179403.post-39019081160298122692014-01-02T14:45:00.000-05:002014-01-02T14:45:11.135-05:00New Year, New Home!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
What a whirlwind this holiday season has been for us. </div>
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After going home for Thanksgiving, we came back home to Philly and threw up our Christmas decorations all over the apartment. It gave our home the feeling of warmth and vibrancy for the coming holidays. Although we'd be spending the days surrounding Christmas in Pittsburgh, our home felt so cozy during the month of December.</div>
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A few days after immersing ourselves into the Christmas spirit, we just happened across a listing for a house-for-rent. So we decided to have a look (we've been looking at apartments/houses for well over a year now). We went to view the house without too much hope (our experiences during this time were making us feel like we would probably never be able to move out of our one-bedroom apartment).</div>
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Well. Turns out we LOVED the house. And.... it was within our price range (!). AND.... only 3 blocks away from our current apartment! (IN OUR BEAUTIFUL NEIGHBORHOOD!)</div>
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Thankfully, we were one of the first people to view the house... so we jumped on filling out the required applications and everything just.... worked out! Once we were approved (AHHHH! AFTER ALL THIS TIME, WE'RE MOVING?! WHAT?!), that meant that we had to take care of things on our end, such as finding someone to take over the lease on our one-bedroom. </div>
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It was quite an undertaking for us, but somehow we've made it through! We packed up, we advertised/showed our apartment, FOUND A NEW TENANT, wrote up a contract for new tenants to sublease from us, and so on.... and so on..... </div>
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We officially moved into our new house just a few days ago! It's BEAUTIFUL (beyond my wildest expectations). And IT'S HUGE compared to our old place.</div>
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I just can't even wrap my head around how everything has fallen into place surrounding this whole process. It's hard to believe that we actually live here now! I am so thankful! </div>
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Here's a few random pictures of the move-in process. My Mom & Dad helped me paint the entire first floor before we even started moving our stuff in (a 13-hour process all in one day!!!). Christopher's brother Jeremy helped with moving all of our furniture, as did Kelly's hubby David (they were amazing!). Kelly (who just gave birth 3 weeks ago) helped with unpacking the kitchen. Christopher's folks helped us by paying for the piano movers. Such an amazing amount of help and love from our family and friends!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6x-hnprTLrTqM5JL-L4o6wv_4R3ZysezMrjqOdljyt_2unyrAfNbPJVwjzfQLpBOUh7CEyZ-40MQKzPJUICl5HODYf4q-1Wbi_ygAfnEmMNpPrn-diZnhWl1nlvWyEGhBnRDUvVg9TYA/s1600/IMG_4509.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6x-hnprTLrTqM5JL-L4o6wv_4R3ZysezMrjqOdljyt_2unyrAfNbPJVwjzfQLpBOUh7CEyZ-40MQKzPJUICl5HODYf4q-1Wbi_ygAfnEmMNpPrn-diZnhWl1nlvWyEGhBnRDUvVg9TYA/s1600/IMG_4509.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis_H3gy5fhjSJPlrhI9SuIJot5_dDeMtIPByZbehrEHhIlWiPjn3HQ3SMEjwKpHTe2sEPJOIyapGxMcYLdyDrzw9plcJVvepbnLJoxW7mIrInI7fIhFPqdUZY2pjmHIYqODdgXTAKhDc0/s1600/IMG_4510.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis_H3gy5fhjSJPlrhI9SuIJot5_dDeMtIPByZbehrEHhIlWiPjn3HQ3SMEjwKpHTe2sEPJOIyapGxMcYLdyDrzw9plcJVvepbnLJoxW7mIrInI7fIhFPqdUZY2pjmHIYqODdgXTAKhDc0/s1600/IMG_4510.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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Love my silly Momma!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhME-fH-QsgSXv3r_Z1gFYqTIpfyCi3F7bDcclSJKypBGNeX8cIhdCKAE_gim3-zsXEUlgZzXZpj1gPE1E7gnILE1-BrZH1SGbr2KTzzPpdRli83wnbUbgOrlWvFMrl6zpbgLOwt8FL_v8/s1600/IMG_4512.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhME-fH-QsgSXv3r_Z1gFYqTIpfyCi3F7bDcclSJKypBGNeX8cIhdCKAE_gim3-zsXEUlgZzXZpj1gPE1E7gnILE1-BrZH1SGbr2KTzzPpdRli83wnbUbgOrlWvFMrl6zpbgLOwt8FL_v8/s1600/IMG_4512.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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Randomly placed furniture....</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5R-leQk03-UEm_3VnKJcUiBwd2VIzNG3eNuQLaN1QuIxXBqLj363-ABGp1q65SLlYKtIIeEybqVTO2FGc2we9x3Yy2NrDqmRI2i5VVRDGvscnY-JJRQ5nlsDhZwShd0W_3Oojn8DLUPA/s1600/IMG_4518.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5R-leQk03-UEm_3VnKJcUiBwd2VIzNG3eNuQLaN1QuIxXBqLj363-ABGp1q65SLlYKtIIeEybqVTO2FGc2we9x3Yy2NrDqmRI2i5VVRDGvscnY-JJRQ5nlsDhZwShd0W_3Oojn8DLUPA/s1600/IMG_4518.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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Not-quite-3-year-old Lydia decorated the fridge with our magnets (notice how low on the fridge they are). I love it. They're still exactly where she put them. :)</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN8SoRFWVjA21oRigF3QUCBab9UDFVg_jDrHO_rdqMDtLdXX7Z_mP_e8T2EgLQf7SpOT3ZlqlXj3BNj4q2TKF_k5rukDAyKnLPDKE0ElVCdbmwvN5ITcEJP6W80IGMq3bbJh7zXWSTnHs/s1600/IMG_4519.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN8SoRFWVjA21oRigF3QUCBab9UDFVg_jDrHO_rdqMDtLdXX7Z_mP_e8T2EgLQf7SpOT3ZlqlXj3BNj4q2TKF_k5rukDAyKnLPDKE0ElVCdbmwvN5ITcEJP6W80IGMq3bbJh7zXWSTnHs/s1600/IMG_4519.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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The piano *just fits* where we wanted it?!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEk4ktBnNMvIV9XSRaHAw0AFEg76ETnonRdj1zA19yFf8lMaR64lKREIYwneD78dWzsKzxFZg4fzkcyx4nNJihJfRk4_ar8QZ-3UjxvB-HUR-5t1BXRUAJq6kJBzPa3fvHXxqjw78VNtc/s1600/IMG_4524.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEk4ktBnNMvIV9XSRaHAw0AFEg76ETnonRdj1zA19yFf8lMaR64lKREIYwneD78dWzsKzxFZg4fzkcyx4nNJihJfRk4_ar8QZ-3UjxvB-HUR-5t1BXRUAJq6kJBzPa3fvHXxqjw78VNtc/s1600/IMG_4524.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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Encountering a few small issues (like the box spring not fitting up the stairwell and the legs of the blue cabinet won't quite fit over the vents).... but these things can be resolved!</div>
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I can't wait to post more updates on the house as we get settled. <br />
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What a whirlwind.<br />
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Such a major blessing.<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01585784922207735850noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4613288587175179403.post-71368294388366602202013-11-25T16:42:00.000-05:002013-11-25T16:42:39.309-05:00in the neighborhood.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjST-Gwm1DpobNPZ5sBHnsZ_LMZqRAzq9KhyKCiyg-hvqe32GzGE4SBbuSKLj-TG0_HldEu26EAoKmXBeOsLqfjRpn9Hw1DMcnXUlUfzQ7MNfGNbtqXr3T9M-b2i8xwNXntByOCsnb-C58/s1600/IMG_3745.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjST-Gwm1DpobNPZ5sBHnsZ_LMZqRAzq9KhyKCiyg-hvqe32GzGE4SBbuSKLj-TG0_HldEu26EAoKmXBeOsLqfjRpn9Hw1DMcnXUlUfzQ7MNfGNbtqXr3T9M-b2i8xwNXntByOCsnb-C58/s640/IMG_3745.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01585784922207735850noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4613288587175179403.post-25688426449974013022013-11-12T21:58:00.001-05:002013-11-25T16:40:52.798-05:00just a photo.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6eLi1HX6Zw1hujqwHMR5PNtz_cjdzv9Ki35GEXrArH6Cl0pCnlOUzYwQBgwz2_QI8ccxN7ZsjE0z8dv045pzIoXEpztwVzc2vdmj8jhVdrYpxmDV5-MfyhLh_03rXPrRjXjjQuh4zQC8/s1600/2013-04-24+13.47.11-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="472" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6eLi1HX6Zw1hujqwHMR5PNtz_cjdzv9Ki35GEXrArH6Cl0pCnlOUzYwQBgwz2_QI8ccxN7ZsjE0z8dv045pzIoXEpztwVzc2vdmj8jhVdrYpxmDV5-MfyhLh_03rXPrRjXjjQuh4zQC8/s640/2013-04-24+13.47.11-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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This photo was taken way back in the summer. With the current weather the way it is, it seems like the summer existed in another world. A bright, sizzling world where everything felt like it was melting.<br />
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This wall is just one of those walls that I happen to walk by nearly everyday. It's just a normal wall. I'd never paid much attention to it, really, until one day, I turned my head a little bit to the left and there he was, this little angel guy looking back at me. A small, grumpy little angel guy drawn in white.<br />
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He said something to me that day. Well, he really didn't "say" anything at all. He just struck me as something special, that's all. A symbol of humanity, perhaps? I can't really say what made him seem so noteworthy at the time.<br />
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The following afternoon when I walked by on my way to the trolley, I was expecting to look over and see him once again. I was even looking forward to exchanging hellos with this new little friend that I had made. But, sadly, he wasn't there anymore. Sometime between one day & the next, someone had covered him with a red block of fresh paint. He was hidden. Permanently.<br />
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Who knows how long he had been there painted on that wall. But I just happened to meet him on his last daylight appearance. His final day. Seems significant. Who knows, I might be the last person on earth who has any recollection of him.<br />
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Nowadays, when I remember, I'll sometimes look over at that wall still expecting to see him in all his glory, just like I saw him that one day. I know he's still there. He's just hiding behind .002 inches of red paint.<br />
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Silly, I know. But it's true.<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01585784922207735850noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4613288587175179403.post-42327627532082412742013-11-08T13:04:00.001-05:002013-11-08T13:04:43.432-05:00Last evening's sounds.<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="281" mozallowfullscreen="" src="//player.vimeo.com/video/78926171" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="500"></iframe> <br />
<a href="http://vimeo.com/78926171">Cuddle Magic</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/user22510701">Stacey McDonald</a> on <a href="https://vimeo.com/">Vimeo</a>.<br />
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My honey Christopher on the left. Ben in the middle. Alec on the right. <br />
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Love them and love their music.<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01585784922207735850noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4613288587175179403.post-26005167008614031492013-11-03T14:25:00.000-05:002013-11-03T14:25:41.184-05:00a fall afternoon with some of my favorite girls.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghyphenhyphendIgHYgIWk9JG4m7OLoHVrCTEBlnutwAA_p8p_5S9HuXFlhlVvM1EnEMEHMOD4k2ZqHHYGzsR1v6-NJ6VkMbhG1Quixi5PxDDsRuGtgkjbVxW2SWnAqTHzRP0n3seIzZWDXn8BObaEM/s1600/IMG_3974.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghyphenhyphendIgHYgIWk9JG4m7OLoHVrCTEBlnutwAA_p8p_5S9HuXFlhlVvM1EnEMEHMOD4k2ZqHHYGzsR1v6-NJ6VkMbhG1Quixi5PxDDsRuGtgkjbVxW2SWnAqTHzRP0n3seIzZWDXn8BObaEM/s640/IMG_3974.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggnil_2eo9QIaH_jxGIZ68Q7FV6RNAqGw9U0Y-KEH6X4kMkANEEwhVsKuRHTGd6aMqJKvzME8ou3nEo5KnYTqxIsWXR-VAd2MQr0iFZpyHx-NFAz7FkfiQebRQnIHZ3KGVZ_dMpxSL8w0/s1600/IMG_3976.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggnil_2eo9QIaH_jxGIZ68Q7FV6RNAqGw9U0Y-KEH6X4kMkANEEwhVsKuRHTGd6aMqJKvzME8ou3nEo5KnYTqxIsWXR-VAd2MQr0iFZpyHx-NFAz7FkfiQebRQnIHZ3KGVZ_dMpxSL8w0/s640/IMG_3976.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
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Kelly and I were talking yesterday at brunch and realized that we've been friends for nearly 3 decades already. And little Lydia is already 2 1/2 years old... and about to be a big sister. Crazy.</div>
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And beyond that, my honey Christopher is turning 30 on Tuesday! It's a big one! Looking forward to celebrating over a delicious meal with some family & friends this week.</div>
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This afternoon I'm driving down to Baltimore to hear Cuddle Magic. It's been a while since I've heard them live! Should be nice!</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01585784922207735850noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4613288587175179403.post-61722752307929552182013-11-01T21:37:00.000-04:002013-11-01T21:38:24.910-04:00curiosity.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVuxkjiLRJ9GLhUwbQDnkQ9UIf8KGZidY-sDCKcbCZq8iu98AZIyqKsAsovjZ1fGfxVTejxSlY0VLAstkZJJU5o-zFrKwKKfgz-fdPYcxndcHJlBq9EteRbDj0t2c67uqOeodB3Ptu368/s1600/IMG_2273.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVuxkjiLRJ9GLhUwbQDnkQ9UIf8KGZidY-sDCKcbCZq8iu98AZIyqKsAsovjZ1fGfxVTejxSlY0VLAstkZJJU5o-zFrKwKKfgz-fdPYcxndcHJlBq9EteRbDj0t2c67uqOeodB3Ptu368/s640/IMG_2273.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01585784922207735850noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4613288587175179403.post-30810596579603743112013-10-11T11:24:00.000-04:002013-10-11T11:24:50.219-04:00importance.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqH-Br7fpnCOQYmnEPDiN-AWQjmO7BbqpNxAjgo58nNLtnJvLsmsxvzzHL5exlidsW0-ZS5Kv-7Uavl3169_FvD85oKBWO9LawYPPlkfEQEOmuJI96qgW8KNYutKuIhy-PPhOpgxY6TKQ/s1600/IMG_3669.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqH-Br7fpnCOQYmnEPDiN-AWQjmO7BbqpNxAjgo58nNLtnJvLsmsxvzzHL5exlidsW0-ZS5Kv-7Uavl3169_FvD85oKBWO9LawYPPlkfEQEOmuJI96qgW8KNYutKuIhy-PPhOpgxY6TKQ/s640/IMG_3669.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<b>We are human beings and this is the part of our human nature, that we don't learn the importance of anything until it's snatched from our hands. </b><br />-Malala Yousafzai (2013 Nobel Peace Prize recipient), from her <a href="http://globalnews.ca/news/895858/why-malala-yousafzai-is-favoured-to-win-the-nobel-peace-prize/">interview with Jon Stewart</a></blockquote>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01585784922207735850noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4613288587175179403.post-66370399809225506262013-09-20T12:47:00.001-04:002013-09-20T12:47:53.608-04:00Maturity.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGgXefzV0Ln0o8-idjfrAoa324kXgnrdb2cDs3bwdfSWmPZtuD9jT5i42HmoyTQUGl0jux4JM4LemzmYXR1S_iDa4BMJgNJou9ZXAaVCtsWBvT8wkgyi8cqLqtqP07nRQKKGRh7AgHqQI/s1600/IMG_3341.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGgXefzV0Ln0o8-idjfrAoa324kXgnrdb2cDs3bwdfSWmPZtuD9jT5i42HmoyTQUGl0jux4JM4LemzmYXR1S_iDa4BMJgNJou9ZXAaVCtsWBvT8wkgyi8cqLqtqP07nRQKKGRh7AgHqQI/s640/IMG_3341.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Over the past few years, I've experienced a huge shift in my own faith, attitude, and life-perspective. Perhaps part of it is simply a natural part of growing up. Or perhaps part of it comes from marriage. Or from experiencing hardships... and not having any control over certain situations (no matter how hard I've tried). </div>
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The reasons and the timing for such things are surely different for every person, but I feel like I've developed into a completely new "me" over the past two years. Different from my life before. More mature, perhaps.</div>
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An oak that grew on the bank of a river was uprooted by a severe gale of wind, and thrown across the stream. It fell among some reeds growing by the water, and said to them, "How is it that you, who are so frail and slender, have managed to weather the storm, whereas I, with all my strength, have been torn up by the roots and hurled into the river?" "You were stubborn," came the reply, "and fought against the storm, which proved stronger than you: but we bow and yield to every breeze, and thus the gale passed harmlessly over our heads."</blockquote>
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<i>-from Aesop's Fables</i></div>
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When I was young, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me.</blockquote>
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<i>-1 Corinthians 13:11</i></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01585784922207735850noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4613288587175179403.post-52236603237442243622013-09-19T10:58:00.001-04:002013-09-19T10:59:46.269-04:00Good days.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtAwdPq1pEd20HX0VWrm8etnZoSGMwLSvVcdA5SVq48Op6IWvFwf5iQU_jW4LDYEQnJcCWR8K-VRfoaA1JgDDZ8hL4EUq2NEiQ8qKik_uKldo4uIy8AYMuFdKhh_zxykt3L4o18u4bdt8/s1600/IMG_3494.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtAwdPq1pEd20HX0VWrm8etnZoSGMwLSvVcdA5SVq48Op6IWvFwf5iQU_jW4LDYEQnJcCWR8K-VRfoaA1JgDDZ8hL4EUq2NEiQ8qKik_uKldo4uIy8AYMuFdKhh_zxykt3L4o18u4bdt8/s640/IMG_3494.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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I haven't posted in a while. </div>
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It's not that I haven't had any thoughts or potentially interesting things to say--I probably did at one point or another. </div>
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But sometimes it just feels better to remain quiet. </div>
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To listen. To watch. To learn.</div>
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I walk by this window almost everyday on my way to work. Half the time, it's empty. The other half, there's this beautiful gray kitty lounging there, taking a nap on the sill. I've walked by this kitty so many times, but I've never been able to communicate with him (or her) directly. He's inside. </div>
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I'm outside.</div>
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So I just wave sometimes (as if he'll wave back). Or I give him a little nod of acknowledgement (as if he even cares). Other times, I just stop and stare to admire his cat-ness for a minute or two before I continue on my way.</div>
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Sometimes it just feels better to remain silent. </div>
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To carry things close at heart. </div>
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To let those thoughts and truths stew around for a while before putting them on the table.</div>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01585784922207735850noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4613288587175179403.post-60615800698345923192013-05-05T21:31:00.000-04:002013-05-05T21:31:28.644-04:00walking at sunset.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihMtlQj77PsCyr7WTIHB4yXuU5JYjkLY7BMRdLemWXZxJAL9LLPDJ5DvWVHmbvZ78LYcHhvkLbJpt-SnnH-b8wVMwHx1XWQE7QWisCkptKKFqwY5xQOjcjlC2wvmKkx9JDJh6fGBQ_hCs/s1600/IMG_2230.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihMtlQj77PsCyr7WTIHB4yXuU5JYjkLY7BMRdLemWXZxJAL9LLPDJ5DvWVHmbvZ78LYcHhvkLbJpt-SnnH-b8wVMwHx1XWQE7QWisCkptKKFqwY5xQOjcjlC2wvmKkx9JDJh6fGBQ_hCs/s640/IMG_2230.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEW_fSlSoGnlw54wAq50cEDo3bvYgoGBtyfZC9SfCV60VJFUldN7U4oJOzIdkGFu_PRA5tMIVb5AeOQYrhaWdTsMiiBDXfOap4WnEHnaPHHop2n3hdjUD-Wh9BSDRAZc3pMiMxJzBW-sA/s1600/IMG_2194.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEW_fSlSoGnlw54wAq50cEDo3bvYgoGBtyfZC9SfCV60VJFUldN7U4oJOzIdkGFu_PRA5tMIVb5AeOQYrhaWdTsMiiBDXfOap4WnEHnaPHHop2n3hdjUD-Wh9BSDRAZc3pMiMxJzBW-sA/s640/IMG_2194.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrKIwWLPaYXmqo-NHoHOVfy8KBIWMZ-bqNtOkhyphenhyphen57HHeQYfUgDzuOp_ydG9WkyqjLFfFn_jiwOBAhwQoYHe_2n5EigZFV3gfuf2K6odBKeG0p9D9Y6IvoheichvcNku_xXh4Wrs7FB8CY/s1600/IMG_2202.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrKIwWLPaYXmqo-NHoHOVfy8KBIWMZ-bqNtOkhyphenhyphen57HHeQYfUgDzuOp_ydG9WkyqjLFfFn_jiwOBAhwQoYHe_2n5EigZFV3gfuf2K6odBKeG0p9D9Y6IvoheichvcNku_xXh4Wrs7FB8CY/s640/IMG_2202.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX5pV7VnZckza2Gq1R0k9usN7fDu1LHEK1MsBNuqs3H1a_aE-IzyZWEQfZaxNHN7x_KRWis_5Ciqf3fxC8Q0N61S-BDRnGNpeTnekq9rUYQLQcGBJ_HZ2xy2yXhRBRerk29tYbHVbn29Y/s1600/IMG_2233.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX5pV7VnZckza2Gq1R0k9usN7fDu1LHEK1MsBNuqs3H1a_aE-IzyZWEQfZaxNHN7x_KRWis_5Ciqf3fxC8Q0N61S-BDRnGNpeTnekq9rUYQLQcGBJ_HZ2xy2yXhRBRerk29tYbHVbn29Y/s640/IMG_2233.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL5x7xh7woUWh9JnVvEu-j2Bz6wMW7oLR_X2TWBgBNNKe3mMZA4vudZhxAz5sglJ2ssZ05v4cc4gXbMPC9fhpBI_Y9ybEyrSobmK8A5YDsSdsPLAT121znkSJCyiSwT0UQyXoMUQP2MNY/s1600/IMG_2210.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL5x7xh7woUWh9JnVvEu-j2Bz6wMW7oLR_X2TWBgBNNKe3mMZA4vudZhxAz5sglJ2ssZ05v4cc4gXbMPC9fhpBI_Y9ybEyrSobmK8A5YDsSdsPLAT121znkSJCyiSwT0UQyXoMUQP2MNY/s640/IMG_2210.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp3qVLuWxpTGoNY4-Xa9EgbrFbTc4Tob-MUnMHqflV84Ho5wibIloy0akxJMhgrAORH4D0iKga7a9_m6EtUQRCKUB9my0RSbWAA5eGVpdGAJyMrXbYVGPpM7FLC88-SNaFIgp3fZrI1MY/s1600/IMG_2227.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp3qVLuWxpTGoNY4-Xa9EgbrFbTc4Tob-MUnMHqflV84Ho5wibIloy0akxJMhgrAORH4D0iKga7a9_m6EtUQRCKUB9my0RSbWAA5eGVpdGAJyMrXbYVGPpM7FLC88-SNaFIgp3fZrI1MY/s640/IMG_2227.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB32jaKx4Jcr40LkzF3MeBoK6rB0iKXo_YKmez_iTiz2X-lwHyOeehyphenhyphenxISEso_w2H8k2P55t3PtHGkGDDbcSvK3nCegvcci5yQ9gQJazw9AoYQA_fSGBE-WIfFhnkv8AL60FUe0UyhTbY/s1600/IMG_2219.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB32jaKx4Jcr40LkzF3MeBoK6rB0iKXo_YKmez_iTiz2X-lwHyOeehyphenhyphenxISEso_w2H8k2P55t3PtHGkGDDbcSvK3nCegvcci5yQ9gQJazw9AoYQA_fSGBE-WIfFhnkv8AL60FUe0UyhTbY/s640/IMG_2219.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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"Open my heart," I prayed. </div>
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"Help me to feel, see, experience the present. Help me to be right here, right now."</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01585784922207735850noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4613288587175179403.post-18171682735378844012013-05-05T14:39:00.000-04:002013-05-05T14:40:19.066-04:00New and renewed.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Just sprucing things up a little bit, indoors and out. <br />
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Sometimes I think that Fall is my favorite season, but no, it's definitely Spring. Spring brings new life, new beauty, renewed hope and things to look forward to. <br />
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The sentiment is obviously nothing new--it's been said many times before. I don't have any grand or eloquent words about it. I'm just experiencing it and enjoying it for myself. <br />
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Being outdoors and doing yard work these past two weekends has felt great. Some new flowers (rieger begonias). Our normal herbs. Some fresh flowers (ranunculus) for the dining table. Feels special. Makes life feel slow. Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01585784922207735850noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4613288587175179403.post-52693431738728588222013-04-07T22:21:00.002-04:002013-04-07T22:22:24.432-04:00perhaps a bit more energy.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Last month I had some pretty extensive blood testing done and finally learned the results this past Monday. With all of my skin issues and the intense fatigue that I've been experiencing, I learned that I not only have thyroid & immunity issues, but also severe deficiencies of Vitamin B & D. I've been starting a new regimen of supplements as they've arrived in the mail this past week--and I'm still waiting on the actual prescriptions to come in--however I'm already noticing a bit more energy. I'm not jumping through the roof or anything, but I'm starting to feel more like my normal self.</div>
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In my last post, I mentioned that I haven't been cooking very much--at all?--recently. Well, I've found myself making meals for 3 days straight....! That's breakfast, lunch AND dinner...ALL three days. Taking this whole year into consideration, I'd say that's erring pretty close to a miracle.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKBE7vzEL2dZaGru5_sCzfuZadxjdTEp5OmLaVGHL_4vcztgjqwMD0yF5yRxU23_T7mjmVe77N7hcYgGtwZHIPjjxQzAm26QALiCSIWt1TIcpG16DtpxriT8l7n65r2yGYlI_ux6vZoSY/s1600/IMG_2855.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKBE7vzEL2dZaGru5_sCzfuZadxjdTEp5OmLaVGHL_4vcztgjqwMD0yF5yRxU23_T7mjmVe77N7hcYgGtwZHIPjjxQzAm26QALiCSIWt1TIcpG16DtpxriT8l7n65r2yGYlI_ux6vZoSY/s400/IMG_2855.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Standing in the kitchen, realizing that I'm actually cooking for once!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8bH-WEKI4yoKj1gygnE8e7aXNpZO4Mbrhyphenhyphenms0Yzv0QUu26hO_Of6bth9cGyW4pMTT5B5fCvFeo8I633JeNIjDAtbdQRESTb4Hdv2I-TKZ3nJwl-Kd7YMa9LVYQn0sGSYXygSJvqEA_8E/s1600/IMG_2856.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8bH-WEKI4yoKj1gygnE8e7aXNpZO4Mbrhyphenhyphenms0Yzv0QUu26hO_Of6bth9cGyW4pMTT5B5fCvFeo8I633JeNIjDAtbdQRESTb4Hdv2I-TKZ3nJwl-Kd7YMa9LVYQn0sGSYXygSJvqEA_8E/s400/IMG_2856.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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Yep, that's me in the tea kettle.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiggPcKAiAmFxF3_pFV8gLmuHMNucLMMMOIyElj4kRKpDvUieQbK7T2Re4CrlJ7s1IPY6d_fpv3rwe-gruJQfSfripsxgJQHqsnKb_sNTKmJIRGM_IItotrm8tPCsSeVQ_dTxFjPVXKbvg/s1600/IMG_2857.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiggPcKAiAmFxF3_pFV8gLmuHMNucLMMMOIyElj4kRKpDvUieQbK7T2Re4CrlJ7s1IPY6d_fpv3rwe-gruJQfSfripsxgJQHqsnKb_sNTKmJIRGM_IItotrm8tPCsSeVQ_dTxFjPVXKbvg/s400/IMG_2857.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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Yep, the meatloaf crumbled apart.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgELDr08LqMCgumOT_tEy6OHIwwNsNSRn5Fppm8mMBilKJbqIK-cC1-un1dxamHcI9aWieIGJiAnMIkm-i8ZwPYHn-OKTZhABjNx6CaTs2VBiWEn67hPNc7BDbyujyarxdAUE1gcdPfL_U/s1600/IMG_2847.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgELDr08LqMCgumOT_tEy6OHIwwNsNSRn5Fppm8mMBilKJbqIK-cC1-un1dxamHcI9aWieIGJiAnMIkm-i8ZwPYHn-OKTZhABjNx6CaTs2VBiWEn67hPNc7BDbyujyarxdAUE1gcdPfL_U/s400/IMG_2847.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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While I cook, her royal highness lounges around.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9E7DI8dLAope0WURuqqn02VBlTo2ztpNZ2xlbZ3qVvMKjwewjCAFOs_x9RpuVHiz-I6b4azxIXemP5uIRc2ucgKprdZ_TZFDgsU3ecCMWRbhJdap2eINvYqmc8bFgU-9SnGmDlFGVt2M/s1600/IMG_2851.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9E7DI8dLAope0WURuqqn02VBlTo2ztpNZ2xlbZ3qVvMKjwewjCAFOs_x9RpuVHiz-I6b4azxIXemP5uIRc2ucgKprdZ_TZFDgsU3ecCMWRbhJdap2eINvYqmc8bFgU-9SnGmDlFGVt2M/s400/IMG_2851.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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And finally, I normally don't like (taking or looking at) mirror photos. But, I'm kind of proud of myself for putting together a new outfit today, so who cares!</div>
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