tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23389558729326875372024-02-20T21:27:43.881-08:00Rachel's BlogThe ramblings of homeschool graduate....Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03430991328557979855noreply@blogger.comBlogger433125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2338955872932687537.post-11756852229035635082015-03-07T11:50:00.003-08:002015-03-07T11:50:41.488-08:00Where Home Is (Mini-Tour)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
So I've been asked many times by several different people to post pictures of our apartment! FINALLY I am doing it. :-) Most of these pictures were taken on different days, as different parts of the house happened to be cleaned haha - so that accounts for the variance in lighting!!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0KvEDv_pdjdDY1QHM3gQ-J1Wom5tfU2-dKwgDuoXs9i67IwKW465Dl7gV6YMvhKl1p4-ODcAvnZyBj0yo1_vIM7iGflXsP_BBBLoKPqSLWX_NwZj3EOTG7oSZWZjU0SqNlabcR31AG2s1/s1600/b72b31d1-8b67-49c3-acd7-7b76abe258bc_zpsiddrahrq.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0KvEDv_pdjdDY1QHM3gQ-J1Wom5tfU2-dKwgDuoXs9i67IwKW465Dl7gV6YMvhKl1p4-ODcAvnZyBj0yo1_vIM7iGflXsP_BBBLoKPqSLWX_NwZj3EOTG7oSZWZjU0SqNlabcR31AG2s1/s1600/b72b31d1-8b67-49c3-acd7-7b76abe258bc_zpsiddrahrq.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="center"><td class="tr-caption"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
This is our room. I love having a comforter on our bed - it's one of
those little things that just makes me happy (as opposed to a quilt).
I think it was raining the day I took this picture - that's why the
window looks all spotty lol.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinuF1KrAVLqKnr-7WM0-poW18XFZS1Zl6l6xYHc-Aj_SU8G74SpCUHnV37-h1XCtgA87_qBlW26VVks2uEYnWsLuir7rKSSo_rh1rdZ9qx4QHmOt65NG4NCZmZxXcLYKbDEGvFekuWsqUm/s1600/5a3ed57e-82e6-4e8b-a152-834e46eac3bc_zpswclrnkve.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinuF1KrAVLqKnr-7WM0-poW18XFZS1Zl6l6xYHc-Aj_SU8G74SpCUHnV37-h1XCtgA87_qBlW26VVks2uEYnWsLuir7rKSSo_rh1rdZ9qx4QHmOt65NG4NCZmZxXcLYKbDEGvFekuWsqUm/s1600/5a3ed57e-82e6-4e8b-a152-834e46eac3bc_zpswclrnkve.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I took this picture at Christmas time when we had our tree up :-) That's gone now of course, but I always have the white lights on top of the kitchen cabinets. I love the coziness of them in the evening and early mornings!! </div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivAOgpaqdo2wqc2KMA4Et3A6-eTa-Rka6L2f7LybPkWemYd0kK6wVADZpySHz2O0aVXSdt9iZHDcTZjlyMyftCnRZZIdON0bnvCcN0zf48seqCDwqsuQNLP_991eJpG7adwGt0YijpaiIj/s1600/09f502dd-3eb0-4a40-8c5e-9f56b84710e9_zpssesscizz.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivAOgpaqdo2wqc2KMA4Et3A6-eTa-Rka6L2f7LybPkWemYd0kK6wVADZpySHz2O0aVXSdt9iZHDcTZjlyMyftCnRZZIdON0bnvCcN0zf48seqCDwqsuQNLP_991eJpG7adwGt0YijpaiIj/s1600/09f502dd-3eb0-4a40-8c5e-9f56b84710e9_zpssesscizz.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
The top of our bookshelf - I finally got around to ordering prints of our wedding photos, so this one's on display. Sorry it's kinda blurry here.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUcEOmPysPqH-7RgGHqlAllkcYO4GPLaRDATrXsa8tGykY95vZ0SYxfL5cHw_O-GaJTSlhMN_ivhKxjx7Uw3aFb5cBVRUwOnqwRDUz0jrnyyfPDc37FdghDC574NeF5vlP_5lqZDi1eqzO/s1600/421a2142-903c-4bc8-bbd9-301bee562cf1_zpscrks3nfw(1).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUcEOmPysPqH-7RgGHqlAllkcYO4GPLaRDATrXsa8tGykY95vZ0SYxfL5cHw_O-GaJTSlhMN_ivhKxjx7Uw3aFb5cBVRUwOnqwRDUz0jrnyyfPDc37FdghDC574NeF5vlP_5lqZDi1eqzO/s1600/421a2142-903c-4bc8-bbd9-301bee562cf1_zpscrks3nfw(1).JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Our bathroom. You might have noticed by now that these aren't very spacious shots; our apartment is small and cozy so these are more like <i>places </i>rather than different rooms :-) Though our bedroom is seperate from the living room.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2XTwIjxF4bxBwIB2qXkCcOEE6iB02zzoF3ACbrnJGWoT5GZswuu5pL8mS3iH3J3j2_8wC6RkRTTL92B7QSEy8sXl06ARjeYTQhXdjVdCmYFOuRLjB3nveIqFzzEoHC3Ymb6VpjQysc0Hb/s1600/29410648-502e-4512-a040-9c640196b7a3_zpsmi2yd2un.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2XTwIjxF4bxBwIB2qXkCcOEE6iB02zzoF3ACbrnJGWoT5GZswuu5pL8mS3iH3J3j2_8wC6RkRTTL92B7QSEy8sXl06ARjeYTQhXdjVdCmYFOuRLjB3nveIqFzzEoHC3Ymb6VpjQysc0Hb/s1600/29410648-502e-4512-a040-9c640196b7a3_zpsmi2yd2un.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
And this - is our "linen closet"!!! It's actually quite handy having this big ole' basket with fresh towels in it right next to the sink / shower. Easy access. Plus it forces me to actually fold them up and organize them. :-)</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ6AyGjRitaJjyKwL_oYoIApp0XGtNTe_cAlUdjC6au4qiArW4dn8RA1o0oPf2B3lIx27FwnzS9IANjGfSrobzdMXwLn7t7LqauQxEUo-N2l8BDeV5VaTialR3sc056U3TVmH6NjOSCvyI/s1600/317dfe83-f357-47c1-a8f7-62747110da86_zpsgtsy0jjl(1).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ6AyGjRitaJjyKwL_oYoIApp0XGtNTe_cAlUdjC6au4qiArW4dn8RA1o0oPf2B3lIx27FwnzS9IANjGfSrobzdMXwLn7t7LqauQxEUo-N2l8BDeV5VaTialR3sc056U3TVmH6NjOSCvyI/s1600/317dfe83-f357-47c1-a8f7-62747110da86_zpsgtsy0jjl(1).JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Quick caveat here, just had to say that I am LOVING these soy candles from Target right now. This lavender one I keep in our room - since lavender is supposed to "enhance sleep" I usually light it in the evening when we're both getting ready for bed. It's so relaxing and yummy smelling :-) David knows me so well now that if I'm in the shower, he'll go ahead and light all my candles for me throughout the house to make it smell good. </div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoRDVxhIXqizFlvYo_5EFds5v15_z1XgIYbsIc7Th5gcbnnx9s6J8F4t8F8nZU5kH2y4sxr1YiEEDjpE1_9jGUJFdlWRhUOYiZUnFugcbq5UnTRb2t9CBa94RrKBBm3mcL1EGj4k2sLmsh/s1600/b1c9bbba-9930-45fc-ba55-88b2e41e9173_zpsrr3jsoeu.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoRDVxhIXqizFlvYo_5EFds5v15_z1XgIYbsIc7Th5gcbnnx9s6J8F4t8F8nZU5kH2y4sxr1YiEEDjpE1_9jGUJFdlWRhUOYiZUnFugcbq5UnTRb2t9CBa94RrKBBm3mcL1EGj4k2sLmsh/s1600/b1c9bbba-9930-45fc-ba55-88b2e41e9173_zpsrr3jsoeu.JPG" height="480" width="640" /> </a>The kitchen and living room are sort of combined - it's nice and open-feeling. </div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_JYYqcfRiS-ax54kkV3uKH9VJ67MKYWVvDUk9X1feipJifPReOLA1alQfgOAVDisBXNBivVbbwSLT99_vq6k89qY3FyUuFrmNRPTk29pDDPl59rveKnxpD0-N6q-iv7GWXlpf468sfsKy/s1600/d71181f8-e237-4836-957c-b60b2a33c53a_zpsvwt2kg43.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_JYYqcfRiS-ax54kkV3uKH9VJ67MKYWVvDUk9X1feipJifPReOLA1alQfgOAVDisBXNBivVbbwSLT99_vq6k89qY3FyUuFrmNRPTk29pDDPl59rveKnxpD0-N6q-iv7GWXlpf468sfsKy/s1600/d71181f8-e237-4836-957c-b60b2a33c53a_zpsvwt2kg43.JPG" height="480" width="640" /> </a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
We have a big window in the living room that our kitchen table is right in front of. I got this Scripture decal from Hobby Lobby and put it above our window - I love it! It's the perfect touch. </div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI_LyVH21e9fpqFZbylD7uK4NaZpI6ttXYKEpd_B0ctQh2a2Ee4DauCSOOEqqM5teSApwopKmvS6TIysAjUSDZlrmtM_AiuAyzIvyqy5e-49a6ec_F_0x37RjS2FD0L599nVzQH-HoYsxL/s1600/c90e4ca7-7b1e-4283-8c79-6e0e299e24e1_zpswaydhoo1(1).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI_LyVH21e9fpqFZbylD7uK4NaZpI6ttXYKEpd_B0ctQh2a2Ee4DauCSOOEqqM5teSApwopKmvS6TIysAjUSDZlrmtM_AiuAyzIvyqy5e-49a6ec_F_0x37RjS2FD0L599nVzQH-HoYsxL/s1600/c90e4ca7-7b1e-4283-8c79-6e0e299e24e1_zpswaydhoo1(1).JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
This week I've really started noticing some baby movements!! Sooo exciting to feel finally!! It's mainly at night when I lie down and am totally still, I start to feel my little pumpkin swimming around in there lol :-) Sometimes it's really pronounce and I feel all this pressure on one side or the other, and then when I feel with me hand at that spot, there's this big hard lump there. It's so crazy! It feels so amazing to know that I have the privilege of being this baby's home for 9 months. Pregnancy is truly a miracle.</div>
<br />
<br />Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03430991328557979855noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2338955872932687537.post-76505967413585820672013-07-25T10:15:00.001-07:002013-07-25T10:15:26.418-07:00New Post......*And She Sings* Has Been UpdatedJust reminding you again that this blog has moved! :-) Come on over and check it out:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.songsfortheking.blogspot.com/">www.songsfortheking.blogspot.com</a><br />
<br />Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03430991328557979855noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2338955872932687537.post-14268976384587191852013-07-23T19:33:00.001-07:002013-07-23T19:33:54.262-07:00*NEW POST*Remember, my blog has moved to.......<a href="http://www.songsfortheking.blogspot.com/">www.songsfortheking.blogspot.com</a><br />
<br />
And there is a new update! I would love it if you would come on over, comment, and follow me! :-)Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03430991328557979855noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2338955872932687537.post-32823097574021417922013-07-14T21:43:00.002-07:002013-07-14T21:43:25.385-07:00New Release!!Hey everyone! Just poppping in to remind those of you who may have forgotten that I've moved my blog....I just put up another recording on my new blog.....<br />
<br />
<br />
Just head to:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.songsfortheking.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">And She Sings</a>Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03430991328557979855noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2338955872932687537.post-46243469255698186112013-07-10T11:09:00.000-07:002013-07-10T11:09:16.998-07:00*Special Video Series*Head on over to my new blog, www.songsfortheking.blogspot.com , to follow this week's daily video production!Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03430991328557979855noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2338955872932687537.post-66337386783533043942013-06-27T16:55:00.003-07:002013-06-27T16:55:37.338-07:00Official Notice: Rachel's Blog Has MovedJust wanted to clarify for those of you who didn't read my last post. I have moved!<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.songsfortheking.blogspot.com/">And She Sings
</a>Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03430991328557979855noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2338955872932687537.post-75115489475347048652013-06-26T11:00:00.001-07:002013-06-26T11:23:54.755-07:00Take a Looky-look........at a new blog I've set up. I've found myself without much to say on this blog anymore - I don't have time to take many pictures (Mom has really taken over family blogging!) plus *cough* camera batteries are kind of....expensive. <br />
<br />
So head on over to a new chapter in my blogging life! I think you'll find it interesting.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://songsfortheking.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">And She Sings</a><br />
<br />
For now, I think Rachel's Blog is officially "on hold"....like I said, my mom does such a great job with the family blog that I thought doing a music blog was more of a niche I could fill. 'Sides, it's what I'm into. :-)<br />
<br />
Anyway, feel free to follow it! <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03430991328557979855noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2338955872932687537.post-3295606158963108232013-06-24T16:38:00.002-07:002013-06-24T16:38:52.669-07:00LONG overdue update!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Wow. My blog has been....rather....<i>dead.....</i>for the last few weeks. Completely dead. And for that I apologize! I have been so incredibly busy (great excuse, huh?) but<i> </i>I decided some of you *might* enjoy knowing I'm still alive via some pictures. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
We just made the trip out to South Carolina to see Jonathan's graduation from basic training! It was SO good to see my little brother again.....:-) He looked quite <i>stunning</i> in his uniform; the only problem was </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
keeping track of him since there were about 300 other graduating guys there that all looked the same lol! </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;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBDYZdsESE3pN3Iupq4JoMLCQgGtQHfyt2ZVRz6psQd-MVAlbep0yd6GFsmOhd-BTOYkirVo1IXvpivpXPNh8_sh5lutRLhNzSC9N2JmkKZXu1hHyVu6wM0KNOd4sBzCpAiJMVJH1Rqq4q/s1600/1013882_488394904574734_65992117_n-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBDYZdsESE3pN3Iupq4JoMLCQgGtQHfyt2ZVRz6psQd-MVAlbep0yd6GFsmOhd-BTOYkirVo1IXvpivpXPNh8_sh5lutRLhNzSC9N2JmkKZXu1hHyVu6wM0KNOd4sBzCpAiJMVJH1Rqq4q/s640/1013882_488394904574734_65992117_n-1.jpg" width="480" /></a></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;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqOks_-0nw2_Dty7gBqcu-aw-9f50fwhB50oLyyFl7rYaPm36BjXY7Vu3hMs2P4qgumG0CZB3sSHXR1u8sjQ_wCxmHuIG-XfNUtpf96CNCWrKxxUD5KPAa-rwAphDSmZs7L6vhakRUk-C1/s1600/5602_488394731241418_569593088_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqOks_-0nw2_Dty7gBqcu-aw-9f50fwhB50oLyyFl7rYaPm36BjXY7Vu3hMs2P4qgumG0CZB3sSHXR1u8sjQ_wCxmHuIG-XfNUtpf96CNCWrKxxUD5KPAa-rwAphDSmZs7L6vhakRUk-C1/s640/5602_488394731241418_569593088_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1VLQQMjsaXy1aJ13vp03Q2YQo2h2Qaw7jTFx-jPg0pUMCyKSUkfEsU8Emr5A2ILs-jyfeXOC3sfinAQHL4wYgluT0Yxeygi1VATrjDc71bHWkY_IqS12NWTp6dNyxjEpl_KBJ_MMPd0XY/s1600/941416_488394877908070_794148538_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1VLQQMjsaXy1aJ13vp03Q2YQo2h2Qaw7jTFx-jPg0pUMCyKSUkfEsU8Emr5A2ILs-jyfeXOC3sfinAQHL4wYgluT0Yxeygi1VATrjDc71bHWkY_IqS12NWTp6dNyxjEpl_KBJ_MMPd0XY/s640/941416_488394877908070_794148538_n.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Teaching Isaac how to do "real" pushups!! </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMdCKG3OJCX-_BERvR8PQqE2bTv209ReF8A-X81BhPQOUHu49xxo24vgRYcSPW5RRCi84mri6mHlIK0BIAT8zpK1VKSvTnfOua451-rReggfzEpuiGEPrafwRlPQepK5PQ1uYeSS4ZkIi8/s1600/1044892_488394854574739_1361917312_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMdCKG3OJCX-_BERvR8PQqE2bTv209ReF8A-X81BhPQOUHu49xxo24vgRYcSPW5RRCi84mri6mHlIK0BIAT8zpK1VKSvTnfOua451-rReggfzEpuiGEPrafwRlPQepK5PQ1uYeSS4ZkIi8/s640/1044892_488394854574739_1361917312_n.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik361bcvXgBGiIEG0pGtaHmCQDhUBBlncjHoeEF7uTDkVIVHB6iaaVStdHyuP2iYVtzbB6lvDko8gHDvn97je9toJ_Ad8_2E934-vk6llaYFSbj94HvcAmQLUW9hy6HtmhIxRmbJIJLWih/s1600/1009924_488394757908082_898032909_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik361bcvXgBGiIEG0pGtaHmCQDhUBBlncjHoeEF7uTDkVIVHB6iaaVStdHyuP2iYVtzbB6lvDko8gHDvn97je9toJ_Ad8_2E934-vk6llaYFSbj94HvcAmQLUW9hy6HtmhIxRmbJIJLWih/s640/1009924_488394757908082_898032909_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
We got to tour the barracks while we were there. They were surprisingly nicer than I had expected! <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNe29n4diJFBmZ9hhsJ7DncWrZkdAhMrkHvtVrRxj57azhVHYIubpOOfK_e2B-XH-dQSFzX1z1UZkZzkknlRYESSF0LxVD_6Xi166ZyRsykLvkoJgQ4BpkugzymGobsg7Hmr1ZMLcbwldz/s1600/1016586_488394774574747_904746291_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNe29n4diJFBmZ9hhsJ7DncWrZkdAhMrkHvtVrRxj57azhVHYIubpOOfK_e2B-XH-dQSFzX1z1UZkZzkknlRYESSF0LxVD_6Xi166ZyRsykLvkoJgQ4BpkugzymGobsg7Hmr1ZMLcbwldz/s640/1016586_488394774574747_904746291_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Eating lunch in the RV! </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
More pictures and details later, but there's a teeny update for now. :-)</div>
<br />Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03430991328557979855noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2338955872932687537.post-2825134262860611322013-05-13T23:21:00.002-07:002013-05-13T23:21:55.833-07:00A Slightly Boring Post<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Sorry guys, no words of wisdom today. Here are some pictures from my birthday recently.....it's 11pm and I really have nothing of intelligible significance to say at this hour. :-) For the record though, everyone is alive. Yes, big news, isn't it? Told you it wasn't significant. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCd89EmP8fY52e8g2x5HicJmYQ8XRApFJTh5wTk7A90RLMK5xnkhk3QqaRMw6Y3kHqBIM7HHUoDB55WGOS8zUv1-HAQdHQGUve0SrjsR23eC9gsvyPDPRC5VDcmjV1QqKvONm4X6xqrvrK/s1600/DSCF8657.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCd89EmP8fY52e8g2x5HicJmYQ8XRApFJTh5wTk7A90RLMK5xnkhk3QqaRMw6Y3kHqBIM7HHUoDB55WGOS8zUv1-HAQdHQGUve0SrjsR23eC9gsvyPDPRC5VDcmjV1QqKvONm4X6xqrvrK/s640/DSCF8657.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx_LZw71jqw9ZXcgCL0nHYzr9vy2HOPRuaFkrVvY2jL1Lr9QtsS9mPULNUDL66lI_6acOTR5-5Cr4hZ4-pZ9QhyphenhyphenfOiQ7iL5c1z3M7H018mKgO247gUbYss09l0L2OwdMjo-G6ZnMMqN40I/s1600/DSCF8632.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx_LZw71jqw9ZXcgCL0nHYzr9vy2HOPRuaFkrVvY2jL1Lr9QtsS9mPULNUDL66lI_6acOTR5-5Cr4hZ4-pZ9QhyphenhyphenfOiQ7iL5c1z3M7H018mKgO247gUbYss09l0L2OwdMjo-G6ZnMMqN40I/s640/DSCF8632.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYyLuV7sWrjmD3b6vSlG_boxglyf7_EEtXCQAxpoDiQcaLYsVNRSwXlv3Ja3Yb6snnO4phkcMcEUp48nTk6PssgrbgT-vEkEGawQccggmQ6o1a9Nun4kzt2hhxYDmus6RfF9l27tsGGriH/s1600/DSCF8659.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYyLuV7sWrjmD3b6vSlG_boxglyf7_EEtXCQAxpoDiQcaLYsVNRSwXlv3Ja3Yb6snnO4phkcMcEUp48nTk6PssgrbgT-vEkEGawQccggmQ6o1a9Nun4kzt2hhxYDmus6RfF9l27tsGGriH/s640/DSCF8659.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9QefwfhEMAlolLQKP_kga0uykZzGj9JNK8oaSIzMz7rBlyXPI1KFNoF9jn_DR3jzJbQo54f5IECxltnE5tSdIZnIEjlWRGiwnyfsWxu3Dj3zdfYicxElnaPuuWP5iKXrxKErunRGN3R3y/s1600/DSCF8743.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9QefwfhEMAlolLQKP_kga0uykZzGj9JNK8oaSIzMz7rBlyXPI1KFNoF9jn_DR3jzJbQo54f5IECxltnE5tSdIZnIEjlWRGiwnyfsWxu3Dj3zdfYicxElnaPuuWP5iKXrxKErunRGN3R3y/s640/DSCF8743.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Life goes on - homemade iced lattes, pink nail polish, hot days, a new Krause movie production in the works (remember last year's?), a dentist appointment coming up (yippee), Grandma visiting in a few weeks, wonderful friends to fellowship with, and fun with music editing software.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Oh - and I'm now a regular at Ragazzi's Terretoria, a gourmet italian resteraunt. Regular pianist, that is. They put an ad in the newspaper for me each week to gather in more customers. Last Friday night I pulled out $120 from tips plus what I charge. Not bad for three hours of plunking around on a keyboard, huh?! A dream job, for sure.....</div>
Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03430991328557979855noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2338955872932687537.post-2293599485368324032013-05-10T15:19:00.000-07:002013-05-10T21:17:46.724-07:00Free Download Friday<br />
<br />
<iframe frameborder="no" height="166" scrolling="no" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F91662104" width="100%"></iframe>Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03430991328557979855noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2338955872932687537.post-43652767458699752862013-05-07T21:38:00.001-07:002013-05-07T21:38:40.599-07:00Terrific Tuesday (aka corny title)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Hey! Today was a fun day for me. I headed down to the CPC for the morning and, as usual, had a great time. My shift was from 9 to 1....no clients today, but there were <em>plenty</em> of other projects to work on. <strong>Tons</strong> of followup work (I closed probably eight cases today!), shredding of old expired cases, and the creation of new pregnancy info packets that we give out to our positive-test clients. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0xepr8xRfNr1iNFfKkw_DB74lhkpJ-VAuJSrW_DW0_YmaOiOR1eEKikVxHrQsGm2BgeDACK3lQx9p3H5Zck_S2jGvDtkB-lmkF_JR22s1JYclYCd2Jtc_yI2qE63EUGjlQlVKFcoNa80c/s1600/DSCF9153.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" mwa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0xepr8xRfNr1iNFfKkw_DB74lhkpJ-VAuJSrW_DW0_YmaOiOR1eEKikVxHrQsGm2BgeDACK3lQx9p3H5Zck_S2jGvDtkB-lmkF_JR22s1JYclYCd2Jtc_yI2qE63EUGjlQlVKFcoNa80c/s640/DSCF9153.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
So you all probably know by now that I truly do love scarves....right? Right? I think I've mentioned it a <em>few</em> times :-). Anyway, my friend Kayla from church crocheted this one for my birthday recently. Isn't it simply gorgeous? She is so good at making these kinds of things. I'm thinking I'll be seeing a new business emerging soon in the yarn aisle of Jo-Ann's...<em>Kayla's Proffesional Looking and Amazingly Detailed Products, Inc.</em> :-) </div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlq9Pf_L8AALRDaSfA5OC4CIUF4zTGx3C7D68gKb9Ffb8qKL483MiBAPaLjOTKGa8IDZrKDmwRvEDp9ekz4YgipcozMDL69xHEAcmogCfWD1s1Nn4wIcOnSY7GI6YAIvvJCRdXZfLvvCc8/s1600/DSCF9177.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" mwa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlq9Pf_L8AALRDaSfA5OC4CIUF4zTGx3C7D68gKb9Ffb8qKL483MiBAPaLjOTKGa8IDZrKDmwRvEDp9ekz4YgipcozMDL69xHEAcmogCfWD1s1Nn4wIcOnSY7GI6YAIvvJCRdXZfLvvCc8/s640/DSCF9177.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
It was gorgeous today - yes, it's almost summer, but the weather is absolutely breathtaking. Like, low 80's (if even that?), cloudy skies but still sunny (does that make sense?), and just generally windows-open-kind-of-weather. I sleep with my window open, and no joke, the chirping birds wake me up every morning around five. I get to jog at 5:30 listening to my favorite songs on my ipod and watch an amazing sunrise. I love it!</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYWfbH3T0Metui_zz-iilrToWznSXGw1MdEpbPzN5ZROTYKD13wRKEfYAgOmpZZuqx88ZMFKd79xum0tS7hoJ5EPeLCVWeg3moo_iZSxcVzk7fGqZVsGcw4mLF1p22vdAI6UM5NYg1po9b/s1600/DSCF9178.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" mwa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYWfbH3T0Metui_zz-iilrToWznSXGw1MdEpbPzN5ZROTYKD13wRKEfYAgOmpZZuqx88ZMFKd79xum0tS7hoJ5EPeLCVWeg3moo_iZSxcVzk7fGqZVsGcw4mLF1p22vdAI6UM5NYg1po9b/s640/DSCF9178.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
So Josh is the ever-present echo and constant copy-cat around here. When Isaac says he's hungry, Joshua is right behind him saying the same thing. Today Isaac told me he was stuffed, and low and behold, a little voice pipes up "I'm stuffed too!". Anything that Isaac is, Josh feels he MUST be, or his little emotional ocean breaks forth and he crumples. :-)</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiTsQOgj-zocvRaJIt1oJhHsCdoLKux8M1aLdzTqdXa7ekf7crRjN0U8wUDeBMWLWjsVj431Rdf2_gxFeJa4mMiPYJTXWTfbYRFt6USIWrk7X7jLh7zZdcTkEbt_MwHafyl7drSXX6eSfX/s1600/DSCF9172.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" mwa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiTsQOgj-zocvRaJIt1oJhHsCdoLKux8M1aLdzTqdXa7ekf7crRjN0U8wUDeBMWLWjsVj431Rdf2_gxFeJa4mMiPYJTXWTfbYRFt6USIWrk7X7jLh7zZdcTkEbt_MwHafyl7drSXX6eSfX/s640/DSCF9172.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
Anyway....after the CPC, I came home and had lunch, and then ran some <strong><em>glamorous</em></strong> errands that included a trip to Ace Hardware purchasing a new p-trap for my bathroom sink and a hair-catcher for my shower drain. A hint? I've been having some...uh....trouble with clogged drains due to....well, you know....<strong>hair.</strong> Don't tell me I'm the only girl who plugs up sink drains on a regular basis. Up until a few weeks ago I was standing in four inches of water during my shower it was so backed up. Yeah. I'm....working on that one. :-)</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg91kkJBToTMV09sniN3W2GX4KOdE7dsFOuLg6uwj3-44kcoZU5nv-suvbuIHVAxFpeDaZwSG8WLByDBg-Z5qo4mg-Of7rv_LVAnrzmKT4SXWKOhzoqMpXYOCphjY8CJ_SKGFytKi8cpmvA/s1600/DSCF9198.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" mwa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg91kkJBToTMV09sniN3W2GX4KOdE7dsFOuLg6uwj3-44kcoZU5nv-suvbuIHVAxFpeDaZwSG8WLByDBg-Z5qo4mg-Of7rv_LVAnrzmKT4SXWKOhzoqMpXYOCphjY8CJ_SKGFytKi8cpmvA/s640/DSCF9198.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
Isaac is our completely original clown. Upon getting into the pool for the first time this summer, he looked up at me, completely serious, and said, "Hey Rachel, baptize me!" Maybe we've been watching too many John the Baptist movies or something? Anyway, now he thinks it's a hilarious joke, and baptism is always discussed at the pool in some form. They also think communion is hilarious. Um, kind of not good??!!! Seems like I'm always trying to get them to stop re-inacting the Last Supper with giggles and sarcasm in the living room. Example? "<em>Hey look! Take and eat, this is my bod-ee! Ha ha!" </em>Yeah. We're...working on that one, too.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL4fv1quP2eER3TPOSIuNj0xCPJiBP8BjI-e4Pwyhyphenhyphen-3B07eg_CpkSkLp5D5WezQU7KI9UGkwpby7h-w0SrtpY0XONnV26i-BAWWE-679FmnwOz7-r6G1W9uED7P5-YAwo3Ig4wuNUKOhC/s1600/DSCF9202.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" mwa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL4fv1quP2eER3TPOSIuNj0xCPJiBP8BjI-e4Pwyhyphenhyphen-3B07eg_CpkSkLp5D5WezQU7KI9UGkwpby7h-w0SrtpY0XONnV26i-BAWWE-679FmnwOz7-r6G1W9uED7P5-YAwo3Ig4wuNUKOhC/s640/DSCF9202.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Some of you probably heard about our juicing fast from my mom's blog. I am back on food now (thank heavens) but I'm still juicing on the side. And generally, I'm now wanting to really eat healthier. I even skipped cupcakes on David's birthday. Don't know how I did that one?! But remember I said <strong>generally</strong> I'm being healthy. So....if you find me with a Starbucks or something similarly poisonous, well - it must be a special occasion or something. :-) </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Have a great week!</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03430991328557979855noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2338955872932687537.post-40853764941235801792013-05-06T21:03:00.000-07:002013-05-06T21:03:12.920-07:00We Be Older Now<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
We had three birthdays this week! And four this month. We're now older, wiser (that counts me out), and jumping into another year of life. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibuv6a5TsbU6fXr7k5CYXVJWRWxqWnxQvn2VHyzAsydoHiFLJpiFE67Zsq2iroaeJHvAehBchBhROMFM5f1KMdO7lVhseXrh-pOa9fuCBGzFjipomUAQxFmMqoslL8gXSB47nmY6U5K08p/s1600/DSCF8738.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibuv6a5TsbU6fXr7k5CYXVJWRWxqWnxQvn2VHyzAsydoHiFLJpiFE67Zsq2iroaeJHvAehBchBhROMFM5f1KMdO7lVhseXrh-pOa9fuCBGzFjipomUAQxFmMqoslL8gXSB47nmY6U5K08p/s640/DSCF8738.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I turned 20 just a few days ago. Officially no longer a teenager! I totally don't feel ready to be this old. I mean <i>really</i>. I have always thought that when I reached such a lofty number....I'd somehow have everything together. Be mature, rich, (sorry, it's what I always assumed), prepared, smart, and just generally ready to tackle anything that came my way. Oh, and incredibly spiritual, too. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
But - here I am , twenty years old, and I seem to be none of these things!!!! Definitely not rich. Two traffic tickets took care of that one. Mature? Not so much. How else do I justify my love of chasing my little brothers up and down the stairs and tickling them till they say what I want them to say??? Prepared? Only for today. Smart...um, let's not talk about that one, ok? </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
But I am twenty now. Here I be. Secretly I wish I was still a four year old. The little girl I babysit is having a princess birthday party next week and I'm finding myself jealous. lol</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
And David? He is fourteen today! As you can see from this very grainy and poor quality picture (sorry bout that one), he is much taller than me and getting....kinda....broad. Apparently my chubby cheeked little brother grew up overnight. He's shaving now. When did that one start?</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Ah well. More pictures coming, just wanted to throw this up tonight. :-)</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03430991328557979855noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2338955872932687537.post-22179244800073468592013-05-05T23:31:00.000-07:002013-05-05T23:31:30.795-07:00Waiting - not my favorite thing<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><b>"Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for Him...."</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">(Psalm 37:7a)</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">I don't like waiting. I don't like not knowing. I don't like wondering what's going to happen next. I don't like being patient.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">I like being in control of things...I'm not a dominant person, but I like having all my ducks in a row and things figured out. New situations scare me - rather than take them head on I'd really rather just hide.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">So what do you do when there's nothing to do BUT to wait? And trust? </span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">For a while, I tried convincing myself that this whole trust business was something I was pretty good at; you know,you just kind of, "trust God" and then do what needs to get done. <i>Your</i> way. Because, God helps those who helps themselves (a well-known Biblical fact, of course) and the trusting part is really more of a theoretical concept....not necessarily something you'd actually <b>do,</b> right?</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><b><i>Right?</i></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">I mean, God doesn't really expect me to just give everything I've worked for up until now to Him, does He? He wouldn't actually ask me to surrender <i>every </i>area of my life to Him...would He? </span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">No no no. Of course not. He would understand, of course, that my dreams and <b>my</b> goals and <b>my</b> desires are quite important to the success of <b>my</b> life and <b>my</b> appearance and <b>my</b> purpose and.....well, <i>ME</i>, really.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Unfortunately, I'm finding out differently these days. Unfortunately in the sense that it's dealing quite a blow to my sense of control. Sometimes things change, situations come up, life happens, and <i>control</i> is literally the last thing you have.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">I'm finding out that I can't change the things around me I don't like. I can't alter circumstances that God has allowed into my life for whatever crazy reason. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">But mostly, I can't keep <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">change</span> from happening. It's inevitable. Things will always change. People will always change. That's life. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">What a perfect opportunity to literally go running into the arms of the One Who never changes. Ever. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">What we call "surrender" or "sacrifice" is simply giving God what He already owns anyway. It's not like He's relieved when we give Him control over our lives - He doesn't need us. And He already has control anyway. It simply boils down to how <b>we relate to God</b>, not the other way around. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">There's something about just letting go and allowing God to do what He wants with my life that frees me to watch for what He's doing rather than worry if it will line up with my ten-point plan for life success or not.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Because honestly, I'd much rather be saying "Not thy will, but mine be done!"</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">I don't like giving the controls over to God. In my self-absorbed stupor I like to think that, yeah, He IS God and everything, but He doesn't understand how much ________ means to me. I seriously like to think that I know how to run my life way better than He would, since it's, you know, MINE?</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">And...there inlies the rub. This happens to not be my life. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">It's His. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">So again, "surrendering" control to Jesus isn't doing Him a favor or anything. It's just giving Him what He already owns anyway. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">And I'm learning that He....kind of DOES know what He's doing. Usually it's not till later that we get to find out why He took us certain directions. But it is all for the best. And God happens to have the advantage of seeing the <b>whole picture.</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">In the famous words of Jim Elliot, "He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose."</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">I'm learning. Slowly. :-)</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="22" cellspacing="0" class="mainbk" style="background-color: #b9e3ff; color: #001320; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; width: 100%px;"><tbody>
<tr valign="top"><td class="bluebk3" style="background-color: #fffefd; background-repeat: no-repeat repeat;" width="98%"></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03430991328557979855noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2338955872932687537.post-58319207141125036332013-04-25T17:21:00.002-07:002013-04-25T17:25:25.734-07:00Movie Review: Homerun<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
This morning, David and I went to the theatre to watch the recently produced movie, "Homerun". I didn't know too much about it, except that it was supposed to be a really good family movie. I wasn't disappointed! It was great - I'm super glad I went to see it. Probably one of those that we will want to get on dvd when it comes out.</div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi60EQ7uVRv7I9xqqA73XCIfeayNKKE-5eZ6OeDKVMj7gv-5yuoO-QBh4aLSsgHf4lF7KkwLBRh0FNvhQ_AEphapWSO7K1VljJX8cfb9kOtuzpTYMPjODpWT8UjlCRjJfeiFXUokOzgelXT/s1600/scott-elrod-home-run-photo-by-kelly-kerr-01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi60EQ7uVRv7I9xqqA73XCIfeayNKKE-5eZ6OeDKVMj7gv-5yuoO-QBh4aLSsgHf4lF7KkwLBRh0FNvhQ_AEphapWSO7K1VljJX8cfb9kOtuzpTYMPjODpWT8UjlCRjJfeiFXUokOzgelXT/s640/scott-elrod-home-run-photo-by-kelly-kerr-01.jpg" width="470" /></a></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
The movie centers around Cory Brand, a baseball star who is on the cutting edge of his career as a player for the Grizzlies. On the field, he's as incredible as he looks - talent and all. But off the field, he's a broken man struggling with his alcohol addiction, a fierce anger problem, and emotional scars from a childhood with an alcoholic father. </div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Things start getting messy when Cory's outbursts of uncontrollable anger show on the field during a game. Word gets out about his drinking addiction, and he is suddenly faced with a tarnished reputation. Not long after, his drinking gets him in a serious car accident; his brother is put in the hospital and the media gets hold of the story. Desperately trying to save face and redeem his career, Cory's agent sends him to a small town to coach a little league baseball team and attend an eight-week addiction recovery program. </div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8Z-T4s7thHI3z_r18Yuqyrxq4pXg7SVvhNorSvJgJilj6F95prtg5pd6Odf3FtDegRg_0AGEz3zfFndDUl2SPu-E9Dy4Jum9GR5C0gY5Yg8Q4Fdcp1jB0kDWaz3_LLTYMk87MMdnhaNo1/s1600/Home-Run-kids.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8Z-T4s7thHI3z_r18Yuqyrxq4pXg7SVvhNorSvJgJilj6F95prtg5pd6Odf3FtDegRg_0AGEz3zfFndDUl2SPu-E9Dy4Jum9GR5C0gY5Yg8Q4Fdcp1jB0kDWaz3_LLTYMk87MMdnhaNo1/s640/Home-Run-kids.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
No sooner has he begun his coaching than he realizes that one of the players is his own young son, and the existing coach is his former wife, both whom he abandoned years ago to pursue his promising baseball career. </div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
All of these circumstances make for a touching story about forgiveness, reconciliation, and God's grace. </div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
The focus of the film is how very possible it is to overcome an addiction through Christ. When Cory has hit rock bottom in more ways than one, he finds God and begins his journey, dealing with his past head-on. As a third-generation alcoholic, he declares that "change starts here, right here". </div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Possibly one of my favorite quotes of the movie was <b><i>"Nothing great happens when you hold back."</i></b></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b><i><br /></i></b></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
It was so refreshing to see a clean, wholesome movie, where recurring themes of grace, forgiveness, and redemption in Christ were present. No bad language, didn't have to worry about certain scenes. It was all good! </div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN74IdirGWDEtdYuDEAKR6JR8wVb4cxBg8yUQZM0987114qI05ZLRJf1zHUwrtC9dGTECqLzLl3QKqYENTxQkCFZd7qXSWkTtlu7gUnfoSLmGbvrr0jtjNgSE0U-rVLQaR8u2rtSYxpjnK/s1600/Home-Run-Christian-Movie-Christian-Film-DVD-Saddleback-.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN74IdirGWDEtdYuDEAKR6JR8wVb4cxBg8yUQZM0987114qI05ZLRJf1zHUwrtC9dGTECqLzLl3QKqYENTxQkCFZd7qXSWkTtlu7gUnfoSLmGbvrr0jtjNgSE0U-rVLQaR8u2rtSYxpjnK/s200/Home-Run-Christian-Movie-Christian-Film-DVD-Saddleback-.jpg" width="135" /></a>I won't recommend a certain age for seeing this movie, since all families are different. However, viewers should be aware that there are many scenes involving drinking, and the effects thereof. Outbursts of anger are shown. Since the focus of the movie is addiction recovery, scenes revolving around this theme are present. Thumbs up for a <i>great </i>movie. Really. It was one of those that made me want to tear up at the end. But it would have made my mascara run....so, no go. :-)</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<br />Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03430991328557979855noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2338955872932687537.post-70793433058299966222013-04-18T20:36:00.000-07:002013-04-18T20:36:06.577-07:00Alabama Trip Photos<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
So, finally, here are the pictures from Dad's and my trip to Alabama a few weeks ago. :-) </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXwqkyn7-nVnyieJayxISojemjSnj6ou-wWZ0jeQeXEDaalOPFG612v6-I8qDtNyo2iy6gtyDufMlIIxglrg65G_uiR8SprLa1TQ7RrdUl7Ax1SLrjwvhWcrRK175fS4KfmzQTPikGkghU/s1600/DSCF8823.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" dua="true" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXwqkyn7-nVnyieJayxISojemjSnj6ou-wWZ0jeQeXEDaalOPFG612v6-I8qDtNyo2iy6gtyDufMlIIxglrg65G_uiR8SprLa1TQ7RrdUl7Ax1SLrjwvhWcrRK175fS4KfmzQTPikGkghU/s640/DSCF8823.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
On the road here. The drive from Arizona to Alabama is about 22 hours....we basically drove it straight, and you can see the rather deleterious effects in this photo. Coffee helped, lots and lots of coffee. And of course, we traded off, napping while the other drove. But when I wanted to sleep most (midnight and beyond) was when I simply couldn't let myself doze. Dad was on the verge of falling asleep at the wheel at one point and I wasn't much better....and that's when we decided to just pull off and rest a few hours. A few. Very few. We did this whole driving thing in a day and a half! Kind of exhausting, but way better than dragging the whole thing out for days on end.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXKh3BLcGKZRXsbFO_pSSsHVKFMiD02enHrAR_v7F_98P3jjxfgYp0M3f3CQ7zFeHMadzD4hGQyYHFtSgmYqN5vL0moTFgD8CNqp7Oqdjt1S4kp5u4dF0l-3CrhIEKuY83Bue-xo2XDX4T/s1600/DSCF8824.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" dua="true" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXKh3BLcGKZRXsbFO_pSSsHVKFMiD02enHrAR_v7F_98P3jjxfgYp0M3f3CQ7zFeHMadzD4hGQyYHFtSgmYqN5vL0moTFgD8CNqp7Oqdjt1S4kp5u4dF0l-3CrhIEKuY83Bue-xo2XDX4T/s640/DSCF8824.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3Rvx4hr-KPNxcaYyuN3fgwAvKQqnqHzDXwTn9LQdriNtKLngUmgT4y-hm9ajilzONk9Y9_za9hE5y_o7qs0qLRQUCEYyMfgogzay-YRs3ylBZaCzJF-apjXi1I1Bq3YcmJFBMWEEgxbrf/s1600/DSCF8829.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" dua="true" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3Rvx4hr-KPNxcaYyuN3fgwAvKQqnqHzDXwTn9LQdriNtKLngUmgT4y-hm9ajilzONk9Y9_za9hE5y_o7qs0qLRQUCEYyMfgogzay-YRs3ylBZaCzJF-apjXi1I1Bq3YcmJFBMWEEgxbrf/s640/DSCF8829.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
Our trusty GPS! The second day of driving, which was pretty much mid-Texas on, we drove through rain the <i>entire time</i>. Every single state along the way was in downpour! And I happen to believe we drove through a tornado-ey patch in Mississippi. It was green, silent, not windy, but super cloudy and rainy. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwqTvjzIdYU1Q7KPfy4SqtcnrVeVGX9nw1GN2xBR-OOAh4_Y01wHk0lNC3yCvWfGF49ezQkuC-icG7GypSbJnU2GI8zCt9oRvGRiZGZ7jaROQLX6ICoRea6oDR20xwJ38mO1VskisG34hf/s1600/DSCF8840.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" dua="true" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwqTvjzIdYU1Q7KPfy4SqtcnrVeVGX9nw1GN2xBR-OOAh4_Y01wHk0lNC3yCvWfGF49ezQkuC-icG7GypSbJnU2GI8zCt9oRvGRiZGZ7jaROQLX6ICoRea6oDR20xwJ38mO1VskisG34hf/s640/DSCF8840.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
The girl we made the trip for!! She got into the honors program and the whole point of the trip was to be there for her induction ceremony. It was just a good excuse to visit her, really. :-)</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmCLS_OjXN3Dy2cTXBYndyBBBb0Ehag8OCcLgOdanrYW74RQU79Uxswi1A5F-UTNLCTC49dhvQnYiNuiD8FL_Mo_Tg8C2SxFTeqTPWCoRwBah2iJ09Qb8f2pvi9D_0Tl8JbVslHNPFeN-v/s1600/DSCF8845.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" dua="true" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmCLS_OjXN3Dy2cTXBYndyBBBb0Ehag8OCcLgOdanrYW74RQU79Uxswi1A5F-UTNLCTC49dhvQnYiNuiD8FL_Mo_Tg8C2SxFTeqTPWCoRwBah2iJ09Qb8f2pvi9D_0Tl8JbVslHNPFeN-v/s640/DSCF8845.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
Church on Sunday.</div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjueydYdWRj92Y0NaWAsDfR47QuD5FxiFuzet-od7WXZja4P2oRFjhzYJQdeLkiAYZDI3dXmd3-qVfe9AIFT_65gpo8k0Ze_1Qz_K8bOcAFgkUgfBZFHemIPr0DhpPamOz-f1PrxkXHPmqD/s1600/DSCF8889.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" dua="true" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjueydYdWRj92Y0NaWAsDfR47QuD5FxiFuzet-od7WXZja4P2oRFjhzYJQdeLkiAYZDI3dXmd3-qVfe9AIFT_65gpo8k0Ze_1Qz_K8bOcAFgkUgfBZFHemIPr0DhpPamOz-f1PrxkXHPmqD/s640/DSCF8889.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
Trusty Waffle House, our road-trip friend. I always get their chocolate chip waffles (*yum*). Being in the deep south, <i>everyone </i>is "amen-ing" and "hallelujah-ing" around there, and our meal this particular day was no exception. While waiting for our food to come, we had a quick prayer. As soon as I had finished, our waitress, who had been standing next to our table the whole time, placed our check on the table and gave her hearty "A-mayn" to the whole deal, with that super-thick southern accent. It was pretty funny. You just don't get that in Arizona. :-)</div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0umy7jjQNykrXkrLm8Ecx4bIuvDX01vjrtLKPSttXjbHV_sviA6psTffYvNriY5GecEmqcvqHvwUU5WkdcLda3_r1MFlBPuyghNzeG8aFkjHQb19HkNDCVIpPm9n-S6nJxFWKcL2NEIAY/s1600/DSCF8901.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" dua="true" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0umy7jjQNykrXkrLm8Ecx4bIuvDX01vjrtLKPSttXjbHV_sviA6psTffYvNriY5GecEmqcvqHvwUU5WkdcLda3_r1MFlBPuyghNzeG8aFkjHQb19HkNDCVIpPm9n-S6nJxFWKcL2NEIAY/s640/DSCF8901.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj597g308sG4NR0wi_TFxZnyJVgpDQNMFAEu3Mlt5t92cIoeCAoevM4wmqBJpaEWpLv4zkID-pOvRU0Y6r2L9JdVsX7Fw7F2pqAqJOIUho0GXMOI_apIl-OICp4EN4aO4QnVyfiNPuky-jR/s1600/DSCF8920.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" dua="true" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj597g308sG4NR0wi_TFxZnyJVgpDQNMFAEu3Mlt5t92cIoeCAoevM4wmqBJpaEWpLv4zkID-pOvRU0Y6r2L9JdVsX7Fw7F2pqAqJOIUho0GXMOI_apIl-OICp4EN4aO4QnVyfiNPuky-jR/s640/DSCF8920.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw5fRM7JgZuT7LYeLEMM1OdXBE2glc3DpsnN9WgJCA62_yXV0tz6SIe6EheRWsF2B_mp3lB1IuqCe3dVECzQxhV9pXcHqZ6oARScq_2UNYl7nNcKQCxpISyrgd8b_nRsgui6hJOrj-A2sF/s1600/DSCF8936.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" dua="true" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw5fRM7JgZuT7LYeLEMM1OdXBE2glc3DpsnN9WgJCA62_yXV0tz6SIe6EheRWsF2B_mp3lB1IuqCe3dVECzQxhV9pXcHqZ6oARScq_2UNYl7nNcKQCxpISyrgd8b_nRsgui6hJOrj-A2sF/s640/DSCF8936.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I spent a few days with Courtney in the dorm, and as I walked with her around campus, met her friends, and went to her classes, <i>everyone </i> kept telling us how crazy it was that we were nearly identical! People even thought we talked the same. They kept laughing that we were like carbon copies of each other. One person even thought I was Courtney when Courtney was out of the room momentarily. Do we really look that similar, really? </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmknc9QMIbgzYecmp7qgUJRJmXB7wsCvlRMd1KpF1TXS4dBFH0X7nM4124J8QOdaN5gozu_BdfMgMc2ToEMbWqvBEaEoLHVQ4BYOcuhYrMgyn7E8ezkvHNQsDbmNq_JQknY9K_CuC_QYiT/s1600/DSCF8377.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" dua="true" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmknc9QMIbgzYecmp7qgUJRJmXB7wsCvlRMd1KpF1TXS4dBFH0X7nM4124J8QOdaN5gozu_BdfMgMc2ToEMbWqvBEaEoLHVQ4BYOcuhYrMgyn7E8ezkvHNQsDbmNq_JQknY9K_CuC_QYiT/s640/DSCF8377.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRU9eokdYaZDm5QfQe20-u7Pa2FCnweTXtcnhAFtZDgti63MytUqQiqvtNP53-AJntOUdgBmFb5CGw_KSnnIiF4foLjNItnwjc8UPCN5RFx5LT_hLHIHVxWCzUB8e-03ZZ90Bg_ANuUKH_/s1600/DSCF8390.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" dua="true" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRU9eokdYaZDm5QfQe20-u7Pa2FCnweTXtcnhAFtZDgti63MytUqQiqvtNP53-AJntOUdgBmFb5CGw_KSnnIiF4foLjNItnwjc8UPCN5RFx5LT_hLHIHVxWCzUB8e-03ZZ90Bg_ANuUKH_/s640/DSCF8390.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
Photography....<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3Py-O3ADGzcZecsu-XsNMvshhsUD0ypjlSpFvGqXwIMaS-HLX5-4Tq3m5Bm390PeUXpzyHF3_3DHSkwMWwUzihnYe82TSPFB3P5Lavvp1GhMI2tImyllg1GTAYgpi5S2DHXANhUxQInjx/s1600/DSCF8407.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" dua="true" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3Py-O3ADGzcZecsu-XsNMvshhsUD0ypjlSpFvGqXwIMaS-HLX5-4Tq3m5Bm390PeUXpzyHF3_3DHSkwMWwUzihnYe82TSPFB3P5Lavvp1GhMI2tImyllg1GTAYgpi5S2DHXANhUxQInjx/s640/DSCF8407.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
And then, on Thursday, the Honors Ceremony itself, which lasted about an hour. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCjWoKely1urK77FnxLaGqh7pGAofm_YGQJOk6ZIWRKWVsC8U2Upxq01-2XlVYkJdiFrit5gVukQpIBRt1hIqH2Dtu8BoG5eduIpmtBVDQtZiw-NdhfI1J2yzhUE7_7RJhoZsfE9ZWYY7P/s1600/DSCF8956.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" dua="true" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCjWoKely1urK77FnxLaGqh7pGAofm_YGQJOk6ZIWRKWVsC8U2Upxq01-2XlVYkJdiFrit5gVukQpIBRt1hIqH2Dtu8BoG5eduIpmtBVDQtZiw-NdhfI1J2yzhUE7_7RJhoZsfE9ZWYY7P/s640/DSCF8956.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEo1q-UspJDN7xSH1MDZJH7vMcsFVBgWMUKDqy5D-p_ErlQTZBmup1d6km_o08f0sql6ld5f_t_ypFyeJpFnUNwY_LRzh6ZGuHND_WYTDHTpdBzTV7lDkmg4KAQ2B4stdLksiCVf-j-FBU/s1600/DSCF8958.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" dua="true" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEo1q-UspJDN7xSH1MDZJH7vMcsFVBgWMUKDqy5D-p_ErlQTZBmup1d6km_o08f0sql6ld5f_t_ypFyeJpFnUNwY_LRzh6ZGuHND_WYTDHTpdBzTV7lDkmg4KAQ2B4stdLksiCVf-j-FBU/s640/DSCF8958.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Courtney's name was called, and she stood for about....five seconds? Everyone clapped. At that point we said, "well, that's all we came for. Guess it's time to go home now!" We drove all that way for five seconds!!! Not really. Like I said, it was totally just a good excuse to spend time with her. :-)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-ZAkp3hjQP059nZHaYXOoX-loTlCVTi2JI_JmygLaK7WpbnbvNtj-m1qJD0aQl_eobMeAWLu3h18CCZkgrFDXvJqqRyXpjBdYI_KPaRzLtEEfhfnmvW8MB4Sf3aYMaU3gFiI9bxjYB0Ji/s1600/DSCF8410.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" dua="true" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-ZAkp3hjQP059nZHaYXOoX-loTlCVTi2JI_JmygLaK7WpbnbvNtj-m1qJD0aQl_eobMeAWLu3h18CCZkgrFDXvJqqRyXpjBdYI_KPaRzLtEEfhfnmvW8MB4Sf3aYMaU3gFiI9bxjYB0Ji/s640/DSCF8410.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
Explaining.....something.....it was important at the moment.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivmQbxWH-0qj5PGUcSgBrZij_Ct89LFpP7D9YrKXHbKk-f_vfTKHPt5Ep2w-FfNs0d83PwjZbM005G8uG1d8-RDC-OIIcnH_ZjEznxRs7Taqq47ncNdDDvHvydFcHBIeox0ckrVL3kSS5A/s1600/DSCF8967.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" dua="true" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivmQbxWH-0qj5PGUcSgBrZij_Ct89LFpP7D9YrKXHbKk-f_vfTKHPt5Ep2w-FfNs0d83PwjZbM005G8uG1d8-RDC-OIIcnH_ZjEznxRs7Taqq47ncNdDDvHvydFcHBIeox0ckrVL3kSS5A/s640/DSCF8967.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9zS7eirIZkTOPoWaWhGCyvZHPUYQwjNrxJ-keIhrnxvPbpwkZZCQzf73pHX_W6rqKXxYAw5XCkmOA_lZu5yBYzy-i_kZW6-Txv81DuxzkpRLMy0f-gWYlVYncmpa2hyz_0VXGcCCR-bw3/s1600/DSCF8965.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" dua="true" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9zS7eirIZkTOPoWaWhGCyvZHPUYQwjNrxJ-keIhrnxvPbpwkZZCQzf73pHX_W6rqKXxYAw5XCkmOA_lZu5yBYzy-i_kZW6-Txv81DuxzkpRLMy0f-gWYlVYncmpa2hyz_0VXGcCCR-bw3/s640/DSCF8965.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1Xq3Whtu2a86bo9LBr_f-8bE9-l92DNMIUQ2c73Ls5v1I3Ud0mbUyVp97K5Y7ydkVriW7DS7o97KWq647957emHUq6P4a2Td9zYGziAicWcOUDod9YV0wJ8jSWmTkg0yPSkCGRCxYDbuX/s1600/DSCF8418.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" dua="true" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1Xq3Whtu2a86bo9LBr_f-8bE9-l92DNMIUQ2c73Ls5v1I3Ud0mbUyVp97K5Y7ydkVriW7DS7o97KWq647957emHUq6P4a2Td9zYGziAicWcOUDod9YV0wJ8jSWmTkg0yPSkCGRCxYDbuX/s640/DSCF8418.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
There was a small reception of cookies and punch afterwards. Nice. Really the best part of ceremonies, recitals, programs, weddings, etc. Okay, ax the weddings. Not true. However that's the main part I do remember about weddings I went to as a little kid....those mints? And the cake?</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br />\<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFW7iFrIEht3UnMz-7bQEeUaedrLPy1ZcdORUrI9PFgjxLjvrZ7hgjAWNrlcBsh8P58VtWZ3-Gmn8dA5xgzGQ_-m4eFOPkOsL1RsQDoFIptm2tw_gHMl6Lrz46baRf6_a_-2Wu0ZUDZsQ1/s1600/DSCF8380.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" dua="true" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFW7iFrIEht3UnMz-7bQEeUaedrLPy1ZcdORUrI9PFgjxLjvrZ7hgjAWNrlcBsh8P58VtWZ3-Gmn8dA5xgzGQ_-m4eFOPkOsL1RsQDoFIptm2tw_gHMl6Lrz46baRf6_a_-2Wu0ZUDZsQ1/s640/DSCF8380.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtVK4cm2eAn-w1c47CaHQm6ns_Pbcysfr09oyA7SqmSxTiXju133uYmkuuTAuvf3Q3FL_e-WLub0SuBOrkL0cn8050_f09AMS9qouag69JEiet6uv6Qy-g2bQq0DJ0RxLh54XI3yla0WqK/s1600/DSCF8940.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" dua="true" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtVK4cm2eAn-w1c47CaHQm6ns_Pbcysfr09oyA7SqmSxTiXju133uYmkuuTAuvf3Q3FL_e-WLub0SuBOrkL0cn8050_f09AMS9qouag69JEiet6uv6Qy-g2bQq0DJ0RxLh54XI3yla0WqK/s640/DSCF8940.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
We toured the HUGE campus library. There were signs everyone saying to be quiet and NO disturbance please, because it was a "study area". Dad picked up this giant monster of a book that was written like.....centuries ago or something. Does anyone really ever check this kind of book out? Really? I was like, <i>where's the fiction section....</i>(non-existant, by the way).</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBNCQ_DQ4P5kS0ZY5sFdEpNPDOJBpgyuBGfSSg1F0ByYJKInNXHOfNW7gDOzBNGTdCOkVPLLiZW_thGOScgaKn-F1nr1g84m6043WBmME34wF-Ig5Ob0a1EXFpxgh3uwnc-zs7WiG0XURq/s1600/DSCF8943.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" dua="true" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBNCQ_DQ4P5kS0ZY5sFdEpNPDOJBpgyuBGfSSg1F0ByYJKInNXHOfNW7gDOzBNGTdCOkVPLLiZW_thGOScgaKn-F1nr1g84m6043WBmME34wF-Ig5Ob0a1EXFpxgh3uwnc-zs7WiG0XURq/s640/DSCF8943.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
There was some peaked interest in it for a moment. But Starbucks beats it. Sorry, just have to say it. Again, probably the best part of the library? Was that there was a Starbucks inside it. </div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3F6cpJU-WmSViTfSbqfDJY_jApp9HKDF80hyphenhyphenzICwqslWzQJG3CLN8IBEZdbKbrlOQQAOfhqlst9lsbVDOFyy1fA2rtf8vjSTwFvIGKeMXsjjK8xabqlxuXriCnqeLBf30zrlXxv_xf6zd/s1600/DSCF8945.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" dua="true" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3F6cpJU-WmSViTfSbqfDJY_jApp9HKDF80hyphenhyphenzICwqslWzQJG3CLN8IBEZdbKbrlOQQAOfhqlst9lsbVDOFyy1fA2rtf8vjSTwFvIGKeMXsjjK8xabqlxuXriCnqeLBf30zrlXxv_xf6zd/s640/DSCF8945.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq3ODcUroxmoVRiVAVSv0kx0gY-01BiAqBKVK6iq1ViXqWszdWU6vJnt0aYX5diIWYWITb6BQTrUZ21gIrOIqBOjirx7p4VEJoDhRj41_fmNyvsmD-0fpJSLdilfborsBVfiTSm0Q8X8yR/s1600/DSCF8980.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" dua="true" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq3ODcUroxmoVRiVAVSv0kx0gY-01BiAqBKVK6iq1ViXqWszdWU6vJnt0aYX5diIWYWITb6BQTrUZ21gIrOIqBOjirx7p4VEJoDhRj41_fmNyvsmD-0fpJSLdilfborsBVfiTSm0Q8X8yR/s640/DSCF8980.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
Kinda tired by this point. This is Courtney's dorm, by the way!</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju3_iFMf0kPAqQUPTlEzWx5GdsVMb1F1_zrl71GrWWa23-4xOWZpMYVnr5Yg3NrpkDm7lVwOVQ7u2CkQVNA_KdzmrLpLKcMM50p9ZIuwqJ3VXvmMxmJlESJpLTE77NOnpSFu6JKreTnQLs/s1600/DSCF8989.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" dua="true" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju3_iFMf0kPAqQUPTlEzWx5GdsVMb1F1_zrl71GrWWa23-4xOWZpMYVnr5Yg3NrpkDm7lVwOVQ7u2CkQVNA_KdzmrLpLKcMM50p9ZIuwqJ3VXvmMxmJlESJpLTE77NOnpSFu6JKreTnQLs/s640/DSCF8989.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
We got a very thorough tour of the entire campus and the residence building where Courtney lives. It was fun to see everything and get a feel for campus life!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg21dXBkmqMqjiK8oENklTxOJG2tl3EwtRo6R_ukW6gok4mkydup_bhUrugmF4IZ931hufAbs1MKBK_GV6KvM_7H1WbluBl9jjIv_tVTB0gm5Fg3ki4UEJiI5d96Xa1HYfLRRn6JfxcPz1t/s1600/DSCF8990.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" dua="true" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg21dXBkmqMqjiK8oENklTxOJG2tl3EwtRo6R_ukW6gok4mkydup_bhUrugmF4IZ931hufAbs1MKBK_GV6KvM_7H1WbluBl9jjIv_tVTB0gm5Fg3ki4UEJiI5d96Xa1HYfLRRn6JfxcPz1t/s640/DSCF8990.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm4_3Xbey0V62ejyJdWYkToa31OHQGcil_lC1GaCLIAMHj5BsDN3goVNLpS_Qdie3iZFxFJ0Yc6dWQSlBj_nSPxrYHgKjqzIq1uBrJGY7wm0uN80R58B_mN4WbtgylmELSwd4HEjXWV1wT/s1600/DSCF8987.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" dua="true" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm4_3Xbey0V62ejyJdWYkToa31OHQGcil_lC1GaCLIAMHj5BsDN3goVNLpS_Qdie3iZFxFJ0Yc6dWQSlBj_nSPxrYHgKjqzIq1uBrJGY7wm0uN80R58B_mN4WbtgylmELSwd4HEjXWV1wT/s640/DSCF8987.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
Being goofy :p</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicW2CF49fkh-ngwJ81419TU931PsLlPq0NYUeTg-sHjwUlGYYCHrAbAU6upnwcJWBFO73YkflHC-ZITzVFPTtVC3GSbHfRsKF6OQoFDJ73Z6jEwluvA7ctX8BqA-PC13ijZOM3SziFviuV/s1600/DSCF8847+-+Copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" dua="true" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicW2CF49fkh-ngwJ81419TU931PsLlPq0NYUeTg-sHjwUlGYYCHrAbAU6upnwcJWBFO73YkflHC-ZITzVFPTtVC3GSbHfRsKF6OQoFDJ73Z6jEwluvA7ctX8BqA-PC13ijZOM3SziFviuV/s640/DSCF8847+-+Copy.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
All in all, it was a great trip! Praise God we had safety as well as good health the whole time. It was wonderful to spend time with Courtney, and then of course we hit Texas on the way home to see family and friends (see previous post). I was so ready to be home by the end of it all, though. There is truly no place like home:-)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<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;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03430991328557979855noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2338955872932687537.post-84810420205256935822013-04-11T15:29:00.002-07:002013-04-11T15:29:56.013-07:00Fun with Friends in Texas!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Home. After twelve days of being on the road, I am finally <i>home</i> and (trying) to jump back into normal life. That would entail unpacking (yep, still working on that suitcase), cleaning up my area of the house, and going back to work. It's good to be back. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I have a whole lot of fun pictures to share, but I wanted to start off with some really cute ones from the end of our trip. Dad and I first drove to Alabama to see Courtney's honor ceremony, plus just stay and see her for a few days. On the way home we hit Texas, and stayed with family there. It was a great opportunity for Kaylie and Ashlynn to drive up and see me - I met them at Summit last summer and they both lived like two hours from where we were in Texas! I was so excited that they made the drive up and hung out with me for the day!!</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;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEwgMlmOsWjdie4KpUodkG6WWSYRjl41njChA9zBMr5oJtMxZ2ubtZM3YuLvhx-8gAVys_Eg45bHpERoHgSWDFGyHlWm3SZAmuRFDDTYyyNPgi7WwZKfftEWJ6tcVdyJ-RCMEbbCRYpBhq/s1600/securedownload-1.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="476" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEwgMlmOsWjdie4KpUodkG6WWSYRjl41njChA9zBMr5oJtMxZ2ubtZM3YuLvhx-8gAVys_Eg45bHpERoHgSWDFGyHlWm3SZAmuRFDDTYyyNPgi7WwZKfftEWJ6tcVdyJ-RCMEbbCRYpBhq/s640/securedownload-1.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Kaylie, Ashlynn, and me.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjswUAsIUVBac3brt1sJqjmMoQRt0lOAAvoGsf-MC-jPHwg8obSrrkXxSXk2WwhPBpeogM-8Wb41VQ7ICiWAovz2VO93wpNh_zABQ_OCeOlaM2WADa9PdOFsw1lHS_7PnKohhJwxYOMAkLO/s1600/securedownload-2.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjswUAsIUVBac3brt1sJqjmMoQRt0lOAAvoGsf-MC-jPHwg8obSrrkXxSXk2WwhPBpeogM-8Wb41VQ7ICiWAovz2VO93wpNh_zABQ_OCeOlaM2WADa9PdOFsw1lHS_7PnKohhJwxYOMAkLO/s640/securedownload-2.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimMSGVNyFF5JbQdJVLyx_zv5DQLOcx4SffYePcpJy0aY3a_R9pN2WOFQZTBXNRpUw6JfuLeQ0P0zjl4zOth7k6TwGrB18AdMzcN_pVr5pb77y_5rOVvXtMrVhO7tfBVJ9RT-3CtVQ1PXcw/s1600/securedownload-11.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimMSGVNyFF5JbQdJVLyx_zv5DQLOcx4SffYePcpJy0aY3a_R9pN2WOFQZTBXNRpUw6JfuLeQ0P0zjl4zOth7k6TwGrB18AdMzcN_pVr5pb77y_5rOVvXtMrVhO7tfBVJ9RT-3CtVQ1PXcw/s640/securedownload-11.jpeg" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
(You're so cute Kaylie!)</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvwrzrKb_6iflMJwI8aAKCHq9m6o4CrSo3pc_aGHPoBiCmvjlRUpUae3XuDV7kG304Lhd3DPijcEstpcMjUqk0K0OpsdXoq3iuT6S9roNJOIvaUfGXzBsjh96HgKLEMpdiyqY8cAOyON7y/s1600/securedownload-13.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvwrzrKb_6iflMJwI8aAKCHq9m6o4CrSo3pc_aGHPoBiCmvjlRUpUae3XuDV7kG304Lhd3DPijcEstpcMjUqk0K0OpsdXoq3iuT6S9roNJOIvaUfGXzBsjh96HgKLEMpdiyqY8cAOyON7y/s640/securedownload-13.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
So this isn't exactly your normal kinda picture. But I saw someone else do it once for a photo shoot and I thought it would be fun to try and replicate. It <i>was</i> fun. Slightly weird. We decided we had enough of this type of picture when the neck-pain kicked in. (Aprox. one minute. Maybe less.) Something about the end of a splintery slab of wood right in the back of the neck.....</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyXewlwOGE15B2me6ntEFNeQYe5a_Qv_SyI1TQVk6vJHGQNISca45EGgyq07FqI1z-tm2VCYQ-BHsstUf5Nxme1A_jRCjmmjyUcIFfUZA8qNYN1zr-62EzU5xXURr-jrHGisc1HB86B3A0/s1600/securedownload-12.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="458" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyXewlwOGE15B2me6ntEFNeQYe5a_Qv_SyI1TQVk6vJHGQNISca45EGgyq07FqI1z-tm2VCYQ-BHsstUf5Nxme1A_jRCjmmjyUcIFfUZA8qNYN1zr-62EzU5xXURr-jrHGisc1HB86B3A0/s640/securedownload-12.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFD7ggDy2CG8E4gepvl6lm1McNYnNnzrhyphenhyphenNyCwcbPUepV3YldmtOsQG8nWtu6aGKQi1UJwUJ-74WyeCql-r0RqO40aQrY1J3lgUrGNjrrbg1AKbolUN3COkkr24tJ9B0z8CZcE_pwf25Yi/s1600/securedownload-14.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFD7ggDy2CG8E4gepvl6lm1McNYnNnzrhyphenhyphenNyCwcbPUepV3YldmtOsQG8nWtu6aGKQi1UJwUJ-74WyeCql-r0RqO40aQrY1J3lgUrGNjrrbg1AKbolUN3COkkr24tJ9B0z8CZcE_pwf25Yi/s640/securedownload-14.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
We had the best day together. So much time to talk and laugh, (make faces too). We went out for Subway AND Bluebell ice cream, stopped by the local vet to see a puppy that was up for grabs but turned out to already have been snatched up, and went hunting for a good spot to take pictures. </div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSwr8PJK9rx4Bqh34rka0kd6JOwEmbkvw2I6_XNVoXejl_UUDTIKn1GnHsNHk4g5ekR2UmFHT6dt8ungCeOOYpfrLhQU21f_gZ-uEI8J65pQQCA_jRGKdqfRmVNTGQhMkk1zmKA7UbnO9P/s1600/securedownload-7.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSwr8PJK9rx4Bqh34rka0kd6JOwEmbkvw2I6_XNVoXejl_UUDTIKn1GnHsNHk4g5ekR2UmFHT6dt8ungCeOOYpfrLhQU21f_gZ-uEI8J65pQQCA_jRGKdqfRmVNTGQhMkk1zmKA7UbnO9P/s640/securedownload-7.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-krqU428paZeVJKtksb8IuiNMUYsItm4PlrvdDzF1PVMePhlMWffS50csht1KFYPAHI1n9FKDScIzZS5v-E320sXtKyK5EvldXc3ZExtrTgB28YkX2djlaxEc4EdF6pBXnoHF99LqZBKN/s1600/securedownload-3.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="460" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-krqU428paZeVJKtksb8IuiNMUYsItm4PlrvdDzF1PVMePhlMWffS50csht1KFYPAHI1n9FKDScIzZS5v-E320sXtKyK5EvldXc3ZExtrTgB28YkX2djlaxEc4EdF6pBXnoHF99LqZBKN/s640/securedownload-3.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd4YXlzTnGhAnmg6VX4jhsrotnSl6Zt0pTlhjjY9e6rapGhESZgTmRbcOFqqJlUuuMsNT74YNCbv3hDYNyyf9T1JNKxYqP2-6TgjZoXoR5q4s_DJLB2OJ5gDssoLvx-FC7IaytY8ScvdF0/s1600/securedownload-5.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="444" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd4YXlzTnGhAnmg6VX4jhsrotnSl6Zt0pTlhjjY9e6rapGhESZgTmRbcOFqqJlUuuMsNT74YNCbv3hDYNyyf9T1JNKxYqP2-6TgjZoXoR5q4s_DJLB2OJ5gDssoLvx-FC7IaytY8ScvdF0/s640/securedownload-5.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
What great fellowship and just plain fun we had!!!!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAwf8r5q4TujX7vuKGAy7TWpOijBwUEe-W3aM9EbQsREjYfiBXf8qNJ8iGJ7rlzkCJHpTJD01vSAYBgM5DGzzjUAodIHHHjy_fzRROAiRq0uE4_Ma3Mr8j1XPolQsm3J6fJrY6BJj3XiN7/s1600/securedownload-8.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAwf8r5q4TujX7vuKGAy7TWpOijBwUEe-W3aM9EbQsREjYfiBXf8qNJ8iGJ7rlzkCJHpTJD01vSAYBgM5DGzzjUAodIHHHjy_fzRROAiRq0uE4_Ma3Mr8j1XPolQsm3J6fJrY6BJj3XiN7/s640/securedownload-8.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguwb4DvRUPUjNtjkbKJeKz2tIytD6i97hx2CseLxc19X8o8arVZbot0_5CKEztfBAPOwEvzOeeNMOrayqYC6RDqCR-CH6EHHDB-nu1gulnu0sg9a6eSGlEM0-xuPt3yZ6JTI3Xoo43G7DO/s1600/securedownload-9.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguwb4DvRUPUjNtjkbKJeKz2tIytD6i97hx2CseLxc19X8o8arVZbot0_5CKEztfBAPOwEvzOeeNMOrayqYC6RDqCR-CH6EHHDB-nu1gulnu0sg9a6eSGlEM0-xuPt3yZ6JTI3Xoo43G7DO/s640/securedownload-9.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I love these girls so much! We had a great day together. It was, in actuality, one of the best days of the entire trip:-) For me anyway!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03430991328557979855noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2338955872932687537.post-91961604577773163762013-04-07T12:58:00.000-07:002013-04-07T12:58:18.055-07:00Coming home....eventually.....<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
The last week or so, Dad and I have been in Alabama visiting Courtney!! We had such a good time getting to see her and being present for her honors ceremony. Very special. Even got to spend two days with Courtney in her dorm....went to all of her classes with her and ate at her school cafeteria. It was fun! </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiROV4ncw7Gk8ckUd_mSbfCsZG-28FAJ75wgvNQdWY_krCreTCHABuMtUh3k2LlabD1IT97Hc7wDYWSiqobdAMgYDmXkd_VuYvPrREbrgNeaUphBk_wO_fjhYbai-dMz4lMiQbQq5r71bF1/s1600/906613_454043761343182_1025353711_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiROV4ncw7Gk8ckUd_mSbfCsZG-28FAJ75wgvNQdWY_krCreTCHABuMtUh3k2LlabD1IT97Hc7wDYWSiqobdAMgYDmXkd_VuYvPrREbrgNeaUphBk_wO_fjhYbai-dMz4lMiQbQq5r71bF1/s640/906613_454043761343182_1025353711_o.jpg" width="360" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Now, on our way back home, we are visiting my dad's uncle and aunt in Texas. It's been wonderful spending time with them again. We went to church this morning, had a really super southern meal out (mashed potatoes, fried chicken, rolls, the works) and now it's just one of those relaxing Sunday afternoons. Tomorrow I am going to get to hang out with some very good friends I met at Summit last year that live just two hours from where we are! That will be so fun. :-)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Anyway, just a little update. I'll be home soon. Duty calls - babysitting, CPC, and a very special 5 year old's birthday the day after we get back! :-)</div>
<br />Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03430991328557979855noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2338955872932687537.post-294818418006099342013-03-25T18:05:00.004-07:002014-02-04T21:09:55.576-08:00Awkward and Awesome<b><u>Awkward:</u></b><br />
<br />
1) Going to bed with a heating pad for stomach cramps.....and waking up the next morning completely bound by the cord. I felt like Samson or something.<br />
<br />
2) Getting up at 5:15 <b>am</b> to babysit.....and having the very cute four year old ask, <i>"What is that red burned stuff on your face? Why didn't you put on your makeup? I like you better with your makeup." </i> Pimples, my dear. Because it was TOO EARLY. And, thanks alot!?<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDuwMHgLhyphenhyphenaz4uCGUK_oYJhaDWX66HiS00rXYKzx-6IYVRtXGfhsDZsP-H_Wp4Eo9ApJogRZriSVmCp82gdhQsfWQgrOr-EKaRlKD3Oy9gcYGw6ixzkMQU7EbExXqZoU7g-EGTVGCz4dl-/s1600/0325131200_0001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDuwMHgLhyphenhyphenaz4uCGUK_oYJhaDWX66HiS00rXYKzx-6IYVRtXGfhsDZsP-H_Wp4Eo9ApJogRZriSVmCp82gdhQsfWQgrOr-EKaRlKD3Oy9gcYGw6ixzkMQU7EbExXqZoU7g-EGTVGCz4dl-/s400/0325131200_0001.jpg" height="360" width="400" /></a>3) Getting flowers from the guy that is....a little...STUCK on you at the church I go to in the morning. This probably tops my list as the most awkward thing I've had happen in a long time. It was so embarrassing. Apparently he has a crush on me. The feeling is not mutual. AT ALL. <br />
<br />
3) Walking through K-Mart and having a guy stop me to ask my opinion on which stuffed teddy bear he should buy for his girlfriend. The brown one or the white one? Um, how about neither? Stuffed animals are <i>not </i>high on my gift list. Just so you know.<br />
<br />
4) Buying nail polish in the brightest pink I think I've ever seen ( I love pink) and wondering why the brand is called <i style="font-weight: bold;">Sinful Colors</i>? Is hot pink really so sinful? Really? It's a very cute color, but morally wrong? Don't think so! :-)<br />
<br />
6) Being told by a giggling four year old brother, "I don't love you!" Apparently that was supposed to be funny. I didn't find it so. <i>Plus</i> it was said in the midst of an incredible tantrum he and Isaac were concocting together. When they make it a joint effort to disobey and then laugh because they both think it was hilarious.....well, things get a little annoying. <b> </b> Needless to say they both ended up apologizing later, for being "bad and goofy", in their words. <br />
<br />
7) A certain five year old looking at his plate of cranberries and saying, <i>"Hey look, it's a bloody nose!". </i>Yeah. I was not impressed with that one. And then later, when we were talking about spiders, he piped up, <i>"I don't like spiders, but I really don't like Jezebel spiders." </i>Jezebel spiders? Really?<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<b><u>Awesome:</u></b><br />
<br />
1) Chocolate-strawberry-banana smoothies with a scoop of Green Drink powder for the healthy kick. It does have a twang, but I'm coming to like it. Makes a super duper breakfast or lunch on the go, AND it's completely healthy.<br />
<br />
2) Finding the dress pants I've been admiring forever priced down to $5. Used to be $16. I was so excited, I bought two. They are perfect for my volunteer days at the CPC (need to look professional) or other music related events where I just need to look classy. <br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnZUM7Jb9yWQCaOFjPcmDYfAZFC_1779Pav2jP-FqTxP2Ebmvm3qzfVyH8V-oLb82wMo3iawgZtip89QseH0sopEd9FzLOeO8fgE8dZNYN_m57KjTEFV6c8zgbraSLXyJ0qbaPpl1y4cWV/s1600/0325131205b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnZUM7Jb9yWQCaOFjPcmDYfAZFC_1779Pav2jP-FqTxP2Ebmvm3qzfVyH8V-oLb82wMo3iawgZtip89QseH0sopEd9FzLOeO8fgE8dZNYN_m57KjTEFV6c8zgbraSLXyJ0qbaPpl1y4cWV/s400/0325131205b.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a>3) The fact that I am DONE with the SAT forever. FOREVER. Never to be tested again. Ever. I took it for the second time last Saturday, and am so relieved to have that behind me. And I actually think I did pretty good, too; better than the first time. I was much more relaxed and prepared.<br />
<br />
4) Planning a short trip to see my sis in Alabama!!! Dad and I are going to get to see her induction ceremony into the honors program in a few weeks. I can't wait to see her and stay with her in her dorm....she is going to give me the campus tour and I will even get to sit in on a few of her classes. Very fun.<br />
<br />
5) Going to play three hours of live piano at a local Italian restaurant and making $96...that's $50 as a flat rate and $46 from tips. Not bad! It was fun and I got a free meal thrown in to boot.<br />
<br />
6) A free Starbucks from a coupon I printed off. I love free things.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03430991328557979855noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2338955872932687537.post-51220915374818380742013-03-07T21:51:00.004-08:002013-03-07T21:53:22.663-08:00Qoute of the DayMe: "I love this weather. The sun feels so good."<br />
<br />
Isaac: "Not me. It's too hot."<br />
<br />
Me: "You don't like the weather?"<br />
<br />
Isaac: <b><i>"That warm sun is burning my spine. I can feel it."</i></b><br />
<b><i><br /></i></b>
(Points to back and tells me to look at "all the red"..... of which I see none.)<br />
<br />
Just made me laugh. We had the flu here today.....oh the joy. Thankfully it was a party I missed. :-)<i> </i>Just Isaac and probably Josh tomorrow, since their germs are pretty much inseperable. <br />
<b><i><br /></i></b>
Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03430991328557979855noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2338955872932687537.post-3243504693984515962013-03-01T18:45:00.000-08:002013-03-01T19:05:31.988-08:00Life Goes On<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
It seems like the last few weeks have just screamed by way too fast. Sometimes I feel like life is just racing by and I hardly have time to enjoy it. Some days are spent simply in "survival mode" - trying to get stuff cleaned up, dragging myself out of bed way too early to babysit, packing lunches, making sure I get places on time, always catching up on laundry, brainstorming ways to make more money <i>somehow</i>......(forget saving up for college, <i style="font-weight: bold;">life</i> is getting expensive these days). Goodness. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinR2xNxv76U9W6sgmnazrn3loy5wB9OoNu-MOMW9G_R4ohpAIyIS5Zb7QUoe1nKIhyphenhyphenSNHN0Ld_Cbd7-_pIBgAfqcoDUh4m0QQx2DjAL3qd88OPU0tNGn044-zXBhvIkw9nQ_ZB332FNaoJ/s1600/843da174-bc42-45ac-bf78-390f0cf4ebdc_zps60738dd7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="444" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinR2xNxv76U9W6sgmnazrn3loy5wB9OoNu-MOMW9G_R4ohpAIyIS5Zb7QUoe1nKIhyphenhyphenSNHN0Ld_Cbd7-_pIBgAfqcoDUh4m0QQx2DjAL3qd88OPU0tNGn044-zXBhvIkw9nQ_ZB332FNaoJ/s640/843da174-bc42-45ac-bf78-390f0cf4ebdc_zps60738dd7.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Today was a "home" day for me - hence the abundance of pictures. Dad had oral surgery early this morning, so I stayed home with the boys while Mom drove him to the dentist. We hit the park later in the morning and had fun taking pictures there......aside from the fact that I received a nice blister on my foot from breaking in new sandals during the walk down there.....it was a fun time. AND I even avoided kneeling down on fresh dog poop which happened during my last visit to the park. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ-peBoEnDEkkcCKeYsClQJ47aHQTusT_9_QWzVR5qHqb75muZU4calQqufQabqYUmv068FJEVopOZLivu9mKqDcPd7mSnjn2piOjLGplbpLCAsLR7CE3lpE4ueL9zJSD_PmQRQjNqQaST/s1600/3c5820a4-39c9-4c00-bb68-b5d30d9af3fc_zps8567813b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ-peBoEnDEkkcCKeYsClQJ47aHQTusT_9_QWzVR5qHqb75muZU4calQqufQabqYUmv068FJEVopOZLivu9mKqDcPd7mSnjn2piOjLGplbpLCAsLR7CE3lpE4ueL9zJSD_PmQRQjNqQaST/s640/3c5820a4-39c9-4c00-bb68-b5d30d9af3fc_zps8567813b.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
You all know I abhor 'selfies' (like this one). They are so not original. And so facebook-ish. But I literally have no one left around here to take my picture - I'm trying to train Isaac, but his shaky little hands just aren't quite doing the job. <i>Yet</i>. But I'll make 'm learn. :-) So behind me you can see the typical mid-morning carnage of playtime in the living room. </div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9mdT3fBlZ75jWQCBJbhft62hPKvifyFsbF_pFZdZH6YldhQ786xJsUfRGS64EWifFOZ5wLmDb3blmTR3mdozVXvjK0XLQzwv1JtCjJrlWoCo7bviY81MyLOVRdS0dK6x6jBbkdsSQm8Iw/s1600/149a342c-479d-4b43-b01b-8c49336d52ce_zps41933ebd.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9mdT3fBlZ75jWQCBJbhft62hPKvifyFsbF_pFZdZH6YldhQ786xJsUfRGS64EWifFOZ5wLmDb3blmTR3mdozVXvjK0XLQzwv1JtCjJrlWoCo7bviY81MyLOVRdS0dK6x6jBbkdsSQm8Iw/s640/149a342c-479d-4b43-b01b-8c49336d52ce_zps41933ebd.jpg" width="480" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
My poor dog made me move out of my room last night to sleep on the couch because of all the noise he was making (he sleeps in my room at night).....long story short, he has an open wound on his paw that won't heal because he keeps licking it all the time, so I bought one of those big cone-collars for him and he absolutely <i>hates</i> it and kept me awake with his whining until 1:00am last night. Thus my slumber party downstairs. I actually never knew our couch was so comfortable. It really was. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp-cwVLGnaQXR21rzwOXxZgRJChpRij-sG-T5e7pFrJGAGreoiGMkkAkNouUbmFMfvROY2Ao3-i8YlvDwXAppefZrST6CSIEqPP5wmCNaFwOTRNqKvTy7TJ_ZQObYyajNsmBcyU1gOZYaJ/s1600/1da5b1c0-1690-452d-8c37-6c47146cfa3c_zpsaab60819.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp-cwVLGnaQXR21rzwOXxZgRJChpRij-sG-T5e7pFrJGAGreoiGMkkAkNouUbmFMfvROY2Ao3-i8YlvDwXAppefZrST6CSIEqPP5wmCNaFwOTRNqKvTy7TJ_ZQObYyajNsmBcyU1gOZYaJ/s640/1da5b1c0-1690-452d-8c37-6c47146cfa3c_zpsaab60819.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Isaac and Joshua have now graduated from their booster seats at the table (very big news around here). I asked them this morning during breakfast where Mom had put their old seats, and Isaac was quick to reply, "Oh, she put them in the closet, we're going to give them to the poor people who don't have booster seats." And then Josh chimed in, "Yeah, poor people don't got those." That made me laugh. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_qQWQXJeJ7dWcn9BdTQ4IeWsHKk8JicZCfF9GT0KbcioN1syEMjBJjAFDgIG7nTECdknLYINww3l80w5u9KumDxnPItGPN_gM8BOfUCa57Rk9pXHU3TI5mXdaBC63PUR8GadHQc5B3XW3/s1600/5108590b-15c1-4f08-b8df-fd2ffe63e68d_zpsa85850bf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_qQWQXJeJ7dWcn9BdTQ4IeWsHKk8JicZCfF9GT0KbcioN1syEMjBJjAFDgIG7nTECdknLYINww3l80w5u9KumDxnPItGPN_gM8BOfUCa57Rk9pXHU3TI5mXdaBC63PUR8GadHQc5B3XW3/s640/5108590b-15c1-4f08-b8df-fd2ffe63e68d_zpsa85850bf.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
I have another SAT test coming up next Saturday, so this next week will be spent pretty much in full-fledged study. I took a practice test online this week and my scores were definitely better. So that's encouraging anyway. Apparently 50% of kids who take the SAT do better when they take it a second time. The thing that is a struggle for me is being able to <i>focus</i> on tough questions in a room full of kids who appear way smarter than me and act like they know what they're doing....all while a clock ticks menacingly in the back round. Ah well. What will be will be. I just have to do my best!</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKXziXUtgz4Vd0AO3w-HqtB7K6AnRQQunDSH-i9Mxr0tytEY-YJxKyZKmGwGve5INclgmDk96ViAnWR7bMRt3SKU_nm5hHp5GfpwXEW0Z4Bz9EHsPW1i-TVcCKnijORy2zOlKEuleQ5XGG/s1600/641835a3-e28d-47e8-b167-890d90e10699_zpsf1a3d8e5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKXziXUtgz4Vd0AO3w-HqtB7K6AnRQQunDSH-i9Mxr0tytEY-YJxKyZKmGwGve5INclgmDk96ViAnWR7bMRt3SKU_nm5hHp5GfpwXEW0Z4Bz9EHsPW1i-TVcCKnijORy2zOlKEuleQ5XGG/s640/641835a3-e28d-47e8-b167-890d90e10699_zpsf1a3d8e5.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
Has anyone out there heard about the Bible mini series beginning this Sunday on the history channel? From the trailers and previews I've seen, it looks absolutely <b>fantastic.</b> I am so looking forward to seeing it. I love that someone in Hollywood was willing to put in the time and money to produce a truly professional reproduction of the Bible in movie-format. Christians have a bad wrap for putting out "fake" films.....cheesy, unprofessional, poorly done, and interesting only to us Christians. This series, however, has the fabulous potential of actually having an impact on <i>everyone</i>, because it's so well-done. I can't wait.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3AD-6JxwRXBTM13TbttNQ_wnoh7ySyBx5a9exlRDRZhVYYsa0Kcdk5sc-usazLnxGJoyOsauCKIZkvoVX-8MvlJ1e_vwQsel-N1vil_5qBYCJcVq5nmMNEIJ3hJuyeGAXPKCfTKXXShyphenhyphenW/s1600/eb4a5fec-b959-43a7-8ae6-ba91d6527b7b_zps6a70ed22.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3AD-6JxwRXBTM13TbttNQ_wnoh7ySyBx5a9exlRDRZhVYYsa0Kcdk5sc-usazLnxGJoyOsauCKIZkvoVX-8MvlJ1e_vwQsel-N1vil_5qBYCJcVq5nmMNEIJ3hJuyeGAXPKCfTKXXShyphenhyphenW/s640/eb4a5fec-b959-43a7-8ae6-ba91d6527b7b_zps6a70ed22.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I am stoked, absolutely <i>stoked</i>, about the next piano piece I'm learning. Anyone heard of the Piano Guys? I learned their version of Pirates of the Caribbean last year, and ordered last night my new favorite from them, <i style="font-weight: bold;">All of Me.</i> Want to watch it? <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9fAZIQ-vpdw" target="_blank">Click here.</a> This is one of those pieces where, when I heard it for the first time, I just got goose bumps and was like, "I <i>have </i>to learn this one, I <i>have </i>to...<b>where's the order button??</b>" I am so excited about learning this piece. Might get it together in time for an Easter special music piece at church. We'll see. </div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-q0heLAQbyJ9ne66Y8ilZvSi4UJTXlcixhlAg6LJKwwZuQwJ_BTXMZvqGPfOakoLXbTyXISm67S86hubdGbhKfkinWVxpjFSTEVqleD0-KzSU1bHseVNZoagJjpV-c57ZvmKhDmnlmqaT/s1600/5294243b-b46c-414c-805d-589baca29e82_zpse8eeddf9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-q0heLAQbyJ9ne66Y8ilZvSi4UJTXlcixhlAg6LJKwwZuQwJ_BTXMZvqGPfOakoLXbTyXISm67S86hubdGbhKfkinWVxpjFSTEVqleD0-KzSU1bHseVNZoagJjpV-c57ZvmKhDmnlmqaT/s640/5294243b-b46c-414c-805d-589baca29e82_zpse8eeddf9.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Much to everyone's shock, I'm sure, I am thinking about.....about......<b>getting my ears pierced. </b>*GASP* I know I've always said I never will because it will hurt and I am such an incredible wimp when it comes to pain....but I'm wondering if it might possibly be a good way to mentally toughen myself for nursing school. A poor comparison, I know. But I will eventually have to deal with the needle part of nursing, so maybe I should just start down that road of <i>hardening</i> myself to pain, or rather, <i>perceived</i> pain. We'll see. Pity the poor Wal-Mart ear-piercing-lady who will be privy to my passing out afterwards. And throwing up. And probably having seizures or something. They don't have suckers there, do they? lol</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpWtg_DlGQQdFmc277p5qkr5aFTIfsxOrG6e-RR8ngaZpCtpt7yIesEEsa1OFfxOdBH5WqwhN3aAHvGlRVUdsxoxsBrcvuvMQxROjAohxbB-t6Lrf5mwWt9brtpxtu_weEqG938_yoWSj2/s1600/ff33df54-5a3a-4431-89e9-900cb0f73053_zpsef4da2c6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpWtg_DlGQQdFmc277p5qkr5aFTIfsxOrG6e-RR8ngaZpCtpt7yIesEEsa1OFfxOdBH5WqwhN3aAHvGlRVUdsxoxsBrcvuvMQxROjAohxbB-t6Lrf5mwWt9brtpxtu_weEqG938_yoWSj2/s640/ff33df54-5a3a-4431-89e9-900cb0f73053_zpsef4da2c6.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
Tomorrow is Saturday. I truly love weekends, especially Sundays. Relaxing. Time for games with the littles (a rousing game of Candy Land may be in the works tomorrow), eating cookies, having coffee, playing piano, getting ready for Sunday morning worship music, reading blogs, <i>making money</i>...<br />
<br />
Yep, I'm working tomorrow. Babysitting, that is. For a pretty cute two year old who is insanely polite when she's rude. :-) We always have spaghetti for dinner, play with trains, and we <i>always</i> watch <i style="font-weight: bold;">Fresh Beat Band</i>. I actually kinda like that show now.....:-)<br />
<br />Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03430991328557979855noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2338955872932687537.post-83167937765496401482013-02-24T01:00:00.000-08:002013-02-27T21:46:36.174-08:00This Moves Me.<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size: x-small; font-weight: normal;">"</span><span style="font-weight: normal;">AS A <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>DAUGHTER</i></span> OF THE</span><span style="font-size: x-small; font-weight: normal;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px; font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large; font-weight: normal;">KING,</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small; font-weight: normal;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">YOUR BUSINESS IN THIS WORLD IS </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><i style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">NOT TO FIT IN</span></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">, BUT TO </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px; font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">STAND OUT </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE. LET YOUR </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i>HEART</i></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"> BE IN LINE WITH </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">HIS</span></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span">. WALK WITH </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><i>JESUS.</i></span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px; font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span></span></span>
<h3 style="color: #e13251; font-family: Oswald, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 500; letter-spacing: 2px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 3px; padding-top: 3px; text-align: left; text-transform: uppercase;">
<span style="font-size: small; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> EVEN IF IT MEANS WALKING AWAY FROM THE FAMILIAR.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">"</span></span></h3>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i style="font-weight: bold; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/13370130114270075/" style="color: #abcad8; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://media-cache-ec4.pinterest.com/upload/13370130114270075_YCEGZoqF_c.jpg" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" width="425" /></a></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 0px;"></span></div>
Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03430991328557979855noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2338955872932687537.post-9665426515818952822013-02-22T10:17:00.001-08:002013-02-22T12:48:25.006-08:00California Re-cap <div style="text-align: center;">
Finally, the rest of the pictures from my trip! Sorry it's taken me this long to post them. I have been crazy busy since I got back - I was still living out of my suitcase as of yesterday, but now I <i>finally </i>got unpacked. Getting laundry caught up, got my room back in order, diving back into SAT study.....anyway. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
One of the days I was with the Rhodens, they took me to see Huntington Gardens. It was <i>beautiful</i>. It was basically a huge garden with lots of little gardens inside representing different parts of the world; Japanese gardens, tropical gardens, desert gardens, etc, and nice walking paths in between. We spent hours there just walking and taking pictures. It was truly a photographer's dream! There were so many people bent over tiny plants just trying to get that perfect picture; meanwhile, I kept thinking what an amazing place this would have been to have had my graduation photos taken last year!!! Just a little bit of a drive, that's all.....:-)</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs4B_Y8sijxqP8SXLCqDyWB3AnQvAyDM51zZVyXcK9gUAqHCSmu9qhloN-AFllr3Hvy4hKnTn52GMWyc17stEa6NJMXKLjjqY-NcN3plAQey0_A0AzmwE2FNr44yNwhpUVDlRE_pfnB13Q/s1600/2013+02+022.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs4B_Y8sijxqP8SXLCqDyWB3AnQvAyDM51zZVyXcK9gUAqHCSmu9qhloN-AFllr3Hvy4hKnTn52GMWyc17stEa6NJMXKLjjqY-NcN3plAQey0_A0AzmwE2FNr44yNwhpUVDlRE_pfnB13Q/s640/2013+02+022.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBhrD78MB7GLjUEGG6rkF-gan77zpYZEKIj6Ls-chUMKFZkj5U7KJJ-r1GxeTgt_-Xt3zUIQZO-tJNdUy8KmlXMl7VAFf6mm-WdFIYJyucrvs-6CpemTI5DGqwyPGcX-GuwF5HIfVZ08if/s1600/2013+02+029.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBhrD78MB7GLjUEGG6rkF-gan77zpYZEKIj6Ls-chUMKFZkj5U7KJJ-r1GxeTgt_-Xt3zUIQZO-tJNdUy8KmlXMl7VAFf6mm-WdFIYJyucrvs-6CpemTI5DGqwyPGcX-GuwF5HIfVZ08if/s640/2013+02+029.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIaBP4oeLQAdVTu8lb8iW0CLx7FTfqFfTKWqz61ZA2HiBB5jGui8RXsRH96tj5I_JghQSDjYoNZzNSRSLdSNoLZinA01_6flTtM3O0bZSmkFsWDsUf10x5er7-7KeGnhoXU5eFIFfG84J9/s1600/2013+02+030.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIaBP4oeLQAdVTu8lb8iW0CLx7FTfqFfTKWqz61ZA2HiBB5jGui8RXsRH96tj5I_JghQSDjYoNZzNSRSLdSNoLZinA01_6flTtM3O0bZSmkFsWDsUf10x5er7-7KeGnhoXU5eFIFfG84J9/s640/2013+02+030.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_w4NT35OBfJbjbGVPxFwZLS982ouHRssKy8tHNzD7eUCk_Z7EJ8yNv7s78aLsGpmsJzAXYZ22RU_bgam7XhnxfspotwZxACaTYva6rDNl7zRkcGoXd_6IjIWpLTfopOSjJLnrhwIyTM7y/s1600/2013+02+036.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_w4NT35OBfJbjbGVPxFwZLS982ouHRssKy8tHNzD7eUCk_Z7EJ8yNv7s78aLsGpmsJzAXYZ22RU_bgam7XhnxfspotwZxACaTYva6rDNl7zRkcGoXd_6IjIWpLTfopOSjJLnrhwIyTM7y/s640/2013+02+036.JPG" width="426" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKtfGxGkIncj53_AvbP_H2l3ePZpOtBHbEDb9jbjjhxfJvrIfz3f5OuLzMtQtmr7KjK883Rq9h4Y39_M7f0EB4qdAFZC3x8lufD_G1357xkJKmt6z1hWDidGl_Ob7NANENfM3FYLQzMMSn/s1600/2013+02+040.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKtfGxGkIncj53_AvbP_H2l3ePZpOtBHbEDb9jbjjhxfJvrIfz3f5OuLzMtQtmr7KjK883Rq9h4Y39_M7f0EB4qdAFZC3x8lufD_G1357xkJKmt6z1hWDidGl_Ob7NANENfM3FYLQzMMSn/s640/2013+02+040.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaNl8OTsobrPVWLxgc0UrVI1CaURO4ZPcViKdWx3BQe5d7xUQ4_mxrmS-LX0wRY7_WSRIYtVlSRuPv8Qb3xHnmNU91zNNsJcQDG0ujmULOV-a6_sm4uq3ENTUIGi5b2qWnBVMjBjGnVNBL/s1600/2013+02+044.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaNl8OTsobrPVWLxgc0UrVI1CaURO4ZPcViKdWx3BQe5d7xUQ4_mxrmS-LX0wRY7_WSRIYtVlSRuPv8Qb3xHnmNU91zNNsJcQDG0ujmULOV-a6_sm4uq3ENTUIGi5b2qWnBVMjBjGnVNBL/s640/2013+02+044.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifGO3JPImAKXMfhkITbXSlnwcYE5sDrUpx8-uxvmEFvOCtUDD5RD3qS2SLK1wLxz_UPd-9CvAZbYz21vlSnJ7CVsBc7j6ON5ddXw00cpQMOPb0VvJjraQMA0tB2MSt6LSXkSKCEUsoKE_8/s1600/2013+02+088.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifGO3JPImAKXMfhkITbXSlnwcYE5sDrUpx8-uxvmEFvOCtUDD5RD3qS2SLK1wLxz_UPd-9CvAZbYz21vlSnJ7CVsBc7j6ON5ddXw00cpQMOPb0VvJjraQMA0tB2MSt6LSXkSKCEUsoKE_8/s640/2013+02+088.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1Wv06piPt1RI3-iuIpUK41UhlrYGbfKHBeggt6F8a0dd5yaU4c8tWRjCHuMUtwwHnITXU3evHziSls2IxA_WBArrAzvQ5AaQrU7sA8clVHGNzaN8KlhxrPLsOPbDhjb0JvKWcVAP89iE9/s1600/2013+02+098.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1Wv06piPt1RI3-iuIpUK41UhlrYGbfKHBeggt6F8a0dd5yaU4c8tWRjCHuMUtwwHnITXU3evHziSls2IxA_WBArrAzvQ5AaQrU7sA8clVHGNzaN8KlhxrPLsOPbDhjb0JvKWcVAP89iE9/s640/2013+02+098.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
This particular park bench with the colors behind it and the perfect lighting made me drool. I made Cassie sit there for several awesome portraits. Isn't she gorgeous? Her outfit even matches the scenery perfectly. </div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDbOMq95Qxdj4d0xJokwb9eOuTO2YK3lBnT5vfY0Oql9J0WAn9La4NPFfRYdBrVHAfo13teEhhGajDY-32OZ2KNCJQdE4Cdff-pyq2mxw4o6rCbstOLgUIYI3IHnBFhHZmsmAi0Xh6zG_x/s1600/2013+02+181.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDbOMq95Qxdj4d0xJokwb9eOuTO2YK3lBnT5vfY0Oql9J0WAn9La4NPFfRYdBrVHAfo13teEhhGajDY-32OZ2KNCJQdE4Cdff-pyq2mxw4o6rCbstOLgUIYI3IHnBFhHZmsmAi0Xh6zG_x/s640/2013+02+181.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
Wonderful Mrs. Rhoden. She was such a sweet hostess!! I loved chatting with her and hearing her godly wisdom (which, by the way, she happens to have in abundance. I learned a lot.), and just observing how she ran her household. I love watching others and "collecting" ideas for how I want my home to run someday. :-)</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTblpPJRNBvahLxpwJmdnGpDzHye5GIigjBRSUJdRc7PA_AVyCkFwc0EsVkqyylNd5zbPFRncIxK0WyRz9NOTkVGzUnIsvub_jnbUw5WYlIl18uA2g27upR3ZWNfWPr5wg2DLeIHw356CE/s1600/2013+02+120.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTblpPJRNBvahLxpwJmdnGpDzHye5GIigjBRSUJdRc7PA_AVyCkFwc0EsVkqyylNd5zbPFRncIxK0WyRz9NOTkVGzUnIsvub_jnbUw5WYlIl18uA2g27upR3ZWNfWPr5wg2DLeIHw356CE/s640/2013+02+120.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJCYegPIg1a4izk2TAFH5RCwB6VF0hKdYQlaSXBwSYwcENDV3tO5_zaqBSKtL9141hSwg6t6fRnxWwUUNirU-YxkA-kTIJHd_Bq16BiS0Pj7n3bq0VqrJrzlldmGyMvot_yWhRLpZuvwZC/s1600/2013+02+103.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJCYegPIg1a4izk2TAFH5RCwB6VF0hKdYQlaSXBwSYwcENDV3tO5_zaqBSKtL9141hSwg6t6fRnxWwUUNirU-YxkA-kTIJHd_Bq16BiS0Pj7n3bq0VqrJrzlldmGyMvot_yWhRLpZuvwZC/s640/2013+02+103.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisK95F-3dxZPDFOgvvPDSo7kfcxm3Z2eP7pQUzpVjnfcVauljKGHUqXlnwQxz-b2IjLvBhNDpmgx0sacfCKiCmZMi3C5R-8g0NFiyHVlWsgtCcY4KD8zk1Tb2pEo9rZJIQ7-2qqagwSkK3/s1600/2013+02+207.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisK95F-3dxZPDFOgvvPDSo7kfcxm3Z2eP7pQUzpVjnfcVauljKGHUqXlnwQxz-b2IjLvBhNDpmgx0sacfCKiCmZMi3C5R-8g0NFiyHVlWsgtCcY4KD8zk1Tb2pEo9rZJIQ7-2qqagwSkK3/s640/2013+02+207.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFH_vEYbf2FlQ8vIPFBx82o3YZgjFG4rncly9WYhzdfAYJ8Pvw9-Tj6XGzJeTwfqtsXoShqBvWLaHLZgj6QFa7iA_xRuV7P-Z-9ruZopTA4z2Z3SoR9jCwAoyXVt58U3dC5l8-tCx5bMwr/s1600/2013+02+172.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFH_vEYbf2FlQ8vIPFBx82o3YZgjFG4rncly9WYhzdfAYJ8Pvw9-Tj6XGzJeTwfqtsXoShqBvWLaHLZgj6QFa7iA_xRuV7P-Z-9ruZopTA4z2Z3SoR9jCwAoyXVt58U3dC5l8-tCx5bMwr/s640/2013+02+172.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Curtis was gentlemanly enough to let me steal his "rock seat" so we could have a picture together. He's so cute.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuMz7GOMUAj3-JLZZHp3f6vxNlQS64HZfuFYKEt5LLvV-DSK7GpCW2ukgF1uPHB3l9lfumuwdAid9bNY73qgfMm4Nc3t4bFZi7rOylABB83BRmzWJiBmNJnLlNWPEw2K7OScdNWX_VCVeE/s1600/2013+02+154.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuMz7GOMUAj3-JLZZHp3f6vxNlQS64HZfuFYKEt5LLvV-DSK7GpCW2ukgF1uPHB3l9lfumuwdAid9bNY73qgfMm4Nc3t4bFZi7rOylABB83BRmzWJiBmNJnLlNWPEw2K7OScdNWX_VCVeE/s640/2013+02+154.JPG" width="640" /></a></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;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz10EpyAY03gOzQmaOAlHKHPrMRzx_OXi7r2F9_gRdvhbpQXQ4eWpDPqq0AVkoipIN_n5_LzIFeqZkSRtVKBGkQMefkMWH0KGlQ-uHK0BKEr9qSuc8n6Dgm9wEEy1JgdBgBHRrhvEpGtj4/s1600/2013+02+190.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz10EpyAY03gOzQmaOAlHKHPrMRzx_OXi7r2F9_gRdvhbpQXQ4eWpDPqq0AVkoipIN_n5_LzIFeqZkSRtVKBGkQMefkMWH0KGlQ-uHK0BKEr9qSuc8n6Dgm9wEEy1JgdBgBHRrhvEpGtj4/s640/2013+02+190.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5PqQz-rf6dj75frJvFzU2sfgxjvYqWesBWDso1BbA96t2RAU6-hyEr9oXTH2D_zfqMF6Kmnyc0OxFw2snzPGYD5xGEgDTbUXGozO5iolGjh3u-oIkexDKzRBNneM3ghzAZq46YlguEgcN/s1600/IMG_1308.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5PqQz-rf6dj75frJvFzU2sfgxjvYqWesBWDso1BbA96t2RAU6-hyEr9oXTH2D_zfqMF6Kmnyc0OxFw2snzPGYD5xGEgDTbUXGozO5iolGjh3u-oIkexDKzRBNneM3ghzAZq46YlguEgcN/s640/IMG_1308.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi17fZwzvrzMwj86f0pJCw5L3584w9LT2m0OUOv0pcx8dva6tU23DTw2Q3L4iTGQgI_i6LdOv1B1kmHDF0T8RkmD3Iotqpn5vcVLcSSfMlgMHJqB4J_rzuTcr6dug8rgaUP8xQiYa-2xkaZ/s1600/IMG_1291.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi17fZwzvrzMwj86f0pJCw5L3584w9LT2m0OUOv0pcx8dva6tU23DTw2Q3L4iTGQgI_i6LdOv1B1kmHDF0T8RkmD3Iotqpn5vcVLcSSfMlgMHJqB4J_rzuTcr6dug8rgaUP8xQiYa-2xkaZ/s640/IMG_1291.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
After touring the gardens for several hours, Mrs. Rhoden bought us all hot chocolate and coffee. It was a wonderful treat. Needless to say, all that walking tired us out I think - but a good kind of tired. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmnQ1qyjZb8DjmV3-4qbKG30CMUiRI5OmA36B6P08d_MppLA8apGF9993HtsRCkN3YaYvORHNw3eRH7x6xY0uNekS-jZlTosoJ26Aljl8KsE9S8s4K4kXI04eKVWRLcG7OikA711qDzQA9/s1600/2013+02+232.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmnQ1qyjZb8DjmV3-4qbKG30CMUiRI5OmA36B6P08d_MppLA8apGF9993HtsRCkN3YaYvORHNw3eRH7x6xY0uNekS-jZlTosoJ26Aljl8KsE9S8s4K4kXI04eKVWRLcG7OikA711qDzQA9/s640/2013+02+232.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
Chocolate cherry scones. Mmmmm. Made my yours truly. And mostly eaten by yours truly, as well. No one seemed to really like the combo of chocolate chunks and dried cherries. But, as my personal montra goes, <i>if it doesn't have chocolate in it, it isn't worth eating.</i> So they were kind of my favorite. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4B_pPu7IiBveeayLpgyBeC_qu8ud80VeIR2hVdDVHqQyDlv2rh6lwXxBz23glDwd_E6xsOOqRc27Fii6yaaaOMOtswXabsW0Yx8_dO2JVUI1Ue3il5OrDFqZSe8rTqVVGkNlvbGAtWzLh/s1600/2013+02+254.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4B_pPu7IiBveeayLpgyBeC_qu8ud80VeIR2hVdDVHqQyDlv2rh6lwXxBz23glDwd_E6xsOOqRc27Fii6yaaaOMOtswXabsW0Yx8_dO2JVUI1Ue3il5OrDFqZSe8rTqVVGkNlvbGAtWzLh/s640/2013+02+254.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
We had a special Valentine's Day breakfast with heart shaped bacon, chocolate chip pancakes (apparently they caught onto my montra), strawberries with chocolate syrup, and juice. A <b>sweet</b> breakfast for a sweet day. </div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc5BRFyYduYgl_IKBMblCo8H8WFL045a_rITYtTVzhyphenhyphenWktidAbgWu3YLcRF2D-kE8JJCAk14CXDTODBgM-4Cugx6azxcLuO6eVmbMalcHpO3i1hbi4gBFB8B7IjZI_V8dxN5h7W8F_D2ki/s1600/2013+02+256.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc5BRFyYduYgl_IKBMblCo8H8WFL045a_rITYtTVzhyphenhyphenWktidAbgWu3YLcRF2D-kE8JJCAk14CXDTODBgM-4Cugx6azxcLuO6eVmbMalcHpO3i1hbi4gBFB8B7IjZI_V8dxN5h7W8F_D2ki/s640/2013+02+256.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
We spent a TON of time playing Apples to Apples with Hannah and Emily. That was so fun! With the five of us, we had a hilarious group and got rather, um, slap happy. It was <b>quite</b> fun.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiab7M9lnTaDmTin4xUQh5HPX9o7ISJFZNC6ofcD9xB9dtgLnCw3Y0GE8NPhzr3mPSjLPx8-zB-DgzgE30wGJFLByDjZnV1w4ceAVo-zpOK7nZLzGbqkphQQXWynvmRfy6JKXpRp7uvxJlC/s1600/2013+02+273.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiab7M9lnTaDmTin4xUQh5HPX9o7ISJFZNC6ofcD9xB9dtgLnCw3Y0GE8NPhzr3mPSjLPx8-zB-DgzgE30wGJFLByDjZnV1w4ceAVo-zpOK7nZLzGbqkphQQXWynvmRfy6JKXpRp7uvxJlC/s640/2013+02+273.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
One evening, we went to the beach for a picnic dinner and bonfire! That was by far one of the highlights for me. It was so, so breathtaking. The waves crashing against the beach, the sunset, the air that didn't smell like fish (loved that), seeing dolphins jump out of the ocean.....it was a perfect evening.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ_yF1VcXH69NDfW1yxU_qgZY-1q6JmktfMLlPL9w1E4q1Ri87k_gLBfskyfoXtcw7sKffIUEUGIIsbGoQmDghgC5aKxBaVzKKX4ikpBAio7zQ3EbVT5gyS8FRFAGLwWWiKJz7XuYqjn53/s1600/2013+02+292.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ_yF1VcXH69NDfW1yxU_qgZY-1q6JmktfMLlPL9w1E4q1Ri87k_gLBfskyfoXtcw7sKffIUEUGIIsbGoQmDghgC5aKxBaVzKKX4ikpBAio7zQ3EbVT5gyS8FRFAGLwWWiKJz7XuYqjn53/s640/2013+02+292.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirqCTd4ZscjQ58H9kMAN15ci0AQ8IRfZber2UOCBsiPtIz1u6XXBtuaeDD0YYPEQZKXYT4mQSlRiTWZNnMh4ijbFGK_5sCvq9zepYPlxP6ZtQoPPqyT232UOBPURf48tz1AsTSMRzDhg8i/s1600/2013+02+302.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirqCTd4ZscjQ58H9kMAN15ci0AQ8IRfZber2UOCBsiPtIz1u6XXBtuaeDD0YYPEQZKXYT4mQSlRiTWZNnMh4ijbFGK_5sCvq9zepYPlxP6ZtQoPPqyT232UOBPURf48tz1AsTSMRzDhg8i/s640/2013+02+302.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhztD77K_46zQQ1oPSBz7YmXieKa03lF3hfO5NPOaFN62PtX4dhiB-6HJNKBSxBzs3Q2vcgh3ADRUYi9Uqh_Zqu-_yQflTKH97qCGY5neoePik3X1cmCqKHEFOSuqeAlL6GfDKCfMNqwtR/s1600/2013+02+323.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhztD77K_46zQQ1oPSBz7YmXieKa03lF3hfO5NPOaFN62PtX4dhiB-6HJNKBSxBzs3Q2vcgh3ADRUYi9Uqh_Zqu-_yQflTKH97qCGY5neoePik3X1cmCqKHEFOSuqeAlL6GfDKCfMNqwtR/s640/2013+02+323.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtpd3Uhk0ZSZdxhWLoH-5bS3vaLU3QgRPrQoW4_2ruUNaeaH9Jeyky12NkaeHwwXlsAh9ZgO9YwtOy-TDPNLipBb9zIzd7XekFnU9mapPHj0RM4OqAOy26PYb-fJ6TZ22CP0YomCKQVOFF/s1600/2013+02+271.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtpd3Uhk0ZSZdxhWLoH-5bS3vaLU3QgRPrQoW4_2ruUNaeaH9Jeyky12NkaeHwwXlsAh9ZgO9YwtOy-TDPNLipBb9zIzd7XekFnU9mapPHj0RM4OqAOy26PYb-fJ6TZ22CP0YomCKQVOFF/s640/2013+02+271.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdoAfLcV7kdTYapnzWkkVDXddZCyb3zvYEhyphenhyphengwaEvIGI_azuCBGNh8TgGodENByeU_7hduVtecRg9yjfl0vQyY93gif2LwMO8GNE6eGEKOx3JJcmBSk0osxEUBt8LQoRJlyhBorFxVCYTJ/s1600/2013+02+275.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdoAfLcV7kdTYapnzWkkVDXddZCyb3zvYEhyphenhyphengwaEvIGI_azuCBGNh8TgGodENByeU_7hduVtecRg9yjfl0vQyY93gif2LwMO8GNE6eGEKOx3JJcmBSk0osxEUBt8LQoRJlyhBorFxVCYTJ/s640/2013+02+275.JPG" width="640" /></a></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;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN6e-MKc-Su-R9R80tZ27dJ72Ykuu2t4Huaty0NvYcRpKdwGWHclZFfbwv2BKyYOTEPDRrl_yh1yap4VaXJVpWx4ThkEedOeT_d-b7YIl1kYHJ9oTGHL41jtyNMLeFlruFuxByXIzwOED_/s1600/2013+02+316.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN6e-MKc-Su-R9R80tZ27dJ72Ykuu2t4Huaty0NvYcRpKdwGWHclZFfbwv2BKyYOTEPDRrl_yh1yap4VaXJVpWx4ThkEedOeT_d-b7YIl1kYHJ9oTGHL41jtyNMLeFlruFuxByXIzwOED_/s640/2013+02+316.JPG" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
No, Cassie is not engaged. Forgive me for posting this Cassie. It was just too cute. It was one of those moments where I was like, <i>"look at each other and smile, or laugh, or talk....look like you like each other." </i>Didn't exactly plan on the "cute couple" look. But it's still cute, he he. :-)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIgQDerK7xIJs-pSLdRE4vIOA7vPCE4ZgF_sNBOB6W8QN5A8ysyuvhJo53lRRunx7oaNgOjMsXhBj_24OrwsjS5i8HdQKHWQuxeCPH5FzyNubSr9NvQKizClAZZ69jMQVcuSkZ-h268r35/s1600/2013+02+288.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIgQDerK7xIJs-pSLdRE4vIOA7vPCE4ZgF_sNBOB6W8QN5A8ysyuvhJo53lRRunx7oaNgOjMsXhBj_24OrwsjS5i8HdQKHWQuxeCPH5FzyNubSr9NvQKizClAZZ69jMQVcuSkZ-h268r35/s640/2013+02+288.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiolMXpnj6tSkn6WdfQWsrNxml2Ku6JNbvkLyPiN67unsLqSxmMiNIP-6fTW2m4VUw96gbDhzqt6ZGW8fJpGahmiIGUZFQmB5K9UE08P8rWSR8WswwVEvcYPX3nsGwCZNqh0H1C5zfest9/s1600/IMG_1350.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiolMXpnj6tSkn6WdfQWsrNxml2Ku6JNbvkLyPiN67unsLqSxmMiNIP-6fTW2m4VUw96gbDhzqt6ZGW8fJpGahmiIGUZFQmB5K9UE08P8rWSR8WswwVEvcYPX3nsGwCZNqh0H1C5zfest9/s640/IMG_1350.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
Cora looks tired......but she quickly found her second wind after this picture. :-) </div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1mwwHzcLgwOQtZz5aZCJ6uxcLtyivN_Yf3ui5rybcYceauGDRo3mQw9EbhfHDHbQ_C7ANGs0nEPRHjwdyXwbXfrerz_5AUyuiXb5KE9eSEbPcIFuq4iEBH0uti2UBzph70zjKwan7-wgk/s1600/IMG_1346.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1mwwHzcLgwOQtZz5aZCJ6uxcLtyivN_Yf3ui5rybcYceauGDRo3mQw9EbhfHDHbQ_C7ANGs0nEPRHjwdyXwbXfrerz_5AUyuiXb5KE9eSEbPcIFuq4iEBH0uti2UBzph70zjKwan7-wgk/s640/IMG_1346.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg11h4MbvUswOfktIrOJ1WXgWIfEnLc9bhHByCdjcXpjytAQuQ25vIPkVXHG5E_z_fcQb6BzNkpZDqIMT62Jm7y1wEryQr-voCQ41xVQ31QpFJ83t9ma6733Nl5BQC15as-cftsp2Hj4yF_/s1600/IMG_1361.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg11h4MbvUswOfktIrOJ1WXgWIfEnLc9bhHByCdjcXpjytAQuQ25vIPkVXHG5E_z_fcQb6BzNkpZDqIMT62Jm7y1wEryQr-voCQ41xVQ31QpFJ83t9ma6733Nl5BQC15as-cftsp2Hj4yF_/s640/IMG_1361.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia-eklJo9EVuRFSW_IIDH5ixoz7kOXp3TR_5VhBvpzz3BafnUizAi6TWD5_b8ralpkntnIehDR6L3Imd6zjtz0JEcZMh4Fss2-tLzbkGMng67b03BAkHQhlhuYut4COj2C_XeIPLfWS79i/s1600/IMG_1375.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia-eklJo9EVuRFSW_IIDH5ixoz7kOXp3TR_5VhBvpzz3BafnUizAi6TWD5_b8ralpkntnIehDR6L3Imd6zjtz0JEcZMh4Fss2-tLzbkGMng67b03BAkHQhlhuYut4COj2C_XeIPLfWS79i/s640/IMG_1375.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Cassie and Emily. </div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxWNxuy5xqHBSOCXj7mOf91s9HY9GJBnGiLAyEsNm-gvr094OWZW1brHJVgVFigqJ7yz8wY_qiMpP-mrKyVmSeZd4VwZ48EzGKI9GEFnQqDTfhSF9kUkqR92ZXbcf2Ek2RtFCUpRYlI1oo/s1600/2013+02+360.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxWNxuy5xqHBSOCXj7mOf91s9HY9GJBnGiLAyEsNm-gvr094OWZW1brHJVgVFigqJ7yz8wY_qiMpP-mrKyVmSeZd4VwZ48EzGKI9GEFnQqDTfhSF9kUkqR92ZXbcf2Ek2RtFCUpRYlI1oo/s640/2013+02+360.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimzq4Ok53pufoGu58XsrA_WeQm5A4D6gkH7aPTZxWTijKK0JNdlPAN_DsDRG2XCROOvZE8te9ZzOpODNymq8_452udcprtKGJf8HzmH0BMBF0Nt1c0wTIbJmTKFjD9sy0oO5GXeCZvGEMq/s1600/IMG_1369.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimzq4Ok53pufoGu58XsrA_WeQm5A4D6gkH7aPTZxWTijKK0JNdlPAN_DsDRG2XCROOvZE8te9ZzOpODNymq8_452udcprtKGJf8HzmH0BMBF0Nt1c0wTIbJmTKFjD9sy0oO5GXeCZvGEMq/s640/IMG_1369.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3c3YgBqs49lp_qMuk1cfxHwAdHQEDQM2eNwrGpvDnH0_zliFHXoKltTEdb3LV-i2A9R7f8Xrmaca7la88m0KQ2WZ_32X0JC5HbRTetN8XNElaueKXhyphenhyphenrpJ8JQLWnSDgjuPIwc4Hn415Y4/s1600/IMG_0349.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3c3YgBqs49lp_qMuk1cfxHwAdHQEDQM2eNwrGpvDnH0_zliFHXoKltTEdb3LV-i2A9R7f8Xrmaca7la88m0KQ2WZ_32X0JC5HbRTetN8XNElaueKXhyphenhyphenrpJ8JQLWnSDgjuPIwc4Hn415Y4/s640/IMG_0349.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF_P8REceDskTFB28uI8jyebhN6niAtD6AwZF69zSnAJFLuvh9aqgRslwSUtxslsZ38E4r1SfPfp2s6lkke0zZcWxCKZA3eeLYC44-3MbITgEUfkWcIWjybLUoU4NESFA98qjFhh6tjqoY/s1600/IMG_1236.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF_P8REceDskTFB28uI8jyebhN6niAtD6AwZF69zSnAJFLuvh9aqgRslwSUtxslsZ38E4r1SfPfp2s6lkke0zZcWxCKZA3eeLYC44-3MbITgEUfkWcIWjybLUoU4NESFA98qjFhh6tjqoY/s640/IMG_1236.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Pardon the out-of-order picture. This was at John MacArthur's church, which we went to on Sunday. Unfortunately he was gone that week, so I didn't actually get to hear him preach. But it was still a good service, and I got a free book by him because I was a visitor. And the Rhoden's bought me a <i>fabulous</i> book at the church bookstore, <u>Radical Womanhood</u>. It is SO good - it covers the roots of feminism and where we are as a culture today, plus a very in-depth description of Biblical femininity that I haven't really considered before. Like I said, it's fabulous.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioJMcxU5dHmqfKnk583FL9Y18pHR397zWA58dPzvxNn14fDUbcE1a9lOOC2i4VZM39lIxAvANvCa1lHht1l0UDqw1vy3kFgJfX63HpOn67zw_Zj9wJnwdsdFANNCb2IGeuUycBnnk1AWw6/s1600/IMG_1237.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioJMcxU5dHmqfKnk583FL9Y18pHR397zWA58dPzvxNn14fDUbcE1a9lOOC2i4VZM39lIxAvANvCa1lHht1l0UDqw1vy3kFgJfX63HpOn67zw_Zj9wJnwdsdFANNCb2IGeuUycBnnk1AWw6/s640/IMG_1237.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ-BmkMe2htwSH8T1e3EmPoo0vfZws2RhLYk2YmvF2ooJQoTiEemfUE2QhcQOpSESRiIoSguPkoB9kJKXbuJSmI83Wv_vlutud5F5zjfxUv6cEnB6BzFxDIyr97O2ONJsflFr3voQjSHsa/s1600/IMG_1330.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ-BmkMe2htwSH8T1e3EmPoo0vfZws2RhLYk2YmvF2ooJQoTiEemfUE2QhcQOpSESRiIoSguPkoB9kJKXbuJSmI83Wv_vlutud5F5zjfxUv6cEnB6BzFxDIyr97O2ONJsflFr3voQjSHsa/s640/IMG_1330.JPG" width="640" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5PqQz-rf6dj75frJvFzU2sfgxjvYqWesBWDso1BbA96t2RAU6-hyEr9oXTH2D_zfqMF6Kmnyc0OxFw2snzPGYD5xGEgDTbUXGozO5iolGjh3u-oIkexDKzRBNneM3ghzAZq46YlguEgcN/s1600/IMG_1308.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
Yes, I'm wearing that pink jacket, <i>again.</i> I'm kind of in love with it. But no I didn't wear it the entire trip. :-)</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
What a fantastic week with some of my dearest friends. The more time we spend together, the closer we get....I am so blessed to know this family! Everything from dish-washing hilarity because of 2nd born superiority to funny movies to inside jokes like "one won't hurt" and our inability to say our r's.....need I mention Tom Cruise, Cassie? Ah, what a trip. So much laughter and a huge blessing to me.</div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03430991328557979855noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2338955872932687537.post-64925596482191783202013-02-18T20:38:00.003-08:002013-02-18T20:38:48.213-08:00Breakfast at the Coffee House <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Well, I am back from a tremendous week with the Rhodens! It was <em>such</em> a fun time. I really needed a break from everything that's going on here; so an entire week by myself with some very dear friends was a wonderful opportunity. Each day was spent laughing, talking, sharing, and just deepening existing relationships. It was a true blessing for me.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjSuSb37gD_QGNPNWrKl0wVMZwhJUia_omhCLQh7skpFQbMSEU-FBxC-mB8iybsPcjudRrcV9QC0F3id-G7mfI9wNOzdMWf4mm3VFXtLOzxO6DgpjtRmdUOBAiBO4NXN-AqrmTt37XUikB/s1600/DSCF8541.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjSuSb37gD_QGNPNWrKl0wVMZwhJUia_omhCLQh7skpFQbMSEU-FBxC-mB8iybsPcjudRrcV9QC0F3id-G7mfI9wNOzdMWf4mm3VFXtLOzxO6DgpjtRmdUOBAiBO4NXN-AqrmTt37XUikB/s640/DSCF8541.JPG" uea="true" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
One morning while I was there, some friends of the Rhodens (whom we met last time we visisted) invited Cassie and me for breakfast at their family's coffee shop. It was such a lovely morning! We met at 8:00 and stayed until 11:00. Long time? Yes. Great time? YES. :-) I had an iced mocha latte, and we all split several pastries.....chocolate cherry scones, berry muffins, croissants, etc. Mmmmmm.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbZMzSdn6qRml8tEc1wWCvDrVmadP2ybm7iDCzVhPkDpl9mIJNLB1GITSJGWyutdY3MR4lfDukYRZsGASnlNJA7t-FesW6mwM6G0_re59HzZ9oUQOpNuwv3VX_uBI5Lrdi2wflykfiba2y/s1600/DSCF8544.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbZMzSdn6qRml8tEc1wWCvDrVmadP2ybm7iDCzVhPkDpl9mIJNLB1GITSJGWyutdY3MR4lfDukYRZsGASnlNJA7t-FesW6mwM6G0_re59HzZ9oUQOpNuwv3VX_uBI5Lrdi2wflykfiba2y/s640/DSCF8544.JPG" uea="true" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">
Hannah, Emily, and Cassie. I love these girls. We spent so many hours sharing and talking about "girl things". Really fun. </div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy9Zi-9w4uEfOurU2s1bQbabIhRV6KEtwsZTlf0uWMLma2fFT1v6cu5iQBLheqKu0n16UbbfXQt_hh8O8Z49Js_z2-VhG4jjw-drMs_lF5yyC0amlLSzv52mnfE_d-k4goWNMopTLy1Adz/s1600/DSCF8546.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy9Zi-9w4uEfOurU2s1bQbabIhRV6KEtwsZTlf0uWMLma2fFT1v6cu5iQBLheqKu0n16UbbfXQt_hh8O8Z49Js_z2-VhG4jjw-drMs_lF5yyC0amlLSzv52mnfE_d-k4goWNMopTLy1Adz/s640/DSCF8546.JPG" uea="true" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I love those kinds of conversations that just go on for hours and hours, and no one wants to stop. It was really neat to share what's going on in our lives...the good <em>and </em>the bad....different challenges we're facing, and all the funny stuff in between. These girls were such an encouragement to me.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG3LwHlXqXYC8nwxmP_KfYIqaHWh5jTi_0-53K6cjWwuSlOH_AiOMOsLXktNPprhOfWPvJVuLFQr1FGa86XIevzgVQqnuT_C6LXIuNOQhP5BJeNGDbt0RusMH8kmVEgTPxXC4yr8EGeN7O/s1600/DSCF8549.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG3LwHlXqXYC8nwxmP_KfYIqaHWh5jTi_0-53K6cjWwuSlOH_AiOMOsLXktNPprhOfWPvJVuLFQr1FGa86XIevzgVQqnuT_C6LXIuNOQhP5BJeNGDbt0RusMH8kmVEgTPxXC4yr8EGeN7O/s640/DSCF8549.JPG" uea="true" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5JnJkw_w5uprObYRhI1UKK0YCJ64KU0DDUU-JzapxjCsAeRPeZNHIEvevuSYAiEgtNIhckOImSyWaOrms707CR_XxJJIe5Kjund1wq4mUpm07cN3qXcpEVeCfdNjUnvQEqL5QYF_539zy/s1600/DSCF8550.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5JnJkw_w5uprObYRhI1UKK0YCJ64KU0DDUU-JzapxjCsAeRPeZNHIEvevuSYAiEgtNIhckOImSyWaOrms707CR_XxJJIe5Kjund1wq4mUpm07cN3qXcpEVeCfdNjUnvQEqL5QYF_539zy/s640/DSCF8550.JPG" uea="true" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;">
Who here thinks it would be totally <em>awesome</em> for your family to own a coffee shop? :-) I'm sure it's one of those things that doesn't seem <em>that </em>amazing if you have it....but to an "outsider" it seems pretty ideal!</div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<br /></div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglhltOje5ewB2319Mrc-1tvuHBkKXMkjKpt_jGrF7dOfYQ3_u0eQI3FGC-mqkcutnupfoyfLobLPOxBjPl4QD7_Qv1MGppyxYEvhjEaTuxJIKKSXs_byL031F33OIgAJthLsJoGSPMe91l/s1600/DSCF8552.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglhltOje5ewB2319Mrc-1tvuHBkKXMkjKpt_jGrF7dOfYQ3_u0eQI3FGC-mqkcutnupfoyfLobLPOxBjPl4QD7_Qv1MGppyxYEvhjEaTuxJIKKSXs_byL031F33OIgAJthLsJoGSPMe91l/s640/DSCF8552.JPG" uea="true" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">
It was a true pleasure to get to know Hannah and Emily better this time. Warm coffee, yummy pastries, encouraging conversation, "sharpening" each other in Christ.....<strong><em>the works.</em></strong> What a great morning.</div>
Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03430991328557979855noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2338955872932687537.post-32673206262488940882013-02-14T01:00:00.000-08:002013-02-14T01:00:04.090-08:00What Love Is<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBeUv-SrxDSXiTCrWr_A8h0tgFR1fOfbmQtvgix2oIlX4Y7B1VYvIc3dKKgc5ZLY31AMj1jnMbCKgI6AFDy5AHd4I5Wg54vLTLK8nxiU22r1XsHz188DPeSkbfp1Id-zNxzju31y7RNjSt/s1600/918bcac24c634898c568bb330cc7e4ef.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" jea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBeUv-SrxDSXiTCrWr_A8h0tgFR1fOfbmQtvgix2oIlX4Y7B1VYvIc3dKKgc5ZLY31AMj1jnMbCKgI6AFDy5AHd4I5Wg54vLTLK8nxiU22r1XsHz188DPeSkbfp1Id-zNxzju31y7RNjSt/s400/918bcac24c634898c568bb330cc7e4ef.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
Otherwise known as <strong><em>actions speak louder than words</em></strong>.<br />
<br />
<strong><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">"This is love for God, to obey His commands." <span style="font-size: small;">(1 John 5:3a)</span></span></strong><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Yup. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">If we <em>truly </em>love the Lord, our motivation to do what He asks us to do will go beyond just telling Him how much we love Him. It's the kind of love that leads us to action. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Hope you're all having a wonderful week - and Happy Birthday to my dad, who has a Valentine's Day birthday! :-)</span>Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03430991328557979855noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2338955872932687537.post-63115066323130912362013-02-12T18:20:00.001-08:002013-02-12T18:20:06.736-08:00Hey from California<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Having a wonderful time with some very good friends!!! More pictures when I get home.....but here area few to tide y'all over for now. :-)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwW_jmmALH5Y7crKaHEsPb5VDwgUC81x3NwNMWD_kLPdEB4lxR66gj9aNkqdR-T-UaaNCR7maWcQPDQZa8kBABo10_qAxWwYaTsybYu2OqcEQtghBh9yVh1hDlpefMik3tOXjZlooWMqPS/s1600/2013+02+035.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwW_jmmALH5Y7crKaHEsPb5VDwgUC81x3NwNMWD_kLPdEB4lxR66gj9aNkqdR-T-UaaNCR7maWcQPDQZa8kBABo10_qAxWwYaTsybYu2OqcEQtghBh9yVh1hDlpefMik3tOXjZlooWMqPS/s640/2013+02+035.JPG" width="426" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZKG8VLzRHEdFXBxBRjOAEdVbw-B4Gy8n5Tc0odlBCtd8hVk25pFJINXdCrsG2sNLxaEaEMGpBEkMN5j-netkFUHlt1lLkKSs_1pzq0eqJuUghyV9upsyu5HcsQ3RB5e3RGIz3EtWbTy4L/s1600/2013+02+077edit.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZKG8VLzRHEdFXBxBRjOAEdVbw-B4Gy8n5Tc0odlBCtd8hVk25pFJINXdCrsG2sNLxaEaEMGpBEkMN5j-netkFUHlt1lLkKSs_1pzq0eqJuUghyV9upsyu5HcsQ3RB5e3RGIz3EtWbTy4L/s640/2013+02+077edit.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd4yawwBLhpJkg3t99ys0SN6q3I-EytR7H7F5bndlTy9uoy_1cVN1Ra0OuxM69FY-Uown0NrKtICw-jYLjMzPL4nCwr6kV924EZn2X61Q8XxxK03SbALfJ4ix2BOcJmWp60bmwj7imi-4j/s1600/2013+02+221.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd4yawwBLhpJkg3t99ys0SN6q3I-EytR7H7F5bndlTy9uoy_1cVN1Ra0OuxM69FY-Uown0NrKtICw-jYLjMzPL4nCwr6kV924EZn2X61Q8XxxK03SbALfJ4ix2BOcJmWp60bmwj7imi-4j/s640/2013+02+221.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUcQKCoVJuZri1oKdbtDcTaD5zMHzcQbt-WF1kR1K9PEKkAJRavo4pwMYwnKeLQtYPZ_2MsMhOXIG4wHIeAniuJ2BP6hxKvOdCTLxYgNlbDyiMo4IolJKhh3Cs6n7lCaXQYBSe8U1gZgk4/s1600/2013+02+090.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUcQKCoVJuZri1oKdbtDcTaD5zMHzcQbt-WF1kR1K9PEKkAJRavo4pwMYwnKeLQtYPZ_2MsMhOXIG4wHIeAniuJ2BP6hxKvOdCTLxYgNlbDyiMo4IolJKhh3Cs6n7lCaXQYBSe8U1gZgk4/s640/2013+02+090.JPG" width="426" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW0ea9wAXL12KjS7Utd8bZaXJEMpF1C5tXsrMTCMv_uB8aD0CZUFG6fiy0nrJJGxTK6qotw9K0qLhYfzZqfjzpKL9Ee4-I6av46W1fyDL0klAMr6Q0-F_c9aj4kkYqTPrErZnisTVZzJZr/s1600/2013+02+230.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW0ea9wAXL12KjS7Utd8bZaXJEMpF1C5tXsrMTCMv_uB8aD0CZUFG6fiy0nrJJGxTK6qotw9K0qLhYfzZqfjzpKL9Ee4-I6av46W1fyDL0klAMr6Q0-F_c9aj4kkYqTPrErZnisTVZzJZr/s640/2013+02+230.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitVYY2PAZXjgx6mo3mYTVxYxuGTJ6De0MtSi1k_5C3ygUb9x2JxbXPXkMIiUG5rjmISO9k7uRLuUi8emybklJ8oxAetx-jBwdFUyqXgDamiuSmjT1KAGQFZjxbNcFdsH3qeIcm-e0VWzLe/s1600/2013+02+222.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitVYY2PAZXjgx6mo3mYTVxYxuGTJ6De0MtSi1k_5C3ygUb9x2JxbXPXkMIiUG5rjmISO9k7uRLuUi8emybklJ8oxAetx-jBwdFUyqXgDamiuSmjT1KAGQFZjxbNcFdsH3qeIcm-e0VWzLe/s640/2013+02+222.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigbm86HvKsQMK9cfvh7N7KNuuRmp6bJizCNQdo-oMoANoXpPCfLj8MAzY0I2lJNO6hTL8cILn5gqvYdkMOGogjMRFsGNstGwH2b-WZYEslwwzZi_q97__mD05KVl8lX6cppq62pn7cUUHp/s1600/photo-7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigbm86HvKsQMK9cfvh7N7KNuuRmp6bJizCNQdo-oMoANoXpPCfLj8MAzY0I2lJNO6hTL8cILn5gqvYdkMOGogjMRFsGNstGwH2b-WZYEslwwzZi_q97__mD05KVl8lX6cppq62pn7cUUHp/s640/photo-7.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03430991328557979855noreply@blogger.com0