tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-45357651607464219672024-03-13T15:35:12.438-07:00Roots Below ~ Sky AboveWe are dwelling above the family Roots Below us ~ constantly striving to grow toward the Sky Above us.
This middle land is ours to fill ~ marked with warm, bright sun and dark clouds occasionally passing our way.Morganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07432119547105232079noreply@blogger.comBlogger86125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4535765160746421967.post-15615640558915752952011-05-25T06:51:00.000-07:002011-05-25T09:41:22.638-07:00Choosing a Purpose<h1 style="margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: small;">Live with intention. Walk to the edge. </span></h1><h1 style="margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: small;">Listen hard. Practice wellness. </span></h1><h1 style="margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: small;">Play with abandon. Laugh. Choose with no regret. </span></h1><h1 style="margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: small;">Appreciate your friends. Continue to learn. </span></h1><h1 style="margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: small;">Do what you love. Live as if this is all there is.</span></h1><div style="margin: 0px; text-align: center;">~Mary Anne Radmacher</div><div style="margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="margin: 0px; text-align: left;">I have recently read a book about dying young. It wasn't so much how sad I was to read about those that died, although that was a tragic part, rather I ached for the ones left behind. I think in the dying, we often choose to let a part of ourselves die as well. <strong>This book then went on to explore how hard and crippling it can be to make the choice of living after any tragedy.</strong> <br />
<br />
The idea of setting goals or objectives made a huge difference when <strong>continuing to living in an ordinary world</strong>. It made sense to me. I've thought a great deal about the goals and objectives I have set in my life. <br />
<br />
Truly, there really aren't that many, except <strong>to just live</strong>. Isn't that crazy? I always wanted to marry. Done. I knew I wanted children. Check. On the other hand, <strong>I know what I don't want to do</strong>. I don't want to die without seeing what happens next. I don't ever want to let my precious family slip from my grasp. I never want kindness and joy not to be a part of my everyday life.<br />
<br />
Then what? What do I want to come next? I know that I would like to see my children get married and have children. But for me, there is so much living in between now and then. So which way should I point my compass? Or should I just wait to see where the wind takes me?<br />
<br />
Now that I have had a birthday come and go, I decided to get busy and start living with a purpose. Therefore, I created a list...40 things I want to do before I turn 40! We'll see how far I get, and I better be getting busy. Only four years to go!<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><strong>40 BEFORE 40</strong></span></div><table border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="MsoTableGrid" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-collapse: collapse; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-yfti-tbllook: 1184;"><tbody>
<tr style="mso-yfti-firstrow: yes; mso-yfti-irow: 0;"><td style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: windowtext 1pt solid; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; border-top: windowtext 1pt solid; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0in; width: 95.75pt;" valign="top" width="128"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Belly laugh. Often.</span></b></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: #f0f0f0; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; border-top: windowtext 1pt solid; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0in; width: 95.75pt;" valign="top" width="128"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Papyrus;">Take a road- trip without a pre-planned destination.</span></b></div></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: #f0f0f0; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; border-top: windowtext 1pt solid; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0in; width: 95.75pt;" valign="top" width="128"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #073763; font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">Continue to dance and sing in my kitchen each day…even when my kids ask me to stop.</span></b></div></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: #f0f0f0; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; border-top: windowtext 1pt solid; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0in; width: 95.75pt;" valign="top" width="128"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Papyrus;"><span style="color: #7f6000;">Make a difference in the life of a single mother.</span></span></b></div></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: #f0f0f0; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; border-top: windowtext 1pt solid; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0in; width: 95.8pt;" valign="top" width="128"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Give more.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Buy less.</span></b></div></td></tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 1;"><td style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: windowtext 1pt solid; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; border-top: #f0f0f0; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0in; width: 95.75pt;" valign="top" width="128"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Papyrus;">Be fiscally responsible.</span></b></div></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: #f0f0f0; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; border-top: #f0f0f0; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0in; width: 95.75pt;" valign="top" width="128"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Forgive and ask to be forgiven.</span></b></div></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: #f0f0f0; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; border-top: #f0f0f0; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0in; width: 95.75pt;" valign="top" width="128"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Papyrus;"><span style="color: #e06666;">Get behind a cause and spend time helping it grow.</span></span></b></div></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: #f0f0f0; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; border-top: #f0f0f0; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0in; width: 95.75pt;" valign="top" width="128"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Karaoke.</span></b></div></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: #f0f0f0; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; border-top: #f0f0f0; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0in; width: 95.8pt;" valign="top" width="128"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Papyrus;"><span style="color: #b45f06;">Buy a kayak and hit the water routinely.</span></span></b></div></td></tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 2;"><td style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: windowtext 1pt solid; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; border-top: #f0f0f0; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0in; width: 95.75pt;" valign="top" width="128"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Make the perfect cupcake.</span></b></div></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: #f0f0f0; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; border-top: #f0f0f0; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0in; width: 95.75pt;" valign="top" width="128"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Papyrus;">Send real birthday cards and letters, routinely.</span></b></div></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: #f0f0f0; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; border-top: #f0f0f0; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0in; width: 95.75pt;" valign="top" width="128"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Go on a mission trip and give myself entirely to the cause.</span></b></div></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: #f0f0f0; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; border-top: #f0f0f0; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0in; width: 95.75pt;" valign="top" width="128"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Papyrus;"><span style="color: #4c1130;">Take my boys to a UT v. Florida game.</span></span></b></div></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: #f0f0f0; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; border-top: #f0f0f0; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0in; width: 95.8pt;" valign="top" width="128"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Spend a week at the beach with my best friends, romance novels, and lots of wine.</span></b></div></td></tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 3;"><td style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: windowtext 1pt solid; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; border-top: #f0f0f0; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0in; width: 95.75pt;" valign="top" width="128"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Papyrus;"><span style="color: #0c343d;">Purge all of the junk in my house…no need to keep décor from college!</span></span></b></div></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: #f0f0f0; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; border-top: #f0f0f0; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0in; width: 95.75pt;" valign="top" width="128"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">Live in the moment.</span></b></div></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: #f0f0f0; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; border-top: #f0f0f0; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0in; width: 95.75pt;" valign="top" width="128"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Papyrus;">Make friends with 5 people TOTALLY different than me and nurture the friendships.</span></b></div></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: #f0f0f0; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; border-top: #f0f0f0; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0in; width: 95.75pt;" valign="top" width="128"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Spend Christmas at Disney World with my family.</span></b></div></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: #f0f0f0; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; border-top: #f0f0f0; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0in; width: 95.8pt;" valign="top" width="128"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Papyrus;"><span style="color: #0b5394;">Stop obsessing.</span></span></b></div></td></tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 4;"><td style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: windowtext 1pt solid; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; border-top: #f0f0f0; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0in; width: 95.75pt;" valign="top" width="128"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #bf9000; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Learn to take a compliment well.</span></b></div></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: #f0f0f0; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; border-top: #f0f0f0; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0in; width: 95.75pt;" valign="top" width="128"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Papyrus;"><span style="color: #351c75;">Enjoy a picnic.</span></span></b></div></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: #f0f0f0; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; border-top: #f0f0f0; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0in; width: 95.75pt;" valign="top" width="128"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Look at my children, see myself, and smile.</span></b></div></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: #f0f0f0; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; border-top: #f0f0f0; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0in; width: 95.75pt;" valign="top" width="128"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Papyrus;"><span style="color: #a64d79;">Be happy.</span></span></b></div></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: #f0f0f0; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; border-top: #f0f0f0; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0in; width: 95.8pt;" valign="top" width="128"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Love my husband more dearly.</span></b></div></td></tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 5;"><td style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: windowtext 1pt solid; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; border-top: #f0f0f0; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0in; width: 95.75pt;" valign="top" width="128"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Papyrus;"><span style="color: magenta;">Grow an herb garden.</span></span></b></div></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: #f0f0f0; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; border-top: #f0f0f0; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0in; width: 95.75pt;" valign="top" width="128"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Foster a child, besides my own, in some way.</span></b></div></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: #f0f0f0; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; border-top: #f0f0f0; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0in; width: 95.75pt;" valign="top" width="128"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Slalom ski on the water again.</span></b></div></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: #f0f0f0; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; border-top: #f0f0f0; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0in; width: 95.75pt;" valign="top" width="128"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Tell the people most important to me how much I love them.</span></b></div></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: #f0f0f0; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; border-top: #f0f0f0; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0in; width: 95.8pt;" valign="top" width="128"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Papyrus;"><span style="color: #666666;">Take up tennis.</span></span></b></div></td></tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 6;"><td style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: windowtext 1pt solid; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; border-top: #f0f0f0; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0in; width: 95.75pt;" valign="top" width="128"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: lime; font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">Overcome my greatest weakness.</span></b></div></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: #f0f0f0; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; border-top: #f0f0f0; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0in; width: 95.75pt;" valign="top" width="128"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Papyrus;"><span style="color: orange;">Plant a tree and watch it grow.</span></span></b></div></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: #f0f0f0; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; border-top: #f0f0f0; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0in; width: 95.75pt;" valign="top" width="128"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Share a smile. Everyday.</span></b></div></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: #f0f0f0; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; border-top: #f0f0f0; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0in; width: 95.75pt;" valign="top" width="128"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Papyrus;">Publish an article on paper…not online.</span></b></div></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: #f0f0f0; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; border-top: #f0f0f0; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0in; width: 95.8pt;" valign="top" width="128"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Find my passion and follow it.</span></b></div></td></tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 7; mso-yfti-lastrow: yes;"><td style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: windowtext 1pt solid; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; border-top: #f0f0f0; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0in; width: 95.75pt;" valign="top" width="128"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Papyrus;"><span style="color: #38761d;">Read ten classic novels each year.</span></span></b></div></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: #f0f0f0; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; border-top: #f0f0f0; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0in; width: 95.75pt;" valign="top" width="128"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Listen more. Talk less.</span></b></div></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: #f0f0f0; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; border-top: #f0f0f0; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0in; width: 95.75pt;" valign="top" width="128"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Papyrus;"><span style="color: #45818e;">Fit back in my wedding dress.</span></span></b></div></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: #f0f0f0; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; border-top: #f0f0f0; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0in; width: 95.75pt;" valign="top" width="128"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Go above and beyond.</span></b></div></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: #f0f0f0; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; border-top: #f0f0f0; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0in; width: 95.8pt;" valign="top" width="128"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Papyrus;"><span style="color: #38761d;">Help someone in need.</span></span></b></div></td></tr>
</tbody></table></div><div style="margin: 0px; text-align: left;"></div>Morganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07432119547105232079noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4535765160746421967.post-43592905604138238412011-05-22T15:41:00.000-07:002011-05-22T15:44:18.383-07:00Another Year Older<div style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; color: black; overflow: hidden; text-align: center; text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">And it's funny how it's the little things in life that mean the most<br />
Not where you live, what you drive, or the price tag on your clothes<br />
There's no dollar sign on a piece of mind this I've come to know<br />
So if you agree have a drink with me<br />
Raise you glasses for a toast</span></div><div style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; color: black; overflow: hidden; text-align: center; text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">~Zac Brown Band</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-Dc5_Y9-0nYQAw39v7hEqj5-6Ut_uFyMmlozdKD1kbPif-MJ7T-rfBJa-JapBG5ToSziK814_B9FRHx0bT2P1WsAu4DTPNplWR-ESBiPudDXCzlSbHo7Cokzqw5G5RfeHwch6Wd0VeeCd/s1600/hills.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-Dc5_Y9-0nYQAw39v7hEqj5-6Ut_uFyMmlozdKD1kbPif-MJ7T-rfBJa-JapBG5ToSziK814_B9FRHx0bT2P1WsAu4DTPNplWR-ESBiPudDXCzlSbHo7Cokzqw5G5RfeHwch6Wd0VeeCd/s1600/hills.jpg" /></a></div></div><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Georgia;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Today is my birthday. I have only scratched the surface on this thing called aging. I am by no means graceful at all. As I begin to slide {please read: scratch, claw, a cut-up my knees kind of groping the hill} down the back edges of my thirties into my forties, I can't help but get the lyrics listed above out of my head.</span></span><span style="color: #274e13; font-family: "Georgia", "serif";"><br />
</span><span style="color: #274e13; font-family: "Georgia", "serif";"><br />
</span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Picture it ~ a dollar sign on everything in our life, the price to pay to live in this world where we live. But when arriving at peace of mind -true quiet and calmness- there is no dollar sign. It is free: to you, to me, to him, to her, to the young, and to the old. We just have to arrive at that point of peace. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="color: #274e13; font-family: "Georgia", "serif";"><br />
<span style="color: black;"><strong><em>Gasp.</em></strong></span><br />
<br />
</span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I can't say that I was ever at this point in my twenties. I would be exaggerating if I told you I am at that place in my thirties…Far from it. But I am getting there. </span></span><span style="color: #274e13; font-family: "Georgia", "serif";"><br />
</span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I have little people I love, and big people that love me. I have serenity on most days. I understand that it isn't always about what I can put in my hands that shows me what I have. I have much, much more. Some days are struggles filled with questions. Other days are like the smooth, placid lakes where I long to spend my summer. </span></span><span style="color: #274e13; font-family: "Georgia", "serif";"><br />
</span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Just as a striking hillside is beautiful, so is this life that we are living. The hillside swoops and rolls, just like our day to day adventures. Some days the sun shines bright warming the lush, cool, green grass. Other days, the darkest of clouds hover about threatening a storm any minute. However, the hills never change; they remain still, silent, and robust. </span></span><span style="color: #274e13; font-family: "Georgia", "serif";"><br />
</span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I will always be trekking up and down these hills.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even if the terrain flattens in front of me, the path will not stay that way forever.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Every life is filled with hurdles, moments of joy and sorrow. It isn't about how burdensome my journey gets or how long I go without feeling the golden sun upon my neck. No, the richness of living is in the journey, following it until the end. The peace of mind is found in the choices and what events those choices bring. There really isn't a dollar sign on the peace. It can't be bought, yet only found. </span></span></div><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><span style="color: black;">~</span><span style="color: #274e13; font-family: "Georgia", "serif";">So if you agree have a drink with me...Raise you glasses for a toast!</span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/b26wu3Ms34M?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>Chicken Fried<br />
Zac Brown Band</div>Morganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07432119547105232079noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4535765160746421967.post-46052771727709981432011-05-16T17:05:00.000-07:002011-05-16T17:05:48.415-07:00Ah, May ~ My Love/Hate Relationship<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho64XmB9Hmjm3mnaojSVNfdX7PrdU1DHco9jNURpS6xAs9Wf8ViJbZwH4CJFPB3nsV9xn9GZ2P9PXxSFFKLuXnK0GJVt542vvCDdf4MM6vzrEaaIGPKZG-GhBJZwLRjeIOYabpdQuqv5ZQ/s1600/may.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="252" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho64XmB9Hmjm3mnaojSVNfdX7PrdU1DHco9jNURpS6xAs9Wf8ViJbZwH4CJFPB3nsV9xn9GZ2P9PXxSFFKLuXnK0GJVt542vvCDdf4MM6vzrEaaIGPKZG-GhBJZwLRjeIOYabpdQuqv5ZQ/s320/may.bmp" width="320" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">For May is a beautiful month, but also a month to be despised, in my opinion. It comes upon us with reminders of summers past, graduations that came and went, and a day spent showering our favorite mama. But, it is, quite easily, the fastest month on my calendar. It seems as if there is something planned on every single day. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><strong>How can we celebrate the great moments without being overwhelmed by the pace?</strong><br />
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<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Breathe. Take a deep one. Settle down and focus on the important. Pull out the "get out of jail free" card and say no to those items, tasks, and appointments that can wait until the hum-drum of the summer months set in on you. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div>Rome wasn't built in a day. Therefore, not every single hope, desire, or dream will be attained in this one month. I keep telling myself to slow down and live simply. This month is testing my willpower and commitment to the simple. But, every breath by deep breath, I'll make it through this whirlwind month. I hope you do, too!Morganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07432119547105232079noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4535765160746421967.post-84974380025258590272011-05-11T06:49:00.000-07:002011-05-11T06:49:56.802-07:00The Boys' OfficeLast week, The Committee went to NYC for the week for work. As always, I spent the week <a href="http://rootsbelowskyabove.blogspot.com/2011/03/struggling-to-do-all-of-juggling.html">struggling with all of the juggling</a>. I continue to be in awe of all of my friends that have husbands that constantly travel and those of you that are single mothers. I'm not sure how you do it! I just don't function well on my own with little sleep. So, I decided to keep my mind off of the lack of adult company and finish a project that I have been meaning to finish.<br />
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With summer break quickly approaching {less than two weeks}, I am starting to have heart palpitations. I'm just not sure how to keep everyone entertained all of the time and it makes me panic. So, I decided to turn one of our extra pantries in the kitchen into an office/art corner for the boys. We truly are the least-handiest people you will ever meet...so don't look too closely at the handy-work. <br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">This is how disorganized my pantry looks at all times...</div><div style="text-align: center;">now all of this is tucked nicely {wink, wink} away in cabinets.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;">And this is the new office. The boys feel so grown up with their own space.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;">I'm sure this will not solve all of our summertime problems, but maybe it will help. </div><div style="text-align: center;">If not, it might be the perfect time-out spot!</div>Morganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07432119547105232079noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4535765160746421967.post-24194629222998642152011-05-09T15:44:00.000-07:002012-03-09T21:10:36.390-08:00Continuing to Love Unconditionally...re-postAs we continue to see our boys grow and change every day, I have to remain focused upon loving them unconditionally. I pray each day for wisdom in directing them with a strong hand and soft heart. Some days slide by with ease, while others seem like they are full of dilemmas. By blogging about our many twists and turns of life, I am able to save on therapy bills and work out many of my thoughts right here online.<br />
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We never really know what each day is going to give us around our house. I have one son that is dealing with social issues in his class. He is having to learn about dealing with bullying and harsh words while living peacefully amongst his friends at school. Another of mine, comes across pretty gruff at times and wants to always be the leader in our home without caring about the feelings of others. My third lives in his own little happy world making new discoveries each day. We just aren't sure what the fourth is going to be like, but we are hopeful that his easy demeanor will stay around forever. <br />
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All of our boys are vastly different, however they will all be in their teenage years at one time. If only I could repeat the same things to them every morning as they walk down the stairs to scarf down some cereal and run out the door to school. By doing this, maybe I can protect their precious little souls from self-doubt or physical injuries from those around them. This is what I would say...<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><strong>Good morning my dear child.</strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><strong>One day, you will no longer be a small child that I can protect. You will grow from a Curlee boy into the beginnings of a Curlee man. You will need to discover the world on your own. I will need to let you go out into the world to find your way and see what life has to offer you.</strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><strong>But, before you go, please consider these words...you are loved unconditionally by your father and me. Unconditionally means that there are no words or actions that can make us stop loving you with our whole heart. We will never turn our back on you, regardless of what you say or do. The most important thing to us is you and your well-being. </strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><strong>You will certainly find yourself in areas of distress for some reason or another throughout your adolescence and adulthood. We all have at one time or another. Not one adult around you has gotten to where they are in their life without traveling through a rock-bottom valley in search of life's meaning. Remember, we ALL make mistakes. It is the lessons we learn from these mistakes that mean the most. Don't let your mistakes define you. Don't let hateful words define you; you are so much more than a word. Don't get bogged down in what could have been. Strive for what can be...and follow that dream to the end. </strong></span></div>
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<span style="color: #660000; font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><strong>On our refrigerator, we have our house rules...</strong></span></div>
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<span style="color: #660000; font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><strong>Always be honest.</strong></span></div>
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<span style="color: #660000; font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><strong>Count your blessings.</strong></span></div>
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<span style="color: #660000; font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><strong>Bear each others burdens.</strong></span></div>
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<span style="color: #660000; font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><strong>Forgive and forget.</strong></span></div>
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<span style="color: #660000; font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><strong>Be kind and tender hearted.</strong></span></div>
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<span style="color: #660000; font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><strong>Comfort one another.</strong></span></div>
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<span style="color: #660000; font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><strong>Keep your promises.</strong></span></div>
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<span style="color: #660000; font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><strong>Be supportive of one another.</strong></span></div>
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<span style="color: #660000; font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><strong>Be true to each other.</strong></span></div>
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<span style="color: #660000; font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><strong>Treat each other like you treat your friends.</strong></span></div>
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<span style="color: #660000; font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><strong>And most importantly, LOVE one another deeply from the heart. </strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><strong>These rules did not just happen to find their way to our fridge by accident. No, just the opposite. I searched for rules for our family that would characterize who we are and how we are supposed to act and treat one another. But, these rules were not meant to pertain only to my children. Just the opposite...I want you to remember them always and carry them with you out into the world. I want every action to be driven by the words...<span style="color: #660000;">LOVE deeply from the heart</span>. If your heart is driving your words, thoughts, emotions, and actions, you can never go wrong.</strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><strong>Oh, I know that you will be wronged and do others wrong throughout your life. We all have. But, to bear these mistakes and make amends for them is how you show love to one another. It is the stuff that character is made of. Hate and contempt can be so easy to fall back on, but it is putting the love out there that takes work. Choose the love over the hate. You will never regret that choice...ever! </strong></span></div>
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<span style="color: #073763; font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><strong>Matthew 5: 44 ~ But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven.</strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><strong>Each time you feel hatred or anger for another person, pray for their life, their well-being, their happiness. It is not possible to hate another person in the presence of God. Let go of the anger that will encompass your whole being, and watch how God can work in your life. This is of the utmost importance in being a man of character. </strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><strong>As you have grown and started school, I have repeatedly told you how easy it is to try harder on your next spelling test, play a little bit better in the next football game, run faster when racing your brother, but you can't ever have a second chance to erase unkindness to one another. Sure, you will be given a chance to say you are sorry, but you cannot erase the actions or words that you put out in the world. You must always be a little kinder than necessary...it never hurts, and usually will help!</strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><strong>If throughout your young-adulthood, you find yourself lost or confused seek someone out. I would hope it would be your father or me, but I am also realistic to know that it won't always be us that you turn to for help. If not us, then someone. Don't try to take the world on alone. Don't try to re-invent the wheel. Borrow wisdom from another...it's not plagiarism. Find someone you can trust...or better yet, someone that we trust. Consider them a mentor. Bounce ideas off of them. Listen to their thoughts...and then, follow your own heart. </strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><strong>Throughout my life and your father's life, we have not always been the winners and not always the losers. We are usually somewhere in between the two. It is okay not to always be the most successful...just do your best...that will always be enough for us. We trust you. We love you. We always want the best for you. </strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><strong>Don't ever give up. Don't ever think that suicide is an answer to any problem you have. You may think that whatever has occurred, will ruin your life. I am here to tell you it won't. It might change your life greatly, but you can always be a glory to God. You will come out on the other side, and we will help you to find your way. Trust our love. Trust your gut. Trust in God. Trust in kindness. <span style="color: #660000;">And most importantly, LOVE one another deeply from the heart.</span> Let love lead the way for you. Don't let someone else define who you are. Let your character define who you are. </strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><strong>You are the last thing I think of when I go to sleep at night and the first thing when I wake up in the morning.</strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">What do you say, think I'll have time to get all that in every morning over a light breakfast of cereal? Oh, how I wish I could say that to all of my boys every day and see if it delivers us to a better place on the other side of this scary place called "adolescence"!</span></div>Morganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07432119547105232079noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4535765160746421967.post-41370852913041459042011-05-07T04:35:00.000-07:002011-05-07T04:35:04.454-07:00http://www.incourage.me/<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik68ZD44cgbxdXQDH5-HwWSP6UblXPa9k0g6tTXhbcXg8RFq7DIxbMBqytdwgevv-ql2fUiVvDgILXgL-IGio70aJWok6HbZkCDPQSpso3vhvaA98m-_uRI49pXI8R4mIHry993g5_yrfG/s1600/incourage.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik68ZD44cgbxdXQDH5-HwWSP6UblXPa9k0g6tTXhbcXg8RFq7DIxbMBqytdwgevv-ql2fUiVvDgILXgL-IGio70aJWok6HbZkCDPQSpso3vhvaA98m-_uRI49pXI8R4mIHry993g5_yrfG/s1600/incourage.png" /></a></div><br />
Big day, little boat! Today, I am guest posting for the first time ever at incourage.me, and I am so excited! Also, I am full of nerves (trying to supress those, though!). I am always amazed, humbled, and excited to read the daily posts on this site made just for women. Take a walk, and please join me over there today! Happy Saturday!!<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">Take a peak, if you will...<a href="http://www.incourage.me/2011/05/center-of-my-world.html#comments">http://www.incourage.me/2011/05/center-of-my-world.html#comments</a></div>Morganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07432119547105232079noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4535765160746421967.post-84541566929638676472011-05-05T12:11:00.000-07:002011-05-05T12:11:03.274-07:00The Perfect Storm<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJyFG5Sl1iLyBaG1iId6Qg6LysIg8XdY4un96KjHVWU6W8KozI8tcims_6PajtmRk3Fs11zcOzZZMP3Bqp7XAH_Q_Lr40EOjrHSR7B9agODBubi9MGESXYtFTEtoDzXJPPT6NKS2y4e10w/s1600/rearview-mirror.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJyFG5Sl1iLyBaG1iId6Qg6LysIg8XdY4un96KjHVWU6W8KozI8tcims_6PajtmRk3Fs11zcOzZZMP3Bqp7XAH_Q_Lr40EOjrHSR7B9agODBubi9MGESXYtFTEtoDzXJPPT6NKS2y4e10w/s320/rearview-mirror.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>I wish I could tell you that this has been a 'one and only' instance. It is not. It has happened to me more than once. These periods are times that I look back upon, shudder, and see where I lost my way in one clear instance. <br />
<br />
Each time seems to leave more of an imprint than the time before. It is like walking through a fire only to find that you aren't invincible. You are actually burned around the edges once you made it through to the other side. To me, there is a clear explanation as to how this happens: I tragically and unequivocally lost sight of what is right.<br />
<br />
It is the perfect storm. <br />
<br />
Mine is called self-righteousness. Yours might be called something else. But, we all have that one unsightly struggle that plagues us. <br />
<br />
Recipe:<br />
{your ingredients can vary and can include one or all of the list below}<br />
1 part self-righteousness<br />
1 part frustration<br />
1 part losing sight of God's way<br />
1 part jealousy<br />
1 part destructive words or feedback<br />
1 part selfishness<br />
1 part judgment<br />
<br />
You put yourself out there. You turned away from the light that serves as your guide. You chose to consider only your needs rather than think there are other people in the room, house, business, etc. You took one step, then another, and another and now you are all alone and you want to wash it all away. <br />
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In that moment, I looked around and realized that I had turned my back on my God and His word. It's as if I was in a high-school relationship. I said, "Listen God, it's not you, it's me! You are great, but I need some space."<br />
<br />
<div align="center" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="color: #20124d;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The past is our definition. </span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="color: #20124d;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">We may strive, with good reason, to escape it, </span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="color: #20124d;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">or to escape what is bad in it, </span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="color: #20124d;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">but we will escape it only by adding something better to it. </span></span></span></div><div align="center" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">~Wendell Berry</span></span></div><br />
It's like looking back in the rearview mirror of your car. Remember the little lingo at the bottom...objects are closer than they appear. Many times, these moments are the only thing you see in your rearview mirror. You feel ashamed or embarrassed enough to let these past events define who you are for months, years, or a lifetime. You let the past become the definition of who you are. But, really, you are so much more. <br />
<br />
Maybe the things that happened out of self-righteousness have become your story. We all have stories. Some are fairy-tale like and others are true horror stories. But, then when we turn to the Bible it seems as if within each blessed book there are stories of redemption. <br />
<br />
Imagine the blood, sweat, and tears of Moses and his people leaving behind their days in Egypt, being held in slavery, to make a covenant with God and venture to the Promised Land. Those are moments when something good comes out of the bad. These are the times when one is changed from their old ways through God's grace. <br />
<br />
<div align="center" style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="color: #632035; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="color: #20124d;">We cannot direct the wind; but can adjust the sails. </span></span></span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="color: #632035; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="color: #20124d;">When we cannot change the circumstances, </span></span></span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="color: #632035; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="color: #20124d;">we must change ourselves.</span></span></span></strong></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">~Author Unknown</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia;"></span></div>But perhaps, you would rather look back to American history for redemption. Imagine for a moment those citizens of another land that boarded ships of every shape and size in every generation to come to a new and better country. They left all behind to live a better life full of prosperity. These immigrants may have sailed passed the Statue of Liberty, which embodies hope for a bright future. In that moment, each passenger may have thrown away the past vowing only to look forward to better times. <br />
<br />
Sure, it will take a bit of hard work to live the good life. Nothing comes easy. <br />
<br />
<div align="center" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">In whom we have redemption through his blood, </span></span></div><div align="center" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace.<br />
~Ephesians 1:7</span></span></div><br />
This same redemption from the past is waiting around the corner for each of us. By walking away from the moments than have grown over time to define who we are, we can look ahead for our own beacon of hope. We can take the past and begin to realize it for what it is. The past. It can't be changed. Perhaps it would have been best if it had never happened, but none of us has the power to change it. <br />
<br />
Yet, we all have the ability to define our outlook for what is ahead. Perhaps, it happened for the best. Maybe, by walking through the fire once, you have saved yourself from walking that way again.<br />
<br />
That is the challenge we face, I believe: Sometimes, only to survive, only to endure, but mostly, to believe that we are blessed and not cursed. To see the challenges we face in life and not trivialize them or dismiss them, but also to see them as opportunities for growth. Opportunities that will help us to lead lives of greater fullness, richness, and depth, opportunities that might even inspire us to make the world more loving and just.<br />
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="color: #20124d;">What you need to know about the past is that no matter what has happened, </span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="color: #20124d;">it has all worked together to bring you to this very moment. </span></span></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="color: #20124d;">And this is the moment you can choose to make everything new. </span></span></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="color: #20124d;">Right now.</span></span></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">~Author Unknown</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Morganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07432119547105232079noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4535765160746421967.post-41734118769303617622011-05-03T09:32:00.000-07:002011-05-03T09:32:10.349-07:00Fwd: from November 2001<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/AVvXsEhth3pqM05qcpe1ctF7QLpQXI5cyY2cLzuwCokfV-ngU_cANmOohyphenhyphenNR8qnZni63lwFnE3g0RiKrmpU2yXJNuS8cajSkx8nizgbms4WXbNe2zPK6ohyphenhyphen85PwAGKUaAr2bdzSJ91b75VK633K5/s1600/hang+in+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhth3pqM05qcpe1ctF7QLpQXI5cyY2cLzuwCokfV-ngU_cANmOohyphenhyphenNR8qnZni63lwFnE3g0RiKrmpU2yXJNuS8cajSkx8nizgbms4WXbNe2zPK6ohyphenhyphen85PwAGKUaAr2bdzSJ91b75VK633K5/s400/hang+in+2.jpg" width="270" /></a></div><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">As I was cleaning out all of my e-mails today, I came across a folder where I have put joke forwards that I have received from years past. I have had my personal e-mail address since the day I graduated from college. That was 14 years ago. So, I have accumulated some funny forwards. <br />
<br />
It is interesting to note that I don't seem to get as many these days...maybe forwarding jokes is a thing of the past. Mom...please don't read that as I would like more forwards, because I don't. K?</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;">Anyway, I read this one about Osama bin Laden. So, this is my attempt to stay current. I know this might not be funny to others, but it makes me giggle. I love the kitty poster imagery...gets me every time. </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;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: small;">From: Bin Laden, Osama </span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: small;"></span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: small;">Sent: Monday, November 19, 2001 8:17 AM </span></div><div><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: small;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><span style="font-size: small;">To: Cavemates</span> </span></div><div><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"></span></div><div></div><div><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">Hi guys. We've all been putting in long hours but we've really come </span></div><div><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">together as a group and I love that. Big thanks to Omar for putting up </span></div><div><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">the poster that says "There is no I in team" as well as the one that says </span></div><div><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">"Hang In There, Baby." That cat is hilarious. However, while we are fighting </span></div><div><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">a jihad, we can't forget to take care of the cave. And frankly I have a </span></div><div><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">few concerns. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"></span></div><div></div><div><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">First of all, while it's good to be concerned about cruise missiles, we </span></div><div><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">should be even more concerned about the scorpions in our cave. Hey, you </span></div><div><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">don't want to be stung and neither do I, so we need to sweep the cave </span></div><div><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">daily. I've posted a sign-up sheet near the main cave opening. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"></span></div><div></div><div><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">Second, it's not often I make a video address but when I do, I'm trying </span></div><div><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"></span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">to scare the most powerful country on earth, okay? That means that while </span></div><div><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"></span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">we're taping, please do not ride your razor scooter in the background. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"></span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">Just while we're taping. Thanks. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"></span></div><div></div><div><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"></span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">Third point, and this is a touchy one. As you know, by edict, we're not </span></div><div><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"></span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">supposed to shave our beards. But I need everyone to just think hygiene, </span></div><div><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"></span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">especially after mealtime. We're all in this together. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"></span></div><div></div><div><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"></span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">Fourth: food. I bought a box of Cheez-Its recently, clearly wrote </span></div><div><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"></span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">"Osama" on the front, and put it on the top shelf. Today, my Cheez-Its were </span></div><div><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"></span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">gone. Consideration. That's all I'm saying. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"></span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"></div><div><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"></span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">Finally, we've heard that there may be American soldiers in disguise </span></div><div><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"></span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">trying to infiltrate our ranks. I want to set up patrols to look for them. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">First patrol will be Omar, Muhammed, Abdul, Akbar, and the new guy </span></div><div><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">Richard. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"></span></div><div></div><div><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">Love you lots. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"></span></div><div></div><div><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">Osama </span></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/AVvXsEhFIxFfQg2mX887XW5Fsuh9krfmmoBv1no_c1cQiDNsKBueYeWqxyMQniY57pvzY9GhNK3b541JYQ39g6JqgbdFhQTowcr0tkjCHoSzkA4Fkl4JhtEmFxVXRA3SsnyTD4aYSj2DcKl_Bk1r/s1600/hang+in+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="283" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFIxFfQg2mX887XW5Fsuh9krfmmoBv1no_c1cQiDNsKBueYeWqxyMQniY57pvzY9GhNK3b541JYQ39g6JqgbdFhQTowcr0tkjCHoSzkA4Fkl4JhtEmFxVXRA3SsnyTD4aYSj2DcKl_Bk1r/s320/hang+in+3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Morganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07432119547105232079noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4535765160746421967.post-49649220725823702542011-05-02T06:54:00.000-07:002011-05-02T06:54:40.056-07:00What was it like before?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiioIrzx8YD5YTQ4lwOnkzSfKI4rKZqQmRWMKYF7Tx5xxF_tQrYYqOQ-acgwPUlxn5NfeFOpjZIZZKzx5YrRHFCGw6Xc-1h5hNFjF72pacHVeCamFS5sYvRYWWh6yRP29KtEWk4gyzxVPrZ/s1600/IMG_0899.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiioIrzx8YD5YTQ4lwOnkzSfKI4rKZqQmRWMKYF7Tx5xxF_tQrYYqOQ-acgwPUlxn5NfeFOpjZIZZKzx5YrRHFCGw6Xc-1h5hNFjF72pacHVeCamFS5sYvRYWWh6yRP29KtEWk4gyzxVPrZ/s320/IMG_0899.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>If you are a parent, I suspect that you reflect here and there about what life was like before children came your way. As I am growing older in my journey of motherhood, I find it harder and harder to remember what life was like before "they" came into my life. I vaguely remember sitting down after work and thinking how I was bored. <br />
<br />
<div align="center" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #990000; font-size: 18pt;">“The ordinary arts we practice every day at home are of more importance to the soul than their simplicity might suggest.” </span><span style="color: #990000;">-Thomas More</span><strong><span style="color: #990000; font-size: 18pt;"> </span></strong><span style="color: black;"></span></div><br />
Sometimes, I really didn't have much to do. I would wake, eat, shower, go to work, come home, eat, shower, and crawl in bed. Sure, The Committee and I had fun along the way, but nothing really stands out. As my days are flying past me as a mother, I find the memories are getting harder and harder to recall and nothing really stands out once again. The big moments B.B. (before-birth) and A.B. (after-birth) are easy to recall. But, the minor experiences and trouble-free days seem blurry.<br />
<br />
Is that what life is like? In the end, is it like a picture that isn't in focus? You can make out the subjects, but the edges seem blurry. I don't want that to be my past. I want to recall the laughter over silly jokes. I want to remember the smell of the top of my sons' heads when they were toddlers. I want to know that I won't forget taking Sunday afternoon drives with The Committee when we had nothing else to do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I long to remember the feeling of the boys brushing my hair aside to whisper sweet secrets in my ear over and over again. I want to look back with gratitude for all the moments that came so easily. I want my heart to be full of thanks for all of the blessings that have been placed in my life. I want to know that at the end of every day, I placed my head down on my pillow each night and knew that my life was fuller than I ever could have imagined.<br />
<br />
<div align="center" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-size: 18pt;">"Teach us delight in simple things, </span></div><div align="center" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-size: 18pt;">and mirth that has no bitter springs"</span><span style="color: #783f04;">- Rudyard Kipling</span> </div><br />
But, I'm not sure how to make this happen. I'm not sure that I am savoring the gifts that have been bestowed from the cup of God's grace. The best remedy I have found so far is savoring the stillness in the few moments I can each day. I have started trying to steal a minute in each day to take a deep breath and humble myself, create a bit of silence, and give thanks for the gifts I have been given. It seems like an insignificant move, but it eases my concerns of forgetfulness and helps me to savor the tiny joys.<span style="font-size: 16pt;"> </span><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz7xVWTcUcWcdT9tsH9KGB445-gWbjSH-yM6s1albk692KnoC5nN8LEegbpS0Bw3sEbFa3BTBlz1ZiWUXm06w7kBFtKKvqnfsoXWxT2pNcawiv9T8mztjbGYRJGHCVLfrr_1oP4X0rkxAd/s1600/IMG_2197.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz7xVWTcUcWcdT9tsH9KGB445-gWbjSH-yM6s1albk692KnoC5nN8LEegbpS0Bw3sEbFa3BTBlz1ZiWUXm06w7kBFtKKvqnfsoXWxT2pNcawiv9T8mztjbGYRJGHCVLfrr_1oP4X0rkxAd/s320/IMG_2197.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> </div>Morganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07432119547105232079noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4535765160746421967.post-45948910459844246842011-04-30T06:02:00.000-07:002011-04-30T06:02:33.394-07:00The Giving is Better Than the Receiving<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcEALJL7fqp91qo8Vzdc9v0TSm_CudDZN1sLTpon_8F6L2jdDD-OHiJ3Yz3glXvPuEKyUsYNhBipkdOkJDIxLwItL9XK-vwSi-4WxPIsi4EwcwIceH_kACvDNEo0CJVQEWVVVYZIxaT1_Y/s1600/kitchen+table.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="178" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcEALJL7fqp91qo8Vzdc9v0TSm_CudDZN1sLTpon_8F6L2jdDD-OHiJ3Yz3glXvPuEKyUsYNhBipkdOkJDIxLwItL9XK-vwSi-4WxPIsi4EwcwIceH_kACvDNEo0CJVQEWVVVYZIxaT1_Y/s320/kitchen+table.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="color: #38761d;"><br />
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<span style="color: black;">The giving in life, to me, is always better than the receiving. Don't get me wrong, I love a good gift as much as the next girl, especially one that sparkles! I look forward to getting a big hug from The Committee, but, I long to give my affection to all of my boys at any time of the day. There isn't anything that I enjoy more than seeing a smile on a face because I gave something of myself in their honor. </span><span style="color: #38761d;"></span><br />
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<span style="color: black;">Over the winter, we went as a family to celebrate all of the February birthdays in The Committee's family. February is a busy little month for our group. We have several birthdays, one anniversary, and Valentine's all wrapped up into one short, little month. It is a joyful month filled with love. </span><span style="color: #38761d;"></span><br />
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<span style="color: black;">As we were at dinner, we all passed around presents for one another that were growing another year older. My husband had decided he wanted to pass on a family memento from his grandfather to his new brother-in-law. We were thrilled to see the emotion upon opening this gift. It wasn't anything major, and I'm not even sure if there is a great deal of monetary value in the gift. But, our new brother-in-law shares a love of Alabama football with my husband's grandfather. The Committee wanted to recognize this shared trait. It wasn't much, but it was a gift of family.</span><span style="color: #38761d;"></span><br />
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<span style="color: black;">That's the key. The giving doesn't always have to be much. But, the meaning behind the small gift can be great. It is the meaning that wins out in the end. It is the offering that makes all the difference. Imagine a teacher offering a kind, congratulatory word to a student. How often does someone later in life remember this act of love versus the reason it was given? Many times, the kind word can make all the difference for a lifetime. Or, what about the gift of love to someone that has never truly felt loved before? It has the power to change a life and a future. </span><span style="color: #38761d;"></span><br />
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<span style="color: black;">I love the hand me downs that my mother and father have given to me from my grandparents. A few years ago, my uncle needed to do some spring cleaning and he passed on my grandmother and grandfather’s table to me. It was always used in my grandparent's home as their dining table. I can remember going to visit them, and we would always enjoy a family roast beef dinner together. </span><span style="color: #38761d;"></span><br />
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<span style="color: black;">In our house, we use it as our kitchen table. In other words, this is the one place (besides The Committee's leather chair) in our home where someone in our family sits for some reason or another every single day. Some days it's one of my school-age boys sitting there doing their homework or reading a book. Or perhaps, The Wild Hair is home on one of his non-Mother's Day Out days eating his lunch while I unload the dishwasher. One of us is there living out our life just as it was in my grandparent's home. I love this table. It is not at all sturdy enough for four rowdy boys, but it is most certainly sturdy enough to hold so many memories from my childhood as well as my mother and uncle's childhood. It was a gift of convenience for my uncle that has so much meaning each day in my home. </span><span style="color: #38761d;"></span><br />
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<span style="color: black;">There are gifts of many different kinds. All of them varying in substance and monetary value. Some gifts are minor while others are major. The giving isn't always easy, and the receiving isn't always graceful. But, always the gift is a gift and generally the receiving is in the giving. Serving one another is laying down our needs and looking to help another prosper. This is truly the difference in living in greed and giving in grace.</span><span style="color: #38761d;"></span><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="color: #073763;">Acts 20:35 (NKJV)</span></strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #073763;">In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: <span class="woj">‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’</span> </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #38761d;">It’s important to remember that “God prospers us not to raise our standard of living, but our standard of giving.” Jesus says that it is “more blessed to give than to receive.” Isn’t it a blessing to know that you’ve helped out someone in need? Doesn’t it make you feel good? I think it feels a lot better to give to help someone else than when someone gives to us, even though that’s great too.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #38761d;">It’s always rewarding when you help feed a homeless person or someone in poverty who can barely feed themselves. I think it’s rewarding to go on a missions trip to a third world country and just help those in need and pour into their lives. Isn’t that what Jesus modeled for us? To feed the hungry and help those in need? We should follow Jesus’ example of service in everything we do. We need to have an attitude of a servant.</span></div>Morganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07432119547105232079noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4535765160746421967.post-32853293351180929022011-04-29T09:49:00.000-07:002011-04-29T10:29:25.464-07:00Being true to who you are where you are<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0PNlCmliQIbIC0roU7LJM0KDB0UHAOlS8X6ZkOEn6dq9romjVaV-nUnmydWquI2nvQ2YvJ0kqVadQTIZoRGpvD9gDoGDT-E2tV2Xst9UU6rRG-FL-yvqlKYOgR-4Fb7KAMOqyNKKCjp8e/s1600/forest.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0PNlCmliQIbIC0roU7LJM0KDB0UHAOlS8X6ZkOEn6dq9romjVaV-nUnmydWquI2nvQ2YvJ0kqVadQTIZoRGpvD9gDoGDT-E2tV2Xst9UU6rRG-FL-yvqlKYOgR-4Fb7KAMOqyNKKCjp8e/s1600/forest.bmp" /></a></div>It is not the easiest thing in the world. Staying true to who you are called to be can be hard even in the easiest of times. I can't say that I have done a perfect job of it...probably not even once. I know who I am supposed to be in the eyes of my God, my husband, my children, and my parents. But, it gets tricky sometimes. <br />
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Over the last few weeks, I have seen my resolve tested on many occasions. But, I am trying so hard to stand firm not to crumble in the midst of confusion. I am giving it my all to look the discomfort in the eye and persevere. It's what I am aiming for all of my days. I continuously think of this quote<span style="color: #0c343d;">..."We're going to have to let truth scream louder to our souls than the lies that have infected us." — </span><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/quotes/10418.Beth_Moore"><span style="color: #0c343d;">Beth Moore</span></a> <br />
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Each time I want to turn to an unkind word or a hateful thought, I think of the song <span style="color: #990000;">"Who Are You When I'm Not Looking" by Blake Shelton</span>. It's not so much the words of the song that trigger my thoughts, but the title of the song. I think a great deal about whom I choose to be around, and who they are when I'm not looking. Are they true to their word? Are they full of love and kindness? If not, why are they spending a great deal of time in my life if our values are totally different? <br />
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I know I have spoken about The Committee on many occasions, but I have to reflect upon his character for you to understand how good he is. His theory in life is less is more. Meaning if you stay true to your word, there is not a reason to elaborate. He doesn't have the verbal attention deficit disorder that I have. We all truly know that he says what he means and means what he says without a whole lot of fluff to clutter your mind. I'm certain most men are like this. But, not me. It is something that I envy of the opposite gender. I am constantly getting lost in the land mines amongst the spoken word. I know in my heart who he is when I'm not looking and couldn't be more pleased.<br />
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But, on many occasions, I'm not always certain about who I'll be when no one is looking. It's a time when I have to rely on moments of prayer. I have to reign in my doubtful thoughts and know that in following the good, I need to let the bad fall away. The world will continue to turn, I can't change that. But, the imprint that I am leaving can be changed by me and me alone. Walking in the path of Jesus will always lead me to be a better person than I am on my own. I am hoping that I won't have to cause doubt about who I am when others aren't looking.<br />
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<div align="center" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Courier;">“Our love must not be a thing of words and fine talk. It must be a thing of action and sincerity." </span><span></span></div><div align="center" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Courier;">(1 John 3:18).”</span><span style="font-size: 18pt;"> </span></div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/X2flpEbeYug?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #990000;">"Who Are You When I'm Not Looking" by Blake Shelton</span></div>Morganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07432119547105232079noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4535765160746421967.post-37392830138436606142011-04-18T11:32:00.000-07:002011-04-18T11:32:48.683-07:00Had to ShareI read this today, and I had to share it with you. I can totally relate to all of the thoughts listed in this article. Yes, I have four boys, but if you know me, you know that a daughter was in my dreams. During each pregnancy, I was always ready to fire up my monogramming machine to put Mary Catherine on any and everything. I am so richly blessed with my dear boys and will wait for wonderful daughters-in-law one day, instead. <br />
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Enjoy...<br />
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<h1 class="entry-title">Wanting Daughters, Getting Sons</h1><!-- Byline --><address class="byline author vcard">By <a class="url fn" href="http://draft.blogger.com/author/lisa-belkin/" title="See all posts by LISA BELKIN"><span style="color: #004276;">LISA BELKIN</span></a></address><!-- The Content --><div class="entry-content" sizcache="2" sizset="0">When I set out to <a href="http://parenting.blogs.nytimes.com/tag/guest-blog/"><span style="color: #004276;">find guest bloggers</span></a>, my goal was to find parents whose life equations were made of different variables than mine, to reflect the range of ways to be a parent. Enter Allison Tate, who, lives in a house full of boys, and sometimes feels lost amid the testosterone.<br />
Yes, Allison’s life is different — after a career in TV and film development, she is now a stay-at-home mom in central Florida, while I stayed in the work force. She has three children, I stopped at two. But the true difference is that she’s in the middle of it — raising three sons ages 6, 4 and 16 months. My tales of those stages are memories while hers are immediate. I have the benefit of hindsight; she has the edge of the moment.<br />
Listening to her describe her feeling that she is not living the life she’d expected brought a particular pang of recognition. Like Allison, <a href="http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9D05E3D71E3FF936A15754C0A96F958260&sec=health&spon=&pagewanted=1"><span style="color: #004276;">I always assumed</span></a> I would have daughters. And I admire her honesty here in describing how she is still coming to terms with the fact that she will not.<br />
<blockquote sizcache="2" sizset="3">BY ALLISON SLATER TATE<br />
When I conceived my first child, I wanted more than anything for him to be a girl. I whispered at night to my burgeoning belly, “Be a girl,” much to my husband’s horror and dismay. It’s not that I didn’t want a son. It’s just that I wanted to know for sure I would be able to have a daughter, and so having one first would get that worry out of the way.<br />
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<blockquote sizcache="2" sizset="3">I had been planning my whole life to be the mother of a daughter. I had mothered 22 Cabbage Patch Kids, named all my Madame Alexander dolls, and signed imaginary Christmas cards with the names of the children I would someday have.<br />
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<blockquote sizcache="2" sizset="3">My future daughter had a lot of Anne of Green Gables and Ramona Quimby to look forward to, as well as French braids and tutus and Mary Janes and apron dresses. She was going to watch “Felicity” marathons with me and ogle the new J. Crew catalog and have annual viewings of “It’s a Wonderful Life” with me under a blanket with hot chocolate and lots of whipped cream. She was going to be, I thought, my best friend. You know, until she reached her teenage years and all. But that would take a loooong time, and then she would come back to me and we could plan a wedding together and I could watch her fall in love and have babies of her own.<br />
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<blockquote sizcache="2" sizset="3">My worst nightmare, back then, was that I would end up being a Mom of Boys, one of those women with a “practical” haircut and flat shoes who spent her afternoons at the baseball field and washed a lot of sweaty athletic clothes. A Mom of Boys bought a lot of boring clothes for her children — polo shirts and khaki shorts and Nike trainers. She was looked on with pity by the Moms of Girls, who color-coordinated with their daughters and took them on trips to the American Girl store and “The Nutcracker” and who had princess birthdays and tea parties with their mommy friends.<br />
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<blockquote sizcache="2" sizset="3">As you have probably guessed, my first child defied me, as he continues to do to this day, and was, indeed, a boy. And I loved him with all my heart. But when I conceived my second child unexpectedly, I thought for sure it was fate. I wasn’t yet ready for another, so surely this one would be a girl. …<br />
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<blockquote sizcache="2" sizset="3">Nope, another boy. A sweetheart of a boy. A really, really good little guy. Then we had our third child, our last child, a child I thought for sure would be a little tomboy sister and … all of a sudden, here I am: Mom of Boys.<br />
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<blockquote sizcache="2" sizset="3">I now see it as a challenge to redefine this whole Mom of Boys thing. I’m not giving up my ribbon flip-flops and I am not giving up my Vera Bradley diaper bag. I still wear lip gloss and I do not in any way have a practical haircut. I can play Star Wars and Transformers, but I draw the line at Pokémon — I don’t do anime.<br />
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<blockquote sizcache="2" sizset="3">I trudge out to the soccer fields, and root for teams where the girls are the stars, if only because they are heads taller than the boys. I drool over their cute little pink Pumas and make sure my own boys have the cutest soccer water bottles and cute haircuts and cute backpacks. And I am making new literary lists full of Henry Huggins and “Superfudge” and the Hardy Boys and Magic Tree Houses. I’m still going to read them “Anne of Green Gables,” because they need to know about strong female characters (like their mother). They are still going to have to watch “It’s a Wonderful Life” with me so they can see what a wonderful character George Bailey is. I want sons like George Bailey — sons who make good, close friendships and who can dream big dreams and who fall in love.<br />
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<blockquote sizcache="2" sizset="3">As I raise my children, I am forever conscious that I am raising little men. I want them to be men who take responsibility, who aren’t afraid of commitments and who thrill to the thought of a challenge or an adventure. I want them to be both spontaneous and thorough. I want them to be able to cry and show emotion. I want them to love and be loved.<br />
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<blockquote sizcache="2" sizset="3">They’re all the same wishes I would have had for daughters, when it comes down to it.<br />
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<blockquote sizcache="2" sizset="3">The clothes just aren’t quite as cute.</blockquote></div>Morganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07432119547105232079noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4535765160746421967.post-51901670405331126322011-04-18T08:00:00.000-07:002011-04-18T08:00:04.448-07:00A True Friend<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuhLQR9Tq9kbbLwSPgG1aYqcxzHlBPnlQLZRNgZCF2eOlpTUPgw7CGAxM8uE1vzHhWFp5AfcQaJ_N2b9ZuJHsodfIN7ciS4-FfZdewtkDDdZzI6R5i1T9Pj8wtmzrcAv1drTHv4WEdc-KM/s1600/birds.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="195" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuhLQR9Tq9kbbLwSPgG1aYqcxzHlBPnlQLZRNgZCF2eOlpTUPgw7CGAxM8uE1vzHhWFp5AfcQaJ_N2b9ZuJHsodfIN7ciS4-FfZdewtkDDdZzI6R5i1T9Pj8wtmzrcAv1drTHv4WEdc-KM/s200/birds.bmp" width="200" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Georgia;">But oh! the blessing it is to have a friend to whom one can speak fearlessly on any subject; with whom one's deepest as well as one's most foolish thoughts come out simply and safely. Oh, the comfort - the inexpressible comfort of feeling safe with a person - having neither to weigh thoughts nor measure words, but pouring them all right out, just as they are, chaff and grain together; certain that a faithful hand will take and sift them, keep what is worth keeping, and then with the breath of kindness blow the rest away. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Georgia;">~Dinah Craik, <i>A Life for a Life</i>, 1859</span></div><br />
It was the first day of eight grade. It was a first step into a new middle school. It was a scary morning. It was a venture from years of a comfortable private school to an unknown land, a new public school. It started with stepping up onto a bus. <br />
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She was in the back. This had always been her ride to school. She knew all the people. She never thought to be scared. She shouted from the back of the bus to the new girl, "My mama told me to tell you hi!" And then she grinned really big and sat down.<br />
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She was my future best friend, and I was mortified and shocked. I hadn't ever really lived out of my bubble before. I had never been forced to meet new friends. I was shy and somewhat skittish to new people. But, none of that mattered to her. She just wanted to say hi in her own way.<!-- END QUOTES --><br />
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To this day, that's how she rolls. She always says hi (and everything else) in her own way with a big old grin. She's one of the most comfortable things in the world to me. She knows all about me, my family, and my idiosyncrasies. There' never really a reason to explain my thoughts to her, as she already knows. I don't have to apologize for geeking out on her in a middle-school kind of way, as she was right there with me. <br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">You can always tell a real friend: </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">when you've made a fool of yourself, </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">he doesn't feel you've done a permanent job. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><span style="color: #0c343d;">~Laurence J. Peter</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><span style="color: #0c343d;"> </span></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">A best friend is cheaper than therapy.</span> </span></div><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">It is called true friendship and it makes the world go round. It soothes the heart. It eases an insecure spirit. It's the old oak tree in the back of the yard that offers shade on a sunny day. You don't have to question the love or doubt the care. You know it will be there in times of sorrow and sadness. You don't have to call every day to know that she's there for you, unless you just need a new giggle. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Our friendship makes me smile as I think of an inside joke or hear someone say something familiar to our kinship. It is like a piece of old silver that is cherished and placed on the nicest shelf for display and gentle care. It is a rite of passage. I wish for it every day for each of my boys. The Committe has a friend just like mine. When our boys meet someone with potential, I tell him how maybe this might be One-of-a-Kind's friend forever. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">In the quiet of night, when you think of all that might be wrong in your life, knowing that you have someone that knows all of your secrets and loves you tremendously, makes looking for the early morning light a little bit sweeter. New friends are great, but that aged old friend might be one of the nicest prizes you get in your life.</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">The best kind of friend is the one </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">you could sit on a porch with, </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">never saying a word, </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">and walk away feeling like that was </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">the best conversation you've had. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">~Author Unknown</span> <br />
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</div></div>Morganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07432119547105232079noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4535765160746421967.post-61159528012977675852011-04-11T08:50:00.000-07:002011-04-11T08:50:51.327-07:00Lent Promises<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoyBMtrjAQEf_TiDM2lSaZFkl4Ur0_E-2NvTTpwl6SH8Q68wBr0rd7OIbE-6kDmzZAJa8T4kpDVrQn-pBnDiJdWLJSsYNPjQoVQ7c-Ymn6VM_VOnI4rve4Q9BKnJIj27X9L5wvwjUGVtQC/s1600/giving+in.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoyBMtrjAQEf_TiDM2lSaZFkl4Ur0_E-2NvTTpwl6SH8Q68wBr0rd7OIbE-6kDmzZAJa8T4kpDVrQn-pBnDiJdWLJSsYNPjQoVQ7c-Ymn6VM_VOnI4rve4Q9BKnJIj27X9L5wvwjUGVtQC/s1600/giving+in.jpg" /></a></div>Each year, we all look at the calendar and see the date for Easter. Then, we might glance at the forty days prior to this most special day and wonder about what can be given up this year. Well, I really wasn't sure I wanted to give up anything this year. I wasn't having these feelings because of angst toward the Church. No. The Committee and I gave up carbs, soda, and any other hateful (yet, extremely tempting) food known to man at the beginning of 2011. So, I really wasn't sure what else to drop. In years past, I've tried shedding harsh words, gossip, chocolate, etc. Usually I give out somehwere around day 25. <br />
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<div align="center"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">"Show me, don't tell me."</span></div><br />
So this year, I decided to give in rather than give up. I decided to "give in" to the mothering around here. I know you are thinking that I mother every single day, and I do. But, I also tend to run from the mother-ish activities, most of the time. Want to play on the floor? Check with your brother. Want to read a book? Maybe tomorrow night. Need to go to the theater and see a new movie? Let's call your grandmother. Having four boys and a close grandma at hand has provided constant playmates around the clock and generally lets me off the hook. So, during these 40 days, I'm trying to give in to the acts that make up my job description.<br />
<br />
<div align="center"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">"Live life and live it good."</span> </div><br />
I know it sounds easy. But, let me tell you it isn't always easy at all. It's easier to carry on with my other chores than giving up marking things of the "list" of life. But, it is also easier to slow down my life and take the moments to love on those around me. The sweet moments on the floor having match box cars run up and down my legs won't last very long. One day, these boys will be driving away from my house in their own cars, and all I'll have are the memories from yesterday. So, "giving in" isn't nearly as easy as "giving up" has been in the past. But, it is proving to be much more memorable!Morganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07432119547105232079noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4535765160746421967.post-44476411742304220812011-04-07T21:41:00.000-07:002011-04-07T21:41:00.489-07:00Here I Am!I'm gearing up for a guest post at <a href="http://www.incourage.me/">{in}courage.me</a> at the end of the month. So, I had a little housekeeping to do. The first box that needed to be checked off...getting a decent photo of me. So, here I am! My dear, dear friend Shannon took a quick pic of me at her house at the very last minute. She is a precious jewel to me. I'll keep you posted on the date that my post will debut over @ {in}courage!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguBsxRlJQnLQBIGK5y3d0cNPGhprx422Eu_bdWSeiQ6UsghB2R2KKTajo7DS-nXgMQ1tRa-I6vhPyI6qQXLSbuuoqH3m1Mk5xeMY9gtdJ8M2myxW1yFOW7dcto4XhK3gp305XzSqhOTFku/s1600/morgan.headshot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguBsxRlJQnLQBIGK5y3d0cNPGhprx422Eu_bdWSeiQ6UsghB2R2KKTajo7DS-nXgMQ1tRa-I6vhPyI6qQXLSbuuoqH3m1Mk5xeMY9gtdJ8M2myxW1yFOW7dcto4XhK3gp305XzSqhOTFku/s320/morgan.headshot.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><div align="center"></div>Morganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07432119547105232079noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4535765160746421967.post-51643926853697064132011-04-06T18:08:00.000-07:002011-04-06T18:08:24.834-07:00Ode to Crabgrass<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidyojduRNUM1RIsb2r2wM9zkWnzNhF_tCwJBewiGwc49Gg8LUIGZjID8bvQMDPSFZcsYEVBqNSPuki6T1ijsLtmYsdlJIqXgRZfJ3HeKxt3eAjpxwcTKpOlwo3sI7LGKkOKmEySCznc3Ui/s1600/crabgrass.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidyojduRNUM1RIsb2r2wM9zkWnzNhF_tCwJBewiGwc49Gg8LUIGZjID8bvQMDPSFZcsYEVBqNSPuki6T1ijsLtmYsdlJIqXgRZfJ3HeKxt3eAjpxwcTKpOlwo3sI7LGKkOKmEySCznc3Ui/s320/crabgrass.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Well, it is that time of year again. When we chose this house to purchase, one of the things that I instantly loved was the established flower beds. I don't have the greenest thumb, but I do love the luscious hydrangeas that are planted outside my bedroom window. I enjoy clipping the fresh flowers from the other shrubs throughout the entire summer season. </div><br />
However, I absolutely detest the crabgrass that grows deep within the dirt of these beds. I spend hours on my hands and knees each month digging for the creepy weed growing within the earth. While I'm totally destroying any hopes of having overly feminine hands, I am thinking very hateful words. <br />
<br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Each time our beds need weeding, I draw many similarities between the crabgrass and real life. I know it seems like a stretch, but this is what I have come up with. At some point in a life turned awry, a person makes a conscious effort to accept the bad. They begin to live solely for the bad and no longer fight to be the better person. Some might say the bad is the devil working within each one of us, and perhaps I believe this too. I'm not sure; I go back and forth. But, none the less, the bad gets into our life. </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="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMdt3NasF60FCOTrFivlOiaOPdSLPB42VcBvwfxbSLT-BHnDbHO0u_rEN_0-ElesU0kDa-a_CcicyG8OLHEw_7cjDwjGvlm2up0BGMNwozyoBzUTEKxujjwB81R5zo5o4XIUXJAtt_gCB-/s1600/hydrangea.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMdt3NasF60FCOTrFivlOiaOPdSLPB42VcBvwfxbSLT-BHnDbHO0u_rEN_0-ElesU0kDa-a_CcicyG8OLHEw_7cjDwjGvlm2up0BGMNwozyoBzUTEKxujjwB81R5zo5o4XIUXJAtt_gCB-/s320/hydrangea.bmp" width="320" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Like the crabgrass, the bad lives down deep in a dark place. If you have been out weeding too, you know that the crabgrass that grows in the depths of the soil is colorless. It is no longer green and somewhat healthy looking. Instead it is almost white and disturbing. It makes you wonder how it is living without the sun. </div><br />
Isn't what the bad is like? Isn't it growing down deep? One might try to hide the traces of the bad to the exposed eye. Maybe the bad is drugs, alcohol, infidelity, or any other game-changer. From a distance it might not be noticeable to those strolling along. At some point, someone walking by is going to get a closer glimpse of the crabgrass. Small clues will be seen and a curious eye will certainly delve deeper into the soil to see what is happening.<br />
<br />
<div class="block-indent" style="text-align: center;"><div class="line-group" id="p20028013.01-1"><span style="color: #0c343d;">"Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper,<br />
<span class="indent"></span>but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy."</span></div></div><div class="reference" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0c343d;">Proverbs 28:13</span></div><br />
Hopefully the weed can be extracted through work or the possibility of a total do-over. That really is left up the person and their true will. Just like in my garden, the crabgrass can be kept at bay with a little perseverance and hard work. As I have learned, it's never easy to be rid of all of the troublesome weed, but over time, it can be cleaned out and washed anew. Morganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07432119547105232079noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4535765160746421967.post-63750414316663649182011-03-17T22:20:00.000-07:002011-03-17T22:20:03.570-07:00It Doesn't Come to Me...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNNbxB5Cf0d24cyT2T3M3GKRF4yyUUmOhvFBxs-P0zYUnHEeCf9yyfBnzYyJZ-Ov-V4XARm55o3UXO04a2cyE0Xn1Q4PVLZ8cULbN1QnP86lJTuGs0CCoaGWwZHAbEiq8RCnFXQ2oHAS3A/s1600/hope.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNNbxB5Cf0d24cyT2T3M3GKRF4yyUUmOhvFBxs-P0zYUnHEeCf9yyfBnzYyJZ-Ov-V4XARm55o3UXO04a2cyE0Xn1Q4PVLZ8cULbN1QnP86lJTuGs0CCoaGWwZHAbEiq8RCnFXQ2oHAS3A/s400/hope.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: right;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: right;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: right;"><span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">When the world says, "Give up,"<br />
Hope whispers, "Try it one more time."<br />
~Author Unknown</span><br />
For the past week, every time I sit down to write words about my thoughts, my mind goes to Japan. I think of all of the devastation that the people of that vibrant country are facing every day. I can't imagine the despair. I pray for hope for all the men, women, and children throughout the land of Japan. I'm not sure what else to write...the words just don't seem to come to me. My heart is full of sadness. <br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; color: black; overflow: hidden; text-align: right; text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">Therefore we do not lose heart.<br />
Though outwardly we are wasting away,<br />
yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.<br />
For our light and momentary troubles<br />
are achieving for us an eternal glory<br />
that far outweighs them all.<br />
So we fix our eyes not on what is seen,<br />
but on what is unseen.<br />
For what is seen is temporary,<br />
but what is unseen is eternal.<br />
-- 2 Corinthians 4:16-18</span></div></div>Morganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07432119547105232079noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4535765160746421967.post-26248987541642247802011-03-09T09:15:00.000-08:002011-03-09T09:21:31.757-08:00Struggling to do all of the Juggling<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/AVvXsEjqp0MiJIp5mDLmymu313pDewewCw8OXo_x8TQt-LtkqIF-cPeri0YoumtGr8vi3AFMLLUMPmTRGc4xSZcwj8xNsuBHYvuvKM-do-FkX1QICj3MXL-2KItjKeqWZpfLOxVDp5jJeQMBLGp3/s1600/simplify4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqp0MiJIp5mDLmymu313pDewewCw8OXo_x8TQt-LtkqIF-cPeri0YoumtGr8vi3AFMLLUMPmTRGc4xSZcwj8xNsuBHYvuvKM-do-FkX1QICj3MXL-2KItjKeqWZpfLOxVDp5jJeQMBLGp3/s320/simplify4.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Last night, I read this latest blog from Clover Lane...<a href="http://memoriesoncloverlane.blogspot.com/2011/03/questions-to-ask-ourselves.html">Questions to Ask Ourselves</a>. The perspective focuses on looking for the simplicity in life and asking ourselves the hard questions of what really matters and sloughing off the things that don't matter. This phrase struck me to my core...struggling with the juggling.</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;">How many times as mothers, or people for that matter, in this crazy, hectic world do we struggle to be a master juggler? So many times throughout a day, I switch roles in order to fulfill the needs of all of those around me. It gets stressful, overwhelming, and hard. But, there is no one that tells me that I have to do all of the things that I do. I do it to myself. I put the stress upon myself, and I have never been a happier person. </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;">After reading the blog post last night over at Clover Lane, I really sat and thought about my personal journey...you know, where I am and how I got here. Let me share a bit with you. </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="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRAjAOSMUg055uAsNEMQJHnp-1zWQpMLqtqh5kasOw2WHQIfbmWd9Bqu2JosGQ3fpm7D6GRUIcM08nVDNF2ic3hs_VeY75Cj5K6pwtF9nv5XojLYgz0pVe4bpFk_VjDNdaB5q7EVOb1-B8/s1600/simplify2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRAjAOSMUg055uAsNEMQJHnp-1zWQpMLqtqh5kasOw2WHQIfbmWd9Bqu2JosGQ3fpm7D6GRUIcM08nVDNF2ic3hs_VeY75Cj5K6pwtF9nv5XojLYgz0pVe4bpFk_VjDNdaB5q7EVOb1-B8/s320/simplify2.png" width="320" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">When we were living in Memphis, I was a worker bee. I thought that I could do it all. I imagined I could have a family and a career and get it all done and please everyone. As our family grew, I quickly realized that I could not meet all the deadlines and definitely couldn't please all of the people all of the time. So, I tried stepping back from parenting for a bit to focus on my job of teaching the students in my classroom. Then, I would realize that the little people in my home were struggling, so I would try to step back from the job and focus upon my parenting. It was so very hard to juggle the two. </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;">So, after some time, I stepped out of teaching. I decided to try my hand at solely parenting. It was a very hard step to take. I had some major identity issues for a while. Then, The Committee took a job out of Memphis and we moved to a rural area outside of Nashville. After analyzing where we were as a couple and family, we decided to lay down some parameters of our roles in our world. The Committee would step out to work every day doing the best he could in that arena, and I would commit my all to running our home and raising our children. </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; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">Live simply. Love generously. </span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">Care deeply. Speak kindly. </span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">Leave the rest to God. </span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">~ Ronald Reagan</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: left;">I felt so 1950's-ish establishing these rules in my head and in my home. I felt a little like Mrs. Cleaver, yet so not her because I am in no way organized. I have given it my all, and I have truly never been happier in my life. I know what my job is each day. I only have to please my family and trust that I'm doing exactly what I am supposed to do. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: left;">I am telling you this, because I want to emphasize that this was a very intentional decision by The Committee and me. It didn't just occur one day. We had "the talk" and decided that this is what was best for us. We truly work together to share in the progress for our family. It wasn't always an easy journey to get to this place. We struggled along the way a great deal. We have hit some bumpy patches along our way, for sure. I was always torn about my role in our family and in this world. But, now I am at great peace about my role. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: left;">We are very blessed to have been able to make this choice. We have been given blessings in all forms to allow us this peace. Please don't get me wrong and think that we live a life of luxury at all times. There are many times that we go without in our little world. There are many trade-offs in our life. We haven't taken a family trip in over 3 years, and my children have not ever seen the beach. But, they are picked up everyday in carpool by their mama. We don't have the latest and greatest toys. But, they are able to run wild in a rural area each afternoon living in a world of make-believe. We live paycheck to paycheck, being as frugal as possible, and we are all the better for it. We don't paint the town red very often. However, we fling open our doors, invite friends over every chance we get, and have an old-fashioned bonfire and cook-out. These are all moments we won't forget and have been intentionally chosen by my husband and me as parents. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">If you are just tuning in, let me give you the CliffNotes version of this post...we have chosen to be intentional in living our life. We wanted to simplify everything to make a better world for our family. We want to live simply, and our little group has never been happier in our life. We give many thanks for our blessings and pray that we will continue to do what is right for our family and all of those that have been graciously placed in our world. </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg-oq_0qRlPeTpKp4qdoHDKFMN5hbRQIBQSL3lAW47agl_Sr2MWqOaMrYJYNGGw3o7B2IiZtmj6INneotSzmFpzbhYZ-5VCnpghhJbPov8S7L43G7wqhpFlLJNxpd_weIWs3LeJo5Mj3C4/s1600/simplify+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg-oq_0qRlPeTpKp4qdoHDKFMN5hbRQIBQSL3lAW47agl_Sr2MWqOaMrYJYNGGw3o7B2IiZtmj6INneotSzmFpzbhYZ-5VCnpghhJbPov8S7L43G7wqhpFlLJNxpd_weIWs3LeJo5Mj3C4/s1600/simplify+3.jpg" /></a></div><br />
</div>Morganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07432119547105232079noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4535765160746421967.post-69723211570411898032011-03-08T13:15:00.000-08:002011-03-08T13:15:12.214-08:00I Believe in Love<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPX8p7-lIOczByFwp20KkLgLJnTjBq0YSFmUQ0smH7k0yp6XMMIjcgpwvqUyZlCY_qslO36hX7EtTQREQhFtYXRnJigE63QfXF4A2_CKm8eLPjLlxYhiv3PbJDC0AsvXmRWLNDt59jSWmM/s1600/heart+love.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPX8p7-lIOczByFwp20KkLgLJnTjBq0YSFmUQ0smH7k0yp6XMMIjcgpwvqUyZlCY_qslO36hX7EtTQREQhFtYXRnJigE63QfXF4A2_CKm8eLPjLlxYhiv3PbJDC0AsvXmRWLNDt59jSWmM/s1600/heart+love.jpg" /></a></div><em>Caution...Proceed at your own risk.</em> These are random thoughts today that don't follow any sort of pattern from my life. Just thinking today...maybe I should find a new project around the house before I do the random thoughts thing again. :)<br />
<br />
There are several songs all about believing in love. I've heard them. I like them all. Because, I do, I believe in love. I believe in the idea of cupid, beautiful flowers behind a handsome man's back, rich chocolates in a heart-shaped box, and the sweet words you can only find written by hand in a mushy card. I believe in it all.<br />
<br />
But, at some point, life moves on from there. Our worlds can't always be a contemporary romance novels. Or, could they? No. Eventually, we get to a place where love is real and sometimes hard. This love I'm writing about isn't only between a man and a woman. It is everywhere. It is between family members. It is found amongst friends. It grows in and out of life several times over. If it is true, it is sometimes strong, sometimes weak, usually emotional, and always dear.<br />
<br />
In this love, there is a give and take. A point when each of the players has to learn to act upon the love without expecting to be left hanging out to dry all alone. The recipe calls for a bit of trust, with a dash of abandon, and sprinkle of a caring heart. When two healthy individuals partake in this recipe, the comfort of love can be so rewarding. However, there are times when the love grows among those that are not all about the giving.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="messageBody"><span style="color: #7f6000;">Our world is like a boomerang. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="messageBody"><span style="color: #7f6000;">If we throw anger, anger comes back; </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="messageBody"><span style="color: #7f6000;">if we throw love, love comes back. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="messageBody"><span style="color: #7f6000;">If we throw negativity, negativity comes back; </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="messageBody"><span style="color: #7f6000;">if we throw positivity, positivity comes back.</span></span></div><br />
I read an article recently that spent a great deal of time discussing the narcissistic personality. It seems as though pop-culture has been over-exposed to one such persona with a wee bit of tiger blood on his brain. I hate to spend more time on him, but at some point we have to realize that Charlie Sheen is a narcissist. He's concerned only of himself. He has total disregard for his children, family members, or anyone else in his personal sphere. He only cares about his plight, no one else's. That's about all I can say about that. But, these types of narcissistic personalities are not found only within the confines of pop-culture. They are all around us.<br />
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So, let me say that I'm pretty sure that love involved with a narcissist has the potential to be overly disappointing. Putting the love out there without having it returned might just be off-putting and eventually heartbreaking. Going through the motions of the natural give and take of a relationship without ever being given the chance of having it given back naturally can certainly be numbing after a while. After a singularly centered personality spends all of your time focused on the one they love (which is not you), what are your options? How are we to move on to a healthier partnership with this other person? I'm not really sure. I'm not really certain that you can ever move on to that healthier place.<br />
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I believe in love, but I don't always believe in forcing yourself to re-live pain, disappointment, or being let down time and again. I think at some point, if we can't get to a place of a natural give and take, back and forth, maybe it's time to cut the strings. Move on. Game over in that arena.<br />
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The narcissistic personality has to be able to overcome the self-centeredness to sacrifice for others. He or she will need to day-in, day-out give to another without going back to the old ways of thinking only of him or herself. Without the sacrifice, there really isn't love. Without passing the ball, you don't have a good basketball game. So, how can we exist in this unhelathy relationship? And to be totally honest, that's not the love that I believe in. I'm not totally sure that that is really love at all. It's more of just an arrangement. <br />
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So, there you have it. That's where my thoughts went, when I heard the Dixie Chicks song, "I Believe in Love." I really do believe in it if it is true and real. Otherwise, I'm not a believer. Hope you have some love in your world today!Morganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07432119547105232079noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4535765160746421967.post-38163087800578666182011-03-07T18:46:00.000-08:002011-03-07T18:46:39.711-08:00All the Words I Need<div style="text-align: center;"><div align="left"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-cH64iJpLP_9QF246rx1cy0h0Q87WOL2i-WOd2PuIlOeSahstNvYEw_utDgRKcrQ-GVinvQYQMAy2xKJXQ8-yhXpNT2ne-hxqqHF4A_iA2fqECz8rVUOg5biYnz-tilriSoa912seuVru/s1600/words.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="255" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-cH64iJpLP_9QF246rx1cy0h0Q87WOL2i-WOd2PuIlOeSahstNvYEw_utDgRKcrQ-GVinvQYQMAy2xKJXQ8-yhXpNT2ne-hxqqHF4A_iA2fqECz8rVUOg5biYnz-tilriSoa912seuVru/s320/words.bmp" width="320" /></a></div><span class="messageBody"><span style="color: #351c75;"><span style="color: black;">Okay, I am sharing with you all the words of direction that I need (as of today) to live my life in a way that is pleasing. <strong><em>I am not trying to be self-righteous in offering these words.</em></strong> I am sharing them more to hold me accountable to what is good. I sometimes read back over my posts as I would an entry into a personal journal. When I have moved astray on my path, perhaps these words will direct me back to my core.</span> </span></span></div><div align="left"><br />
</div><div align="left"><span style="color: black;">The first set are several verses that clearly state to me my pre-established goal for each and every day. These words are very similar to my interpretation of </span><a href="http://rootsbelowskyabove.blogspot.com/2010/08/living-above-line.html"><span style="color: #073763;">living above the line</span></a><span style="color: black;">.</span></div><div align="left"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black;">Romans 12: 9-21 ~ </span><span style="color: #134f5c;"><span style="color: #0c343d;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">9 </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. </span></span><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">10 </span></span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Be devoted to one another in </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">love. Honor one another above yourselves. </span></span></span><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: xx-small;">11 </span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">fervor, serving the Lord. 12 Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. </span></span></span><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: xx-small;">13 </span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Share with </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality. </span></span></span><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">14 </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. </span></span><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">15 </span></span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Rejoice with those who rejoice; </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">mourn with those who mourn. </span></span></span><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: xx-small;">16 </span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">willing to associate with people of low position. Do not think you are superior.</span></span></span></span><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"></span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #0c343d; font-size: small;">Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. </span></span></span></span><span style="color: #351c75;"></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0c343d;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">17 </span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">“It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">says the Lord. </span></span></span><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: xx-small;">20 </span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">On the contrary:</span></span></span><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">21 </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good</span>.</span></span><b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: xx-small;"> </span></span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0c343d;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">“<span style="font-size: small;">If your enemy is hungry, feed him; </span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: small;">if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: small;">In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.” </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0c343d;"></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0c343d;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">18 </span></span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">If it </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. </span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: xx-small;">19 </span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Do not take revenge, my </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="color: #0c343d;">dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written:</span> </span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div align="left" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="messageBody" style="color: black;">Then there are these words that speak to my more playful and adventurous nature.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="messageBody" style="color: #0c343d; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">“Live with intention. Walk to the edge. Listen hard. Practice wellness. Play with abandon. Laugh. Choose with no regret. Appreciate your friends. Continue to learn. Do what you love. Live as if this is all there is.”</span></div></div><span style="color: black;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="messageBody"></span><span style="color: black;"> If I could combine all of these directives, how could I go wrong each day? Can I stay accountable to these words all of the time? I know me, and I know I certainly cannot. But, I can try. I can give it my all each day hoping to lay my head upon my pillow each night with a happy heart and clear mind. </span><br />
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What are some of the words that you are living by these days??Morganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07432119547105232079noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4535765160746421967.post-77034791136817964032011-03-02T07:50:00.000-08:002011-03-02T07:50:59.365-08:00A Season of Joy<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk9_WNq9kQHGOQIWs1U2KKZdUBvm4zbN5nN0lfwwWZcc1-yquvVwE9TUu0VWp6ofW_L0YMNnJ6d-oo5m33iw76X4Ejl0OkcGddSJGcSpP0rM2CaISBhMRe4QnCj2g2ixuzvhiKt9rsPBQp/s1600/swing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="259" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk9_WNq9kQHGOQIWs1U2KKZdUBvm4zbN5nN0lfwwWZcc1-yquvVwE9TUu0VWp6ofW_L0YMNnJ6d-oo5m33iw76X4Ejl0OkcGddSJGcSpP0rM2CaISBhMRe4QnCj2g2ixuzvhiKt9rsPBQp/s320/swing.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">There are many seasons of our lives. I find a joyful season one of the most enjoyable. That's a no-brainer. Who doesn't love a delicious summer wedding? Or a new baby born to a family full of love? When I think of joy, I think of moments like these.</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;">But, there are also times in our lives when everything is just okay. Nothing seems askew. It is easy to see the joy in the big moments. The hard part, is taking the time to see the joy in the everday events all around us. I guess we have to realize that the big moments are not the only moments filled with joy. As I look around at the people I love here in my house and those out of my house yet near and dear to my heart, I realize that the peace and tranquility I feel is definitely a moment of joy. We are all happy, healthy, and peaceful. Isn't that a season for joy?</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; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Courier New;">The happiest heart that ever beat </span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Courier New;">Was in some quiet breast </span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #274e13; font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">That found the common daylight sweet, </span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #274e13; font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">And left to Heaven the rest.<br />
~John V. Cheney</span> </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;">With peaks and valleys all around us, we are keeping our eyes trained for the peaks of momentous occasions. Contentment begins with finding the joy in the simplicity of day to day life..feeling the moments of calm and loving what you have right now. I can always hope for peace or prosperity in my life, but if I'm longing for something else entirely, I'm missing out on the blessings I have been given right now. There is a bit of sorrow in that. There is a bit of remorse for not seeing that the little moments are most definitely the most joyful ones... a kind word from a neighbor, a loving hug from a friend, a look of longing from a spouse, or a moment of quiet with a child. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">This moment we have right now is truly all that matters. So many have been denied this moment through death, when we have been given this gift. It isn't as if I relish these moments all of the time. I am not boastful in saying that I see the joy in the simplicity of life. I might be the biggest peak-seeker of all. I love a big moment. I love to live for what is to come. However, I am missing what is right here, right now. Look around...joy is all around us in the simple, easy things. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">Simplicity, clarity, singleness: </span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">these are the attributes that give our lives </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">power, vividness, and joy.</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #990000;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">~Richard Halloway<br />
</span></span></div>Morganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07432119547105232079noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4535765160746421967.post-50739819778573056832011-03-01T16:40:00.000-08:002011-03-01T16:44:38.615-08:00He is Changing<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMm1WK62zbJ6SCXKQoyZHp7Mdlf04DSkf4yxAqjcJEMxczPpO7OXKp91vVaRp3fMXFyUf8UCiAtZ1CRCZxMSYtrJhv19ckiL-z95mpuNGm_KFkYyAKMv8lpvFmAQVsqOrlxyT6Mu1RSzYS/s1600/boy+sil.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMm1WK62zbJ6SCXKQoyZHp7Mdlf04DSkf4yxAqjcJEMxczPpO7OXKp91vVaRp3fMXFyUf8UCiAtZ1CRCZxMSYtrJhv19ckiL-z95mpuNGm_KFkYyAKMv8lpvFmAQVsqOrlxyT6Mu1RSzYS/s1600/boy+sil.jpg" /></a></div>One-of-a-Kind is eight years old. He's changing a little bit each day. He is playing peek-a-boo with growing older. I still think of him as my baby. But, he isn't, really. He's my oldest and there are three right behind him. As I walked with him today, I noticed his legs are so much longer than they looked in the fall. His teeth are straighter thanks to an upper set of braces that have been put on and are about to be taken off. <em>He is winning the game of peek-a-boo, and I haven't even noticed.</em> <br />
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It seems overwhelming to me to realize this. It seems sad to me that some of the moments that we had when he was younger, will never be had by us again. Sure, I can have them with my other sons. But, this exclusivity with my first born has expired. Do you hear that? Silence... <strong>my heart and my breath just stood still!</strong><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #134f5c;">Summers going fast<br />
Nights growing colder<br />
Children growing up<br />
Old friends growing older<br />
<br />
Freeze this moment a little bit longer<br />
Make each sensation a little bit stronger<br />
<i>- - - Rush "Time Stand Still"</i></span></div><br />
Today, he came home sick. So, we had the rare experience of having an afternoon together. I needed some things from the grocery. We went together. As we were pulling into our parking space, he decided to ask me about growing up in a home of divorced parents. We've never really talked about this. Of course he knows my parents are not married anymore, but he's never let me know he had questions. He asked, "Was it scary, Mom?" "Who did you get to live with?" I was frozen. I didn't know that he thought about these things. I knew he had it in him. <em>I just wasn't ready for the grown-up-ness</em>. <br />
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When I lump all the boys together, I don't notice the changing and the grown-up-ness in One-of-a-Kind. But, when he stands alone, I can tell the seasons are melding from one to another. I am able to realize that time is not standing still, but sprinting past me. My childhood and growing older was not scary at all, "But yes. You know what, son? This part is the scary stuff." <br />
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Letting him be and grow older is what scares me. I pray that all will be taken care of, and I trust that he will grow from a boy full of love to a man filled with character. If only I could know for sure. I guess that takes all of the mystery out of this thing called life, though. So, trust and prayer are the only things I can hold on to in these uncertain times. <span style="color: #134f5c;">Freeze this moment a little bit longer...Make each sensation a little bit stronger</span>...Morganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07432119547105232079noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4535765160746421967.post-71715628537099218872011-02-22T07:19:00.000-08:002011-02-22T07:20:38.092-08:00Playing Hookie<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUF4FZ_qBwBzeBvLzylb-lNCqwRxZ407J0Edxs03ey1s7puyVjxOC6YboR809pHqsKbPCDP2aRGXwf_4A8CKGi_OL1cTo-0Y58yjTVYqhn-5LxBgZ04GzYXi8KH5an-Fv2a2bXOsXjhskw/s1600/rest.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="146" j6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUF4FZ_qBwBzeBvLzylb-lNCqwRxZ407J0Edxs03ey1s7puyVjxOC6YboR809pHqsKbPCDP2aRGXwf_4A8CKGi_OL1cTo-0Y58yjTVYqhn-5LxBgZ04GzYXi8KH5an-Fv2a2bXOsXjhskw/s200/rest.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>Some days, we just need a break. At our house, today is that day. Mama needs to just sit still and let the world spin without any input from me. So, today is a day of hookie. A day when pajamas may not ever change into a nice pair of pants and top for errand running. The shoes of choice will be slippers. The Curlee Hairs that are home will definitely roll around with rat's nests. Not much is expected except for a day of rest. <br />
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I had big plans today. Lots of chores to be done around town. A Bible study to attend. A mother's day out where I should have dropped off two little tots. But, not today. The agenda has changed. Today is a day of ease and comfort. All the rest can wait until tomorrow. Hope you can fit in some rest for your soul soon, too!<br />
<strong></strong><span style="color: #134f5c;"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #134f5c;">Sometimes the most important thing in a whole day is </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #134f5c;">the rest we take between two deep breaths, </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #134f5c;">or the turning inwards in prayer for five short minutes. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #134f5c;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #134f5c;">~</span><strong><span style="background-color: white; color: #134f5c;">Etty Hillesum</span></strong></span></div>Morganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07432119547105232079noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4535765160746421967.post-37033788958859789252011-02-18T18:04:00.000-08:002011-02-19T06:27:34.620-08:00Hey Bama...How does your Tide Roll?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM1aQFlVcf9pIl5RENmETrrBvAWB7Tad5wigkrs15VS-ezV1LXIyHVNa0jCbjiv4RK6pNiUGpI4iE7Pu_9RTk6OOrCmk0r0BOIQcDTOSAgkY1bCKZZsenS4uh1e556NjCOCRhNMsbTJ__1/s1600/toomers+corner.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" j6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM1aQFlVcf9pIl5RENmETrrBvAWB7Tad5wigkrs15VS-ezV1LXIyHVNa0jCbjiv4RK6pNiUGpI4iE7Pu_9RTk6OOrCmk0r0BOIQcDTOSAgkY1bCKZZsenS4uh1e556NjCOCRhNMsbTJ__1/s320/toomers+corner.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: right;"><span style="color: #134f5c;"><span id="goog_437079133"></span><span id="goog_437079135"></span>Harvey Almorn Updyke, 62, of Dadeville, has been charged with criminal mischief. WTVM-TV attributed the news of the arrest to a source at the Lee County Justice Center.<br />
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Bond for Updyke was set at $50,000.<br />
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A University of Alabama fan admitted to using an herbicide applied in lethal amounts to kill the Toomer's Corner oaks at Auburn University in an escalation of the schools' football rivalry.</span><br />
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<div style="text-align: left;">We all want to leave a legacy. None of us want to move on from this world and be forgotten. We are hopeful that at least one person will think of us years from now with some fondness. Don't we? </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Well, I guess you can say one Alabama fan is likely not to be forgotten anytime soon. "What's up with that?", as my 8-year old would say. I mean, come on buddy, get a grip. I understand being a die-hard fan...I'm married to one. I get the idea of pulling for your team no matter what. I understand that football in the SEC is a religion. I'm not the biggest football fan, but I get it. Really, I do!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">But, I don't get the idea of poisoning a couple of beloved trees to make a statement. I just don't. And at 62 years old? There is a time and a place for pulling for your team. Surely, during this whole process of getting the chemicals, priming the syringes, and injecting the trees, there was a moment when Mr. Updyke had to hear a little voice inside of his head that said, "This might not be the best idea?" I think 99.9% of America can agree on this. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">So, tomorrow afternoon as all the orange and blue tree-huggers come out to Toomer's Corner, I say, get your hug on! The VOL fans in our home support you and shake our heads about this one. And to my brother-in-law that pulls for the Tide...you may want to take a step back from this one, buddy! :)</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">War Eagle!</div><br />
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<div class="off" jquery1298079782663="6" style="float: right; font-size: 12px; line-height: 12px; margin: auto auto auto 5px; width: 232px;"><div class="blog-captioned-photo0" jquery1298079782663="5"><div class="photo-container" jquery1298079782663="4" style="clear: both; height: 202px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: relative;"><span jquery1298079782663="3"><a href="http://i.usatoday.net/communitymanager/_photos/campus-rivalry/2011/02/18/auburnx-large.jpg" jquery1298079782663="2" target="_blank"><img alt="" credit="By Dave Martin, AP" cutline="Auburn coach Gene Chizik, left, greets Alabama coach Nick Saban after the schools played in 2009." height="200" src="http://i.usatoday.net/communitymanager/_photos/campus-rivalry/2011/02/18/auburnx-inset-community.jpg" style="border-bottom: #666 1px solid; border-left: #666 1px solid; border-right: #666 1px solid; border-top: #666 1px solid; float: none; margin: 0px;" width="230" /></a></span> <br />
<div class="legend" style="-moz-opacity: 0.7; background-color: black; bottom: 1px; color: white; filter: alpha(opacity=70); font-size: 10px; left: 0px; opacity: 0.7; position: absolute; visibility: hidden; width: 232px; z-index: 20;"><div class="wording" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin: 5px;">Auburn coach Gene Chizik, left, greets Alabama coach Nick Saban after the schools played in 2009.</div></div></div><div class="controls"><div class="label" style="float: left; width: 100px;"><a href="javascript:void(0)" jquery1298079782663="7" style="background: url(http://i.usatoday.net/_common/_images/caption0.gif) no-repeat left 50%; color: #666666; font-size: 10px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 11px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">CAPTION</a></div><div class="credit" style="color: #666666; float: left; font-size: 10px; text-align: right; width: 132px;">By Dave Martin, AP</div></div></div></div>Nick Saban and Gene Chizik released a joint statement Friday addressing the situation. <a href="http://content.usatoday.com/communities/campusrivalry/post/2011/02/nick-saban-gene-chizik-joint-statement-poisoned-trees/1">From USATODAY</a><br />
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<blockquote>"This is an isolated incident by one individual that is not representative of what the greatest rivalry in college football is all about," the statement read. "The players and coaches at both schools have a tremendous amount of respect for each other on and off the field, and we encourage our fans to show that same amount of respect now and in the future. We will move beyond this regrettable incident and continue to enjoy this great rivalry."</blockquote></div><span id="goog_437079136"></span><span id="goog_437079134"></span>Morganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07432119547105232079noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4535765160746421967.post-15386366060989204572011-02-14T07:31:00.000-08:002011-02-14T07:31:07.202-08:00It All Just Feels Good<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs1iVQ5IC8Ya_e2-IWlC45vxlj2zam78YMl7SqdP4G03KZfya_Uvf7Yqm143wOldx2waAlMEnlFYfkQhV-ARSGESSJ9u3yJYD81iogOVXRwROlIs7PwyZAq3p2YJXGpn3Den_gayNEXlzj/s1600/happiness.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs1iVQ5IC8Ya_e2-IWlC45vxlj2zam78YMl7SqdP4G03KZfya_Uvf7Yqm143wOldx2waAlMEnlFYfkQhV-ARSGESSJ9u3yJYD81iogOVXRwROlIs7PwyZAq3p2YJXGpn3Den_gayNEXlzj/s400/happiness.jpg" width="305" /></a></div>This mommy is happy today! There are so many things going well, that it is hard not to smile. Here's my list of blessings and thing I am beyond thankful for...<br />
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The Sunny Weather ~ Oh, how happy I am to <em>see the sun shining brightly outside today</em>. I heard it is supposed to get warmer each day this week. Pure bliss for me and my boys.<br />
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Valentine's Day and School Parties ~ My older two boys went to school today loaded down with bags. We didn't have a full day of school at all last week, so I felt like maybe today was the first day of school. The boys completed their cards, boxes, picked out presents for the teachers, and we sent in goodies for their parties. <em>It just feels good to help out and be organized</em>...I know the boys feel good about it too!<br />
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Our playground ~ Since moving here, we have been talking with the boys about getting a playground. Whew! Those things are expensive and each one has tons of bells and whistles to examine. But, we have decided to <em>shop around as a family to find the perfect fit</em>. I think the boys are really excited about looking around for their new toy. Hopefully, we can teach them about money management along the way!<br />
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Our New Year's Resolutions ~ I am a HUGE fan of good food. I love to munch my way through the day. After four babies, I have gone a little soft around the middle. So, the hubs and I decided (for one of our NYE resolutions) to <em>cut out all things white in our diet until bathing suit season comes around again</em>. This means no sugars and starches. Basically, we don't eat anything that has over 5 grams of carbs in it. Wow...do you know how much this eliminates? We do, and we feel great about it!! I'm not just saying that to try to stay positive. <strong>Really, I love it</strong>. I feel great because most things that go into my body these days is grown and not processed. This, my friends, has been much easier than <a href="http://rootsbelowskyabove.blogspot.com/2011/01/shut-it-crazy-lady.html">keeping my nose out of other people's business</a>...definitely still working hard to stick with that one!<br />
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So, as Mr. Rogers used to say...It's a great day in the neighborhood! We are feeling good today and can't wait to get a piece of this day to call our own!<br />
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Hope your day is great too...tell me about all the blessings you have going on in your own corner of the world :)<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #134f5c;"><strong><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">Every now and then,<br />
when the world sits just right,<br />
a gentle breath of heaven<br />
fills my soul with delight...<br />
~Hazelmarie ‘Mattie’ Elliott, </span></strong></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #134f5c;"><strong><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><i>A Breath of Heaven</i><!--see email apr2009--></span></strong></span></div>Morganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07432119547105232079noreply@blogger.com0