tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-39376763504098535622024-03-13T08:55:51.699-07:00Polka Dots and Ric Rac...A journey of living life to the fullBrookehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10265876447712229709noreply@blogger.comBlogger395125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3937676350409853562.post-52885804404252215572017-04-14T12:36:00.002-07:002017-04-14T12:36:32.264-07:00Testing, testing....<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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HEYYYY there, blog world! I'm trying to fix my blog... get it normal looking so I can write again. It's 2016, and I lost a couple years of my life. Technology on blogs has changed. ha! In fact, we moved from Georgia to Kentucky to Florida. We had a baby girl! As I look at these five and six year old boys in front of me, and as I search for friends in Florida, I feel like I have to look back on the years. These popped up on my blog roll, so I'm just posting them in this first post back. </center>
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The #1 reason I'm sad we had to leave Kentucky.... our family!! I absolutely love going to the houseboat to hang out with my mom and dad and enjoy the beautiful surroundings! </div>
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Look at these beauties!! I could just cry thinking of all of them!! What an amazing, beautiful season of life!! Stephanie is the ONLY one who is still in Columbus. This blows my mind. What a beautiful group of mamas that just got to be together for a season!! </div>
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Fighting for the right to have hips in the back 😂😂😂</div>
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Cruz is as small here as my boys are now...and Livvy is the size of Gradie. I just can't handle...how does time pass so fast? I sure do miss these friends!!</div>
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Brookehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10265876447712229709noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3937676350409853562.post-9494611000703193352013-04-23T20:32:00.001-07:002013-04-23T20:32:35.635-07:00Just a little of us...<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Where does time go? </center>
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What is happening in my life right now?</center>
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What?</center>
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Oh, that's right.</center>
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Two toddlers are happening.</center>
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And it's no joke.</center>
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I love this child. He is naughty and defiant right now. But so, so sweet. I love his heart. I love that his face is messy even right after I wipe it down. I love how he shakes off an ouchie with his whole body :)<br />
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Although these boys have not yet mastered "Sharing"...they sure do play together well. They tackle and wrestle and laugh it off. They are so cute together!<br />
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They LOVE balloons. Luckily when they come along on a photo shoot...they get to see balloons all over the place :)<br />
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What is up with us?</div>
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1. The terrible twos are hitting the Whitis house with one particular boy whose name rhymes with Beeli. I never believed that the terrible twos happened, but now I am a believer. I understand now.</div>
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It's pretty terrible. :)</div>
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He is a wonderful child, so much fun. We have a great time playing every day.</div>
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We are hitting the stage where "no" is hard to hear.</div>
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Distraction isn't working.</div>
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And life as a two year old is challenging.</div>
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2. We are doing ISR Infant swim lessons.</div>
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<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nI_XzNfxjlY">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nI_XzNfxjlY</a></div>
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I don't like watching my sweet boys struggle, but I also love it. It's fun to see them starting to swim on their own.</div>
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We go to our second day tomorrow. We go every day, but only for 10 minutes at a time.</div>
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3. I am up late editing pictures and I feel so productive. </div>
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Thus, why my blog is being updated.</div>
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4. The end for now. :)</div>
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Brookehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10265876447712229709noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3937676350409853562.post-81123364076673958572013-03-18T13:14:00.001-07:002013-03-18T13:14:51.855-07:00Out of the Spin Cycle...Poems and rambles..<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Seems like the Lord is speaking to me lately, since I just started Jen Hatmaker's devotional and the prologue is this poem. Clearly I can relax and just remember that I'm not alone in my thoughts...that we should all just take it easy and pursue God. She is a fun person to read. Does that even make sense? I enjoy reading her writing, because she writes to authentically. I value that.</div>
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Before I let you read that...we can talk about a couple things.</div>
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I just made <a href="http://www.cleanfoodcreativefitness.com/chocolate-coconut-date-lara-bites/">these</a>.</div>
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and <a href="http://bigeatstinykitchen.com/2012/10/01/nutty-coconut-date-balls/">these</a>.</div>
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I had these Medjool dates and a hankering for something yummy, but I don't want sugar. So...boom.</div>
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Dates can work magic people. </div>
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Dates and Coconut Oil.</div>
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Ugly but awesome.</div>
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Aren't some of the best of us? </div>
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Oh, give it a rest, just kidding.</div>
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We closed on our old house today. </div>
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Official end of a chapter of our lives.</div>
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I went over and took some pictures the other day of the boys, sitting in front of the house.</div>
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It's hard to get two year olds to sit still. I digress, this topic for another post.</div>
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With my NEW (old) camera.</div>
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Remember, (oh, wait, you don't remember because I didn't blog at all in December...) that my camera got stolen out of my car while I was running? Well, I just got insurance to give me more money to buy a new one.</div>
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Then, I bought from online vendors because Columbus, GA doesn't have good places to buy nice cameras. So, alas, (9weeks later) I finally have a new camera.</div>
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But it's the same as my old one.</div>
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So, not that thrilling.</div>
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And it didn't come with a cute ruffled camera strap.</div>
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Alright. Life is pretty sweet. Sitting on the front porch of my rental house. Enjoying a nice Georgia March day (the only month you can sit outside without freezing or burning alive...). Life is good.</div>
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I hope you have a fabulous day. Especially after you read this.</div>
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A (Fairly Lame) Ode to Mothers</div>
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An ode to the marvelous woman called "Mother"</div>
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Though not one of us is exactly like another.</div>
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From the second we're born to the minute we die</div>
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Our preferences are as limitless as stars in the sky.</div>
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We might have been perfectly gracious before</div>
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But childbirth entered us in the Mommy War.</div>
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Rather than letting everyone else be</div>
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We criticize parenting that isn't exactly like . . . me.</div>
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So once and for all let me put this to rest</div>
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None of us owns the title of "best."</div>
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Natural childbirth does not make you a hippy </div>
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Epidurals are not just for women who want to feel trippy.</div>
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In a bathtub with a doula or in a hospital bed</div>
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We all got a baby with limbs and a head.</div>
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Nursing is great if nothing goes wrong</div>
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But some nipples turn inward and refuse to play along.</div>
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This is a choice for each mom - it's her route</div>
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So it's just A + B and everyone else can C their way out.</div>
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Schedules and timers do not make you cruel</div>
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Feeding on demand does not make you a fool.</div>
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In the nursery with a monitor or in the family bed</div>
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Every chick gets to pick where her baby lays his head.</div>
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If I see one more mom roll her eyes at "organic . . . "</div>
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"Partially hydrogenated" throws some of us into panic.</div>
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But neither judge Sonic burgers and fries</div>
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Some of us just want to enjoy food before we die.</div>
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Preschool, home school, public, or Montessori</div>
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Listen, my friends, and I'll tell you a story:</div>
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Two moms differed on favorite school trends</div>
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Their kids turned out pretty much the same. The end.</div>
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If a girl gets the title of "mom" accidentally</div>
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The worst thing we can do is treat her judgmentally.</div>
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How about some love, some help, some advice?</div>
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She needs our love and we shouldn't think twice.</div>
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Discipline through various methods will prevail</div>
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Look, we're all just trying to keep our kids out of jail.</div>
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These things are just preferences, not right or wrong</div>
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What matters more is teaching our kids to get along -</div>
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To love and to share, to speak gently and kind,</div>
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To obey so that mom won't go out of her mind.</div>
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Showing them Jesus is our common ground</div>
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Teaching them how he can always be found.</div>
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He's present in public school and Waldorf (so trendy)</div>
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He's over at Whole Food but also at Wendy's.</div>
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Jesus never cared about these sorts of things</div>
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It's our hearts that he wants and the worship we bring.</div>
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It's time for us moms to declare a truce</div>
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Regardless if we buy Capri Sun or 100 percent juice.</div>
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My way is not your way, and your way isn't mine</div>
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But both of our kids will turn out just fine.</div>
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Rather than judging and looking down our noses</div>
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Let's enjoy the common ground motherhood poses.</div>
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As believers, we all love the same good Lord</div>
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We all have children who tell us "I'm bored."</div>
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We all need more sleep that these tiny five hours</div>
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Most of us struggle to find time for a shower.</div>
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We haven't been to the bathroom alone in an age</div>
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Our mothers have all told us, "Relax, this is just a stage."</div>
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We all love our babies so much we could die</div>
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We'd take a bullet for each one without batting an eye.</div>
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Though we are different , we're in the same tribe</div>
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Motherhood requires a similar vibe-</div>
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Love and affection, sacrifice and grace</div>
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Laugher, which keeps the whole mechanism in place.</div>
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Though different, by the grace of God, I suspect:</div>
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ALL our children will rise up and call us collect.</div>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/46658275@N03/5143172389/" title="name by bwuk14, on Flickr"><img alt="name" height="73" src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1204/5143172389_db97656ed1_m.jpg" width="197" /></a></center>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/46658275@N03/5143889322/" title="gray ric rac copy by bwuk14, on Flickr"><img alt="gray ric rac copy" height="70" src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1072/5143889322_de4f419aeb.jpg" width="710" /></a> </center>
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Brookehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10265876447712229709noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3937676350409853562.post-6028317976894259172013-03-15T15:38:00.001-07:002013-03-15T15:38:29.998-07:00A little rusty, but I'm back. Judging you!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Oh, blog friends.</center>
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it has been a while.</center>
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November 29, to be exact.</center>
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I guess you can take that as a good sign. :) I am fully engaged in my parenting.</center>
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That...and.. since the beginning of the year I have started a job (a very fun one), moved, unpacked, closed on a house and made an offer on a new house...with the closing in 30 days if it gets approved on Monday. WOW. </center>
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Life with two toddlers is immeasurably more busy than I could have anticipated.</center>
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But honestly, I. LOVE. IT.</center>
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this post...it must stand alone about something near and dear to me.</center>
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judgement.</center>
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No, i don't love judgement.</center>
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I don't love when others judge me.</center>
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And I don't love judging others.</center>
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But let's be honest. You judge me.</center>
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That's right, I'm talking to you.</center>
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We ALL do it.</center>
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Unintentionally. Intentionally. It just happens.</center>
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You walk by me and my kids, and you make judgements whether you mean to or not. I walk by your kids and make judgements whether I mean to or not. They range from sweet to quite snarky.</center>
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"They are cute", "They are snotty and gross, if they were mine I would clean them up"(surely you have never thought that about my snotty snotty children?? :) "Wow, I love how she talks to her kids, I want to be that way" "Wow, I wonder how she has two children, one black and one white..." "I can't believe she feeds her children processed foods" "Why does she work when she could be at home?" "Why does she complain about money if she's going to stay at home?" "Why doesn't she homeschool if she was a teacher" "Why would they EVER homeschool? It's such a weird thing to do" "Why do they choose to spend money on this and not that?" "Why don't they .... (it goes on and on and on...)</center>
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Do you know what's funny?</center>
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How drastically my judgements changed after one child.</center>
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How SORRY I was for many judgements I had made.</center>
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I lost a baby. I had to choose whether to carry a life. I will never EVER judge someone in that spot. I would have before. But now I get it.</center>
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I had Finn. </center>
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I thought, "Oh goodness, if I knew how hard this was, I never would have judged" "If I knew how awesome but challenging nursing was, I would have given moms grace"</center>
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Oh, but then number two came along.</center>
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And those of you with two children....you know EXACTLY what I'm talking about.</center>
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The perfectly manicured finger nails. The bathtime every night.</center>
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A thing of the past.</center>
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The well groomed hair? We're lucky to have hair that is washed, mmkay?</center>
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The snot on the face.</center>
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The hair smattered to the forehead with ketchup.</center>
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"Well, at least they aren't biting each other", us mothers of two think.</center>
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But then some of us, who really have it together, we judge others on their friends food choices or choices of schooling. "Why doesn't she feed her kids whole foods?" "Why does she choose public school when she could home school"? </center>
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Do you know what's pretty funny? AFTER we go through something, if we are compassionate people, SUDDENLY, we have GRACE for others that have walked the same path. Other paths? NO! The path we walked? Of course! </center>
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Do you know what I think?</center>
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I think we should all take it easy and give each other some grace.</center>
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I think we should listen to what Jesus says and love one another as we would love ourselves.</center>
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I think we should remember that in this world....we will have trouble.</center>
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WE will SIN. </center>
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(ROMANS 3:23 For all have sinned and fallen short of the Glory of God)</center>
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We will make mistakes.</center>
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We will JUDGE.</center>
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(JAMES 4:12 There is only one lawgiver and judge, he who is able to save and destroy. But who are you to judge your neighbor?)</center>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Corbel, Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span></center>
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But instead of sitting by and looking at our brothers and sisters in christ thinking "Why did they do that?"...why don't we come alongside them and say, "Let's walk through this together, whether I agree with you or not". </center>
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And I don't know about you...but I want others to see my faults. Disagree with me. Love me ANYWAY. </center>
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See my mess. My disorganization. LOVE ME ANYWAY.</center>
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See my timeliness (LACK OF), my tardy, swift driving to make it seem like I just got stuck at stoplights but really couldn't quite get myself out the door in time...LOVE ME ANWAY</center>
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See the corndogs that your child ate from my child's bag at the church nursery...and LOVE ME ANYWAY (Because the rest of the week, I SWEAR, we are corn dog free...)</center>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-G65WnoccJVY/UUOfURGNtpI/AAAAAAAADiM/zo5gPsKG_ZA/s1600/20130118_2490_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="423" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-G65WnoccJVY/UUOfURGNtpI/AAAAAAAADiM/zo5gPsKG_ZA/s640/20130118_2490_1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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We're a mess.</center>
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We need grace.</center>
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ESPECIALLY my husband and kids. </center>
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BWAHAHAHA> JK.</center>
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This past weekend at the marriage retreat our church put on, the speaker talked about how we see our sin as tiny and everyone else (especially our spouse's) sin as GREAT. This is true for me. I think it might be at the root of our judgement.</center>
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So I will give grace.</center>
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GRACE=forgiveness (that we don't deserve)</div>
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It's the hardest thing to give.</div>
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Through God alone I can give grace to my family..my friends.</div>
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My sin is small you see :) </div>
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Okay, so as we give each other grace. and love each other well...</center>
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Well, I just needed to add another picture, plus, I should just tell you...</center>
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I'll show you my new job. This is a picture for the bio I made for it.</center>
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It's something that I have been a part of for a while.</center>
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It's called "STROLLER STRONG MOMS".</center>
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It's very little time commitment. When I say job, I mean 2-6 hours a week, FYI. :)</center>
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I'll leave it at that and give you some more to look at tomorrow...or the next time I have a moment to breathe and type...could be months...</center>
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I've got so much to tell you about...so much on my mind... Created for Care Adoption Retreat...Moving...Life in Georgia...Life on a church staff....Eating healthy...working out....BALANCING LIFE... :)</center>
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Blog world, I've missed you.</center>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/46658275@N03/5143172389/" title="name by bwuk14, on Flickr"><img alt="name" height="73" src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1204/5143172389_db97656ed1_m.jpg" width="197" /></a></center>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/46658275@N03/5143889322/" title="gray ric rac copy by bwuk14, on Flickr"><img alt="gray ric rac copy" height="70" src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1072/5143889322_de4f419aeb.jpg" width="710" /></a> </center>
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Brookehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10265876447712229709noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3937676350409853562.post-41473737826971319392012-11-29T19:54:00.002-08:002012-11-29T19:54:12.882-08:00Brothers Birthday BASH: What a Journey<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I wanted to throw a joint party for the boys. I wanted it to be a fun carnival type atmosphere for the kids. I didn't have a ton of time to prepare (note: I kept my apron on the whole time, because I never really had time to get ready). I didn't take any photos, but my friend/great babysitter Kerry did, with my camera. I was so glad that my parents came into town<br />
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The "theme" was "What a Journey". I wanted to celebrate the journey we have taken, from Briar, to having Finn to finally bringing Eli home. It has not been an easy journey. it has not been without pain and heartache and hardship....but oh, how it has been worth it. Two sweet boys that make me SO HAPPY. Even in the midst of discipline and training these little guys every day.<br />
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Don't know what else to say about the day other than it was a great time!<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tDneGbax7cU/ULfWnyQp4pI/AAAAAAAADec/8RITT1B5bag/s1600/boys+party+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tDneGbax7cU/ULfWnyQp4pI/AAAAAAAADec/8RITT1B5bag/s640/boys+party+2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/46658275@N03/8231637866/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="birthday extra by bwuk14, on Flickr"><img alt="birthday extra" height="512" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8349/8231637866_ce168b9d32_b.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/46658275@N03/5143172389/" title="name by bwuk14, on Flickr"><img alt="name" height="73" src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1204/5143172389_db97656ed1_m.jpg" width="197" /></a></center>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/46658275@N03/5143889322/" title="gray ric rac copy by bwuk14, on Flickr"><img alt="gray ric rac copy" height="70" src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1072/5143889322_de4f419aeb.jpg" width="710" /></a> </center>
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Brookehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10265876447712229709noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3937676350409853562.post-54630181344482290032012-11-17T20:14:00.001-08:002012-11-17T20:14:21.078-08:00The beauty of the Lord<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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This weekend is Briar's due date. </center>
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Two years ago he was due to be born.</center>
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But he was already born.</center>
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And I grieved again when this weekend hit.</center>
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The due date that never actually happened.</center>
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This year, on accident, I planned my boy's joint "Brothers Birthday Bash" this weekend. Finn celebrating his first bday and Eli his second.</center>
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Well, it was meant to be.</center>
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Briar, we wish we were celebrating with you on earth. </center>
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Tomorrow, we will go to a birthday party of the sweet boy who is our great friend who was due on the same day as you. We will celebrate him, and remember that your purpose was never to walk on this earth, but to simply make your appearance and touch lives in a different way. We pray for peace as we try to wrap our minds around that this weekend. </center>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Mr6pF0deXzk/UKhf0A5qmSI/AAAAAAAADdQ/TZQ0rF_Dsqg/s1600/20120929_5577.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Mr6pF0deXzk/UKhf0A5qmSI/AAAAAAAADdQ/TZQ0rF_Dsqg/s640/20120929_5577.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Our lives have changed so much in the past several years.</center>
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We have grown so much in our knowledge of the Lord and his REAL and divine power. </center>
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Today, on national adoption day...I'm just having a crazy moment. The Lord KNEW that Briar's due date was right at national adoption day. No coincidence there. I love that. How the details work together. So beautiful, the way the Lord weaves our story! The beauty of the Lord is awesome. Sometimes painful, but awesome.</center>
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It is also no coincidence that I am studying James 1. Verse by verse.</center>
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"Count it all joy, my brothers, when you face trials of many kinds..."</center>
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Amen.</center>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/46658275@N03/5143172389/" title="name by bwuk14, on Flickr"><img alt="name" height="73" src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1204/5143172389_db97656ed1_m.jpg" width="197" /></a></center>
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Brookehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10265876447712229709noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3937676350409853562.post-43291340329883849552012-11-05T11:11:00.000-08:002012-11-05T11:11:09.734-08:00So true...<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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I have so much to say, but very little time to write it.</center>
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This post explains pretty well how life has been going lately :)</center>
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Not all of it is BAD, per say, but it does make me laugh. Sometimes it makes me sad.</center>
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The other day when I got "What is this?" "A daycare field trip??". Oh no, just my family....</center>
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I was just thinking today how well Eli has transitioned into our family. He is just a natural part of our family. i can't imagine if he weren't here!</center>
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I will write more, later :) I have a break, where my time is precious. Shower, laundry, photo editing...lots to do..not much time to do it in!</center>
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Brookehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10265876447712229709noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3937676350409853562.post-32819720914975615342012-10-20T20:04:00.002-07:002012-10-29T17:28:57.389-07:00The election: whitis style<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
This election has become a little dividing.
I do have my political preferences...
but I wanted to lighten things up a bit.
Eli and Finn were the perfect people to do the job. When it comes to my kids, I'm very bi-partisan ;) Eli was quite political, waving out of the top of the car. It was very impressive.<br />
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The photo below does not show which candidate I think is ahead in the polls. I don't want to be misunderstood :) We're not talking politics here.<br />
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We are dressed as secret service. Someone asked me if I was the secretary of state. No. Someone asked Finn if he was Joe Biden. Nope. FYI: we won the costume contest, getting us a free yogurt at sweet frog.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/46658275@N03/5143172389/" title="name by bwuk14, on Flickr"><img alt="name" height="73" src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1204/5143172389_db97656ed1_m.jpg" width="197" /></a></center>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/46658275@N03/5143889322/" title="gray ric rac copy by bwuk14, on Flickr"><img alt="gray ric rac copy" height="70" src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1072/5143889322_de4f419aeb.jpg" width="710" /></a> </center>
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Brookehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10265876447712229709noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3937676350409853562.post-21579965882381155362012-10-13T18:53:00.004-07:002012-10-13T18:53:50.568-07:00Failure<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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I'm just going to be real for a moment.</center>
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Do you ever feel like a failure?</center>
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I mean, not just a little failure.</center>
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But a total failure? </center>
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Not in a dramatic way, but in a "I can't get my act together" kind of way?</center>
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I do.</center>
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Sometimes it comes when I read other blogs.</center>
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Then I hear and believe lies.</center>
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"Gosh they are put together." "They take cute pictures even when they have adopted, or when they are in Africa" "They manage to blog every day, in the midst of life" "You don't have anything to say, stop posting!" </center>
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Sometimes it comes when I see others.</center>
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"They have it together, you don't" "their kids don't throw tantrums, see what a failure of a mom you are?" "They have time to do their hair/makeup, why don't you?" "They have a (not minivan), look what a dork you are" (this one is sort of false now...but..maybe creeps back sometimes) "that girl ran a 50k today, you can barely run a fast 10k, you will never be able to do that"...</center>
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Sometimes it comes when I am playing with my kids and get "easily angered" when they throw fits.</center>
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Other times i feel like I am hearing these lies all throughout the day, and most of them hold little to no value.</center>
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Because I am a Christian and live my life to honor God, clearly quite imperfectly, but leaning on God to guide me....I realize that these lies are not of God. They are from Satan...putting lies in where I am weak. He does this to all of us.</center>
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One of my favorite pastors and his wife <a href="http://pastormark.tv/2012/01/27/low-self-esteem-or-lies-from-the-enemy">talked about this recently.</a></center>
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I recently found this print that my lovely and talented friend Jess created. </center>
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I bought it to hang in my house, because it is SO TRUE.</center>
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If God created us in his image, and said "WE WERE GOOD"...</center>
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then, what are we doing comparing ourselves to others? </center>
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He created us all in our own unique way! </center>
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What an amazing gift!</center>
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So hard to believe sometimes.</center>
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So hard to see the gift in the midst of the busyness that is life.</center>
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Go buy it<a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/109735220/comparison-is-the-thief-of-joy-limited?ref=sr_gallery_1&ga_search_query=comparison+is+the+thief+of+joy&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_ship_to=US&ga_search_type=all"> here</a></center>
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You are made as your own unique person.</center>
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One day, a good friend of mine hit one of my big insecurities.</center>
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My late-ness.</center>
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that's not a word, but we're going to just go with it.</center>
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Ever since college, when my babysitting clients called it "brookie time", I have felt very self conscious of this fatal personality flaw.</center>
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I'm always late.</center>
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I hate it.</center>
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It's rude.</center>
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My great friend Krista told me that it made her feel not valued when I am late.</center>
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Totally valid.</center>
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I have so much trouble being early/on time, especially with kids, but even before that.</center>
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I have to plan to be there an hour early, and I still barely make it. And I don't putt around.</center>
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I don't know what the problem is.</center>
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my friend said that someday my kids will hate that I always make them late.</center>
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ouch.</center>
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I'll be honest (sorry dad, if you ever read this)</center>
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I used to feel frustrated with my dad for making me late to soccer games. Sometimes my mom and I would just leave without him, and have him meet us there.</center>
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I don't want my kids to feel that way with me.</center>
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Sometimes when i'm late, I get in this self loathing, frustrated with myself banter. (Why can't you just be on time?? Is it that hard? ARGH!)</center>
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Although I need to make some changes to make this happen, it's truly not the end of the world and doesnt' make me a horrible, failure of a person.</center>
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It means I'm human and I fail.</center>
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And often, as Christians, we fail.</center>
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I still will try to improve this. </center>
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But I will give myself grace and not beat myself up.</center>
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Because possibly I was created this way.</center>
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With the fall of Eve picking the fruit in the garden, we FELL from the good graces of God.</center>
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Because of Jesus, we have redemption and forgiveness. </center>
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But it's not easy to accept that we are flawed.</center>
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Because it often seems that my friends are not flawed, but I am.</center>
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But once again, it's a lie.</center>
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They were created uniquely too.</center>
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I am trying to appreciate the unique ways my boys were created.</center>
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Every day.</center>
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I'm so lucky that I get to parent them every day. Good and bad.<br />
I'm not a failure. :)<br />
Neither are you.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/46658275@N03/5143172389/" title="name by bwuk14, on Flickr"><img alt="name" height="73" src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1204/5143172389_db97656ed1_m.jpg" width="197" /></a></center>
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Brookehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10265876447712229709noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3937676350409853562.post-74717201478708034302012-10-04T20:24:00.000-07:002012-10-04T20:24:08.894-07:00Don't bite your brother!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Well, the photo bandit strikes again. When we were in Kentucky for the family reunion, we got photos with cousin Jackson. Today is his birthday, two days after Finn. During these photos, Brandon was not there to make our boys smile, and Alicia was getting some adorable smiles out of Jackson :) This particular photo montage shows a normal day spent with my boys...<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: x-small;"> ***jenny, do not use these for the christmas cards, they are outtakes... :)***</span></div>
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Oh, how sweet. eli is kissing finn's hand! Oh, I'm so proud :)</div>
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Oh no, i think he's biting him! I don't think that this is going to be good. This looks bad...<br />
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Poor Finn!! He just got chomped. You try to talk to Eli about it, and he just looks at you like you have a problem :) <br />
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Oh these boys. Can't wait to see what it looks like in a couple years!</div>
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You can totally see why people always ask me if they are twins, right?!?!?! :)</div>
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In other news...</div>
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My hair is starting to look ridiculous. I'm pretty sure the ombre look is OUT...but I don't have the cash to get my hair done. :) I guess we'll wait a couple weeks. Sweet children....they're worth it. worth it. this is a season of living on less.... (i repeat it over and over and feel a little better!)</div>
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My hubs is gone for two nights, and this is the longest he has been away since we've had kids. So far, so good. Although Eli had a very whiny day....and I had to really work hard to hold it together.</div>
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Finn wears a size 5.5 shoe and Eli wears a 6. Finn is going to take after his mom...with these big feet!</div>
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I just made "instagram books" on Blurb. They had a free deal. I won't share it because it expired, but since I take so many "Quick" photos on my iphone, it is fun to have them documented. I never print them because they aren't great quality.</div>
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Sometimes, I want to get rid of Bella (our dog), but when I got home from Kentucky and spent one day without her, i realized we really missed our floor pre-cleaner, our big snuggler, etc. She is so sweet. Right now she is laying in bed with me...which she never gets to do if Brandon is home. Don't judge me about wanting to get rid of her...it's so hard to explain. She's been my best bud for years...but when she is tearing apart diapers every day, eating fresh cooked meals off my counters....knocking children over with her tail....the kids eat her dog food and play in her water....</div>
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But she's worth it...I think :)</div>
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I have a horrific headache tonight. I sure hope it's not a migraine brewing!</div>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/46658275@N03/5143172389/" title="name by bwuk14, on Flickr"><img alt="name" height="73" src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1204/5143172389_db97656ed1_m.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="197" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/46658275@N03/5143889322/" title="gray ric rac copy by bwuk14, on Flickr"><img alt="gray ric rac copy" height="70" src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1072/5143889322_de4f419aeb.jpg" width="710" /></a> </center>
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Brookehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10265876447712229709noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3937676350409853562.post-74215010387316632952012-10-03T13:49:00.002-07:002012-10-03T13:49:48.247-07:00One year of life!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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My little man was 1 yesterday.</center>
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finneas wollison whitis.</center>
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finn.</center>
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Not only does God grow a child in your stomach, he then allows said child to grow at an uncontrollable rate.</center>
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Sweet Finn. Born at almost 10 lbs.</center>
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Looking like quite the toddler now.</center>
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I'm so thankful.</center>
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Doing an official ONE YEAR photoshoot today :)</div>
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Looking forward to it!!</div>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/46658275@N03/5143172389/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="name by bwuk14, on Flickr"><img alt="name" height="73" src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1204/5143172389_db97656ed1_m.jpg" width="197" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/46658275@N03/5143889322/" title="gray ric rac copy by bwuk14, on Flickr"><img alt="gray ric rac copy" height="70" src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1072/5143889322_de4f419aeb.jpg" width="710" /></a> </center>
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Brookehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10265876447712229709noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3937676350409853562.post-23735901172590262592012-10-01T20:13:00.000-07:002012-10-01T20:13:03.807-07:00The cutest ones.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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I hope you enjoy these. Just the cutest kids around.</center>
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My little Finn. Turns one tomorrow.</center>
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Emma Jane, almost 2 and a half.</center>
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Eli, turns 2 in December.</center>
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Emma Jane is not mine, biologically. Nor do I have custody of her.</center>
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She is my best friend Rebecca's little girl. </center>
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I loved on this girl while I was pregnant with Briar.</center>
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She was healing for me in so many ways....</center>
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Rebecca had lots several pregnancies before EJ came along.</center>
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She knew loss.</center>
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It was a beautiful, messy time.</center>
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These sweet boys...and our fave girl.<br />
Way back when...about
two and a half years ago...I was pregnant with a little boy named Briar,
and our sweet friend Emma Jane was born. My best friend Rebecca was
walking through a crazy life change. And one of the only ways I could
love on her, and find peace in my loss with Briar...was to take photos
of Emma Jane.<br />
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So, every month, we took photos.
I learned so much about taking photos from her. She is such a sweet girl.
Her mom is even sweeter.
There was something about doing these photos that made everything seem okay.<br />
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After
a tough walk through a difficult path...Rebecca has found an amazing
daddy to Emma Jane and a husband to walk alongside her in life. We
introduced them (not to take all the credit, but...), and we couldn't be
happier.<br />
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I personally think Emma Jane might marry a
younger man and go for Finn. They sure were holding hands a lot during
this shoot. Mr.Whitis wasn't feeling like making boys smile...he wasn't
feeling particularly like a morning man....so we don't have many of my
boys smiling :) Rebecca was a smile making machine. So we have many of
Emma Jane's tooth grin! </center>
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To see these two next to each other now just makes me tear up. I didn't know if I would even have a child anywhere near her age. I continue to feel shocked at the goodness of the Lord in the midst of details that are too hard for me to work out.<br />
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And then there are all three. Sweet Eli is such a smiley little man...but NEVEr in photos. AGH!<br />
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Blurry, but this was the best it got for my sweet oldest boy!!<br />
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Eli looks like he is bossing someone around. </div>
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He probably is. :)</div>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/46658275@N03/5143172389/" title="name by bwuk14, on Flickr"><img alt="name" height="73" src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1204/5143172389_db97656ed1_m.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="197" /></a></div>
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Brookehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10265876447712229709noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3937676350409853562.post-83991421404108510802012-09-23T16:23:00.000-07:002012-09-23T16:23:09.436-07:00I forget to take photos when I'm having fun!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Do you see this apron i'm wearing in the picture? I SEWED IT. </div>
That's right, all by myself.<br />
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You're impressed, admit it. </div>
I'm impressed :)<br />
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Last weekend (the weekend before my birthday), I went to something called craft weekeend. </div>
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Not just any old craft weekend. The greatly desired in blog-land craft weekend. </div>
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If you read the blog <a href="http://megduerksen.typepad.com/">"whatever</a>"....you already know about it.</div>
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I can't believe I am just posting this. I started it right when I got home. How is life getting so crazy that I never post on my blog anymore? Sad! </div>
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I read the blog, and I have read it for years, so I knew all about this weekend. A weekend of hanging out and crafts at meg's home. Sort of like a bed and breakfast. Very much like that, actually....plus crafting and shopping. Last year, when they began hosting, I was "celebrating" sweet Briar on his one year birthday...and there was so way I was leaving town. Then I had a new baby in October, so I didn't even sign up to be on the waiting list. I had too much going on! Even though I would have loved to go, I just couldn't imagine leaving my baby, right as I was in the middle of adopting a second baby....and traveling to Africa two times... </div>
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Well, my sweet friend Shara signed up for the lottery, hoping to get picked.</div>
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She told me if she ever got picked, she would choose me.</div>
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Considering we took a SIGNIFICANT pay cut this year, with me quitting my job, brandon going into ministry, and adding TWO children to the family, I wasn't sure I could go even if she offered. Plus, it would have to happen at a time when Eli had been home from Africa long enough to leave him. I didn't think much about it, but I knew it would be a perfect, dreamy weekend.</div>
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But, one day this summer, I got the call.</div>
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The timing worked out for September...my birthday...two years after losing Briar. Sounded like great timing to me! A weekend with no children clinging to my legs?! WOW!</div>
I called Brandon and begged. But before I could even begin begging he said, in a very valley girl voice, "Oh, you just HAVE to go". :)<br />
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Well, good news...I have a man that is super supportive. Because I do the finances!</div>
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Anyway, it was a perfect time to see my mothering/spiritual mentor, Shara (who was our chaplain's wife in the 82nd abn and in RGR bat). Then, about a month later, my best friend got chosen, completely separate from us. She was chosen for the summer, but was supposed to get married, and couldn't really cancel the wedding for the CW. So, she asked if she could switch to September. And <a href="http://thedrivewayoflife.blogspot.com/">Kimberlee</a> said YES! So it was two of my great friends who didn't yet know each other...getting together in KANSAS.</div>
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Rebecca and I flew in from Kentucky and met the other ladies.</div>
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We were GIDDY.</div>
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A pilot on the plane asked who we were visiting and I said, "Friend of friends". I felt like it might be weird to say, "Oh, just some random blog friends I'm paying to meet" :) </div>
NBD.<br />
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We got there...and immediately wanted to cry with happiness.</div>
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Like someone knew just how you would decorate your house if you could get your mind to make magic in your house. If you could make it all come together how you wanted, it would turn into the craft house. </div>
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ps (as I am writing, things get quiet in the kitchen...I rush in there and Finn has the cabinets open (magical kid can undo child locks at 11 months) and has soap, febreeze and an empty milk jug. When I walk in he is playing with the milk jug, but I have a strong suspicion he could have ingested soap. I swiped his mouth and smelled and didn't see bubbles, so I think we're okay...but this is why I don't blog....)</div>
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So anyway, on top of the awesome factor...we get SWAG. Fun stuff. the first thing we saw at our spots were these adorable prints. Some Dear Lizzy prints (love her blog), although they weren't directly from her. Then, below...all the rest of the SWAG. Some super fun stuff. </div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HavjlVciP6Q/UFZcV4eLrQI/AAAAAAAADNM/cNoKREozn-U/s1600/20120907_4975.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HavjlVciP6Q/UFZcV4eLrQI/AAAAAAAADNM/cNoKREozn-U/s640/20120907_4975.jpg" width="640" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Ms7bLZP79RY/UFZcY2lPYTI/AAAAAAAADNU/rVrHIAuJXpU/s1600/20120907_4978.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Ms7bLZP79RY/UFZcY2lPYTI/AAAAAAAADNU/rVrHIAuJXpU/s640/20120907_4978.jpg" width="640" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_c7EOyIEpu4/UFZb8M1i2iI/AAAAAAAADL8/RZFvXHOSNNA/s1600/aprons.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_c7EOyIEpu4/UFZb8M1i2iI/AAAAAAAADL8/RZFvXHOSNNA/s640/aprons.jpg" width="512" /> </a></div>
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Some of these photos, I stole, like the one above...from Meg's blog. Because as I said, I don't take many pics when I'm having fun. I guess this is a good thing?! Not sure. I would have showed you a picture of my full apron...but Meg didn't like it so she didn't take a photo :) Actually...false...I had it hidden like a packrat, like I do...and she didn't see it. <a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-c__4Xh-T0Oo/UFZciPV3rgI/AAAAAAAADNs/bD4grkqODto/s1600/20120907_4982.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-c__4Xh-T0Oo/UFZciPV3rgI/AAAAAAAADNs/bD4grkqODto/s640/20120907_4982.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PzP_yEA80lE/UFZcbRtV5BI/AAAAAAAADNc/l-MsBHDlD-g/s1600/20120907_4980.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PzP_yEA80lE/UFZcbRtV5BI/AAAAAAAADNc/l-MsBHDlD-g/s640/20120907_4980.jpg" width="640" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OEoySaqIVHA/UFZceyYo1zI/AAAAAAAADNk/aHtGu93IRmM/s1600/20120907_4981.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OEoySaqIVHA/UFZceyYo1zI/AAAAAAAADNk/aHtGu93IRmM/s640/20120907_4981.jpg" width="640" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fRk0myUiT-0/UFZcnz8b3qI/AAAAAAAADN8/NAhVqvXfPY4/s1600/20120907_4985.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fRk0myUiT-0/UFZcnz8b3qI/AAAAAAAADN8/NAhVqvXfPY4/s640/20120907_4985.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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We are currently trying to sell our dining room table to have one made. If I could have fit these two (looks like one) tables in my suitcase, I would have stolen them. Sorry Meg, I don't want to be a theif, but they were AMAZING. And the chairs? Shew. Loved it. Such a happy kitchen!</div>
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aHunzdtrcYY/UFZcugbfhxI/AAAAAAAADOM/oGncCTWYffk/s1600/20120907_4987.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aHunzdtrcYY/UFZcugbfhxI/AAAAAAAADOM/oGncCTWYffk/s640/20120907_4987.jpg" width="425" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1sOgN8zf14k/UFZcrOQmjYI/AAAAAAAADOE/g-oc8o8XXro/s1600/20120907_4986.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="422" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1sOgN8zf14k/UFZcrOQmjYI/AAAAAAAADOE/g-oc8o8XXro/s640/20120907_4986.jpg" width="640" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TstpOZ54RQM/UFZcA2qeSXI/AAAAAAAADMk/2YImXmaju2c/s1600/creativity+is+contagious.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TstpOZ54RQM/UFZcA2qeSXI/AAAAAAAADMk/2YImXmaju2c/s640/creativity+is+contagious.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-otx5kl3Agvg/UFZcBxKWytI/AAAAAAAADMs/8Bh5bon65Mc/s1600/fun+quilt+top.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-otx5kl3Agvg/UFZcBxKWytI/AAAAAAAADMs/8Bh5bon65Mc/s640/fun+quilt+top.jpg" width="476" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IuDb8i1-aco/UFZb9af5jaI/AAAAAAAADME/_r8_SXpFzTU/s1600/becs+steals.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IuDb8i1-aco/UFZb9af5jaI/AAAAAAAADME/_r8_SXpFzTU/s640/becs+steals.jpg" width="422" /></a></div>
So, these were some of the thrift finds above. The quilt top was something crazy like75 cents!! The lower picture is all Rebecca's stuff. So I'll get to continue seeing it ;) Bonus for me. She got some super cute stuff, and so did I. We had to really cram it in our bags to get home :) <br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pSwBs14N5a0/UFZb_YAOfyI/AAAAAAAADMU/yvZAcD2RWno/s1600/cinnamon+rolls.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pSwBs14N5a0/UFZb_YAOfyI/AAAAAAAADMU/yvZAcD2RWno/s640/cinnamon+rolls.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Craft supplies and incredible cinnamon rolls, both pictures stolen (with permission) from Meg. These Cinnamon rolls that Kimberlee made....oh my goodness...make you want to become a fattie (Fatty..?) and spend your days eating them on your couch. That good.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qp3iQaQ1gF4/UFZcDeb0olI/AAAAAAAADM0/kYZ8n2NCUAQ/s1600/headbands.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qp3iQaQ1gF4/UFZcDeb0olI/AAAAAAAADM0/kYZ8n2NCUAQ/s640/headbands.jpg" width="425" /></a></div>
I really wanted some cute headbands. I am a stay at home mom. I'm lucky if I get a shower and if so, lucky if my hair gets dry. But I want to be cute. So...I made a couple of these beauties. The lowest one (gray and white with turquoise flower) is mine and a couple others.<br />
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This is me, Rebecca and Shara. I wish Shara still lived in Columbus. But the Army is pretty small, so who knows if we will meet again! I hope so!!<br />
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On to the actual weekend...the first night we found out what crafts we would be making...and it would begin with the famous ruffled apron. Considering my biggest sewing project to date was square or rectangle (very imperfect) curtians...I was a bit nervous about how this would come out. <br />
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Meg did a great job explaining and then we got to work. :) <br />
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Long story short, the weekend was amazing. We went to look for antiques on Saturday, then did a couple more crafts on Saturday night. Sunday morning we just hung out, which was fun! To be honest, I am no master crafter, although I have great hopes to be one.<br />
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Go ahead and check out Shara's blog and Meg's blog for other (better) recaps...<br />
because I have a child in my dog's water bowl, and a child asking for food with sign language...<br />
So... I must go :)<br />
I've been trying to write this post for weeks and every time, the same (wonderful, incredible) interruptions.<br />
So, take what you can get :)<br />
And go to craft weekend. <br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/46658275@N03/5143172389/" title="name by bwuk14, on Flickr"><img alt="name" height="73" src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1204/5143172389_db97656ed1_m.jpg" width="197" /></a></center>
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Brookehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10265876447712229709noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3937676350409853562.post-20367487949856388262012-09-13T06:27:00.002-07:002012-09-13T09:22:59.210-07:00a beautiful birthday<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Today, I turn 29.</center>
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If the Lord had planned for sweet Briar to live on earth, he would be 2 today.</center>
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It's a beautiful day to share with my son.</center>
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It's a beautiful day. But it's a little hard.</center>
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I rarely cry for Briar anymore. I think of him with fond memories. </center>
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It's not that I'm not sad, or that I don't miss him, but it is not a sad thing to me on a daily basis.</center>
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I remember him with joy, with the knowledge that he is with our risen savior. </center>
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I think of the joy that he has brought so many people and the LIGHT of the LORD that he has brought into many people's lives. His life MATTERED...</center>
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But today, I will cry. In fact, I cry a little as I write this.</center>
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Because the fact is, even though I can accept he is with our Lord, I also miss him. I miss those sweet little hands and feet. I can't help but long for more time with him. I had one day...probably 8 hours or so (it was a blur). From 3am-early afternoon. I was with him right now...two years ago. It feels like yesterday that I had his tiny body in my arms. It feels like yesterday that I had to watch that basket containing my first son leave the hospital room, with much of my heart leaving with it.</center>
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Although today I will wrangle two beautiful children. Wiping snot, tears and poop...</center>
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I will diffuse fights and try to keep them happy.</center>
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I will change diapers and feed meals and rock those boys until they fall asleep, or at least until I have my fill :)</center>
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I will do those things feel thankful that I have the opportunity.</center>
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Because today, as my sweet Briar has been gone two years, I long for the opportunity to wipe anything from his sweet little face. </center>
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I love looking back at the photos that my amazing friend Jess took. Goodness, I'm thankful.</center>
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It's all I have on this earth, so I will look through them over and over to remember what his hands, feet and face looked like.</center>
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I'm so thankful that all the grandparents got to hold and see Briar in his short time here. It was precious time.<br />
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My mother in law examining those sweet hands while my dad held him. I love that they weren't afraid, and wanted to acknowledge his sweet life.<br />
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So thankful for that day.</div>
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I kissed those little lips off, I think. I just couldn't get enough of his sweet little profile. And look at the shirt Brandon wore that day. With Africa on it. So cool. Because our sweet Eli was born just months after Briar. The Lord does have a plan for us. A plan to prosper us and not to harm us. We just have to trust it. (Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future). I have such a hard time memorizing ANYTHING. But the Lord has been faithful and allowed me to EASILY memorize that verse. And I repeat it often.<br />
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And this one, on a canvas in my room, wakes me up every morning.</center>
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Because I'll never forget my sweet boy who lived in my belly for 7.5 months and will live in heaven for eternity.</center>
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Happy Birthday sweet boy! Your momma and daddy love you!</center>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/46658275@N03/5143172389/" title="name by bwuk14, on Flickr"><img alt="name" height="73" src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1204/5143172389_db97656ed1_m.jpg" width="197" /></a></center>
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Brookehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10265876447712229709noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3937676350409853562.post-53050666694434491972012-09-05T20:09:00.001-07:002012-09-05T20:09:31.052-07:00Resting in Weakness<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Do you ever feel like Satan just attacks you in the places where you are the weakest...the most vulnerable? I feel like he knows my weak spots and he just sucker punches me.</center>
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I like to be liked. I like for others to feel loved by me, and I like to feel the same in return.</center>
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I like it when I am part of a community, especially within our church.</center>
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I am used to a strong community in the army, and within our church.</center>
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Now the Army is gone for us.</center>
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And we WORK for the CHURCH.</center>
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So now community looks different.</center>
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There is something about working for the church that alienates you just a bit.</center>
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Since you now work for the church, you must be extra holy: <i>false.</i></center>
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Since you work for the church, you must have only super holy friends:<i> false</i></center>
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Since you work for the church, all the hanging out you do HAS to be ministry related:<i> false</i> (in my opinion)</center>
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Church used to be a place where I served, OFTEN.</center>
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Now, we serve and we work...and I don't like thinking of this place I love as work. </center>
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AH! But I pressure myself into feeling like if we don't have enough volunteers one weekend, it's because I haven't done enough. (HELLO, do I think I'm God? I am such a miniscule vessel in the process of even our church, I don't know why I take such crazy emotional ownership). If I hear people have moved on to another church, my heart feels broken. Not because I don't like other churches...in fact, I'm a big fan of many churches in our town....but I feel like I did something wrong. (once again, so SELF centered). I often don't want to leave my kids in our church nursery because I don't want them to drive away our carefully recruited volunteers...(do you know how hard it is to get people to volunteer their precious time....?!?! I don't want them to listen to my screaming kids....who never leave their mom and have major separation issues...GAH, another thing I said I would never do...)</center>
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Satan loves to prey on the areas where we are weak.'</center>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: medium; line-height: 25px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. </i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i> 2 Corinthians 12:9</i></span></span></center>
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Tonight, I am going to choose to rest here. In my weakness. In the areas I fail.</center>
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I will remember that ministry is not about me. It is about bringing people into a place where they know the one true, living God. So that they may know the peace that passes all understanding. That moves mountains, storms in the sea...and creates children in our wombs...not about me.</center>
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Because posts are boring without photos:</center>
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In other, not so deep news, my kids love sitting outside and watching the garbage trucks come by. My kids, and everyone elses...</center>
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At this point, we decided to yell at the garbage men to say hello. They waved. The prisoners do our garbage collection, so I was glad we were making some new friends.<br />
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Took these boys to the doctor today. Eli got 4 shots. Which he hated. Poor guy had to start all over with shots at 15 months because we weren't sure what Ethiopia gave us. We got no shot records, although one day he was out "getting vaccines", so I know they gave him something...today was his second big round. <br />
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Finn has ANOTHER ear infection. It is almost time for tubes. This is #9. He is 11 months old. Getting away from Army insurance is one sad reality. No more "free" services.....we're now looking at meeting our $2500 deductible for tubes. SHEW!. Insurance is not pretty sometimes. <br />
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You know what I do when I'm overwhelmed with insurance deductibles? I kick back in my child size camping chair and watch Mickey Mouse Clubhouse :)<br />
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Brookehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10265876447712229709noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3937676350409853562.post-32990975241354292182012-09-05T10:57:00.000-07:002012-09-05T10:57:06.580-07:00Just a little update<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Good news: I feel like I'm being very PRESENT with my boys.</center>
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Bad news: I never get to blog...ever!</center>
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Some interesting things in the whitis house:</center>
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we have at least one mouse in our kitchen. Awesome. with babies crawling, eating off the floor (let's be real...it happens) and walking all around, I have become a vaccuming and mopping machine. I am terrified that they will get some weird mouse disease...(what? I don't know what I'm saying..) I don't know why I am sharing this in such a public forum, other than the fact that I'm sure someone who lives in a 90 year old house has had to deal with similar issues. I have had bad dreams about these animals who eat the cheese out of our mouse traps and then escape. We have caught one. I saw one today. They come out when all is quiet...and I am working on the computer. </center>
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Every time I clean up the blocks, Eli dumps them out. I appreciate his need for chaos. He will feel at home in our house.</center>
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I am leaving for an ENTIRE WEEKEND this weekend to go hang out and craft with some of my best friends, and some of my "virtual 'i wish we were best friends'", <a href="http://megduerksen.typepad.com/whatever/">meg</a> and<a href="http://thedrivewayoflife.blogspot.com/"> kimberlee.</a> I am going to <a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Search-Significance-Workbook-Self-Worth/dp/0633197564/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top">CRAFT WEEKEND</a>! When I tell normal, non bloggers about this, they think I"ve lost my mind. But to get away from kiddos (who I will probably facetime 10 times a day) and have adult conversation and adult time for two and a half days...oh my goodness...I'm so excited. It's sort of my birthday present, since my birthday is next week. It's also coming up on Briar's 2 year "birthday" (the same day). So, this is a good time for me to get away, be refreshed. The ladies running it are strong believers...so it will be encouraging..and so much fun. </center>
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In other news, since I haven't been blogging, I haven't shared many of our summer photos at all....this was one of Eli's first trips into the pool. He wasn't sure yet, but later decided he loves the pool. </center>
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Eli, about two weeks after he got home, decided that he loves to ride in ATV type vehicles. Finn has known this since before birth :) This might have been our first family trip post airport!<br />
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That's all for now, we are running to the doctor for an ear infection check.</center>
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Brookehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10265876447712229709noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3937676350409853562.post-52387365784817937392012-08-22T04:37:00.001-07:002012-08-22T04:37:11.129-07:00Pushing the Limits<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Oh boys.
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They are SO DIFFERENT than girls.<br />
I grew up as an only child. Playing with barbies, doll houses, maybe some hot glue as I got older. And gasp, maybe an occasional car or block. But it was pretty tame.<br />
I did not grow up like my husband, playing in the woods every day (from a small age), shooting everything I could find with my pretend gun, then my BB gun....racing dirtbikes from a young age, mountain biking everywhere I went, (ie. everything includes an element of danger...EVERYTHING)<br />
My life is about to begin getting crazy.<br />
Eli chases Bella with the lawn mower and cracks up.<br />
Finn gets on the side table and pulls down my BRAND NEW Sonic Diet Strawberry Limeade, and when I come back from the bathroom, it is all over him and he is splashing in it.<br />
These boys love to play in Bella's food...and eat it.<br />
Girls do things like this, I know.<br />
But girls don't love being tackled on the bed by their dad (hard). I get so mad at Brandon, but how can I...the boys are screaming with LAUGHTER of DELIGHT. I can't deny them that.<br />
But I want to. It's too "rough".<br />
enter a mother into a house of boys.<br />
Here it goes. The neverending tongue biting adventure.<br />
"don't nag, don't nag, don't nag" <---repeating in my mind.<br />
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This particular day, Eli had been sitting in his toy bin. All day.<br />
Brandon capitalized on this opportunity and decided to make it a sliding car.<br />
My first reaction was, "NO! ON THE TILE!? THey are going to bust their FACES!".<br />
Then I chilled out and joined in the fun.<br />
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Let me start by qualifying something. These photos are not the best. I took them while holding my camera out to the side while playing with the boys. I thought it was way more important to do that. I would always rather have a great time with my boys and capture it a little blurry than have perfect pictures but not be in on the fun! I'm not sure why I didn't adjust the color when editing, but either way, accept these mediocre pictures :) <br />
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I love seeing Bella in the corner of one, and I love how fat Finn's face looks when it is blowing in the wind!<br />
Hope these make you laugh.<br />
Does your spouse ever do things that make you want to scream, but turn out to be a fun choice?<br />
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Brookehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10265876447712229709noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3937676350409853562.post-8573510212163068802012-08-21T11:04:00.003-07:002012-08-21T11:04:55.014-07:00Random Tuesday Talk<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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My best friend got married this summer. It was about one week after we brought Eli home from Ethiopia. </center>
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This is at the rehearsal dinner. </center>
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We considered not taking him out at all. We were being VERY protective the first couple of weeks, and this was literally one of his first times out of the house. Look how happy he is, but he is GRIPPING Brandon's shirt :) He already looks so different with his long hair. Finn's hair has also gotten a lot longer. </center>
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So far, Eli has been to:</center>
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Butler, Georgia</center>
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Tampa, Florida (to see his cousin!)</center>
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Rockford, Illinois</center>
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(his third and fourth plane rides after the two back to Ethiopia)</center>
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That is in less than 3 months. Finn has been to Africa...in addition to Kentucky three times, Rockford an additional time and that might be it. </center>
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Having two kids I am realizing this:</center>
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1. You have a good excuse for not having flat abs. EVERY. SINGLE. TiME. i lay down to do a crunch/plank/bicycle.....I get a child sitting on my face/belly/legs/boobs. If I do a plank, they crawl under and push up. So, although entertaining, makes it tough to work out. </center>
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2. When you have two kids of different races, people will often stare for long periods at your stroller, stare intently at just one of the children, wave at the child of their race (very disturbing and angering..), or recognize you later because of it. (Hey, you're the lady that walks at the park with the two kids...one mixed..I don't bother correcting most of them.)</center>
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3. People will ask all the time if you have twins. Even though they are different colors. (They are the same size and weight...23lbs and 32 inches long: 10 months apart)</center>
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4. Even though they nap at the same time, for 3 hours, you will still get NOTHING done. And you have to feel okay about it. Even though you once taught a classroom of 28 students with no 3 hour naps and still got a lot done. I guess these 2 sweet children just need lots of mommy time, and then make lots of messes to clean.</center>
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5. "cooking" means trying not to trip over small people in the kitchen as they grab onto your feet.</center>
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6. "quiet time" with the Lord is much more desired, but much harder to get because I am EVEN MORE tired in the morning. My newly recovered bible is making me want to wake up early to open it. (made a slipcover for it inspired by my friend Shara. I'm sure she sewed hers but I didn't feel like pulling the machine down, so mine is hot glued...)</center>
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7. Traveling to the park with two kids is like packing for Christmas vacation with my husband and I. Diapers, wipes, snacks, water, milk, toys, etc, etc.... Sometimes doesn't feel worth it! Always is.</center>
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8. I said my kids would not watch ANY TV. Well, along with the 85 other resolutions and things that I judged others for but "would never do with MYYY KIDS", I am failing :) Let it be said, you are NOT WRONG if you want to watch 8 hours a day with your kids! The shows they make now are super educational and awesome. I just really 'intended' not to make the tv something I relied on for entertainment. I want to force myself to get in the floor and play with them.</center>
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Anyway, on to how I am not actually doing any of what I thought. The "your baby can read" series is really nice to show Eli sight words when I need to clean up after a meal. Finn also likes it. They say, Wave to Graham" and Eli waves. So cute. Since I have no talking children yet, it is fun. It is a real kid just talking in sentences and they show pictures. That is nice, it's like Eli's big brother...on a tv. We have also watched Mickey Mouse clubhouse a couple times, and I won't lie...the theme song is a little catchy...</center>
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9. Sometimes when you have two kids and the meal is over, you put their high chair trays on the floor and look away. And if your dog, let's say, hypothetically named Bella, happens to eat the leftovers...well then...it's less work for you later. After sanitizing and cleaning, you might find a hair still left on there...so I'm definitely not saying this is a good idea. Building up their immune systems....</center>
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10. The things you worried about when you only had one kid no longer matter. Super overprotective about the color socks they wear? no more. Super crazy about going to the doctor every time the kid breathes weird? No more. Now there are two. Now, it is survival mode :) Especially two right at the same age. Twins by choice is what I like to say. "What were we thinking"...i try not to say....</center>
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Good news: Kids get older. challenges change. This is a season. It's a fun season. I don't want to miss a moment of it!</center>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/46658275@N03/5143172389/" title="name by bwuk14, on Flickr"><img alt="name" height="73" src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1204/5143172389_db97656ed1_m.jpg" width="197" /></a></center>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/46658275@N03/5143889322/" title="gray ric rac copy by bwuk14, on Flickr"><img alt="gray ric rac copy" height="70" src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1072/5143889322_de4f419aeb.jpg" width="710" /></a> </center>
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Brookehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10265876447712229709noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3937676350409853562.post-88371810355920673602012-08-14T07:41:00.001-07:002012-08-14T07:41:20.175-07:00Thankful <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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This week has been a week where I have walked around feeling thankful.</center>
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Thankful for poop smeared around the crib as I go in to greet my kids in the morning.</center>
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Thankful for a night of crying kids, so I have to miss a fun get together with friends.</center>
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Thankful for two beautiful sons that I hold on this earth.</center>
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Because there is a third son that I will only hold in heaven.</center>
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A sweet friend of mine lost her baby this week.</center>
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41 weeks.</center>
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No heartbeat.</center>
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I can't describe the feelings it brought back in my heart. My heart broke for my sweet friend.</center>
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I took photos of the beautiful, gorgeous baby at the hospital. </center>
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What a sweet gift to give to someone, because I cherish my photos of Briar. Every day.</center>
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But it was by far the hardest thing I've ever done, watching someone else hurt in a way that i could literally feel in the depth of my soul. </center>
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She is really turning to the Lord for her strength. I am so proud of her. It is so hard. </center>
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It changed the way I looked at my family this week.</center>
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Because two years ago I was there, in those shoes. Wondering when I would EVER hold a baby that I could "keep". I remember having Finn and wondering if I really got to keep him...</center>
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Well, I got to keep him. And I got another oni the process :) Three boys, two to hold...</center>
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One amazing husband...</center>
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So I will choose to dwell there today, rather than in the messy house that I have...or the sweet boys who are pulling at my pant legs right now. I'm going to go now, and enjoy them. Because that was me...I know what it feels like to be there. And it's not pretty. </center>
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But God is faithful. </center>
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Real quick I'll share with you this: the sweet college girls group that I disciple...we've been talking through lots of things lately, but one thing we hadn't done is authentically shared our life stories. I felt like I should be transparent and honest so that they would feel able to do the same. So I shared about many times in my life, but I ended talking about Briar. And about how day to day, it was such a struggle. I really camped out in 2 Corinthians 4. esp v.16. "Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly, we are being renewed day by day". I feel like it's important to continually say out loud that through the lowest, darkest, hardest time in my life, the Lord REFINED me. He made me new in so many ways. I wouldn't ask to lose a baby again, nor would I wish it on my worse enemy...but I also am thankful for the blessings it has brought into my life. I"m thankful for the relationship with the Lord that is stronger and greater for it.</center>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--Qd4qEOB7Us/UCmYV5I-c8I/AAAAAAAADFc/KIgmvoL8x-s/s1600/20120803_0725.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--Qd4qEOB7Us/UCmYV5I-c8I/AAAAAAAADFc/KIgmvoL8x-s/s640/20120803_0725.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yesterday I talked about the "casual 5k"...with Dean Karnases. Well, this was downtown after the race.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Finn saying hi to his buddy :)</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Even when he is concerned, he is so sweet.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-d07YPmrHGWM/UCmYkDjXLkI/AAAAAAAADF0/TuSecKvkm-U/s1600/20120803_0752.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-d07YPmrHGWM/UCmYkDjXLkI/AAAAAAAADF0/TuSecKvkm-U/s640/20120803_0752.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our sweet friends and fellow staff members, Josh and Kelsey. Whit, their boy, is 3 weeks younger than Finn.<br /><br />I've already had to take two breaks from writing this to play on the floor with these sweet boys. So clearly I'm needed. Going to go.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/46658275@N03/5143172389/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="name by bwuk14, on Flickr"><img alt="name" height="73" src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1204/5143172389_db97656ed1_m.jpg" width="197" /></a></td></tr>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/46658275@N03/5143889322/" title="gray ric rac copy by bwuk14, on Flickr"><img alt="gray ric rac copy" height="70" src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1072/5143889322_de4f419aeb.jpg" width="710" /></a> </center>
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Brookehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10265876447712229709noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3937676350409853562.post-27437891788242866852012-08-13T14:19:00.000-07:002020-02-11T02:46:54.425-08:00Getting back into it<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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We've been busy (ongoing theme) at the house.</center>
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The boys are wonderful and beginning to settle in.</center>
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I have been ramping up the intensity of my workouts recently. I love to workout, as many of you know, and I really miss the old days (I was training for a half ironman triathlon when I got pregnant with Briar). I ran a casual 5k the other night at a very brisk pace (it was an organized, untimed run..). I have been running distance on the weekends to train for a half marathon in November. And during the week, I do spin in the mornings and a bootcamp called "Stroller Strong Moms" in the mornings. It sounds wimpy, but it is anything but. If you ever want more info on that, I'd be happy to take you along!</center>
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So, since I have been doing the bootcamp type training and some long runs, I figured, why not just do a triathlon. </center>
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Actually, it didn't come about that way. I got talked into it by a friend who is a triathlon coach who seems to have a ridiculous amount of confidence in anyone who can walk....that they can complete a triathlon. </center>
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There is a little history here. I first started doing triathlons in 2007 because B was deployed for 15 months, and he talked about getting into them when he got back. I always have such a hard time keeping up with him, I decided that I would one up him. :) I already loved to work out, i swam growing up, recently got a road bike, and I could run. I would start doing them now so I would be able to keep up with him later. Well, I started and he never did. In fact, I never did them while he was home. They began to be something that kept me busy while he was deployed. I did several every time he deployed, and he deployed 4 times.</center>
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The first one I did was sort of like this one, that I did Saturday. I didn't train much. I didn't prepare...I swam a little, biked (a very little) and ran on occasion. I figured I could do it. It was a "sprint" distance. I think it was a 700m swim, a 15 mile bike and a 3 mile run. Some are shorter and/or longer in the distances, and they vary. I knew I could handle it. And I did. I think at the time, I placed second in my age group. I was shocked, as my goal was to finish. </center>
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Just to entertain you, I will show you these embarrasing photos of myself back in 07-09...because I didn't take any photos yesterday, then we can talk some more.</center>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yoFdg03zJQM/UCgKzqIzmtI/AAAAAAAADCo/3ks5Je3YbXk/s1600/LSU_B2141.tif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yoFdg03zJQM/UCgKzqIzmtI/AAAAAAAADCo/3ks5Je3YbXk/s640/LSU_B2141.tif" width="424" /></a></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-y6HvCAX8heI/UCgK7_GONqI/AAAAAAAADCw/QjU3umTsA-Q/s1600/LSU_R3162.tif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-y6HvCAX8heI/UCgK7_GONqI/AAAAAAAADCw/QjU3umTsA-Q/s640/LSU_R3162.tif" width="424" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hello, my shorts are up too high, I have horrible running form, and I look dorky, but give me points for trying...</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-g8pW0ao4GyI/UCgLFKm-lTI/AAAAAAAADC4/WQWkZJ85_Po/s1600/LSU_S1149.tif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-g8pW0ao4GyI/UCgLFKm-lTI/AAAAAAAADC4/WQWkZJ85_Po/s640/LSU_S1149.tif" width="424" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Running from the swim to the transition area to the bike is always super tiring...</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BMJgD8eWFyc/UCgLJfk1n4I/AAAAAAAADDA/JSSJTv0USDk/s1600/070812-JP-GA-120.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BMJgD8eWFyc/UCgLJfk1n4I/AAAAAAAADDA/JSSJTv0USDk/s640/070812-JP-GA-120.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Taking your bike out of your car is the most nerve wracking part of the day. You realize that you are up at the crack of dawn to compete against others. Really fun. Really adrenaline inducing.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--_e3NFiz2SM/UCgLJ-emStI/AAAAAAAADDI/ebv0jjK26z8/s1600/070812-JP-GA-129.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--_e3NFiz2SM/UCgLJ-emStI/AAAAAAAADDI/ebv0jjK26z8/s640/070812-JP-GA-129.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Getting marked up with my race number.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-x2pBDYvBVss/UCgLKZxLadI/AAAAAAAADDQ/f3ukZeDqG6U/s1600/070812-JP-GA-134.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-x2pBDYvBVss/UCgLKZxLadI/AAAAAAAADDQ/f3ukZeDqG6U/s640/070812-JP-GA-134.JPG" width="424" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Swim buoys that you swim around in the lake/river.</td></tr>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2bG68BGveZ8/UCgLKlg0OFI/AAAAAAAADDY/pF3uX_V8zEw/s1600/070812-JP-GA-139.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2bG68BGveZ8/UCgLKlg0OFI/AAAAAAAADDY/pF3uX_V8zEw/s640/070812-JP-GA-139.JPG" width="424" /></a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This was probably my third triathlon, still very new and scared. Although I am scared everytime.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Waiting for the swim to start. Not sure why my hair looks like such a horrible cone.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The worst part of the swim is crashing into the water with tons of other swimmers. I tried to get out in front (top right) so that I wouldn't get kicked in the face.</td></tr>
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I think these last four must be horrible quality because I couldn't get them any bigger. This triathlon was after I moved to Georgia, the rest were when I lived in North Carolina. This was the longest triathlon I had done up until this point, the olympic distance triathlon at calloway gardens. (with my sweet friend Sarah!)</center>
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All of this to say....I'm not a triathlon star. I have won the fastest time in my age group several times, but I do think that it is fun to compete.</center>
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So, this weekend I did a race. It was an Olympic Distance, like the one I did above. It was a 1500meter swim, a 26 mile bike and a 6.2 mile run. The run actually turned out to be a little longer, around 6.9 miles. It was tough. I did okay :) IT will be a good baseline for future races. I feel like I succeeded in doing it, but my competitive side won't feel good until I am beating my old times.</center>
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To be honest, I stay away from blogging a lot because my blog isn't super cute, how I want it to be. I don't have time to edit great photos for myself (only for others :), so I just end up not posting, but for now, I'm just posting...imperfect and all.</center>
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In other news, in the last two days, we have been given a $3000 matching grant from lifesong (total of $6000 if we get $3000) and we got $1000 donation to the adoption. So....since we have just wrapped up a lot of our adoption expenses (we probably have about $1000 left...), does this money mean we should start another adoption?! :) Oh mom and Jenny, I know this is making you freak out. Don't worry yet.... :) But, I guess you can never say never.</center>
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Have a wonderful day!</center>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/46658275@N03/5143172389/" title="name by bwuk14, on Flickr"><img alt="name" src="https://farm2.static.flickr.com/1204/5143172389_db97656ed1_m.jpg" height="73" width="197"></a></center>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/46658275@N03/5143889322/" title="gray ric rac copy by bwuk14, on Flickr"><img alt="gray ric rac copy" src="https://farm2.static.flickr.com/1072/5143889322_de4f419aeb.jpg" height="70" width="710"></a> </center>
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Brookehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10265876447712229709noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3937676350409853562.post-69313238842584150372012-08-01T12:28:00.001-07:002012-08-01T12:28:48.721-07:00oh, the adventures<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Parenting children is an adventure, but parenting a child of a different race has proved (already) to create some awkward moments and interesting times.
Right now it's not an issue because Eli doesn't understand language. But as we move forward, it's going to get tougher.<br />
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I am still navigating how I should approach people and their questions about my boys. I am happy they want to talk. I often want to share about adoption, because it is something amazing and worth talking about. But as he gets older, I definitely don't want him constantly hearing me talking about "Eli is adopted". Although we will tell him, I don't want it to be his identity. <br />
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Yesterday at the grocery, a lady said, "How far apart are they?" and I said, "Nine months", and she said, "Wow, you're just like my sister, can't stop having babies". And that hurt my feelings, so I (selfishly) said, "Well, this sweet guy is adopted, so I didn't actually have babies that close together" (Which frustrates me....why do I feel like I have to qualify his origins? I should just let people judge me, rather than continually restate that he is adopted. I don't want to constantly tell people that when he is aware of language...) She then proceeded, "Wow, well he looks mixed. I thought he was yours". I responded, "He is mine...but I know what you mean". AGH. The balance is tough to find!<br />
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in other news:</center>
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my house is a mess. Now i get it, people. </center>
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When I had a small, non mobile infant, I thought, "What were these people talking about?" "It's not that hard to keep my house clean :)". Oh gosh. Once again, I am humbled. </center>
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We had friends over last night who have no kids, and aren't even thinking about it.</center>
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It made me want to crawl under our table. There are half done craft projects laying around, toys that aren't totally put away, dishes in half of the sink, laundry on top of the machine....oh my goodness. So overwhelming at times! But, at the end of the day, I'd rather have friends over in my messy house...rather than the alternative.</center>
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But we've all been there. We're all there.</center>
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Glad to walk through it with other people I know!</center>
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I am getting certified to do group fitness. I am also leading a (free) bootcamp in the fall through our church growth group, hoping to meet some new people and practice teaching a bit. I got suckered into an olympic distance triathlon in a week and a half. I haven't ridden my bike since BEFORE BRIAR. That's right people....probably late 2009. I got pregnant with Briar in January 2010. Had him September 2010. Got pregnant with Finn early 2011. Had him October 2011. I haven't been back on that bike. The olympic tri is 20 miles. This should be fun :) </center>
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In the spirit of updates, I'll keep going.</center>
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I have been discipling college girls all summer. It has taken me back to the days of old. The days when we didn't have much going on. But it felt like we did. These girls are on top of it and eager to learn. And I have loved every minute of teaching them. We went through CRU's discipleship stuff....so it was familiar to me. Talking a lot about relying on the holy spirit to walk through day to day. That we are unable to figure out this life alone, without guidance from the Lord. We are trying to memorize James 1 (truth be told, i am slacking from the James study I did with Beth Moore and I'm trying to get them to help me do my memorization...) </center>
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Alright, busy editing photos for a friend and doing a quick quiet time with the end of this nap!</center>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/46658275@N03/5143172389/" title="name by bwuk14, on Flickr"><img alt="name" height="73" src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1204/5143172389_db97656ed1_m.jpg" width="197" /></a></center>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/46658275@N03/5143889322/" title="gray ric rac copy by bwuk14, on Flickr"><img alt="gray ric rac copy" height="70" src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1072/5143889322_de4f419aeb.jpg" width="710" /></a> </center>
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</div>Brookehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10265876447712229709noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3937676350409853562.post-38198807774634434362012-07-23T13:50:00.002-07:002012-07-23T13:50:40.985-07:00here and there...<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<center><br /></center><center>Gosh, I can't believe I have let the blog slide. I suppose that is what happens when you have two kiddos. :)</center><center>It is funny the crazy respect you gain for moms when you BECOME one! </center><center>We went to Illinois this weekend and I got to hang out with my mom and grandma. </center><center>4 generations together. That was special and fun! I loved seeing my sweet cousin get married. </center><center>I remember sitting with her in my lap, when I was little and I loved it! I never had a little sister or brother, so I never got to hold babies. She was "my baby"....and I always felt that way growing up. </center><center><br /></center><center>So, super fun to be watching her grow up! She had a baby a couple months ago, so our boys aren't too far apart either :) </center><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<center><br /></center><center>In other, momma related notes....</center><center>Eli's tongue is not always out. But....I do find it funny. When I was young, I had a condition called "macro glossia" or LARGE TONGUE. When I was young, all my pictures look like this. So, I like to tell people it's genetic :)_</center><center><br /></center><center>I am still pumping. This is not what I dreamed my nursing relationship would look like. Today, I tried to offer to nurse with Finn (he was just acting like he wanted it, but as he almost went on, he started to laugh. I put my finger in his mouth instead and he bit down, HARD. </center><center>Good choice not to offer the real thing :) </center><center>He is 10 months next week, so two more months to go. Lots of people urging me to stop, but I just can't, yet. Maybe before a year...but right now I"m just not ready.</center><center>I am sad that it ended to abruptly when we brought Eli home, but it is one of those plentiful momma moments where you realize that although you thought you could control every aspect of your life, in fact, you have very little control after all.</center><center><br /></center><center>I have become a google-aholic. I google EVERYTHING. "how to steam broccoli" " what to feed your toddler" "how to get drool stains out of beautiful dresses" "calories in sonic diet cherry lime aides" "How to marinate new york strip steak?" "what should we eat for dinner tonight?" "how much should I pump?" etc, etc, etc. I feel like I think of something, and then think, "Hey, why am I wasting time thinking about it? I'm going to ask google". :) </center><center><br /></center><center>The boys are really adjusting. They love to tackle/hug each other. They give kisses (open mouth slobber fests) to each other and share food when they are in their high chairs :) They are a little obscene at times. But so cute.</center><center><br /></center><center>Since we are crazy and such, right when Eli gets comfortable, we decide to shake things up a bit. So, two weeks ago, we took a little road trip down to Tampa to see my brother and sister in law. :) Fun, but maybe not the wisest....with a baby who has been home for four weeks...Overall it went great and it was super fun though! Then, this past week we flew to Illinois. Oh the joys of flying with two "infants". Let's begin with this: Two infants (in arms) cannot be in one row. So, Brandon and I had to sit separate. That means that I had to try to contain a child on my lap for two hours, without allowing him to dive into the lap of my neighbor. This proved VERY interesting. VERY. I sat next to a professional belly dancer (don't worry, I didn't know they existed either). HE (yes, HE!!) luckily didn't mind the drool all over his arms and the knocks in the head while he napped. Then we piled into a car (THANK GOODNESS....riding a shuttle and trying to keep them entertained in our laps for another two hours would have been torture) and put them in carseats while I squeezed in the middle of the car seats (hello child bearing hips...)...</center><center><br /></center><center>All in all...just crazy around these parts. :)</center><center><br /></center><center>I get to LEAVE the house tonight for a girls night! I'm not leaving until bedtime, but I sure am excited!!</center><center><br /></center><center><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/46658275@N03/5143172389/" title="name by bwuk14, on Flickr"><img alt="name" height="73" src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1204/5143172389_db97656ed1_m.jpg" width="197" /></a></center>
<center><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/46658275@N03/5143889322/" title="gray ric rac copy by bwuk14, on Flickr"><img alt="gray ric rac copy" height="70" src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1072/5143889322_de4f419aeb.jpg" width="710" /></a> </center></div>Brookehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10265876447712229709noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3937676350409853562.post-86227291812813133972012-06-25T17:20:00.000-07:002012-06-25T17:20:00.184-07:00Making it...<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<center><br /></center><center>Where to begin? </center><center>I love having two boys. But what I am slowly realizing is this:</center><center>Children (not child, as in one) but children are a true picture of our sin nature...God's redemptive purposes for us...and a true testament and challenge in how to abide in Christ.</center><center><br /></center><center>THe Lord has been teaching me so much about this since Eli came home. </center><center>This morning, he continued to teach me as a man rang my doorbell, and when I didn't answer after three rings (usually it is a homeless man...so I don't answer when I'm home alone)...he came to the window, peeked in and started yelling at me to open the door, my dog was barking. At the time, I was pumping (which I despise...and is necessary because sweet Finn still won't nurse...), so I wasn't going to get up anyway. I was covered up, so he couldn't tell. But I stormed out there, told him what I was doing (he felt weird, which was the reaction I was hoping for...how dare he bang on my door as if that is okay?) and asked him what he needed. He proceeded to lecture me about my dog barking. Telling me that it is a nuisance to the public and he could take me to court over it. In fact, he says, he could call the police. At this point, I am getting mad. I told him that I have a new baby from Ethiopia, and he is terrified of our dog. Our dog just came back on Saturday, so this is still very new for him. He said, "have you thought about a muzzle? I would be scared of her too!". I told him that she was a very nice dog, but she is big, and he is having trouble adjusting. I told him I would look into a muzzle, and I'm doing the very best I can with two children. He then asked me if I "had any help" or had a husband.....which is where I really had to ask God for patience. </center><center><br /></center><center>So, instead of punching him, I cried.</center><center>I could see that this was making him feel bad, and I couldn't help it. I said, "Look, Sir, I am doing my very best. i have a little baby and another child that we just adopted. He is very scared of our dog, and I realize the barking is annoying. I just went out and gave her a treat to quiet her down. I am trying to figure this out". He stammered off apologizing and telling me how he felt bad, he just wanted to make me aware.....</center><center><br /></center><center>It was no fun. </center><center>But, it reminded me that you can choose to see that BAD or the GOOD in every situation.</center><center>You can choose to hear that barking dog...and yell at someone...</center><center>or wonder if that dog is outside barking because they have a newborn, or a parent just died, or they are having marriage problems, etc. </center><center>You can choose to be kind. Or to be rude.</center><center>So I'm glad I didn't match his mean-ness with the same.</center><center>I only wish I knew where he lived.</center><center>I would take him some cookies, with my dog sitting next to me.</center><center><br /></center><center>I feel like I've been absent for a while. So, since I uploaded some cell phone pictures, and my kids are both sleeping (SIGH!)...let's share some of the past couple of months...</center><center><br /></center><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Finn riding Hayley's new riding mower in texas...Brando and I at the wedding in Denton.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">She looks so happy and beautiful! :) </td></tr>
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When we returned, we had three days until we left for Ethiopia for trip 1...in March. Back when we only had one crib :)<br />
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Finn did awesome on all the plane rides....we were so thankful for this bassinet so he had somewhere to sleep on the 12 and 17 hour flights...<br />
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Then we arrived in ethiopia...the brothers met....the "played" together.....took naps together....took Eli's first stroller ride together...<br />
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Finn loves his daddy!<br />
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One of Finn's first boat rides :)</div>
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Brandon's "rebellion from the army-ministry beard"</div>
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Finn beginning to army crawl...around 7.5 months</div>
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Trying out the two cribs a couple different ways...</div>
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While we anticipate sweet big brother coming home...</div>
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Finn took a trip to Butler, GA and rode on a big tractor :)</div>
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We planned a couples wedding shower for our best friends, Bryan and Rebecca. :) It was a "competition shower" with costumes encouraged....<br />
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Finn was not a fan of the life jacket....(mom in the background was the house you were looking at for a while on sunset)</div>
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Finn discovering "flat brandon", which has since been retired to the trash. This guy made a trip to a friend's wedding when Brandon's deployment was extended in 2007 and he couldn't make the wedding!</div>
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Finn's first hike...and our last family picture before Eli came along!</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Date night....gotta have the big gulp diet.mt dew...</td></tr>
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Finn loves the water....</div>
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Trying to take advantage of date nights while we only had one child :) And we did....<br />
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When Sweet Frog, a frozen yogurt place opened, Finn was one of the first in line!! It is the best place in town :) This was a couple days before we left to get Eli...<br />
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Brandon was the first to see Eli again...in June....and we left him beginning of April...<br />
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<center>And I followed several days later. I was clearly distraught after nursing finn to bed....knowing I wouldn't see him for a week. Turns out I had a right to be upset...because that was the last time I nursed him. He STILL won't nurse....and I still offer often.</center><center><br /></center><center>So...that's been our last couple of months, in iphone pics :) </center><center><br /></center><center>We are making it. </center><center>Slowly but surely.</center><center>Tonight, Brandon woke Eli up from a nap at 5:30 (i had let him soothe himself to sleep for nap...he let out three squeals, then was asleep) and he was just ticked. He screamed for about an hour....so that was no fun. We tried food, drinks, walking, sitting, etc. Bummer. </center><center>In those moments I remind myself that patience is a virtue.</center><center>A fruit of the spirit.</center><center>I have to trust God to have patience with an hour of screaming :) </center><center>Because this poor guy has been through a lot, and I want to be a safe place for him to be.</center><center><br /></center><center>Happy Monday.</center><center>I'm going to watch the bachelorette. Guilty pleasure...</center><center><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/46658275@N03/5143172389/" title="name by bwuk14, on Flickr"><img alt="name" height="73" src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1204/5143172389_db97656ed1_m.jpg" width="197" /></a></center>
<center><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/46658275@N03/5143889322/" title="gray ric rac copy by bwuk14, on Flickr"><img alt="gray ric rac copy" height="70" src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1072/5143889322_de4f419aeb.jpg" width="710" /></a> </center><center><br /></center></div>Brookehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10265876447712229709noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3937676350409853562.post-73643731986111199392012-06-21T20:40:00.002-07:002012-06-21T20:40:16.112-07:00A school unlike you've ever seen...<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<center>While we were in Ethiopia, we visited a school.</center><center>To say the LEAST...it was humbling. </center><center>Look at this first photo. First of all, this is the wall...they were THRILLED to take turns reading off "lion", "Tiger", "Elephant"...in their little ethiopian accents....take a moment...look at the yellow sheet on the wall...26 males, 29 females...55 students...in grade 1...in one classroom.</center><center>let's put that in perspective. More than 18 students in a classroom in the U.S. is a lot.</center><center>At one point I had 28 second graders (more mature than 1st graders)</center><center>and I thought I couldn't teach another day.</center><center><br /></center><center>These children were quiet, excited, well behaved....</center><center>They were responsive.</center><center>The teacher asked a question and they were dying to answer.</center><center>It was amazing. I wish I could teach there.</center><center>Our friend Woudneh asked me to teach....for free :) Wish we could make that work...</center><center>What do you think the thing next to the "animals" is? I couldn't figure it out...</center>
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This is Kindergarten. They were so sweet...attentive...</div>
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I wondered why he was up front....was he in trouble, or was that the only place they could find for him? Look at that beautiful desk. Wouldn't you take it home for your house?? I would!</div>
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Just amazing....these children with tattered clothing, dirty faces....</div>
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Remember the video from a while ago..."You like chocolat? I like chocolat..."...THey were singing that....and this one girl just couldn't figure out who I was or what I was doing....<br />
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Shewww....</div>
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These kids get out at lunchtime, because most of them can't afford to bring lunch, so they have to let them go home for the day. Most of these children should be adoptable because they are so poor/destitute, but aren't for legal reasons, etc. This school is full of need. We were there when school got out and they surrounded us and just touched us. I hugged and kissed all of them. I had groups of them around me, and I just kept kissing their dirty hands and faces. They couldn't get me dirty.</div>
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These sweet children were beautiful and worthy of love and kisses. </div>
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It was one of those moments that made you wish that love would solve problems. It sometimes will...but it was a tough moment too. I can't solve all these poor children's problems...</div>
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But I can take one child home. I can love him.</div>
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I can give him a home and a loving family.</div>
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And even in these transitional moments that are hard...that are confusing...I will choose to smile and remember the children that I couldn't help...and that a life with food, water and shelter, even amongst some stress...is much better than the alternative.</div>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/46658275@N03/5143172389/" title="name by bwuk14, on Flickr"><img alt="name" height="73" src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1204/5143172389_db97656ed1_m.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="197" /></a></div>
<center><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/46658275@N03/5143889322/" title="gray ric rac copy by bwuk14, on Flickr"><img alt="gray ric rac copy" height="70" src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1072/5143889322_de4f419aeb.jpg" width="710" /></a> </center></div>Brookehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10265876447712229709noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3937676350409853562.post-85939608738059437492012-06-18T16:20:00.000-07:002012-06-18T16:20:13.015-07:00Home sweet home<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<center>We have been home 5 1/2 days. </center><center>I am sorry I haven't written sooner, but it has been quite the whirlwind! We arrived in DC after a 17 hour flight at around 8am Tuesday morning. I was thrilled that we would be reuniting with Finn in just a couple hours and seeing family and friends who would welcome Eli. The 17 hour flight was not kind to me. I was so worried about Eii, and he did wonderful. I had trouble. I had some 'bathroom issues"....even though we had a very normal "american" italian dinner the night before we left. My stomach was in knots the entire plane flight. I thought I was going to throw up and I had a horrible migraine. On top of that, I was pumping in the airplane bathroom every 2 hours to keep my milk supply up. Very glamorous. :) I usually do very well on long flights, so this was kind of a bummer. But it still went okay.</center><center><br /></center><center>The good news is our sweet boy had an easy flight. We kept him eating snacks and bottles the whole flight and might have slipped him a little benadryl. I used to think this was cruel and unusual. I now think it is kind and sweet. I wish someone would have given me some benadryl. It didn't knock him out at all, but it did encourage him to sleep. </center><center><br /></center><center>Anyway, we got back to a beautiful reunion. Once again, I worried about Eli and his adjustment to the crazy airport. He loved it. He was so happy to play with the other kids and smiled the ENTIRE TIME!! IT was crazy. Guess what the problem was? My sweet, awesome little Finn. He was ticked, it was apparent from the moment I saw him. He did not dive into my arms. He did not hug me and try to nurse my arm as I expected. No. He acted VERY standoffish. He was mad. Eight months old....and smart as can be :)</center><center><br /></center><center>Thus began our first every nursing strike. After pumping on the 12 hour plane ride there, in airport bathrooms, in cars in Ethiopia going through the dusty traffic, while covering with a nursing cover....dumping all of that precious "gold" out... (the orphanage wasn't interested in it because it was such a short duration, and it will change the ph balance of their stomachs...) The whole time, I thought how much it was worth it, because I just love nursing. It is good time together, it is easy, it is FREE, it is special...I planned to go at least one year... and then...he would not come back. I tried five times the day I got back and he wanted nothing to do with me. I have tried at least that many times each day since, without forcing. I am not giving him milk in a bottle, only in a cup. So far, no luck. He is showing a little more interest, so I am going to keep trying. But it is sad.</center><center><br /></center><center>This has been the surprise with the whole journey. I prepared myself for overwhelemd Eli. I prepared myself for his clingy, crying fits. I prepared myself to be patient with him. But surprisingly, Finn is having a harder time in many ways than Eli. Because he is so little, I wasn't expecting this. If he was 2 years old, I get it...but he is generally very adaptable. He stayed with someone who loved him (my mother in law)...</center><center><br /></center><center>But he has had SO MANY CHANGES lately.</center><center>Brandon left.</center><center> Several days later, I left.</center><center>He had bottles (the most consecutive bottles he had ever had was 2)</center><center>He traveled to Kentucky.</center><center>He went to a wedding.</center><center>He hung out with his cousin (another baby)</center><center>He saw lots of family and friends.</center><center>He traveled to a hotel.</center><center>Traveled to the airport, where we arrived with a new child.</center><center><br /></center><center>When I put myself in his shoes, I would probably be on a nursing strike too!</center><center>That is overwhelming. And I am 28. :) </center><center>So, I'm giving him time and hoping he'll come back, because it was special. And I hate pumping. But either way, we will persevere through it. But it was an unexpected challenge of the whole thing! If you have ever dealt with a nursing strike, please, share your wisdom. </center><center><br /></center><center>After being standoffish for a few days, now I can't leave his sight. So my once chilled out baby who soothed himself to sleep and played independently now clings to my ankles and needs to be rocked to sleep. Don't get me wrong, I sure don't mind a bit (these moments won't last..so I want to cherish them.) but....it just provides a little stress because I only have two arms...and now two needy babies. :) PLEASE don't feel sorry for us, I'm just sharing where we are. Not asking for pity. It is hard hearing your normally chilled out baby crying all the time.</center><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<center><br /></center><center>We are doing lots of screaming around here, all of us. :) But I continue to remember that this is a season. And the sweet smiles are worth it. The adorable grins. THe big hugs and kisses. All of those moments make the junky times worth it.</center><center><br /></center><center>Adoption causes some tough situations. It was, in fact, born out of sin. (Adoption would not exist if sin was not present in this world). We are rejoicing that God called us to adopt. Rejoicing that this sweet boy is in our family. Praying that hte adjustments would come.</center><center><br /></center><center>And, because you give great advice, What do I feed this child? He throws EVERYTHING on the floor... :) So far, the only things that have remained successful are oatmeal and bread/milk. Everything else is touch and go :) I'll take your tips! </center><center><br /></center><center><br /></center><center><br /></center><center><br /></center><center><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/46658275@N03/5143172389/" title="name by bwuk14, on Flickr"><img alt="name" height="73" src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1204/5143172389_db97656ed1_m.jpg" width="197" /></a></center>
<center><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/46658275@N03/5143889322/" title="gray ric rac copy by bwuk14, on Flickr"><img alt="gray ric rac copy" height="70" src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1072/5143889322_de4f419aeb.jpg" width="710" /></a> </center></div>Brookehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10265876447712229709noreply@blogger.com11