tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3521337621951712972024-03-18T21:56:37.276-07:00As For Me And My HausThis is the story of our family life. It's a little bit of everything along the way towards meeting Christ Jesus in person.Laurziehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07296612994620890887noreply@blogger.comBlogger385125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-352133762195171297.post-52787485781456763242010-06-05T18:22:00.000-07:002010-06-05T18:25:08.427-07:00What The Hair Kind of Blog Is This Anyway?!?<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbhfAyWvopczp-IT0JeBd5y-8tnHgJP9rMJJGDvfe9iiG72RB6vaRIv0-42tUmt-RAh7lAmqvm-lxWTONNnNkraFCRCiAaQB2gub35n6rP-gh58TEf1pC_u6XkYONaBfZg_q93eyv7xvH2/s1600/RR+fro.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbhfAyWvopczp-IT0JeBd5y-8tnHgJP9rMJJGDvfe9iiG72RB6vaRIv0-42tUmt-RAh7lAmqvm-lxWTONNnNkraFCRCiAaQB2gub35n6rP-gh58TEf1pC_u6XkYONaBfZg_q93eyv7xvH2/s400/RR+fro.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5479465423422641698" /></a><br /><br />There are several new posts with hairstyle ideas on the new blog. Plus, you can check out Ray Ray's new braids at <a href="http://hausandhome.us">As For Me And My Haus</a>!Laurziehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07296612994620890887noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-352133762195171297.post-44806540969838152962010-06-01T16:12:00.001-07:002010-06-01T16:19:08.296-07:00The Bride... On The New Blog<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYsxoffpR6MHIxf8IQY24xuk2WFNxVweBEVrS6ic7EQzQldBdMeVj1JaIICJpklgIb_s3eqrggQSvyp0AGRVw_b_fCcZ5b-45gO_ktowAH53V24iJBJCP7HqQPL-XMT8XXfhqj9EjkHe14/s1600/bride4.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYsxoffpR6MHIxf8IQY24xuk2WFNxVweBEVrS6ic7EQzQldBdMeVj1JaIICJpklgIb_s3eqrggQSvyp0AGRVw_b_fCcZ5b-45gO_ktowAH53V24iJBJCP7HqQPL-XMT8XXfhqj9EjkHe14/s400/bride4.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477948014289633282" /></a><br /><br />The Church is the Bride of Christ. Is this how we're supposed to feel about her?<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil6dDfi6nBHSW9C7xFRzRCrkHZw_uwaq1zVBELMJHzPEI4b1sx_B1U8j84hcipMUGJWYhTQCvM17Fk5IC-XQPzosMouocYaGOfkdpPsSmA8cjSSIPWgzirsWWVww9f0xTJ-hR_6dFDAGW6/s1600/stickouttongue.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 298px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil6dDfi6nBHSW9C7xFRzRCrkHZw_uwaq1zVBELMJHzPEI4b1sx_B1U8j84hcipMUGJWYhTQCvM17Fk5IC-XQPzosMouocYaGOfkdpPsSmA8cjSSIPWgzirsWWVww9f0xTJ-hR_6dFDAGW6/s400/stickouttongue.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477948007170784770" /></a><br /><br />My thoughts are on <a href="http://hausandhome.us">As For Me And My Haus</a>.Laurziehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07296612994620890887noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-352133762195171297.post-18563185061840402362010-05-25T14:20:00.000-07:002010-05-25T14:20:33.282-07:00One Fleshedness... Not For the Faint of Heart<div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfIwkcIrotWWsOreI7IT5FRGTmkF2o6Gd3SrKCss_TqAnOUYqA319vAvg7XhiOUQ8J6L7wfQ6SLoOcyKieVDRmOjQlI8ARCZ-WOtJcsQ0NH7nUYKfYlekK1844QRtMXnR05l5W5jQb9rUK/s1600/wedding+hands.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475319997612790274" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfIwkcIrotWWsOreI7IT5FRGTmkF2o6Gd3SrKCss_TqAnOUYqA319vAvg7XhiOUQ8J6L7wfQ6SLoOcyKieVDRmOjQlI8ARCZ-WOtJcsQ0NH7nUYKfYlekK1844QRtMXnR05l5W5jQb9rUK/s400/wedding+hands.jpg" /></a><br /><br />Check it out at <a href="http://hausandhome.us">As For Me And My Haus</a>.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyJrcEAPX4ZUiEhlVJ_ysAV47kRVtVaBCb6yyJn3ZTtkieUNLP4V3cFUoCu7_oewjV6EdSS2fZ7OZR_Uc5DxojEfqeRi9YbMIGADzrNYnw0T5WJzyiFT_NtPL4cUqP09C7JccQeFJguGBa/s1600/old-couple.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 360px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475319996356525762" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyJrcEAPX4ZUiEhlVJ_ysAV47kRVtVaBCb6yyJn3ZTtkieUNLP4V3cFUoCu7_oewjV6EdSS2fZ7OZR_Uc5DxojEfqeRi9YbMIGADzrNYnw0T5WJzyiFT_NtPL4cUqP09C7JccQeFJguGBa/s400/old-couple.jpg" /></a></div>Laurziehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07296612994620890887noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-352133762195171297.post-899565897450495652010-05-21T10:43:00.000-07:002010-05-21T10:45:00.063-07:00If Not Us, Then Who... On the new blog<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirmUVlMKcmWuQ8E2cM0XRRh17Ya6lbacXPa81wQuy-lABP_25Rj_u-9n1jxqDJo31ueQGfpfXrkpgEWrV76cMNnv_gM3HtMXtFwfymYV_5nVjdqQF43h_Hany6DcxAsxjb1mil43RuVXQb/s1600/africa+world+face.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 399px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirmUVlMKcmWuQ8E2cM0XRRh17Ya6lbacXPa81wQuy-lABP_25Rj_u-9n1jxqDJo31ueQGfpfXrkpgEWrV76cMNnv_gM3HtMXtFwfymYV_5nVjdqQF43h_Hany6DcxAsxjb1mil43RuVXQb/s400/africa+world+face.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5473780505979656370" /></a><br /><br />Check out the <a href="http://hausandhome.us">new blog</a> for a response to Pat Robertson.Laurziehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07296612994620890887noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-352133762195171297.post-20940189249348884272010-05-17T10:05:00.000-07:002010-05-17T10:12:11.892-07:00A Word About Birth Mothers... On The New Blog<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje_lmtm1f2aQrR-gNCkla_HqAKJ6vyy7JzqahoDbSRvdcsl66DFtmZTwmEIf-SDJN4PkmmhnvZO13YBg-_szPFQWZpI9130jV_DJtBF3DkPEC_A8rnJL0E8ucYykFUf-l6X6NUdiaMdVo/s1600-h/pregnant+belly.bmp"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5280842896114735842" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 325px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje_lmtm1f2aQrR-gNCkla_HqAKJ6vyy7JzqahoDbSRvdcsl66DFtmZTwmEIf-SDJN4PkmmhnvZO13YBg-_szPFQWZpI9130jV_DJtBF3DkPEC_A8rnJL0E8ucYykFUf-l6X6NUdiaMdVo/s400/pregnant+belly.bmp" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Check it out at <a href="http://hausandhome.us/">As For Me And My Haus</a>.Laurziehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07296612994620890887noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-352133762195171297.post-13874903111585639722010-05-14T14:11:00.000-07:002010-05-14T14:13:54.888-07:00Insecurity... On The New Blog<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGDUIt_HMZwEfX_pW88x6d9CI9m_cVCAsTtEjtalI6dRaNMj-N9lk_8NwQy98TqWFkHu2rkMVq8NaJ3bRCMwo4HB65zOiAhyyH2rasiXWw-UKI8oOc7HckrDGlevqTrtcqMchdsUp9Pum-/s1600/solonginsecurity.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGDUIt_HMZwEfX_pW88x6d9CI9m_cVCAsTtEjtalI6dRaNMj-N9lk_8NwQy98TqWFkHu2rkMVq8NaJ3bRCMwo4HB65zOiAhyyH2rasiXWw-UKI8oOc7HckrDGlevqTrtcqMchdsUp9Pum-/s400/solonginsecurity.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5471236775053966738" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeJHCD7BeqEBUoE6pROHjYxB1GTrZ6DBbc9vjFk84LxE8ICCHibNe5fKuZaJd62jUjKquP9NIwapVXbcBvr8qQTtcTK9hzk_B-MmqrOppSReudqVI5q5L_U9_e9duQqKqc7aiqzAwX9buv/s1600/bullseye.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 289px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeJHCD7BeqEBUoE6pROHjYxB1GTrZ6DBbc9vjFk84LxE8ICCHibNe5fKuZaJd62jUjKquP9NIwapVXbcBvr8qQTtcTK9hzk_B-MmqrOppSReudqVI5q5L_U9_e9duQqKqc7aiqzAwX9buv/s400/bullseye.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5471236767972832706" /></a><br /><br />'Nuff said.<br /><br />Book review on the <a href="http://hausandhome.us">new blog</a>.Laurziehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07296612994620890887noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-352133762195171297.post-31308130714073151372010-05-11T15:35:00.000-07:002010-05-11T15:45:39.395-07:00Shhh! (Sneek Peek At The New Thang!)<div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrFmqkXss6djO6AUzXdnDpfuUpUJdwyvt68sE7MFxqkXUhjKY2FpDt7Wmvvf74eWsAApEOK7wzHm8UDbpZJyGy7KXQ0wfWB0ogqTsbqxUw_GbfB5B4ej3dguMlqP0cwJpy1bbztx7d6UNX/s1600/wispering.bmp"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470135855040606642" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrFmqkXss6djO6AUzXdnDpfuUpUJdwyvt68sE7MFxqkXUhjKY2FpDt7Wmvvf74eWsAApEOK7wzHm8UDbpZJyGy7KXQ0wfWB0ogqTsbqxUw_GbfB5B4ej3dguMlqP0cwJpy1bbztx7d6UNX/s400/wispering.bmp" /></a><br /><br />It's kind of a secret because it's still<br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470130143138981330" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5EjEtKcwmCpvXUms4_ybw0xVWhVpI6oyu8j7KQOD3L2_KqraZy2GWYxQcSdGf2tWj5P2UUlsqj76DAAdJGf1Fj4CgJqjVRkP_CITr3GiOfbhmud9PHhdkw4GLA3b3wtDlXV9pp_PW6uJI/s400/UnderConstruction.jpg" /><br /><br />but a few of you have been getting kinda<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqyzM9qxAqYPY_TEDjsl8zzj-tKjYRTDfvH6GXp2ZJW-XzMuoWuIM5dcmJmcBqj-bzO_SIsRikHY5O96BcMiP5ZtoZ4AT3yqKCe2uK-038E900tDcBGmwg_qkKx42jMo8wRgLmpNlag_Rn/s1600/impatient.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470132638280888258" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqyzM9qxAqYPY_TEDjsl8zzj-tKjYRTDfvH6GXp2ZJW-XzMuoWuIM5dcmJmcBqj-bzO_SIsRikHY5O96BcMiP5ZtoZ4AT3yqKCe2uK-038E900tDcBGmwg_qkKx42jMo8wRgLmpNlag_Rn/s400/impatient.jpg" /></a><br /><br />I know! Tick tock! Tick tock!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinyEVt1jyy-fnmxWU-NfyWzufi1yCF2oVyJXLO3gKUEk8ALL0_rmGoBZKmnh76-N6xRAC4Hh3fOrC4lFLSiR0HhDd88hK7WqHTteDAmRkWqKNp3oTu2OXX3N_ZMkJ-wau52JHRJI7XiPX_/s1600/impatience.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470132647588518274" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinyEVt1jyy-fnmxWU-NfyWzufi1yCF2oVyJXLO3gKUEk8ALL0_rmGoBZKmnh76-N6xRAC4Hh3fOrC4lFLSiR0HhDd88hK7WqHTteDAmRkWqKNp3oTu2OXX3N_ZMkJ-wau52JHRJI7XiPX_/s400/impatience.jpg" /></a><br /><br />So as long as you remember. Large machinery. Still in progress. Major work to be done, etc...<br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470130451830211906" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbaJrFwtmsz2EuiHGR9tUE4PjANOQuobEgFPI_MxMouTZKGW81cDCi599SWUIsTVcniPGNES2k-UbTJR1JAlUVyWqa3hD7Q5iOmTSMUST196uvgxNqIZL867HAg1RhICa8BRQp8_AzqlEu/s400/underconstruction.gif" /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5EjEtKcwmCpvXUms4_ybw0xVWhVpI6oyu8j7KQOD3L2_KqraZy2GWYxQcSdGf2tWj5P2UUlsqj76DAAdJGf1Fj4CgJqjVRkP_CITr3GiOfbhmud9PHhdkw4GLA3b3wtDlXV9pp_PW6uJI/s1600/UnderConstruction.jpg"></a><br /><br />I'll give you a sneek peek.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG56KeAdpo9QzuaJTXJ_glifPLPfiGN9eqQpneO5Ii3DX45N2Omx9qVDqtaDRkruSp8CYgCbkwcSjZwzeSj9Y58yW-Yld1ugYgcmHOyZO6BR2bLAmDzQBdYcTHAxaVNeX0ZgG0ani13ZRR/s1600/h-armstrong-roberts-first-peek.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 321px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOT O_ID_5470133106451795810" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG56KeAdpo9QzuaJTXJ_glifPLPfiGN9eqQpneO5Ii3DX45N2Omx9qVDqtaDRkruSp8CYgCbkwcSjZwzeSj9Y58yW-Yld1ugYgcmHOyZO6BR2bLAmDzQBdYcTHAxaVNeX0ZgG0ani13ZRR/s400/h-armstrong-roberts-first-peek.jpg" /></a><br /><br />(Also, remember that this blog is soon to be)<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbg6PcFavvmsleCCwshRZc2zH-Nu4UqbncoadElwletl2c0XzuBZ_JehxznG4mibw7H9gnO31xQGiAg_uQeJvHUOLglAcDo-OentrZNArQCVV_XCWkk2jtfZc1SQ-6uxw7OpYuUFDNtbh0/s1600/top_secret.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470139170409569442" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbg6PcFavvmsleCCwshRZc2zH-Nu4UqbncoadElwletl2c0XzuBZ_JehxznG4mibw7H9gnO31xQGiAg_uQeJvHUOLglAcDo-OentrZNArQCVV_XCWkk2jtfZc1SQ-6uxw7OpYuUFDNtbh0/s400/top_secret.jpg" /></a><br /><br />The new blog is... <br /><br /><br />Drumroll please...<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwYIdcAdVaBxPTBsR5DhnOfACqgD1M0s5N-LKxFm8Q8PEHRPlaZ_zfQDK6Rn_9AXK8gbp00JqCe2HFp1y80PnCUug-JZltP_M_KxmuOnoNBuvHspZdPVKNEACOkaZIfIalWBpsxLaZa0TW/s1600/drumroll.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 250px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 364px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470139163927473250" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwYIdcAdVaBxPTBsR5DhnOfACqgD1M0s5N-LKxFm8Q8PEHRPlaZ_zfQDK6Rn_9AXK8gbp00JqCe2HFp1y80PnCUug-JZltP_M_KxmuOnoNBuvHspZdPVKNEACOkaZIfIalWBpsxLaZa0TW/s400/drumroll.jpg" /></a><br /><br />still called the same thing!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBy64AjJ5eJYnTE1toIhK60mVWhQCwyR7ivx8mj2rTNv6IwZZChho9UxmwDp5aF9GHWLKVOL2RGreO4KQUO8xluWxcLSoDMZke7Zg6dyI7qpYmzaRrkJKm6YH24DwaBp9usEx0eIDg7wgD/s1600/irritated.gif"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 336px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 234px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470142981586731138" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBy64AjJ5eJYnTE1toIhK60mVWhQCwyR7ivx8mj2rTNv6IwZZChho9UxmwDp5aF9GHWLKVOL2RGreO4KQUO8xluWxcLSoDMZke7Zg6dyI7qpYmzaRrkJKm6YH24DwaBp9usEx0eIDg7wgD/s400/irritated.gif" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiglasmKWlWcYKgvLInIBtuVAqOABX9yjWrGogjjhU-uyMWG6LEPvQvLGcwJNfk2X4X6BYNlKvpbSsKouDJnXsSYXosUbUMzIX7BOgvHckrTUbYJHHLU2FIbQhA9vhegqAqP4rGNiqq8wtk/s1600/disappointed.jpg"></a><br /><br />Confused? Disappointed? I promise you'll like it!<br /><br /><a href="http://hausandhome.us/">As For Me And My Haus</a><br /><br />Come and have a looksee!<br /><br />What?! I told you it was coming, didn't I? Don't look so shocked!</div><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1I3AX-xQ5CJ1LyNuUkWLCrPUM7jVQNpuutJwBHFiS8jjB-qI52xBA0TdoJRn4RdV4nz96O6gmgryg-oA3nJPXVODosCgycLBqJV32JVpjBeQ8nv9lNcIWtNozhmA6eExBe_NE0RLWymQU/s1600/shock.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 250px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 358px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470136697097463026" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1I3AX-xQ5CJ1LyNuUkWLCrPUM7jVQNpuutJwBHFiS8jjB-qI52xBA0TdoJRn4RdV4nz96O6gmgryg-oA3nJPXVODosCgycLBqJV32JVpjBeQ8nv9lNcIWtNozhmA6eExBe_NE0RLWymQU/s400/shock.jpg" /></a></div>Laurziehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07296612994620890887noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-352133762195171297.post-74881527466365958812010-04-20T10:00:00.000-07:002010-04-20T10:00:09.617-07:00Doors Closing to the Public Soon!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi89uSL53EJeIldYurXNOgptZ7oelhOmiecVhMQmd4od2gNJn4khu8cMAKRA1tVM7xBoPZl7Fm8DjC-cfF0KHwBKLmODYM6atrdXXtTIJ_aPnM3PpV0MSl6RtOuqhzt4VwY8ZnAPPfYq3pd/s1600/private_470x315.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 268px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi89uSL53EJeIldYurXNOgptZ7oelhOmiecVhMQmd4od2gNJn4khu8cMAKRA1tVM7xBoPZl7Fm8DjC-cfF0KHwBKLmODYM6atrdXXtTIJ_aPnM3PpV0MSl6RtOuqhzt4VwY8ZnAPPfYq3pd/s400/private_470x315.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5462262028100183938" /></a><br /><br />Pretty soon (I hope!) the new site will be up and this blog will be closed to the public. If you're not the person who leaves me long comments in Chinese, or the spammer who thinks I need a lapband, cheap prescriptions, or a "hot singles" dating site recommendation, and you want to continue reading the privatey-private family blog, feel free to email me or leave a comment here to get on the guest list!<br /><br />Thanks, friends!Laurziehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07296612994620890887noreply@blogger.com34tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-352133762195171297.post-28464199108055618352010-04-15T13:45:00.000-07:002010-04-15T13:46:03.289-07:00Thoughts For The Day<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaLiRtxx5Vhj-3ZSNzqK1C4kB9ULWpa6OOau9800Y5-0Tt4B2MiaKzVWZRY64KNN-qT9nIG_uezXRnHIK8RxzqdtlSKTi6MExII0uOniefut6EbWDWs4q1wievrgtfTU7xZtpyTB83SlT9/s1600/hairy+heart.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460466136683503106" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaLiRtxx5Vhj-3ZSNzqK1C4kB9ULWpa6OOau9800Y5-0Tt4B2MiaKzVWZRY64KNN-qT9nIG_uezXRnHIK8RxzqdtlSKTi6MExII0uOniefut6EbWDWs4q1wievrgtfTU7xZtpyTB83SlT9/s400/hairy+heart.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><div align="center">I can't change other people, <br />their behavior, attitudes, decisions, or treatment of others.<br />It's not my job to do so.<br />I can only change myself,<br />speak truth, give grace, love others, forgive, <br />create appropriate boundaries, and act rightly.<br />I am only responsible to God for myself.<br />And, thank Jesus for that!<br />I'm enough work, baby!<br /><br />~Me</div><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3N5sbVdhPFulN8lRC9BtVX9PvxSK4Ba-FPRWF-azzzKAnmb3MGOB8FQcP7ABzSb6IMIQmHghfVhkOYMMwZ4UG_QCP6NoOTORH_3BSJAOwrhIwV2nOyM9s9NfPMaHVZdlDGRz39qBPTL_V/s1600/kiss.bmp"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 385px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460466473126081074" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3N5sbVdhPFulN8lRC9BtVX9PvxSK4Ba-FPRWF-azzzKAnmb3MGOB8FQcP7ABzSb6IMIQmHghfVhkOYMMwZ4UG_QCP6NoOTORH_3BSJAOwrhIwV2nOyM9s9NfPMaHVZdlDGRz39qBPTL_V/s400/kiss.bmp" /></a><br /><br /><div align="center">Ode To Chocolate<br />~Me again<br /><br />Chocolate, chocolate, thee I love.<br />Thank you, Hershey's, Giradelli, Dove.<br />Oh, precious, yummy, pointy Kiss.<br />Blissy blissy blissy bliss.</div><br /><br />Annnnnd..... that's all I got. Have a happy day!Laurziehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07296612994620890887noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-352133762195171297.post-5804088807740318562010-04-13T11:00:00.000-07:002010-04-13T11:01:17.540-07:00Where's the New Thang, Huh?<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhChgOzz62qCatlyu8DWr2ZdnyoVr0A0A5ZFeI5Z8Bfrfpuwcs_fEzafEmrgoLsmDKscVejiYrXTU1bwid8QdU8SeaXfhTM4QlQxBHnSGerscp6fSw_NkND1mBDBBFw1k6hsmxgure8SdaB/s1600/iStock_what.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 276px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5459681655006278210" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhChgOzz62qCatlyu8DWr2ZdnyoVr0A0A5ZFeI5Z8Bfrfpuwcs_fEzafEmrgoLsmDKscVejiYrXTU1bwid8QdU8SeaXfhTM4QlQxBHnSGerscp6fSw_NkND1mBDBBFw1k6hsmxgure8SdaB/s400/iStock_what.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br />I know what you're thinking... "So, you promised a new blog and... nothing! Whatcha been doin', huh?.."<br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 271px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5459681651620878850" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiVoqN2MKqq7hrp5OwsnOm8JSnMzNVez-5pEUTZz2WSHhV9RgFB-tnOur84Ln8yire7K-l0h7Gr24yKU7lUAwA5V8-Hzd6QnQEH7r6zvvVF93VdFIn4p9HWcMyaw9ifW5PnUjgjJSZ8CLs/s400/iStock_picknose.jpg" /><br /><br />The new blog with a new url is still under construction, hopefully celebrating a Grand Opening soon, though!<br /><br />So what's the deal? What are we doing?<br /><br />Well, a little bit of the same, a little bit of new, hopefully a lot of fun! I'll be blogging about:<br /><br />My hectic and wonderful life with Haus and our bunch of kids<br />Marriage (the good, the bad, and the nearly deadly)<br />Mothering (and growing up while I'm at it)<br />Homeschooling<br />Field tripping<br />Adoption<br />Orphan care<br />Christianity & Church issues<br />Book reviews<br />Products I like<br />Maybe a few embarrassing admissions of public falling for your mocking pleasure<br />And pretty much anything I find interesting or funny<br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5459678766124988530" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf5wOxdy__9hDE3XgIeS7tmLrOVCBmwVOO2_IFD5ZMUTFt7YmaRHYh4oZ1c0-dvjZDY33qBCracyz-65-2-nD_RS6aNPaeUmnO-MDcFlkMp5LhmM95oY5iv56vYb6K5WmkMSNJxhrYr6iF/s400/iStock_000004230427XSmall%5B1%5D.jpg" /><br />Can't wait! I've got some funny stuff to tell ya!Laurziehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07296612994620890887noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-352133762195171297.post-85174628878449080262010-04-05T12:41:00.000-07:002010-04-05T12:43:03.269-07:00New Blog Comin'. Buckle up.I'm currently brewing up a whole new "thang" that Haus and I are pretty excited about! Stay tooned!Laurziehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07296612994620890887noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-352133762195171297.post-36209603466273656002010-01-31T06:00:00.000-08:002010-02-08T14:47:45.737-08:00Guess Who Turned THREE?!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA8vYBrWuHadwsJA9SUg4EgdCeN34pacvSqhA33ICpGldIu3guRNhuwDvFZJbU1hX3vj8oaUWamxMUMJd_tmobgHs-nZ6PRRJzRMVmYojvnYfP2i4MKDhLBJTo1hROKeSTmYIDJo9GyCf1/s1600-h/IMG_6733.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436007141870165042" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA8vYBrWuHadwsJA9SUg4EgdCeN34pacvSqhA33ICpGldIu3guRNhuwDvFZJbU1hX3vj8oaUWamxMUMJd_tmobgHs-nZ6PRRJzRMVmYojvnYfP2i4MKDhLBJTo1hROKeSTmYIDJo9GyCf1/s400/IMG_6733.JPG" /></a> <br /><br /><div align="center">Our little African violet!</div><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKRRkytbI0IzoEwIyDlRZBRfWmZh6h8OHkwqU4kDaIx5cmIikZH-U3u5Qi5HfBJEiHKBwQWsuFF-yWXzsCGCH3ifQdFIDr-ncViSCRRH_o9KWjEsySNabcNvmStKKj-dFfGgYp2y5mzhWf/s1600-h/number_three.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 308px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 380px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5433814910990927826" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKRRkytbI0IzoEwIyDlRZBRfWmZh6h8OHkwqU4kDaIx5cmIikZH-U3u5Qi5HfBJEiHKBwQWsuFF-yWXzsCGCH3ifQdFIDr-ncViSCRRH_o9KWjEsySNabcNvmStKKj-dFfGgYp2y5mzhWf/s400/number_three.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4ePDrxLIKj1IvWgDqGAllzAnG2lUU_iHyUrzludNvg_p_x4akUXLesQ9HbVvAN9V72JJ0tXU2pSQ_HmPFq0-u-X-fcN5vodQZ3egxRt-HWlXAY0DRokxsOifF1SURaI_wTA7e8FvwXuYr/s1600-h/IMG_6809.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436001423904536066" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4ePDrxLIKj1IvWgDqGAllzAnG2lUU_iHyUrzludNvg_p_x4akUXLesQ9HbVvAN9V72JJ0tXU2pSQ_HmPFq0-u-X-fcN5vodQZ3egxRt-HWlXAY0DRokxsOifF1SURaI_wTA7e8FvwXuYr/s400/IMG_6809.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjcM5aiR4F0WWT5fPvfmzEuiarOg8gfm34Q7VAtbYqtVT6V9g782MR8OC_Ttpcy7JEk8JEnVuL8Cz1yY7Ny43Mkez4yq1zTlGPthjKRvyTakbavWCCm8Q6JUm2qczOAVExktyf4jJw76pW/s1600-h/IMG_7016.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436004227024472802" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjcM5aiR4F0WWT5fPvfmzEuiarOg8gfm34Q7VAtbYqtVT6V9g782MR8OC_Ttpcy7JEk8JEnVuL8Cz1yY7Ny43Mkez4yq1zTlGPthjKRvyTakbavWCCm8Q6JUm2qczOAVExktyf4jJw76pW/s400/IMG_7016.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCK18nkR2D6B-o4uROwzXco4QpQcvMq6hyWwcblaDzNuWmt0B4zHhXyEtZ_8ouNXeR6_6vcWhqkIrKkaH0-kd1ktN-xB0RTKH-CB9WQwX_5v-SLLPcZr6Pzgc5jl9b0Byjv4l19GCEKzu6/s1600-h/IMG_7002.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436004218343483058" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCK18nkR2D6B-o4uROwzXco4QpQcvMq6hyWwcblaDzNuWmt0B4zHhXyEtZ_8ouNXeR6_6vcWhqkIrKkaH0-kd1ktN-xB0RTKH-CB9WQwX_5v-SLLPcZr6Pzgc5jl9b0Byjv4l19GCEKzu6/s400/IMG_7002.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAlglCX7t9dKoEI9akplAPhqR26PNttZOSN8LFE6FszyuEINVrwyd2q458YVZ5HK4fQG37TfMe5o2dB3TtYvNFX4crhoAGjnUVJ061Cq8CNLSk36m8DdSYAoqo-bGQS7RBhJmlYiZTQQvw/s1600-h/IMG_6989.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436004214801491122" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAlglCX7t9dKoEI9akplAPhqR26PNttZOSN8LFE6FszyuEINVrwyd2q458YVZ5HK4fQG37TfMe5o2dB3TtYvNFX4crhoAGjnUVJ061Cq8CNLSk36m8DdSYAoqo-bGQS7RBhJmlYiZTQQvw/s400/IMG_6989.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4yIUiOK73OEHZzRr7Fd74yfKmGbk1xTjYbD-aQlllkonxu310MbKKtRZq7VNos-DMK86U0k23IL_Gg0jKjUVDYrKU7J3zIH02VN8xfITK6oedO7elYs8lzqK-8CWkbTUmJq2dhxlkS7vp/s1600-h/IMG_6886.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436001458553033010" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4yIUiOK73OEHZzRr7Fd74yfKmGbk1xTjYbD-aQlllkonxu310MbKKtRZq7VNos-DMK86U0k23IL_Gg0jKjUVDYrKU7J3zIH02VN8xfITK6oedO7elYs8lzqK-8CWkbTUmJq2dhxlkS7vp/s400/IMG_6886.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjtgr1waA2xi17YTEZuVLZSj7NgakxjQR6Hw79C7uVSfmPQBPV5xkLgyevfOjYbKYpuAeyHoh-QmR8AbZsxLjE45R7TL6TU77bcdkmbCPrQVTyJRKYPWSQPwy0r1kpNIcnAQe_8Md3Jlw6/s1600-h/IMG_6878.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436001449532867666" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjtgr1waA2xi17YTEZuVLZSj7NgakxjQR6Hw79C7uVSfmPQBPV5xkLgyevfOjYbKYpuAeyHoh-QmR8AbZsxLjE45R7TL6TU77bcdkmbCPrQVTyJRKYPWSQPwy0r1kpNIcnAQe_8Md3Jlw6/s400/IMG_6878.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436001432746946658" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnWIfAHoM_-bKvh6AZYeXhIN2DUJ13l_s04XcVkYBP9fjcPmqEBjwZljIzzQkeowdEXmLXlLynfhS4a3raWIWSBEUDTtqQN-lI9hI2m5s2iwAzFvnIJko0CYXu6DAtnnUB5UBY02tV_fE-/s400/IMG_6792.JPG" /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436001443296040498" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKlcClH2Nmv97EVIODa2IBhLqWPJlp1tV_rPhDX7F3SPjeiHufVodYlzsBc2KC4mwRqHgMVjA-2QWb9r9bi7TIfg5qb2LNaDJp_YBURNmspMICQQJyg5P6aO3h1nrqDyfQhIdYyawlkUo7/s400/IMG_6858.JPG" /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeLfxZWkaqtZL6pGU5pCPydEaHb573Iau6kp1JSLIfTk558ZCZ7KuMTLnXxHELiWsbA5TAFN_-ztgh6LqaCZKLeTBnID3Urq0Yj-BdlHe-dVfaMgU4oFPLU6f6Qf4d0dzs7jNuq9h-XVOf/s1600-h/IMG_7030.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436004236238342114" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeLfxZWkaqtZL6pGU5pCPydEaHb573Iau6kp1JSLIfTk558ZCZ7KuMTLnXxHELiWsbA5TAFN_-ztgh6LqaCZKLeTBnID3Urq0Yj-BdlHe-dVfaMgU4oFPLU6f6Qf4d0dzs7jNuq9h-XVOf/s400/IMG_7030.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipRK_RaHV5JbdZkFvWrhKaPCwUueDQS3AD5vpaJhuo45T6q9691DVpP2sd3yztkCe6M2KeDrm-_wjVnOOqVC0RBt7_LC192dwuA_Fxo8YkovAugZoJ56xUIqz2X_6J3-e4_kg2jZNgq6LQ/s1600-h/Number3.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 296px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5433814916780248066" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipRK_RaHV5JbdZkFvWrhKaPCwUueDQS3AD5vpaJhuo45T6q9691DVpP2sd3yztkCe6M2KeDrm-_wjVnOOqVC0RBt7_LC192dwuA_Fxo8YkovAugZoJ56xUIqz2X_6J3-e4_kg2jZNgq6LQ/s400/Number3.jpg" /></a>Laurziehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07296612994620890887noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-352133762195171297.post-56890279739818998432010-01-26T19:05:00.000-08:002010-01-26T19:10:57.200-08:00"Love & War"<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWfkY8hD4HMjQ5TtXJpP2qkiyho76kh4mfP2vIXtZIZeWVZ1lGNfHtQaouJQ733BiP0_AuaE1986G5uxQbBVgCW8A64aSK1s-9fY1LzU9eCdkT_ImSk8_K1tjtxJp9D8AWQqJeKRKF4b2i/s1600-h/main-2.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 166px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431205971511191202" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWfkY8hD4HMjQ5TtXJpP2qkiyho76kh4mfP2vIXtZIZeWVZ1lGNfHtQaouJQ733BiP0_AuaE1986G5uxQbBVgCW8A64aSK1s-9fY1LzU9eCdkT_ImSk8_K1tjtxJp9D8AWQqJeKRKF4b2i/s400/main-2.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.ransomedheart.com/">Ransomed Heart</a> is the ministry of John & Stasi Eldredge. I cannot say enough about them.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXp2s1CFkPgJG4l1mLSepCt99xKKrxyIgz5VwjNG4a9ZjbyFPqFKzVD_jW4cUd0pYtWXwcXxy2ZQAHXiuCLaACrAPiY4_SQH740IvZsvuL9IzeFjFnaYv7Ut-2AgcLuZEfwUfkhuVURYe3/s1600-h/johnEldredge.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 250px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 350px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431206514402536034" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXp2s1CFkPgJG4l1mLSepCt99xKKrxyIgz5VwjNG4a9ZjbyFPqFKzVD_jW4cUd0pYtWXwcXxy2ZQAHXiuCLaACrAPiY4_SQH740IvZsvuL9IzeFjFnaYv7Ut-2AgcLuZEfwUfkhuVURYe3/s400/johnEldredge.jpg" /></a><br /><br />This is John. He's the guy who rocked the Christian literary world with <a href="http://www.ransomedheart.com/p-22-wild-at-heart-hard-back.aspx">Wild at Heart</a> breaking the mold for books about manhood.<br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 205px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 289px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431205978745677954" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXkM4p1jaji01ZBeNn1pRIMwXEU8kalhDbNl5mXMsYlZbdtGIEo22pFGYvVz2ChyGr5OI4xsOxYOr5N91wgatlRs8gcMwQDPfPADLoCLQ3G4kSngj8-tRPgNU9_FwZQZyEhkz5mRo-NZpe/s400/wildatheart.jpg" /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-dvx_W9zAdSZyX8byNKYKtRpgIZGf6P8gqmxNGRKj4A7eBOJm7rq58PdhOfsGwJhyD-7I68BUx9dUy9ZGgo1Z30Zwc4fWh4w6AcAz4MBbDmTi4yno3s054kiATZ4LEYdBGrCRLCIH0Dcu/s1600-h/biopic-stasi.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 250px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 350px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431206510331505586" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-dvx_W9zAdSZyX8byNKYKtRpgIZGf6P8gqmxNGRKj4A7eBOJm7rq58PdhOfsGwJhyD-7I68BUx9dUy9ZGgo1Z30Zwc4fWh4w6AcAz4MBbDmTi4yno3s054kiATZ4LEYdBGrCRLCIH0Dcu/s400/biopic-stasi.jpg" /></a><br /><br />And, this is Stasi. She and John bared their souls in <a href="http://www.ransomedheart.com/p-43-captivating-hard-back.aspx">Captivating</a> reminding us of the treasure that is the heart of a woman.<br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 205px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 289px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431205964257267618" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdn4i2rhR4T_lS6K0KMhD3C1GcO4tPd0hM6gqqojqEmAxM3GrmfnRBqYQ5-dhNvF872kWn5W-69S_eFFdg0REr1gg08OeuE-TmZTgO_jL2uaAlrN8jzqOF3LRZyKwtR_1gmXBxQRJK0_lx/s400/captivating.jpg" /><br /><br />OK. They have explained: A book about men, a book about women... The next obvious choice was to write a book about marriage. But, seriously, I know I've asked it before, but how many of the gazillions of books about marriage out there do you find to be almost useless and disappointing? Most? Me too.<br /><br />It's like most of the books about "the challenging child"... Usually, I end up thinking, "Wow, their 'challenging child' sounds like my easiest! Gimme that kid any day of the week!<br /><br />Marriage is HARD. Why didn't anyone tell us this?! Marriage is hard in the best of circumstances. You take two people who are so crazy about each other that they'd like to be superglued lip to lip for all eternity, and you put one in a gorgeous gown and one in a tux, and you have them say "I do's" and -- VOILA! Bippity boppity boo! They can barely make it through one meal without starting World War III.<br /><br />It's hard. Really, really, really hard. We don't get each other. We don't know the right things to say, nor the right things to do. We cannot read each other's mind. We hurt each other without even meaning to... and, let's be honest, sometimes with absolute intention. Add to that stressful issues like money, parents, sex, jobs, church, friends, and kids, and it's a wonder any marriage survives 10 years!<br /><br />What used to be sweet now falls flat. What used to be give-and-take now feels more like give-and-give-and-give 'til Kingdom come. What used to be endearing is now just annoying. Hope seems absurd and resignation inevitable. That's not to say that there aren't wonderful, beautiful, delicious seasons when relating to one another is easy and sweet, when puppy love blossoms all over again, when you can't get enough of one another, and the sex is seriously off the hook! Oh, how I wish we could bottle those seasons! And the amazing sex, too!<br /><br />But, stoking the flames of love takes a great deal of work. Come on, if you've been married more than five minutes, you know what I'm talking about.<br /><br />John and Stasi wrote <em>Love & War</em> and have recently embarked on a book tour.<br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431227451867717938" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJh5jIjin7tL_j9LCWLfjz4GV03erlPAkMOGOnCSYMWyzOlZkXveRD4B2aJal0VLRiOHnH4zDqWK4HuqKydea_MLeixqyqUP_QIFyZlH1gw-0qC7z0-GUJcpwMD02iMlv2TM0NFYK9GYXt/s400/41OfHnB6XJL__SL500_AA240_.jpg" /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm_DEoET3lnyzMiz95aRfioQsDzCbdgjGuw6TbGcxXih8RSDTvX9qpddmK1dPOv_xZoIBuyK7LnKI-PnA-44KAkYzEeYdQ5qzjRvhcXjgGNjvyqmJ5l19kLCIrnLhRtnwSibqxRrXwXY00/s1600-h/lw-inner.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 110px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431205969523688066" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm_DEoET3lnyzMiz95aRfioQsDzCbdgjGuw6TbGcxXih8RSDTvX9qpddmK1dPOv_xZoIBuyK7LnKI-PnA-44KAkYzEeYdQ5qzjRvhcXjgGNjvyqmJ5l19kLCIrnLhRtnwSibqxRrXwXY00/s400/lw-inner.jpg" /></a><br /><br />Last weekend, Michael and I got to hear John & Stasi Eldredge speak on their <a href="http://www.ransomedheart.com/loveandwar_tour.aspx">Love & War Tour</a>. Food for the soul. Oh my, we were both so inspired, as were the other couples with us, <a href="http://findingrest.blogspot.com/">Curtis & Karen</a> (He is Eldredge's agent, which is just beyond cool if you ask me!), and Chris & Christi.<br /><br />I raced to the back to be first in line to give Stasi a hug and slobber all over her about how much I loved <em>Captivating</em>, how it spoke to my heart like my own blood and guts were spilled out on the page, you know, soul-sister type praise, and how I just wished that there was an action figure-sized Stasi I could keep in my pocket. She's just wonderful.<br /><br />I think I scared her pretty good. She probably got a restraining order.<br /><br />Anyway, now Michael and I are reading <em>Love & War</em> together and enjoying every minute. It is a deep and rich read, which I recommend with all my heart. Pray for us because marriage books have been known to be used as heavy objects to hurl at one another. And, please, let us know if you are reading it as well so that we may pray for you!Laurziehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07296612994620890887noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-352133762195171297.post-46186307321299754332010-01-23T11:10:00.000-08:002010-01-23T17:16:00.584-08:00A Tiny Praise Report About Honoring God in My Behavior<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1A62Iog3kg7WbHp-rd2hsRcAFMvoVwt4C4viP-iyX5C9cvjotM2DeVUNI6mId9XiNqB9Z2l_aUzj1NMFmQyCx7Rcvoa0y0SpolpS9wWwhqpp2KhedkqA_d5jpXvn4_PLlxb-1O2X44bhE/s1600-h/disgust-500x354.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 283px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5429999894085816194" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1A62Iog3kg7WbHp-rd2hsRcAFMvoVwt4C4viP-iyX5C9cvjotM2DeVUNI6mId9XiNqB9Z2l_aUzj1NMFmQyCx7Rcvoa0y0SpolpS9wWwhqpp2KhedkqA_d5jpXvn4_PLlxb-1O2X44bhE/s400/disgust-500x354.jpg" /></a><br /><br />You know how it goes. When you're really working on a particular discipline, you will be presented with very tough situations in which to practice and put some muscles on it. So, in my house we've been working on <a href="http://thehausams.blogspot.com/2010/01/hausam-family-credo-study-week-1.html">honoring God</a> in our behavior, which means that we are all running headlong into circumstances in which it would be really, really easy to not do so.<br /><br />Yesterday, my practice circumstance looked like this.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIEw8V_h1w9xKia_0t2CNuNC6yBAwSfqQ9W0p0sZfx4EDlYEVOFkft6ZKhVYTcze0X1C_wXhPX2Jo6vvOSD7YbO9KQnboiq1fVP_sAGYq6yxqwIOZ0v1N2WxvQIXRDPlTMJHFVwgxwmaSq/s1600-h/_Disgust%2520.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5429999885920168258" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIEw8V_h1w9xKia_0t2CNuNC6yBAwSfqQ9W0p0sZfx4EDlYEVOFkft6ZKhVYTcze0X1C_wXhPX2Jo6vvOSD7YbO9KQnboiq1fVP_sAGYq6yxqwIOZ0v1N2WxvQIXRDPlTMJHFVwgxwmaSq/s400/_Disgust%2520.jpg" /></a><br /><br />A snotty lady we encountered while running errands stood there sneering at my precious children (4 white, 1 black) and fumed with disdain,<br /><br /><div align=center>"WHAT is this world coming to?!"</div><br /><br />Its funny because as soon as I saw her and watched her lips curl back in disgust as she took in the sight of my beautiful, multi-ethnic family, I knew she would say something caustic. I took a deep breath before the ugly words came flying at us and prayed that whatever I did or said would be honoring to God.<br /><br />I replied, <br /><br /><div align=center>"Well, thankfully, this world is coming to <br />the aid and adoption of orphans."</div><br /><br />and just looked back at her with peace on my face as she continued to glare at us.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9rhE02qO7VH6hGCYgtk4AChBnfTud7sOxUO_8g8LRkX32P0DR6BncqzQ-P5L3Av80vl6vEbaT6hSrrUyUJckld2_ORuCvVN-_ID2N2IWNvESXcFIZfsA7uTC8Z2KE_DrHZVSbBDbq9fwJ/s1600-h/090605-woman-disgusted-02.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 288px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5429999889513560034" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9rhE02qO7VH6hGCYgtk4AChBnfTud7sOxUO_8g8LRkX32P0DR6BncqzQ-P5L3Av80vl6vEbaT6hSrrUyUJckld2_ORuCvVN-_ID2N2IWNvESXcFIZfsA7uTC8Z2KE_DrHZVSbBDbq9fwJ/s400/090605-woman-disgusted-02.jpg" /></a><br /><br />YES! I almost did a ridiculous victory River Dance with my hands on my hips and my feet flying around right then and there! <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_RrFoXOxJjXafp1K_DYCu-jjxcnWFHmJRYunSqHWr5vtPb28cufRwRap8m-IPO3bxFKnZDKDtUHvQyLms99OnOXKe2lLdQ8pAPOgyvqqfH7vgtfJeM3kg3XhhueFZZjfctnpblqUjNltl/s1600-h/22514_toetapping_one_last_time_riverdance.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 224px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_RrFoXOxJjXafp1K_DYCu-jjxcnWFHmJRYunSqHWr5vtPb28cufRwRap8m-IPO3bxFKnZDKDtUHvQyLms99OnOXKe2lLdQ8pAPOgyvqqfH7vgtfJeM3kg3XhhueFZZjfctnpblqUjNltl/s400/22514_toetapping_one_last_time_riverdance.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5430011510687480994" /></a><br /><br />For those of you who are wondering if we experience racism often, the answer is no, thank the Lord. Most people who say anything at all are completely lovely. But, when we have encountered racist ugliness I have really struggled with how to respond in a Christlike fashion and not *ahem* say something that is satisfying in the moment but that I regret later *ahem*. Especially when it's the <a href="http://thehausams.blogspot.com/2008/10/n-word.html">N-word</a>. Yeah, that's a toughie.<br /><br />So, this was one of those spiritual muscle-building moments in practicing honoring God in my behavior and I did it! I spoke back instead of stammering like an idiot and chose words that I wouldn't regret later and...<br /> <br /><div align=center>I didn't even head-butt her! YEA!</div><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc6Y4ERN69r2-F2GyviYog12u7-uHELYjXBAT3p-iJ_Hvd4vhcIP9Ws8Qu8JLG2KhM_sMhse36pTsA9jXMdYz9PKAwgr1gdOhRaxzZXBuubZvI-3ZX-iPBKVYNtosQ2cVgESK6COaRVI5W/s1600-h/140_x600_dance_festival_open.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc6Y4ERN69r2-F2GyviYog12u7-uHELYjXBAT3p-iJ_Hvd4vhcIP9Ws8Qu8JLG2KhM_sMhse36pTsA9jXMdYz9PKAwgr1gdOhRaxzZXBuubZvI-3ZX-iPBKVYNtosQ2cVgESK6COaRVI5W/s400/140_x600_dance_festival_open.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5430014090456921794" /></a>Laurziehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07296612994620890887noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-352133762195171297.post-14724626788061953042010-01-20T22:05:00.000-08:002010-01-20T22:09:06.111-08:00Hausam Family Credo Study - Week 1<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisAL00RBtjU6umACXT5nZAnXMEhYvR4himTmMgonra0K6GWhqgw2Q-FwxMjQmVvaAF9LY9dQiC1kvkVcl5efGdiCLvBtcTIZrR2QQ5lTwF8qha2czACCszQ9fcx8hb0GXMy87qcmgbX8_J/s1600-h/GOD.png"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 290px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5428645363372561026" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisAL00RBtjU6umACXT5nZAnXMEhYvR4himTmMgonra0K6GWhqgw2Q-FwxMjQmVvaAF9LY9dQiC1kvkVcl5efGdiCLvBtcTIZrR2QQ5lTwF8qha2czACCszQ9fcx8hb0GXMy87qcmgbX8_J/s400/GOD.png" /></a><br /><br />Sometime mid-2008, we wrote and memorized a list of some of our <a href="http://thehausams.blogspot.com/2008/11/family-maxims.html">Family Maxims</a>. When my flinging-flanging computer died late last summer and maliciously devoured its own password so I couldn't even retrieve any data, reciting our credo during family devotions kind of slid by the wayside. (I finally played frisbee with it so I think it learned its lesson in the end.)<br /><br />Anyway, since we hadn't spent time on them in a while, we decided to spend a week focusing on each.<br /><br />Monday began Week One:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZtlj7QuT7zj9TvNu-ehKDIoE0EZ_ZneALmTGetTh3TbPQxDeXYDI3hgyfYs1Bmg6o1MYyd16c20505nAHoUbtiEYnxB-HzyHNy8FjWKRoRNT2kAlHW2stw-aoAGYOdVaMzfNbPHaPNDzO/s1600-h/littlenumbers-1-d_2.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 328px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5428620666364150402" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZtlj7QuT7zj9TvNu-ehKDIoE0EZ_ZneALmTGetTh3TbPQxDeXYDI3hgyfYs1Bmg6o1MYyd16c20505nAHoUbtiEYnxB-HzyHNy8FjWKRoRNT2kAlHW2stw-aoAGYOdVaMzfNbPHaPNDzO/s400/littlenumbers-1-d_2.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><div align="center"><strong>In Our Family, We...<br />honor God.<br />All of our behavior is measured against this standard.<br /></strong></div><br /><br />The first day I awoke all revved up, fresh faced, ready to roll on polishing up my honoring God. So exciting! The morning went beautifully. Awesome family Bible study. Worship time with the kids. Marg on guitar and Ricker on drums, the rest of us on various rhythm instruments. (Let's not digress here about the virtue of a kazoo in a worship band. Let's just put a pin in that one and we'll save it for later.)<br /><br />Anyway, that's when the whining, and crying, and interrupting one another, and pretty soon some shouting here and there began and I started to stumble a wee bit with my honoring God attitude. The non-honoring God behavior was soon to follow. Honestly, by the end of a very long, vexing day I was ready to drink Drano feeling pretty humbled and dishonorable. Shoot.<br /><br />OK, Day 2. Fresh start.<br /><br />Epiphany... "All of my behavior"... Behavior is action. That doesn't mean I don't have an occasional moment of, say, wanting to stick a fork in someone's eye... It's that I don't actually do it! Instead, I need to wait. And think. And pray. And ask the Lord to show me what is the right and godly choice in this particular moment. I don't think he'll whip out "Stick a fork in thine neighbor's eye", but I'm not putting it past Him because He does have a pretty fantastic sense of humor and irony.<br /><br />That's really all it is. Taking the 10 second breather and deciding to behave in a way that is honoring to God. <br /><br />I know it's become sadly pithy, but<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOWUhHtmezv-4rsHt80Y8DQynvo3jFNOKDZm7kUEAbYjqsi6gyJJJk7YvTlbbG8Hpg9YvEf-acRWVAaIx2z2lSdufUG2v9-7G4ZcaoEbZJI1P59me7q0fNWN1wwvcJI7KCsiiQf65eTXhg/s1600-h/trans_christian_wwjd.gif"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 225px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 225px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5428618275815877650" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOWUhHtmezv-4rsHt80Y8DQynvo3jFNOKDZm7kUEAbYjqsi6gyJJJk7YvTlbbG8Hpg9YvEf-acRWVAaIx2z2lSdufUG2v9-7G4ZcaoEbZJI1P59me7q0fNWN1wwvcJI7KCsiiQf65eTXhg/s400/trans_christian_wwjd.gif" /></a><br /><br />What would He do? What did He do in every situation? He honored God the Father, right? And all of His behavior was a blazing testament to that simple standard.<br /><br />It means I need to weigh everything about my life in light of honoring God. All of it. Not just my behavior because really that's just the fruit. Baby steps!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihR2xaUPXYFPHXf3RJXmpFvK09q7EuTSzdLalNKveaW8oeQkO9-5qYOh6Nq1qyeSj18qoYmN_oSG91wVzoHmA8JO6M5VhkguUBQtB-WvRUvpPqQud8eTrgdFyYBJXwCun0aq8hUt-iwqTz/s1600-h/scale.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 311px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5428618282926619106" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihR2xaUPXYFPHXf3RJXmpFvK09q7EuTSzdLalNKveaW8oeQkO9-5qYOh6Nq1qyeSj18qoYmN_oSG91wVzoHmA8JO6M5VhkguUBQtB-WvRUvpPqQud8eTrgdFyYBJXwCun0aq8hUt-iwqTz/s400/scale.jpg" /></a><br /><br />So, really, this is The Biggie. When I truly live according to the first commandment (upon which this is founded), then the rest is actually supposed to follow organically.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIjnUACuTOjKsO2-cPBj694F2hYiZXTp3akwFTQFc3zfj3xGS_fAZdehlIpQA-iDpNqPsZMefUAumiLjgIcR5ETihcXdgpsyO8TPxhIUxoFgWYvl6twGTcpBbMb86uZaraRo_uYCQCuLHO/s1600-h/pause.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5428572121607647394" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIjnUACuTOjKsO2-cPBj694F2hYiZXTp3akwFTQFc3zfj3xGS_fAZdehlIpQA-iDpNqPsZMefUAumiLjgIcR5ETihcXdgpsyO8TPxhIUxoFgWYvl6twGTcpBbMb86uZaraRo_uYCQCuLHO/s400/pause.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNVb8LWCPngNvUlB1gAqTV3nqBWCz9FZiqnCxNEYK_x9mo7kanxswtnRx2WaJa9tFQ77-Vi03kVAybqC4YypR1r0n0NDrQmQ7ztBy_YM3ngRWEsDnmbpgM0XaR8CwuO5z0lsag4ME79Sbs/s1600-h/20040101-think.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 292px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5428553092974597154" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNVb8LWCPngNvUlB1gAqTV3nqBWCz9FZiqnCxNEYK_x9mo7kanxswtnRx2WaJa9tFQ77-Vi03kVAybqC4YypR1r0n0NDrQmQ7ztBy_YM3ngRWEsDnmbpgM0XaR8CwuO5z0lsag4ME79Sbs/s400/20040101-think.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPlAZtko2wmVb2tXXPDWRFNip1KsMIrVFJvHb31lA4rqyzVJMXS7fyDFfW-ze-5_AYtKoKQFA0DuYgZcc19BT0ay0Ookn3r1FuIl2IYCEsl49tLCvTPgknH9cr0eMwkgGwI9gScigyWeTh/s1600-h/focus.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5428645383636175202" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPlAZtko2wmVb2tXXPDWRFNip1KsMIrVFJvHb31lA4rqyzVJMXS7fyDFfW-ze-5_AYtKoKQFA0DuYgZcc19BT0ay0Ookn3r1FuIl2IYCEsl49tLCvTPgknH9cr0eMwkgGwI9gScigyWeTh/s400/focus.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><div align="center">on</div><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOj9eAR6TGUFRQInBFBCJyWGw0TOiJWKJb1ejl-cgOvNngsU8iZMd9yXQx24dDfyMjpf0ZvDtnrgS4h2S7PKnfU_YV3C1l9KtMjyWbbJgmcJrBma6lIeMJ68m9eeBobmNXcXfX6RXmjCue/s1600-h/god_creating_adam.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 339px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5428645373303869634" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOj9eAR6TGUFRQInBFBCJyWGw0TOiJWKJb1ejl-cgOvNngsU8iZMd9yXQx24dDfyMjpf0ZvDtnrgS4h2S7PKnfU_YV3C1l9KtMjyWbbJgmcJrBma6lIeMJ68m9eeBobmNXcXfX6RXmjCue/s400/god_creating_adam.jpg" /></a><br /><br />By the way, in retrospect, I think God totally would have played frisbee with the old computer. He would have smote it for sure.Laurziehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07296612994620890887noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-352133762195171297.post-85060317038211271632010-01-08T15:25:00.000-08:002010-01-08T15:30:02.466-08:0010 Resolutions for 2010Well, I'm a little late posting this, but don't be alarmed, I've made my resolutions! Here they are for <a href="http://thehausams.blogspot.com/2008/01/happy-new-year-2008.html">2008</a> and <a href="http://thehausams.blogspot.com/2009/01/happy-new-year-welcome-2009.html">2009</a>. Hopefully, with the Lord's strength, I'll do a little less disastrously this year...<br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbfMqXFn6k4vM2XmX6UNTBo_cb3aU3gudDs9UY2MW8VrgzVpiRlv1KzJZEGi8qJSXe2qBluXnJ26AtJAXpxfzy7BjxWbBK1iH5PsYvyuuwRXHT7MszE8ES6gcwcPA06ErpnywjyP8_X7uI/s1600-h/ten.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424493403324974066" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbfMqXFn6k4vM2XmX6UNTBo_cb3aU3gudDs9UY2MW8VrgzVpiRlv1KzJZEGi8qJSXe2qBluXnJ26AtJAXpxfzy7BjxWbBK1iH5PsYvyuuwRXHT7MszE8ES6gcwcPA06ErpnywjyP8_X7uI/s400/ten.jpg" /></a><br /><br />resolutions for<br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 382px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 314px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424490298914968290" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgApXG2lFGiG2BnuuDOTDB64lgkZUDHaRy4irI5izfOPd8sTvu6RlyHzcTllRsBIxAjg-IV6SoCbr2hUIvoFBRlZcrwILaxZYpm6N2oWSLQ1NC_0aLZVTkHXSpYnhykWDrBUq7cL3rRQgpr/s400/2010NewYearsResolution.jpg" /><br /><br />1. Worship the Lord with all my heart!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJN2m8vxRFxGoSV9ZC2EYQ5QcFfTeVHOV7hIEQoi2KiDCOUt6p4LoA5GW3ydm6lx3cftA7-oHPCQviYD5PuKghQTEQRLG6rOoQx95o3eFZRemAo6QOXA481Yvc-9fG6Ysf63dY3CS0XJ8a/s1600-h/Worship%2520-web.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 264px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424491501277599026" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJN2m8vxRFxGoSV9ZC2EYQ5QcFfTeVHOV7hIEQoi2KiDCOUt6p4LoA5GW3ydm6lx3cftA7-oHPCQviYD5PuKghQTEQRLG6rOoQx95o3eFZRemAo6QOXA481Yvc-9fG6Ysf63dY3CS0XJ8a/s400/Worship%2520-web.jpg" /></a><br /><br />2. Dig into the Word!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfSfTInTDa-4dMFBvsN4im5vV9rmKH1tH35VQkVoZTx-M2r-ZH0MM49nrJ9IpgMh_yk0FF8WeGFCsHkE669u6Jo96vIrBLj8ZadtzCF2QxBudnpFrcxsX-LAroacFskUN30DyDZoHLO4OU/s1600-h/Bible%2520-%2520Lovingkindness.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 264px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424496584230092098" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfSfTInTDa-4dMFBvsN4im5vV9rmKH1tH35VQkVoZTx-M2r-ZH0MM49nrJ9IpgMh_yk0FF8WeGFCsHkE669u6Jo96vIrBLj8ZadtzCF2QxBudnpFrcxsX-LAroacFskUN30DyDZoHLO4OU/s400/Bible%2520-%2520Lovingkindness.jpg" /></a><br /><br />3.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsfEx30rbJEGmaEWkvFMtts_xaSk3OK-S4VR-GZUbBrM5mscxkTf1sIcH5Dp5KX5kfB8NAnn_Hvc9EIQpydK3yY2UK_dq13c-s9JsYf65ZMdvyCPnfmb3K9srL_3iC7kAPx3Z7Lfha4fw0/s1600-h/220279254_17c20cbec5.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 376px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424490911598436498" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsfEx30rbJEGmaEWkvFMtts_xaSk3OK-S4VR-GZUbBrM5mscxkTf1sIcH5Dp5KX5kfB8NAnn_Hvc9EIQpydK3yY2UK_dq13c-s9JsYf65ZMdvyCPnfmb3K9srL_3iC7kAPx3Z7Lfha4fw0/s400/220279254_17c20cbec5.jpg" /></a><br /><br />4.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU2mqf4YvX2zm7B9vqRWH744K61AW3T3mD1n5kbCGmQ0nKTi3Cuy5bjfr7khGKVDJQtQf3xeS1loiEeqs4ATpf-6w3POTcRfUdjvRrahGad6audw95iA3lXXFv8y18_3ugPI5QSDVb1_v6/s1600-h/give-flickrmcquain2-neal_mcquaiad-cc.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424494351259376946" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU2mqf4YvX2zm7B9vqRWH744K61AW3T3mD1n5kbCGmQ0nKTi3Cuy5bjfr7khGKVDJQtQf3xeS1loiEeqs4ATpf-6w3POTcRfUdjvRrahGad6audw95iA3lXXFv8y18_3ugPI5QSDVb1_v6/s400/give-flickrmcquain2-neal_mcquaiad-cc.jpg" /></a><br /><br />5. Bloom where I am planted.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxy3zmRhmoZfeAGrw1h6YaN0mLEeDLhUXfCel1-0gltZYz4cXJN-aBdgUOCambdj-xYF3Zq_y9yjWKQrmp1WOWsFrSOJTU2ofoUbU1nE-nsQcEbRxu82Z0iLsyDyU53eW6huw9-DVb1crL/s1600-h/beachhibiscusbest.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424499579844951122" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxy3zmRhmoZfeAGrw1h6YaN0mLEeDLhUXfCel1-0gltZYz4cXJN-aBdgUOCambdj-xYF3Zq_y9yjWKQrmp1WOWsFrSOJTU2ofoUbU1nE-nsQcEbRxu82Z0iLsyDyU53eW6huw9-DVb1crL/s400/beachhibiscusbest.jpg" /></a><br /><br />6.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilhT36MrXVl7ghYX4p-la_gNzv8LNxkbb0Son1NFjqsPHLP58N0Qd5YOiuPp2oJms6p6wQAzJ_l7duKJNbkAKu1Wx4XvRSrw_6-Ps5ZsPMrsF3kOClSaytX21dRsUxrMhAruYyEyXL0XpO/s1600-h/a-teach-and-learn.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 379px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 271px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424496148573271234" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilhT36MrXVl7ghYX4p-la_gNzv8LNxkbb0Son1NFjqsPHLP58N0Qd5YOiuPp2oJms6p6wQAzJ_l7duKJNbkAKu1Wx4XvRSrw_6-Ps5ZsPMrsF3kOClSaytX21dRsUxrMhAruYyEyXL0XpO/s400/a-teach-and-learn.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br />7. Laugh more!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5tA94Q_Yur6kSG57VjneKA7rcQZLSk8n6QwTQBtPWpniegdH4MYbd1pKpKX5420Q5OAAPr9qCvbgac-97-Q_PNHmSmgL02-o48yw4-MVoN2U6o-fg7osp9bsEpX2qCsn40Hn6dO5o3RQl/s1600-h/funny-animals-01-laughing-horse.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 318px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424495677917812450" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5tA94Q_Yur6kSG57VjneKA7rcQZLSk8n6QwTQBtPWpniegdH4MYbd1pKpKX5420Q5OAAPr9qCvbgac-97-Q_PNHmSmgL02-o48yw4-MVoN2U6o-fg7osp9bsEpX2qCsn40Hn6dO5o3RQl/s400/funny-animals-01-laughing-horse.jpg" /></a><br /><br />8. Let GO!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2VKL-6I0khRyAtDXSX6sygUzyMUomNc46m3P64x8eCZTxhtnAWAAzQQRNu4t-tyC4iS-uPRiNF8S9z-2YdDv982z2pT_M-AN2soTSJg4D0bCiWgU8CBkbawtlObXZAKtqnU0eemstSesu/s1600-h/Flying,-Ballooning-%26-Skydiving-37_030507110515.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424502777462770786" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2VKL-6I0khRyAtDXSX6sygUzyMUomNc46m3P64x8eCZTxhtnAWAAzQQRNu4t-tyC4iS-uPRiNF8S9z-2YdDv982z2pT_M-AN2soTSJg4D0bCiWgU8CBkbawtlObXZAKtqnU0eemstSesu/s400/Flying,-Ballooning-%26-Skydiving-37_030507110515.jpg" /></a><br /><br />9. Honor the Sabbath<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidN1TfEkNFBFqq0OfLej967nXHDHwkaeJre77OAmAVR10cx7ZfiyEy-8mSfi7ePusH8HySGcTWYljEBtFBa2CdFD6HTIcXG8Q0qHAV5dk5ObQULKcrZjratjNsVe10ZSX7Ju8uE1o8Bmlb/s1600-h/relax.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424493998409013138" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidN1TfEkNFBFqq0OfLej967nXHDHwkaeJre77OAmAVR10cx7ZfiyEy-8mSfi7ePusH8HySGcTWYljEBtFBa2CdFD6HTIcXG8Q0qHAV5dk5ObQULKcrZjratjNsVe10ZSX7Ju8uE1o8Bmlb/s400/relax.jpg" /></a><br /><br />10. Run, run, run, run, run, run, run!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBzT3DxKy2g_FLCm8VytFLeICu_iNEubEI22frBd6m-Ro8ccWM7y1o9IP6YI9u0_Pr_WStZWJZUW8SdEBfqFCAr8vdkNK-8zce2OxdpTAnMYzIWylgdsVVKgGUrF4ow-UnW8yj9BHsJ5_l/s1600-h/10_olyprepa.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 257px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424490705281498914" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBzT3DxKy2g_FLCm8VytFLeICu_iNEubEI22frBd6m-Ro8ccWM7y1o9IP6YI9u0_Pr_WStZWJZUW8SdEBfqFCAr8vdkNK-8zce2OxdpTAnMYzIWylgdsVVKgGUrF4ow-UnW8yj9BHsJ5_l/s400/10_olyprepa.jpg" /></a><br /><br />Oh yeah, and...<br /><br />11. Start a new diet!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYR6O65y_AelH_N9gdNC2__h3lm3S2v4qSzdZoo-2GV1YKrt6nkNjxxbd5E_ql8C12pczGyGt-1zibpVU81lDB5Oiza2vtvZp_QghA4PxMIdsSuHUfeZbuL27oDIDw4yvPBg0HgqO7gtQW/s1600-h/516a2DJHcKL__SL500_AA240_.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424503837630471666" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYR6O65y_AelH_N9gdNC2__h3lm3S2v4qSzdZoo-2GV1YKrt6nkNjxxbd5E_ql8C12pczGyGt-1zibpVU81lDB5Oiza2vtvZp_QghA4PxMIdsSuHUfeZbuL27oDIDw4yvPBg0HgqO7gtQW/s400/516a2DJHcKL__SL500_AA240_.jpg" /></a></div>Laurziehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07296612994620890887noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-352133762195171297.post-57030729854928727282010-01-01T04:45:00.000-08:002010-01-01T04:50:17.519-08:00Just Beachy<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_s3g81-WseRIaaEB0Ha72HgGOQVR8KAfHmDIBJZw3bsOV4_1EBsVvUJQBBbTyiTEswBE6bPlRQ2hucpxO4k52zMoE39LPrPt1lQSSSyaZE2t0kg-Vuwo8yrXgli2J-trf3G0pA82yqN4-/s1600-h/summer.bmp"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345826823159517938" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_s3g81-WseRIaaEB0Ha72HgGOQVR8KAfHmDIBJZw3bsOV4_1EBsVvUJQBBbTyiTEswBE6bPlRQ2hucpxO4k52zMoE39LPrPt1lQSSSyaZE2t0kg-Vuwo8yrXgli2J-trf3G0pA82yqN4-/s400/summer.bmp" /></a><br /><br /><div align="center"><strong>HAPPY NEW YEAR!</strong></div><br /><br />God is good. Always.<br /><br />Anybody else have a challenging 2009?<br /><br />Come on. Show of hands.<br /><br />Anyone?<br /><br />Well, it was hard for us.<br /><br />In so many, many, many, many ways. I mean, don't get me wrong, lots of really wonderful, beautiful, fantastic, miraculous things happened, too. We celebrated 10 years of <a href="http://thehausams.blogspot.com/2009/01/easy-peasy-lemon-squeezy.html">homeschooling</a> by... well, nothing really except saying "Hooray!" After Mother was diagnosed with <a href="http://thehausams.blogspot.com/2009/02/c-word.html">breast cancer</a> in February, we had the JOY of her being completely <a href="http://thehausams.blogspot.com/2009/07/blondepedia-source-for-all-your.html">cancer-free </a>in 2009! We celebrated <a href="http://thehausams.blogspot.com/2009/02/whats-not-to-love-about-valentines.html">Valentines</a> with some beautiful people! We got outta Dodge for a <a href="http://thehausams.blogspot.com/2009/02/were-outa-here.html">romantic weekend </a>in Pasadena. Evangeline became an <a href="http://thehausams.blogspot.com/2009/03/evangeline-license-to-pray.html">Evangelist</a>. Michael and I vacationed in <a href="http://thehausams.blogspot.com/2009/03/bienvenidos-al-verdadero-mundo.html">Cancún </a>for his 40th, which was amazing even though I'm still smarting over <a href="http://thehausams.blogspot.com/2009/04/vanidad-goeth-before-la-caida.html">el stupido waiter's</a> comment. Our beautiful niece, <a href="http://thehausams.blogspot.com/2009/04/lookie-lookie-new-little-cookie.html">Penelope Rose </a>,was born! I got a fabulous <a href="http://thehausams.blogspot.com/2009/05/notice-to-appear-without-appeal.html">weekend away </a>all by myself at the beach for Mother's Day! Woot woot! Jackie got a huge surprise during field trip week in San Diego - He got to <a href="http://thehausams.blogspot.com/2009/05/jackie-veep.html">meet the Veep</a>. Now that I'm looking back over my blog, there were a few <a href="http://thehausams.blogspot.com/2009/05/smells-weird.html">pretty funny </a>moments. We got to go to the <a href="http://thehausams.blogspot.com/2009/07/ethiopian-mehaber-we-left-our-hearts-in.html">Ethiopian Mehaber </a>in Minnesota, which was such an incredible, and moving, and fun experience and a major highlight of the year, and we <a href="http://thehausams.blogspot.com/2009/07/loving-land-of-lakes-and-lakes-and.html">field tripped </a>a ton and had a reunion with brother Jon and his family. Jackie, our future Marine, got into an <a href="http://thehausams.blogspot.com/2009/07/jackies-secret-agent-camp-exciting-news.html">awesome school</a>. Poppy's <a href="http://thehausams.blogspot.com/2009/07/update-on-poppys-surgery.html">open-heart surgery</a> was a success, praise the Lord! Our older two kids went on a few mission trips including traveling to Canada with their church group. They also, like last summer, spent two amazing weeks at JH Ranch in Northern California! We finally finished our house <a href="http://thehausams.blogspot.com/2009/07/hiawathas-update-haus-remodel-that-ate.html">remodel</a>. And, that's about when my computer died, so the blog got very, very ghostly quiet. Anyway, trust me when I say that we also had a great vacation to Santa Barbara. AND, we got to take a trip on a private plane (Air Thorne, or as we like to call it "PamAm") with with wonderful friends, the <a href="http://web.me.com/thornegroms/Site/Blog/Blog.html">Thornes </a>and the <a href="http://drewcareyshow.blogspot.com/">Plotkins </a>to visit the <a href="http://teamalexander.blogspot.com/">Alexanders </a>in Dallas and see U2 in concert. Yeah, I must admit, that rocked. And, we moved to a lovely new home down by the beach with a view to kill for.<br /><br />But, mostly 2009 was hard. It blew, really. Well, looking back at that last paragraph, it doesn't really sound like it did. But, it did.<br /><br />Hmmm. Thinking about it, 1999 was an absolutely torturous year for us and frankly I'm disturbed by the pattern. 1999. 2009. So, in 2019 I'm putting myself into an elective coma. Just in case.<br /><br />Which would be a very convenient time to have plastic surgery. New girls. Liposuction. Maybe permanent eye-liner. Not so much so you'd notice. Just a little "freshening up".<br /><br />The only thing that worries me is... Well, did you know that the way they do permanent eye-liner is by tattooing it on? That gives a whole new meaning to "stick a needle in your eye"! I'd be so worried that they'd stab my eye on accident. What happens when you get a needle in your eye anyway? Does it pop like a balloon? Like a water balloon? Does it get a slow leak, pssssssss... until it's all creepy and deflated like a very icky raisin? OK, no can do. I'm out.<br /><br />Alright, alright, no liposuction either.<br /><br />What?! Don't look at me like that. OK already! No new girls. Gosh, you're no fun!<br /><br />Anyway, elective coma for 2019. I'm not joking. Wait and see. I'm going to have one of those glass boxes made like they had for Snow White and be laid out on the dining table. My kids can visit me then. And put a little Windex shine on it while they say their hellos. It's gonna work. You'll see.<br /><br />So long, 2009! Sayonara! Auf Wiedersehen! Ciao! Hejdå! Adios! Au Revoir! Shalom! Farewell! See ya! Tata! Cheerio! Aloha! Do svidan’ya! Hasta La Vista, baby! Don't let the door hit you in the bootie on the way out!<br /><br />(I still have the deflated eye scenario in my head creeping me out, but I'm gonna get serious here anyway...)<br /><br />God is good. Always. Always, always, always, always, always. He is. He is good.<br /><br />I thank God for 2009 because in between all that rocked and all that sucked, GOD was there. He is God and He will have His way. Whether I like it or not. Whether I submit and am changed and shaped or whether I fight Him and get bumped and bruised first. I thank God for 2009 because when I rejoice, He is there. When I suffer, He is there. When I am angry, He is there. When everything is good and beautiful, He is there. When everything turns to ashes, He is there. I thank God for 2009 because He showed me over and over that nothing that I could ever do, or be, or not do, or not be can make Him love me any less or any more. He just loves me. I thank God for 2009 because He is my God and He shall be praised!<br /><br />May the Lord richly bless you this year. May His heart be impressed upon yours. May His yoke be easy. I pray these things upon myself as well and I say, "I am the Lord's servant. He may do with me as He wishes!"<br /><br />Praise the Lord, it's 2010!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU0qtvDRPvt5xaQ02JfGjIYSIH1ipG-LcYxpAV78s6mG5i5ndpGuGZni4zpdik0EH08Ih4OH968pWYTM1ScLLuZjhfSpVFoHqy_dCjtRWr73BEB-rUkG45O0-e9QIal0yAQ9rz3eKTM4ZE/s1600-h/iStock_000011008522XSmall%5B1%5D.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 265px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421751040091167346" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU0qtvDRPvt5xaQ02JfGjIYSIH1ipG-LcYxpAV78s6mG5i5ndpGuGZni4zpdik0EH08Ih4OH968pWYTM1ScLLuZjhfSpVFoHqy_dCjtRWr73BEB-rUkG45O0-e9QIal0yAQ9rz3eKTM4ZE/s400/iStock_000011008522XSmall%5B1%5D.jpg" /></a>Laurziehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07296612994620890887noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-352133762195171297.post-51788983585433341422009-10-14T11:12:00.000-07:002009-10-14T11:16:28.220-07:00Helloooo???<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheHBhbcuCAvZsJQe0rIep64se_r41AZJnRITOoOp2ipzGuGCuvYMrCyi2gM5VGvabLW8T6d5zsEajnbP1bhwq7qaNc502_VoxszUTvAmK7q6Amj9IuEkxgr74w58kmh2150h-XB2s8Jr2J/s1600-h/the-computer-demands-a-blog.gif"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378685022838186450" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheHBhbcuCAvZsJQe0rIep64se_r41AZJnRITOoOp2ipzGuGCuvYMrCyi2gM5VGvabLW8T6d5zsEajnbP1bhwq7qaNc502_VoxszUTvAmK7q6Amj9IuEkxgr74w58kmh2150h-XB2s8Jr2J/s400/the-computer-demands-a-blog.gif" border="0" /></a><br />Dear Blog,<br /><br />I know. I've neglected you horribly. You poor thing. I bet you thought I abandoned you altogether. The truth is that life has just been soooo crazy and full, lots of wonderful, lots of what Evangeline calls "a whole lot of <a href="http://thehausams.blogspot.com/2008/04/super-no-fun.html">Super No Fun</a>", not enough time in the day for me, and then my computer finally went to the Big Motherboard in the sky. Excuses, excuses. I know. I promise to get back on the Blogwagon and give you a good sprucing up, too. Soon. Deep apologies from<br /><br />Your old friend,<br />LaurzLaurziehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07296612994620890887noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-352133762195171297.post-41497173128352049852009-08-21T14:20:00.000-07:002009-08-23T22:29:23.245-07:00Two Girls, Two Days, Two Celebrations!Two years ago on <a href="http://thehausams.blogspot.com/2007/08/elianna-ray-day.html">August 19th, 2007</a> we met our daughter, Elianna Ray, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia!<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370239110658972482" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB0J55uby_zK2AvZ33_h5GbrjK8d6FGQCI4PtawnMqNMDoarqjUaHXKJ5W6B3IAm8wOCUPe41tP6KOhsgcmJ2vP9hVFWbnO9Xg3Mad2iIhnnl8iMPrg1MQRyu-zVb4OgpjHTVCmWbVs69m/s400/84901090_MdxMO6sB.jpg" border="0" /><br /><br />The next day, <a href="http://thehausams.blogspot.com/2007/08/happy-1st-birthday-evangeline.html">August 20th</a>, her big sister, Evangeline Ellen, turned 1!<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372448576183741714" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuUOhs6fwCh4uZuCg2WcGGR41I38sEwVkBmcoBtNuKmbwtqOUxDLm3nugV9AyVXpLM5SNr6wTbWXfEFGPAivx9swiiqmll-EYHAw2huXdeA-4WiWKZQLMmQc1NDQnptV6sl_SFTv1TS-uh/s400/IMG_2836.JPG" border="0" /><br /><br />Now, these two beauties<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370233787788839778" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7-VRGX0qn-cfqtHSj0AirWQUrW10H36iLHJDm1xqlJMsKotWtOdftQA6JIfv9y5T7Tksn-Xs4JxvAYbh_YbVwGJGWPY0h-WGWWV6DNCjzGNzpu0yUUv-gDrcM2nK7igY81ODyvBzBSL6G/s400/84764379_S2JOeOCj.jpg" border="0" /><br /><br />who bring us so much joy<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372522040959725778" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipWlb-e3IjW3ipawEJqgIaO7LtQLQDMQTCuCuxArHcFBQbMXIxOB3_d2W1sfc0JKee4jKO9ICc9rVfJH3Afl9XL8ty-9PSM_cR2avXfbi_EXDZPBT0_k9rtnbrFnbdQy7qNjhJt_zfzOX2/s400/DSCN0159.JPG" border="0" /><br /><br />are the best of best friends.<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370240370490005186" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg55V1et38-MjIuXmcb5FBYCsFL86Inq6Cgxz-joAvSQNkuOk1HtjzWy2yuXG2tTGxWQAPkpfhhPq8R0vbtpVeI1LIDi5BbHyM98ZZHiWZJaIdHJ4Qq85IhPnnUiinR63aQ_561rz0ghChz/s400/5815_123134131605_551371605_2908791_1130651_n.jpg" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372522017081393954" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH__xFPTqdtnLQ2hqQHlMYzCaWRrtMBMUh9L2rvMEDuV13Zi2ivHSZ7axBBySxfPWLjeGLtBfnpyIqLOe4TDGv-5fQrphRFklxgh54Db-TzqE_IhjPFqIRoMrZzhcCelpng9LH62_SRhSv/s400/DSCN0097.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372525992539866082" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgADiW3FhyeysHfNhM7-wDCwRqQ2TJrLFGfhbWrsZ7_Y0Fy39ZVlxqTX0SXsV5iiXPC8cUYO3z9YQbmGPRzCjcWgdCFVzcO6Ke6mwAIe_d2G0ZNR6UoHtcL-uW13gvOZYHYVvF5qFBK2seP/s400/DSCN0525.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372526610797728034" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFiiRa9DeW-dRt7i1thmDfAxWqw5AyBGWPDCYhxK-gsgoQ09o9BLcDT3iEKdh5BeyUnFtCKeUztIGgrBUDwsvh6zN1tePbDDd7tCE7yb6qqp_8l1tQO1OqjVzHrPWbVpT83cevh8XFItsj/s400/DSCN0795.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372519711154722322" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 339px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG9QsN1JJmq6C3rh9LndCBpsdl50OWfXxokiimNbnRLC6HBfLhyphenhyphen1ynrlN2SrqXBaQpwpizpEZKZ16wqcYsGS1kUnnWkxvrdYUGscTLbg_K92jIvKtPOe2OhTe55q-ljnxklfocIThqNScj/s400/SCAN0026.JPG" border="0" /><br /><br />And, we are so grateful to our Heavenly Father for them both!Laurziehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07296612994620890887noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-352133762195171297.post-49412433788019715982009-08-12T16:40:00.000-07:002009-08-12T16:52:43.596-07:00It's the First Anniversary of My Thirty-nnn...nevermind... Birthday<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_7n33k0yItuTsByngvt1JO5JRdfNMssdey1krX6j3vKVbEHJ5TS-L4ZkPIq90TyE949aGtyT-CpwsH7oFEGNOfBn79Pu5lce_Wk-coOU0gtz_BHtoRpp14JW5C5hDMqwl3z0LfGmHPZAU/s1600-h/421965_p~Cake-Face-Posters.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368975383623430610" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 350px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 350px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_7n33k0yItuTsByngvt1JO5JRdfNMssdey1krX6j3vKVbEHJ5TS-L4ZkPIq90TyE949aGtyT-CpwsH7oFEGNOfBn79Pu5lce_Wk-coOU0gtz_BHtoRpp14JW5C5hDMqwl3z0LfGmHPZAU/s400/421965_p~Cake-Face-Posters.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />And, I thought <a href="http://thehausams.blogspot.com/2008/08/happy-barfday-to-me.html">last year </a>was bad.<br /><br />First of all, I'd like to thank my mother for always being there for me, for supporting me, and loving me, and I'd like to tell her I'm sorry that because of me she can never excitedly jump up and down without... Well, that's another "never mind"... I love you, Mama. Sorry.<br /><br />Secondly, yes, that means it's my birthday.<br /><br />Third, what about it?!?<br /><br />Kidding. Kidding.<br /><br />I don't mind having a birthday. Just don't send a bunch of waiters over to sing to me. And don't buy me gag gifts like a cane, or dentures, or exercize equipment unless it's a treadmill because I need a new one. And don't send me a cake made out of adult diapers either, or fruit, or flowers for that matter. I want a real cake. Lemon. Or chocolate. Butter cream frosting. Sprinkles. Single candle. And I like funny cards, not mushy ones or musical ones unless they're extra funny. And I'm not wearing a birthday hat so don't even think about it. Or a "birthday girl" award button with hot pink frillies. Not gonna happen.<br /><br />*breathing*<br /><br />It's OK... I'm alright now.<br /><br />39.<br /><br />Ouch.<br /><br />On the positive side, though, at least celebrating my 39th's second anniversary next year will be a whole lot easier!<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368979819977231650" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 392px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVsLnEjFK5VzsDd8pMnaxkU5p_rnFqCHDOrPxZWDIezTHmKnLIIbsnCXGF9ZowWlIUDIZdgyJSlRawND4PSljdOdmg9NAX_Tg5VtsOIz2SPMco1CkKF016qI4gEwMBYC3iYIsu33kKYah5/s400/chickenbirthday4.jpg" border="0" /><br />Thankyouthankyouthankyou, friends and family, for the ridiculous amount of sweet birthday wishes... I am so very blessed with wonderful people in my life!!!Laurziehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07296612994620890887noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-352133762195171297.post-62390253797096856112009-07-29T10:05:00.000-07:002009-07-29T10:08:44.308-07:00Most Embarrassing Kid Moment EverSTOP! This post has been rated PG-25. Funny, but not appropriate for tender eyes. You've been warned.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixPWhIG91YWINczS0ct3gd1PcX5cmyIcu3L48e7XTqWw43luf6DcwJI3w6xlHtonXwT8Bp0f45deuxuuF-kapsvLuEKqpHKTVy4oEFV7LV23uV2swSAdsZfC3ujdg24RbQAwqa-pXf_stz/s1600-h/PAT.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 220px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixPWhIG91YWINczS0ct3gd1PcX5cmyIcu3L48e7XTqWw43luf6DcwJI3w6xlHtonXwT8Bp0f45deuxuuF-kapsvLuEKqpHKTVy4oEFV7LV23uV2swSAdsZfC3ujdg24RbQAwqa-pXf_stz/s400/PAT.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363921659518359442" /></a><br /><br />(Facebook friends have already heard this story, but I have been commanded to re-tell it.)<br /><br /><div align="center"><strong>Evangeline and the Androgenous Person</strong></div><br /><br />There is a person we run into relatively often who is... well, kind of a Pat. Male? Female? It's hard to say. Recently, I was with the girls and Evangeline noticed him/her and, being a curious 2-year-old without a ton of volume awareness, asked quite loudly, <br /><br /><br /><em>"Mama is that a boy or a girl?"</em> <br /><br /><br />This person heard her and so I immediately gushed out apologies but, thankfully, he/she responded so graciously to the embarrassing question! <br /><br />"It's OK. I'm a girl, sweetie." <br /><br />My precious little cherub then proceeded to look at her very skeptically and asked, <br /><br /><br /><em>"May I see your vagina?"</em> <br /><br /><br />I almost died. <br /><br />She replied, "Err... umm... well... No... Remember, that's private..." <br /><br />Yep. Most embarrassing kid moment. Ever.Laurziehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07296612994620890887noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-352133762195171297.post-81471379384964453322009-07-24T11:30:00.000-07:002009-07-24T11:33:50.195-07:00Hiawatha's Update -- The Haus Remodel That Ate Summer<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuzt8N4DdLta6zxyZoa6Qip9-mYPQeOHMnszgmIWq50p3zIjoOZFG3OqoaY2NDIIFnPCgaCcJvFopgH3AP90Jq661XCuUr6-IZkFa1JCqbMegTKTBidZXwV4MTK1uPoMASNo5YSjTpkTUS/s1600-h/minnehaha_falls.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5362076911340097730" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 277px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuzt8N4DdLta6zxyZoa6Qip9-mYPQeOHMnszgmIWq50p3zIjoOZFG3OqoaY2NDIIFnPCgaCcJvFopgH3AP90Jq661XCuUr6-IZkFa1JCqbMegTKTBidZXwV4MTK1uPoMASNo5YSjTpkTUS/s400/minnehaha_falls.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Remember Michael's teeny tiny oopsie & the ensuing <a href="http://thehausams.blogspot.com/2008/10/haus-of-many-waters.html">flood</a>? Well, we're finally reaching the end of our remodel... the one that ate summer. <br /><br />Flooring was ripped out, cabinets demolished, walls knocked down. Jack hammers, crow bars, sledge hammers, oh my! Out went the dining room! Out went the kitchen! Out went the butler's pantry! Family room! Scotty Potty! Three hallways! The laundry room! The entry! Everything got yanked. Plastic sheeting everywhere. The dust, heavenly days, the dust!<br /><br />And, every single day I was reminded that contractors don't flush. What's with that?!?<br /><br />BUT, in a few short weeks the remodel will be finished. Yucky tile GONE! Icky carpet OUT! New stone will have been laid. New cabinets, new marble countertops, new new new everything!<br /><br />Now that I think about it... <br /><br />Maybe I should give Hiawatha a project in the master bedroom so I can get an entirely new upstairs in my wigwam, too! <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSfgapnjkT-E17TPtQsBcPR7ix7k4CIJm-qSPD-eLuBllbsqGhraYMTc1_8KkNF3qS8Btbg4f2NmGfu0Nv-tl1NApTkZB0LPl4csq0vqTgKWKrmoaFouRQHScvRUt7DP85F1FZgo3ch7cy/s1600-h/IMG_2303.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355427969600970706" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSfgapnjkT-E17TPtQsBcPR7ix7k4CIJm-qSPD-eLuBllbsqGhraYMTc1_8KkNF3qS8Btbg4f2NmGfu0Nv-tl1NApTkZB0LPl4csq0vqTgKWKrmoaFouRQHScvRUt7DP85F1FZgo3ch7cy/s400/IMG_2303.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div align="center">My very own Hiawatha at Minnehaha Falls in Minnesota!</div>Laurziehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07296612994620890887noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-352133762195171297.post-63820239665313111132009-07-21T10:21:00.001-07:002009-07-21T10:40:55.941-07:00Update on Poppy's Surgery<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOmmaYbvPUR7kSVRYnwYXQwTCuQAzGcZMotgAzYp2bJ2tgc-FRgb6xNAbT5xYxVKdCj87ZN0X08gB4Q-HpbuolPmMUcuCbphxCXf8MlC5RH07TI06TD4Sh9woVSL_R5pV7knDxYd5aDOZ9/s1600-h/bicuspid_aortic_valve.gif"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5360966719885211042" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 388px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOmmaYbvPUR7kSVRYnwYXQwTCuQAzGcZMotgAzYp2bJ2tgc-FRgb6xNAbT5xYxVKdCj87ZN0X08gB4Q-HpbuolPmMUcuCbphxCXf8MlC5RH07TI06TD4Sh9woVSL_R5pV7knDxYd5aDOZ9/s400/bicuspid_aortic_valve.gif" border="0" /></a><br /><br />All is well! Poppy's open-heart surgery (to replace a bicuspid aortic valve - pictured above) lasted about 5 1/2 hours and went "exactly as planned" according to the surgeon. He also said that the valve was a stiff as a fingernail and he didn't know why Poppy was still alive! God is SO GRACIOUS to have preserved his life.<br /><br />By the way, it just cracks me up that he asked the doctor to take pictures during his surgery and that the surgeon DID! It's such a Poppy thing to do! I'm not really looking forward to Show and Tell. ;)<br /><br />We're so grateful for the prayers, love, and support of family, friends, and Church family... Please continue to pray for Pastor John McClure, especially during the first 48 hours after surgery which are the most delicate. Thank you!<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5360968801821768706" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL7WJd6pbk1mtUl-sOlRu4EMGUrr8aqRy9cgVg5uxImf76NQ1QiwkTMayvh8O1bNPrhHFCfe6TtzVrR8yhrfLSM1bohwGu1Kc-eNpnJnz71OUgUuSmfrntuRnWKmQ-FlPi-JBUOZH4ZKJs/s400/111855314_Ekid04TK.jpg" border="0" /><br /><div align="center">Poppy (far right) with his youngest brother, Ron McClure, and Marg</div>Laurziehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07296612994620890887noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-352133762195171297.post-16239716883337894202009-07-20T08:30:00.000-07:002009-07-20T08:38:40.413-07:00Please PRAY for Poppy!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9ytCE0lpJKN6Mofl0nsZlluEhBW7wqTIN1OtvZkKKpEGQLd_z4PolrTfK8TXTbfa5LAM0CSSRkKMB0HmiHk8W0E35DY4geeNK0nj4MHV2K-PnNzGQKHsN1m7539JSIJ9f8OlU3-JPVDdc/s1600-h/hangingwithpoppy.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5360566538146092898" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9ytCE0lpJKN6Mofl0nsZlluEhBW7wqTIN1OtvZkKKpEGQLd_z4PolrTfK8TXTbfa5LAM0CSSRkKMB0HmiHk8W0E35DY4geeNK0nj4MHV2K-PnNzGQKHsN1m7539JSIJ9f8OlU3-JPVDdc/s400/hangingwithpoppy.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div align="center">Evangeline hanging out with Poppy on Sunday afternoon</div><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUYceTnt27zzxe2oJ1dETeRiS3jIco-J1Y8S1cB9vcZDQM2JWzE_pDDLK8OBFZM6sdzFxJJiqhLY1d8b1rat76DimS2-oL7tF6el0xoyiN8FIjd4pypF2TfoymTRfxNlxxE56P77duuWct/s1600-h/surgeonjesus.bmp"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5360555844112214274" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 225px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUYceTnt27zzxe2oJ1dETeRiS3jIco-J1Y8S1cB9vcZDQM2JWzE_pDDLK8OBFZM6sdzFxJJiqhLY1d8b1rat76DimS2-oL7tF6el0xoyiN8FIjd4pypF2TfoymTRfxNlxxE56P77duuWct/s400/surgeonjesus.bmp" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div align="center"><span style="color:#000099;">And my God shall supply all your need<br />according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:19)</span></div><br /><br />This morning our Poppy (dad, John McClure) is having open-heart surgery to replace a bicuspid aortic valve.<br /><br /><div align="center"><span style="color:#000099;">"See, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh;<br />is anything too hard for Me?" (Jeremiah 32:27)</span></div><br /><br />A dear friend sent the beautiful image above and it's exactly what I've been mentally picturing is going on inside the OR.<br /><br /><div align="center"><span style="color:#000099;">"For the Lord is a sun and shield;<br />the Lord will give grace and glory;<br />no good thing will He withhold from those who walk uprightly." (Psalm 84:11)</span></div><br /><br />Thank you for your prayers. We will update as soon as we have news. Trusting, praying, believing in faith...<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5360566534096102210" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-6Z-5_R7GntUD7v_O_bX_xuaIbKxsddY6_mmObivzYvIL2iWh4r1lemGZhVePMf-trUH3rmluNqmuGKmaAVCa3NySob_QLbDeQqan_10ATz5iixkoNau9WgZuntwHiW7vbW6lpH18hoNw/s400/prayingforpoppy.jpg" border="0" /> <br /><div align="center">Praying for Poppy (and eating grapes)</div>Laurziehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07296612994620890887noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-352133762195171297.post-870192884058581042009-07-17T14:40:00.000-07:002009-07-17T14:45:17.292-07:00Jackie's Secret Agent Camp & Exciting News<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5359529951247369106" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-DFVf1zYULKLTJavTZ4qOPwK96QhyphenhyphenxlSWn0tPmAS1Ah7FL87wfucKyejMBkQNN9R7uic063OY_Nlpo9pWfHcg6KcL6-Mij6gGauGfD5U9cjW80emnUaea7ZXHLvWWhpL_CxMAUbN18nst/s400/SCAN0025.JPG" border="0" /><br /><br />OK, I'm trying to catch up a little bit... Don't laugh! So, here's the skinny on Secret Agent Camp... It ROCKED! Jackie had a WILD time... Full military camouflage, secret operative identity, rifle & shotgun paintball, war games, ziplining into "enemy territory"... Excellent boy stuff. He came home out of his mind happy and stinking to HIGH HEAVEN after crawling through mud, stalking through the woods looking for the "bad guys", and still covered in face paint! I seriously nearly burned his gear before it got into the house. He won Last Man Standing two weeks in a row as a "good guy" and successfully infiltrated the other team once... My future Marine. Makes a mama proud!<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5359528602417773970" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcUWgY6fJpjpuQOyxbgx6ShBmiywx4mMTPm4pTXa8T-RaGQVffOvFngo3L3wLLh-RWSREhZOR1IYwx19vETzEqj7GaJq7olL3yWMVWAjfl5988_hrf-fVtNPiYhnXW1ACkiU8WLDJ2UASY/s400/SCAN0015.JPG" border="0" /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5359528600025453858" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV1cNqgzru_Rb5fmuoI2hmQsV9sh4zGi6og7dn3nGEh0TEsEvitsNR6yCyYJ9Y0IgzhSH9dsjXes60rUPj27w83NTMQaniKF0Wy2oG6-SP1oshWscoeT7VBefSQb3SLWUrebH2s0N9YOrY/s400/SCAN0013.JPG" border="0" /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5359529405492447986" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdBhQmMGn4y_yCTS15hoaSV51guN7XOQBEGoMBnQQevU7fAsaPdimwe-YqWAlz6gXNZUTCtbsIAGsxOqNyPshUwfmVA8Zh2ZdAZEj3Txt0Oz_N1SCcmM2dRdEq0lLYGjpzzI9u1V-7k23S/s400/SCAN0022.JPG" border="0" /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5359529404264786210" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbssnu9be71yHWLJNerznZOJTjzlXKbn6GaaFDHW_AKEV8VbTB2e6X0oH0iTDdo-vETL1vvjUAnjy1gwl6IJCTpIRU5oYeyL60jwezIbswYQAUffyD6ozQ2tC-cszPbmxazy-4UyLOOJGz/s400/SCAN0021.JPG" border="0" /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5359529399923034418" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY0lM4qFcQP4VNwYBMStC3N8Yz-ofnv3QjqoeZbV99OMGGoPV3g7e1fU1_hjG_1H8WNQuuqU821HZbOX99H-a9Lzn9d3mQ6xJPmhk2kvqUfkkNOStP0AwlNlxybExSjjj06IEJgAjhYKr4/s400/SCAN0019.JPG" border="0" /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5359528611622533874" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIx7xxWxDYqiUqf1DM1zAuw2zckEFqggVwHzkMXvskKnCvMlw0t6DklwXcSgripH4D3IC14ImjH07EJL1YxB6MsJMLFhDD-BiVJE2HOIzMMZvl7Xqbv4Hn3bzmERAfLNVi2jWsRHEytfTB/s400/SCAN0017.JPG" border="0" /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5359529939201539522" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJIfNAA-LMoL_tb0j66SDL459hbhE942D_xgtkKyBg3tv7xNHPB4eQJtY1x6ASfGc7eX5rlOo-hEpOIKacGQ17-ho289ZUdD8q-ydAOyOiRlb-9EgKRoHrqOKmmsJQD38xPaqcz5pMWZa8/s400/SCAN0023.JPG" border="0" /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5359529949998186562" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrV13JwJCOrGi7vfkYK5CkBanPSpb72AqZDT5cLe3kXpx1edXgR1QL3k3cE8B40ArqAO06r180Gp4ddQIoGbItiYrPJs4CFeJqzyfG8kspPCZG_3ZW3zwvfxHa_lwSQbA2cUIetOPerF1f/s400/SCAN0024.JPG" border="0" /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5359529388785437762" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIkSf7_Q7Im2iI-fl_wKw0BDkey_8p0mL2O_VYI7Z0IQ55l9RAKeek1ksf3UwLSVl3N1k09HEApbzX1h6nRWea64vIANFlhhQiL6RTt7NtQwlK6-rD2-M7bvtPPxf1a6H8eLUoZcQKMOoz/s400/SCAN0018.JPG" border="0" /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5359528586785506578" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZQ7XdiwCFds0Oq3KceJgkOPRwrZ-bHHahJAMQ4s-h1m7O5OUnOYupVFbca4aYgvo_bxNrXttSdxgYoDZ-yJuMvm6eZlCn7zI8-kHHLzIjRdecIRWRLZlUtrchHx73QfvXOk9rDyFEwtcg/s400/SCAN0012.JPG" border="0" /><br /><br />Also, we just recently heard that Jack was ACCEPTED to St. Catherine's Military Academy! He is, and we are SO thrilled! This boy who has been enamored by all things military since he was a zygote and fully intends to matriculate at <a href="http://www.usma.edu/">West Point</a> or <a href="http://www.usna.edu///homepage.php">Annapolis </a>is going to ROCK St. Catherine's! HOO-AH!<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5359545925019095602" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 89px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 78px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTFdIpd9P2xHvLjAMg01CpSegoWZaJNrUdUseORLzlsDejjG95oqDK998_e6xBio4HVqyr6-NrECusPfPyTyKgdLLDOO1kvr-Zaqf9fEpV4dnS6bZQxHSnLvqXSujoTUu347fm3qMTrI8D/s400/St_Catherines.jpg" border="0" />Laurziehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07296612994620890887noreply@blogger.com3