tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-50046442616803909452024-02-20T17:24:47.856-06:00Sweet Dreams are Made of This: an adoption blogWe are "wishin, hopin, thinkin, prayin, plannin, dreamin" and waiting to adopt!Rhondahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07549803190101959114noreply@blogger.comBlogger180125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5004644261680390945.post-22469668976929198342016-11-08T16:06:00.000-06:002016-11-08T16:06:05.570-06:00The Joy of the Lord is Your Strength<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Sorry I have been MIA for the last few months. I am
still here, forming blog posts in my head, and I am still reading your blog
posts as I have time, and I really appreciate when you check by to see if I've
posted anything new.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Today I have something really neat to
share with you that God showed me as I read my Bible! </i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
(If you are a Believer, I encourage you to make some quiet time to meditate
(definition: think deeply or concentrate on for a period of time; ponder in
silence; examine attentively; pray over; study by oneself; etc <i>not </i>the
yoga definition of meditation, which I believe is dangerous and evil) on God's
words in the Bible. "You will seek Me and find Me, when you seek Me
with all your heart." Jeremiah 29:13 But off my rabbit trail
and back onto the main path...) </span></div>
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Please read and examine the following portion of Scripture with me:</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Acts 16:19-25 (Feel free to grab your Bibles and read
from the beginning of verse 16 for more context if you want. And also all
the way to verse 40 if you like. I assure you, it's worth it. But
for now we're going to focus on verses 19-25b.)</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">"But
when her owners saw that their hope of gain was gone, they seized Paul and
Silas and dragged them into the marketplace before the rulers. And when
they had brought them to the magistrates, they said, "These men are Jews,
and they are disturbing our city. They advocate customs that are not
lawful for us as Romans to accept or practice." The crowd joined in
attacking them, and the magistrates tore the garments off them and gave orders
to beat them with rods. And when they had inflicted many blows upon them,
they threw them into prison, ordering the jailer to keep them safely.
Having received this order, he put them into the inner prison and fastened
their feet in the stocks. About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and
singing hymns to God."</span></i></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Note these seven things that Paul and Silas
endured. They were:</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">seized</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">dragged</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">wrongfully
accused</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">4.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">attacked</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">5.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">stripped</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">6.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">beaten</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">7.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">imprisoned</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">But then soak in their reaction... </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">They were<b><i> </i></b></span><b><i><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 20.0pt; line-height: 115%;">praying
and singing hymns to God!</span></i></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Wow! Dwell on that!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>How do we respond when we endure trials? I have been going through
a lot of trials lately and I know a lot of you are, too. As a dear friend
pointed out on Sunday, remember that thanking God for everything, including
suffering, acknowledges His perfect will in everything. When we praise
God in every situation, we are accepting that He is in control and His ways are
best. I have found that while trusting Him doesn't make the trials go away,
it does give me a measure of peace that can only come from Him.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt;">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in; text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">"<b>Rejoice
always</b>,</span></i><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in; text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">pray
without ceasing,</span></i><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in; text-align: center;">
<b><i><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">give
thanks in all circumstances</span></i></b><i><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">,</span></i><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in; text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">for
this is the will of God in Christ Jesus</span></i><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in; text-align: center;">
<b><i><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">for
you</span></i></b><i><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">."</span></i><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in; text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">1
Thessalonians 5:18</span></i><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></div>
</div>
Rhondahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07549803190101959114noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5004644261680390945.post-16923564956514034242016-07-21T17:18:00.000-05:002016-07-21T17:18:49.756-05:00God the Massage Therapist<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Trust. This is a big one for me. I am not good at it. It scares me.<br />
<br />
(I
am not talking about trusting Christ for salvation. That I have done
and I hope you have, too. I am talking about trusting Christ in the
day-to-day details of life.)<br />
<br />
In the last 10 1/2 weeks that I have been sick, God has been teaching me
about the purpose of trials, His comfort, hope, encouraging others,
humbleness, healing and so many other things. None of them have I
learned completely - there is still much room for God to grow me!<br />
<br />
One area that I have been reluctant to venture into is trust. Why? Because to me, trust equals risk of crashing. It is the same reason I struggle with hoping - because of the risk of disappointment (hopefully more on that in a later post.)<br />
<br />
But as this sickness has dragged on without anyone knowing for sure what it is or when/if it will get better, my mind going into a tailspin of anxious thoughts, until lately - finally - I've been willing to address the topic of trust that God has been bringing to the forefront of my mind more and more often.<br />
<br />
Yesterday I was at the massage therapist. I hadn't been to see her before. And as I was lying there, this analogy came to mind:<br />
<br />
We go to the massage therapist and, even though we're lying under a blanket, we're stripped to practically nothing, with a stranger, with the door closed. That makes us very vulnerable. I feel like trust makes me very vulnerable. Just like I am trusting the massage therapist to not take advantage of me (or laugh at me!) trusting God says, "Here I am, all of me; nothing hidden. I trust You to take good care of me."<br />
<br />
Then the massage therapist starts working on our muscles, and we assume they know what they're doing. We assume they've been trained, and did well, and have experience. I also need to trust God that He knows what He's doing. I've got to relinquish myself into His fully capable hands, and trust that even though I don't always understand His techniques, that He knows better than me what is best for me.<br />
<br />
The first two points are usually fairly easy to do when the massage is simply a relaxation massage. But those therapeutic massages - now sometimes those hurt! It hurt yesterday when she massaged me and I'm sore today. But I knew, from past experience and from trusting her, that the pain was good for me. In the same way, I need to trust God that the painful (or scary, numb, etc) times that He allows me to be in are for my good. I need to remember that He is working in ways I cannot see, and to trust that He's turning my hard times into good results for me. <br />
<br />
Thankfully we can know that "You [O Lord] are good and do good..." (Psalm 119:68). We are safe with Him. Thankfully, kind of like a massage therapist has a diploma, we have God's Word (The Holy Bible). It is full of proof that God knows what He's doing. And we can "Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet
trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith
produces steadfastness" (James 1:2-3).<br />
<br />
I also think that there must be an element of trusting God that, just like a massage where you relinquish your tired body into the capable therapist's hands, is relaxing. A sense of giving over the responsibility to Someone who can take care of things better than me. I know I definitely feel that way about having trusted God for my salvation. That is a not a weight I want on my shoulders. So I'm thinking there must also be that same sense of relief in the day-to-day stresses. Just like I don't want (and thankfully don't have) the responsibility of getting myself to heaven, why would I want to resist and hang on to my everyday struggles, not trusting that God can take care of them? That only gives me "sore muscles"! <br />
<br />
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Rhondahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07549803190101959114noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5004644261680390945.post-17054418407572615112016-06-21T20:49:00.002-05:002016-06-22T21:11:06.297-05:00HopeToday I want to share with you about <i>hope</i>. I've been sick (still not sure with what) for over 6 weeks, and a lot of the time I desperately need even a little hope to hang on to. I need hope that God will heal me yet, hope that this isn't permanent, hope that there is an 'other side' to all this. I need hope, as in a hopeful feeling, like the opposite of despair. I need hope that God is good and that He has a reason for my suffering.<br />
<br />
Did you know that, in the Bible, "Unlike the English word "hope", the New Testament word contains no uncertainty; it speaks of something that is certain, but not yet realized." (MacArthur study Bible) <b>When hope is spoken of in the Bible, it is a <i>sure and certain hope; an expectation</i> - a hope in God that is based on who He is and His promises in His Word.</b> <br />
<br />
God keeps my hope alive through His Word, and for those of you who also believe in Jesus as your Saviour, I pray that He gives you hope through these verses, too.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
***</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>"But I will <b>hope</b> continually</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>and will <b>praise You</b> yet more and more."</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-size: large;">Psalm 71:14</span> </i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
This verse puts my focus on God by praising Him. There is always something to praise God for. Generally when I'm not feeling thankful, I start with thanking God for saving me, and go from there. When my focus is on God, it takes the focus off of my problems, and that in and of itself makes me feel less like despairing.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
***<i> </i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>"...For we were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself. Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death. <b>But that was to make us rely</b> not on ourselves but <b>on God</b> who raises the dead. He delivered us from such a deadly peril, and He <b>will</b> deliver us. On <b>Him</b> we have set our <b>hope</b> that He will deliver us again."</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>2 Corinthians 1:8-10</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
First off, this verse gives me comfort that other Believers - even if for different reasons - have felt the same way I do - "burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself". Secondly, there is a purpose to hard times - to make us rely on God. (There are many other reasons that God allows hardships; I hope to write on that another time.) To be totally honest, when things are going well, I notice that I feel more confident in myself and I rely less on God. That is a really bad thing. I will always need God - desperately. Now that I've been sick, struggling to breathe and stay calm, not knowing what's wrong with me or if I'll get better on this earth, I've been relying heavily on God. I really want to get better, yet at the same time...I've been enjoying the close connection with Him. I have to remind myself that I have grown in my faith even when times have not been hard. It's just that when you are feeling helpless, you have a choice - will you rely on your husband, your mom, your medication...or will you rely on God? I've found He's the only one completely strong enough to hold me up. Thirdly, I love the confident hope in this verse; the promise of deliverance based on past experience: God <i>did </i>deliver us, and He <i>will </i>deliver us again! We have set our hope on Him! Amen! These words give me assurance that God will heal me from what I am going through - whether in my lifetime or in heaven, I don't know, but I know He will.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
***</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>"So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are <b>transient</b>, but the things that are unseen are eternal."</i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>2 Corinthians 4:16-18</i></span><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
This verse gives me hope because it puts things into perspective for me. It encourages me that yes, God is strengthening my faith. It reminds me that what I am going through is nothing compared to how wonderful eternity will be. It reminds me that what I am suffering now is temporary and <i>will </i>be gone yet, when Jesus decides it's time. It also prompts me to focus on loving God and loving others, as those things are more important in the long-term.<i> </i> </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
***</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
There are many, many other verses in God's Word that give me hope. Some of them actually use the word "hope" in them, while some don't, they just give you hope! Open up the Holy Bible (I recommend ESV, but whatever translation you have is better than nothing!) and dig in. I find, when I am despairing, that there is nothing that gives me more hope than reading and dwelling on God's words.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
***</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
I would also like to add this quote that a friend posted. It really impacted me during a time when I felt like giving up. (The quote is from Sara Hagerty's book "Every Bitter Thing is Sweet", a book I have not personally read.) </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
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<![endif]--><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="uficommentbody"><span style="line-height: 115%;">“I realized that if, at eighty, my body hasn’t
known the healing of the Sarah who went before me those thousands of years ago,
<i><b>I will know that I pleased Him with a hope that kept me raw and vulnerable to
His touch</b></i>.”</span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="uficommentbody"><span style="line-height: 115%;">***</span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="uficommentbody"><span style="line-height: 115%;">I also wanted to share a link to a short devotional titled <a href="https://www.intouch.org/read/magazine/daily-devotions/the-source-of-hope" target="_blank">The Source of Hope.</a> You can read and/or listen to it. I think it's really good! </span></span></span></span></div>
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Rhondahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07549803190101959114noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5004644261680390945.post-21889566209440519222016-06-08T19:01:00.001-05:002016-06-14T18:10:56.562-05:00God is With UsI have been sick for the last 4 1/2 weeks; at this point, we are still uncertain as to what is wrong with my body. To be honest, I am <i>really</i> struggling emotionally and am relying <i>heavily</i> on verses like these to provide calm. I want to share some of the things that God is teaching me during this time; my hope is that God would use these verses, and my thoughts on them, to encourage and comfort those of you who believe in Jesus, and strengthen your faith in Him.<br />
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*** </div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>"Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,</i></div>
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<i>I will fear no evil, for You are <b>with me</b>;</i></div>
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<i>Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me."</i></div>
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<i>Psalm 23:4</i></div>
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<br /></div>
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A shepherd's rod was used to protect his sheep, and his staff was used to guide the sheep. The Lord's protection and guidance are a comfort to us. Note this verse does not say the Lord will take us <i>out </i>of the valley of the shadow of death, but that while we are in it, we will not fear the evil in it, because He comforts us with His protection and guidance.<br />
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*** </div>
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<i> </i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>"And when He got into the boat, His disciples followed Him. And behold, there arose a great storm on the sea, so that the boat was being swamped by the waves; but He was asleep. And they went and woke Him, saying, "Save us, Lord; we are perishing." And He said to them, "Why are you afraid, O you of little faith?" Then He rose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm."</i></div>
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<i>Matthew 8:23-26</i></div>
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<br /></div>
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Jesus is in the boat - in our storms - <b><i>with </i></b>us. (Also, as a side note, He has the ability to calm our storms if He desires to. As the Ball Brothers sing, "Sometimes He calms the storm, and other times He calms His child.") It is a comfort to me to know that God is in the boat with me when I am in a storm, because His presence has a calming effect on me.<br />
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*** </div>
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<div style="text-align: left;">
<i> </i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>"It is the Lord who goes before you.</i><br />
<i>He will be <b>with you</b>; He will not leave you or forsake you.</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Do not fear or be dismayed."</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Deuteronomy 31:8 (also vs. 6 and Hebrews 13:5)</i></div>
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<br /></div>
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This is Moses talking to Joshua, who was going to succeed Moses. Joshua would be going into battle. The Lord is with us in the battles, <i><b>never leaving</b></i>. Thank You, Lord!<br />
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***</div>
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Rhondahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07549803190101959114noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5004644261680390945.post-30776744694340771412016-05-26T17:48:00.000-05:002016-06-08T19:14:30.401-05:00Annual Adoption UpdateYesterday was (finally!) our annual update with our adoption agency. It had to be rescheduled twice, once because I was sick and once because the adoption counsellor couldn't make it.<br />
<br />
In past years update meetings were always held at the agency. This year they have switched things up, and conduct the updates in our homes. This was a little nerve-wracking for me, because it felt like a homestudy all over again! Thankfully it ended up being no big deal (I should've known!). <br />
<br />
We found out the following stats:<br />
<ul>
<li>We were shown 0 times in our first year of waiting (May 2013 - April 2014). We already knew this.</li>
<li>We were shown 7 times in our second year of waiting (April 2014 - April 2015). This was a pleasant surprise, because we knew we'd been shown at least three times, but didn't know we'd actually been shown seven times! We were told that last year was a busy year.</li>
<li>We were shown 1 time in our third year of waiting (April 2015 - May 2016). Although this number sounds low, keep in mind that we put our file on hold for five months, from April -September, so really this is saying we were shown once in eight months (Sept-May). We do find this number disappointing, but were told that this was a slow year.</li>
</ul>
One encouraging thing was we found out that our agency is working to expand its reach, and has been working in communities other than the main city it is located in. Hopefully this will mean more birthparents and adoptive parents will be matched.<br />
<br />
Please feel free to ask me any questions you have about the adoption process or about our particular adoption; I enjoy talking about it! Rhondahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07549803190101959114noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5004644261680390945.post-23625428545523576282016-05-14T20:34:00.000-05:002016-05-14T20:34:58.644-05:00Motherhood Month - 24<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />
<b>Progress: </b>Today is exactly 3 years since we were approved to adopt.<br />
<br />
<b>How I'm Feeling: </b>Emotionally, I'm a little down. Our annual update was supposed to be on the 12th but we had to cancel, the morning of. Now it's scheduled for the 24th. Physically, I'm feeling a little crummy. I have something wrong in my chest, am low on strength, and my sleep schedule is off kilter.<br />
<br />
<b>Craving: </b>Nothing. Haven't had much of an appetite lately.<br />
<br />
<b>Thoughts About Our Future Child: </b>I love you.<br />
<br />
<b>Thoughts About Our Child's Expectant Mom: </b>Praying for you.<br />
<br />
<b>Most Recent Baby Purchase/Gift: </b>My niece and sister gave me a couple gifts for Mother's Day.<br />
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<b>This Month God: </b>Has been teaching me to trust Him.Rhondahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07549803190101959114noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5004644261680390945.post-35375214616809630722016-04-14T14:57:00.000-05:002016-04-14T14:57:52.472-05:00Motherhood Month - 23<b>Progress: </b>Today has been 2 years + 11 months since we were approved for domestic infant adoption. We have been active (meaning our profile has been available to be shown to expecting birthparents) for 2 years + 6 months of that time.<br />
<br />
<b>How I'm Feeling: </b>When we were approved, we were told that the average wait time (meaning the length of time from the when a couple gets approved until they get chosen to adopt) with our agency was 2 years. One day my husband and I were talking and each made a guess as to how long <i>our </i>wait would be. <a href="http://rhondassweetdreams.blogspot.ca/2014/11/motherhood-month-12.html" target="_blank">He guessed 1 year + 6 months.</a> I guessed 2 years + 6 months. Well, we have now been actively waiting for 2 years + 6 months and...no baby. So in that way I feel a little sad. BUT. The day is not over. God can do anything. The phone could ring in the next minute. Also, I really trust that He knows what He's doing and has not forgotten about me. He will do what is best for His honour and glory and I know that will be what is best for my husband and I, for our future baby, and for their birthparent(s). So I will, expectantly and hopefully, continue to wait and see what He does.<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">"The Lord is good to those who wait for Him." </span></i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">Lamentations 3:25a</span> </span></i> </div>
<br />
<b>Craving: </b>It's kinda embarrassing how every time I write this answer, it starts off with "Well, I just ate..." lol! But, yeah, I did just eat some chocolate... :)<b> </b><br />
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<b>Thoughts About Our Future Child: </b> <br />
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<b>Thoughts About Our Child's Expectant Mom: </b>Getting insight into what your situation may be like by reading articles by birthmothers like <a href="http://www.americaadopts.com/how-i-made-an-open-adoption-plan-for-my-baby/" target="_blank">this one</a> that I read yesterday.<br />
<br />
<b>Most Recent Baby Purchase/Gift: </b>My sweet mom-in-love (who is currently going through chemo but has only ONE more treatment yet!) dropped by a couple weeks ago "just because" to give me <i>four </i>sleepers she had bought for us!! That did my heart a world of good - to know that people are still hoping and waiting expectantly with us.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhavPQwoopjKV4XK7MSh-N1NXGURtV9aeqId6mkUmBzXZ5tJiDVfJbF3SJMfdaqlcmyD98UitK1sNB58aptcJ0proTVfJcoxawgpNvR3EZ-qZkhPADG750H01GO7zy3awp3-51-Wu-R2yhe/s1600/IMG_1377.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhavPQwoopjKV4XK7MSh-N1NXGURtV9aeqId6mkUmBzXZ5tJiDVfJbF3SJMfdaqlcmyD98UitK1sNB58aptcJ0proTVfJcoxawgpNvR3EZ-qZkhPADG750H01GO7zy3awp3-51-Wu-R2yhe/s400/IMG_1377.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One 3-month for a girl, two 6-month gender-neutral, and one 6-month for a boy. Those little sheep are my favourite.</td></tr>
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<b>This Month God: </b>I have been learning <i>so much </i>by reading the autobiography of George Muller. He is the man who started and ran orphanages in England in the 1800's, for thousands of children, completely by trusting in God to provide the funds needed, all for the purpose of showing that yes, God does answer seemingly impossible prayer! <b> </b><br />
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Rhondahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07549803190101959114noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5004644261680390945.post-7828181980494767582016-03-14T20:03:00.001-05:002016-03-14T20:03:31.038-05:00Motherhood Month - 22<b>Progress: </b>It's been 2 years + 10 months since we were approved to adopt.<br />
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<b>How I'm feeling: </b>Euphoric. <i>It's SPRING!!!!!!!!</i> The weather has been <i>amazing </i>these last few days, in particular Friday, Saturday, and today. Sunday was warm, too, but it was foggy and rainy all day. Saturday was around <i>+15C!! </i>(59F) Hubby & I went for walks on all 3 beautiful days; on Saturday we went on a lo-o-ong walk (2.6 km/1.6 mi) and it was so warm it at times felt <i>hot</i>. Happy happy happy! Everything is melting like crazy. The snow is rapidly disappearing from our backyard. The windows are cracked open and I can occasionally hear birds and children. The next couple weeks are supposed to be cooler and perhaps there'll even be a little snow, but hey, we live in the center of North America, I expect that here! But now I know Spring is on it's definite way...and a little early at that :) Also I've spent a lot of time with Hubby lately and that makes me very content, too!<br />
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<b>Craving: </b>Well, I'm pretty stuffed as we just finished supper (<a href="http://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/au-gratin-peas-and-potatoes" target="_blank">Au Gratin Peas and Potatoes</a>) - and it was delicious so we may have eaten a <i>lot</i>. But I could still handle some fresh fruit or something like that.<br />
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<b>Thoughts about our future child: </b>I'd really like to bring you home already!!! I want to start life with you!<br />
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<b>Thoughts about our child's expectant mom: </b>Mixed feelings. Always. I'm sad for the pain you will go through and I want to stop it. Yet at the same time I know you will be the one who provides us with our baby. Hard.<br />
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<b>Most recent baby purchase/gift: </b>Nothing. But we are working on our baby room. There has been a lot of progress on it lately!<br />
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<b>This month God...: </b>I've been reading in 1 Peter during my one-on-one time with Jesus. (With Hubby we are going through the Holy Bible and are currently in Psalms.) There is a lot of good stuff in 1 Peter that God has been teaching me.Rhondahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07549803190101959114noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5004644261680390945.post-21951954798952288502016-03-03T13:27:00.001-06:002016-03-03T13:29:25.582-06:00Who Jesus Is A couple nights ago I was lying awake feeling stressed out about various things - how was I going to handle a situation that had happened that day, and various other things I was worried about.<br />
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Jesus brought to my mind these words: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Prince of Peace.<br />
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These words are from God's Word, Isaiah 9:6, and are foretelling the birth of Jesus:<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>"For unto us a Child is born,</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>to us a Son is given;</i></div>
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<i>and the government shall be upon His shoulder,</i></div>
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<i>and His name shall be called</i></div>
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<i>Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,</i></div>
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<i>Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace."</i></div>
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<div style="text-align: left;">
The words that Jesus brought to my mind comforted me because, as I thought upon them, I realized that...</div>
<ol>
<li><i> </i>...a <b>counselor</b> listens and advises. Jesus listens to my concerns and gives me advice on what to do.</li>
<li>...Jesus, being <b>God</b>, is in control of absolutely everything, so He allows things in my life to happen in ways I don't always like for reasons that only He knows; yet, being <b>mighty</b>, He is also 100% able to change things if He so feels it is best!</li>
<li>...He calms me. And it is true! Especially after realizing Point #2, I felt a lot more at <b>peace</b>.</li>
</ol>
Thank You, Jesus, for who You are!<br />
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Rhondahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07549803190101959114noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5004644261680390945.post-38016465743045536772016-02-13T19:19:00.000-06:002016-02-13T19:19:06.114-06:00Motherhood Month - 21<b>Progress: </b>Tomorrow will be 2 years + 9 months since we were approved.<br />
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<b>How I'm Feeling: </b>It's kinda a crazy thought that if we had gotten pregnant the day we got approved, we would now have a 2 year old. I think I'm patiently, hopefully, waiting. Physically and emotionally I'm just feeling a little crummy...okay, a lot crummy, right now.<br />
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<b>Craving: </b>I'm not super-hungry right now but I would totally take almost anything loaded with melted cheese...grilled cheese sandwich, pizza, you name it.<br />
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<b>Thoughts about our future child: </b>I've been reading so much from adoptees and birth mothers, and we recently watched <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cYI686su6PY&list=WL" target="_blank">Adopted</a>, so it's on my mind, hoping that you and I will have a good relationship and that I will be able to help you feel free to be able to talk to me about what you're feeling.<br />
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<b>Thoughts about our child's expectant mom: </b>I hope you will have support, particularly after the adoption as you go back to life with a baby-shaped hole in your heart. I hope you will be able and willing to be a part of our baby's life, for your sake, his/her sake, and ours, too.<br />
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<b>Most recent baby purchase/gift: </b>Nothing really.<br />
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<b>This month God: </b>Has been teaching me how good He is! I wrote about it <a href="http://rhondassweetdreams.blogspot.ca/2016/02/god-is-good.html" target="_blank">here</a>.<br />
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<br />Rhondahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07549803190101959114noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5004644261680390945.post-52371388505602565132016-02-12T15:16:00.000-06:002016-02-12T15:16:32.687-06:00God is Good!A couple days ago I was feeling pretty discouraged about our adoption. I wasn't feeling much hope that we'd get chosen. I had some time to myself right then so I started looking up verses in my Bible on the topic of God wanting good for me. <br />
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See, this is something I often struggle with believing - that God wants good for me. Even though I have been freed from the laws of being a Mennonite when I became a Christian, the old teachings sometimes still hang around the back of my mind without my barely noticing. Such as that God gives us what we deserve; what we earn - not gifts and blessings out of His love for us. I'm still having a hard time wrapping my mind around the fact that God <i>wants </i>to give us good things - I find it hard to ask Him for anything but the very practical needs, and the specifically "spiritual" needs.<br />
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But I was so encouraged reading my Bible (where I know that everything is true, and doesn't need to be run through any filter checking if there is error of teaching). I am not one to decide something, and then look up verses to jive with that. I would rather know what's true. Here are the Bible verses that impacted me, followed by the truths that God showed me from them:<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span><i><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #0b5394;">"Be gracious to me, O Lord,</span></span></i></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span><i><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #0b5394;">for to You do I cry all the day.</span></span></i></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span><i><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #0b5394;">Gladden the soul of Your servant,</span></span></i></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span><i><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #0b5394;">for to You, O Lord,</span></span></i></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span><i><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #0b5394;">do I lift up my soul.</span></span></i></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="background-color: white;"><span><i><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #0b5394;">For You, O Lord,</span></span></i></span></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span><i><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>are good</b> and forgiving,</span></span></i></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span><i><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #0b5394;">abounding in steadfast love</span></span></i></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span><i><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #0b5394;">to all who call upon You.</span></span></i></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span><i><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #0b5394;">Give ear, O Lord, to my prayer;</span></span></i></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span><i><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #0b5394;">listen to my plea for grace.</span></span></i></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span><i><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #0b5394;">In the day of my trouble I call upon You,</span></span></i></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span><i><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #0b5394;">for You answer me...</span></span></i></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span><i><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #0b5394;">...For You are great and do wondrous things;</span></span></i></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span><i><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #0b5394;">You alone are God."</span></span></i></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span><i><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: small;">Psalm 86:3-7 & 10</span></span></span></i></span></span></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;">He is good! He does wondrous things! He answers me!</span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;">*** </span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">"For I know the plans <b>I</b> have for you,</span></i></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">declares the Lord,</span></i></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">plans for welfare and not for evil,</span></i></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">to give you a future and a hope."</span></i></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">Jeremiah 29:11</span></span></i></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: black;">He</span></b><span style="color: black;"> is the one in charge of plans for me! And His plans are for good!</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;">***</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">"Bless the Lord, O my soul,</span></i></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">and forget not all His benefits,</span></i></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">who forgives all your iniquity,</span></i></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">who heals all your diseases,</span></i></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">who redeems your life from the pit,</span></i></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy,</span></i></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">who satisfies you with good </span></i></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">so that your youth in renewed like the eagle's."</span></i></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">Psalm 103:2-5</span></span></i></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;">He satisfies me with good!</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;">***</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">"Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord,</span></i></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">the fruit of the womb a reward.</span></i></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">Like arrows in the hand of a warrior</span></i></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">are the children of one's youth.</span></i></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">Blessed is the man who fills his quiver with them!.."</span></i></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">Psalm 127:3-5</span></span></i></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;">"Your wife will be like a fruitful vine within your house;</span></span></span></i></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;">your children will be like olive shoots around your table.</span></span></span></i></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;">Behold, thus shall the man be blessed who fears the Lord...</span></span></span></i></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;">May you see your children's children!..."</span></span></span></i></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">Psalm 128:3-4 & 6</span></span></span></span></i></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;">"Praise the Lord!</span></span></span></span></span></i></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;">Blessed is the man who fears the Lord,</span></span></span></span></span></i></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;">who greatly delights in His commandments!</span></span></span></span></span></i></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;">His offspring will be mighty in the land;</span></span></span></span></span></i></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;">the generation of the upright will be blessed."</span></span></span></span></span></i></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">Psalm 112:1-2</span></span></span></span></span></span></i></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;">Although at first glance these verses didn't feel encouraging to me, they do show me this:</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;">God thinks children are a good thing!</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;">***</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">"Is anyone among you suffering?</span></i></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">Let him pray...</span></i></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">The prayer of a righteous person</span></i></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">has great power as it is working.</span></i></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">Elijah was a man with a nature like ours,</span></i></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">and he prayed fervently that it might not rain,</span></i></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">and for three years and six months it did not rain upon the earth.</span></i></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">Then he prayed again, and heaven gave rain, </span></i></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">and the earth bore its fruit."</span></i></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">James 5:13 & 16-18</span></span></i></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;">PRAY! Prayer WORKS!</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;">***</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;">And the verse that stood out to me the most...</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">"Ask, and it will be given to you;</span></i></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">seek, and you will find;</span></i></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">knock, and it will be opened to you.</span></i></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">For everyone who asks receives,</span></i></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">and the one who seeks finds,</span></i></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">and to the one who knocks it will be opened.</span></i></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">Or which one of you,</span></i></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">if his sons asks him for bread, will give him a stone?</span></i></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent?</span></i></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">If you then, who are evil,</span></i></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">know how to give good gifts to your children,</span></i></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"><b>how much more will your Father in heaven give good things</b></span></i></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"><b>to those who ask him!"</b></span></i></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">Matthew 7:7-11</span></span></i></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;">God <i>will</i> give good things to me when I ask Him <u><i>because He is <b>good!</b></i></u></span></span></span><i><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></i></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;">***</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="color: black;">I hope you have found this encouraging! Perhaps you don't struggle with believing that God does good things for His people out of the goodness of His heart the way I do, but regardless, I hope these verses have encouraged your faith in Him as they have me!</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"> </span></span></span><i><span style="font-size: large;"><b> </b></span></i></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
Rhondahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07549803190101959114noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5004644261680390945.post-38053085634683018342016-02-06T20:29:00.001-06:002016-02-06T20:30:22.874-06:00Psalm 103I've spent the last few months memorizing Psalm 103 and I can hardly believe I'm saying this, but I did it! I recited the whole chapter to my husband 2 night ago. I am <i>not</i> good at memorization. Like, really bad, actually. My sister would memorize sheets and sheets of Scripture to subsidize the cost of attending Bible camp. When I went to camp, I tried memorizing as well, and it didn't work. Thankfully I never loved camp as much as her! I love acting, but hugely struggled with script memorization, so never pursued it beyond church drama team as a teen. Once, in high school, we were required to memorize 20 verses of Scripture for Bible class. It was hard! So why attempt to memorize a whole chapter again? <i>Because I wanted the words to stick in my head (and heart) long-term.</i> I was reading through Psalms in my one-on-one time with God, and when I came across Psalm 103:10, it really hit me (you can read it below). I love that verse. So I decided to memorize the whole chapter. I love the idea of being able to bring God's words to mind, and to share them with anybody who needs, even if I or the other person doesn't have a Bible on hand. Now I guess we'll just see how long it sticks! Hopefully if I brush up on it occasionally, it will. However, I found there are 2 cons to memorizing this much, at least for me. It may be different for you. For me, it took me months to memorize it. During this time, I felt I couldn't move on with reading my Bible, because I felt it would "write over" the words I had memorized. This had the effect of pausing my spiritual growth a little. Don't worry, I still did spend one-on-one time with God, it just wasn't as frequent or always as in-depth as it was before. Also, when I was continually repeating the verses to memorize the words, they became just that - words. That was a little disappointing, and something I didn't expect. I'm hoping that now that it's memorized, these words can be brought to mind and dwelt on, so that I can treasure them more again - and I think that will be the case! I'm excited to have more of God's Word hidden in my heart, ready to be brought to mind when I or others need it!<br />
<br />
I have highlighted my favourite verse, the one that inspired me to memorize this chapter, below. Once you're done reading, could you please share <i>your </i>favourite part of this chapter in the comments? Thanks! I'd love to hear what was the most meaningful to you!<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
"Bless the Lord, O my soul,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
and all that is within me, bless His holy name!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
who forgives all your iniquity,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
who heals all your diseases,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
who redeems your life from the pit,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
who satisfies you with good</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The Lord works righteousness and justice for all who are oppressed.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
He made known His ways to Moses,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
His acts to the people of Israel.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The Lord is merciful and gracious,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
He will not always chide,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
nor will He keep His anger forever.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><b>He does not deal with us according to our sins,</b></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><b>nor repay us according to our iniquities.</b></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
For as high as the heavens are above the earth,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
so great is His steadfast love toward those who fear Him;</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
as far as the east is from the west,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
so far does He remove our transgressions from us.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
As a father shows compassion to his children,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
so the Lord shows compassion to those who fear Him.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
For He knows our frame;</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
He remembers that we are dust.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
As for man, his days are like grass;</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
he flourishes like a flower of the field;</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
for the wind passes over it, and it is gone,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
and its place knows it no more.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
But the steadfast love of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
on those who fear Him, </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
and His righteousness to children's children,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
to those who keep His covenant and remember to do His commandments.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The Lord has established His throne in the heavens,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
and His kingdom rules over all.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Bless the Lord, O you His angels,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
you mighty ones who do His word,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
obeying the voice of His word!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Bless the Lord, all His hosts,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
His ministers, who do His will!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Bless the Lord, all His works,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
in all places of His dominion. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Bless the Lord, O my soul!"</div>
Rhondahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07549803190101959114noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5004644261680390945.post-50975743053977147262016-02-02T17:12:00.000-06:002016-02-02T17:12:36.722-06:00Life Goes OnAs we continue waiting to adopt, life moves on.<br />
<br />
Yes, there are still moments when the phone rings and my stomach lurches, but they are few and far between. I won't deny that, the longer the wait, the harder hope is to hang on to.<br />
<br />
But I have not given up! Recently I have been thinking about tweaking our Dear Birthmother letter and making it more reflective of my heart, and less of a history write-up of ourselves. Also, a few times a week I work on our baby room. We are renovating our house ourselves, and what I've been doing is tearing wallpaper off the walls of the baby room. It's a chore to say the least, but every strip torn off makes me feel like I'm that much closer to bringing Baby home :) Also, this week we are going to be attending, for our first time, a support group at our agency for waiting adoptive parents.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiohXhJMQ0q7oz-9b6F2qhO5P2udcQP8LP3dgCgKqBecWqyLv0eCf9OmEd6tlL_PQABHoAw9xAx2SAcmCsROl_PrqIkGrIkTXqftTiSV2-dqe7o85cORo_o7vLFgSRHOVfw22nLQWXF84uV/s1600/IMG_1220.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiohXhJMQ0q7oz-9b6F2qhO5P2udcQP8LP3dgCgKqBecWqyLv0eCf9OmEd6tlL_PQABHoAw9xAx2SAcmCsROl_PrqIkGrIkTXqftTiSV2-dqe7o85cORo_o7vLFgSRHOVfw22nLQWXF84uV/s400/IMG_1220.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hubby taking a pause during renos. This is looking from the living room to the wall of the baby room. We are widening one closet into a nook for our computer desk; this will make the baby room closet slightly smaller.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Besides renos, what else has 'everyday life' looked like for me lately? Well, I have been reading a very good book about friendships. I am learning a lot about myself and how to do friendships better in the future. Also, I've been working on a system to prioritize how I spend my days. I don't want the little time that God has given me go to waste doing unimportant things. Important things to me, that I want to do every day, are one-on-one time with God, one-on-one time with my husband, doing housework, scrapbooking, going outside for fresh air/exercise, and the list goes on. Checklists work for me to get into good habits, so I'm leaning towards doing something like that. <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvtNsVmL6YPwsG9zrohUZ3zmIZbipCDTQJx_Y8dT-_hna88ytY6PsrzTOP_-VpUSkYgNJH4_GXSo7D4mhNwQInurcAYiBWY-7j-va1-gmo13dS1T2eEj3VzMH36vHQgkE3rtB0iD6b9g3I/s1600/IMG_1245.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvtNsVmL6YPwsG9zrohUZ3zmIZbipCDTQJx_Y8dT-_hna88ytY6PsrzTOP_-VpUSkYgNJH4_GXSo7D4mhNwQInurcAYiBWY-7j-va1-gmo13dS1T2eEj3VzMH36vHQgkE3rtB0iD6b9g3I/s400/IMG_1245.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Perhaps one day I will write a series of blog posts on friendships. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
By the way, did you notice I am Top Mommy Blogs approved? Exciting stuff for me! Clicking gets me 1 vote! You can vote once a day. <a href="http://www.topmommyblogs.com/" target="_blank"><img alt="Vote For Me @ The Top Mommy Blogs Directory" src="http://www.topmommyblogs.com/images/extra/150x150_rounded.png" /></a> <img alt="Vote For Me @ The Top Mommy Blogs Directory" border="0" height="1px" src="http://www.topmommyblogs.com/button.php?u=SweetDream1&buttontype=text" style="display: none;" width="1px" />Rhondahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07549803190101959114noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5004644261680390945.post-21570820239910901082016-01-14T14:42:00.004-06:002016-01-14T14:42:47.960-06:00Motherhood Month - 20<b>Progress: </b>2 years + 8 months<br />
<br />
<b>How I'm Feeling: </b>Expecting the call any time, yet most of the time just moving on with regular life.<br />
<br />
<b>Craving: </b>I'm really hungry right now, so I'd take almost anything. Maybe a burger. I haven't had one of those in months. And chocolate.<br />
<b> </b><br />
<b>Thoughts About Our Future Child: </b>I want to introduce you to everyone in our families; I know you will be loved!<br />
<br />
<b>Thoughts About Our Child's Expectant Mom: </b>I won't deny I'm nervous about our first meeting!<br />
<br />
<b>Most Recent Baby Purchase/Gift: </b>I did receive two items for Christmas! One from my mom and one from my husband. <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrup_qwJ3iIUXLHbRuRNdEGidg9PqJe1hg8ijffaC0FfTEtpUekn0ZsCjM8pbAnuk-Ndro3ij24ozj_K9fqfkc1GcAp9TLMihtsj2ZDItyXnkX-iD4ifdhquMfdInhbMaHjkSiLxEKTY5P/s1600/IMG_1208.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrup_qwJ3iIUXLHbRuRNdEGidg9PqJe1hg8ijffaC0FfTEtpUekn0ZsCjM8pbAnuk-Ndro3ij24ozj_K9fqfkc1GcAp9TLMihtsj2ZDItyXnkX-iD4ifdhquMfdInhbMaHjkSiLxEKTY5P/s320/IMG_1208.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My mom gave me this fleece pullover. Despite how the colours may look here, it is actually a true red & black. It will look great on a little lumberjack if we have a son :)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuUi8kCw9N5V_npFLcg3IgGfzUsXUSLZ_h8_lswLWuVu6P2dk66zPyALW7v5A_UFbeG7XXFdY_Qoxfy_8Rau1J0eEBs9jskKFW6PpfcixYOcF2bA4-TQYxOiDSnnQpyYmnIvzOnKgLLvDU/s1600/IMG_1209.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuUi8kCw9N5V_npFLcg3IgGfzUsXUSLZ_h8_lswLWuVu6P2dk66zPyALW7v5A_UFbeG7XXFdY_Qoxfy_8Rau1J0eEBs9jskKFW6PpfcixYOcF2bA4-TQYxOiDSnnQpyYmnIvzOnKgLLvDU/s400/IMG_1209.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My husband got me this ADORABLE fleece sleeper! This one I had pointed out to him that I wanted. It has kitties all over it and you all know I am a cat person!!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b> </b>You know what's weird? Somehow, I totally skipped my last category - 'This Month God..." from my Motherhood Month posts the last <i>three</i> times!! I have no idea how that happened! So without further ado...<br />
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<b>This Month God: </b>These are the verses God has been reminding me of lately: <br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
"And let us not grow weary of doing good,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
and especially to those who are in the household of faith."</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Galatians 6:9-10 </div>
Rhondahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07549803190101959114noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5004644261680390945.post-83322990027118222772016-01-08T14:57:00.002-06:002016-01-08T14:57:58.891-06:00Still Waiting^Do you see that ticker above this post? It says 2 years, 7 months, 3 weeks, & 4 days waiting for our baby bird to find our nest. I'm not sure why it's taking that long. Granted, we took a five-month break, so subtract that. But still. I didn't think it would be this long. Even though I know God's timing is best, the waiting is still sometimes just <i>hard</i>. Rhondahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07549803190101959114noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5004644261680390945.post-69014010653249402572016-01-06T15:32:00.002-06:002016-01-06T15:34:34.929-06:00Most Popular Posts of 2015<div style="text-align: center;">
Here are the top 10 blog posts you read most in 2015!</div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVKnx1J8DmoWN6RXiGwBJoGH-ceYjOKTD0pZWFbhnhnODh5uchlZNgYu7VSgxr0mEeCpc2d8HdhHI-XjVpoJvcquIoezn1Vr9Q3b-xQzyRlGeA1tX1wDHLvCvJyBFgf2EhYvJ7_vE5Jkh0/s1600/mostlovedposts2015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVKnx1J8DmoWN6RXiGwBJoGH-ceYjOKTD0pZWFbhnhnODh5uchlZNgYu7VSgxr0mEeCpc2d8HdhHI-XjVpoJvcquIoezn1Vr9Q3b-xQzyRlGeA1tX1wDHLvCvJyBFgf2EhYvJ7_vE5Jkh0/s400/mostlovedposts2015.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
#10 - <a href="http://rhondassweetdreams.blogspot.ca/2015/01/motherhood-month-14.html" target="_blank">Motherhood Month - 14</a> - A monthly post I, as an expectant adoptive mom, do similar to the ones expectant pregnant moms do to document their wait.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
# 9 - <a href="http://rhondassweetdreams.blogspot.ca/2015/03/motherhood-month-15.html" target="_blank">Motherhood Month - 15</a> - I can't get over how cute that hat is and can't wait to see it on someone!</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
#8 - <a href="http://rhondassweetdreams.blogspot.ca/2015/08/giveaway.html" target="_blank">Giveaway! </a>- Everyone should read this book!</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
#7 - <a href="http://rhondassweetdreams.blogspot.ca/2015/04/motherhood-month-16.html" target="_blank">Motherhood Month - 16</a> - Sharing my feelings of the wait.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
#6 - <a href="http://rhondassweetdreams.blogspot.ca/2015/02/rough-day.html" target="_blank">Rough Day</a> - We all have hard days as we wait for our arms to be filled with a little one. This was one of mine.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
#5 - <a href="http://rhondassweetdreams.blogspot.ca/2015/04/his-steadfast-love-is-clear.html" target="_blank">His Steadfast Love is Clear</a> - One of my favourite posts. I find it encouraging reading back on it now - and I hope you do, too.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
#4 - <a href="http://rhondassweetdreams.blogspot.ca/2015/06/im-not-super-woman.html" target="_blank">I'm Not Super Woman</a> - Re-reading this was a good reminder for me that, "if I desire to be a woman that pleases God, I will most likely
lose the desire to be "super woman"."</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
#3 - <a href="http://rhondassweetdreams.blogspot.ca/2015/03/mothers-with-different-abilities-kara.html" target="_blank">Mothers with Different Abilities - Kara</a> - This is the personal, touching story of a woman who parents well, despite living with physical challenges.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
#2 - <a href="http://rhondassweetdreams.blogspot.ca/2015/02/mothers-with-different-abilities.html" target="_blank">Mothers with Different Abilities - Intro</a> - <span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">The reasons behind this series. Maybe you want to participate? :)</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>And...</i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">#1 - <a href="http://rhondassweetdreams.blogspot.ca/2015/04/ten-years.html" target="_blank">Ten Years!</a> - The post about my husband's and I wedding anniversary! A walk-down-memory-lane timeline with pictures! </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Thanks for reading and sharing my life with me!</i></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Just a note: For those of you who follow my blog with Google Friend Connect, if you don't have a Google account, Blogger will be removing your profile and you will no longer be following my blog. That is sad :( I want you to get notified of blog posts! So, either sign up for a Google account and double-check to make sure you're following. Or, follow via another option - such as Bloglovin' or by email (available in the sidebar). Thanks!</span><i> </i> </span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></span><br /></span></div>
Rhondahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07549803190101959114noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5004644261680390945.post-12784545144202118502016-01-05T17:55:00.002-06:002016-01-05T17:55:26.924-06:00A Story of Being Set FreeOne of my goals for 2016 is to share testimonies with you! These will be personal accounts from my friends & family of how Christ saved them and what He is doing in their lives today! You can read my salvation story <a href="http://rhondassweetdreams.blogspot.ca/p/my-testimony.html" target="_blank">here</a>. I share a little more <a href="http://rhondassweetdreams.blogspot.ca/p/welcome.html" target="_blank">here</a>, and you can also click <a href="http://rhondassweetdreams.blogspot.ca/search/label/faith" target="_blank">here</a> to read all my posts about faith. <br />
<br />
Today I'm sharing the testimony of my big brother! Well, he's my only brother, actually ;) He is eight years older than I, and he's a typical older brother - a pest! Ha! I'm sure he'd say the same of me! :D But I've always looked up to him, and now that we're both adults, I consider him my friend.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcRJC0ko6iEEyJ_LBn3p2nJBhu6BsMdekoT2Kbsln7hPlywVYjEC-hopjRX_nR9QyW6ig-HVBGZtIZjfRaFfGewPzaGuLF9-9lSfu_i-_FTDCHZR3rSTSYcmbOomNELUn1JIkJF16vWwFX/s1600/IMG_3797.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcRJC0ko6iEEyJ_LBn3p2nJBhu6BsMdekoT2Kbsln7hPlywVYjEC-hopjRX_nR9QyW6ig-HVBGZtIZjfRaFfGewPzaGuLF9-9lSfu_i-_FTDCHZR3rSTSYcmbOomNELUn1JIkJF16vWwFX/s400/IMG_3797.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
My brother, Vic, and his wife, Renee, have been married for 18 years and have one child, my precious, awesome niece, Acacia, who recently turned 11. Adoption is very near & dear to their hearts, as Renee and her brother were both adopted, and Acacia joined the family through adoption as well. She was born in China and Vic & Renee brought her home when she was almost 2. I cannot imagine my life without any of them!<br />
<br />
Vic shares on his blog <a href="http://whatpathway.blogspot.ca/" target="_blank">What Path?</a> Go visit! :) As well as having a passion for sharing the good news of Jesus Christ, Vic enjoys being outdoors in God's creation, and spending time with his wife & daughter.<br />
<br />
Here is his testimony:<br />
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 22pt;">My
Desperate Search For Truth</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">Hi,
my name is Victor Reimer, and I would like to share with you how I
came to find the truth. The truth that set me free!</span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"> My
beliefs started to form at a very young age, perhaps being as little
as five years old. My parents attended a typical Mennonite church and
of course I attended their Sunday School. I still remember that one
Sunday when they brought together all the classes and showed us a
film. I don't have any recollection of what the film was about, but I
do remember someone going up front after and saying that we needed to
“invite Jesus into our hearts” if we wanted to go to Heaven.
It never occurred to me to talk about this to anyone. I simply went
home and naively did as I had been instructed! It wouldn't be until I
was thirteen years of age that I was asked about my spiritual
condition. When asked if I was a Christian, I simply responded,
“yes,” and that was the end of that conversation.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"> I
remember, too, that my sister had done something wrong one day, and I
told her that she would go to Hell. My Dad quickly responded, saying,
“That is not how it works.” Yet, I don't remember hearing
anything beyond that -- though I recollect that every night before
falling asleep, I would confess all my sins to God. Later in life, my dad would instruct us kids that we should also be reading our Bibles.
</span></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"> Growing
up, church attendance was a pretty big deal, though Dad eventually
let me skip out on Sunday School, because all they did is talk about
sports! Going away on fishing trips, or any such thing, was also good
grounds to skip out on church!</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"> However,
things did not sit well with me. I had a whole “other side” to
me. I had a life of sin. I was in bondage to all kinds of sins! I
would faithfully confess these to God every night and then turn right
around and do them again! Clearly, I was a slave to sin. This caused
me to begin a desperate search for the truth.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"> I
had begun to see that I was not in control of these sinful things in
my life – I was a slave to it, and I wanted my freedom! Yet, I
hadn't much a clue as to how. I wrote letters to different
ministries, but nothing availed. I would try inviting Jesus into my
heart many times over, but again, to no use whatsoever! I tried
saying different prayers, but still there was no change. Whatever was
I to do?! I needed help! I knew that within the Word of God was the
answer, but it seemed as if I was blind! I couldn't understand that
which I read.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"> By
this time I was in my early twenties, and still I was not free. I
still hadn't heard the gospel. It was around this time that a fellow
by the name of John Cross came by my parents' place. It was shortly
after this time that I read this gentleman's book, “The Stranger on
The Road to Emmaus.” I would come to see a very simple, but
tremendously freeing, truth. That truth, quite simply, was that Jesus
Christ had taken the full punishment on the cross for all my sin! I
came to see that I had been looking to myself for freedom. That I
thought that I needed to somehow do or say the right thing to get
saved! I was so wrong. Jesus had done it all for me! That is why He
cried from the cross in victory, “It is finished”! (John <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_385175809" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ">19:30</span></span>)
My very own sin-debt had been paid-in-full by Jesus Christ! Wow! I
was free at last! Jesus won the victory for me! Hallelujah! <b>“For
by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own
doing; it is the gift of God”!</b> (Ephesians 2:8)</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"> Verses
like the following now made a whole lot more sense to me: “All we
like sheep have gone astray; we have turned – everyone – to his
own way; and <b>the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.”</b>
(Isaiah 53:6) Well, if the Lord had already “laid on him” my
iniquity, what was I to worry about? If Jesus was already punished
for all my sin, why should I be anxious about being punished for it?
All that was required was that I accept “The free gift of God”
which “is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_385175810" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ">6:23</span></span>)
Wow! Here I had been trying to make it so complicated. Yet, it was so
simple! Not that it was simple for Jesus, but for me it sure was! All
I needed was to trust Him as my own Saviour, and I was free! No more
slavery to sin! As Romans 8:1 says, “No [more] condemnation”!
Jesus had already been judged for my sin. There was no judgement left
for me!</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"> After
all these years have eclipsed, I'm only increasingly more amazed at
the love, mercy, and grace the Lord has bestowed upon – even me! I
in no wise deserved to be forgiven of my sin – to be pardoned. Yet
He did, at the expense of His Son, Jesus Christ. I should have gone
to Hell forever, but Jesus took the “Hell” for me upon the cross!
So amazing it is, that the search is finally over, and that I now
know that I have eternal life. For John <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_385175811" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ">3:16</span></span> says, “...whoever
believes should not perish but <i>have </i>eternal
life.” Then too, “I write these things to you who believe in the
name of the Son of God that you may <i>know that you have</i>
eternal life.” (1John <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_385175812" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ">5:13</span></span>) How can I “know”? I can "know"
because Jesus already died as punishment for all my sin! There's
nothing left for God to punish me for. Praise God!</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"> Still
today, I enjoy the Lord Jesus more than ever before! Oh, how I long
to look upon the face of Him who was willing to leave Heaven's glory
to die for me upon that shameful cross! I know soon He will return
and take me to be with Him! How I long for this to come about! To be
freed from this world of corruption and sin. Then I will have rest
for all eternity without end. Amen!</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"> What
about you? What's your story? Do you “know” that God will let you
into His holy Heaven? Make sure that you “know” before it is to
late. He is risen from among the dead and His judgement is coming
very soon. Don't put it off! Know that you are forgiven!</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">Victor
J. Reimer</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">***** </span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Thank-you for reading! Feel free to comment here or pop on over to Vic's blog, <a href="http://whatpathway.blogspot.ca/" target="_blank">What Path?</a>, to comment there. </span></span></span></div>
Rhondahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07549803190101959114noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5004644261680390945.post-43888067002124295352015-12-31T09:00:00.000-06:002015-12-31T09:00:16.067-06:00Summing up 2015...Looking Forward to 2016<div style="text-align: center;">
<u><span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">2</span><span style="color: #e06666;">0<span style="color: #073763;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">1</span><span style="color: #e06666;">5</span></span></span></span></span></span></u></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">My 2015 was a year of highs and lows<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">, big <span style="font-family: inherit;">changes and <span style="font-family: inherit;">not much change at all. Here<span style="font-family: inherit;">'s a recap highlighting <span style="font-family: inherit;">my ups and downs</span> of<span style="font-family: inherit;"> the past year<span style="font-family: inherit;">.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<ol>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">In mid-January, <span style="font-family: inherit;">d</span>ue to a seizure I had <span style="font-family: inherit;">last year in <span style="font-family: inherit;">September (I hadn't had any in almost 6 years), we started thinking about not adopting at all<span style="font-family: inherit;">. T<span style="font-family: inherit;">his was so painful it is almost impossible for me to des<span style="font-family: inherit;">cribe. <span style="font-family: inherit;">The inde<span style="font-family: inherit;">cision, prayer, talking, and c<span style="font-family: inherit;">rying went on for mont<span style="font-family: inherit;">hs. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">In mid-March our agency let us know it was time to do our annual update. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">In mid-Mar<span style="font-family: inherit;">ch we </span>put our condo up for sale again (had tried to sell it the previous year as well). We l<span style="font-family: inherit;">oved the renovations we had done but wanted <span style="font-family: inherit;">a place with more privacy<span style="font-family: inherit;"> in the backyard. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">At the end of March I had a sei<span style="font-family: inherit;">zure<span style="font-family: inherit;">. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">In mid-April, <span style="font-family: inherit;">w</span>e celebrated our TENTH anniversary!!<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE1bYJm35tK8D8l9srMP0G8rxVwWBf_pbE6c4EFUttNQaoV-olG5GLee2YedPbqB6Pga6XSJRjlrLpwlcYM2poitj1aNc_vYP9NUtW6XTApJ7itZRcohXV-ZBZHugtikCJG4eY-neHeLo4/s1600/IMG_4236.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE1bYJm35tK8D8l9srMP0G8rxVwWBf_pbE6c4EFUttNQaoV-olG5GLee2YedPbqB6Pga6XSJRjlrLpwlcYM2poitj1aNc_vYP9NUtW6XTApJ7itZRcohXV-ZBZHugtikCJG4eY-neHeLo4/s400/IMG_4236.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">My husband and I <span style="font-family: inherit;">on our anniversary before going out on a date to Red Lobster.</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Despite the seizure and our continued consideration of not adopting, we went forward with updating our profile and went for our physicals in April<span style="font-family: inherit;">.</span> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">At the end of April, we went to our agency for our <span style="font-family: inherit;">update <span style="font-family: inherit;">meeting, and told them we <span style="font-family: inherit;">are putting our adoption on hold. We <span style="font-family: inherit;">decided we needed to get my seizures under contr<span style="font-family: inherit;">ol before continuing with ad<span style="font-family: inherit;">opting. It hurt but at the same time I was okay with it.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">TWO DAYS after putting our adoption on h<span style="font-family: inherit;">old I had another seizure! Decided to go up <span style="font-family: inherit;">on my medication which I did the following <span style="font-family: inherit;">day.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">In<span style="font-family: inherit;"> May we went on a 17-day long <span style="font-family: inherit;">road trip to celebrate our tenth anniversary! Lea<span style="font-family: inherit;">ding up to it <span style="font-family: inherit;">life was very stressful, <span style="font-family: inherit;">what with seizures, putting <span style="font-family: inherit;">our adoption on hold, and <span style="font-family: inherit;">our condo up for sale. But it was a good trip. You can read about it <a href="http://rhondassweetdreams.blogspot.ca/2015/10/our-western-canada-vacation-part-1.html" target="_blank">here</a>, <a href="http://rhondassweetdreams.blogspot.ca/2015/10/our-western-canada-vacation-part-2.html" target="_blank">here</a>, <a href="http://rhondassweetdreams.blogspot.ca/2015/10/our-western-canada-vacation-part-3.html" target="_blank">here</a>, <a href="http://rhondassweetdreams.blogspot.ca/2015/10/our-western-canada-vacation-part-4.html" target="_blank">here</a>, <a href="http://rhondassweetdreams.blogspot.ca/2015/10/our-western-canada-vacation-part-5.html" target="_blank">here</a>, and <a href="http://rhondassweetdreams.blogspot.ca/2015/10/our-western-canada-vacation-part-6.html" target="_blank">here</a>.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">THREE DAYS after arriving home from our trip, we got an offer on our condo which we accepted<span style="font-family: inherit;"> that day.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">In early June we started looking at houses<span style="font-family: inherit;">, and a couple weeks later made an offer on one which was accepted within an hour.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">In late June my husband and my niece both got baptized!</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">On the last day of June the sale of our condo and the purchase of our <span style="font-family: inherit;">new ho<span style="font-family: inherit;">me were compl<span style="font-family: inherit;">eted!</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">In early July<span style="font-family: inherit;">, <span style="font-family: inherit;">we got the news that my husband's mom ha<span style="font-family: inherit;">s been diagnosed with colon cancer.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">We took <span style="font-family: inherit;">pos<span style="font-family: inherit;">ession of our new home, a <span style="font-family: inherit;">1970's 3-bedroom condo, on the last day of Ju<span style="font-family: inherit;">ly<span style="font-family: inherit;">, and started renos <span style="font-family: inherit;">right away.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">We moved <span style="font-family: inherit;">in early August and started talking about going active with our agency again, as my seizures <span style="font-family: inherit;">seem to be</span> under control!</span> </span></span></span></span> </span></span></span> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">My mother-in-law had radiation<span style="font-family: inherit;"> for the last week of August, and in early September had <span style="font-family: inherit;">surgery.</span></span> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">In September <span style="font-family: inherit;">we let our agency know <span style="font-family: inherit;">we wanted to go active again which they made happen the next day! I'm excited and hopeful, but have <span style="font-family: inherit;">more of a peace th<span style="font-family: inherit;">an a despe<span style="font-family: inherit;">ration like I did before.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">We went away to a cabin for a weekend with my family like we <span style="font-family: inherit;">have d<span style="font-family: inherit;">one</span></span> every fall <span style="font-family: inherit;">for as <span style="font-family: inherit;">long as I can remember</span></span>, bu<span style="font-family: inherit;">t this year it was our last year. The 3<span style="font-family: inherit;">-bedroom/7-bed cabin has gotten to<span style="font-family: inherit;">o small for our family of 12!</span></span></span> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">On Thanksgiving Day (<span style="font-family: inherit;">October 11) my grandma passed away. She was 91. This was the grandparent that I<span style="font-family: inherit;">, and everyone in my family, was closest to<span style="font-family: inherit;">. We were next-door neighbours my whole growing-up years<span style="font-family: inherit;">. The funeral was five days later, on my husband's birthday.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_W-XS0h0MAWu-Eyc_fh32gk9poTITGWmJnMHv_Oxzpm6DnFR43JMhn6zillr-Ig-4mkA_177Hh2fmCsYbJw3h2ICQBnGdwOlVCZZEpJVK8t1SHdoSZYqs0Ov7aKX9td9PW6Yy-0hBJw7_/s1600/IMAG0194.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_W-XS0h0MAWu-Eyc_fh32gk9poTITGWmJnMHv_Oxzpm6DnFR43JMhn6zillr-Ig-4mkA_177Hh2fmCsYbJw3h2ICQBnGdwOlVCZZEpJVK8t1SHdoSZYqs0Ov7aKX9td9PW6Yy-0hBJw7_/s400/IMAG0194.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">My grandma and I <span style="font-family: inherit;">at her 90th birthday party almost exactly one year before she passed away.</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Our country <span style="font-family: inherit;">voted for a new prime minister in October and in my opinion made a very big mista<span style="font-family: inherit;">ke<span style="font-family: inherit;">. (Yes, I'm one of those <span style="font-family: inherit;">rare people who actually cares about politics, lol!)</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">In <span style="font-family: inherit;">November my mother-in-law started chemo. She is doing really well<span style="font-family: inherit;">.</span> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">As of December 1st I quit selling <span style="font-family: inherit;">Regal. </span> </span> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">On Christma<span style="font-family: inherit;">s Day my <span style="font-family: inherit;">uncle (my aunt's husband) was in a snowmobile accident. Three days later<span style="font-family: inherit;">, after being taken off life support, he passed away.</span></span></span> It feels completely unreal. T<span style="font-family: inherit;">he funeral will be in January.</span> </span></span></span></span> </span></span></span></span></span></span> </span></span></span> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></li>
</ol>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">So that was my 2015!! <span style="font-family: inherit;">How <span style="font-family: inherit;">was your year?<span style="font-family: inherit;">? Of course I can't predict 2016, but here are <span style="font-family: inherit;">my hopes and expectations<span style="font-family: inherit;">:</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<ol>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">There will be a <span style="font-family: inherit;">couple big birthdays in my family. My</span></span> </span></span></span>sister turning 40 and my<span style="font-family: inherit;"> other sister's husband turning 45. Of course my niece that is turning 13 counts that as a VERY b<span style="font-family: inherit;">ig birthday, lol! Cute :)</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">We'll be doing lots and lots of renovations on our house. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Of course I really, really hope we<span style="font-family: inherit;">'ll be chosen to adopt!</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></li>
</ol>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">T<span style="font-family: inherit;">o my readers and followers, thank-you for coming by to read my blog<span style="font-family: inherit;">, thank-you for sharing my ups and downs with me. To those of you who also have blogs, I enjoy reading and comm<span style="font-family: inherit;">enting on yours as well, and sharing in your ups and downs!</span></span></span></span> <span style="font-family: inherit;">See you <span style="font-family: inherit;">in 2016 and m</span>ay you <span style="font-family: inherit;">have a <span style="font-family: inherit;">happy ne<span style="font-family: inherit;">w year!</span></span></span></span> </span> </span></span> </span></span></span> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span>Rhondahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07549803190101959114noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5004644261680390945.post-7562414682261427992015-12-16T14:36:00.000-06:002015-12-16T14:36:00.412-06:00Motherhood Month - 19<b>Progress: </b>It's been a total of 2 years + 2 months + 2 days of actively waiting with our adoption agency. <br />
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<b>How I'm Feeling:</b> Ready.<br />
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<b>Craving: </b>A hot dog (bun has to be toasted!).<br />
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<b>Thoughts About Our Future Child: </b>I'm curious about you - your looks, your personality - and in general, just eager to meet you. I'm curious to learn about the person you'll develop into, and what our relationship will be like.<br />
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<b>Thoughts About Our Child's Expectant Mom: </b>I wonder where you are at in life right now, and if you're expecting already. I wonder if you'll stay in our child's life or not, and what our relationship will be like. I pray for you.<br />
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<b>Most Recent Baby Purchase/Gift: </b>Nothing. I overspent on my hubby's Christmas gift this year by accident (I didn't think to account for the exchange rate!) so I won't be getting him a gift for our baby like I usually do each year. Rhondahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07549803190101959114noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5004644261680390945.post-38670743384909879852015-11-26T09:00:00.000-06:002015-11-26T09:00:05.712-06:00These Are a Few of My Favourite ThingsI just wanted to share with you a few favourites I've come across in my time spent on the Internet. (<i>Please note: these are just simply a few articles, etc, that impacted me and I wanted to share them with you - no strings attached). </i>Enjoy!<br />
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<b>Adoption:</b> This is the <a href="http://www.todaysparent.com/family/our-long-road-to-adoption/" target="_blank">adoption story</a> shared by a couple who adopted through the same agency we are with. I don't know them personally, but it was great to read a story where the procedure, laws, etc, is exactly the same as it is for us. For better or worse, this might be our story yet!<br />
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<b>Christmas: </b>Is anybody else excited for Christmas?? One more month! I love this <a href="http://mothersniche.com/fun-christmas-traditions-start-spouse/#comment-49317" target="_blank">blog post</a> about Christmas traditions to start with your spouse, but the <i>real gems </i>are in the comments! Read them! The really neat thing about these traditions, is that they are all for you and your spouse only. For those of us who don't have kids yet and Christmas can be kinda lonely and sad at times, what a great idea to have some traditions for just the two of you to relish together until the kids come. And even then, I think it's a good idea to have some for just the parents.<br />
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<b>Faith: </b>This. The <a href="https://vimeo.com/112324391" target="_blank">testimony</a> by a tribal man. It is a must-watch! <br />
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<b>Marriage: </b>Just read <a href="http://www.thedatingdivas.com/tips-from-the-divas/financial-tips-when-a-saver-marries-a-spender/" target="_blank">this article</a> today about finances and marriage. It has a lot of excellent ideas.<br />
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<i>And that's all for now! I'm pretty sure there'll be at least something above that'll grab your attention like they <b>all</b> did for me!</i> <br />
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<i> </i>Rhondahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07549803190101959114noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5004644261680390945.post-30897574417086298022015-11-25T15:16:00.001-06:002015-11-25T15:16:48.956-06:00Pleasing God, Not ManAs believers, I think we all catch ourselves doing this from time to time. I know I do. As we go about our day, we subconsciously think <i>such and such action of mine will impress so-and-so Godly believer and they will truly know where I stand and be pleased with me. </i>Writing it out in black-and-white sure makes it sound as sinful as it is, though, eh!<br />
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In the past, whenever I've heard anything on the topic of pleasing mankind instead of God, I have always heard it referring to pleasing <i>friends, the unsaved around us, or people you want to impress (bosses, boyfriends, etc). </i>I particularly heard this topic as a teenager, referring to pleasing the "in crowd". However, when I was a teenager, I wasn't saved. I thought I was, though, and I was trying very hard to live a life I couldn't.<br />
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Now that I am saved, I still sin, but not in the habitual way that I did before I was believer. When I wasn't saved, my constant cycle of <i>sin, ask for forgiveness, sin, try harder, sin, etc,</i> naturally got me pretty down, because there was no change. Now that Christ did the changing, I am much more aware of the sins that pop up and much more willing and eager to turn to Christ for Him to take care of them. I don't want to grieve Him, and also I want the best life possible as a believer; I want my life to be pleasing to Him.<br />
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I have looked up some verses on this topic of pleasing God instead of mankind, and I would like to share them with you. I strongly believe that, as believers, the first places we need to turn when there is a sin that comes up in our life, is in prayer to Jesus and into His Word. We must have faith that <i>He</i> will make the changes needed.<br />
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<i>"So whether we are at home [heaven] or away [earth], we make it our aim to please Him."</i></div>
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<i>2 Corinthians 5:9</i></div>
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John MacArthur (from my ESV Study Bible) shares an interesting note on the word "please" in the above verse. He writes, <i>"The term translated "please" is the same one used in Titus 2:9 to describe <b>slaves who were passionate to please their masters</b>."</i></div>
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<i>"...but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so <b>we speak, not to please man, but to please God</b> who test our hearts."</i></div>
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<i>1 Thessalonians 2:4</i></div>
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Every time I speak (or write) am I doing so to please God? Or man? If I share the gospel in a way that pleases unbelievers, it is doubtful they will get saved, because what would please them would probably be if I said to have faith in yourself, it's okay to make mistakes, and we'll all get to heaven some way or another. <i>Not happening! </i>If I share the gospel for the purpose of Godly men and women around me hearing and approving, where is my love for the unbelievers? <i>Nowhere. </i>And I believe that is a very thin veil they could see through rather quickly.<i> </i> </div>
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<i>"...for at one time you <b>were</b> darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light...and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord."</i></div>
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<i>Ephesians 5:8-10 </i> <i> </i></div>
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What I aim to do in my life, is to try and determine what God would want in every decision I make. As far as I can tell, since we as believers are no longer living a life of sin and darkness but are now living in the light of the Lord, His will in our lives becomes plain. I have found this to be true in my life. The more I let Him live through me, the more quality time I spend with Him, the less I have to "hunt" to figure out His will. </div>
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<i>"By faith Enoch was taken up so that he should not see death, and he was not found, because God had taken him. Now before he was taken he was commended as having pleased God. And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who seek Him."</i></div>
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<i>Hebrews 11:5-6</i></div>
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I would once again like to share some of MacArthur's notes, on the above verses: <i>"Genuine faith does not simply believe that a divine being exists, but that the God of Scripture is the only real and true God who exists. Not believing that God exists is equivalent to calling Him a liar. A person must believe not only that the true God exists, but also that He will reward men's faith in Him with forgiveness and righteousness, because He has promised to do so."</i> How to please God? Have faith in Him. First, as an unbeliever, one needs to put their faith in Him by believing in Him. Then as a believer just continue life trusting Him with that same simplicity as when we originally believed.</div>
Rhondahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07549803190101959114noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5004644261680390945.post-29899834512287250622015-11-18T18:02:00.000-06:002015-11-18T18:02:35.032-06:00Motherhood Month - 18<b>Progress & How I'm Feeling: </b>It's been 2 years + 6 months + 4 days since we were approved (that's 2 years + 1 month of being active, since we took a five month break). Shortly after my husband & I got approved, we were discussing how long it would take 'til we would get matched. Knowing that our agency's average wait time is two years, we each took a guess that we have more or less stuck with. He guessed 1 1/2 years. I guessed 2 1/2 years. Well, here we are, it is over our agency's average time, it is even past my guess. I know we were told some people have waited up to six years. You just don't think that'll be you - and I still doubt it will be! But it is going to be a longer-than-average wait, that has now been made clear. So how do I keep from being discouraged? Well, sometimes I <i>am</i> sad. I am a little right now, looking at the numbers I'm typing. But there's a few things. One, the longer we wait, the closer we are to being matched, right? Two, I honestly don't dwell on it a lot. Yes, I want to become a mom, raise a child in a true Christian home, raise our child in a good, Godly way that will be a benefit to them, give them tons of hugs and snuggles and giggles, see my husband be a dad and my in-laws become first-time grandparents, and so much more. But, life moves along. There's everyday life to live along with planning for and dreaming of a baby, and after waiting so long I guess it just not an all-consuming focus anymore. And thirdly, last year in September when I had a seizure after an almost six-month hiatus and we had to rethink the idea of parenting, I had to really do some serious thinking and praying. My heart was b-r-o-k-e-n. Not become parents at <i>all? </i>I'd already given up becoming a mom through birth. Now to give up having a baby all over again, this time with no alternative? After much wrestling and tears, I slowly, over time, came to the place where I could say I wanted God's will more than mine. And what peace comes with that! And I'm not just saying that as a "Christian platitude"! It's true! So when in March and April of this year I had two more seizures and we decided to put our adoption on hold with the potential of closing it completely and permanently, it wasn't as painful as one would think. Yes, I cried. Yes, for a while I kept my feelings stuffed inside, terrified to hope. But the gut-wrenching part had been done earlier, and peace was already there. <i>God</i> was there (He'd never left). Thankfully, I was able to go on a higher dose of medication and my health is doing really well. We became active again in September of this year. <br />
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<b>Craving: </b>Pizza! It's on the menu for tonight :)<br />
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<b>Thoughts About Our Future Child: </b>My prayer for you is that you will believe in Jesus Christ. My prayer for us is that we will raise you in the ways that you, yourself, need.<br />
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<b>Thoughts About Our Child's Expectant Mom: </b>I wonder about you, where you are, what you're experiencing in life right now, things like that.<br />
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<b>Most Recent Baby Purchase/Gift: </b>Nothing recently. But I have been working on tearing off the old wallpaper in the baby room so that we can eventually get to the point of painting it! The paper (two different patterns) is from at least 1990 and more likely the 70's or 80's, and underneath the whole room is <i>pink</i>. At least it's coming off fairly easily! :)Rhondahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07549803190101959114noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5004644261680390945.post-6030352310636207922015-10-30T14:18:00.000-05:002015-10-30T14:21:16.588-05:00Get To Know Me<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I don't usually do these types of surveys anymore (to me they hearken back to the early 2000's when I first got an email address, lol!) but I am slightly bored and need a blog post, so I figured why not do a "get to know me" list of questions and answers. I found the questions on various blogs throughout the Internet and edited them to a list that suited me. I've even added a few of my own. I hope you enjoy getting to know me a little better! I'd love to know you better, too - at the end, why don't you leave a comment with your answer to any one of these questions?</span></span><br />
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<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Are you named after anyone? </b>Not that I know of. My parents were considering calling me "Shelley" though, as a nickname for my middle name.
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<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>What is your middle name? </b>Michelle</span></span></li>
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<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>What was favourite subject in school? </b>I can't say I had one. I definitely had <i>least</i> favourites!</span></span></li>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>What is your favorite drink?</b> I am a big fan of water.</span></span></li>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>What is your favorite song at the moment?</b> I love some of the old hymns, such as How Great Thou Art.</span></span></li>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>What is your favorite food? </b>Cheese!!!</span></span></li>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>What is the last thing you bought?</b> Probably groceries.</span></span></li>
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<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Favorite</b><b> book of all time? </b>I know this is going to sound like a Sunday School answer, but when it comes down to it, The Holy Bible would always come out at the top of the list.<i> </i><b><br /></b></span></span></li>
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<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Favorite</b><b> Colour?</b> Blue! I have a whole <a href="https://www.pinterest.com/daisyrhonda/blue/" target="_blank">Pinterest board</a> dedicated to the colour blue, I love it so much, haha.</span></span></li>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Do you have any pets? </b>Not currently :( But I am a huge cat lover. Hubby loves cats, too. We've had many cats throughout our marriage - you can see some of them <a href="http://rhondassweetdreams.blogspot.ca/p/me-hubby.html" target="_blank">here</a>.</span></span></li>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Favorite</b><b> Perfume?</b> I'm not big on wearing perfume. I have a few very inexpensive ones, but I usually forget to wear them! I do like White Musk from The Body Shop.<b> </b></span></span></li>
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<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Favorite</b><b> Holiday?</b> Christmas!! I <i>love</i> the planning, shopping, wrapping & giving & receiving gifts, family gatherings at various places, banquets and parties, the first snowfall, decorating the tree, everything. I admit that sometimes I get so wrapped up (no pun intended, haha) in the excitement that I forget that we're celebrating the birth of Christ - but when I take time to think about that if He hadn't been born He wouldn't have died, well, then I am filled with emotion and am very grateful toward Him!</span></span></li>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Are you married?</b> I hope you all know the answer to this question ;) Yes, yes I am! :)</span></span></li>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Have you ever been overseas? </b>No.</span></span></li>
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<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>What countries have you all lived in and/or visited? </b>Canada, United States, Mexico</span></span></li>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Do you know any other languages beside English? </b>I can understand & speak a little <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plautdietsch_language" target="_blank">Low German</a>. </span></span></li>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>How many siblings do you have?</b><span class="wp-smiley wp-emoji wp-emoji-wink" title=";)"> I have two older sisters and an older brother. </span></span></span></li>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>What is your favorite brick-and-mortar store?</b> Not sure if it's my #1 favourite, but I really like <a href="http://www.deluca.ca/grocery/" target="_blank">DeLuca's</a>, which is an Italian grocery store. Oh, wait. I forgot scrapbooking stores. Duh. Any scrapbooking store would probably win the prize. And I also like gift shops - The Blue Heron in Kenora, Ontario is one of my favourites.</span></span></li>
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<li>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Favorite</b><b> restaurant?</b> I don't go to restaurants much anymore because there's so little I can eat at them, but one of my favourites that I can still eat a couple things at is Taco Del Mar. If I could whatever I wanted, my favourite would probably still be Olive Garden.<b> </b></span></span></li>
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<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>When was the last time you cried?</b> Hmm, I can't recall. It was probably somewhat recently, though.</span></span></li>
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<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Favourite</b><b> movies? </b>I <i>love</i> some of the old, classic musicals. My favourites are Singin' in the Rain, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, and Hello, Dolly!</span></span></li>
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<li>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Favourite</b><b> TV shows? </b>I don't watch much TV anymore, but my current favourite is MasterChef (almost any country's - right now we're watching Australia's latest season).<i> </i></span></span></li>
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<li>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>How tall are you?</b> A little over 5'7". I'm about the same height as my mom, but quite a bit taller than both my older sisters and my sister-in-law. However, my 16-year-old niece recently passed me!</span></span></li>
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<li>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Can you cook?</b> <b>Do you enjoy cooking? </b>Yes, I'd say I can cook, and I think my husband would, too! I do enjoy cooking, although there are some things I am too squeamish for - I very rarely cook red meat or seafood. </span></span></li>
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<li>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Do you have kids?</b> Well, I think everyone reading this blog knows the answer to that question.</span></span></li>
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<li>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>If you were another person, would you be a friend of yourself? </b>I could see someone being reluctant to, but my hope & prayer is that there is someone (or more!) out there who would be a good match with me!</span></span></li>
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<li>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Do you use sarcasm a lot?</b> No, not my style.</span></span></li>
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<li>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Have you, or will you, ever bungee-jumped?</b> I don't think I would enjoy that. No, I know I wouldn't.</span></span></li>
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<li>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>What’s your favorite cereal? </b>Unfortunately I don't eat cereal anymore and I really miss Multi-Grain Cheerios!</span></span></li>
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<li>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>What’s the first thing you notice about people?</b> This is going to sound shallow, but usually I notice their sense of style - what they're wearing and if they "own it" or not.</span></span></li>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>What is your eye colour? </b>Brown - not a dark brown.</span></span></li>
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<li>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Do you prefer scary movies or movies with happy endings?</b> Definitely happy endings. I take no delight in fear.</span></span></li>
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<li>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>What are your favourite (non-perfume) smells? </b>Woodsmoke in fall has gotta top the list!</span></span></li>
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<li>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>What are your favourite months of the year, weather-wise?</b> May, June, July, August, September. The other months are just too cold for me. </span></span></li>
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<li>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>What country were you born in? </b>Canada </span></span></li>
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<li>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>What are some of your hobbies?</b> Scrapbooking, reading, doing word puzzles, identifying local wildflowers, gardening flowers and vegetables.</span></span></li>
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<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>
Do you have a hidden talent (or not-so-hidden)? If so, what? </b>I don't think so. I love acting, but am so terrible at memorization I haven't pursued it.</span></span></li>
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<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>
What’s your favorite Etsy shop (that isn’t yours)? </b>I'm not sure if this is my #1 favourite, but I've shopped from <a href="https://www.etsy.com/ca/shop/Tabitha942" target="_blank">Tabitha942</a> and she was great! Lots of cute baby stuff.</span></span></li>
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<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>
What’s your favorite way to spend your free time when you’re alone? </b>Probably being online, reading blogs and catching up on Facebook and stuff.</span></span></li>
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<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>
What’s your favorite junk food? </b>Salt & vinegar potato chips. I miss some of the baked treats and chocolate bars I used to be able to eat, though!</span></span></li>
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<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>
Who's your favourite fiction author? </b><a href="http://www.sarahsundin.com/" target="_blank">Sarah Sundin</a></span></span></li>
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</span></span>
<li>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>What hairstyle/hair colour have you had that you liked the most? </b>I've had a perm twice (the frst time with long hair and no bangs) and liked it both times. The second time was with shorter hair (shorter in the back, longer in the front) and straight, blunt bangs - loved it. I also enjoyed the highschool days when I would dye my hair various shades of dark red.</span></span></li>
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</span></span>
<li>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>What city, country, or area of the world would you like to visit (that you haven't been to before)? </b>I really want to go to Hawaii with Hubby.</span></span></li>
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<li>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Last romantic gesture from your husband? </b>He surprised me with a package of gf coconut macaroons I'd spotted in Walmart (that actually didn't have soy for a change)!</span></span></li>
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<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><b>Which do you like hearing most from your husband - I love you, Thank-you, or You're beautiful?</b></span><b><span style="font-weight: normal;"> "You</span></b><span style="font-weight: normal;">'re beautiful." He says "I love you" a lot already ;)</span></span></span></li>
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<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="font-weight: normal;"><b>Do you ever stay in your pajamas all day (even when not sick)?</b> </span></b><span style="font-weight: normal;">No. On rare occasions I'll stay in them 'til lunchtime. But I'm more an evening-pajamas kind of person. When I come home in the evening the first thing I want to do is get into something comfy!</span></span></span></li>
</ol>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">So? Anything we have in common? Anything completely different? What's your answer to any one (or more!) of these questions? Thanks for reading!! :) </span></span>Rhondahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07549803190101959114noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5004644261680390945.post-62177322142878906482015-10-15T16:04:00.000-05:002015-10-15T16:04:45.716-05:00Motherhood Month - 17<b>Progress: </b>It has been 2 years + 5 months + 1 day since we were approved to adopt. We took a 5-month hiatus from April 28 - Sept. 22 of this year.<br />
<br />
<b>How I'm Feeling: </b>It feels good to be actively waiting to adopt again. The five months off were our choice and we felt they were necessary, as we felt my health needed to be under better control before we felt comfortable proceeding with adoption. I say it as if going on hold was easy. It was not. I had a lot of feelings before we went on hold and while we were on hold, that ranged from anguish to anger to fear to confusion to grief to apathy to relief to sadness to contentment...and not necessarily in that order. I would say that now that we're active again, I am still looking forward to getting "the call" and without a doubt I still want to be a mom, but unlike a couple of years ago it is no longer an all-consuming desire that controls me.<br />
<br />
<b>Craving</b>: A glass of water and some plain Ruffles potato chips.<br />
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<b>Thoughts About Our Future Child: </b>Looking forward to holding you, snuggling you and smelling your newborn smell.<br />
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<b>Thoughts About Our Child's Expectant Mom: </b>I'm thankful you're not choosing to abort.<br />
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<b>Most Recent Baby Purchase/Gift: </b>I bought a little something for my hubby, whose birthday is tomorrow.Rhondahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07549803190101959114noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5004644261680390945.post-32212384663389591522015-10-13T08:00:00.000-05:002015-10-13T08:00:01.088-05:00Our Western Canada Vacation - Part 6This is the final part and it covers the last four days of our trip, May 22-25.<br />
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On the 22nd we left Blue River, BC and headed toward Jasper, Alberta. We spent the day driving through Mount Robson Provincial Park and Jasper National Park. We saw a couple black bears and a few elk as we drove by but that was all for animals. We did see a lot of nice scenery like usual, though!<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSeDbejGAQOJZIM8MOzeRCM-YtlAMLywdZBsjuTVZqAVyfMrh1-aXdIZgKnlyTYzkjiyjNTptypqi7ecyrnV46r3yqemxaesUdWEvCxQ6igzHLJRf6LTYoYwyHUhyphenhyphenwdf7OiVoXkIUxVd6q/s1600/IMG_5467.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSeDbejGAQOJZIM8MOzeRCM-YtlAMLywdZBsjuTVZqAVyfMrh1-aXdIZgKnlyTYzkjiyjNTptypqi7ecyrnV46r3yqemxaesUdWEvCxQ6igzHLJRf6LTYoYwyHUhyphenhyphenwdf7OiVoXkIUxVd6q/s400/IMG_5467.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This black bear was on the side of a pull-out and I think he was eating some garbage.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQtOFQpXWwf6Eq0khtb27z-xuwpg0bFJxBBRKZSt_iUiW0wNdZWUQzxXr5yUxVpzrQqWttBCzC0mY14kG12VheCaxb65hjZCphSh8whLYNaI0IPoyJSiBXGDzzmDdkkZ3nBDlZzk-8A-Xj/s1600/IMG_5470.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQtOFQpXWwf6Eq0khtb27z-xuwpg0bFJxBBRKZSt_iUiW0wNdZWUQzxXr5yUxVpzrQqWttBCzC0mY14kG12VheCaxb65hjZCphSh8whLYNaI0IPoyJSiBXGDzzmDdkkZ3nBDlZzk-8A-Xj/s400/IMG_5470.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We stopped and walked a trail to a look-out over a marsh.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4qXgjjeWi0lTRv-J2ahYctWwKAJPPW2zFhQtp_vFIeIuRRy4_JF8wZWl1tp8PNFFCzpew_vmzzPcckuY8nFVB52BQE7toj5SXpbp3o0KNMQuVzbygO__yBsPY4LD1YgsOdpJdyyjDZsBO/s1600/IMG_5471.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4qXgjjeWi0lTRv-J2ahYctWwKAJPPW2zFhQtp_vFIeIuRRy4_JF8wZWl1tp8PNFFCzpew_vmzzPcckuY8nFVB52BQE7toj5SXpbp3o0KNMQuVzbygO__yBsPY4LD1YgsOdpJdyyjDZsBO/s400/IMG_5471.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We could have walked the trail around the marsh but didn't have time.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGocRAfmFmzTUtc9YW-jFyjOy0UacGaHV-ebdNs8REaUQy7wYbBR5E8YEYKkZyqeqe1GEbS8oyPcQ9ZbswvyLSTfe50EE2zMR5wH75pY1T2dEgJO062JBGY5j5rl43qXBPqv-y6ZUuHOGL/s1600/_DSC0243.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGocRAfmFmzTUtc9YW-jFyjOy0UacGaHV-ebdNs8REaUQy7wYbBR5E8YEYKkZyqeqe1GEbS8oyPcQ9ZbswvyLSTfe50EE2zMR5wH75pY1T2dEgJO062JBGY5j5rl43qXBPqv-y6ZUuHOGL/s400/_DSC0243.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stunning Mount Robson.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCdImeTXhvp2qLzhYcEbLKYt14dlZ5hY0VPgMFMEeGVpyY83s4_d5az2GFZLZa20qZmPEdz_1oUIR-v7DnV4ndpjnJV60t-iJXFQmd3jyJlSRdE_bs8xnYLTdwzzot8UQJQiD447tRaR_Y/s1600/IMG_5966.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCdImeTXhvp2qLzhYcEbLKYt14dlZ5hY0VPgMFMEeGVpyY83s4_d5az2GFZLZa20qZmPEdz_1oUIR-v7DnV4ndpjnJV60t-iJXFQmd3jyJlSRdE_bs8xnYLTdwzzot8UQJQiD447tRaR_Y/s400/IMG_5966.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We took a lot of pictures of it and could've taken a lot more.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrKi2ULxQG97nbfOVmL7OazxIaBuZRvzNFqsADuwON3HFksziq-QGMrR2Iakkv26IE_L33rv5QQs2upzg51kdUS4y1qOq9G-HtegZn67j9rmgj1uviaq3HhGS_BJavFrAFL2b9ycZV0YPp/s1600/IMG_0416.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrKi2ULxQG97nbfOVmL7OazxIaBuZRvzNFqsADuwON3HFksziq-QGMrR2Iakkv26IE_L33rv5QQs2upzg51kdUS4y1qOq9G-HtegZn67j9rmgj1uviaq3HhGS_BJavFrAFL2b9ycZV0YPp/s400/IMG_0416.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We stopped for a late lunch at the base of Mount Robson, which was really nice despite the mosquitoes.</td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBTPCyt44CgOSxwFIRbhUY2dFkk3XbhD5j1lybkiVCidhFlwdfn6GAoFbGsscv-a3r1aWedszv6ffV_lx46TsRa473ivHE9cyg7IHwcGz38ovB8R990APBOzVxSpD4L9lZIXzM59GAJpsm/s1600/IMG_0414.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBTPCyt44CgOSxwFIRbhUY2dFkk3XbhD5j1lybkiVCidhFlwdfn6GAoFbGsscv-a3r1aWedszv6ffV_lx46TsRa473ivHE9cyg7IHwcGz38ovB8R990APBOzVxSpD4L9lZIXzM59GAJpsm/s400/IMG_0414.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beside the picnic shelter, there was a bridge over a cold rushing
mountain river that led to a trail up the mountain; we didn't have time
to walk it.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif49NWW-WaDAVcwfKJZw2b5i7gqW_vMEBSYHXhtFA328G1BBhbjk9atzW_D0ZzscXXRAhPmWCleIt6vV7BQTCBaUtx1h5RZdo0qeuOOoA7IxQIBGObeh8WuE930H8MoS5x7cm3IEVSVxR8/s1600/IMG_0424.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif49NWW-WaDAVcwfKJZw2b5i7gqW_vMEBSYHXhtFA328G1BBhbjk9atzW_D0ZzscXXRAhPmWCleIt6vV7BQTCBaUtx1h5RZdo0qeuOOoA7IxQIBGObeh8WuE930H8MoS5x7cm3IEVSVxR8/s400/IMG_0424.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pretty scenery along the way created by God the Master Artist :)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihSobAKGMXQCeDMGmEcQ-IEzaORaa58xasSsxL8KyIes5sDguEuXvNQrnEPSkZhpxGqUs5SEU6WksZODWSl1JSoaWsg9Ma20Th9-Iigkx_xvNeBtUqP73bJ58cH52fEGiejFYOThpMwDEG/s1600/IMG_6030.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihSobAKGMXQCeDMGmEcQ-IEzaORaa58xasSsxL8KyIes5sDguEuXvNQrnEPSkZhpxGqUs5SEU6WksZODWSl1JSoaWsg9Ma20Th9-Iigkx_xvNeBtUqP73bJ58cH52fEGiejFYOThpMwDEG/s400/IMG_6030.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We drove to Jasper National Park and took a scenic route to Athabasca Falls.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq9L8GMoZg0J34fL9T9gxS7bhCEKBh5zJsMO_bSmeL8VqyQuR9-5WkGafwo0uVBO4SwrExbiLf1RACq8ITWa7XJjAclTqLiA4OHSzylkS6ZM8G2WCEh7p3y5YWTKdxB1-DdyhMQ5ZpnMJp/s1600/IMG_0441.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq9L8GMoZg0J34fL9T9gxS7bhCEKBh5zJsMO_bSmeL8VqyQuR9-5WkGafwo0uVBO4SwrExbiLf1RACq8ITWa7XJjAclTqLiA4OHSzylkS6ZM8G2WCEh7p3y5YWTKdxB1-DdyhMQ5ZpnMJp/s400/IMG_0441.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Athabasca_Falls" target="_blank">Athabasca Falls</a>.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
We spent the night in Jasper, at a place that ended up being a bit of a disappointment, and headed toward Calgary, Alberta.<br />
<br />
The 23rd was spent enjoying the beautiful scenery in the parks of
Alberta again. We saw some wildlife, including some elk and a glimpse of
a black bear with her cub. We stopped at a lot of pullouts and took a
lot of pictures; there were a lot of tourists doing the same thing.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpHyvlpHDOVV82ivxP0RHKq8aL6W5J8Z_rqSQiyk2VJxedD8d9tvvSLoGQnPw7Na9iU3rh6-KnVwFL2VnyIJ64CJrq2J07ZNH86FOCOfSo4-gMxeQRc_lpSOdDL_Pqpyxkit7xfV47jDrJ/s1600/IMG_6053.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpHyvlpHDOVV82ivxP0RHKq8aL6W5J8Z_rqSQiyk2VJxedD8d9tvvSLoGQnPw7Na9iU3rh6-KnVwFL2VnyIJ64CJrq2J07ZNH86FOCOfSo4-gMxeQRc_lpSOdDL_Pqpyxkit7xfV47jDrJ/s400/IMG_6053.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We started off the day at Sunwapta Falls.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_MCb9BXmvxR7Qv2NvyChB1yrZZzD4-vEx94dA1wq6ZYb1E3bZkBIPKNMUH7PHQq_trtFOeLVwWvT-3K53HCezxQufvWi0VhvhG45MfgzHPofn34_O09pvDQiYu9ljeClgcmKZ8tF5QBF9/s1600/IMG_6091.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_MCb9BXmvxR7Qv2NvyChB1yrZZzD4-vEx94dA1wq6ZYb1E3bZkBIPKNMUH7PHQq_trtFOeLVwWvT-3K53HCezxQufvWi0VhvhG45MfgzHPofn34_O09pvDQiYu9ljeClgcmKZ8tF5QBF9/s400/IMG_6091.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My husband hiked a waterfall and this is his view from the top. This waterfall was frozen on our honeymoon.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBnXHdvTkz1KmvynNHuxnfApIGB-ra9lUkM8rgMY_SA8sj3o53g0R7PxxoVE0IiAYPd8TIWJHQl1Yk4Y27r_GcJ8nodv1y2HwfsZcOgnKuMwIrTZ8ptykVNJM_trMmRcI3wX9o8SkQlHiZ/s1600/IMG_6101.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBnXHdvTkz1KmvynNHuxnfApIGB-ra9lUkM8rgMY_SA8sj3o53g0R7PxxoVE0IiAYPd8TIWJHQl1Yk4Y27r_GcJ8nodv1y2HwfsZcOgnKuMwIrTZ8ptykVNJM_trMmRcI3wX9o8SkQlHiZ/s400/IMG_6101.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Athabasca Glacier</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhhG0rraBicSfoFgMWCLI-j2rFKfcYkwSLwAtM3tUZOAMmSj_xS_ZIqd5PAKXAr4rnxqMQ0CoBvHRb1VwqyAgHNOntlRitrRXbpSqLBICGv5ZAvNMa5HwxPXm5TlSXlSih1lskO1_GpsUi/s1600/IMG_5507.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhhG0rraBicSfoFgMWCLI-j2rFKfcYkwSLwAtM3tUZOAMmSj_xS_ZIqd5PAKXAr4rnxqMQ0CoBvHRb1VwqyAgHNOntlRitrRXbpSqLBICGv5ZAvNMa5HwxPXm5TlSXlSih1lskO1_GpsUi/s400/IMG_5507.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bighorn
Sheep. There were a lot of people - foolish people! - who marched
right up to these animals, sometimes with their children, and posed for
pictures. The sheep started to act skittish while we watched and moved
off. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha2Ye5hNtipmxuQAg_iWz9maQMseg19dHx9lEUStbwBD44dABoVr0IcqCrfo5taeZ7pc8Lf-9v_uI1M3XJrjz6XotgY-bZjaM_2A1QIdzBHk8H0r8d8GMnd9r8803Sh49a9AsSQQf7oszQ/s1600/IMG_6139.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha2Ye5hNtipmxuQAg_iWz9maQMseg19dHx9lEUStbwBD44dABoVr0IcqCrfo5taeZ7pc8Lf-9v_uI1M3XJrjz6XotgY-bZjaM_2A1QIdzBHk8H0r8d8GMnd9r8803Sh49a9AsSQQf7oszQ/s400/IMG_6139.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some of the lakes were such a gorgeous colour. I could just not get over it (and the cameras never did it justice!)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO0hzKHBQ9ki4UEc8oDBSHj2p_3RSDkgNGY_OM-L2blQwTpmZ6adweV09CunLQKXAFHgcc2OU0KtVXCEO0kaYg1-TnreOtRnlcG5sK0yNtlV_R2gMtFyLLA7x8bkDuleY3P_mf_Uegl6D2/s1600/IMG_0495.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO0hzKHBQ9ki4UEc8oDBSHj2p_3RSDkgNGY_OM-L2blQwTpmZ6adweV09CunLQKXAFHgcc2OU0KtVXCEO0kaYg1-TnreOtRnlcG5sK0yNtlV_R2gMtFyLLA7x8bkDuleY3P_mf_Uegl6D2/s400/IMG_0495.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We had a picnic with this adorable li'l fellow (a Grey Jay). He ate gluten-free that day, lol.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHCebFO0DALxAJHS9vdJHAi8_BhoRyT4cfdiHVvUjMhqG2zZrYBGraAiU3CTU42lmaQmiEEBT4s3_wbMb0wArD6sUzXkS9wdPagCYKwDcOifiXEBX2zIFGb6yPssht7CIFH8FF22FXdPt7/s1600/IMG_6194.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHCebFO0DALxAJHS9vdJHAi8_BhoRyT4cfdiHVvUjMhqG2zZrYBGraAiU3CTU42lmaQmiEEBT4s3_wbMb0wArD6sUzXkS9wdPagCYKwDcOifiXEBX2zIFGb6yPssht7CIFH8FF22FXdPt7/s400/IMG_6194.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lake
Louise. It was completely frozen on our honeymoon but this time was
thawing (this trip was about a month later than our honeymoon was).</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
We spent the night in Calgary, Alberta and the next day drove to Saskatchewan and the next day drove home.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg26d9J9HRphHRAHjU7q4GlfjmvCdgCmZTY2iUsTex82rrbV9LN79BnFfIQZLkiaUgp7PTo0Iuxai-hJ8cTgTlfjkEQyD0BR46rbVqZEuX8hmR8sMqtF3SG2K2DzRjUuqtq4gm6b7Br4elI/s1600/IMG_5523.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg26d9J9HRphHRAHjU7q4GlfjmvCdgCmZTY2iUsTex82rrbV9LN79BnFfIQZLkiaUgp7PTo0Iuxai-hJ8cTgTlfjkEQyD0BR46rbVqZEuX8hmR8sMqtF3SG2K2DzRjUuqtq4gm6b7Br4elI/s400/IMG_5523.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The End :)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Thank-you for reading and commenting! It is much appreciated! :) </span></i>Rhondahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07549803190101959114noreply@blogger.com0