tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-63094804689058858712024-03-14T08:21:39.892-04:00A Farmgirl's ViewThoughts from a country girl who loves the
everyday things in life.Allison of A Farmgirl's Viewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05023926901821017215noreply@blogger.comBlogger49125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6309480468905885871.post-36602786995652973112023-05-05T13:04:00.001-04:002023-05-05T13:04:41.054-04:00Living For This<p><span style="font-family: Satisfy;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Satisfy;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDGGDE5XleXJ_sG9GyECEnSLUYDYpKoEzThUhhWSiALpmZHiyaeROXvN8JRi7j_wnthAjIVwYJUoRKQggIeKJf6Db2qf9cs58uoTUhc8A2hTslxF0VAbeN_AfmW3rrLg1yM90IKkowmflJf0VrsYpD5keN2P8YbswmXN3QQVbN1sO3kUrBc99F88RLPw/s3088/IMG_0239.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3088" data-original-width="2316" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDGGDE5XleXJ_sG9GyECEnSLUYDYpKoEzThUhhWSiALpmZHiyaeROXvN8JRi7j_wnthAjIVwYJUoRKQggIeKJf6Db2qf9cs58uoTUhc8A2hTslxF0VAbeN_AfmW3rrLg1yM90IKkowmflJf0VrsYpD5keN2P8YbswmXN3QQVbN1sO3kUrBc99F88RLPw/s320/IMG_0239.HEIC" width="240" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: Satisfy;"><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Hello! It’s been about 10 years since I’ve written anything here… I guess it’s time to return!</div></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: Satisfy;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"> <span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px;">Hope… what is it? We so often say some form of “I hope so” very often don’t we? Sometimes life circumstances can seem to throw a big bucket of water on the fire of hope that burns inside us… we can find ourselves just floating along in the current of our circumstances… I know I have a had some seasons where the current of life was carrying me along and I found it hard to hope for change.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px;">Don’t get me wrong, I’ve had a beautifully blessed life that I am grateful for, but like everyone, I’ve had times when it seems tiring or hard to hope for circumstances to change when it takes longer than I think it should. That’s when the enemy wants to whisper (or more likely shout or scream) that things are hopeLESS. And if we listen to that, it’s a dark place to exist…</span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Psalm 43:5 says “Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God.”</span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px; text-align: left;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">We need to be sure not to allow the enemy to be the voice we hear. This passage is an example of self-examination and healthy self-talk taking a look at our soul being downcast (depressed, defeated etc) acknowledging where our mental state is and then reminding our heart and mind where our hope comes from. The God who created us and made an eternal plan for us, is worthy of our praise even when that praise is coming from the broken places that our hope seems to seep out and escape us. </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px; text-align: left;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">That praise is often messy and awkward and raw… and difficult, but if we push into praise, we send the enemy a message that yes, we are in a hard and painful place, but right here we acknowledge God as our strength and source of our hope. That we are seated in the heavenly places near the throne of God, while simultaneously sitting in our circumstances… when we keep ourselves at the throne, the enemy can’t follow us there, he can’t whisper or shout there.</span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">As I have been purposefully present in the throne room, my faith grows and therefore my hope grows, even though the earthly circumstances seem unchanged. You see when I put my faith in God’s plan, I realize that the details and strategies are being carried out and orchestrated in heavenly places, and just because I can’t see it moving in the manner or speed I want it to, doesn’t mean things aren’t moving on my behalf or that the answers aren’t coming.</span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px; text-align: left;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">So, my friend if you are feeling low on hope, get away from the enemy’s lies and take your place by the throne of God and praise him for the hope that only He can give. Remind your soul who breathed life into you, who gave you purpose and a promise and live for that. One moment, one day, one season at a time… </span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">And if you can’t seem to get there on your own, ask for help. Get family, friends, fellow believers to help lift you up to the Father, to sit in the mess with you and push into praise with you. God knew we would need that as it says in his Word “where 2 or 3 are gathered, I am there.” <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I’m thankful that we are given people and relationships to help us in this life. One of my friends gave me this coffee mug knowing how much I love coffee, but this simple phrase proved to be a reminder that we are here on purpose for a purpose with breath in our lungs… let’s hang in there to see how what we hope for, comes to be.</span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px; text-align: left;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Psalm 119-114 “You are my hiding place and my shield; I hope in your word.”</span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Ephesians 2:6-7 “And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with Him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages He might display the surpassing riches of His grace, demonstrated by His kindness to us in Christ Jesus.”</span></p>Allison of A Farmgirl's Viewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05023926901821017215noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6309480468905885871.post-16916880911653227202013-04-20T15:29:00.000-04:002013-04-20T15:29:12.790-04:00Ladybugs vs. Imposters...<br />
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> <span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;">When I was younger, I used to love finding
ladybugs in the garden. They were the perfect shade of red, and about the only
bug that I was NOT afraid of. After all with a name like "Ladybug"
what is there to fear?<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Fast forward to recent years and I have found
myself saying "I HATE these ladybugs!" ...You see we live in an old
restored farmhouse that sits on a sunny ridge, that thousands of these beetles
have claimed as a vacation home. The warm sunny rooms in our house, like the
kitchen and our bedroom become polluted on warm spring and fall days. I have
been "bitten" by one crawling up my leg after it falls into our
bed...I have set down a glass of sweet tea in the kitchen only to come back and
find one swimming around in my glass...ugh!<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;">So I started
looking on line to find out how to get rid of ladybugs who make your house
their home...<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I found out that I had been accusing the
wrong beetle! What has overtaken our home is NOT the ladybugs I loved as a
child, but another related beetle - the Asian Beetle!</span></span></span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KQsp9mvUzRc/UXLj9g7hmQI/AAAAAAAABPs/OCjcvLj_YDU/s1600/ladybug-med.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KQsp9mvUzRc/UXLj9g7hmQI/AAAAAAAABPs/OCjcvLj_YDU/s1600/ladybug-med.jpg" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"></span></o:p></span> </div>
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</span><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-eNncMdYypK4/UXLiiwF_xNI/AAAAAAAABPo/mrMZv6FN9CY/s1600/asian_beetle_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="216" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-eNncMdYypK4/UXLiiwF_xNI/AAAAAAAABPo/mrMZv6FN9CY/s320/asian_beetle_2.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;">These
imposters look the same at close glance, but if you look closer, you can spot
the differences...<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;">For
instance...<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"></span><span style="line-height: 115%;"></span><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"></span></span> </div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"></span></span> </div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"></span></span> </div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"><strong><u>Their Appearance:</u></strong>
<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;">Asian
beetles vary in color from pale orange to deeper reds and every shade in
between.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;">Ladybugs are
dark red in color (which is unattractive to predators) and have almost no color
variation.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;">The # of
spots on an Asian beetle can range from 0-19<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;">Ladybugs
have a uniform pattern of dots.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;">Asian
Beetles have a "W" or "M" between their heads and backs.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;">Ladybugs do
not<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><strong><u><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;">Their
Actions:<o:p></o:p></span></span></u></strong></span></div>
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</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;">Asian
beetles were introduced to the U.S. to eat small bugs considered pests, but
they themselves are now considered pests.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;">True
ladybugs eat small bugs that harm plants and are gardeners best friends. One
ladybug can consume up to 5,000 aphids in its short life span.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;">True
ladybugs are more difficult to find now than Asian beetles and it is considered
to be lucky if you find a true ladybug.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">
</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><strong><u><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;">What about a
Lady of God?<o:p></o:p></span></span></u></strong></span></div>
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</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;">Many claim to
be a lady of God, but are there ways to tell?<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;">Would we be
identified by others as a true lady of God?<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;">Can people
tell by our appearance?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By our actions?<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">
</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;">Those can
help, but God looks at our hearts. Do our hearts identify us as true ladies of
God?<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Proverbs 31:26 - "She opens her mouth
with wisdom, and in her tongue is the law of kindness. Is our speech kind?"<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I Corinthians 6:19 - "What? Know ye not
that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you? Which you have
of God and you are not your own?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do we
treat our bodies well? Do we abuse them with lots of unhealthy food? Or maybe we
do extreme dieting and rob our bodies of important nutrients? Do we go-go-go
with no time for restorative rest?"<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">
</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A true lady of God should also nurture her
soul by connecting with our Father who longs to spend one on one time, healing,
providing, strengthening...<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">
</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If we do make time for that, when the storms
of life come (and they always do) we will know who to turn to. We will know we
can turn to our faithful Heavenly Father who will never leave us or forsake us.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">
</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"></span></o:p></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">
</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do you know that your Heavenly Father is
there for you? Have you had those precious moments when in the midst of hard
times, you feel God's overwhelming presence and peace come over you? I have had
that happen at some very pointed times in my life. I will never forget the
feeling of blanketed peace... <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;">*A
particular time when I was completely overwhelmed when I had 3 little ones and
was caring for my injured husband who I so badly wished to see him healed.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;">*Waiting to
see if the "lump" was cancer, test after test<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;">*Watching
your baby go under anesthesia for heart surgery, and your not so baby have his
lung collapse and need to be on a chest tube vacuum.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">
</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;">I know so
many of you have been through similar situations, many of you much worse. In
those moments it is so hard to "be still" but so worth it.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"></span></o:p></span> </div>
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</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When we go through those difficult times,
others see how God works in our lives. It is a great chance to show the hope
and strength we have from Christ living in us. I know I could never get through
the little incidents in life, let alone the big tough things without Christ's
strength.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
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</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A
true lady of God recognizes God's faithfulness and her need for Christ. When
God made us, He designed a longing within us to find him, and when we do, we
realize how much we need him...<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"></span></o:p></span> </div>
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</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Maybe you are sitting here today and you
have never experienced that peace I spoke of...Maybe you have felt a longing
for something more, but are not sure God is for you...Maybe you have the look
down, you know how to talk the talk, but it's not quite real for you...<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A true ladybug goes through a complete metamorphosis
to get to be that wonderful, beneficial creature that is a treasure to find.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> ...</span>It's the same for us, we recognize our need
for God to be at the center of our hearts and lives, we then give our life over
to the one who created us with a purpose. And then, we have the assurance that
no matter how rough life gets, He will never leave us and not only will he
never leave us, but He will bathe us in His peace and take us into Heaven to
live for eternity someday.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><strong>If you have never fully given your life to
Christ, I invite you to open your heart and become a true lady of God.</strong></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><strong><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">God is already waiting for you to invite him to the center of your heart, so don't be afraid to ask, He already said yes with the cross.</span></strong></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
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Allison of A Farmgirl's Viewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05023926901821017215noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6309480468905885871.post-63566067507173317262013-02-05T01:08:00.000-05:002013-02-05T01:09:53.978-05:00Pictures from My Snow Day<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I love snow, especially if I don't have to drive anywhere! The other day, I got to spend a rare day at home because of the snow. There were many things I really should have worked on, but I just could not resist bundling up and heading out with my camera.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"></span> </div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I absolutely love how hushed things are on the farm when it is covered in a blanket of beautiful white snow....makes me think of how I have been washed "whiter than snow" by the blood and love of my savior....</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Here are a few of my favorite shots from that day.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Happy Winter! :)</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">~Allison</span></div>
Allison of A Farmgirl's Viewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05023926901821017215noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6309480468905885871.post-78099226567864733452013-01-25T10:55:00.000-05:002013-01-25T10:56:38.918-05:00How God Opened My Eyes In The Walmart Vision Center <br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">So the other day, I thought I would just run into Walmart real quick after work, and pick up my son's new contacts, since I got a call they were in. As I approach the vision center, I see that they are very busy. the waiting area chairs were full and several people were getting fitted for glasses at the little stations there.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> I am thinking "Boy I am glad I don't have to wait with all those people for an exam and can just pick up and be out of here!"...So I walk up to the register with a smile on my face and wait to be greeted...a woman starts to walk my way, but just walks past the register to a back room..."OK, she's in the middle of something"...then a man working there slowly strolls out looks at me (I smile in preparation to be waited on)....he walks, looks at me, and just walks past me...I look over and see a lady sitting at one of those little fitting stations, but she doesn't have a customer, she is just sitting there looking board, but doesn't look my way....I feel my smile may be fading. It has been 10 minutes...I see that there is a clipboard on the counter, but it is for people to sign in for their appointment...I don't have an appointment, I am just "quickly" picking up the contacts....so I don't put my name down...oops, I think I need to refresh my smile...I don't feel like smiling, so I wonder if it looks genuine...</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> It must not, because I had eye contact with a customer who was seated in the waiting area near the "board-looking" lady and she leaned over and said something to her and pointed at me...the board-looking lady looked over at me ...*I'm smiling* ... she looked annoyed and then looked at her computer...the customer then looked at me like "I tried"...my smile is gone now...I don't even care to try to smile...I grab the clipboard, sign my name and not so gently place it back on the counter (no I didn't slam it, but the thought crossed my mind)... </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> The lady looks over her glasses at me, types some more, and then very slowly stands and begins to walk in my direction... she looks at the two men's names that are above mine on the clipboard...calls out the first...no one comes....calls out the second...no one comes...slowly crossed out those names, finally looks at me and said are you Allison?....Are you kidding???? I am the only one standing at the register, you saw me put my name on the clipboard! So I say "Oh my name DID have to be on the clipboard to be noticed"....she asked if I had an appointment, and I said no I was just here to pick up contacts. She let out a huff and asked my name. I told her and she said she would have to see if they were in. I told her I got a call that they were in...again with a "huff"... anyway, finally she gets the box of contacts...as I am waiting for the paperwork to print, I am thinking of a great speech about customer service and how someone in 15 minutes or more should have at the very least said the polite "we will be with you in a moment" and that a little acknowledgement would go a long way...</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><strong>...BUT THEN...</strong> </span><span style="font-size: large;">I heard it...God's still small voice whispering in the midst of my mental rant...</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> "It doesn't feel good to be ignored does it?...My child, I wait throughout your day for you to come to me, acknowledge me....sometimes I show up, but it's not just at your scheduled time to meet with me...it takes you awhile to notice because you are distracted...but I wait for you and still give you opportunity to hear my voice and be involved in my work".............</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> Wow! what a lesson! The lady handed me my paper and contacts. I said thank you and walked out of the store thanking God for that crystal clear message. He allowed me to feel such a tiny bit of what it must be like for him as we rush around our day, check facebook, twitter, pinterest, emails, text messages, youtube videos, etc...I get caught up in most of that and then some. I have been guilty of trying to fit God into my schedule. I am working on letting God run my schedule, and in order to do that, I have to be aware, look up at him often, keep my ears open. I am so privileged to belong to him and that he uses me in His plan, I don't want to leave Him waiting and feeling ignored.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Thank you God, for opening my eyes.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />Allison of A Farmgirl's Viewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05023926901821017215noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6309480468905885871.post-89164278091807842862012-08-16T23:08:00.001-04:002012-08-16T23:10:27.224-04:00Sunsets and Declarations<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_cZ5ytvOGE0/UC2n0b75FHI/AAAAAAAABFA/bz6lBGN1Jkg/s1600/DSC_0913(2).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_cZ5ytvOGE0/UC2n0b75FHI/AAAAAAAABFA/bz6lBGN1Jkg/s640/DSC_0913(2).jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">The heavens <sup class="crossreference" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-14170A" title="See cross-reference A">A</a>)"></sup> declare <sup class="crossreference" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-14170B" title="See cross-reference B">B</a>)"></sup> the glory of God; <sup class="crossreference" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-14170C" title="See cross-reference C">C</a>)"></sup> <br />
<span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Ps-19-1">the skies <sup class="crossreference" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-14170D" title="See cross-reference D">D</a>)"></sup> proclaim the work of his hands.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="indent-1"><span class="text Ps-19-1">Psalm 19:1</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="indent-1"><span class="text Ps-19-1" style="font-size: large;">This picture was taken at sunset after a very stormy day a couple of Sundays ago...after the thunder rolled, and the rains came down hard pelting the earth...out came the sun, in beautiful golden light, screaming silently against the most beautiful blue.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="indent-1"><span class="text Ps-19-1" style="font-size: large;">There was a calm quiet, and the air smelled clean, and after the humidity we had been experiencing, the cool breeze in the air felt refreshing....</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="indent-1"><span class="text Ps-19-1" style="font-size: large;">It has been months since I have written a post. You see I have been going through some stormy times this summer. No worse than others experience, but uncomfortable all the same...changes with my business, health issues, feeling overwhelmed and defeated, broken relationships, just a general black cloud feeling...don't get me wrong, there have been wonderful days, new blessings, great memories this summer...but in the back of my mind, I was letting the storms of this world speak louder to me than God's voice, causing me to question if things would be alright.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="indent-1"><span class="text Ps-19-1" style="font-size: large;">God is so faithful and patient. It seems every day I would lay my burden down, and then by the end of the day, I would pick it back up and worry over it some...and then God would send me a friend, a song, a scripture that reassured me that I was never out of His sight... that He had a plan that would all work together to bring glory to Him.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="indent-1"><span class="text Ps-19-1" style="font-size: large;">Today, after 4 months of waiting to see what was growing on my thyroid...I got the answer...nothing there...all clear! Months of symptoms and questionable test results...positive findings on ultrasounds...it's gone! Praise God it's gone! I had a different kind of cancer scare a couple of years ago, and had surgery which removed pre-cancerous tissue, God was faithful before, so I knew he would be again....But, there is no guarantee that illness will stay away from me, but I do have a guarantee that if illness would come to me, I will never be alone- God will always walk with me through whatever I walk through.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="indent-1"><span class="text Ps-19-1" style="font-size: large;">I hope that you have that confidence, that the God who made you, loves you more than anyone else could and just wants you to rest and trust in Him...if you don't have that confidence, He is waiting there beside you .... waiting for you to turn to Him and ask Him for it...</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="indent-1"><span class="text Ps-19-1" style="font-size: large;">So going back to that sunset picture...it was just about that weekend that I had been feeling more confident, that no matter what, I could face anything with my Lord by my side. I was at home when that beautiful sun came out, and I ran to get my camera...as I looked in awe at the beauty before me, it was like my own lens was dialed into a sharp focus. I felt joy... that the God who effortlessly painted a masterpiece across the sky, also painted my future.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="indent-1"><span class="text Ps-19-1" style="font-size: large;">The Heavens declared the glory of God...right to my soul. Later that week, I got to have the big scan I had to wait 4 months for. I had peace the whole week, through the whole test, and even in the waiting for the results that came today. I don't need to know where the nodules went, I don't care how...they are gone, and I am declaring the glory of God, because the hands that paint the skies, touched me...me.,who is sinful, selfish, and has many moments of "little" faith...</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="indent-1"><span class="text Ps-19-1" style="font-size: large;">If you are going through something, hold on, have faith, cry out to Jesus...stand ready to capture the light of the sun that WILL shine on you again...</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="indent-1"><span class="text Ps-19-1" style="font-size: large;">Here are a couple more pictures, that I snapped that evening...wonder what the sky in Heaven will look like... I hope someday to meet you there :)</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div>Allison of A Farmgirl's Viewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05023926901821017215noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6309480468905885871.post-63056663968131012452012-04-06T00:20:00.000-04:002012-04-06T09:18:56.101-04:00Sunset Easter Thoughts...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><i>This was the beautiful sunset Thursday night...(Straight out of Camera) </i></span></div>
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<span style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><i>I love sunsets and tonight as I reflect on this week leading to Easter celebration, I wonder what the sky looked like when Jesus went to the garden to pray...</i></span></div>
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<span style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><i>The ever changing sky is the handiwork of a never changing God. He is the same yesterday, today and forever. That same God sent his Holy Son to die as a sacrifice for me!...for you! The fathomless power God demonstrates in His beautiful creation is the same power that raised Jesus from the grave and cleanses our sinful hearts and lives...wow!...</i></span></div>
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<span style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><i>Please click on each of the three links below:</i></span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><i><a href="http://afarmgirlsview.blogspot.com/2011/04/thursday-thoughts-of-cross.html" target="_blank">Thursday Thoughts of the Cross</a></i></span></div>
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<span style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><i><a href="http://afarmgirlsview.blogspot.com/2011/04/time-of-waitingsunday-is-coming.html" target="_blank">A Time of Waiting: Sunday is Coming (with pictures)</a></i></span></div>
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<span style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><i>May you have a blessed Easter and feel the celebration this Easter Sunday...He Lives!!!</i></span></div>
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<span style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><i>~ Allison</i></span></div>Allison of A Farmgirl's Viewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05023926901821017215noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6309480468905885871.post-12671058033744141362012-03-27T01:02:00.000-04:002012-03-27T01:06:54.894-04:00Life Lessons From a Weed<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><i>Have you ever really looked at some of the weeds that pop up unexpectedly?....They don't belong there...do they?....We didn't plant them there...</i></span></div>
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<span style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><i>Some people look at their well manicured green lawn and see one of these golden nuisances standing proudly in the sun...when we were children, we proudly picked these mounds of sunshine for our mothers...when we were small, we somehow had the ability to notice detail with great appreciation...we would take this beautiful creation carefully in our hand, and purely motivated by love share the beautiful gift we found for this beautiful person in our life.</i></span></div>
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<span style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><i>I have long loved the pop of bright yellow color of dandelions against the fresh spring green grass...I know, a part of me will never grow up, and I don't care to have one of those perfectly manicured monotone green lawns...I rather like the random pops of color...</i></span></div>
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<span style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><i>However...I would like to have a smooth well groomed looking life...but I find that there are "weeds" that pop up unexpectedly...I want them to go away.... be plucked out....so I do my best to attack them with everything I have to get rid of them...then I got to thinking...</i></span></div>
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<span style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><i>Could I get to a place in my life where I looked at these weeds with appreciation?...If I were able to hold these "weeds" and look from a different perspective, could I see beauty?....Could I see design?....could seeing things in that perspective change my life into something better?....</i></span></div>
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<span style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><i>When I was a little girl, I used to feel so sorry for the weeds that my mother would pull from her flower beds...I would see them thrown on the ground with their roots withering in the hot sun...I simply had to rescue them! I would scoop them up and carry them to a section of the yard that I deemed "The Weed Garden" I lovingly planted them and felt that I had done a good service.</i></span></div>
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<span style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><i>Over the years, my weed garden took over the little corner of the yard....then branched out further into the yard...it sort of got out of hand. It was on it's way to choking out good plants that were pleasing and beneficial....</i></span></div>
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<span style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><i>...I learned that when someone who knows better than me, pulls out a damaging weed, it is to protect the good healthy things like vegetables that give us nutrition and support our health....Hmmm... So if the Master Gardener decides to uproot some damaging "weed" I have let grow in my life....I had better not run to scoop it up and re-plant it...I need to trust that He knows what needs pulled and work on cultivating the beneficial things in my life.</i></span></div>
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<span style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><i>Also, have you ever noticed a wildflower growing in a strange place and thought "How did that get there?"</i></span></div>
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<span style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><i>I found this little wild viola (some may think of it as a weed) growing in a crack between the cement steps up to our front door.</i></span></div>
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<span style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><i>This made me think of the times in life when you are not sure why you are where you are...you may feel alone...out of place...away from friends and like-minded people. Take a lesson from this little beauty....</i></span></div>
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<span style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><i>You are made with incredible detail and value, when your Creator looks at you, He smiles at His wonderful design. Perhaps when he looks at your corner of the world, you brighten it...just like this beauty stands out against the gray concrete...bloom where your planted and leave the transplanting to The Master Gardener...</i></span></div>
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<span style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><i>And finally...</i></span></div>
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<span style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><i>If you look around at all the other flowers growing in the garden of life...and you feel you look more like a weed than a magnificent flower...maybe you don't feel as attractive...or as beneficial...or as talented... remember, we are all a work in progress...God makes us beautiful and brings us to bloom in different seasons...This little Peony doesn't look like much now, but wait and see what a beautiful display comes with a little more sunshine and rain...</i></span></div>
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<span style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><i>Speaking of rain, I have learned a few lessons from that as well.....I will save that for another time though.</i></span></div>
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<span style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><i>For now, I challenge you to see the beauty in the unexpected "weeds" of life....allow the Master Gardener to pull some damaging weeds from your life...Grow where you're planted...and if you are feeling a little weed-like, just wait...God has a wonderful plan for your life!</i></span></div>
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<span style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><i>-Allison</i></span></div>Allison of A Farmgirl's Viewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05023926901821017215noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6309480468905885871.post-31430844349855209462012-03-22T01:04:00.000-04:002012-03-22T01:08:50.630-04:00A Call to Prayer: Do we hear it?<div style="text-align: center;">
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<span style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">This week our church has been having prayer services every night for an hour. During that time we pray together...as a family of believers...unified before our Heavenly Father. We pray for revival first in our own hearts and lives as well as the rest of the congregation that didn't make it out to the prayer service. We pray for a renewing of the Holy Spirit...a renewed passion for serving the One who so freely came to serve.</span></div>
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<span style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"> I, like many others, am tempted to think that I am too busy...too tired...not feeling well...can't spend the gas every night...I'm tempted to think "Well, I'm sure there will be enough people who will show up, so I can just join in with my prayers at home"....</span></div>
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<span style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"> I think one of Satan's greatest weapons are our own excuses and thoughts. He whispers to us and reminds us of how busy we are. He keeps us occupied with distractions of all kinds...and we let him.</span></div>
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<span style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"> I can't help but think about how Jesus went to the garden to pray..his heart was heavy knowing what was coming. He asked the disciples to watch while He went to pray...they fell asleep.</span></div>
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<span style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"> We as a church, (the whole church, not just the local church) I'm afraid, have fallen asleep. We forget that we take part in the spiritual battle when we pray...together as a body. We have gotten comfortable in our routine...Maybe we go to church Sunday morning...maybe even Sunday night...sometimes a Wednesday night...but for one week, could we go every night? for just one hour...</span></div>
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<span style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"> Is Christ asking us to stand watch? Are we too tired? We could stay home and pray...but then we miss out on the strength you feel when you sit side by side linking up prayers...building where one prayer leaves off...we miss feeling the Holy Spirit move from person to person as He brings to our minds different areas of the ministry to pray for.</span></div>
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<span style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"> I am glad that the leaders of our church care enough to set aside a week for nightly prayer for the health of our church. And I am proud of the prayer warriors who came, especially the group of fabulous teens...they are the next generation of the church, we need to boldly set the example and hand them a healthy vibrant church.</span></div>
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<span style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"> If you are a believer, I challenge you to set aside one hour a day to pray for revival in the hearts of Christians everywhere... the health of our churches...the state of our own hearts...where God would have us be His hands and feet...If we all were willing to devote one hour to pray for the state of the church in this country, we could change the country!</span></div>
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<span style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"> We are so blessed to live in a country where we can openly pray and worship...we should not get too comfy ans sleepy ...we need to nurture that right through prayer. </span></div>
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<span style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><b>P.U.S.H: P</b>ray <b>U</b>ntil <b>S</b>omething <b>H</b>appens</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>Allison of A Farmgirl's Viewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05023926901821017215noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6309480468905885871.post-57997915142635404402012-03-17T22:48:00.001-04:002012-03-19T00:03:26.909-04:00Spring Awakenings...<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: white; font-size: large;"> What a beautiful weekend we have been having! I have not had much time for my blog lately, but wanted to just quickly post some photos that I took this beautiful day.</span></div>
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<span style="color: white; font-size: large;"> I went out this morning and took a walk, looking for how things emerge back to life this time of year.( This always reminds me that things seem dark, gray and maybe even dead ...for a season...but then... God in his wisdom shines the warm shunshine... and brings life to those places in your life you thought were too dark to ever bloom again) </span></div>
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<span style="color: white; font-size: large;"> Then Dave and I worked on our kitchen re-do this afternoon. And then Dave and the boys took me out for my upcoming birthday this week. It's been great! So here are a few favorite shots of the day....</span></div>
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<span style="color: white;">These will be future cherries!</span></div>
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<span style="color: white;">Daffodils are the March flower</span></div>
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<span style="color: white;">Burning Bush Buds</span></div>
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<span style="color: white;">Can't wait for the tulips to share their colors!</span></div>
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<span style="color: white;">Garden friends...</span></div>
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<span style="color: white;">I guess one came in with me to take a peek at my world...</span></div>
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<span style="color: white;">My love of my life</span></div>
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<span style="color: white;">My handsome boys make my day...</span></div>
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<span style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Beautiful sunset....Good night! God Bless!</span><br />
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<span style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">I'm linking up with the links listed on the right column. Please visit these sites and link up when you can. The more the merrier!</span></div>
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</div>Allison of A Farmgirl's Viewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05023926901821017215noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6309480468905885871.post-23944706428769913602012-03-06T21:58:00.000-05:002012-03-06T22:03:19.479-05:00Chats on the FarmHouse Porch (#33)<span style="background-color: #444444;"><br /></span><br />
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<i><span style="background-color: #444444; color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Hey there everyone, I have been posting so many photos lately that I have neglected some of the other link-ups I love to do. This post I am linking up with Patrice over at <a href="http://www.everydayruralty.com/2012/03/chats-on-farmhouse-porch-33.html" target="_blank">Everyday Ruralty</a> for her famous "Chats on the Farmhouse Porch"</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="background-color: #444444; color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Today was beautiful! It was almost warm enough to sit out in the full sun on the deck, but I would probably welcome you to sit in my living room with the fireplace going....and we could chat about this weeks questions:</span></i></div>
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<b><u><span style="background-color: #444444; color: white;">QUESTIONS</span></u></b></div>
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<li><span style="background-color: #444444; color: white;">Tell me a fond memory of an elderly person?</span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: #444444; color: white;">What's your favorite flavor of jam or jelly?</span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: #444444; color: white;">What goes through your mind when you drive by one of those whopping, huge houses that look like something in a magazine?</span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: #444444; color: white;">What's your favorite way to relax?</span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: #444444; color: white;">What's your favorite kind of pasta?</span></li>
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<span style="background-color: #444444; color: white;">My answers:</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #444444; color: white;">1. I would answer this one by talking about my Gram and Grandpa. I love remembering how my Grandpa would take me out for breakfast and eat all the things that Grandma removed from his diet....He would say "Now Ali, we don't need to mention to Gram what I am ordering this morning, this is OUR time" We would ride home stopping to talk to the Amish men that would be set up roadside selling produce or cheese. He loved chatting with them. We would make up songs to sing in the car all the way home. You can read more about him <a href="http://afarmgirlsview.blogspot.com/2012/01/if-this-chair-could-talk.html" target="_blank">HERE</a>. Also my Gram who we lost last year...she was "green" before it was the thing to be and she was a great cook ( all natural ingredients) i remember many days helping her in the garden, I can still feel the warm sun on my back and eating fresh raw peas...you can read about her <a href="http://afarmgirlsview.blogspot.com/2011/05/missing-my-homesteading-gram.html" target="_blank">HERE</a></span></div>
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<span style="color: white; font-family: 'Century Gothic';"><span style="background-color: #444444; line-height: 25px;">2.My favorite...only one? I used to love my gram's current jelly...I guess raspberry or strawberry? Anything but orange marmalade...yuck! </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: white; font-family: 'Century Gothic';"><span style="background-color: #444444; line-height: 25px;">3.Wow...do they clean that themselves? How many people live there...seems like houses get bigger, but families get smaller these days. I love my old farmhouse, it's not tiny, but it's not big enough to forget we live with our family members either...I love being able to her Cody playing guitar in his room, Collin playing drums in his room, and Colton playing in his room or running back and forth between his brother's rooms teasing and laughing with each other.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: white; font-family: 'Century Gothic';"><span style="background-color: #444444; line-height: 25px;">4. If weather is nice, either sitting on the deck with hot or iced coffee...or going on a photo walk, pausing long enough to focus on detail and clear my mind.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: white; font-family: 'Century Gothic';"><span style="background-color: #444444; line-height: 25px;"> If the weather is not nice, then curled up in front of the fireplace with hot coffee and a good book or magazine...or catching up on my favorite blogs and gathering amazing ideas on Pinterest :)</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: white; font-family: 'Century Gothic';"><span style="background-color: #444444; line-height: 25px;">5. Pasta is such a comfort food...I like it every which way...Olive Garden's never ending pasta ....oh yeah!</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 25px;"><i style="background-color: #444444;">Well it was a pleasure having you over! Please continue the conversation in the comments below. I'd love to hear your thoughts to these questions too :)</i></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 25px;"><i style="background-color: #444444;">Have a wonderful rest of your week!</i></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 25px;"><i style="background-color: #444444;">Hugs and Prayers!</i></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 25px;"><i style="background-color: #444444;">Allison</i></span></span></div>Allison of A Farmgirl's Viewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05023926901821017215noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6309480468905885871.post-4717077031649575602012-03-02T02:54:00.000-05:002012-03-02T13:52:30.403-05:00Calm: Poetic Winter Photo Challenge Week 4<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><i> Well, this is the final entry for the <a href="http://www.projectalicia.com/p/poetic-winter-challenge.html" target="_blank">Poetic Winter Photography Challenge</a>. It has been fun finding shots to go with the theme each week.</i></span></div>
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<span style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><i> I am late getting this one in...this week has been anything but calm. I just couldn't bring myself to find the time to put a post together or to focus on a word that I just could not fit my mind into...</i></span></div>
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<span style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><i> These photos are being pulled from shoots where I was feeling calm. As this week comes to a close, I am hoping this weekend will slow down a bit. </i></span></div>
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<span style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><i> As you visit here today, I hope these images and the songs that are playing will help make you feel a sense of calm....</i></span></div>
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<span style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><i> And if you are in a stormy time in your life right now, I encourage you to tuck yourself in close to your Heavenly Father and wait out the storm...The wind will die down...the sun will shine warm on your face again...you are not alone...lay your burden down and rest...</i></span></div>
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<span style="color: white; font-size: x-large;"><b><i>Calm</i></b></span><br />
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<em><span style="color: white; font-size: large;">I love to watch the sky, I think it is one of the most calming things to do...</span></em><br />
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<span style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><em>We have not had much snow this winter, so I pulled this one out from pictures of the last big snow we had.</em></span></div>
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<span style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><em>A thick blanket of snow quiets the earth in a very calming way...</em></span></div>
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<em><span style="color: white; font-size: large;">Time spent around water is always calming... I love this picture of the pier at the lake and watching the water move...and watching how the wind fills the sails of the boats on the water is very calming</span></em></div>
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<span style="color: white; font-size: large;">Time spent with scripture calms and quiets the soul...</span></div>
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<strong><span style="color: white;">May you have many "Green Pasture" and "Still Water" moments today....</span></strong></div>
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<strong>Love,</strong><br />
<strong>Allison</strong><br />
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</strong></i></span>Allison of A Farmgirl's Viewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05023926901821017215noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6309480468905885871.post-23661750525548380222012-02-18T17:31:00.000-05:002012-02-18T17:31:40.202-05:00Passion: Poetic Winter Photo Challenge Wk.3<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"> <span style="color: white;">Wow! February is clipping right along, I have really enjoyed participating in this Photo Challenge this month. This week the theme is...</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-large;"><i><b>Passion</b></i></span></div>
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<span style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">I have several passions, but...I love photography...especially shots of flowers and other detailed items found in nature.</span></div>
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<span style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">I also of course think of my wonderful Hubby Dave when I think of the word Passion...</span></div>
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<span style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">(To read our story, click <a href="http://afarmgirlsview.blogspot.com/2012/02/my-valentine.html" target="_blank">here</a>)</span></div>
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<span style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">And my passion as a Mom...I love my boys....</span></div>
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<span style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Mostly when I here the word Passion, I think of the PASSION of Jesus Christ on the cross...</span></div>
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<span style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">(To read an earlier post about this trip <a href="http://afarmgirlsview.blogspot.com/2011/04/time-of-waitingsunday-is-coming.html" target="_blank">read here</a>...)</span></div>
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<span style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">And, I am so thankful that my family knows the Love of Christ and has made the decision to follow Him....</span></div>
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<span style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Have you decided to follow Jesus?</span></div>
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<span style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Glad you stopped by, leave a comment and let me know you were here :)</span></div>
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<span style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Have a Blessed day!</span></div>
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<span style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">-Allison</span></div>
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<span id="goog_1334420989"></span><span id="goog_1334420990"></span></div>Allison of A Farmgirl's Viewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05023926901821017215noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6309480468905885871.post-72060021005476376402012-02-14T10:57:00.001-05:002012-02-14T11:03:14.864-05:00My Valentine<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><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="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6kySPQ6nUA0/Tzp9JrOnebI/AAAAAAAAA30/3ANwpzynIcs/s1600/0410091745a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6kySPQ6nUA0/Tzp9JrOnebI/AAAAAAAAA30/3ANwpzynIcs/s320/0410091745a.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: white;">More pictures at the end :)</span></td></tr>
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<span style="color: white;"> <span style="font-size: large;"> I am such a blessed girl! I have a husband who is my protector, provider and my best friend. We have been through a lot since we started out two young puppeteers in our youth group. </span></span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-size: large;"> Dave and I met when he was 9 and I was 7. Our families went to the same church growing up. When I turned 13, I got to enter the church's teen group. We had an active group that traveled doing puppets and music ministry. During a fun game night, Dave & I were voted most shy boy and girl of the group. For some reason, I think it was part of a game or something, I had to hold his hand that night. He was a tall strong farm boy with thick strong hands. I NEVER forgot that feeling! I had never held a boy's hand before! Or felt the way I did while holding it! We all had such a fun time in that group. </span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-size: large;"> Unfortunately, our church had a split and our family stayed and Dave's family left. We didn't see each other until I got a call almost 3 years later from one of the youth leaders that had left, but continued the puppet and music ministry. They were calling to see if I was interested in joining the team. I went to one of the Bible studies and saw a lot of familiar faces from the old group. Including Dave! His parents were also leaders of the group.</span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-size: large;"> We became fast friends. I had many scars from when my dad had left our family and from other life circumstances, but we worked together so naturally through everything and before we knew it, we were committed to staying together. </span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-size: large;"> We were committed to God and doing things His way, so we relied on him throughout our 3 1/2 yrs of dating. We got married when I was only 19. We started on a family right away. We will be married 20 years this year! We have been through 3 babies, a child who needed heart surgery, a cancer scare for both of us, back surgeries, unemployment, 4 moves, health issues...and yet, here we are still standing (not always perfectly) but still best friends and in love with each other.</span><br />
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<span style="color: white; font-size: large;"> What is the key? I believe the key is nurturing our FIRST LOVE and by that I mean that each of us had a love in place before we loved each other. Each of us had a committed relationship with God. We relied on Him to make the match, and we rely on Him to keep us matched. That doesn't mean there aren't hard days...there are. It doesn't mean we don't argue...we do. But what it does mean, is we take the fact that we took a vow before God to "Love in ALL things"</span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-size: large;"> When it gets hard, we lean on our First Love to maintain and work out our love. Giving up is not an option, besides, Dave has seen me at my best and worse...he was the face I saw loving me through the birth of our 3 babies.....his was the hand I held waiting to see if I would hear the words "it's cancer"....he is the man I have set up house with 4 times....he's the one that still sends me silly little messages on Valentine's Day. Why would I want to give up on all this beautiful history?</span><br />
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<span style="color: white; font-size: large;"> I am so thankful for my First Love that makes it possible to extend love to my husband and children.</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: white; font-size: large;">Do you know him?</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: white; font-size: large;">Everyone has at least heard John 3:16, but it's more than a sign at a sporting event...let it pierce your heart.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: white;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="color: white; font-size: large;"><b>For God so loved the world (that's you) that He gave is only son (Jesus Christ), that whoever (that can be you) believes in Him shall have everlasting life!</b></span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o1fdAHbUM9o&feature=related" target="_blank"><span style="color: magenta; font-size: large;"><b>Watch this:</b></span></a></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: white;"> <span style="font-size: large;">God loved you enough to pay the price of all your sin (and mine) with the life of His only son. Jesus was willing to be beaten and crucified, to have His blood spilled to pay the price of your sin (and mine). The power of God raised Jesus from the dead, and is offered to you through the Holy Spirit. All you have to do is ask.....Have you asked? The Holy Spirit is close by just waiting for you to ask Jesus to come into your heart.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: white; font-size: large;">It's the best Valentine ever!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: white; font-size: large;"><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: white;">One of our Halloweens while dating: Scarecrow & Dorothy<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: white;">Our Wedding Day 10-10-92</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: white;">Our 1st son Cody's 1st Family Reunion</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: white;">Christmas'11</span></td></tr>
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</span></div>Allison of A Farmgirl's Viewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05023926901821017215noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6309480468905885871.post-22923969142335775932012-02-11T21:27:00.000-05:002012-02-11T21:29:08.250-05:00Pictures of Warmth: week 2 of the Poetic Winter Photography Challenge <span style="font-size: large;"> <span style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> I am linking up with the Poetic Winter Photography challenge at <a href="http://www.projectalicia.com/p/poetic-winter-challenge.html" target="_blank">Project Alicia</a>. It is throughout the month of February, and every week there is a one word theme. Week two's theme is....</span></span><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-large;"><b><i>Warmth</i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: white;"><br />
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</i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: white; font-size: large;"><b><i>Psalm 91:4</i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: white; font-size: large;"><b><i>He shall cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you shall take refuge; His truth shall be your shield and buckler.</i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Now doesn't that sound like a warm inviting place to be? I'm so glad to know I can rest there!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: white;"><br />
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</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">These are a few of my shots that warm my heart ....</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: white;"><br />
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</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: white;">Christmas warms my heart</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pv6R5C4ee7U/TzccuIRJ15I/AAAAAAAAA2w/MnJIIJxtfxw/s1600/DSC_0011+(2).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: white;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pv6R5C4ee7U/TzccuIRJ15I/AAAAAAAAA2w/MnJIIJxtfxw/s640/DSC_0011+(2).JPG" width="408" /></span></a></div><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: white;">The warmth of a fall sunrise</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-a_Id4fL3F7E/Tzcdiyqud7I/AAAAAAAAA3A/SULVyt7_SVg/s1600/DSC_0219.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: white;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-a_Id4fL3F7E/Tzcdiyqud7I/AAAAAAAAA3A/SULVyt7_SVg/s640/DSC_0219.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: white;">My son laying in his horse's hay on an unseasonably warm winter day</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ScuSl5APf1w/Tzcd2YlNvBI/AAAAAAAAA3I/YqLbYr41GHM/s1600/P1020463(1).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: white;"><img border="0" height="418" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ScuSl5APf1w/Tzcd2YlNvBI/AAAAAAAAA3I/YqLbYr41GHM/s640/P1020463(1).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: white;">A warm sunny spot to sit</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3xExIMwpP2c/TzceaN93QKI/AAAAAAAAA3Q/hv-0IE3lCZQ/s1600/P1070755.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: white;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3xExIMwpP2c/TzceaN93QKI/AAAAAAAAA3Q/hv-0IE3lCZQ/s640/P1070755.JPG" width="480" /></span></a></div><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: white;">This kitty is feeling the warmth of the sun</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Sh-TQH8B0JQ/TzceshPT3wI/AAAAAAAAA3Y/UszNAXnMKNk/s1600/P1090028.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: white;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Sh-TQH8B0JQ/TzceshPT3wI/AAAAAAAAA3Y/UszNAXnMKNk/s640/P1090028.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: white;">The warm feeling of the candlelight service on Christmas eve...passing on the light of the world.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cJcqv4UMg44/Tzce63Z3XrI/AAAAAAAAA3g/St9asbQlhfI/s1600/P1110531.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: white;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cJcqv4UMg44/Tzce63Z3XrI/AAAAAAAAA3g/St9asbQlhfI/s640/P1110531.JPG" width="480" /></span></a></div><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: white;">The warmth of a big cup of coffee</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tf5t008CSL8/TzcfGaUiD-I/AAAAAAAAA3o/TNNEYAk_ebY/s1600/P1110630.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: white;"><img border="0" height="534" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tf5t008CSL8/TzcfGaUiD-I/AAAAAAAAA3o/TNNEYAk_ebY/s640/P1110630.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="background-color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: medium; text-align: center;"><span style="color: white;"><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: medium;">Thanks for stopping by, I wish you warm wishes!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: medium;">Come back anytime :)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: medium;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: medium;">-Allison</span></div>Allison of A Farmgirl's Viewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05023926901821017215noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6309480468905885871.post-68982967599082815222012-02-07T21:05:00.000-05:002012-02-07T21:33:44.788-05:00Pictures of Solitude<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">I am participating in a </span><a href="http://www.projectalicia.com/2012/02/poetic-winter-photography-challenge.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: magenta; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Poetic Winter Photography challenge at Project Alicia</span></a><span style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">. It is through the month of February, and every week there is a one word theme. This week is...</span></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-large;"><em><strong>Solitude</strong></em></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">These are a few pictures that I have shot while on my own, out in God's creation. These have definitly been moments of reflective solitude for me.</span></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: white; font-size: large;"><em>Psalm 91:1&2</em></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: white;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">1</span>. <span style="font-size: large;">He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.</span></span></em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: white;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">2.</span> <span style="font-size: large;">I will say of the Lord, "He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in Him I will trust</span><span style="font-size: x-small;">.(NKJV)</span></span></em></div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">I broke the rules a bit and included some fall and summer shots in addition to the winter ones. I hope that by visiting today, you felt a few moments of solitude yourself.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;">Thanks for stopping by, I enjoyed our visit!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;">-Allison</span></div>Allison of A Farmgirl's Viewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05023926901821017215noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6309480468905885871.post-75878300719630775172012-02-01T00:32:00.000-05:002012-02-01T00:32:25.934-05:00Kitchen Remix<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div> <span style="color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> Well, we are redoing our kitchen! I'm so excited. We have a fairly big kitchen space and love to have lots of people over...but...while I can fit lots of people in there, I can't fit all my cups or plastic containers in my cabinets. We are busting at the seems!</span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> Some time back, friends of ours got a new kitchen and allowed us to take the wall cabinets they were taking out. I am a hopeless romantic when it comes to refinishing old things and loving them back to life. So of course when I saw these old cabinets needing a new home, I had to have them :)</span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> I can't believe it, but I didn't take any "before" pictures! My hubby had some time, and we just jumped in to ripping things out and starting this big project while we could. I have scoured through my pictures and found a couple of them that give an idea of what it looked like.</span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> We don't have a lot of time (or money) so it will be a long drawn out project, but I'm so encouraged to be getting started! My plan is to post our progress as we move along. Feel free to leave some advice in the comments. We have done a lot of remodeling, but not on kitchens.</span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> In our "old" kitchen, we only have 3 1/2 wall cabinets, one big useless space under the sink, 3 small base cabinets and one base unit with drawers. I had a shallow floor to ceiling cupboard to hold food, and an awkward pantry type thing built in one wall. BUT, I had a long wall with nothing on it. It was begging for some cabinets! I had a kitchen table there that no one ate at and just usually held stuff that wouldn't fit in anywhere.</span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> The walls were white when we moved in 8 years ago, and white they stayed. I am painting them a creamy coffee/ chocolaty color called "Macchiato", and the cabinets will be painted cream and will have an antiqued finish. I love coffee and the contents of my morning cup inspired me. I am planning to have a little area devoted to all things coffee, kind of a mini coffee bar.</span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> Along that blank canvas of a wall we will be running counter top, but not base cabinets. I want to leave the bottom open for bar stools of some sort. We are thinking about pouring our own concrete counter tops. Do any of you have experience with that?</span><br />
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">Anyway here are a couple of pictures to serve as "Before" shots...</span> </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TQpMe43kTYs/TyjCLxmtqAI/AAAAAAAAA0A/oA5l2XXBhLk/s1600/DSC_0125.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TQpMe43kTYs/TyjCLxmtqAI/AAAAAAAAA0A/oA5l2XXBhLk/s400/DSC_0125.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JgYUWRTlU1U/TyjDDhwAGrI/AAAAAAAAA0Q/cevROt2WN3o/s1600/DSC_0128.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; display: inline !important; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JgYUWRTlU1U/TyjDDhwAGrI/AAAAAAAAA0Q/cevROt2WN3o/s320/DSC_0128.JPG" width="320" /></span></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TQpMe43kTYs/TyjCLxmtqAI/AAAAAAAAA0A/oA5l2XXBhLk/s1600/DSC_0125.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
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<span style="color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">(Above)This is the wall that will get all the newly finished cabinets. We moved the </span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">fridge and found an awful peachy paint color!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="color: white;">Also this ugly wall paper was behind the cabinets!(Right)</span></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Here we see usually our "company" is a house full of teens. We love it! Anyway I had this rolling cart by the door to hold small appliances, the microwave and coffee pot. To the right of that is the tall cupboard that I used as a pantry. Then I have 1 1/2 half cabinets over the stove. to the right of that is my corner sink.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WOzr9RzRWYI/TyjBx9MSUfI/AAAAAAAAAz4/9Rx8YWhlzDM/s1600/DSC_0107.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WOzr9RzRWYI/TyjBx9MSUfI/AAAAAAAAAz4/9Rx8YWhlzDM/s400/DSC_0107.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="color: white;">After the corner sink, you see two upper cabinets and my corner of small base cabinets. Then the dishwasher and fridge. And there you see that long blank wall with a shelf on it...longing for cabinets and counter top! I know I will be giving up floor space, but I think it will be worth it. ( These lovely people are my husbands aunt and uncle and cousins. Love spending time with family!)<br />
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So Hopefully I will get a chance to get some pictures up soon of what we have done so far. Any suggestions for flooring? We are thinking of doing a heated tile floor.<br />
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</tbody></table>Allison of A Farmgirl's Viewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05023926901821017215noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6309480468905885871.post-33786112360533686742012-01-25T23:41:00.000-05:002012-01-28T20:57:24.264-05:00Re-Learning Lessons I Thought I Already Knew....<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ziQ1al50zrM/TgiM-2qpZLI/AAAAAAAAAb4/kOOqCs1AEo8/s1600/DSC_0485.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ziQ1al50zrM/TgiM-2qpZLI/AAAAAAAAAb4/kOOqCs1AEo8/s400/DSC_0485.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
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</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: white; font-size: large;"> Wow! Have you ever had a day (or a week) where you feel as if God pointed everything right at you to shout a message loud and clear? I don’t mean in a harsh mean way…I mean a gentle Fatherly loving way?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: white; font-size: large;"> I went to our church’s ladies Bible study like I do most Wednesday nights. Tonight we started a new fabulous looking book called<i><u> Becoming a Woman of Extraordinary Faith. What If You Gave It All to God?</u></i> by Julie Clinton.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: white; font-size: large;"> Well right out of the gate we watched the companion video that shared a woman’s amazing story of how her life and the lives of her family were forever changed by a drunk driver crashing into them. She talked about how her daughter struggles even today, some six years after the accident, with memory and physical issues. She has had to mourn the future she imagined for her daughter. She talked about praying for God to return things back to “normal” for her daughter….But then she realized that God was doing something extraordinary through her daughter the way she was now…She had to let go of the picture of what “normal” would be for her ….<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: white; font-size: large;"> I have been mourning a few issues lately. Dreams I felt were from God…good things that seem like they would have good godly results for others….situations I felt called to, but the doors aren’t opening in the right direction…feeling the (prideful) need to stand up for my child/children/self when wronged or have our character challenged…ugh this list has had me stressed, angry, confused, sad….and now that I really look at it, struggling with my faith….and pride.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: white; font-size: large;"> Yesterday, I read a blog that I “stumbled on” about pride it struck a nerve, but it was really only setting me up for the things I would hear today. Tonight I realized I was waiting for things to return to “normal”. Waiting for the picture I had in my head to play out in real life… and running ahead (and running my mouth) to defend my children’s good name and reputation as well as my own. How prideful of me!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: white; font-size: large;"> Even though the things I was wanting and waiting for were not selfish ungodly things, the grip I had on my vision of those things was! If God called me to something it will happen in His time…my waiting for things to change causes me to miss precious time and blessings right under my nose….God will defend my family, I don’t need to help him…<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: white; font-size: large;"> Well it’s a good thing that I have a long drive home. As I was alone in my car, the rain streaming down the windshield, tears began to fall…I allowed my heart to break for these things I have been desperately grasping. I confessed my pride and lack of faith…I let go…we had a long talk and knowing how music touches me, He spoke to me through the songs that played on the radio. Songs I’ve heard a thousand times, but tonight spelled out a message just for me.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: white; font-size: large;"> <b>First was “Come as You are” by Pocket Full of Rocks: </b><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: white; font-size: large;"><i> </i><span style="background-color: #073763;"><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">He's not mad at you</span></i><i><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"><br />
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">And He's not disappointed</span><br />
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">His grace is greater still</span><br />
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">Than all of your wrong choices</span><br />
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">Chorus:</span></span><br />
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">You can come as you are</span><br />
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">With all your broken pieces</span><br />
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">And all your shameful scars</span><br />
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">The pain you hold in your heart</span><br />
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">Bring it all to Jesus</span><br />
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">You can come as you are</span></i></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;"><span style="color: white; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: white; font-size: large;">God knew the burden I have been carrying and when I felt I couldn’t come to Him, He came to me!<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: white; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: white; font-size: large;">Then played “The Voice of Truth” by Casting Crowns:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="background-color: #073763; color: white; font-size: large;"><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">But the giant's calling out my name<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span></i><i><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"><br />
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">And he laughs at me</span><br />
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">Reminding me of all the times<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><br />
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">I've tried before and failed</span><br />
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">The giant keeps on telling me</span><br />
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">Time and time again. 'Boy you'll never win!'</span><br />
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">'You'll never win!'<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: white; font-size: large;"><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: #073763; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">Chorus:<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span></i><i><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="background-color: #073763;"><br />
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">But the voice of truth tells me a different story</span><br />
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">The voice of truth says, 'Do not be afraid!'</span><br />
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">The voice of truth says, 'This is for My glory'</span><br />
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">Out of all the voices calling out to me</span><br />
</span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;"><span style="background-color: #073763;">I will choose to listen and believe the voice of truth</span><span style="background-color: white;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: white; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: white; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: #073763;">I need to listen to His voice, not all the voices out there talking about or against us. I need to listen for His guidance every day instead of my agenda.</span><span style="background-color: white;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: white; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: white; font-size: large;"><b style="background-color: #073763;">Then came Matthew West’s “Strong Enough”:</b><span style="background-color: white;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="background-color: #073763; color: white; font-size: large;"><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">I know I'm not strong enough to be<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span></i><i><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"><br />
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">Everything that I'm supposed to be<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><br />
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">I give up<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><br />
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">I'm not strong enough<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><br />
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">Hands of mercy won't you cover me<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><br />
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">Lord right now I'm asking you to be<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><br />
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">Strong enough<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><br />
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">Strong enough<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><br />
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">For the both of us<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;"><span style="color: white; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></span></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: #073763; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: white; font-size: large;">I don’t have to carry all of this myself, I can walk away from my idea of “normal” but only when holding His hand.<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: #073763; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: white; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: white; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: #073763;">Then I got home and read my devotional…</span><span style="background-color: white;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><b><span style="background-color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: white; font-size: large;">Psalm 73:23-26<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="background-color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: white; font-size: large;">New International Version (NIV)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;"><span style="color: white; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: #9fc5e8;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><b><sup><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">23</span></sup></b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Yet I am always with you;</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
you hold me by my right hand.</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><b><sup><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">24</span></sup></b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">You guide me with your counsel,</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
and afterward you will take me into glory.</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><b><sup><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">25</span></sup></b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Whom have I in heaven but you?</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
And earth has nothing I desire besides you.</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><b><sup><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">26</span></sup></b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My flesh and my heart may fail,</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
but God is the strength of my heart</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: #9fc5e8;"><br />
and my portion forever.</span><span style="background-color: #cc0000;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: #9fc5e8;"><br />
</span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: white;">Tonight, I go to bed knowing the road may be hard, but I am holding the hand of my Heavenly Father, knowing He will be my strength forever…. Do you know that too? I hope so…</span></span></b><span style="color: white; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Job+1&version=NIV" title="Go to Job 1"> </a></span></span><b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"></span></b></span><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: white;"><br />
</span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: white;">For more wonderful scripture's look <a href="http://www.whatchristianswanttoknow.com/bible-verses-about-strength-25-encouraging-scripture-quotes/" target="_blank">HERE</a>. You can find lots of good articles on this site</span></span></b></div>Allison of A Farmgirl's Viewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05023926901821017215noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6309480468905885871.post-24012167521733690592012-01-23T22:59:00.000-05:002012-02-07T22:03:46.929-05:00An Unexpected Icy Sanctuary <span style="color: white;"> The morning started out pretty rough. I was taking my life in my hands just walking from my door to the car this morning when I left for work. All the left over snow and ice on the ground was now blended beautifully in a glaze of gleaming ice.It was cold but just warm enough to rain and the sun wasn't out yet. I glided my way to the car and managed to get it turned out to the road which was clear and just wet....whew! I didn't fall! (I'm sure I was a humorous site to behold...I am not known for being graceful!)</span><br />
<span style="color: white;"> As the day went on, it warmed up to something like 60ish degrees! Then the sun came out and it was gorgeous! On my lunch break, I ran a few errands and had my car window down! It's January!...in Pennsylvania! On my way home, it was raining...the sky was dark, but the sun was shining from somewhere behind me..."there has to be a rainbow" I thought...as I drove over the top of the hill heading into town, I saw it...a beautiful rainbow...I wished I was at home out on the ridge where we see many...my youngest son Colton took a couple of pictures for me so I could see that it was in fact a full double rainbow...my favorite! (....and just as soon as we can figure out how to get those pictures off his ipod i will upload them LOL)</span><br />
<span style="color: white;"> I love that God's word tells us it is a sign to remind us of His faithfulness, and I can't help but feel like it's a big warm hug from my Heavenly Father when I see one.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: white;"> I wanted to post the beautiful pictures I took on Sunday. I was home from church sick. When I woke up, the house was quiet since my family went to church. When I looked out my bedroom window, the sun was just beaming off everything! A thick coat of ice blanketed everything! But I could see that the sun was warming it all and water was dripping everywhere. I had to get my camera before it was all gone. I must have been a sight...Pj's...rubber boots...bedhead...Good thing I live in the boonies!</span><br />
<span style="color: white;"> The fresh air did me good... I felt terrible all weekend, and hated to miss church, but God and I had a moment like we often do.... out in his beautiful creation.</span><br />
<span style="color: white;"> With as warm and beautiful as it was today, there are no traces of the ice-ing we had. But here are some of the pictures I took in the glistening sanctuary right outside my door. God is faithful to meet us where we are and speak to us in a way he knows will touch us. God loves each of us in a personal way...He knows your love language and He will speak to you too...you just have to listen.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: white;">....Here is how He spoke to me :)</span><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em><strong><span style="color: white;">"Come now, let us reason together," says the LORD. <span class="goog_qs-tidbit goog_qs-tidbit-0">"Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they</span> are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.</span></strong></em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em><strong><span style="color: white;">Isaiah 1:18</span></strong></em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: white;">Leave a comment and share how God spoke to you recently...I would love to hear about it!</span></div>Allison of A Farmgirl's Viewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05023926901821017215noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6309480468905885871.post-19275146245909387112012-01-16T00:48:00.000-05:002012-01-16T00:48:32.113-05:00If This Chair Could Talk... <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nj-k6QjBcZY/TxEFfjeu_KI/AAAAAAAAAxE/D-suf8Ki7bM/s1600/DSC_0019.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nj-k6QjBcZY/TxEFfjeu_KI/AAAAAAAAAxE/D-suf8Ki7bM/s640/DSC_0019.JPG" width="412" /></a></div><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>This chair was my grandpa's. I can still picture him sitting in it, laughing at a comedy on T.V. or sitting reading the paper....sometimes looking as if in deep thought, sometimes napping. I was very close with him and there are many days I wish I could just sit and talk with him....ask him for advice...make up a silly song like we used to. Aside form my husband, I have never had the love of a better man than him. He taught me what a good man was...he didn't even try, and probably never knew....but because of his love and godly example, I chose a wonderful man to be my husband and the father of my children.</i></span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i> My Grandpa went home to be with the Lord right before I turned 19. I remember coming home from a wonderful night with Dave...I was so excited because Dave had just proposed. My Grandpa really liked Dave and he knew I loved Dave before I did, so I was so excited for us to come in and share the big news. He smiled as he looked at the ring...he was happy for us. He asked "When's the big day?" ( it was March when we got engaged) I said, "We love the fall, and want to have an October wedding." He said, "Boy I don't know if I can wait that long!"...I just thought he was excited, but it turns out he hadn't been feeling well, but never told any of us.</i></span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i> Just a couple of weeks later, and he was gone...he had a massive heart attack followed by a stroke. The doctors said he had significant scarring on his heart indicating he had probably had several small heart attacks leading up to that big one....</i></span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i> Wedding plans kept us quite busy for the next 7 months. We had a wonderful warm October day when we said "I do". There was a tinge of sadness, because I had so wanted my Grandpa to walk me down the isle...</i></span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i> Time moved on and we moved to an apartment and then discovered we would be adding to our family! We moved to our first little home in the country with our new baby boy.</i></span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i> I was given a gift when we moved there...my mom and Gram decided I should have my Grandpa's chair. More than a year and a half had passed since he had died. That night I sat in that chair...it all hit me. He missed our wedding, the birth of his first great grandson... but here I was sitting in his chair, and somehow that provided a space to heal. When someone passes at such a busy time, it's easy to not really deal with the loss...there just wasn't any time to let it all sink in.</i></span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i> Over 18 years later, I still find great comfort in that chair...now I'm the one sitting there laughing at the comedy, sitting with my laptop catching up on the news, writing my blog....many times just sitting deep in thought. I have sat there contemplating many things over the years....held my babies, searched through my Bible for answers, cried for my children's broken hearts....</i></span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i> As I sit here now, I can see the soft blue fabric faded and tattered around the edges and I remember my Grandpa's strong hands on the arms....fingers slowly rubbing the trim when he seemed to be working something over in his mind.... there are some stains on the matching ottoman...but it is one of my most treasured things.</i></span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i> I've been spending time here a lot lately, heart heavy for my family...I wonder if we were in his mind when he sat thinking quietly. Funny how your perspective changes as you get older.</i></span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i> I am so thankful for so many blessings in my life including this simple, worn, secondhand chair, whose beauty is invisible to most.</i></span><br />
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<span style="color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i> How about you? Do you have something that is special to you that ties you to the past?</i></span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i> </i></span>Allison of A Farmgirl's Viewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05023926901821017215noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6309480468905885871.post-84559134362920497852012-01-10T10:34:00.000-05:002012-01-10T10:45:02.283-05:00The Liebster Award!<a href="http://mysimplecountryliving.blogspot.com/2012/01/liebster-blog-awards.html">Liebster Blog Awards</a><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUjWNmaxevmUN2rBupKULLn2b93MOEkHr9gAP4WGTAJwlu5gAjUVZ4nWNsZvuBlfX_oU8_B9LiNAo45KapFa1BzRetDbFB5eEKlRwaNBstxPy6moTr-fc7xWOeYAxFSQVNmw9Upu8b7CKi/s200/untitled.bmp" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-size: large;"><i><b>A Farmgirl's View was just awarded the Liebster Blog Award!</b></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">My heartfelt Thanks go out to <span style="color: magenta;">Heidi</span> at<span style="color: magenta;"> <a href="http://whitewolfsummitfarmgirl.blogspot.com/">White Wolf Summit Farmgirl</a></span> for passing this along. Heidi writes 2 excellent blogs, her other one is <span style="color: magenta;"><a href="http://mysimplecountryliving.blogspot.com/">My Simple Country Living</a>. </span>Stop by both of her blogs today for wonderful inspiration. Her Country Garden Showcase makes me want to get out and play in the dirt for sure!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: yellow; font-size: large;"><i><b>Liebster means Dearest or Favorite in German!</b></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: white;">Now, I get to give the award to FIVE up and coming bloggers who have fewer than 200 followers! </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: white;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: white;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: white;">If you are selected for this little blog award, it's your responsibility to give it to 5 blogs and share the blog love! This part is VERY tough, narrowing down your list to just five blogs. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: white;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: white;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: white;">Here are the rules:</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: white;">1- Choose FIVE up and coming blogs to award the Liebster to. Blogs must have less than 200 followers.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: white;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: white;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: white;">2- Show your thanks to the blogger who gave you the award by linking back to them.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: white;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: white;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: white;">3- Post the award on your blog. List the bloggers you gave the award to with links to their sites.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: yellow; font-size: large;"><i><b>It is so hard to pick just 5 of the many blogs I read but here are the winners.</b></i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: yellow;">1.</span><a href="http://rogerswonderfullife.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: magenta;">Our Family</span></a><span style="color: yellow;"> - A beautiful blog about a beautiful family and their journey through adoption.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: yellow;">2.</span><span style="color: magenta;"><a href="http://theunfoldinglife.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: magenta;">Living Life As It Unfolds</span></a> </span><span style="color: yellow;">- An interesting blog by a homeschool mom featuring reviews on homeschool products and inspirational thoughts.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: yellow;">3.</span><a href="http://flowersinhisgarden.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: magenta;">Flowers in His Garden</span></a><span style="color: yellow;"> - An inspiring blog that encourages and uplifts all who read it.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: yellow;">4.</span><a href="http://ladyfarmerparables.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: magenta;">Lady Farmer Parables</span></a><span style="color: yellow;"> - This is a fun blog that has great ideas and always has a thought provoking message.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: yellow;">5.</span><a href="http://imitationbydesign.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: magenta;">Imitation by Design</span></a><span style="color: yellow;"> - this blog has some of the yummiest recipes ever! You can always find something great here.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: yellow; font-size: large;">Please stop by and visit these wonderful blogs, it will brighten your day!</span></div>Allison of A Farmgirl's Viewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05023926901821017215noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6309480468905885871.post-17344866205524019712012-01-02T18:59:00.000-05:002012-01-02T19:03:45.706-05:00New Year Traditions <span style="color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> Wow! hard to believe it is 2012! I am feeling so hopeful about this year, I don't know why...it's like I have a special peace inside. This makes me excited to see what God will do in the coming year...He's always so faithful to our little family!</span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> New Year's Eve was a fun night. We always invite our friends over as well as the kid's friends. It is so important to celebrate friendship! Friends are a blessing from the Lord and we should not (but often do) take them for granted. So for us, New Year's Eve is our celebrating the wonderful friends we've had all year and looking forward to the year ahead with them. We had close to 20 over and it's a tight squeeze at times (especially if 4 people are playing Just Dance on the Wii) but that's OK. Hopefully we will have even more over next year.</span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> Not only do we have amazing friends, but our kids have amazing friends too. It is truly a pleasure to have these kids over and we have watched them grow up into wonderful people!</span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> Here are some highlights...</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Dancing fun!</span></div><span style="color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FWAqe5jlwCI/TwI0eLD6wqI/AAAAAAAAAtg/hS1T0byE8w0/s1600/DSC_0005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FWAqe5jlwCI/TwI0eLD6wqI/AAAAAAAAAtg/hS1T0byE8w0/s400/DSC_0005.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Our good friends Kelly & Tony and Brian & Lorilee</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZBGO9tgat8A/TwI1nzpLi1I/AAAAAAAAAtw/_Xu-npgyROg/s1600/DSC_0022.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZBGO9tgat8A/TwI1nzpLi1I/AAAAAAAAAtw/_Xu-npgyROg/s400/DSC_0022.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Mother/Daughter Dance Duo<br />
( Chelsea & Tammy)</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4FNyyjy82RY/TwI3WfC5Y1I/AAAAAAAAAt4/VMu7vF8sjiU/s1600/DSC_0040.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4FNyyjy82RY/TwI3WfC5Y1I/AAAAAAAAAt4/VMu7vF8sjiU/s400/DSC_0040.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Zach, Brandon, Chels</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZT3n7roiWSA/TwI3yyByNhI/AAAAAAAAAuI/fnOX5E5WuYU/s1600/DSC_0052.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZT3n7roiWSA/TwI3yyByNhI/AAAAAAAAAuI/fnOX5E5WuYU/s400/DSC_0052.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Great kids!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kyc3NQjEYMA/TwI3goxNW7I/AAAAAAAAAuA/8eILfrK5mYs/s1600/DSC_0056.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kyc3NQjEYMA/TwI3goxNW7I/AAAAAAAAAuA/8eILfrK5mYs/s400/DSC_0056.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Playing Spoons!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3MoSiOYIXRk/TwI4tzvwX-I/AAAAAAAAAuQ/4nperwUaFYw/s1600/DSC_0061.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3MoSiOYIXRk/TwI4tzvwX-I/AAAAAAAAAuQ/4nperwUaFYw/s400/DSC_0061.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Intense game of spoons!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-enda2oQ1M-M/TwI6D-KZf0I/AAAAAAAAAuY/O8cVgHfHbhY/s1600/DSC_0069.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-enda2oQ1M-M/TwI6D-KZf0I/AAAAAAAAAuY/O8cVgHfHbhY/s400/DSC_0069.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Watching the ball drop</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pVouAO4ArTA/TwI6d0-jX2I/AAAAAAAAAug/HUlB32f8p-o/s1600/DSC_0077.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pVouAO4ArTA/TwI6d0-jX2I/AAAAAAAAAug/HUlB32f8p-o/s400/DSC_0077.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Back to playing games :)</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6K4EiY-nTRk/TwI6uBOjRLI/AAAAAAAAAuo/oidddeRZDHk/s1600/DSC_0078.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6K4EiY-nTRk/TwI6uBOjRLI/AAAAAAAAAuo/oidddeRZDHk/s400/DSC_0078.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Our good friends Tammy & Mark</span></td></tr>
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<span style="color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> New Year's Day we got up and went to church, a few boys spent the night, but amazingly we all got up and out the door on time!</span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> We are blessed with a great church family and a wonderful Pastor. It was THE way to start the year....After church we went to my husband's parents house to celebrate with family and a yummy dinner. There are always plenty of funny memories being shared and too much fudge eaten by all ( someday I will have to do a whole blog about my husbands Aunt Cook's fudge...and yes it's THAT good!)</span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">.......Somehow I forgot to take my camera for this :(</span><br />
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<span style="color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> Another of our traditions is our Annual Wreath Drop. We have been doing this for the past 5 years and I don't know who has more fun ...the kids, or Dad! I usually stand in front of the house and video or take pictures. Dad runs all through the front of the house "releasing" the wreaths while the boys are outside guessing which wreath will be dropped next.... Mom, of course strongly urging them to not let them hit the ground. I wasn't too worried since I am replacing all the bows for next year. The old ones lasted 5 years so not too bad.</span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> Here's a visual if it's hard to imagine....</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gUyQHFTCfkw/TwI8aQHhSEI/AAAAAAAAAvg/FMTtEhV59J4/s1600/DSC_0029.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gUyQHFTCfkw/TwI8aQHhSEI/AAAAAAAAAvg/FMTtEhV59J4/s400/DSC_0029.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_Itpx1qpZK8/TwI8HVpuBRI/AAAAAAAAAvk/sWIov48xCxw/s1600/DSC_0039.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_Itpx1qpZK8/TwI8HVpuBRI/AAAAAAAAAvk/sWIov48xCxw/s400/DSC_0039.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IhpWFeY1v5I/TwI8bTUHXrI/AAAAAAAAAvo/GIltDIlJEho/s1600/DSC_0040.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IhpWFeY1v5I/TwI8bTUHXrI/AAAAAAAAAvo/GIltDIlJEho/s400/DSC_0040.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EwKNN8EE-EQ/TwI9ZY9j7HI/AAAAAAAAAvs/i-xO7WERU94/s1600/DSC_0043.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EwKNN8EE-EQ/TwI9ZY9j7HI/AAAAAAAAAvs/i-xO7WERU94/s400/DSC_0043.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">This should have been our Christmas card...maybe next year lol</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ECSTILaZox0/TwI9d0mNNlI/AAAAAAAAAvc/rLT_XoYmgRM/s1600/DSC_0045.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ECSTILaZox0/TwI9d0mNNlI/AAAAAAAAAvc/rLT_XoYmgRM/s400/DSC_0045.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">My wonderful farm boys!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> I hope all of you have a wonderful year this year and that you will walk close with the Lord every step of the way. I'm not big on resolutions...I'm trying to take more time to "listen" to what God would like me to work on and let Him take the lead in making the necessary changes within me. Change is good :)</span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> Thanks for reading,</span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Blessings in the new year,</span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Allison</span>Allison of A Farmgirl's Viewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05023926901821017215noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6309480468905885871.post-82427484151651121812011-12-27T20:16:00.000-05:002011-12-27T20:18:51.638-05:00Christmas Highlights at the Hillberrys<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cXq4qKzgJO4/Tvnq5mwlDjI/AAAAAAAAAtM/HbIlx9noPEc/s1600/DSC_0188.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: white;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cXq4qKzgJO4/Tvnq5mwlDjI/AAAAAAAAAtM/HbIlx9noPEc/s400/DSC_0188.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div><span style="color: white;"> <span style="font-size: large;"> Wow! What a wonderfully busy Christmas season! I had hoped to share along the way, but had zero time to blog. I hope that you enjoy a peek into just a few of our family's Christmas traditions...</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: white;"><strong>First was our hunt for a Christmas tree</strong>...we always get a real tree for our living room. I have several artificial trees for other rooms, but didn't get to set them all up...</span></span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: white; font-size: large;"></span></div><span style="color: white; font-size: large;">We went to a new place not far form where we live that had pre-cut trees to pick from. We look each one over and pick the one that we all agree on...</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: white; font-size: large;">This years was shorter than usual, but I loved it!</span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-V3BJC2T9fgM/Tvj9LSF53AI/AAAAAAAAAjs/nLZg_kc8RQw/s1600/DSC_0027.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: white; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-V3BJC2T9fgM/Tvj9LSF53AI/AAAAAAAAAjs/nLZg_kc8RQw/s400/DSC_0027.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-R3TtzSFmD6M/Tvj-uSudymI/AAAAAAAAAj0/0PSQIgzZW9E/s1600/DSC_0031.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: white; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-R3TtzSFmD6M/Tvj-uSudymI/AAAAAAAAAj0/0PSQIgzZW9E/s400/DSC_0031.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dFyDO6sO3y0/TvkAJp_nqSI/AAAAAAAAAj8/oPi2nfTfBj4/s1600/DSC_0032.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: white; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dFyDO6sO3y0/TvkAJp_nqSI/AAAAAAAAAj8/oPi2nfTfBj4/s400/DSC_0032.JPG" width="251" /></span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: white; font-size: large;">This was a beautiful farm...we will probably be back :)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
<span style="color: white;"></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><strong><span style="color: white; font-size: large;">Next we take it home and decorate it....</span></strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dIOYvehIFEQ/TvkC-UmK3lI/AAAAAAAAAkI/pwlmZRZlZwo/s1600/DSC_0067.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: white; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dIOYvehIFEQ/TvkC-UmK3lI/AAAAAAAAAkI/pwlmZRZlZwo/s400/DSC_0067.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mNmpEeVdmn4/TvkJoeqljWI/AAAAAAAAAkg/Ut1IW2VdAjQ/s1600/DSC_0131.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: white; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mNmpEeVdmn4/TvkJoeqljWI/AAAAAAAAAkg/Ut1IW2VdAjQ/s400/DSC_0131.JPG" width="266" /></span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
<span style="color: white; font-size: large;">I love old-timey and homespun ornaments:)</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iaG_RrDbOPY/TvlItLwTxSI/AAAAAAAAAoo/KzLVQU4Vq1s/s1600/DSC_0010.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: white; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iaG_RrDbOPY/TvlItLwTxSI/AAAAAAAAAoo/KzLVQU4Vq1s/s400/DSC_0010.JPG" width="266" /></span></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sLLEguOCl3A/Tvle22TSJmI/AAAAAAAAApA/SVsSkcjColU/s1600/DSC_0114.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: white; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sLLEguOCl3A/Tvle22TSJmI/AAAAAAAAApA/SVsSkcjColU/s400/DSC_0114.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
<span style="color: white;"></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: white; font-size: large;">We like to hang all our Christmas cards on our staircase...I'd love to hear what you do with yours?</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mEqGm_hcYsc/Tvl0O825GMI/AAAAAAAAAqQ/8TBhl_rSHJE/s1600/DSC_0221.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: white; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mEqGm_hcYsc/Tvl0O825GMI/AAAAAAAAAqQ/8TBhl_rSHJE/s400/DSC_0221.JPG" width="266" /></span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: white; font-size: large;">Colton wanted to make a gingerbread house with his brothers this year for the table centerpiece...I think it turned out pretty cute!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MQ-QO2M1ta4/Tvlt6TivWlI/AAAAAAAAAqI/MqD8Fc4sieU/s1600/DSC_0192.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: white; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MQ-QO2M1ta4/Tvlt6TivWlI/AAAAAAAAAqI/MqD8Fc4sieU/s400/DSC_0192.JPG" width="266" /></span></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CSzziKkZkXY/TvluCwoiF-I/AAAAAAAAAqM/-WXeVfcsC2g/s1600/DSC_0200.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: white; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CSzziKkZkXY/TvluCwoiF-I/AAAAAAAAAqM/-WXeVfcsC2g/s400/DSC_0200.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: white; font-size: large;"> <strong> We also attended the Children's Choir Christmas Play.</strong> Our youngest son Colton was in it. The kids did a great job and the director Robin is amazing!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PdxARsJsY6A/TvkMkteHvMI/AAAAAAAAAks/bLB8rppSD0c/s1600/DSC_0077.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: white; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="216" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PdxARsJsY6A/TvkMkteHvMI/AAAAAAAAAks/bLB8rppSD0c/s400/DSC_0077.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: white;">These kids sang their hearts out!</span></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ri1AFT1N9Os/TvkNXA_AJ3I/AAAAAAAAAk0/-7qhkyoyF_c/s1600/DSC_0097.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="258" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ri1AFT1N9Os/TvkNXA_AJ3I/AAAAAAAAAk0/-7qhkyoyF_c/s400/DSC_0097.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: white; font-size: large;">Colton was one of the wise men (he's on the left) they were talking about the possibility that it may not have been "3" kings.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IJiNYvItVTA/TvkOEqa6xzI/AAAAAAAAAk8/IqMzqIR7Q7U/s1600/DSC_0114+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: white; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IJiNYvItVTA/TvkOEqa6xzI/AAAAAAAAAk8/IqMzqIR7Q7U/s400/DSC_0114+%25282%2529.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: white; font-size: large;">There were a couple of numbers that used a black light for a really cool effect!</span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BCrdaflGk94/TvkPqng39iI/AAAAAAAAAlE/m9KCqvCcZ-Q/s1600/DSC_0158.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: white; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BCrdaflGk94/TvkPqng39iI/AAAAAAAAAlE/m9KCqvCcZ-Q/s400/DSC_0158.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: white; font-size: large;">"The Angel Rap"</span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-otRjlnQ3V0U/TvkSwq-bapI/AAAAAAAAAlM/FjCidH9ijz8/s1600/DSC_0168.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: white; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-otRjlnQ3V0U/TvkSwq-bapI/AAAAAAAAAlM/FjCidH9ijz8/s400/DSC_0168.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: white; font-size: large;">The stars of the show</span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ybN6olzOmeA/TvkVnHmRm1I/AAAAAAAAAlU/8136KVp3-xo/s1600/DSC_0172.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: white; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="211" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ybN6olzOmeA/TvkVnHmRm1I/AAAAAAAAAlU/8136KVp3-xo/s400/DSC_0172.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: white; font-size: large;">The kids did sign language to "Abba Father" it was beautiful!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
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<span style="color: white;"></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: white; font-size: large;"> One of our long time traditions is going to Oglebay, we go through the zoo, watch a laser light show, and drive through the light displays, it's not Christmas without this one!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><span style="color: white; font-size: large;">The zoo...</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZY5lIUfJEXo/TvkoqKMGOBI/AAAAAAAAAl0/oYOVj7SToao/s1600/DSC_0027+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: white; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZY5lIUfJEXo/TvkoqKMGOBI/AAAAAAAAAl0/oYOVj7SToao/s400/DSC_0027+%25282%2529.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: white; font-size: large;"> I love poison frogs, they are soooo cute! (too bad they're poisonous)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
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<span style="color: white;"></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hLsCGmnEu3U/TvkrGtD_rlI/AAAAAAAAAl8/fprn6xLlIDY/s1600/DSC_0028.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="color: white; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hLsCGmnEu3U/TvkrGtD_rlI/AAAAAAAAAl8/fprn6xLlIDY/s400/DSC_0028.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gdW9seXmI_U/TvkvHJTCD_I/AAAAAAAAAmE/0l7KN0u8h3A/s1600/DSC_0030.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: white; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gdW9seXmI_U/TvkvHJTCD_I/AAAAAAAAAmE/0l7KN0u8h3A/s320/DSC_0030.JPG" width="320" /></span></a><span style="color: white; font-size: large;"> Can you find the hidden Mossy frogs? These are so cool!</span><br />
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<span style="color: white; font-size: large;"> </span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><span style="color: white; font-size: large;">Beautiful lights at Oglebay...</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-32cdXV_BJ3A/TvlQUchDUBI/AAAAAAAAAo8/Bg2Q-6PjyiM/s1600/DSC_0072.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: white; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-32cdXV_BJ3A/TvlQUchDUBI/AAAAAAAAAo8/Bg2Q-6PjyiM/s400/DSC_0072.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><br />
<span style="color: white; font-size: large;"> </span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vOoGDtwSM24/TvkyQ2z_zFI/AAAAAAAAAmQ/PI5ElJ3GIRM/s1600/DSC_0070+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: white; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vOoGDtwSM24/TvkyQ2z_zFI/AAAAAAAAAmQ/PI5ElJ3GIRM/s320/DSC_0070+%25282%2529.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dPo_WKw6CTQ/TvkzDFqrN1I/AAAAAAAAAmY/cRLFdQ8qsEU/s1600/DSC_0071.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="color: white; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="211" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dPo_WKw6CTQ/TvkzDFqrN1I/AAAAAAAAAmY/cRLFdQ8qsEU/s320/DSC_0071.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="color: white; font-size: large;"> We sat out in the gazebo to watch the lights dance to music from Trans-Siberian Orchestra</span><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2ac8LQzucPs/Tvk1gtAB9_I/AAAAAAAAAmo/W0jxiBlVzoY/s1600/DSC_0081.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="color: white; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2ac8LQzucPs/Tvk1gtAB9_I/AAAAAAAAAmo/W0jxiBlVzoY/s400/DSC_0081.JPG" width="400" /></span></a><span style="color: white; font-size: large;">Wonder how many of these there are at Oglebay? (I'm sure the brochure said it somewhere)</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: white; font-size: large;">Snoopy always there to point the way to go :)</span><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QrcBbUWmPHA/Tvk8nino93I/AAAAAAAAAnQ/ZzLG8Yt8l_Y/s1600/DSC_0170.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: white; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QrcBbUWmPHA/Tvk8nino93I/AAAAAAAAAnQ/ZzLG8Yt8l_Y/s320/DSC_0170.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
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<span style="color: white; font-size: large;"> </span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><span style="color: white; font-size: large;">The Kids have enjoyed Oglebay for years. I'm so glad they still get into it!</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-M4z0r9R3UiI/TvlOiFizaXI/AAAAAAAAAo4/XgEOXaSfF8U/s1600/DSC_0054.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: white; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-M4z0r9R3UiI/TvlOiFizaXI/AAAAAAAAAo4/XgEOXaSfF8U/s400/DSC_0054.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><br />
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<span style="color: white; font-size: large;"> </span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><span style="color: white; font-size: large;">On Christmas eve....</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
<span style="color: white;"></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: white; font-size: large;">We go to our church's Christmas Eve service ......</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xTmHRXsHjYg/Tvmq0pW6QrI/AAAAAAAAAs0/9TS97nPTsqk/s1600/P1110527.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: white; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xTmHRXsHjYg/Tvmq0pW6QrI/AAAAAAAAAs0/9TS97nPTsqk/s400/P1110527.JPG" width="300" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: white; font-size: large;">Lots of people participate with singing and instrumentals, and reading the Christmas story right from the Bible...After the advent wreath is all lit up by the children in the congregation, the Elders take the light from the Christ candle and light the candle of the first person in each pew. Then the light is passed down the pew as each person lights the candle of the person next to them. I love the feeling this simple act brings!</span></div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: white; font-size: large;">Then all the lights are turned off and the whole church sings "Joy to the World" by the light of the candles...</span></div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: white; font-size: large;">Then on the last verse, everyone holds their candle high as you sing "He rules the world with truth and grace..." I love it! it's the best! I hope you all get to experience a Christmas Eve service.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6MVloFOKtLs/TvmsSszHnII/AAAAAAAAAtA/m6pYq9kqc8Y/s1600/P1110535.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: white; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6MVloFOKtLs/TvmsSszHnII/AAAAAAAAAtA/m6pYq9kqc8Y/s400/P1110535.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<span style="color: white;"></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: white; font-size: large;">...And then home to put baby Jesus in the Nativity while we sing "Happy Birthday". Again this is one we have been doing since we had our first child (so glad the kids still do this as well) The boys take turns every year-this year was Collin's turn.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TTEWg-VvFag/TvmdSzydO2I/AAAAAAAAAsQ/1v-z1ldzUTo/s1600/DSC_0242.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: white; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="251" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TTEWg-VvFag/TvmdSzydO2I/AAAAAAAAAsQ/1v-z1ldzUTo/s400/DSC_0242.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-31P_jM59sTg/Tvl2SIQBLwI/AAAAAAAAAqY/8iaCXqEix1o/s1600/DSC_0246.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: white; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-31P_jM59sTg/Tvl2SIQBLwI/AAAAAAAAAqY/8iaCXqEix1o/s400/DSC_0246.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Kbb1bbvtlmA/Tvmc3st4bGI/AAAAAAAAAsU/mABw-QOGrF4/s1600/DSC_0248.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: white; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Kbb1bbvtlmA/Tvmc3st4bGI/AAAAAAAAAsU/mABw-QOGrF4/s400/DSC_0248.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
<span style="color: white;"></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: white; font-size: large;">...Then the boys give their gifts to each other, and Dave and I exchange gifts and let the boys open one from us. The rest of the gifts have to wait til morning!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3Tk0cV7kpaQ/Tvl7lHkPC_I/AAAAAAAAAqk/9cAMQRmFUfs/s1600/DSC_0266.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: white; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3Tk0cV7kpaQ/Tvl7lHkPC_I/AAAAAAAAAqk/9cAMQRmFUfs/s400/DSC_0266.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div><br />
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</div><div align="center"><span style="color: white; font-size: large;">I love the boys haming it up for me when I've got the camera...hey they really do love each other!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lDMdUqy4Ia8/TvpcYUMfuAI/AAAAAAAAAtY/DfrmdJteSF0/s1600/DSC_0267.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: white; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lDMdUqy4Ia8/TvpcYUMfuAI/AAAAAAAAAtY/DfrmdJteSF0/s400/DSC_0267.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div><span style="color: white; font-size: large;"></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: white; font-size: large;">My handsome farm boy tryin on the new coat I got him..</span><br />
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<span style="color: white; font-size: large;">My hubby though he was clever wrapping my gift in packing tape so I couldn't get into it!</span><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: white; font-size: large;">This ring says "I am my Beloveds and My Beloved is Mine" (in Hebrew)...I think I will keep him! ;)</span></div></td></tr>
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><span style="color: white; font-size: large;">On Christmas Day...</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><br />
<span style="color: white; font-size: large;"> </span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: white; font-size: large;"> We got up early and opened all the gifts and then headed off to church with the turkey baking in the oven (oh the house smelled sooo good when we got home from church!) Then my mom and step-dad came for dinner and spent most of the day with us.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EM944BFFlT8/TvmnwRY7wAI/AAAAAAAAAss/8yjDplYCzug/s1600/DSC_0365.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: white; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EM944BFFlT8/TvmnwRY7wAI/AAAAAAAAAss/8yjDplYCzug/s400/DSC_0365.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: white; font-size: large;">My Mom and Steve - She has been wanting that computer game so bad but couldn't find it...doesn't she look like a kid at Christmas?! LOL</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
<span style="color: white;"></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: white; font-size: large;"> Then my in-laws came for dessert and coffee and we exchanged gifts with them...</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mLxZIrdFgaY/TvmpiIr8gGI/AAAAAAAAAsw/RmUZkiclSAw/s1600/DSC_0415.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: white; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mLxZIrdFgaY/TvmpiIr8gGI/AAAAAAAAAsw/RmUZkiclSAw/s400/DSC_0415.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: white; font-size: large;">Dave's Mom and Dad looking at the photo book I had made from the trip they took us on to Niagara Falls and Lake Erie this summer.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: white; font-size: large;">Colton looking like "Elf on a Shelf" LOL</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_JBbS6MqIqI/Tvmg1PPQxdI/AAAAAAAAAsc/InFs5IisUGU/s1600/DSC_0272.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: white; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_JBbS6MqIqI/Tvmg1PPQxdI/AAAAAAAAAsc/InFs5IisUGU/s400/DSC_0272.JPG" width="276" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
<span style="color: white;"></span></span> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: white; font-size: large;">What a day full of blessings! It is a bit of a time crunch when Christmas falls on Sunday, but I wouldn't miss the service... after all Jesus is the reason we are celebrating. Worship is the perfect thing to do on Christmas!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
<span style="color: white;"></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><i><b><span style="color: white; font-size: large;">From our family to yours, we hope you had a blessed Christmas and will have a Happy New Year!!!</span></b></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5pMfEqCBGpI/TvlxAk9WqgI/AAAAAAAAAqU/7KL3jsap2eo/s1600/DSC_0239.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: white; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="278" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5pMfEqCBGpI/TvlxAk9WqgI/AAAAAAAAAqU/7KL3jsap2eo/s400/DSC_0239.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><br />
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<span style="color: white; font-size: large;"> </span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><span style="color: white; font-size: large;">P.S. I got all these awesome coffee themed gifts from wonderful people...I may have a slight addiction and people must have noticed lol?</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EwfQ4eYOnNs/TvlIAIHJkiI/AAAAAAAAAok/Kg8QC5pZ3qE/s1600/DSC_0004+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: white; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="258" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EwfQ4eYOnNs/TvlIAIHJkiI/AAAAAAAAAok/Kg8QC5pZ3qE/s400/DSC_0004+%25282%2529.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><br />
<span style="color: white; font-size: large;"> </span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: white; font-size: large;">Be sure and comment below and let us know what your favorite Christmas traditions are...</span></div>Allison of A Farmgirl's Viewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05023926901821017215noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6309480468905885871.post-31686920798295290172011-12-19T23:25:00.000-05:002011-12-19T23:25:35.622-05:00Red and White Thoughts...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-waBC9yo0V98/TtwGmXeJDgI/AAAAAAAAAho/Cn-Kg6eUl3U/s1600/DSC_0033.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-waBC9yo0V98/TtwGmXeJDgI/AAAAAAAAAho/Cn-Kg6eUl3U/s400/DSC_0033.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The following information and thoughts are not my own. I read an article written by John Faulk a CBN staff writer, and wanted to pass it along to you...</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"> <i> "The red and white stripped candy cane is one of the most popular symbols of the Christmas season. The connection to Christianity began in 1670, when a German choirmaster is said to have handed out white sugar sticks to the young singers to keep them pacified during the live Nativity ceremony. In honor of the occasion, he had the candies bent into the shape of shepherd's crooks. The idea caught on, and the candy sticks became common at live nativities all over Europe.</i></span><br />
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"> The curved confection surfaced in America in 1847 when a German-Swedish immigrant living in Ohio decorated a small evergreen tree with paper ornaments and white candy canes.</span></i><br />
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"> About 50 years later, the familiar red and white stripes first appeared. no one knows exactly who originally added the red stripes, but Christmas cards prior to 1900 showed only all-white candy canes. Christmas cards after 1900 showed illustrations of striped candy canes. Around that same time, confectioners added peppermint and wintergreen flavors to their candy canes and those flavors became the traditional favorites.</span></i><br />
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"> For decades, the the tale of the candy cane has been told and retold as a Christian witness-the red and white stripes representing the Lord's blood and purity; the three red stripes symbolizing the Holy Trinity; and the hardness of the candy representing Jesus, our Rock and refuge. The peppermint flavor is said to signify the use of hyssop, a mint-like medicinal herb referred to in both the Old and New Testaments.</span></i><br />
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"> Generations of parents have taught their children the candy cane's sweet symbolism of Jesus' love.</span></i><br />
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">Share a candy cane with someone and tell them the sweet story of the Savior who was born to set us free." </span></i><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> The symbolism of Christ and what Christmas is all about is everywhere...yet, it seems as if the world would like to celebrate a "holiday" without acknowledging what holiday it is and what it celebrates. I refuse to let "Happy Holiday" replace "Merry Christmas" in my world.</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> I challenge all of you who celebrate Christmas to not allow the name and meaning of this holiday disappear...wish everyone a "Merry Christmas". When I have grandchildren someday, I don't want one of my reminiscent stories to be recalling the days when people would wish others a "Merry Christmas" I want it to be a natural part of their life at Christmas time.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> I hope that you are finding time to enjoy the celebration of the greatest gift ever given....and if you have never reached out to accept this free gift, I hope this will be the year you unwrap the love of Christ in your heart...he came for you....yep, He left the glory of Heaven to a humble stable so that you could join Him in glory someday for all eternity...I hope to see you there one day!</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><i><b>Merry Christmas!!!</b></i></span>Allison of A Farmgirl's Viewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05023926901821017215noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6309480468905885871.post-35029506074651750942011-12-04T18:41:00.000-05:002011-12-04T23:24:38.128-05:00Kicking off the Christmas Season <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>Well it's December! I can NOT believe how fast the past two months have gone! I have so many deadlines to meet by the end of the year, but I refuse to let anything steal the joy of this wonderful season. Hopefully I will also find time to share with you some of our family traditions that make our Christmas special.</i></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i> The first kick-off was getting together with my wonderful friend Tammy to bake some cookies. We have been doing this since our kids were small and needed to stand on chairs to reach the kitchen counter....now our oldest two are freshmen in college!</i></span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mEX8LZkQuNA/TtvjeFwAK4I/AAAAAAAAAds/EOT1lYMo03c/s1600/DSC_0032.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mEX8LZkQuNA/TtvjeFwAK4I/AAAAAAAAAds/EOT1lYMo03c/s320/DSC_0032.JPG" width="213" /></i></span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>My sweet friend Tammy</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i><br />
</i></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i> Over the years the kids got more interested in playing and hanging out with each other than "helping" us make the cookies, but that's OK they were building memories of their own. Of course they always showed up for taste testing :)</i></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i> In years past we made many different recipes on baking day, but with our limited time we just picked two kinds to make and will have another day before Christmas to make some more...can't wait!</i></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i> We made our family's favorite Chocolate Chip cookies that are "must haves" for our husbands and kids. We have been using the same recipe for years and won't be changing that one!</i></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0p-ftJq9ah8/TtvmrnyGIlI/AAAAAAAAAec/e6y5nRB-BtI/s1600/DSC_0061.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0p-ftJq9ah8/TtvmrnyGIlI/AAAAAAAAAec/e6y5nRB-BtI/s400/DSC_0061.JPG" width="400" /></i></span></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iJDY_wsN-Kc/TtvxfnWa_rI/AAAAAAAAAgo/SMBlfLFt004/s1600/DSC_0084.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iJDY_wsN-Kc/TtvxfnWa_rI/AAAAAAAAAgo/SMBlfLFt004/s400/DSC_0084.JPG" width="400" /></i></span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>Yummy!</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i><br />
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</i></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i> The next cookie we made was a new recipe I found on Pinterest ( oh how I love that site for recipes!) It's a Peppermint Sugar Cookie and you can find the recipe <a href="http://www.recipegirl.com/2008/08/10/peppermint-sugar-cookies/" target="_blank">HERE</a>. We added our special touch by topping them off with drizzled white chocolate and crushed candy canes...OH YUM!!!</i></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hgAPAKXpoYc/TtvjwCDSb2I/AAAAAAAAAd0/fYS6PEqVWT0/s1600/DSC_0033.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hgAPAKXpoYc/TtvjwCDSb2I/AAAAAAAAAd0/fYS6PEqVWT0/s400/DSC_0033.JPG" width="400" /></i></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>Candy canes transform into pretty yummy pieces that go inside and on top</i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i><br />
</i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4CgCvg4FdfA/TtvkWijtcbI/AAAAAAAAAd8/UlvbaMHpUYo/s1600/DSC_0036.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i><img border="0" height="264" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4CgCvg4FdfA/TtvkWijtcbI/AAAAAAAAAd8/UlvbaMHpUYo/s400/DSC_0036.JPG" width="400" /></i></span></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cDkUy_RNhV0/TtvkzKCGH_I/AAAAAAAAAeE/758x1hQ6RQM/s1600/DSC_0037.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i><img border="0" height="250" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cDkUy_RNhV0/TtvkzKCGH_I/AAAAAAAAAeE/758x1hQ6RQM/s400/DSC_0037.JPG" width="400" /></i></span></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bDmRY9qhxxg/Ttvn3cGlYtI/AAAAAAAAAes/Wb6V2AMclo4/s1600/DSC_0063.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bDmRY9qhxxg/Ttvn3cGlYtI/AAAAAAAAAes/Wb6V2AMclo4/s400/DSC_0063.JPG" width="400" /></i></span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>Rolled in powdered sugar and pressed with a fork...the smell is minty sweet!</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i><br />
</i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-r_1GJszQXC4/TtvoY2fCQLI/AAAAAAAAAe0/O3nQwmUxw8w/s1600/DSC_0065.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-r_1GJszQXC4/TtvoY2fCQLI/AAAAAAAAAe0/O3nQwmUxw8w/s400/DSC_0065.JPG" width="400" /></i></span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>My 12 year old Colton helping sprinkle the tops with crushed candy canes.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i><br />
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</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tLMqmTHeGuc/Ttvpsp6lrMI/AAAAAAAAAfE/E8rnt-bpjb4/s1600/DSC_0069.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tLMqmTHeGuc/Ttvpsp6lrMI/AAAAAAAAAfE/E8rnt-bpjb4/s400/DSC_0069.JPG" width="266" /></i></span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>I wish you could smell these!And taste them too!</i></span><br />
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</i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ulxo-EZ7XU0/Ttv4peeQB0I/AAAAAAAAAhc/QWNSUg2fcyo/s1600/DSC_0081.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ulxo-EZ7XU0/Ttv4peeQB0I/AAAAAAAAAhc/QWNSUg2fcyo/s400/DSC_0081.JPG" width="400" /></i></span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>Colton's reward for helping :)</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i><br />
</i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aAK6WODuezQ/TtvlcAEM6HI/AAAAAAAAAeM/AoorGFlEiZU/s1600/DSC_0044.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aAK6WODuezQ/TtvlcAEM6HI/AAAAAAAAAeM/AoorGFlEiZU/s400/DSC_0044.JPG" width="400" /></i></span></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3xeXenW4NLc/Ttvl3aiaOMI/AAAAAAAAAeU/9_xwTnRVsLg/s1600/DSC_0045.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3xeXenW4NLc/Ttvl3aiaOMI/AAAAAAAAAeU/9_xwTnRVsLg/s400/DSC_0045.JPG" width="400" /></i></span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>Tammy made a friend with one of the many Asian beetles that have decided to make our home their home ( I am so not impressed with them!)</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i><br />
</i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_RCKQlQNteA/Ttv3PW5cm8I/AAAAAAAAAhM/0tfhMlEyQNU/s1600/DSC_0103.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_RCKQlQNteA/Ttv3PW5cm8I/AAAAAAAAAhM/0tfhMlEyQNU/s400/DSC_0103.JPG" width="400" /></i></span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i><br />
</i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dZ41165rt_8/Ttv4jrRRIfI/AAAAAAAAAhU/-hcmwHFYa-k/s1600/DSC_0110.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i><img border="0" height="265" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dZ41165rt_8/Ttv4jrRRIfI/AAAAAAAAAhU/-hcmwHFYa-k/s400/DSC_0110.JPG" width="400" /></i></span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>Good friends & sweet memories!</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i><br />
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</i></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i> Are you feeling the hustle and bustle of the season? Or are you feeling the peace and joy? Make some time to do something that puts you in the spirit....make some cookies....put on some Christmas music...have coffee with a friend...find a way to serve others...don't forget to spend daily time with "The reason for the season" my wonderful Savior Jesus Christ.</i></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i> Comment below and tell me how you "Kick-off" the</i></span> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>Christmas season.</i></span>Allison of A Farmgirl's Viewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05023926901821017215noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6309480468905885871.post-74670978095101778582011-11-08T11:13:00.000-05:002011-11-08T13:19:32.180-05:00Weird Mornings And A Treasured Realization<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white; font-size: large;"> Whew! It is 10 am, and I have had a weird morning! Nothing strange has really happened, just kind of "off". Every other Tuesday I have "free" no working/no volunteering....Oh how I look forward to them :)... And today is one of those Tuesdays. Normally I try to get the kids a better than normal breakfast and I get everyone doing their school work and my oldest out the door to college (although, much to my surprise, he doesn't need much pushing or assistance to get up and out the door). Once everyone is busy, I usually try to do some cleaning and then have a moment with my laptop and cup of coffee. I check up all the news on Facebook and read emails, and then I usually go into the world of blogging. I check up on all my bloggie friends and try to post a new entry myself.</span></i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i> As I sit down to write, I feel like I haven't accomplished anything! I've been distracted and half doing things...what is up? Well, I forgot something....do you see it missing from my list up there? I missed spending time with the One who gives me strength. I got up a little later than I wanted to and jumped right into breakfast and swishing the kids to their places and....I forgot. But I have a Heavenly Father who loves me and patiently waits for me to pause long enough to hear him call to me. I heard him...and I'm so thankful that I didn't get any further in the day to hear him or my whole day would have felt "off".</i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i> I have been so busy lately that my time with God has been very fragmented, not completely cut off but...distracted. Have you ever tried to have a conversation with a friend on the phone and you can just tell that they are listing to a family member, or trying to do something while they are on the phone with you? It's like they're half-listening...or a child playing a video game while you are explaining the chores that they need to do...all they say is "m-hmm, OK"...you get the picture. Well, that is probably what God has been having to deal with when talking to me lately. My mind is so cluttered with trying to figure out what I should do about certain situations and trying to keep all these plates spinning that I have decided to put up on these ridiculously high balancing sticks....</i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i> But then today I heard him! He reminded me to sit at his feet for a bit. I have a friend who faithfully texts me a verse each morning ( I love her for that, thanks Tam) This morning it was Philippians 2:13 reminding me that it is God that works in me...have I been allowing him to? And then in my devotional <u>Jesus Calling</u> (which I highly recommend) was Isaiah 41:10 " Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand" The next verses remind me that God will fight my battles,.... HE will keep my plates spinning.... but only the necessary ones, and HE will protect the fragile ones I can't seem to take my eyes off of...</i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i> Does my God know me or what?! He knew exactly what I needed to hear at the just the time I needed to hear it! Don't tell me God isn't personal or doesn't care about what we go through!</i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i> Dear friend, do you feel "off"?.....trying to keep some plates of your own spinning?....Feel weak and tired?....Do you know your Father in heaven?....Have you paused to hear Him call to you?...He knows what you need to hear right now, He loves you and is patiently waiting for you to turn your attention to Him...got a minute?</i></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xgi5fTFJe2s/TrlT7RB1ZmI/AAAAAAAAAbc/uckTJYuvMhQ/s1600/DSC_0890.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i><img border="0" height="270" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xgi5fTFJe2s/TrlT7RB1ZmI/AAAAAAAAAbc/uckTJYuvMhQ/s400/DSC_0890.JPG" width="400" /></i></span></a></div>Allison of A Farmgirl's Viewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05023926901821017215noreply@blogger.com2