tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-45073430927042719192024-02-22T08:20:15.740-08:00Thomson Creek FarmThomson Creek Farm. Raising my family one day at a time. Tiffanyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01989290754901588002noreply@blogger.comBlogger235125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4507343092704271919.post-4300936437194043922020-05-15T10:49:00.006-07:002020-05-15T10:55:05.806-07:00Loss on the farm<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Today was a day I have been bracing myself for for a long time. We have been working hard on the chicken coop and run, but it isn't quite done. In the mean time we have been letting the chickens free range. Considering we have dogs on either side of our tiny little lot, I thought for sure we would loose a chicken or more to the dogs, or the creek in the backyard, or the road, or sickness... Today was the day. My oldest (and biggest animal lover) ran inside screaming. He had been down the street helping his grandma with something heavy. When he returned home, he saw a wooden pallet with chicken feet sticking out under it. Somehow the chickens knocked it over and one of them lost their life to it.<br />
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If you are going to raise animals, you know that death happens. It is just a first of many heart aches that will keep coming if we continue to pursue this lifestyle. Animals die for so many reasons, and sometimes we don't even know the reason why. An accident is hard to wrap your head around. So many what ifs.<br />
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As I held my weeping children I wondered if this was a kind thing to do to them. I wondered if allowing them to love on the chickens instead of emotionally separating ourselves would have been a better choice. I wondered if we were cut out for this "farm life."<br />
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I watched my boys dig a grave for their beloved pet. I heard my 5 year old sob that she was still a baby. I couldn't have counted the tears on all of their faces. Even my one kid that says she isn't an animal lover told me that she felt like she was going to throw up.<br />
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None of us have been raised on a farm. I know that this kind of loss becomes a familiar companion if you have enough animals. Maybe someday this won't hurt so much to witness. But for today it hurts.<br />
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Yesterday I watched in awe as my boys all worked together on the chicken coop. I couldn't help but to feel like the hard work was helping them become men. Today I had the same feeling. This time with a little more sadness in my heart as I watched them cry, dig a grave, and respectfully bury our sweet chicken. Experiencing loss is helping my children to grow and mature.<br />
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As much as my natural instinct is to shield and protect my kids, make sure nothing sad ever happens, and if it does fix it right away. Yet, I know they need to go through this. I know that heartbreak is always the price for love. I need them to know that life hurts some days. I need them to know that I can't keep it from coming, but I am here for them when it does.<br />
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It reminded my of my Father in Heaven who also is there for me when my heart hurts. He knows that protecting me from all pain isn't helpful, but He is still there for me when life hurts.<br />
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Tiffanyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01989290754901588002noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4507343092704271919.post-90466343639523697422020-05-13T14:14:00.000-07:002020-05-13T14:34:06.516-07:00Teamwork makes the dream work<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Teamwork makes the dream work. I don't really know where I heard this phrase the first time. I am sure it was some kind of motivational someone or something. I have to say that in my marriage, it is a lot of me "teaming" up with my husband and him doing most of the "work" part. I'm not saying I sit around all day and just do nothing. But my hardworking creative man surely is the one who truly brings my dreams to life. I have some major farm dreams, but for now, all my barn dreams had to come to life on an itty bitty chicken coop. We are still working on the chicken run, but the coop is pretty close to done. When Josh suggested we paint the coop with an American Flag, I got super excited! Even when the coop was done and I thought it looked really good with just the raw lumber, I knew I still had to paint it to look like an American flag. (Don't bother counting--there aren't 50 stars.) </div>
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What blows me away the most is that we have spent very little money on this coop. Josh has make it out of almost 100% recycled materials. He truly is a master upcycler. I LOVE this about him. (Even if the ability to make something out of junk makes it hard to throw things away sometimes ha ha ha!)</div>
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Then for Mother's Day I was gifted this cute solar lamp. I have a thing with farm lights. Where I grew up there wasn't such thing as street lamps. I often would wake up and go walking early in the morning or catch the bus before the sun came up. The only light that shone above the houses in my neighborhood was a house that had a barn light (very similar to a street lamp, but for their out building.)</div>
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When I was on my mission I remember a lot of really dark mornings in Wyoming during the winter. I remember loving seeing the barn lights on those dark mornings and feeling such a "home" feeling.<br />
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I am a "country girl" through and through. It is amazing that it has taken me until my 40's to realize how true this is for me. I never would have denied it, but now I know that it is a part of me that won't go away. I don't want it to go away. "I'm from the country and I like it that way."</div>
Tiffanyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01989290754901588002noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4507343092704271919.post-82128542219676538092020-05-06T07:57:00.001-07:002020-05-13T14:23:47.940-07:00Dreaming as I watch the "farm" come back to life<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">As life keeps passing us by during this pandemic, I have felt like some dormant dreams </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">have been awakened in my soul. I have been loving the home centered life and truly feel like </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">I want to know how to make it more permanent. Our family has been working and relaxing right </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">alongside each other. It has been a dream come true. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">A long time ago I had dreams of homesteading. I live on less than a quarter of an acre in suburbia. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">We have done what we could to produce more fruits and vegetables on our little slice of suburbia </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">and now we have added chickens to the fray.</span></div>
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It has been great watching my husband build the coop right alongside my boys. I have seen compassion awaken in my kids as they have learned to love on these chickens. To think a few years ago we had no pets. Now we have chickens and cats.<br />
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Yesterday some young men came to the door selling pest control. They told me that people in </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">my neighborhood were wanting their service to help with the bugs, spiders and rats</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> (we have a creek running through our backyard and can get some rodents.) I told them I had </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">chickens and cats so I was good! I love that my animals can provide so many benefits. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">I still have so many dreams. One short term dream, and by dream I mean I have little to no control </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">so I just need to keep praying and be okay with what God gives me, is to catch a swarm of bees.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> I have two baited hives in my yard. I don’t have the resources to buy bees at this time, but if the </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">opportunity arose, I would jump on that route too. Then my future dream is to be able to get a piece </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">of land someday to have more animals, and more food growing.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Some days I feel too old for my dreams. I wish I would have been more aware of these dreams at </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">a younger age. I hope though that it isn’t too late for me. </span></div>
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Tiffanyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01989290754901588002noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4507343092704271919.post-19884632235360389342020-04-21T06:38:00.000-07:002020-04-21T06:38:01.092-07:00Life goes on<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
It has been a crazy month plus. We are still in self isolation. I am amazed when I get out that the world continues on without us. My kids are still growing and getting older. We celebrated Max's birthday--he is now 12!(He should get his own post--I will work on that) We got chicks at the start of this self isolation, and they are starting to look like real chickens. The trees have blossomed and even starting to loose their blossoms. Still we self isolate and wonder what the world will be like when we come out of our respective bunkers.<br />
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There are so many beautiful things that we have experienced in our home. I wish, hope and pray that I can keep some of the good when this is all over. What has surprised me was how strong my love for "homesteading" came back. Chickens! I can't believe we finally jumped into this! I have been wanting chickens for so long that the first time I looked into it, it was illegal. Times have changed and we are super happy to have finally got chickens on Thomson Creek Farm.<br />
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I am also looking to clean out the old beehives and see if I can catch a swarm. Unfortunately when I went to look at the hives yesterday I have some wasps that have taken up residence. Trying to figure out how to clean out the hives without dying.<br />
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I have been making all our food from scratch, <br />
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planting our gardens, <br />
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starting seeds indoors <br />
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and loving the rhythm of a home centered life. I am so thankful for our little suburban homestead and the grace of God that attends me daily.<br />
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Tiffanyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01989290754901588002noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4507343092704271919.post-3545454270997607982020-03-19T07:35:00.004-07:002020-03-19T07:39:06.226-07:00Dear Homeschooler, my house is a wreck!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My kids building the "great wall" during morning devotional</td></tr>
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As so many people have been thrown into the arena of homeschooling, the questions are coming in. Keep them coming friends! This lifestyle has a huge learning curve and we can all help each other.<br />
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Dear Homeschooler,<br />
Having a clean home is important to me. It helps me to feel peace. I really struggle with the chaos of mess. Since having my kids home, my home is never clean. They walk around and leave a trail of mess wherever they go. I am use to this to some degree during summer break and vacations, but we can't just focus on just chores right now, they have to get their schooling done. What can I do?<br />
Signed,<br />
Living in a tornado<br />
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Dear Living in a tornado,<br />
Boy can I relate! This is probably one of the hardest things for me about having my kids at home full time also! There have been so many times that I was so close to putting my kids in school, even just for the day, just so I can clean my house without turning around and having it messed up. Yesterday we were cleaning the basement and I went into the boy's room after cleaning the family room, and while I was helping the boys, the girls seized the opportunity of a perfectly clean family room and got out things to play with. AHHHH!!<br />
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One time some friends were talking about teacher gifts, and I mentioned that they shouldn't forget the lunch ladies and the janitor, because that is what I wished I had at my house. They looked at me like a crazy lady!<br />
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I have two pieces of advice for this one.<br />
1. You are going to need to lower your expectations. This is going to be tough. We have learned to feel peace by our surroundings. You will need to pray to feel peace in chaos. Things will never be the same while your kids are home. Some of you are going to challenge me on this. I hope you do figure it out, please share your wisdom if you do. Remember though, what works for one family might not work for all. We all have a different mix of personalities, strengths, and weaknesses.<br />
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2. Make cleaning a part of the routine. Your kids are making the mess, they need to clean it up. If you leave it for the end of the day, it will be overwhelming. We stop drop and pick up many times a day. And if you have ever stopped by my house, you still may walk into a disaster, but it could have been clean moments before. The size of your house will probably make a difference on how messy it feels. We have a small house, so it can get out of control quickly. But if you stop drop and pick up and then clean each area once a day, it will be better and more manageable.<br />
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Okay, I lied, I have another piece of advice.<br />
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3. I split my home up into "stewardships" for each of my kids. Although we stop drop and pick up together, they are responsible for the daily cleaning (vacuuming, wiping down, and picking up if needed) I also have weekly tasks for each area and monthly tasks. This has been great for us. I still have a lot to clean, but it helps out a lot. Some of my kids are great at keeping their stewardships tidy, while some have a lot of work still to do to develop that talent.<br />
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And just one more...<br />
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This will be a huge adjustment. Chocolate has been a huge help to get me through on occasion ;) Don't worry if you have to put yourself in time out. You also may need to carve out a sanctuary (your room or somewhere else on your property) where your kids are not allowed to be without permission. Setting sanity boundaries is perfectly okay! May the force be with you!<br />
Much love,<br />
Homeschooler<br />
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Tiffanyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01989290754901588002noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4507343092704271919.post-32106570801758936892020-03-17T07:27:00.000-07:002020-03-17T07:27:02.660-07:00Advice from a Chinese kid<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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I have had the amazing privilege for 3 1/2 years of going into homes all over China and teaching ESL to Chinese children. I cut back my working hours drastically last year when I was experiencing health problems, but I have kept one of my students regularly. She came to America to visit at the end of January and since she has been back, she has been in isolation. She is on her 7th week of staying in her apartment full time. She told me that in the last 7 weeks she has only been outside in fresh air for 10 minutes. She was able to visit a friend that lived in the next building over on her birthday. That short walk to the friend's house was the only fresh air she has had.<br />
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Today during our lesson I asked her to give me some advice to share with all of the American Children here that are just entering into isolation. She said, "This is such a great time! You get to have so much more time with your family. When your homework is done, you can play games, text with your friends, and make food." She has become quite the cook. She has attended American schools and is jealous because she thinks that the homework that all of the students here will get, will not be as much homework as what she has in China. That is probably true! I have loved her positive attitude and how much joy she has found in the situation.<br />
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I also asked her what she missed the most. She said that she didn't really enjoy going out before, but now she really misses it. She said that going out always seemed to be so much work, but now she wishes she could go out. If she were to go out it is an intensive process to leave and return. They have many protective items to put on and a whole sanitation process when them come back home.<br />
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As I have been watching COVID-19 slowly creep its way to our daily lives, my heart has been full of gratitude that we have our little slice of nature. We have a yard with a creek, and trees, and grass, and a trampoline. I have been so thankful that this wasn't a year ago when we didn't have a kitchen and living in utter chaos during our home remodel. I am thankful that I can cook from scratch and that we will all have amazing stories to tell when this whole thing is over.<br />
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There is much to be thankful for! I have seen people reach out and help others. I have seen people come together (via technology) to be there for each other. I know all of us are dealing with this in our own ways. My teenager thinks the isolation will kill him before the virus (ha ha.) I have watched children play "coronavirus"as they process all the ways that their world has changed. I know they will be okay. And maybe these games will become a part of our culture like "ring around the rosey."<br />
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I am hoping what I get is a closer relationship with my Father in Heaven and Brother Jesus Christ. I am thankful for daily prayer and that not matter what, those lines of communication can't be closed by the current global crisis. There is so much uncertainty as we watch our economy shake. I know it feels like we are playing a game of Jenga and just wondering when it will all tumble to the ground. As the uncertainty mounts, my heart continues to turn to God. I know that He is here for all of us who ask.<br />
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My love is with you all! </div>
Tiffanyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01989290754901588002noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4507343092704271919.post-67895759437124875372020-03-14T13:30:00.002-07:002020-03-14T13:31:14.640-07:00Dear Homeschooler, I have no patience <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Throw back picture to when my monsters were littler</td></tr>
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Dear Homeschooler,<br />
<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>I have watched homeschoolers from afar and honestly, it never appealed to me. As much as I love my own children, being with them all day everyday isn’t good for any of us. I am not what you call a patient person. I am happy that they get to go to school all day long with terrific and patient teachers. Teachers that love to answer their thousand questions, and explain things over and over again. I am just not cut out to do that. During the summer I have to find extra activities to keep us all busy. During the lockdown EVERYTHING is cancelled. We have nowhere to go and nothing to do besides the school work assigned by the school. I think we all might kill each other. I wish I was more patient, but I’m just not. Do you have any help for someone like me?<br />
Signed,<br />
Monster Mommy (at least that is how I feel sometimes)<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ripping off the mask, none of us are as we appear. </td></tr>
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Dear Monster Mommy,<br />
I 100% totally understand! Can you believe that I am not a patient person either? There is an assumption that everyone that homeschools has a plethora of natural patience just woven in every fiber of their being. Truthfully, I have cried many o’ tears over my lack of patience. I have said it before, and I will say it again, homeschooling takes the very worst of yourself and shoves it in your face on a daily basis. I have wished that my kids could skip off to school and spend their days with lovely teachers that never raise their voice and always answer kindly.<br />
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Just for the record, I don’t think you are a monster. I think you might just be way more normal than you currently realize. Ether 12:27 is our scripture of the year. I am sure you are probably familiar with it. “And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them.”<br />
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This scripture has given me so much peace and comfort as I struggle on the daily with having more patience. Honestly this time will probably be a time for you to face your weaknesses whatever they may be. If you are doing it right, you will probably spend a lot more time on your knees than you have in the past. You might have to put yourself in timeout multiple times a day. But I promise that as you seek the gift of patience and ask the spirit to be with you, you will gain the strength that you need. The scripture says that His grace is sufficient.<br />
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We know that grace is the enabling power of the atonement. None of us can do it without that power we receive from our Savior. HIS grace is sufficent--we aren't. It is in our lack that we seek to become whole by partnering with Christ. Make this a daily habit, and hourly habit, an every minute habit to ask for His grace, and you will see miracles.<br />
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And when you mess up, because as humans, that is how we learn, remember that earth life is forgiveness school. You and your children are learning the most important lessons there are. We are in this together sister! You are not alone.<br />
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Much love,<br />
Homeschooler<br />
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Tiffanyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01989290754901588002noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4507343092704271919.post-40199950867093357452020-03-14T01:25:00.002-07:002020-03-14T01:34:44.807-07:00The beautiful gift of time<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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As the panic of the pandemic sweeps the country there are many of us that feel lost. Our routines and structure is what makes our days, our months, our life. As we prepare best we can by securing toilet paper, food, and other survival needs, we can easily panic and wonder about our future. My husband works in the commercial food industry. What happens if all the restaurants close down? I can panic and wonder, and I do to some degree. </div>
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As church and schools are closing down we can be worried about what our everyday will look like. This is where the real gem lies. We have been given a beautiful gift of time.</div>
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I want to take a second and explain that there is a difference between homeschool and schooling at home. While the schools are shut down, the burden of education of the children will shift a little more the shoulders of the parents. In this there will be some frustration as the parents try to be proxy for the school teacher. Homeschooling is a bit different as there is freedom in not taking your daily teaching tasks from a teacher but The Teacher. As communication will have to increase between these amazing school teachers and dedicated parents, that is the process I have been seeking between me and my God for the past 9 years as I have been trying to homeschool. </div>
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What will be similar for all of us is this incredible gift of time as a family. Even me, who normally has a lot of time with my kids, now has even more time. As we lead up to General Conference and Easter, God has essentially taken EVERYTHING off of our obligations plate. He has given us all an increase of time. I think it might be tempting to fill it with leisure and maybe some mindless binging of screen. It might be tempting to make a list of all the things that we never have time to get done, and start tackling them. </div>
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Yet if I have learned anything from homeschooling for the past 9 years it is that daily marching orders should come from God. How does he want us to use this precious gift of time? Will it look like gathering your kids and reading more scripture with them? Or maybe reading a classic book aloud to them? Maybe it will be games or hikes. Maybe we will get to study those sections of the Doc. & Cov that the prophet has asked us to study. </div>
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For my family, the increased time we have been given through homeschool has been used in different ways. We have squandered this gift on many occasions. But we have also used this gift of time to spend time in nature and therefore spend time with God. We have a family culture around me (or an audio book) reading great books to my family all together. Reading aloud to my kids has been a great bonding experience and has allowed us to create a common experience very few other things have been able to do.</div>
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Personal revelation is key to being able to take advantage of this gift. In the last session of General Conference the prophet asked us to set aside the things of the word. I never in a million years thought that we would get an opportunity to truly set aside the whole world. To focus more fully on the little world inside my own home.</div>
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We recently purchased a copy of a piece of art titled “Little One” By Youngson Kim. It is a picture of Christ alone in the mountains with just one little lamb. He is kneeling down beside the lamb and gently touching it. His hand is near the mouth and it could possibly be feeding the sheep. This picture spoke straight to my heart the first time that I saw it. Right now, in the middle of the pandemic panic, each of our families have been separated from the flock and He will minister to us. He will feed His sheep.</div>
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As you seek personal revelation of what you can do with this gift of time, I know He will guide you to the best things for your family. I hope the pandemic panic doesn't last long. I hope peace will speak to all of our hearts at this time as we seek His voice above the voice of the world.</div>
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Tiffanyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01989290754901588002noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4507343092704271919.post-69873145865364759112020-03-14T01:18:00.001-07:002020-03-14T01:18:13.480-07:00Dusting off the old blog and "Dear Homeschooler"<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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It has been years since I have "blogged." I have been feeling a desire to return to it lately though. I have been fasting from Social Media lately, partly for lent, and partly for mental health reasons. During this time I haven't stopped longing to purge my thoughts into space, hoping that somehow, someway they will connect with a fellow traveler of this life. So today, during this crazy pandemic panic, I feel drawn to start blogging again.<br />
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As schools have shut down in my state, and all over the country, I have been getting a few people wanting to talk to me about what they can do to improve their short little journey into the world of homeschool. So I want to open up my blog and my email (thomsoncreekfarm@gmail.com) for any questions people have, and I will respond here, publicly. Kinda a throwback to old advice columns like Dear Abby, except I don't guarantee the same amount of wisdom.<br />
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So ask away friend! What is on your mind? We can keep it as anonymous as you would like!<br />
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Signed,<br />
A Homeschooler</div>
Tiffanyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01989290754901588002noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4507343092704271919.post-64378356586446434832016-04-01T21:31:00.002-07:002016-04-01T21:31:56.859-07:00There is just something about mission friends<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">Tonight I went to a mission reunion. I loved that all of the kids were invited. My kids bonded with the kids of some of the people I love the most. </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;">My mission was for sure the best thing I did for myself to prepare me for motherhood and the rest of my life.</span><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"> These are the people that I laughed with, cried with, prayed with, prayed for while I was doing the hardest work I had ever done (before becoming a mother.) We bonded over shared experiences and our love for the same people. Time has marched on and a lot of memories have faded, but getting together with past missionaries brings a lot of the memories flooding back. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">I didn't know very many people there tonight, I only recognized one elder and then a few sisters and I keep in contact with anyway came. Oh, but it still was great to set aside a time to rejoice in the work we did together years ago. Sometimes it is hard to come face to face with the mistakes you made, but it reminds us how human we are. Hopefully we realize how much we have all matured. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">I loved my mission and highly recommend it to everyone. </span><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">In the end, it happens to be a lot more about how the people and the mission changed you than about anything you really did out there.</span><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"> I love Montana!</span></div>
Tiffanyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01989290754901588002noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4507343092704271919.post-23517411521517814262016-04-01T06:42:00.000-07:002016-04-01T06:51:05.952-07:00Dear Max, on your 8th birthday<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: large;">Max,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: large;">Tonight I find myself pondering what I want you to know today on your 8th birthday. </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">I want you to know how incredibly lucky I feel to be your mom.</span><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: large;"> I have spent some time looking through old pictures of you today. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: large;">Old is such a funny term since none of these pictures feel old to me Max. You still feel very new to me as in the time since your birth seems to have passed in a flash. At the same time it feels as if you have always been a part of my life, and </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">I can't imagine this world without you in it.</span><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: large;"> This is something you will probably hear me say a million times during your life. It is something that you can't begin to understand until you have your own children, and you get a chance to watch them grow.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: large;">As I have been looking through these old pictures, My heart has felt like it was going to burst. </span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-large;">I have have looked at the incredible boy that you are.</span><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: large;"> I have enjoyed reliving some of the fun memories that we have together. Most of all I have enjoyed remembering who you are. </span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">I can't wait to continue to watch you grow as you become the person that you were put here on this earth to become.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: large;">Max, you mind will never cease to amaze me.</span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"> I love watching you think, invent, create, and imagine everything and anything.</span><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: large;"> You are loving and kind, but never ask for any attention. Your thought process is unique and fascinating to me. I feel really blessed that I get to homeschool you and watch those thoughts progress.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: large;">I am really excited that you made the decision to get baptized. Believing in God and going to church has always been easy for you. I love that you are always eager to go to class and be a part of everything. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: large;">Most of all, I want you to know that </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-large;">you bring me great joy Max.</span><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: large;"> You are an important part of our family. I am so thankful that you are part of us. I believe that you chose to be part of this family, and so I am so thankful that you did! </span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">I love you so much Max!</span><br />
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Tiffanyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01989290754901588002noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4507343092704271919.post-4871208323445799892016-03-28T20:47:00.002-07:002016-03-28T20:48:06.041-07:00Working Mothers<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">I just first want to say hats off to every working mother out there. I don't even care if they "chose" this or if you "need" to work. Truth is, what they do is very hard. Today I worked outside of the home. I work on a VERY part time basis for the charter school where my kids hav</span><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: large;">e their homeschool program. I admit that I love it. I love teaching the children. This has been the first time I have worked outside the home since Turner was born. This week I am doing a lot of subbing and so it feels a lot more like being a full time real working mother. I am so glad that I still get to take my children with me. It is exhausting to work full time and then come home and have laundry, dinner, house work all waiting for you. It just is hard and I am amazed by all of you that do that everyday. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: large;">I find it interesting in this crazy world that there is such a competition about what is "harder." Like if what you do is harder than you are a better person than I am. I see this all the time among mothers. Trying to battle the "being a stay-at-home" mom is harder than working or vice versa. Why do we only find our worth in doing hard things? I honestly have to say that I am the expert on making life harder than it needs to be, but I come by this organically and am grateful that I don't feel the need to do it to prove something. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: large;">I am very thankful that I get to stay home with my family. I use to cringe when people said things like that to me, "oh you are so lucky that you get to stay home with your children." I cringed because I didn't think it was a fair thing to say to me. I work very hard to stay home. Our income isn't such that staying home is a luxury. In order to stay home I have had to learn how to garden, can, shop at the thrift and do without. I scrimp and cut corners and stretch wherever I can. Yet, I have learned that I have been very blessed by these experiences and for that I am so thankful that I am lucky enough to be able to stay at home with them, or take them to work with me when the need arises for me to be a working lady. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: large;">I am also thankful to know that God loves all of us crazy mommas that are just trying our best everyday to love and take care of the little spirits He gave us. Hats off to all of us!</span></div>
Tiffanyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01989290754901588002noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4507343092704271919.post-80116221232629174752016-03-27T21:42:00.000-07:002016-03-27T21:42:19.407-07:00Easter Sunday<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;">What I want my children to know about today:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">I love Easter! I love spring! I love new life, warm sun, blooming flowers and buzzing bees. I love dying Easter eggs and jelly beans. I love new Easter dresses and fancy meals with family. </span><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">I love family.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">It is because I love family, I know that heaven wouldn't seem like heaven without my family near. I am so thankful for Easter. It is because of Easter that eternal families can even be. </span><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;">See, Jesus died for you, and for me.</span><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"> He died that we could be make whole again. He died that we could repent and become better. </span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Jesus felt our pain, He felt our sorrow, He is the only one that can even know our own unique and individual pain.</span><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"> It is because of this, we can go to Him and know that He understands exactly what we are going through. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Not kinda, but completely.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHxCBsPas47r3RWbNx-9LYg5L3qoX7xJ_NiDh27IUFb9eOi8r5bagXsqUXIyljOWldEDzOwN2dEd-unt_pv236XSuYrSehSd0uanZm8MccQRhClhWBfNxZqJ3gQbO7gimchwsKaMXEnL4/s1600/photo+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHxCBsPas47r3RWbNx-9LYg5L3qoX7xJ_NiDh27IUFb9eOi8r5bagXsqUXIyljOWldEDzOwN2dEd-unt_pv236XSuYrSehSd0uanZm8MccQRhClhWBfNxZqJ3gQbO7gimchwsKaMXEnL4/s640/photo+1.JPG" width="480" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;">I can not even began to understand how the Savior could have accomplished such a task, all I know is that I believe He did, and for that I am truly grateful.</span><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"> Believing didn't come easy to me. </span><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">My testimony has been fought for </span><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">and continually is held onto by deep, passionate prayer, scripture study, song, temple attendance, church attendance and </span><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;">by making the choice to believe over and over again.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhmBtbIH2WKpKhd2Ftp1M4IvMdtltm0y1rj-v5LTG3klbazQdLCVTfIY2ITrPkcAnIXpZKOITli8pmzPNs05B5ZC0-H1Ys0PbY8ZwHnMEaAgp2lURYdxjXMns4QLSfnt2cK3ZAd1nN8JM/s1600/photo+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhmBtbIH2WKpKhd2Ftp1M4IvMdtltm0y1rj-v5LTG3klbazQdLCVTfIY2ITrPkcAnIXpZKOITli8pmzPNs05B5ZC0-H1Ys0PbY8ZwHnMEaAgp2lURYdxjXMns4QLSfnt2cK3ZAd1nN8JM/s640/photo+2.JPG" width="480" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">I do believe though, and because I do, </span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">I have seen miracles in my life.</span><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"> I have felt my Savior's love. I have felt His arms around me when I needed to. I have witnessed miracles in the life of those around me. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">I have watched as people have been those miracles to each other.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">I love my Savior. He truly is real to me. </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;">He is as real as any other long distance friend that I have.</span><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"> I can't see them, but I communicate with them. Maybe it isn't through text, phone, or face time that I communicate with my Savior. The modes are different, but just as real.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix3gu6osOSUlI_QTG1SsBAoGMcPQvLtejTEleHS-mYI5nmIbWtaGwDkTVqDV413oWtaMNUF1IEEmy9k6ozCPQ4Nh45whglGDsw-ibIAZ3NN3C4vMqyp22R5j_QLiZxk1tGjsDl20L6CCE/s1600/photo+%25284%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix3gu6osOSUlI_QTG1SsBAoGMcPQvLtejTEleHS-mYI5nmIbWtaGwDkTVqDV413oWtaMNUF1IEEmy9k6ozCPQ4Nh45whglGDsw-ibIAZ3NN3C4vMqyp22R5j_QLiZxk1tGjsDl20L6CCE/s640/photo+%25284%2529.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">I know that He died, and was resurrected. That is what </span><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">I want you to know today my sweet children, that I believe.</span><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;">I love Him.</span><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"> Because of Him, we get to be an eternal family. For that I am so deeply grateful.</span></div>
Tiffanyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01989290754901588002noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4507343092704271919.post-30335492072332753292016-03-26T22:52:00.000-07:002016-03-26T22:52:04.526-07:00Traditions or memories? <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">This week has been a crazy mess. It started over a week ago when we I awoke to not one, by two kids throwing up. And one by one the dominoes fell until just as of yesterday we were ALL feeling better. </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;">The past Easter traditions just didn't happen this year.</span><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"> Normally we celebrate Holy week and discuss the Savior and the last week of His life. We celebrate Palm Sunday, the feast of the pass over, and Good Friday. This year we discussed Palm Sunday and the cleansing of the temple, and dyed eggs. And that was it. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHsua4vPFI-ky3ZB_J4Lk-UNOSCfG0Rh3QuLC94ihMx9JkATlvdGwOiNzw8jM4VeamI_pgA1LjBYm7hjUar01lbE7gaf9H7X1D0rD2qYtIywR9g_Wn0rSeFJRiqS-RDBsmnZlVD0RbCX8/s1600/photo+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHsua4vPFI-ky3ZB_J4Lk-UNOSCfG0Rh3QuLC94ihMx9JkATlvdGwOiNzw8jM4VeamI_pgA1LjBYm7hjUar01lbE7gaf9H7X1D0rD2qYtIywR9g_Wn0rSeFJRiqS-RDBsmnZlVD0RbCX8/s640/photo+1.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">Dying Easter Eggs</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">It made me think of the Easter traditions growing up. We got Easter baskets on Saturday so we could focus on the Savoir on Sunday. We got new Easter dresses and had a great feast. I remember a beautiful Easter hat one year. I remember dying Easter eggs, but not a lot. It doesn't mean it didn't happen every year, I just don't remember it every year. </span><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">I wonder what from my childhood was really a tradition or what was a memory.</span><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"> I thought a lot about what the difference is, but mostly about what I want my children to remember. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzdnIwocnuaQ8abdmDT6wawDZkcJ1vDxXOAYkKwnb207035Paoz42279dxGyduhaFvdk_b4GB3iTNgGrMpno7YCIiqwaAYCv788nQ3SYXVqZJj5SPlzdiekRTZLGuhzsRo-G8hK_qJM5E/s1600/photo+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzdnIwocnuaQ8abdmDT6wawDZkcJ1vDxXOAYkKwnb207035Paoz42279dxGyduhaFvdk_b4GB3iTNgGrMpno7YCIiqwaAYCv788nQ3SYXVqZJj5SPlzdiekRTZLGuhzsRo-G8hK_qJM5E/s640/photo+2.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">2016's Family Easter Basket</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">I want my children to know that the Easter bunny, the chicks, the eggs all represent the </span><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;">new life</span><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"> that we experience during Spring. This new life is symbolic of the Savior and the new life that </span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">He gave us by dying</span><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"> for us that we can live again someday. I want them to know that the Savior went through so much because </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">He was motivated by the love that He has for us.</span><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"> Not just us as a whole, but EACH of us individually. I want them to know that </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Easter is my favorite holiday</span><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">, not because I love daffodils and chicks (although I do) but because </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;">it is the holiday that makes all the others worth celebrating.</span><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"> Without Easter, the rest doesn't mean much. I want my five little human beings to know that if it wasn't for Easter, we couldn't live forever with our Father in Heaven again someday.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">We dyed some eggs, and there will be a family Easter basket in the morning, but </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;">I hope that by our worship tomorrow, we will have a chance to thank our Savior, Jesus Christ for His eternal sacrifice, and really feel it.</span><br />
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Tiffanyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01989290754901588002noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4507343092704271919.post-81097702773847123082016-03-20T23:21:00.004-07:002016-03-20T23:21:57.042-07:00Force Field <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8oONk_2x-EPBp17vptlWvzBfph_X4qQYAuilD1AnRxizUpdyo-hy_Zg-foPSTHoMhqzo0YXlP5ycXp4q4acJRWVpeMbKw146Y6eMowNBWYUTtcCwT6V_QMy2Eb3feEE34PX6sMAlYpUU/s1600/photo+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8oONk_2x-EPBp17vptlWvzBfph_X4qQYAuilD1AnRxizUpdyo-hy_Zg-foPSTHoMhqzo0YXlP5ycXp4q4acJRWVpeMbKw146Y6eMowNBWYUTtcCwT6V_QMy2Eb3feEE34PX6sMAlYpUU/s640/photo+%25282%2529.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"> A couple of weeks ago at *Stake Conference, Max, my (gulp) almost eight-year-old, was drawing some awesome pictures in his notebook. He was particularly proud of the one shown here. As Max was explaining to me that it was a picture of him. He was being attacked, but </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;">his home was a force field</span><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">. I loved that while there were fiery bombs exploding above his home, he was all smiles. I really loved that he had an apple tree under his force field, cuz' you know, a boy has got to eat!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"> I remember feeling, in that moment, such an awe of his picture. It was as if he had taken my job as a mother and put it all into one picture. This is what I do as a mother </span><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">I try to protect my family while teaching them to fight the enemy.</span><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"> The enemy isn't as obvious as the missiles in this picture, but just as real. I wish, at times, I could just put up a force field and be on my merry way. </span><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;">I know this fight will be won someday.</span><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"> I already know who wins, I just hope to keep my family fighting on the right side until then. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">"<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.00784314); color: #333333; line-height: 25.2px;">The armies of God, which include 'legions of angels fighting with us on the other side,' are larger than the armies of the adversary." Elder Larry R. Lawrence</span></span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.00784314); color: #333333; font-family: 'Open Sans', Zoram, 'noto sans', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 25.2px;"> </span><br />
<a href="https://www.lds.org/church/news/elder-lawrence-teaches-ldsbc-students-ways-to-win-against-satan?lang=eng" target="_blank">Full article HERE</a></div>
Tiffanyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01989290754901588002noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4507343092704271919.post-33231028028538213852016-03-15T13:21:00.000-07:002016-03-15T13:35:32.595-07:00Almost there<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDjsrgmeAndmKHH82Cfr_WuZUVk_Ct3eGAspayT6Betj8IzR42jvPfREAmBOcKJcrVP1VGnnVEQDv4MmTF0taH9iBgaIG10wg3vMWN0O3kyAYXxYAkHufmpsyaPZJqv4aPuzGm0o30Mq8/s1600/photo+%25281%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDjsrgmeAndmKHH82Cfr_WuZUVk_Ct3eGAspayT6Betj8IzR42jvPfREAmBOcKJcrVP1VGnnVEQDv4MmTF0taH9iBgaIG10wg3vMWN0O3kyAYXxYAkHufmpsyaPZJqv4aPuzGm0o30Mq8/s640/photo+%25281%2529.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: large;">I watch her as she </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">learns</span><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: large;"> to get down from high heights. She </span><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: x-large;">dangles</span><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: large;"> off the dining room bench. Her hands are stretched in front of her, </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-large;">hanging on</span><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: large;"> to the opposite ledge for </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-large;">dear life</span><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: large;">. She starts kicking and shrieking. She is certain that she is about to fall to her death. </span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Her toes are a fraction of an inch from the floor, yet to her, she might as well be 100 yards up</span><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: large;">. Her support team surrounds her, cheering her on. </span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-large;">"You are almost there!</span><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: large;">" "You can do it! ""Just drop!" We all shout. She takes a breath hopes for her dear life and then </span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">drops the half inch to the floor</span><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: large;">. She starts strutting around, pretty proud of herself. </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">She has done it!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: large;">I often feel like her. Right before I am about to accomplish something great (or ordinary--let's be real), </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">I kick and scream and everything inside of me doesn't believe I can do it.</span><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: large;"> I have come this far, and I am certain I will fail. It really all depends on the voices I listen to. </span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Do I listen to the still small voice that lets me know I am almost there</span><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: large;">, and I can do it, I just need to let go of my insecurities and take the plunge? Or do I listen to the voices that say as soon as I let go, I will be doomed? </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Can we ever accomplish anything great and still hold on to safety and security? </span><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: large;">What if she didn't believe us? Would she still be hanging on? </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">What could I accomplish if I just let go?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: large;">So many question brought up by just watching my baby grow-up!</span></div>
Tiffanyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01989290754901588002noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4507343092704271919.post-86205330390166342512016-03-15T12:48:00.001-07:002016-03-15T12:48:29.375-07:00It is REALLY hard sometimes<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">To watch them grow is the most </span><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">heart-wrenching-joy-inducing-wild-roller coaster</span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"> in the whole world. I want to soak in every moment. The </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;">joy</span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">, the </span><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">tears</span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">, the </span><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;">giggles</span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">, the </span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">finger prints</span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">, the </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">tiny mate less socks</span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">. Some days </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">it is so hard I wish I could call it quits</span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">. </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;">I am so glad I can't, because motherhood seems to keep redeeming itself.</span></div>
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Tiffanyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01989290754901588002noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4507343092704271919.post-17597590652762433642016-01-18T20:06:00.000-08:002016-01-18T20:06:57.891-08:00Creating<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">I haven't written in a very long time. It use to be my go to method of therapy, creativity, and recreation. It seems to have all disappeared lately. </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;">I have never felt like I was a skilled writer</span><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">, but I did once have a </span><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">passion for it</span><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">. I don't </span><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;">crave</span><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"> the typing of the keys anymore. </span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">I know that I have felt this way in the past when I have had babies before.</span><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"> I firmly believe that </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">people</span><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">, most people, </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">have a need to create</span><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">. I feel like that is something that is born in us. I feel like </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">my children</span><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"> sometimes </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">feel the need to create messes</span><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">, but create nonetheless. When I am creating life, it seems like that fills my need to create. Even when I am creating milk for that said life, I don't yearn to create. I am sure that isn't the same for everyone, I know plenty of pregnant and or nursing mothers that produce amazing creations, it just isn't in me. It isn't surprising that </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;">I take life at a much more gentle speed.</span><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"> I don't fill my calendar, I don't multi-task. I am a focus on one thing at a time kind of gal. When my body is creating another human, or making milk for a baby, I have no other focus.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">I weaned B about a month ago. As of now, we feel that she is our last. It is a bitter sweet moment when you think about those years being in the past. I get prenatal and postpartum depression, so it is always a relief to me when it is over, yet it also makes me sad. Sad, but not crazy--so that is a step in the right direction. </span><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">I thought the yearning to write would automatically come back to me.</span><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"> I thought that my fingers would itch to </span><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;">dance on the keys</span><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">, it hasn't come. My brain doesn't make sentences the way it use to, I wonder if it will come back?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">For now I have many pictures to post to get caught up. I have some gems I don't want to disappear from our family history from this past year. I just hope that words come back to me...</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.00784314); color: #333333; font-family: 'Open Sans', Zoram, 'noto sans', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 30.6px;"><span style="font-size: large;">"God left the world unfinished for man to work his skill upon. He left the electricity in the cloud, the oil in the earth. He left the rivers unbridged and the forests unfelled and the cities unbuilt. God gives to man the challenge of raw materials, not the ease of finished things. He leaves the pictures unpainted and the music unsung and the problems unsolved,</span></span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.00784314); color: #333333; font-family: 'Open Sans', Zoram, 'noto sans', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 30.6px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> that man might know the joys and glories of creation</span></span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.00784314); color: #333333; font-family: 'Open Sans', Zoram, 'noto sans', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 30.6px;">." --Thomas S. Monson</span></div>
Tiffanyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01989290754901588002noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4507343092704271919.post-3033687510121694372015-09-15T07:55:00.002-07:002015-09-15T07:55:50.875-07:00The Three Little Pigs and Helaman<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">Once a month we do </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">FHE </span><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">with my husband's family. I love having this experience with extended family and wish that I got to do it with my family once a month too! </span><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: x-large;">I'd be up for traveling to </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;">AZ</span><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: x-large;"> every month! </span><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">Yesterday I had the kids tell the story of </span><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">The Three Little Pigs</span><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"> while each father built a house out of either </span><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;">straw, sticks, or "bricks."</span><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"> Now these men are secret engineers so I believe that they probably built far superior houses than the Three Little Pigs. The kids then had fun </span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">huffing</span><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: x-large;">, and </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">puffing</span><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: x-large;">, (and maybe a little </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">flicking</span><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: x-large;">) to blow the houses down.</span><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"> </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgypPYUnN8GrVbPd8y6WAroB1CvJnp9eAXFToav96ulre-qIESdN36fORuR8kjLdTgg6w-Q9dN5NQ91_303VDjHmIixIrlJxMamLFDk31y8XIx66qZXodt5oaYQ_-LqVzmRNvLcypEvlI0/s1600/building.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgypPYUnN8GrVbPd8y6WAroB1CvJnp9eAXFToav96ulre-qIESdN36fORuR8kjLdTgg6w-Q9dN5NQ91_303VDjHmIixIrlJxMamLFDk31y8XIx66qZXodt5oaYQ_-LqVzmRNvLcypEvlI0/s640/building.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The men building their houses</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"> Heleman 5:12 "</span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.00784314); color: #333333; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: large; line-height: 25.2px;">And now, my sons, remember, remember that it is upon the </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.00784314); color: #333333; line-height: 25.2px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;">rock</span></span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.00784314); color: #333333; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: large; line-height: 25.2px;"> of our </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.00784314); color: #333333; line-height: 25.2px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;">Redeemer</span></span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.00784314); color: #333333; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: large; line-height: 25.2px;">, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must </span><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.00784314); color: #333333; line-height: 25.2px;">build your </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.00784314); color: #333333; line-height: 25.2px;">foundation</span></span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.00784314); color: #333333; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: large; line-height: 25.2px;">; that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea, when all his hail and </span><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.00784314); color: #333333; line-height: 25.2px;">his mighty </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.00784314); color: #333333; line-height: 25.2px;">storm </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.00784314); color: #333333; line-height: 25.2px;">shall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you</span></span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.00784314); color: #333333; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: large; line-height: 25.2px;"> to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo, </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.00784314); color: #333333; line-height: 25.2px;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;">because of the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall." </span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgts5MjqG2C4vAjDV8i1PrgyG3vd_GR3OMtkjiuuFb_yls6yfjxBUDE8y3nL4FqKNLffi_GP91XEvAWQRS7vHU43rJ_CxgJ11Q3mZVdntv570WSAdE3sVGTHdjzDZ5DOGfpmeROGJyEwx0/s1600/brick+house.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgts5MjqG2C4vAjDV8i1PrgyG3vd_GR3OMtkjiuuFb_yls6yfjxBUDE8y3nL4FqKNLffi_GP91XEvAWQRS7vHU43rJ_CxgJ11Q3mZVdntv570WSAdE3sVGTHdjzDZ5DOGfpmeROGJyEwx0/s640/brick+house.jpg" width="478" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A blurry little picture of our "brick" house. </td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">We read this scripture in Helaman and discussed how the "Big-Bad Wolf" was like the devil. We talked about how living in today's day and age, we have these mighty whirlwinds, and tempests. We talked about how </span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">the only house that had a foundation, was the one that withstood these mighty whirl winds.</span><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"> <a href="https://www.lds.org/music/library/childrens-songbook/the-wise-man-and-the-foolish-man?lang=eng" target="_blank">We then sang the wise man and the foolish man from the Children's song book.</a></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOqCmiO94aVpEx0xGuGRvwTPm2aVYNEQLb4Uw3LVlP6EYuuFZEWsw1XqheD1IqnjnSxXJk2GezhIGIfsSusd70N_CnBsC9J430OEqRnJrWG3ZIkEZwXKnIgM784YsdTTlJZLLC5VVvVGY/s1600/stick+house.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOqCmiO94aVpEx0xGuGRvwTPm2aVYNEQLb4Uw3LVlP6EYuuFZEWsw1XqheD1IqnjnSxXJk2GezhIGIfsSusd70N_CnBsC9J430OEqRnJrWG3ZIkEZwXKnIgM784YsdTTlJZLLC5VVvVGY/s640/stick+house.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our stick house</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"> "Anchor your life in Jesus Christ, your Redeemer. </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Make your Eternal Father and his Beloved Son the most important priority in your life</span><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">--more important than life itself, more important than a beloved companion or children or anyone on earth. Make their will your central desire. </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;">Then all that you need for happiness will come to you.</span><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">" --Richard G. Scott (Ensign, May 1993, pp. 32-34)</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2SWPKZHo2G9m658dj12_uvwQ4B3SzgK5UNjpOi39MzbDPjW_O9HhjNA1PLNK6UeEiJ4kLHvlvBiRUPEMP6lDA3WHvVS1rUn8C42lZdaoqAiyuQElX2-1X2BjcFj5vdO6TV6-60k_y7q8/s1600/straw+house.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2SWPKZHo2G9m658dj12_uvwQ4B3SzgK5UNjpOi39MzbDPjW_O9HhjNA1PLNK6UeEiJ4kLHvlvBiRUPEMP6lDA3WHvVS1rUn8C42lZdaoqAiyuQElX2-1X2BjcFj5vdO6TV6-60k_y7q8/s640/straw+house.jpg" width="478" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our "straw" house</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">"The place to cure most of the ills of society is in the homes of the people. </span><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Building our homes as a fortresses of righteousness for protection from the world takes constant labor and diligence.</span><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"> Membership in the Church is no guarantee of a strong, happy family. </span><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: x-large;">Often parents feel overwhelmed... </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;">The righteous molding of an immortal soul is the highest work we can do, and the home is the place to do it.</span><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"> To accomplish this eternal work, we should make our homes gospel centered. When peace and harmony abound, the Holy Spirit will ever be present. </span><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: x-large;">The storms of the evil one can be </span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">stopped</span><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: x-large;"> at the very entrance of our homes. </span><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">Let us be sure the </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">spiritual foundation</span><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"> of each home is the rock of our Redeemer, as Helaman taught his sons:[Hel. 5:12]. The Lord's standards for building a temple apply also to building spiritual strength in our homes; '</span><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Organize yourselves</span><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">; </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;">prepare every needful thing</span><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">; and </span><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">e</span><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">stablish a </span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">house</span></span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">, even a house of </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">prayer</span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">, a house of </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;">fasting</span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">, a house of </span><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">faith</span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">, a house of </span><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">learning</span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">, a house of </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">glory</span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">, a house of </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;">order</span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">, </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;">a house of God</span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">' (Doctrine and Covenants 88:119) </span><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Do we </span><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">heed</span><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"> this counsel from the Lord?</span></span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"> Do we do what He asks? </span><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;">We would do well to build our homes according to this plan or they are destined to fail.</span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">" --Joseph B. Wirthlin (Ensign, May 1993. p. 69)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">I am watching the tempests of the adversary raging. I am wondering what we can do to build these lives on the foundation of Jesus Christ. I am thankful for the direction and guidance of the Lord. "Building our homes as a fortresses of righteousness for protection from the world takes constant labor and diligence." </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">This is exhausting work, but one that I am happy to be engaged in. The exhausted parent in me, salutes the exhausted parent in you. </span></div>
Tiffanyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01989290754901588002noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4507343092704271919.post-61249020572140585752015-06-21T14:58:00.000-07:002015-06-21T14:58:28.548-07:00Happy Father's Day!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8p4DyqQACWVOhi9eJikv8gPvD1i3f0nyZZ5Vr24CRTM2uWngduf6rNVtS0RkAtH_6XBwWfho_vkrlHymq6IR65mnV51nguIWVSSAFU__v64lirQq_5KXFIxM8MEv_5tbUWCQlXuQQlmM/s1600/DadandI.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8p4DyqQACWVOhi9eJikv8gPvD1i3f0nyZZ5Vr24CRTM2uWngduf6rNVtS0RkAtH_6XBwWfho_vkrlHymq6IR65mnV51nguIWVSSAFU__v64lirQq_5KXFIxM8MEv_5tbUWCQlXuQQlmM/s640/DadandI.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me and my dad circa 1978</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">I am a primary chorister for my ward. It is the GREATEST calling in all the world! I love it. I really love it this time around due to the technology benefits of FB groups. In this FB group we can share ideas, ask questions, and glean inspiration from other choristers from around the world. I was surprised when it came time to start preparing for Father's Day, how many </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;">choristers wanted a Father's Day song that didn't have anything to do with Father's. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQY4-2_Q1Ihjcs5FYWVzRpqpX8px47ZL3K7M8_jnvzUygxF8XK1Q7nFfmRqpYqrdXiCJGTWX9g0eZ48rBHJdbKDFq2fP1obdmZUHfV9AqIXvHhyphenhyphenjikZUTg4c8WluYzrS7LsrYuAH5H91g/s1600/2014-5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="422" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQY4-2_Q1Ihjcs5FYWVzRpqpX8px47ZL3K7M8_jnvzUygxF8XK1Q7nFfmRqpYqrdXiCJGTWX9g0eZ48rBHJdbKDFq2fP1obdmZUHfV9AqIXvHhyphenhyphenjikZUTg4c8WluYzrS7LsrYuAH5H91g/s640/2014-5.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Families are forever</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">Now I totally appreciate these tender hearted women didn't want to offend anyone or make anyone feel bad. These women come from all over the world, and many from areas where and in-home father isn't the norm. I get that they didn't want the children to be sad, yet are we doing them a disservice by making believe that it doesn't matter? If you grew up without a father, I am sorry. I am sorry that Father's day may be hard for you, but </span><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Fathers DO MATTER!</span><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"> Can you still grow up to be an amazing person without a father? Of course you can! If your father is home yet isn't the greatest example of what a father can be, </span><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;">are we doing a service by ignoring what a father should be?</span><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"> I don't believe we are. <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCeOpWdreZMI2OQYoFDRWl5O-fdkbtkcbsE7abdgMqBi8DhCYDoqgJh7_kbvjgegREs-Az6KQOq9trxGp273Cizw8eOU51r602Giiz8ddf0LW7i7NuX04eKCZVXE8RSVQWrty71Ej3l9o/s1600/Family2015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCeOpWdreZMI2OQYoFDRWl5O-fdkbtkcbsE7abdgMqBi8DhCYDoqgJh7_kbvjgegREs-Az6KQOq9trxGp273Cizw8eOU51r602Giiz8ddf0LW7i7NuX04eKCZVXE8RSVQWrty71Ej3l9o/s640/Family2015.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">All because two people fell in love! Crazy Mangum crew!</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">I feel like we are perpetuating the cycle of absent fathers by minimizing their importance.</span><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"> This super woman mentality is making it so that men feel like they won't be missed, aren't needed in the family, and that everyone will be fine without them. </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Who wants to stick around a family that doesn't need them?</span><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"> The cold hard fact is that children do better with a father in the home. Fathers are pretty amazing and </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">I am really lucky to have the best dad on the planet. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1csQAzPeZRHwcB7_xzpIUZd1aObnnDIPpRxvnKf7VTCnpC33tNplGZYjOSQHEU6Y6YUfwKbud0MhqmpsELoA132Ld063fUSkyyv4Kqtp0xgfOL6nk9_xYM_GfqIsrzU3T4NLciEzgvbE/s1600/Family2011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="456" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1csQAzPeZRHwcB7_xzpIUZd1aObnnDIPpRxvnKf7VTCnpC33tNplGZYjOSQHEU6Y6YUfwKbud0MhqmpsELoA132Ld063fUSkyyv4Kqtp0xgfOL6nk9_xYM_GfqIsrzU3T4NLciEzgvbE/s640/Family2011.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My awesome parents with their awesome kids!</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">When I was 14-years-old a young women's leader had allowed some of us to drive her car for about 10 feet in a straight line in a dirt area of a mobile home park. I thought it was pretty cool. I then asked my older brother if I could drive. He asked me if I had ever driven before. I wasn't really lying when I said yes, but </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;">he didn't ask about steering!</span><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"> My brother pulled over on the side of a dirt road, right before the road went into a wash. Folks, I had no natural knack for driving. I tried to pull back into the road and turned WAY too far, so I steered back WAY too far and drove up over the mountian of rocks to my right and up over the street sign that said, do no cross when flooded. I then of course over corrected back into the wash. In all about 50 feet, my brother finally managed to get his foot over to the brake pedal and stop the car. I had successfully ripped the gas tank. He left me with the car while he walked home to get my parents. My dad drove me home while my brother drove the car to the mechanic before all of the gas dripped out. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;">I remember sitting there next to my dad.</span><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"> He didn't really say much. He did say, in the calmest voice, "</span><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">I am really glad that no one was hurt.</span><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"> Well I guess you and Rick will have to split the deductible. It will be $250 for each of you. And you will have to wait a little bit longer to get your drivers licence." I thought that was generous. That wasn't the last time I had to pay a deductible for one of his cars. </span><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;">It wasn't the first time he started out by saying "I'm glad no one was hurt." </span><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">I NEVER would have learned how to drive if it hadn't have been for the patience of Job that my father possessed. I never would have learned how to do a lot of things if it wasn't for the patient unconditional love that my father possessed for me.</span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"> My father typifies my Eternal Father. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Because my father was present, encouraging, wise, patient, fun loving, serving, and spiritual I have no problem seeing my Father in Heaven the same way. Thank you Dad! I love you!</span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: x-large; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVZY2siCdkf0EumA3k4AR0W1XExuitc2-_tS84g5CNom5JdjPGcxlLOz3OxbJERbPp325tTX8KYXMHtEmytcOWa2l8jKNrNgJquOE8jCgGAn25Et3fmHifdud07y0-M4_kNdkpH4B-mKk/s1600/Lavahotsprings.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVZY2siCdkf0EumA3k4AR0W1XExuitc2-_tS84g5CNom5JdjPGcxlLOz3OxbJERbPp325tTX8KYXMHtEmytcOWa2l8jKNrNgJquOE8jCgGAn25Et3fmHifdud07y0-M4_kNdkpH4B-mKk/s640/Lavahotsprings.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dad of the year! Love his man and his adorable crew!</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">My husband is also such an example of love. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">He had no idea what he was getting into when he married me.</span><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"> We agreed when we were getting serious that would would only want two to three kids. </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;">This patient man has welcomed each child into our family with a heart full of love.</span><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"> Josh is very involved in our children's lives. </span><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">He never backs down from a parenting moment.</span><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"> This man has caught vomit in his hands, has rubbed leg aches, medicated fevers, done more laundry than he can even keep track of. He cooks meals, provides for the family, serves others, and loves us with his whole soul. </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">I am so glad that my children get to have him for a father. You amaze me everyday Josh Thomson. Thank you!</span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: x-large; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCU1yU5UgAX3aw8Prr4WzKbtEhpAjOa8LEVt_VDQmdZOQ69wEL2NW0n6HOUs5AkEpXJm_9jid0L8ZHIy10_expmWxKcVAp0GylWqQZCuXRFSjeKIkB2pMe0DrkwL3n897FOxFIl4Z127E/s1600/Fathersandsons.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCU1yU5UgAX3aw8Prr4WzKbtEhpAjOa8LEVt_VDQmdZOQ69wEL2NW0n6HOUs5AkEpXJm_9jid0L8ZHIy10_expmWxKcVAp0GylWqQZCuXRFSjeKIkB2pMe0DrkwL3n897FOxFIl4Z127E/s640/Fathersandsons.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Josh hates camping, yet went on the fathers and sons because he loves his sons.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">There have been many great men in my life that have been a father of sorts to me. My Father-in-law is a great man and truly an example of love and tenderness. My grandfathers were amazing men and I miss them so much. I have been blessed by bishops, stake presidents, teachers, and neighbors. </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">It is a never ending duty to be a dad.</span><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"> You are doing great!</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Father's, if we don't say it enough THANK YOU!</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"> </span><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"> Y</span><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">ou </span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">are vital to the survival of the family. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtDgDDpHlreThFwELW3bM3bq6P5umk5dJx1GQr4iQU6ov9QasGDW5CF-zmjpvtBJo2NdOPmKTTDNWOLo1BSDstzuiPTqvmg9WXmMASIkNkufvylnfIF3xBqwNOABs3aj5aSciGoVD9XO0/s1600/photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtDgDDpHlreThFwELW3bM3bq6P5umk5dJx1GQr4iQU6ov9QasGDW5CF-zmjpvtBJo2NdOPmKTTDNWOLo1BSDstzuiPTqvmg9WXmMASIkNkufvylnfIF3xBqwNOABs3aj5aSciGoVD9XO0/s640/photo.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Turner drew this picture of his dad in primary today.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">Notice that my mind never once when to someone who is famous, a national leader, or great in the sight of the world. </span><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">It is the work we do person to person that matters. Fathers you matter! Thank you!</span><br />
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Tiffanyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01989290754901588002noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4507343092704271919.post-79763859459834083642015-05-18T07:29:00.000-07:002015-05-18T07:29:23.753-07:00Thank you un-named hero<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhteQOuZ6lTk4XJy3abR6GIlU6xiJ5pfOHHY3WMwJ6oV2meUG9oKY4nxv09NiNxPRH25zQlh4BNLocaxIDaQdVrlnP47fXIv917VS-kwWqeGQoKGu03aCAFj9hQ0kIxpG302uogCcGp-aI/s1600/photo+(1).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhteQOuZ6lTk4XJy3abR6GIlU6xiJ5pfOHHY3WMwJ6oV2meUG9oKY4nxv09NiNxPRH25zQlh4BNLocaxIDaQdVrlnP47fXIv917VS-kwWqeGQoKGu03aCAFj9hQ0kIxpG302uogCcGp-aI/s640/photo+(1).JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">All smiles after she dumps the root beer all over herself</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">Friday I had one of the worst ideas I had EVER had! I needed
to go to Costco on the way to pick-up Josh from work, on our way to a double
date in Salt Lake. I was dropping my kids off in Salt Lake so my cousin could
watch the kids while we went on this double date. </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;">So I packed up all five of my
kids to venture to Costco BY MYSELF!</span><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"> I hate shopping with all five of my kids
by myself. I would much prefer either Josh come with so one can shop, and the
other be on crowd control, or I would just rather do it by myself, or
</span><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">preferably the grocery fairy would just come and keep the fridge and pantry
full!</span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">I really didn’t think we were going to have to be in Costco
all that long—I just needed a few cleaning supplies, and a handful of shelf-stable
goods. We decided to eat first. As soon as we get our food, someone needs to go
to the bathroom. I plead for them to hold it until after we eat. Luckily this
time, they could. After our elegant cuisine, we head off to the bathroom, me
begging each one of them to try since we were already there. After that was
taken care of, we head down the aisles. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">Did you know that Friday afternoon at Costco is almost as
crazy as Saturday afternoon? It was packed, and the samples were out in full
force. I know most people LOVE the samples, but with </span><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;">eight little hands</span><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"> that
want to TRY the coconut water and the artichoke hearts, it is a living
nightmare for me. </span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Gagging on samples I told them they wouldn’t like isn’t fun!
</span><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">Besides then having to find a trash instantly, spills, whining that something
is too spicy etc. is not my idea of an easy shopping trip. Not to mention the
fact that if we do stop at a sample stand (there wasn’t going to be any
complaints about the Oreo cookies or raspberry filled doughnuts they were
sampling on Friday) </span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">me, my cart, and my entourage, block the whole flow of
traffic. </span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">Amelia saw the stand of pretty dresses and decided that she
would rather hang out in the middle of the clothes rack than follow me around
the store. I noticed she was gone after we had gone down an aisle, so I snuck
over there—giving the boys strict instructions to stay with the cart and watch
the baby. </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">I get close and I hear her singing to the dresses, as she pets each
and every one from the inside of the rack.</span><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"> I part the clothes and yell boo—which
was my biggest mistake, now she thought it was funny. I was trying to scare
her! Backfire! Well, the boys thought it was funny that I was sneaking over
there so they followed me, leaving my baby across the store unattended. I
barked orders at the boys to go back to the cart, and grabbed Amelia’s hand
firmly to march her over there as well. She was having none of it and went as
limp as a rag doll. I obviously had to back to the cart to make sure I still
had a baby, and didn’t have time to care what a soul thought of me. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">So I drug
her limp body across the dirty floor. </span><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">I get back to find the boys climbing on
the sacks of sugar, and finding little “chairs” in and among the merchandise. </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;">The
baby was still there, thank goodness!</span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">The rest of the trip followed course. Quite a bit of
running, climbing, punching, etc. every time I stopped to read a label. We still
had our soda cup from our lunch and they kept fighting over who was going to
hold it. At one point someone set it in the cart right next to the baby. That
girl has quick hands and grabbed it, luckily I have almost as quick hands and
grabbed it from her before we had a tragedy. </span><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">I asked Turner to find a trash and
throw it away, he begged to be able to finish it and I said, “On one condition
that you don’t set it down next to B.”</span><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"> We were getting close to done when
Cooper tells me that he needs to go to the bathroom—he had just gone at the beginning
of the trip. I begged him to wait and luckily he thought he could hold it while
we waited in the ginormous line. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">After check-out I decided to join Cooper and told Turner,
Max and Amelia to keep their hands on the cart at all times. As soon as I sat
down in the stall I hear Turner come in freaking out because </span><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;">someone had set
the soda down next to B and she had spilled it all over herself and the cart.</span><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"> I
instructed him to grab some paper towels and I would be out in a minute to
help. I walk out there and </span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">he had emptied the paper towel dispenser all over
the floor.</span><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"> We cleaned up the mess and then I had that only-at-Costco-feeling—</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">WHERE
DID I PUT MY RECIPT?!?!</span><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"> I found it and instantly the kids started bickering
about who was going to hand it to the check-out person. I decided it was my
turn. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">We head out to the van, I am so relieved that it is over. We
are parked at the front of the store, and a couple parking spaces down is the
handicap ramp so I ask my kids to get into the van while I go down the ramp.
Well, I had purchased a huge 10-gallon bucket of rolled oats, and they had set
the box of all my small goods on top of the oats. As I head down the ramp the
box starts to teeter, I go to grab it a fraction of a second too late and </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">the
box tumbles off and spills all over the parking lot. </span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">I was about to cry. A fancy BMW pulls up and a very well
dressed </span><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;">man jumps out and helps me pick-up my items.</span><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"> I tell him it isn’t necessary,
but he assures me it is okay. Then he offers to carry the box over to my car. “You’ve
got your hands full with a baby.” He hadn’t yet seen my other four hoodlums
climbing all over the van a couple cars down. I look over at his car and there
is a woman in the passenger seat with her arms folded and a scowl on her face—noticeably
annoyed. </span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">I thank him profusely as he sets the box down on top of crumbs and
dirt in the back of my van</span><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"> (why did I forget to vacuum out the trunk last time
I cleaned my car!) He said you’re welcome, and my superhero was gone. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">The nameless man was a hero to me that day.</span><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"> It took him only
a few minutes, but I am still smiling at the thought. Could I have picked up
the box myself? Of course I could. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">It was that in a very frustrated moment for
me, someone that didn’t even know me, cared enough to help me out.</span><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"> I think it
is what Christ would do. Of course He knows all of us—</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;">none of us are an
un-named to Him.</span><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;">This man was His hands at that moment.</span><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"> He helped me, in that
moment, to not feel so alone and to offer a hand of kindness. </span><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;">I will never
forget him, and what may have seemed as a small act of kindness to him. It was a big deal to me.</span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">I want to look for ways to be an everyday hero to someone else. </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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Tiffanyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01989290754901588002noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4507343092704271919.post-64733644065054310342015-05-13T07:28:00.000-07:002015-05-13T07:28:06.782-07:00White noise<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkaOCgh6F1LpeROhs_xW-xtQ65grIDZJTOfz_ngOGekyrnBiZW9nmaQeC6a2G4-Pj8q4sDCrHzMKOWEsj5MShyBBC6io5f_ERjP01NnKLGFnZByVqvM7hpwbDUMWMij37Oh7k1pFIDMhM/s1600/2014-26.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="422" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkaOCgh6F1LpeROhs_xW-xtQ65grIDZJTOfz_ngOGekyrnBiZW9nmaQeC6a2G4-Pj8q4sDCrHzMKOWEsj5MShyBBC6io5f_ERjP01NnKLGFnZByVqvM7hpwbDUMWMij37Oh7k1pFIDMhM/s640/2014-26.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;">I KNEW that baby number five was going to be so easy!</span><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"> I had had twins my last go-round, my other kids were MUCH older, and I was a seasoned pro--I had seen it all. Of course our life was much different this time around too. I was now homeschooling so </span><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">this baby was just going to have to go along for the ride, and be an expert car seat sleeper.</span><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"> We were just going to nurse on the go, and I would exclusively breastfeed the whole first year so that I would always have the best food available wherever I went!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">Well, our sweet precious Abigail came and joined our family.
</span><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;">She was everything I had anticipated in another baby—except easy.</span><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"> My experience
in babies still hadn’t prepared me for THIS baby; once again testifying that no
one can really be an all-inclusive baby expert.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">B is the WORST sleeper!</span><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"> Sleeping was never her strength. She was constantly taking cat naps so she was constantly tired. I would put her down for naps a half-a-dozen times a day. She didn't fall asleep easy so I was spending so much time rocking her and putting her down. The whole first six months of her life was spent this way. I was exhausted and tired. After she fell asleep, any noise would wake her up. Well a home with four other homeschooling kids means that there is always noise. I noticed once that during Max's birthday party she slept like an angel! There was so much noise right outside her window. </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">That is when I realized that constant noise may be better than an absence of noise for her. </span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">I turned to my FB friends and was recommended a cheap white noise machine. The day it came in the mail was the day my life changed. I plugged in that little machine and it played 10 different noises--the one B liked the best was the plain and simple white noise. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">It is just a static sound to block out all other sound.</span><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"> I never wanted to "get a child dependent on those things," but I just needed the baby to SLEEP!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">I was thinking of that sound today. I was thinking of the white noise in my life. Not physically noise, but the sounds that drown out everything else. What do I have in my life that blocks out noise. Specifically the noise of The Spirit. </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;">What am I not hearing because I have my phone in my face or the TV on?</span><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"> What am I not hearing when I have the radio blasting? I don't think these things are bad, I just think </span><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">I use them too much, and they play interference with the Lord. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">Often times B still wakes up at 5 am for a feeding . She will then go back to sleep and </span><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;">I will sit in the stillness of my house.</span><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"> This is when I read my scriptures and listen. This is when the Lord can actually get through to my spirit. </span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">This is when my white noise of the world is off.</span><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"> I am trying so hard to listen. </span></div>
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Tiffanyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01989290754901588002noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4507343092704271919.post-49806711119249808372015-05-12T06:02:00.002-07:002015-05-12T06:06:02.431-07:00Nephi and life missions<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">Oh how I love fist Nephi! I love to pour over the pages—or maybe
I’m just a slow reader and tend to start the Book of Mormon more often than I
finish it. I think the pages of First Nephi are so full of very basic truths
for that very reason. Mostly what I take away from that book is the power each
of us have through our Father in Heaven, and that </span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">we each have PERSONAL
COMMANDMENTS.</span><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"> Think about it, we aren’t all commanded to go and build a ship,
yet Nephi was. We aren’t all commanded to go into the wilderness, but Lehi was.
We are all asked to do thing in life that everyone else isn’t. We all have a
mission. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">What is your mission? Do you know it? Among my homeschooling
community, we talk about life missions a lot. Our life mission and our children’s
life missions. How do we prepare our children for their life mission? One of
the best ways is to discover our own, as mothers, and follow it. I have to
admit that was a new concept for me. I honestly had a mind frame of career and
motherhood. I knew I needed an education in case I needed to someday provide
for a family, but I never once thought about what my life mission would be. </span><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;">What
was <b><i>I</i></b>
put on this earth for?</span><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"> Was it only to raise my five children?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">I don’t know how many people really do know what they were
put on this earth for, or maybe it is just me. </span><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">I always wanted one of those no
doubt talents—you know the ones where there is no question.</span><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"> You open your mouth
and the sound of angels come out—bam! You were put on this earth to sing. You touch
your fingers to the piano—bam! You were put here to play. You have the heart of
Mother Teresa—bam! You are meant to live your life among the poor and
fatherless.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">Maybe the subject of talents is for another day, but </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;">there
are things each of us is commanded to do</span><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">, and I LOVE First Nephi for that
reason. I was reading in chapter 16 the other day, and it was talking about the
Liahona and was specifically saying, “The pointers which were in the ball, that
they did work according to the faith and diligence and heed which we did give
unto them.” That kinda hit me like a rock. Faith. Diligence. Heed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">I have wanted a Liahona for as long as I can remember. I
would love clear cut direction straight from the Lord. Yet it only worked by
faith, diligence, and heed. Faith is tough, but one thing I do know about </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">faith
is</span><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"> that it is </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">taking one step in the darkness</span><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">. So if God has given me direction
for my life, I’ve got to take that step before I understand HOW He is going to accomplish
things in my life. I’ve got to take that step towards the direction I feel
prompted to go. In chapter 17:3 it reads, “And thus we see that the commandments
of God must be fulfilled. And<b><i> if</i></b> it so be that the children of
men keep the commandments of God <i>he doth nourish
them</i>, <i>strengthen them</i>, and <i>provide means whereby they can accomplish
the thing which he has commanded</i> them; wherefore he did provide means for
us while we did sojourn in the wilderness.” Nephi was talking about a personal
commandment here—the commandment for them to sojourn in the wilderness. I have
to take that step in the darkness. I have to try.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">Diligence is defined as, “careful and persistent work or
effort.” If we persist—even if we haven’t seen HOW God will provide a means for
us, we will receive more direction from the Lord. When I read this, I realized
that my efforts to follow through with what the Lord had commanded me were nowhere
near careful and persistent. There was not a lot of work or effort being put
into my personal commandments. Sometimes on my part, a lack of faith leads to a
lack of diligence. I don’t know how God will help me accomplish everything I need
to do, so I don’t try. </span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">He isn’t asking for perfection—just persistent effort</span><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">Heed was the world that I really noticed this time reading.
I had obviously noticed it before as it was circled in a couple of different
colors, but I REALLY noticed it this time. The online dictionary that I used to
try to understand this better, says that </span><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;">heed is a verb</span><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">. A VERB! That mean that
I actually HAVE TO DO SOMETHING! Again, for me, a lack of faith leads to a lack
of heed. Yet a lack of heed leads to a lack of faith. God can’t do anything in
my life if <i>I</i> don’t do anything!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">Nephi was commanded to build a ship. A ship, mind you, that
he had NO IDEA how to build. The difference between a good ship and a poor ship
is the difference between life and death. There weren’t ship building schools
in the wilderness. No books on ship construction, and he didn’t even have the
internet to be able to YouTube it! Yet, he says, “</span><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">If God had commanded me to do
all things I could do them</span><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">. If he should command me that I should say unto this
water, be thou earth, it should be earth; and if I should say it, it would be
done. And now, if the Lord has such great power, and has wrought so many
miracles among the children of men, how is it that he cannot instruct me, that
I should build a ship?” (1 Nephi 17:50-51)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">How is it that he cannot instruct me in my life mission? How
is it that he cannot help me fulfill my personal commandments? </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;">He can—He will.</span><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">
I just need to be faithful, diligent, and actually do it! </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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Tiffanyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01989290754901588002noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4507343092704271919.post-41304647729828580772015-05-10T07:39:00.002-07:002015-05-10T07:43:20.496-07:00Mother's Day 2015<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCcvwx8Dvk9K_6d0Fk57BOLhcCkBgSPsRQ6_F6PbF86elThFYcqXG2j0BkvYPdEMSo-wiiK8CCPHXIQyEiUC9EtsmJ9Fe-bpWw5-N3MZwGt08-99pV0wNpzi9dJEEJg05vaYuLYAwgGrM/s1600/images+(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCcvwx8Dvk9K_6d0Fk57BOLhcCkBgSPsRQ6_F6PbF86elThFYcqXG2j0BkvYPdEMSo-wiiK8CCPHXIQyEiUC9EtsmJ9Fe-bpWw5-N3MZwGt08-99pV0wNpzi9dJEEJg05vaYuLYAwgGrM/s640/images+(1).jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">I use to think that it was SO sweet for Abraham Lincoln to call his mother an angel. Homeschooling has it's perks, like the fact that I learned that Abraham Lincoln's mother died when he was nine. So he was referring to his biological mother, and not his step mother in this quote. Although my mother isn't not an angel in that way--</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">she is an angel here on earth, and I owe everything to her because of it.</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGmBxCMBolNquNXI2x8qTNCjCFJ9qLi5di7tPvCyxGohd7c65z6jY5IaFMjXxiYX2K38M2NK8iXh1ScEYGxuUEfBhScF4TMTN9RrHKaOGLf-Bb42cVeMlq55vgBC6-HvzDRWNnZamVO5o/s1600/Mom+and+me.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGmBxCMBolNquNXI2x8qTNCjCFJ9qLi5di7tPvCyxGohd7c65z6jY5IaFMjXxiYX2K38M2NK8iXh1ScEYGxuUEfBhScF4TMTN9RrHKaOGLf-Bb42cVeMlq55vgBC6-HvzDRWNnZamVO5o/s640/Mom+and+me.jpg" width="454" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">My mother and me!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> My mom is a million things to me--she is a </span><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: x-large;">support</span><span style="font-size: large;">, she is </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;">encouragement</span><span style="font-size: large;">, she is </span><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">love</span><span style="font-size: large;">, she is </span><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;">kindness</span><span style="font-size: large;">, she is </span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">discipline</span><span style="font-size: large;">, she is </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">fun-loving</span><span style="font-size: large;">, she is </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">charity</span><span style="font-size: large;">, she is a </span><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: x-large;">Christ-follower</span><span style="font-size: large;"> and typifies Him. My mom is an amazing</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;"> leader</span><span style="font-size: large;">, and a diligent </span><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">follower</span><span style="font-size: large;">. My mom's </span><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;">testimony</span><span style="font-size: large;"> of her Savior shines bright and influences everyone around her. I am so thankful that I grew up in a home with the </span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Savior as our foundation</span><span style="font-size: large;">. My mom is </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">intelligent</span><span style="font-size: large;"> and </span><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: x-large;">humble</span><span style="font-size: large;">. My mom works to </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;">overcome</span><span style="font-size: large;"> all that life throws at her with</span><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"> grace and patience</span><span style="font-size: large;">. I am so sure that everyone has a list like mine. It might not be the same exact things on that list, but a list none the less of all of the ways that their mother influenced them. The </span><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;">power of mothers</span><span style="font-size: large;"> is real. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">While we are in the depths of mothering, sometimes it seems very small, it seems very insignificant. We aren't seen by the world as anything important. Our sphere of influence is small--limited to the few children we are raising. Yet I look at my grandmother who just turned 95. She had so many of her posterity at her birthday party. Among her off-spring are Lawyers, dentists, musicians, artists, therapists, business owners, government officials, many other positions, and many other mothers influencing new generations. </span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">You can't tell me that her sphere of influence is small.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> She has blessed the lives of thousands by raising her four children. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLOPUSPLU2YbPVJqz4yLqwrbKWylf0qKh60PKGRuUivlgGe6IeBJNAXRPTgYqg8VQpTR2naZDVQ51sLmeYgl2vgdF-gPqWKiVT_ovUPBPm0Z8t7mZpLe90Kgu1xgqkZM5Psv6zR9SJBBk/s1600/photo+1+(1).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLOPUSPLU2YbPVJqz4yLqwrbKWylf0qKh60PKGRuUivlgGe6IeBJNAXRPTgYqg8VQpTR2naZDVQ51sLmeYgl2vgdF-gPqWKiVT_ovUPBPm0Z8t7mZpLe90Kgu1xgqkZM5Psv6zR9SJBBk/s640/photo+1+(1).JPG" width="480" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Four generations at my grandmother's 95th birthday party</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Our sphere of influence isn't just limited to our own children either. I get to live in the same ward as </span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">my mother-in-law</span><span style="font-size: large;"> and can't tell you how many times I have heard grown women sequel and hug her calling her "Mom!" These are the girls she took to girls camp. </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">She loved them, encouraged them, and helped to shape them to become the women they are today.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> She is an influence still on her grown sons, her daughter-in-laws, and grandchildren. We are so thankful for her!</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDaEmvEzRRaGVEqvH6-sAoWevgkrc7QrOKv1m24j7QKvVWYOJCGY7eX1GKaVO1_7nA4Pkye5MMHglwSghA7uc2f3D85ODylFYRfQPxvqwbXUm-C1NcV3hJxk1s3QXhEUMyGVSu-XXPUOs/s1600/2014-36.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="416" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDaEmvEzRRaGVEqvH6-sAoWevgkrc7QrOKv1m24j7QKvVWYOJCGY7eX1GKaVO1_7nA4Pkye5MMHglwSghA7uc2f3D85ODylFYRfQPxvqwbXUm-C1NcV3hJxk1s3QXhEUMyGVSu-XXPUOs/s640/2014-36.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">"One of the greatest needs in the world today is intelligent, conscientious motherhood. …</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Motherhood is the greatest potential influence either for good or ill in human life. The mother’s image is the first that stamps itself on the unwritten page of the young child’s mind. It is her caress that first awakens a sense of security; her kiss the first realization of affection; her sympathy and tenderness the first assurance that there is love in the world." David O. McKay</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgja4yahn-PDz6fuFgaobfgaZ9i8Wki3euz-tmuQ81aV_27S3uh4nL9GYGEMh1mIB3V7jImVhtHQIiLUXq2fNWR9UsfSeUI_nTzgc6iZ9tBYpH0ToejQO7LN-i_hGEZsf9BAUhvCpULv5c/s1600/2014-26.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="422" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgja4yahn-PDz6fuFgaobfgaZ9i8Wki3euz-tmuQ81aV_27S3uh4nL9GYGEMh1mIB3V7jImVhtHQIiLUXq2fNWR9UsfSeUI_nTzgc6iZ9tBYpH0ToejQO7LN-i_hGEZsf9BAUhvCpULv5c/s640/2014-26.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Conscientious motherhood is something that I am working on. I love these adorable children. I feel very blessed to be their mother. The responsibility is great. I constantly feel overwhelmed and under qualified. I find comfort in Elder Holland's words, "May I say to mothers collectively, in the name of the Lord, you are magnificent. You are doing terrifically well. The very fact that you have been given such a responsibility is everlasting evidence of the trust your Father in Heaven has in you."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Happy Mother's Day </span><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">to all amazing women who take a moment to care about children!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Happy Mother's day to my amazing mother, mother-in-law, sisters, sister-in-laws, aunts, grandma, primary teachers, YW leaders, teachers, and many other women that helped shape my life! Thank you!!</span></div>
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Tiffanyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01989290754901588002noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4507343092704271919.post-29926415767281389882015-05-09T07:29:00.001-07:002015-05-09T07:29:15.459-07:00A little history<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">Since I just wrote my </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;">500th blog post</span><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">, I thought that I would commemorate by writing a little history of my blog.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">My </span><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">first blog pos</span><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">t was written at the end of </span><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">December 2007</span><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"> seven and a half years ago to record the happenings of Christmas that year with our then family of three. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">I then blogged over at </span><a href="http://www.teamthonson.blogspot.com/"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;">www.teamthonson.blogspot.com</span></a><span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">. I spelled my own last name wrong when I found a blog address. I realized it the day of my first blog post but thought it was too much hassle to change it that day. </span><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;">I continued to blog at that address for four more years</span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"> until September 2011, right after the twins turned one. 280 of my blog posts are from that site. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">When I blogged at Team Thomson, it was the </span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">golden era of mommy blogs</span><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">. Everyone had one to keep family all over in touch with what was going on with the little ones. Back then women would read each others blogs and do </span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">this crazy thing called commenting</span><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">! We would support and strengthen each other through personal messages telling one another that we were doing great. We didn't get intimidated by the professional bloggers. It was as if the clouds parted for me, and </span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">I didn't feel so alone anymore</span><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">. I loved it!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">I am so glad that I keep my little blog.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">I wish that I blogged more.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">I have had </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">31,737 blog views</span><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"> at this address and </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">12,068 at the old address.</span><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"> So for sure not a professional blog, yet </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">I do hope that maybe what I have said has brought hope or happiness to someone. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">My all time most popular blog post--by a HUGE landslide is </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;">Dinner with the <a href="http://lovelaughinspire.blogspot.com/2012/03/dinner-with-latter-day-apostles.html" target="_blank">Latter-day apostles</a>.</span><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"> The pictures are really lame and the write up could use a little work, but the idea was straight from God, and one of the best he has given me so I can see why it is a popular post. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">Thank you for reading!</span><br />
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Tiffanyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01989290754901588002noreply@blogger.com0