tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-65969882457446790272024-03-18T00:41:13.823-04:00Thinking About HomeWhoever hears these sayings of mine and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock. ~Matthew 7:24Cheryl http://www.blogger.com/profile/00063844335185525553noreply@blogger.comBlogger1529125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6596988245744679027.post-72727997120852382992024-02-19T06:30:00.004-05:002024-02-19T06:30:00.150-05:00Project #3: Blinds in the Sunroom<p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5lbpgxEzBwSGxriGSG4fYwpc4XJtlCF5fPsM7IkAAJdDa2hL1z6Oyj-8LPf0SCQ075IKrEO4NaafoN6bi5Fgb9OFi5eY6-jI9idSEP13-U566LFNVQ9lji0C1cNo-_lh3iIUTyCOVTwvJrWyBIC7fNUrdDTor2C0E5NNl55P79Hq_R5sTVzHeHmxeZw/s1104/423599754_405215141993777_4631230091491883852_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1104" data-original-width="828" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5lbpgxEzBwSGxriGSG4fYwpc4XJtlCF5fPsM7IkAAJdDa2hL1z6Oyj-8LPf0SCQ075IKrEO4NaafoN6bi5Fgb9OFi5eY6-jI9idSEP13-U566LFNVQ9lji0C1cNo-_lh3iIUTyCOVTwvJrWyBIC7fNUrdDTor2C0E5NNl55P79Hq_R5sTVzHeHmxeZw/w480-h640/423599754_405215141993777_4631230091491883852_n.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">When we converted our screen porch into a sunroom </span><i>(you can read all about it ~<a href="https://thinking-about-home.blogspot.com/2022/07/the-new-sunroom.html" target="_blank">here</a>~)</i><span style="font-size: medium;">, I was so happy with all of the windows and all of the natural light! Although I knew that we would need some type of window treatment for privacy at night and to keep the sun out of people's eyes at certain times of the day, <b>I really didn't want to cover those windows</b>. And since I wasn't even sure what I wanted, I just waited. No hasty decisions for me. <br /><br /><i>Fast forward about a year . . . </i></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I saw that <a href="http://BLINDS.COM">BLINDS.COM</a> was running a 4th of July sale and we decided to go for it. Ryan and Sarah had ordered from this company several times and were impressed with the quality as well as their customer service. <br /><br />After much deliberation (so typical of us . . . or is it <i>me</i>?), we chose Levelor Natural Woven Shades in Spa Cove Tan. They are cordless and have a light filtering liner. <br /><br />We had paid to have them professionally installed, but when the time came to measure, there was no local installer available and no word on when there would be one. There was also a problem with what we had ordered (the problem was on <i>our</i> end!). With both issues, the company worked with us to resolve the problems and went above and beyond to make sure that we had what we wanted! We would highly recommend BLINDS.COM! </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicJ1fNsL0v_aApFG_sfALRKIzx97p6ZATyChAmA_XxRgTdc0J6G-o3E8jBBcnzeu3oFkTw36MuyC2AhBtJYgIHkus_OUC5GOKyQt9RQsNSkQxGOzZJVF9LiGdnRC2cFETm7HC-YdGr6CmjFozh3lZlVNIkr-WNiQQKc1owanUjpNNcXQmx8lHiLU-d2w/s320/ShabbyBlogsDividerG.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="11" data-original-width="320" height="14" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicJ1fNsL0v_aApFG_sfALRKIzx97p6ZATyChAmA_XxRgTdc0J6G-o3E8jBBcnzeu3oFkTw36MuyC2AhBtJYgIHkus_OUC5GOKyQt9RQsNSkQxGOzZJVF9LiGdnRC2cFETm7HC-YdGr6CmjFozh3lZlVNIkr-WNiQQKc1owanUjpNNcXQmx8lHiLU-d2w/w400-h14/ShabbyBlogsDividerG.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: justify;"><span><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">After they arrived, we waited several weeks to install the blinds because we had two rounds of company in August and that was </span></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><i><b>much </b>better than blinds!</i><span> On Labor Day, after eating our grilled burgers and corn-on-the-cob (see the ladder waiting in the background?), Ron hung all ten blinds in less than an hour! </span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidIIF3JVD9VcRt7QSO8ga92_gB9aY7qdnIX1Q3czqmGKKYJr7z_QNQjZ6G93e7tcONIrCKMHXWTFN8QW3PQRgjDxRavYkVi3vuTemAT-GoAuqSXA4bEqn7eDP69aBbqh-vSDTyY9oRtF4-gjWEGqIZxmRqH0hZwVuoW_ukoVi7n1QwABvCqKm_E5YjEQ/s1103/423568494_938663247608761_6206456941877067265_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1103" data-original-width="827" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidIIF3JVD9VcRt7QSO8ga92_gB9aY7qdnIX1Q3czqmGKKYJr7z_QNQjZ6G93e7tcONIrCKMHXWTFN8QW3PQRgjDxRavYkVi3vuTemAT-GoAuqSXA4bEqn7eDP69aBbqh-vSDTyY9oRtF4-gjWEGqIZxmRqH0hZwVuoW_ukoVi7n1QwABvCqKm_E5YjEQ/w480-h640/423568494_938663247608761_6206456941877067265_n.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /><br />Yes, I did love my unadorned windows . . . </span><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYmqYRJ8gIKaZ8MQ7h29YZx8kN4ylRx7pNQGbffuxWhQ5wQ4wg865Jvo_kRrHjsAPfIXD5V64L-cnPQstc5vDDxBdafaFCbh6TNWD0X-fMBWKIdB7_toIAFeJuPZX_1jmdT5YWlsf35HacvB2_uSZnuFWr4G_j2qOT17ddbV7myyKEuxTSi7gjn-fNcA/s640/sunroom%202022.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYmqYRJ8gIKaZ8MQ7h29YZx8kN4ylRx7pNQGbffuxWhQ5wQ4wg865Jvo_kRrHjsAPfIXD5V64L-cnPQstc5vDDxBdafaFCbh6TNWD0X-fMBWKIdB7_toIAFeJuPZX_1jmdT5YWlsf35HacvB2_uSZnuFWr4G_j2qOT17ddbV7myyKEuxTSi7gjn-fNcA/w640-h480/sunroom%202022.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">. . . but I also love them with the new blinds! <br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8IkiAdr3z4XgFXr-QmpUVtCTra6jAZJKqKh1q_W3yc5aJGuAX06oicx61BnDW9YBW_ojqDTGxyN7QvY-q66sZdW1MYR-mN6I8ELQ_XTRzCfID4t1AVb7BqcbKzuuRY3SW8WpqsbLn3AGFmhgeEt7tGU0xCalyMdwpmroACC_88GFY6dotcUR4zVDS3w/s828/423735542_417078300761242_8828418835203766887_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="621" data-original-width="828" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8IkiAdr3z4XgFXr-QmpUVtCTra6jAZJKqKh1q_W3yc5aJGuAX06oicx61BnDW9YBW_ojqDTGxyN7QvY-q66sZdW1MYR-mN6I8ELQ_XTRzCfID4t1AVb7BqcbKzuuRY3SW8WpqsbLn3AGFmhgeEt7tGU0xCalyMdwpmroACC_88GFY6dotcUR4zVDS3w/w640-h480/423735542_417078300761242_8828418835203766887_n.jpg" width="640" /></a><br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFVtFN23Osj4EFQQ9usz7_I86kKKFj1fPVbeylPI2IUx2DV8R29CvIUKB6xFMaEM2KlPlTUkMZuRiofG3312xYwxQmu6s3egciH9ArWoU96fqhLb2ZPctPGsQU-9CDZR6RHPWPn0rVQWV2GQB2DPbi1SBfc4JTZQgqDFIN9-1zOSVnINhxz55vitnnJg/s1104/423568420_7030510380329458_3288984280891140971_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1104" data-original-width="828" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFVtFN23Osj4EFQQ9usz7_I86kKKFj1fPVbeylPI2IUx2DV8R29CvIUKB6xFMaEM2KlPlTUkMZuRiofG3312xYwxQmu6s3egciH9ArWoU96fqhLb2ZPctPGsQU-9CDZR6RHPWPn0rVQWV2GQB2DPbi1SBfc4JTZQgqDFIN9-1zOSVnINhxz55vitnnJg/w480-h640/423568420_7030510380329458_3288984280891140971_n.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">There is still plenty of light, but we now have the ability to filter the light and to create privacy in the room. </span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPaqU3HEa7X4FOsm-JCQhRJZPwQ3Ot-3eyGqEOfMIydosWBw7JOIkspq1aYEWuVesdKGXEhHX4t1IzRmZMRKlEvJudDyqkAKrUfKcl8Q3FnvI1afq8squD3ltf7JNFQga56TUU6n2uH85O_kmNFOiFB2IrlWjbA6y5sMPkdsOplEeHFsvbNtzNfPt2tw/s1104/423221565_1102746640919474_5925786671953934859_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1104" data-original-width="828" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPaqU3HEa7X4FOsm-JCQhRJZPwQ3Ot-3eyGqEOfMIydosWBw7JOIkspq1aYEWuVesdKGXEhHX4t1IzRmZMRKlEvJudDyqkAKrUfKcl8Q3FnvI1afq8squD3ltf7JNFQga56TUU6n2uH85O_kmNFOiFB2IrlWjbA6y5sMPkdsOplEeHFsvbNtzNfPt2tw/w480-h640/423221565_1102746640919474_5925786671953934859_n.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigRgd0KAxXVF2SslUIsvv0Y8l1auPZFh9pqTOlOjMvk3cfM3suPTfi03rTg3k408WlD3PybkTSQvJmGliCnYh18hVYi5P4swY-O6zm0sLfV2Fk1LxiIFZ_CmRvHmDZKhMFr3OVw8PfmlMCqXgMsHLAAiuORvIp1xGqgT6LVxPetNLF2vmE8Fb2WYrD7Q/s1104/423599955_726618102949434_6702399612744149662_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1104" data-original-width="828" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigRgd0KAxXVF2SslUIsvv0Y8l1auPZFh9pqTOlOjMvk3cfM3suPTfi03rTg3k408WlD3PybkTSQvJmGliCnYh18hVYi5P4swY-O6zm0sLfV2Fk1LxiIFZ_CmRvHmDZKhMFr3OVw8PfmlMCqXgMsHLAAiuORvIp1xGqgT6LVxPetNLF2vmE8Fb2WYrD7Q/w480-h640/423599955_726618102949434_6702399612744149662_n.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEEN7uN7alAgervpGoCeOQvOb-xsp1slXCLdLcLgnVpfsWR0UuRdR4DwNay_qjsabAS8dVdlPhCVbheXrjd57GxmElWfyyYPPhd5DmenSL0oTtG3N82FOwXDB499XGoNZeGdxuyVpofytYzWvtNMxcUscg3QIry69R3_6Sgvh857uIcH9lxTSSEC6nhA/s828/423454695_7182484681807057_493928792050451321_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="621" data-original-width="828" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEEN7uN7alAgervpGoCeOQvOb-xsp1slXCLdLcLgnVpfsWR0UuRdR4DwNay_qjsabAS8dVdlPhCVbheXrjd57GxmElWfyyYPPhd5DmenSL0oTtG3N82FOwXDB499XGoNZeGdxuyVpofytYzWvtNMxcUscg3QIry69R3_6Sgvh857uIcH9lxTSSEC6nhA/w640-h480/423454695_7182484681807057_493928792050451321_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj48tUjACwrKSgiPkOB80mWN_7A08BXPMJqEBUCswwdzqEgfJSNah_SIRWOT-gCtRKD0c_hqg2m2MfBDLBBZtDS9tD2EnFMIb-b3Z4utiOUaGTsQ_y-M7We2x6ErwTuGFwvWHdHZCvh-I_kKtamS6gDbysSxJ-ns_vX6u099QHeATmvA2o7WRCwUDfwOg/s1104/423455097_272377765886594_1370553000436803650_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1104" data-original-width="828" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj48tUjACwrKSgiPkOB80mWN_7A08BXPMJqEBUCswwdzqEgfJSNah_SIRWOT-gCtRKD0c_hqg2m2MfBDLBBZtDS9tD2EnFMIb-b3Z4utiOUaGTsQ_y-M7We2x6ErwTuGFwvWHdHZCvh-I_kKtamS6gDbysSxJ-ns_vX6u099QHeATmvA2o7WRCwUDfwOg/w480-h640/423455097_272377765886594_1370553000436803650_n.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />Another house project checked off the list! This one, too, was mostly handled by Ron. Otherwise, it wouldn't have happened last year. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7wp6o9Hzu5SdjYoK6W-KvmXCt15PZgQRqFeao0c2waMxm9-0kyxj-gmz_kSrZG0KWcewwgmqfcZg0cyMmpUw3HvbFSLq0HRSDm7UZP0LMY0nWwIp4KCs42zUn12m2nrBTvbxwvMCEtaraShE6nLFAXTwXnhp-Tk-58xLHmi41gpxm6OJy2Sklyz51iA/s1600/House%20Projects.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1086" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7wp6o9Hzu5SdjYoK6W-KvmXCt15PZgQRqFeao0c2waMxm9-0kyxj-gmz_kSrZG0KWcewwgmqfcZg0cyMmpUw3HvbFSLq0HRSDm7UZP0LMY0nWwIp4KCs42zUn12m2nrBTvbxwvMCEtaraShE6nLFAXTwXnhp-Tk-58xLHmi41gpxm6OJy2Sklyz51iA/w271-h400/House%20Projects.png" width="271" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /><br />I have one more <a href="https://thinking-about-home.blogspot.com/2024/01/completed-house-projects-2023.html" target="_blank">2023 house project</a> left to tell you about. Unlike the <a href="https://thinking-about-home.blogspot.com/2024/01/project-1-refreshing-library.html" target="_blank">library refresh</a> and the <a href="https://thinking-about-home.blogspot.com/2024/02/project-2-bookcase-for-primary-bedroom.html" target="_blank">bookcase in the bedroom</a>, this one was <i>not</i> already in the works before our challenging year began. And unlike the <a href="https://thinking-about-home.blogspot.com/2024/01/project-1-refreshing-library.html" target="_blank">library refresh</a> and the blinds, it was <i>not</i> mostly handled by Ron. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">It was conceived and completed during the year and it was our biggest project by far!<br /><br />Stay tuned . . . </span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><p></p>Cheryl http://www.blogger.com/profile/00063844335185525553noreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6596988245744679027.post-29099207878098408952024-02-14T06:00:00.014-05:002024-02-14T06:00:00.144-05:00Cherry Vanilla Valentine Scones<p> <br /><span style="font-size: medium;">A little Valentine love around the house . . . </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUBVRj2ZIG58xL2Q36wXCgbEIJSWArobA2JcxKJywH98iG_xio16JQeMFLnWb_lEUcswHd3Q_C-xdtMCmfkstzv9do-1vZ5oqablyVeGHPEHY1M0k7E02C90PO2LeSB_lzg5dzTj5OUgFs7LdB3jL2xwpxpyNRddokizT0kEmV0Gvox9DNOW_HBTWRIg/s1104/423600162_716406790563957_2560011141135264470_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1104" data-original-width="828" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUBVRj2ZIG58xL2Q36wXCgbEIJSWArobA2JcxKJywH98iG_xio16JQeMFLnWb_lEUcswHd3Q_C-xdtMCmfkstzv9do-1vZ5oqablyVeGHPEHY1M0k7E02C90PO2LeSB_lzg5dzTj5OUgFs7LdB3jL2xwpxpyNRddokizT0kEmV0Gvox9DNOW_HBTWRIg/w480-h640/423600162_716406790563957_2560011141135264470_n.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3aNLs6q6gFQAuEpfEYWdQZfyDqoXNmAytrYnOX302lcQo0aypv79XipdekFvYUQ4Kyfp-peERSKjy2jlMdFrGRnf63lar8Wxm4fqNC0TnVtNcNqPEJi30czQh5RHKmlPuBVVTXVcRnBUjmokp1F2e1binjHrZGV9VW38iaZH59gyw1Zpei6LfEcOqRQ/s1104/423422351_234928363022983_3510942690490446651_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1104" data-original-width="828" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3aNLs6q6gFQAuEpfEYWdQZfyDqoXNmAytrYnOX302lcQo0aypv79XipdekFvYUQ4Kyfp-peERSKjy2jlMdFrGRnf63lar8Wxm4fqNC0TnVtNcNqPEJi30czQh5RHKmlPuBVVTXVcRnBUjmokp1F2e1binjHrZGV9VW38iaZH59gyw1Zpei6LfEcOqRQ/w480-h640/423422351_234928363022983_3510942690490446651_n.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIGYsqQhtS4D9utnBD9FiJ0_G4ek0guYPuOqxzL4eR5OIuWFTmkTCxxvxOeKMxRuArUeWrhp-bRfmVBZHaupMW1UZhn7WUhBJjWk5BkH9EGfQrozRogkVCbHEQZZReWaMStBqGzNpCDWBQiUfx7hByTpSfwjbyYU1-2jObAss4Z3S06TofaLBkQwbJYA/s1104/423541978_1056062698841899_5501457492294323954_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1104" data-original-width="828" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIGYsqQhtS4D9utnBD9FiJ0_G4ek0guYPuOqxzL4eR5OIuWFTmkTCxxvxOeKMxRuArUeWrhp-bRfmVBZHaupMW1UZhn7WUhBJjWk5BkH9EGfQrozRogkVCbHEQZZReWaMStBqGzNpCDWBQiUfx7hByTpSfwjbyYU1-2jObAss4Z3S06TofaLBkQwbJYA/w480-h640/423541978_1056062698841899_5501457492294323954_n.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiORCXMigzHDZYNG5IP-iZNLUPGUb6ATw-v7hq_Cap9skQCQvRXUuQC4IiKZw2wXrolxaP1awAVg2HmBonSfWYJHw4i8_RiF7E_3Cw4YE17b-GyVZtAJa39otzvoQE3s_W_suNR5bSHtszYO9Bqgnpi2AzciDmmEeOQgLgC-dKWkTHeBPPhuL0DedVNsg/s828/423455099_1452744879003974_7588678562719910776_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="621" data-original-width="828" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiORCXMigzHDZYNG5IP-iZNLUPGUb6ATw-v7hq_Cap9skQCQvRXUuQC4IiKZw2wXrolxaP1awAVg2HmBonSfWYJHw4i8_RiF7E_3Cw4YE17b-GyVZtAJa39otzvoQE3s_W_suNR5bSHtszYO9Bqgnpi2AzciDmmEeOQgLgC-dKWkTHeBPPhuL0DedVNsg/w640-h480/423455099_1452744879003974_7588678562719910776_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>CHERRY VANILLA VALENTINE SCONES</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Ingredients:</b><br />2 cups all-purpose flour</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">1/4 cup sugar</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">1 tablespoon baking powder</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">1/2 teaspoon salt</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">12 tablespoons cold butter</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">2 eggs, lightly beaten</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">1/2 cup cold heavy cream</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">1 cup dried Montmorency cherries<br />1/2 cup confectioner's sugar</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">1 teaspoon vanilla extract</span><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />2 to 3 teaspoons half-and-half (or milk)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Directions: </b><br />Combine flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt. <br /><br />Cut cold butter into small pieces. <br />Add to dry ingredients; cut in until mixture is the size of small peas.<br /><a href="https://thinking-about-home.blogspot.com/2019/02/orange-scones.html" target="_blank">(Don't overmix!)</a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">In a separate bowl, mix together eggs and cream with a fork.<br />Stir into flour/butter mixture, just until combined.<br /><a href="https://thinking-about-home.blogspot.com/2019/02/orange-scones.html" target="_blank">(Do <i>not</i> overmix!)</a><br /><br />Fold in cherries.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Turn dough out onto a generously floured surface. Roll dough to 1/2-inch thick. <br />Dust top with flour, then cut with a heart cookie cutter. <br /><br />Place hearts on parchment-lined baking sheet. <br />Bake at 400 degrees for 9-10 minutes.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Transfer scones to a wire rack.<br /><i>(I transfer parchment and all to the cooling rack immediately after removing them from the oven to stop the bottoms from further browning.)</i><br /><br />To make the glaze, stir vanilla into confectioner's sugar along with enough half-and-half to make a drizzle.<br />With a spoon, drizzle the glaze back and forth across cooled scones.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.3px;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDD7rshXQHYLQbGVhFeOOq1dr2iN0exPIS-mir2tOwCfMeoq_T55qLqFid1qD0mxMkRGt-F-1DtZDDoITUZWzA9yDuSyRCGWyERnDiwYsF5ghikjxZ1LKJskb6MbiKQs-UDLATza1ZpDTBIcSlyvKD4846FJTNN-NWo92dmB6aWpKe-Y67vC1oDagVnw/s320/ShabbyBlogsDividerG.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="11" data-original-width="320" height="11" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDD7rshXQHYLQbGVhFeOOq1dr2iN0exPIS-mir2tOwCfMeoq_T55qLqFid1qD0mxMkRGt-F-1DtZDDoITUZWzA9yDuSyRCGWyERnDiwYsF5ghikjxZ1LKJskb6MbiKQs-UDLATza1ZpDTBIcSlyvKD4846FJTNN-NWo92dmB6aWpKe-Y67vC1oDagVnw/s1600/ShabbyBlogsDividerG.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Next up . . . House Project #3: Blinds in the Sunroom <br /><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><center><table border="0" cellpadding="1" style="color: black; font-size: 14.5455px; line-height: 18.1818px; text-align: justify; width: 600px;"><tbody><tr><td bgcolor="#d4cdb8"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: transparent;"><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">Tech update: </span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>Just as suddenly as I became "Anonymous," I returned to "Cheryl." </i>🤷🏻♀️</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div></div></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></center></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.3px;"><br /></div></div><p></p>Cheryl http://www.blogger.com/profile/00063844335185525553noreply@blogger.com24tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6596988245744679027.post-11951189135989173682024-02-09T16:38:00.001-05:002024-02-09T20:57:57.375-05:00Project #2: Bookcase for Primary Bedroom<p></p><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i><br /><span style="color: #444444;">Following </span></i></span><i style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #444444;">a "break.," I am back to my <a href="https://thinking-about-home.blogspot.com/2024/01/completed-house-projects-2023.html" target="_blank">series on house projects</a>. Actually, it was my old laptop that broke. I had been limping along with it for several years after I had dropped it and cracked the case, but it finally said ENOUGH. I can't blame it. </span></i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i style="font-size: large;"><br /></i></div><p></p><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">So, on we go . . .<br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijz5qeaOXQufRqkDyjMz0AhPsa4za-s325arizEHB431_ZeR-RswwJNywtBlVwJxTqqlIOhk1a_QAFjaCQztZ0_lhsUdqcmYl3CaY19qcsjF9ammd0rEh948tFc8oeBU0cHh2UnXlK1j8lAgg8mfm9StaRL2SMxX42PReki2U6BPDnrm8iR7FTOAqplw/s1104/416049424_2374227139634008_2616229767081924860_n%20(1).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1104" data-original-width="828" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijz5qeaOXQufRqkDyjMz0AhPsa4za-s325arizEHB431_ZeR-RswwJNywtBlVwJxTqqlIOhk1a_QAFjaCQztZ0_lhsUdqcmYl3CaY19qcsjF9ammd0rEh948tFc8oeBU0cHh2UnXlK1j8lAgg8mfm9StaRL2SMxX42PReki2U6BPDnrm8iR7FTOAqplw/w480-h640/416049424_2374227139634008_2616229767081924860_n%20(1).jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">The second house project of last year was actually begun the previous year. It had been partly built, but was put on hold as we were immersed in care giving. Priorities change quickly when there is a crisis!</div></span><p></p><span style="font-size: medium;"><div style="text-align: justify;">When we remodeled our primary bedroom back in 2020, we had a table from The Farmhouse that we used as a desk. After a while, however, we decided that the room would work better with a bookcase rather than a desk. First of all, the desk top was a catch-all spot, always cluttered and piled with stuff. Mail, papers, magazines, books to be read, cords for electronics. I'd clean it off only to have it pile up again. Secondly, a bookcase would take up a smaller footprint in the small bedroom. Vertical space seemed to be the answer to both of these problems. <br /><br />So we went from this . . . <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_RyXxjfx6UIm_GMyOpEci3qZ0UJ-MDWfpT-Ii5WCfeuDiG_1319Ie2x4KPiFaRGTT-zy7lWlLvqmaLaoznUT6Oxav_ZNrqBK52xMkY0QvK_EA4fVihWQyW_Ecxp753akq8oLFXAq5UvN9yTnUGohguXW6HutxjN7eKpUeVSPzXzR999A41sbcSJ450g/s828/423568328_354683467433800_8476102501607405124_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="621" data-original-width="828" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_RyXxjfx6UIm_GMyOpEci3qZ0UJ-MDWfpT-Ii5WCfeuDiG_1319Ie2x4KPiFaRGTT-zy7lWlLvqmaLaoznUT6Oxav_ZNrqBK52xMkY0QvK_EA4fVihWQyW_Ecxp753akq8oLFXAq5UvN9yTnUGohguXW6HutxjN7eKpUeVSPzXzR999A41sbcSJ450g/w640-h480/423568328_354683467433800_8476102501607405124_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit6QAHLvIiAsVmqacBtnB3TWFNrzHSYf_l3Rp25-UxXoUSAIixiWW0UPDEPETIAnOnYCQYtvF5PoTxH3ej0dcy1KqRYVmKehHjhek6irUbJg6tvE7cOV7iDAjEKf43wLmKfvDfwY4Y6AyIAvs8ELIccaIYEWqcjzyZKpOO71sTSAWaYLITFJ1MfBkPSw/s1104/423422540_1125406005286467_5432113655535152241_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1104" data-original-width="828" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit6QAHLvIiAsVmqacBtnB3TWFNrzHSYf_l3Rp25-UxXoUSAIixiWW0UPDEPETIAnOnYCQYtvF5PoTxH3ej0dcy1KqRYVmKehHjhek6irUbJg6tvE7cOV7iDAjEKf43wLmKfvDfwY4Y6AyIAvs8ELIccaIYEWqcjzyZKpOO71sTSAWaYLITFJ1MfBkPSw/w480-h640/423422540_1125406005286467_5432113655535152241_n.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>to this . . . <br /> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh30eRFE6zXDe0YK8jcMi7Bc7PvO8Kz-xcK6mv2G4ohnXZtuDS11oNG6-YfB7Miz4XB_D7C9SoU48jinvrGLZjbcK3V5cjhtGBoeAwvTNEpA1QIgUVln16dz-OKVoM8Zyss2y_moS7q7SVeJlKKBB6GjTxDT0JmUssiaf0sNVDw51tX5FHCc6djBDUS-Q/s828/423686609_2094408610910653_5613777028863647544_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="621" data-original-width="828" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh30eRFE6zXDe0YK8jcMi7Bc7PvO8Kz-xcK6mv2G4ohnXZtuDS11oNG6-YfB7Miz4XB_D7C9SoU48jinvrGLZjbcK3V5cjhtGBoeAwvTNEpA1QIgUVln16dz-OKVoM8Zyss2y_moS7q7SVeJlKKBB6GjTxDT0JmUssiaf0sNVDw51tX5FHCc6djBDUS-Q/w640-h480/423686609_2094408610910653_5613777028863647544_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5y-lyjXRkKJUpKGUqilVRo_0_VniM-8BE96UJidhHHYUcrhv7KYwnqGd87_4ecdimgu8t5lYmmg0qClLIXdZ3G8MhmNUDyVnloJUojRDTTHUKgHk95U73a45OmSxppHtt6zjFqAguwEqTNBDa8MiYKbgTTOBtStVl1i1eBxQVEGfS9NRUy_FikO_NSg/s1104/423455085_1179313516786589_8551843724089571948_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1104" data-original-width="828" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5y-lyjXRkKJUpKGUqilVRo_0_VniM-8BE96UJidhHHYUcrhv7KYwnqGd87_4ecdimgu8t5lYmmg0qClLIXdZ3G8MhmNUDyVnloJUojRDTTHUKgHk95U73a45OmSxppHtt6zjFqAguwEqTNBDa8MiYKbgTTOBtStVl1i1eBxQVEGfS9NRUy_FikO_NSg/w480-h640/423455085_1179313516786589_8551843724089571948_n.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p></p><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Ron made a simple design and built it as wide and tall as would fit the space to allow for the most storage. He used some old wood, but it was too orange-y, so we decided to paint it. I primed it and painted it in Linen White (an Olde Century paint color). Then I lightly distressed it to imitate wear. Finally, I rubbed on a coat of <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000PSW398/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_image?ie=UTF8&psc=1" target="_blank">Briwax in light brown</a> to seal and "age" the finish. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">We still have a tray to drop our mail <i>(I'm keeping my eye out for an antique basket that is the right size)</i>, and a basket to hold magazines and catalogs. The shelves also hold our devotional books, my Bible, my small collection of Christian fiction, some decorating books, and a few personal photo books.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBl47rddKplXxySEASsRppcvQ2KP42-t2ZejA7h1NJfHr5nfYbJMZjjYteL-gBStX9SDD6FMzOyyF-ZzVfGMorwbTbeVpVGoL-JHQ617ZhEXfpDypXKDZJar5vieWM5rTQ2Ynp5NodTPKAV5ClIbRHRkjZMcG_gyd5bHmgn28a5PFdNZ9FlsR8RyZOLQ/s1104/423455022_705441785035569_6032276128629372904_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1104" data-original-width="828" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBl47rddKplXxySEASsRppcvQ2KP42-t2ZejA7h1NJfHr5nfYbJMZjjYteL-gBStX9SDD6FMzOyyF-ZzVfGMorwbTbeVpVGoL-JHQ617ZhEXfpDypXKDZJar5vieWM5rTQ2Ynp5NodTPKAV5ClIbRHRkjZMcG_gyd5bHmgn28a5PFdNZ9FlsR8RyZOLQ/w480-h640/423455022_705441785035569_6032276128629372904_n.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Even though it took nearly a year to complete it, the bookcase was a relatively small project that made a big difference in our bedroom. We gained a little space and lost a clutter magnet, a win on both counts! <br /><br /><br /></span></div>Cheryl http://www.blogger.com/profile/00063844335185525553noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6596988245744679027.post-53258618376315467522024-01-30T10:41:00.004-05:002024-01-30T10:41:50.989-05:00Project #1: Refreshing the Library <p> <br /></p><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">As promised, I am back to talk about our <a href="https://thinking-about-home.blogspot.com/2024/01/completed-house-projects-2023.html" target="_blank">completed house projects</a> from 2023. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6rz8HU-RWYUNLlVbq51ukc07oJT4-nW6euXqYzyXf8tiJ13hhpYnaL0_sRhm3PLGB9-7LMD2Y7ZrQuyNLZ2pGQ0m0OaU8Y01Syb9KCxpTQqXoozbsgnZ8Jbq89v8THmrNLNypyF_EoGziWRdse7xFWfEZ8Ch-dTDB4A_RSsdP-sXTrrKJvBq0JXzM_Q/s1126/416002227_7098521333599970_1558781734958544491_n.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1126" data-original-width="850" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6rz8HU-RWYUNLlVbq51ukc07oJT4-nW6euXqYzyXf8tiJ13hhpYnaL0_sRhm3PLGB9-7LMD2Y7ZrQuyNLZ2pGQ0m0OaU8Y01Syb9KCxpTQqXoozbsgnZ8Jbq89v8THmrNLNypyF_EoGziWRdse7xFWfEZ8Ch-dTDB4A_RSsdP-sXTrrKJvBq0JXzM_Q/w484-h640/416002227_7098521333599970_1558781734958544491_n.png" width="484" /></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p></p><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The loveseat in the library has needed reupholstering for a </span><i style="font-size: large;">long</i><span style="font-size: medium;"> time. </span><br /><br /><i>(You can read about how and why we made our fourth bedroom into a library ~ <a href="https://thinking-about-home.blogspot.com/2017/06/pineapple-house-library.html" target="_blank">here</a> ~.)</i><br /><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpm5Nz4YEEPCKe2VUFPJduTLTPsgBdgHk8fDDzD0d4LI-62PyfPMF6Cipo_D8nM1XZ87Lb0yfA0KfARjsCWu0iHTSxmZ4ppcSKM8zIln2DJtcwC9-t8b5gFtDCQ4bMj2sR3VyZ_6mlnEqHTQygK29N1S2CDeMCOXAMk8_09gWpsNaoXXlTzZpkgiaksg/s640/IMG_7515.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpm5Nz4YEEPCKe2VUFPJduTLTPsgBdgHk8fDDzD0d4LI-62PyfPMF6Cipo_D8nM1XZ87Lb0yfA0KfARjsCWu0iHTSxmZ4ppcSKM8zIln2DJtcwC9-t8b5gFtDCQ4bMj2sR3VyZ_6mlnEqHTQygK29N1S2CDeMCOXAMk8_09gWpsNaoXXlTzZpkgiaksg/w640-h480/IMG_7515.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">~ loveseat in The Farmhouse kitchen ~</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>When we moved from The Farmhouse eight years ago, the loveseat was showing some wear (it was used almost constantly in the Farmhouse kitchen). But it has only gotten worse over time . . . so bad in fact that when a grandchild hid one of Bekah's rings in a hole in the fabric on the arm, that ring wasn't discovered for a year! 😂 </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">So when I had the opportunity to order some discounted fabric from a company that was discontinuing its furniture line, I ordered enough for all three of the pieces that I wanted recovered. First in line to be reupholstered was the <a href="https://thinking-about-home.blogspot.com/2023/01/slow-decorating-in-guest-room.html" target="_blank">small wing chair in the guest room</a>, but when I picked up that chair from the upholsterer, I asked to be put on his (long) list for both of the pieces of furniture in the library: the loveseat and a wing chair that I had purchased on Facebook Marketplace. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span><b><span style="font-size: medium;">And that is how the library got an update during our challenging year. </span></b><br /><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">Only a couple of weeks after my dad came from rehab to live with us, the upholsterer called to say that he was ready for us to bring him the chair. As excited as I was to have the work done, my time was completely taken up in my role as caregiver, so Ron loaded up the chair and the roll of fabric and delivered them to the upholsterer. He returned a week later to pick up the chair and to drop off the loveseat and fabric, and finally made one more trip to pick up the loveseat. </span><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVJSxKkLvDe69myGwWzb-D_hYnRWApK_H9BChEUqEZEQg3joX5Um9eJHK53izUF2UWnvoK1u6oHHpymBwrPwlaCHIucr4Iod-6k6Wqrp0wST0q9QLv7pNMQFl5mutpLqA4-zszsjs8vd5wJZaVCQ9xg3_SoFOCLo6Yz93dQCmlREhLtX5RG_zGxMPhjw/s892/416002227_7098521333599970_1558781734958544491_n%20(1).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="892" data-original-width="669" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVJSxKkLvDe69myGwWzb-D_hYnRWApK_H9BChEUqEZEQg3joX5Um9eJHK53izUF2UWnvoK1u6oHHpymBwrPwlaCHIucr4Iod-6k6Wqrp0wST0q9QLv7pNMQFl5mutpLqA4-zszsjs8vd5wJZaVCQ9xg3_SoFOCLo6Yz93dQCmlREhLtX5RG_zGxMPhjw/w480-h640/416002227_7098521333599970_1558781734958544491_n%20(1).jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>We had chosen a mustard Lover's Knot pattern for the chair. I love the pattern, but I had intended to use the reverse side (the one with more mustard and less ecru). I guess I had just assumed that Ron would read my mind? </span><i>Oops.</i><span> I have considered taking the chair back to the upholsterer and asking if it could be reversed, but I don't think I want to spend the money to have the job done again. What would you do? </span></span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">You can see the difference in this photo: <i>ecru with mustard</i> vs. <i>mustard with ecru</i>.</span></div></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH-iPoyIeAlZBUTsQxI8Nj5Pg8EQX8R1o3CcgiO7XwKsfRM5rc1uWL-0qBeXiXWGZ7KZx6FjqLXyLIvxC9mov_kyQNOhB8mV2tMxQqrVChqBY_fp2c7pRI3Vk1DSkTW30hDplRbfnXHC9kcXB_nvxU_t-_a8A8BFyHFWqS71Ea_MmmRrQqKwQQJ1p5oA/s1104/415813688_1363961225002518_7814067333525358852_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1104" data-original-width="828" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH-iPoyIeAlZBUTsQxI8Nj5Pg8EQX8R1o3CcgiO7XwKsfRM5rc1uWL-0qBeXiXWGZ7KZx6FjqLXyLIvxC9mov_kyQNOhB8mV2tMxQqrVChqBY_fp2c7pRI3Vk1DSkTW30hDplRbfnXHC9kcXB_nvxU_t-_a8A8BFyHFWqS71Ea_MmmRrQqKwQQJ1p5oA/w480-h640/415813688_1363961225002518_7814067333525358852_n.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim4CsqLQQdwk5jdrTw4AKaHnrHk4-jxcYgKa0CUsFBMYY6L100R5ZWAt4AQWg0iYMAbyL0B_ykm9IjLUXhg4bzyuITeYDDm5SS9LsAdZXKW4Hohb-Hnugk89kTVP2gfpjaW5TOb5BrZW5va6cKhmxX8s5-U8YTm_cpz6h41vEMzHOj3vIAamlHzfc3PA/s1104/416150674_405910468667793_1100362297606968459_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1104" data-original-width="828" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim4CsqLQQdwk5jdrTw4AKaHnrHk4-jxcYgKa0CUsFBMYY6L100R5ZWAt4AQWg0iYMAbyL0B_ykm9IjLUXhg4bzyuITeYDDm5SS9LsAdZXKW4Hohb-Hnugk89kTVP2gfpjaW5TOb5BrZW5va6cKhmxX8s5-U8YTm_cpz6h41vEMzHOj3vIAamlHzfc3PA/w480-h640/416150674_405910468667793_1100362297606968459_n.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />For the loveseat, we chose a pattern called Flowerbird in natural and green. The green in the fabric echoes the color of the trim in the room, and it also has a little bit of mustard to complement the chair. <br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG6hZgJSvP3tAPVHeb26lGVWM4TeWeQre3XhqVoP_6qA4d3LPfm-kkUJVJMAC1JadM2qQJ9GGjvqy-IqI892U3m6tLW6vd0uMXmlI4luPaH5P2hH492s4KIEQ4umRpuM5WuDEbHACgkfIgcfCW34SntHL8AO7AKJEcDijbr8slDmzfCKrKzjwH2hk67A/s1104/415987703_389987286877504_8677261051380343008_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1104" data-original-width="828" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG6hZgJSvP3tAPVHeb26lGVWM4TeWeQre3XhqVoP_6qA4d3LPfm-kkUJVJMAC1JadM2qQJ9GGjvqy-IqI892U3m6tLW6vd0uMXmlI4luPaH5P2hH492s4KIEQ4umRpuM5WuDEbHACgkfIgcfCW34SntHL8AO7AKJEcDijbr8slDmzfCKrKzjwH2hk67A/w480-h640/415987703_389987286877504_8677261051380343008_n.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">It didn't come with the cat, but he's there a lot. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBPx6F_PCz3BH2VvXh7wbsfKvvH2K52oWgv5A5Se0lo1aetg0cfCM1SEG0iO-u9Zlr7rZzn2CHhU1VUZxqFMa9VXdrDpTZ2miIcHVbW_kq04BB_ia18Bz5BUs9V5WLkTNSKMpd4-hbjLEo3N9k6BMaKHu3QlGk4ovZZ8BsO0mRNNOJhKLo4WgjqBo6vA/s1104/415855402_729662775778315_2472169584968756982_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1104" data-original-width="828" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBPx6F_PCz3BH2VvXh7wbsfKvvH2K52oWgv5A5Se0lo1aetg0cfCM1SEG0iO-u9Zlr7rZzn2CHhU1VUZxqFMa9VXdrDpTZ2miIcHVbW_kq04BB_ia18Bz5BUs9V5WLkTNSKMpd4-hbjLEo3N9k6BMaKHu3QlGk4ovZZ8BsO0mRNNOJhKLo4WgjqBo6vA/w480-h640/415855402_729662775778315_2472169584968756982_n.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>Since the loveseat fabric is light, we ordered </span><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09NVQXYW3/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&th=1" target="_blank">this quilt</a></span><span><span style="font-size: medium;"> to cover the seat and keep it clean. The quilt was inexpensive, but it is 100% cotton and the quality is good.<br /><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4R7U3Onni-51Gn_22IHu2d4fK6RGLdDtVMsVozhWVKdFPOhAXuNHvNKdv0AgQSpFvnRV3MKnOBqns9grKnYM9MwWfDFoA8GBSl6TE52tJHqkvloWToUGXeMhnEcn8qLuLGcC1iT5C0NBcNQ-zQf7esvTiMJzPFnH9hVO-HA5SFR4v-sgG3A1D2Kvqyg/s320/ShabbyBlogsDividerG.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="11" data-original-width="320" height="11" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4R7U3Onni-51Gn_22IHu2d4fK6RGLdDtVMsVozhWVKdFPOhAXuNHvNKdv0AgQSpFvnRV3MKnOBqns9grKnYM9MwWfDFoA8GBSl6TE52tJHqkvloWToUGXeMhnEcn8qLuLGcC1iT5C0NBcNQ-zQf7esvTiMJzPFnH9hVO-HA5SFR4v-sgG3A1D2Kvqyg/s1600/ShabbyBlogsDividerG.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />The last step in our refresh was choosing a rug, and I found that more difficult than choosing upholstery fabrics! We tried a rug that we had stored in our attic, but the colors were not right nor was the size. In June, I ordered a rug online, but the red was too bright and there was too much blue, and I decided that it was also too big, so I returned that one. I continued to measure and consider and shop, online and in stores. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">At the end of October, I ordered another rug because I <i>really</i> wanted to have a cozy floor when our out-of-state children and their families came home for Thanksgiving! I chose ~ <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01GS3XZCC/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&th=1" target="_blank">this one</a> ~ from Amazon. It was square (which really works best for this small room, although square rugs are hard to find) and it was inexpensive. It looks better in person than in photographs, but I am still not <i>totally</i> satisfied with the colors. (Rugs are hard!) It may stay for years, or it may be a "place holder" until I find the perfect rug. The low investment makes that a possibility. <br /><br />Do you ever use "place holders" while you're waiting for the right thing? </span><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDK5I4PehFy-k76SWgpjSjcbJlYRTnlIAkMtftxsFhdqOZrmQ1X7LhE_0-xdTn1MEXk_CezK4TTR9YA7tFDurTPp8UaU5kBfQVmsL0SuF5ron39Ry9wxF5ncNkT5xkHUXiOT4v8UKttGjZGGVAYnjO-EhbECabEmnBV1lKNDbwtRU_YIXA5l9FQVr3-A/s1104/415968908_788999403065379_1862113034860821720_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1104" data-original-width="828" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDK5I4PehFy-k76SWgpjSjcbJlYRTnlIAkMtftxsFhdqOZrmQ1X7LhE_0-xdTn1MEXk_CezK4TTR9YA7tFDurTPp8UaU5kBfQVmsL0SuF5ron39Ry9wxF5ncNkT5xkHUXiOT4v8UKttGjZGGVAYnjO-EhbECabEmnBV1lKNDbwtRU_YIXA5l9FQVr3-A/w480-h640/415968908_788999403065379_1862113034860821720_n.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirj6_mXXHYVg1om_Cg201TodEagMJgQzvewYF_3rErQytoRwfqAB6ZM7V_Ht-OpBKjbRKAYuQUin9xY9eYVXoiQ7eBSskhd6QzfmJd-E89T_ZQNAhPyw6djFiK4JC2SqVaaThlh3CTYL4-xBECFPUtOrbCfhgVoSxyjM0R7aEUZTIwxsKiq0bYWXFBVQ/s1104/415773176_365535433015915_5342791785389613428_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1104" data-original-width="828" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirj6_mXXHYVg1om_Cg201TodEagMJgQzvewYF_3rErQytoRwfqAB6ZM7V_Ht-OpBKjbRKAYuQUin9xY9eYVXoiQ7eBSskhd6QzfmJd-E89T_ZQNAhPyw6djFiK4JC2SqVaaThlh3CTYL4-xBECFPUtOrbCfhgVoSxyjM0R7aEUZTIwxsKiq0bYWXFBVQ/w480-h640/415773176_365535433015915_5342791785389613428_n.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqxT2JOID4SQEkojWugfteS4-Sisu1MrFrQ4vPturMeAqUYMQOomHAAgFy4uE5Wc_WfsAvKHhLuzaTcGJ8L-vSloCwCDmisPgQehUMm3IhiSK-Ctx59Rkwc2V7qfPdWN7lSo5bmHax3-CmgxRDwCF5SB6Ez-JYXyZDloyT48C4dn2dWw3-PDObsN4fAg/s1104/415751514_1621284661973812_3444324613651624219_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1104" data-original-width="828" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqxT2JOID4SQEkojWugfteS4-Sisu1MrFrQ4vPturMeAqUYMQOomHAAgFy4uE5Wc_WfsAvKHhLuzaTcGJ8L-vSloCwCDmisPgQehUMm3IhiSK-Ctx59Rkwc2V7qfPdWN7lSo5bmHax3-CmgxRDwCF5SB6Ez-JYXyZDloyT48C4dn2dWw3-PDObsN4fAg/w480-h640/415751514_1621284661973812_3444324613651624219_n.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>Our library, while not a main living space, serves many purposes. It was our homeschool room. It is a reading nook. It is a place to pay bills or do computer work. </span><span>During the pandemic, the library served as Ron's home office.</span><span> It stores our craft materials. It is an extra gathering room. It is a place where the grands play games together or create </span><a href="https://thinking-about-home.blogspot.com/2021/10/september-glimpses.html" target="_blank">one</a><span> of their </span><a href="https://thinking-about-home.blogspot.com/2021/10/september-glimpses.html" target="_blank">original musicals</a><span>. It is a room for a private conversation. It is also where Bekah does much of her work for college. And occasionally it serves as an overflow guest room, air mattress and all! <br /><br />Now it is refreshed and will continue to serve our family for years to come! <br /><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj59bsixSzco91URRAj0ZA0fT2cWG5JfCdVSGWMYFQ_s7CBFzUxAUfAxx6qYK2N386ukPkuzCwMSz97gZS7kMewHxUMeGjGTF_pt9KZevwE5JoIC_lUs39HO7R1nMpGt0Xw2T8zPzahpxWiNcUbbbFTqChX5AW_YZte-08nvtXUSbXUcIO5_K4L60WQhg/s1104/416029206_1092599208681996_7853103206195162769_n%20(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1104" data-original-width="828" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj59bsixSzco91URRAj0ZA0fT2cWG5JfCdVSGWMYFQ_s7CBFzUxAUfAxx6qYK2N386ukPkuzCwMSz97gZS7kMewHxUMeGjGTF_pt9KZevwE5JoIC_lUs39HO7R1nMpGt0Xw2T8zPzahpxWiNcUbbbFTqChX5AW_YZte-08nvtXUSbXUcIO5_K4L60WQhg/w480-h640/416029206_1092599208681996_7853103206195162769_n%20(1).jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /><br /></span></div>Cheryl http://www.blogger.com/profile/00063844335185525553noreply@blogger.com26tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6596988245744679027.post-39580956246270385502024-01-23T09:43:00.002-05:002024-02-19T09:09:00.914-05:00Completed House Projects | 2023 <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwylE8WOSwQQ7rl4NIPrlUBKDYDIeKi-3bj8R7nr0NBlJvPcQOjHP_Lzj3uZOsw1DK9hrOiRyvpMJywIfuqn1_dlBFsYYn54D3e_p-nr5ob2v7Lj1FfKUsO5znxbeHPAKEMfbYmcU4vt8HBXFbSB8Hth3_FFpCLeK14pUN2aWKLZPhdJsMDlwT3n0Pxg/s1600/House%20Projects.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1086" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwylE8WOSwQQ7rl4NIPrlUBKDYDIeKi-3bj8R7nr0NBlJvPcQOjHP_Lzj3uZOsw1DK9hrOiRyvpMJywIfuqn1_dlBFsYYn54D3e_p-nr5ob2v7Lj1FfKUsO5znxbeHPAKEMfbYmcU4vt8HBXFbSB8Hth3_FFpCLeK14pUN2aWKLZPhdJsMDlwT3n0Pxg/s320/House%20Projects.png" width="217" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: justify;"><span><span style="font-size: medium;">Each January, Ron and I have a meeting to discuss our house goals for the coming year and we usually choose a "top five" to work on. Some years we accomplish all five, some years fewer. Sometimes we change course in the middle of the year because there were life changes or because something that wasn't in the top five became more urgent or doable. Even when there are changes, it's helpful to have goals to organize our time and resources, but flexibility is key. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">In January 2023, we had a delayed Christmas visit/celebration with Kati and family (who had been sick at Christmas). Less than a week after they returned home, my dad had a sudden decline in his health (he passed away in the fall), and life was markedly different most of the year. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">House projects fell to a very unimportant place on the priority list. Did we even make house goals last year? I honestly can't remember whether we did or not, and if we did, I don't remember what they were. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">That said, when we looked back at 2023, we were surprised </span><i style="font-size: large;">(shocked!)</i><span style="font-size: medium;"> to realize that we had accomplished more than we thought! In fact, it was a pretty productive year on the home front. <br /></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">So here we are . . . </span><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>FOUR COMPLETED HOUSE PROJECTS OF 2023</b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i><span>I wil</span><span style="text-align: left;">l list them in this post, and then I'll write a short (or long, depending on the project) blog post about each one. </span></i></div><span><br /><br /><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">#1</span></b><span style="font-size: large;"> <a href="https://thinking-about-home.blogspot.com/2024/01/project-1-refreshing-library.html" target="_blank">Refreshed the library with some reupholstery and a new rug.</a></span><br /><br /><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">#2</span></b><span style="font-size: large;"> <a href="https://thinking-about-home.blogspot.com/2024/02/project-2-bookcase-for-primary-bedroom.html" target="_blank">Built a bookcase for the master bedroom to replace a table/desk.</a> </span><br /><br /><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">#3</span></b><span style="font-size: large;"> <a href="https://thinking-about-home.blogspot.com/2024/02/project-3-blinds-in-sunroom.html" target="_blank">Installed blinds in the sunroom.</a> </span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>#4</b> </span><span style="font-size: large;"> Completely gutted and remodeled our master bathroom.</span></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span><span style="font-size: medium;">I'll tell you the back story and some of the details of each project, as well as how we were able to accomplish it a year of challenges. Stay tuned . . . </span><br /><br /></span></p>Cheryl http://www.blogger.com/profile/00063844335185525553noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6596988245744679027.post-7343677376755514482024-01-18T17:13:00.001-05:002024-01-18T18:08:27.793-05:00"Our God Will Go Before Us" <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2xAMJsTxD7B3vpGppxHtadabxey5hs4RFrrtYtTgjzZMQZnzzFEO-hnR6jLTX0xoGKqYb6nffQ0TUG4FZ4-m_c_ND2A0AtxT_9ukgiKd055CfR8aMQz5qjyS_k8WciWW_9uSwOiy8h9A50y5PFZlRYnvKPzOjLWFt320C3xNm7RyvIIJkRJMYWxXzzQ/s1600/If%20your%20presence.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="782" data-original-width="1600" height="312" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2xAMJsTxD7B3vpGppxHtadabxey5hs4RFrrtYtTgjzZMQZnzzFEO-hnR6jLTX0xoGKqYb6nffQ0TUG4FZ4-m_c_ND2A0AtxT_9ukgiKd055CfR8aMQz5qjyS_k8WciWW_9uSwOiy8h9A50y5PFZlRYnvKPzOjLWFt320C3xNm7RyvIIJkRJMYWxXzzQ/w640-h312/If%20your%20presence.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I often think of this verse in Exodus as I stand at the beginning of a new year. It is true at the beginning of a year . . . and it is also true at the beginning of every day and every moment. <br /><br />Last year held much that I did not see coming, and there were times that I felt like I was drowning in my circumstances. But His presence did go with me. He gave me grace (and is still the giver of grace) for each difficult moment. <br /><br />This song speaks of those Scriptural principles. That <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Deuteronomy+31%3A8&version=NKJV" target="_blank">God will go before us</a>. That <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=exodus+33%3A14&version=NKJV" target="_blank">His presence</a> <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah%2041%3A10&version=NKJV" target="_blank">goes with us</a>. That <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=matthew+28%3A20&version=NKJV" target="_blank">He is with us always, even to the end of the age</a>. <br /><br />And so, this song became the anthem of last year. I listened to it. I sang it. I meditated on it. I played it in my van every day as I drove to the nursing home to visit my dad. I never knew what I was going to face or how I was going to handle it, and I needed the fortitude that came from knowing that my God was going before me. <br /><br />I know that I am not alone. Many of you faced difficult circumstances in 2023. And we will encounter more difficulties as we walk on our journey. Some of them may seem impossible. <b>But He has promised to go before His children and never to leave them. </b></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">May you know His presence in this new year! </span><br /></p>
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ry9GHKc6P6g?si=uaRkGdoeieWEO31D" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe><br /><br /><br /><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.3px; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDkDxak1WjfhjzO9rL7SzLD6WUGilhkmRiz-GxvtkI7ZGufRMutQrNBQAErl5k8Fd0QwjRRYog-K2Z6Tw_KFWldGOw7BR1PMOjslzH5u50Dq6FcLSjOV9o4raZJ2-f3zHvX95Lsr4ojZRJjz7-VrmLUKoehAdLNGZJGTIN-891WJTJymaEFmh5xp8rQA/s320/ShabbyBlogsDividerG.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="11" data-original-width="320" height="14" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDkDxak1WjfhjzO9rL7SzLD6WUGilhkmRiz-GxvtkI7ZGufRMutQrNBQAErl5k8Fd0QwjRRYog-K2Z6Tw_KFWldGOw7BR1PMOjslzH5u50Dq6FcLSjOV9o4raZJ2-f3zHvX95Lsr4ojZRJjz7-VrmLUKoehAdLNGZJGTIN-891WJTJymaEFmh5xp8rQA/w400-h14/ShabbyBlogsDividerG.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.3px; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.3px; text-align: justify;"></div><center style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.5455px; line-height: 18.1818px;"></center><center style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.5455px; line-height: 18.1818px; text-align: justify;"></center><center style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.5455px; line-height: 18.1818px; text-align: justify;"></center><center style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.5455px; line-height: 18.1818px; text-align: justify;"></center><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.3px;" /><center style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.5455px; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; line-height: 18.1818px;"><center><table border="0" cellpadding="1" style="color: black; font-size: 14.5455px; line-height: 18.1818px; text-align: justify; width: 600px;"><tbody><tr><td bgcolor="#d4cdb8"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><i>Technical note: <br /><br />I am suddenly unable to comment on my own blog (or anyone else's!) through my Google account. I have tried to figure it out, but ~</i>ugh<i>~ I am not techie and I am befuddled. I even considered ending my blog journey, but <b>1)</b> I value the friends I have made along the way and don't want to lose touch and <b>2)</b> I love the outlet of musing and chronicling our journey, even if it's only for posterity or my own records, so I am planning to plod on. <br /><br />That said, I will be commenting as "Anonymous" unless a blogging miracle happens. </i></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div></div></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></center><center><br /></center></center>Cheryl http://www.blogger.com/profile/00063844335185525553noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6596988245744679027.post-47970654698543213662024-01-06T23:35:00.002-05:002024-01-06T23:35:35.788-05:00Christmas | 2023 <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJzxFalj6R3Qn6a9XJhvBeGNYm1tg3Gc1FCHqpnjfN5s3dBY1QqmmMXm61u6s-afzxwRhCOGeHpAVfPINWcJixV9hyav9cBeM-hpGpLnVDFd9HzEi0CdKfl4TxkxjUZzvfDk-cITU-miPyFXABkU7zlRTOjCaUbBP4MHUEb5DAd-AxdapZIKcTpxwTEA/s828/409421012_184900878039864_5288685912754259842_n%20(5).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="324" data-original-width="828" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJzxFalj6R3Qn6a9XJhvBeGNYm1tg3Gc1FCHqpnjfN5s3dBY1QqmmMXm61u6s-afzxwRhCOGeHpAVfPINWcJixV9hyav9cBeM-hpGpLnVDFd9HzEi0CdKfl4TxkxjUZzvfDk-cITU-miPyFXABkU7zlRTOjCaUbBP4MHUEb5DAd-AxdapZIKcTpxwTEA/w640-h250/409421012_184900878039864_5288685912754259842_n%20(5).jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">This year, we gathered for our family Christmas celebration a couple of days before Christmas. It was nearly an "open house" as some could come early but needed to be home before dark, some were working until nearly dark, and others were somewhere in between. It gets complicated as families age and grow and move, but it is <i>so</i> worth digging in and trying to make a plan to celebrate together! <b>Those times are limited and they are golden. </b></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaVk60z852R_8EKRMCgyxDNu_K6o4p5l21SfDzeqsLrRzBDJ4YTqPZvlzRu1zwiiY7v0Do8cH1mL-tLWdGE2thiEwFpmvEsRPKSrjMINesq_Qz4NZvXPsC9s9yRgTDec4F1u9VwPjY3l8w3rwbM1bwY6O9c_R_UBf565dz_aZ2eQ_7XY00Hh6OzRxQ3g/s1104/411515629_674835488157970_1651649450620472125_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1104" data-original-width="828" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaVk60z852R_8EKRMCgyxDNu_K6o4p5l21SfDzeqsLrRzBDJ4YTqPZvlzRu1zwiiY7v0Do8cH1mL-tLWdGE2thiEwFpmvEsRPKSrjMINesq_Qz4NZvXPsC9s9yRgTDec4F1u9VwPjY3l8w3rwbM1bwY6O9c_R_UBf565dz_aZ2eQ_7XY00Hh6OzRxQ3g/w480-h640/411515629_674835488157970_1651649450620472125_n.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Christmas music playing. A bountiful buffet. <i>(Many cooks do <b>not</b> spoil the broth. Many cooks make for a lovely spread!) </i>Loved ones gathering. Tears. Remembering. Quiet. Laughs. Noise. Stories. More stories. More laughs. Giving tokens of our love. A Christmas Fairy and her helpers passing out gifts. Eating too much dessert. <i>(I got no photos of the dessert spread, but trust me when I say there was plenty.) </i>Delights. Sadness. Joy. <br /><br />And Emmanuel. God. With. Us. <br /><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKKbsV7EApblwUnRCpaCvv75gudWMW70Pwe0j8vD78RwMZgYFfRJhzi0abjgFCZgWFMoVZYCc5cr9lgPmvZEMPCgTlKRpJJm0GoSZQjnysPcsFcIdO7T0YCrU1jMqPsbc17seR1SOgSPwTZQ-b5tWdtUjp58qUyRyDmbBaZCXZ49m4aVHs1LG5Su0fDA/s1575/5.25%20x%205.25%20in%20(18).png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1575" data-original-width="1575" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKKbsV7EApblwUnRCpaCvv75gudWMW70Pwe0j8vD78RwMZgYFfRJhzi0abjgFCZgWFMoVZYCc5cr9lgPmvZEMPCgTlKRpJJm0GoSZQjnysPcsFcIdO7T0YCrU1jMqPsbc17seR1SOgSPwTZQ-b5tWdtUjp58qUyRyDmbBaZCXZ49m4aVHs1LG5Su0fDA/w640-h640/5.25%20x%205.25%20in%20(18).png" width="640" /></a><br /><br /></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhurK6kh-exmQYD6lOhQX0fI6lAMt96RHsE5_tlX064eG2nFEEfFsv8bexFnFLHCsTk70UNQE_oXj8vVuhib3aPUitCotPE0u9L6SoujJ00BVt5jrNEej4P2YGI_tRvbSIqOcVZXkRbUyG-ZHfTDL96DjessqOXWF-rh0Mri30l-W4w3rFivyAF7hJ1Fg/s1103/P%20413473932_915931842867804_5983574550132118542_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1103" data-original-width="827" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhurK6kh-exmQYD6lOhQX0fI6lAMt96RHsE5_tlX064eG2nFEEfFsv8bexFnFLHCsTk70UNQE_oXj8vVuhib3aPUitCotPE0u9L6SoujJ00BVt5jrNEej4P2YGI_tRvbSIqOcVZXkRbUyG-ZHfTDL96DjessqOXWF-rh0Mri30l-W4w3rFivyAF7hJ1Fg/w480-h640/P%20413473932_915931842867804_5983574550132118542_n.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbvaXymRo0vFIGLIWPlc5ewFrG_6Wrygo5eibLwbASfYx7aHAyuc0nDXT6QDzWPEAMltx3J0ByqowE21_I1z0ZGEzd2outHrJTZ0MzQ9nsh3jSLdac4omgga0oH8igCKhNzcP1ct8XDUN6JwrL5-CiETudYP8oXpXiJc1lahfv-EEbWE5hjStAhO3qkg/s1104/P%20411331709_897375175046946_9105615140115535102_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1104" data-original-width="828" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbvaXymRo0vFIGLIWPlc5ewFrG_6Wrygo5eibLwbASfYx7aHAyuc0nDXT6QDzWPEAMltx3J0ByqowE21_I1z0ZGEzd2outHrJTZ0MzQ9nsh3jSLdac4omgga0oH8igCKhNzcP1ct8XDUN6JwrL5-CiETudYP8oXpXiJc1lahfv-EEbWE5hjStAhO3qkg/w480-h640/P%20411331709_897375175046946_9105615140115535102_n.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMu5eDVAji3bULb1GE7tSs_RB_ZkWZztQSGP5FEG3pZXRAAcdEiy_8xW-Gbur8Iwv46iM4bpPKkj_u-Yw4_10Csb4k-ZvcLJcnwHewi6udH0wv_MrQqHu4NgEZGsmWxxiQ3oSLpCXZFkwV5HAYNZicuTnH9b5Zx1OOQAjaB_sP5kPfr4h_HocqVN03yA/s1575/5.25%20x%205.25%20in%20(19).png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1575" data-original-width="1575" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMu5eDVAji3bULb1GE7tSs_RB_ZkWZztQSGP5FEG3pZXRAAcdEiy_8xW-Gbur8Iwv46iM4bpPKkj_u-Yw4_10Csb4k-ZvcLJcnwHewi6udH0wv_MrQqHu4NgEZGsmWxxiQ3oSLpCXZFkwV5HAYNZicuTnH9b5Zx1OOQAjaB_sP5kPfr4h_HocqVN03yA/w640-h640/5.25%20x%205.25%20in%20(19).png" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitprLvAqEU_s-sYOVsPVDFssOAwXngCjgVze4CBE0GiHwL5TmIKJ_SKvzSeYOxc5lTJhr8daAA_W2QSZ80WrLZHvdXMK2cCvBMCU1XreBwsoyEaz9WOFHXJJvZEwA6ZHo_uhc1ccMDpyrowmiIjkh8nlx-uCuKK7g0IPf-UVvbwwwmFu0dNP11nVeKZg/s1575/5.25%20x%205.25%20in%20(20).png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1575" data-original-width="1575" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitprLvAqEU_s-sYOVsPVDFssOAwXngCjgVze4CBE0GiHwL5TmIKJ_SKvzSeYOxc5lTJhr8daAA_W2QSZ80WrLZHvdXMK2cCvBMCU1XreBwsoyEaz9WOFHXJJvZEwA6ZHo_uhc1ccMDpyrowmiIjkh8nlx-uCuKK7g0IPf-UVvbwwwmFu0dNP11nVeKZg/w640-h640/5.25%20x%205.25%20in%20(20).png" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3NofWmPuH_YosqaIk1a5u3N-bK0e9eL5oXd8DF5K6nsCyKOLtEboMCKDo9L8Tfz_wK5PgFLPihA0ydcPhx4fbxffeOQdlMwMHp0uBeZuz7msqlM3J1PW0UwMtVC2E4a_gibtPZM8UmaNNNtiuCjmQnFXaTb7VhPxOJPvhCYS4_n-DGybRjYDXU7hlbw/s1575/5.25%20x%205.25%20in%20(24).png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1575" data-original-width="1575" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3NofWmPuH_YosqaIk1a5u3N-bK0e9eL5oXd8DF5K6nsCyKOLtEboMCKDo9L8Tfz_wK5PgFLPihA0ydcPhx4fbxffeOQdlMwMHp0uBeZuz7msqlM3J1PW0UwMtVC2E4a_gibtPZM8UmaNNNtiuCjmQnFXaTb7VhPxOJPvhCYS4_n-DGybRjYDXU7hlbw/w640-h640/5.25%20x%205.25%20in%20(24).png" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />Good times!! </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPtxeS0qN-3B4vdUiXvJGM8PptJ-6Z6b2oPfUdT7n9wOF5pbIx0efZAK25rT-JEkjbonr_uI22kv174SxGe_vNLx39BenXd4zAJUOdsG4c3g9qyOqdBZOCs7_EVMZR4xD3G8ElkMcKqHvyZBUQRyB6k1Lv3usrwcaD58O0_cI1YIHxKrQuqT2x0tJs1w/s760/Etsy%20Order%20Receipt%20Banner%20(4).png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="100" data-original-width="760" height="42" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPtxeS0qN-3B4vdUiXvJGM8PptJ-6Z6b2oPfUdT7n9wOF5pbIx0efZAK25rT-JEkjbonr_uI22kv174SxGe_vNLx39BenXd4zAJUOdsG4c3g9qyOqdBZOCs7_EVMZR4xD3G8ElkMcKqHvyZBUQRyB6k1Lv3usrwcaD58O0_cI1YIHxKrQuqT2x0tJs1w/s320/Etsy%20Order%20Receipt%20Banner%20(4).png" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />On Christmas morning, we had our traditional breakfast. <br /><br />We've been hosting Christmas breakfast for many years, and where we once had both of the younger girls at home and all four of our parents came, now it is just Ron and me, Bekah, and Mom. <br /><br />That is the way life is, always changing. The wise consider and make the most of the opportunities. <br /><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq6q9LsorDW6qlIQn2sXUL6ti4IVUcFJ7ZVTq3U8isWTxqVf76GzMSefzdJxc4PlTKHyobrHS86Ueu-BlNt5jZT1jP6bH80FSQMhNnVfqCVOaxGojhqb_6SKEoNLq1_Jiv4g3_uyiEjyaOi1gUw32SUQc7ayDmeugj9VqI7H6LpLXMr3Sw_NWsOPNoYg/s1575/5.25%20x%205.25%20in%20(25).png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1575" data-original-width="1575" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq6q9LsorDW6qlIQn2sXUL6ti4IVUcFJ7ZVTq3U8isWTxqVf76GzMSefzdJxc4PlTKHyobrHS86Ueu-BlNt5jZT1jP6bH80FSQMhNnVfqCVOaxGojhqb_6SKEoNLq1_Jiv4g3_uyiEjyaOi1gUw32SUQc7ayDmeugj9VqI7H6LpLXMr3Sw_NWsOPNoYg/w640-h640/5.25%20x%205.25%20in%20(25).png" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_jB6q-nWce3Nn3Je57aejUp7Ijst5OoqX-dQAowfc0EZjAWpuHSjxSz4unSepT1ejaT-tz-oSM1fGuhZoY9q7xl1iFEs9arwnAU2Y5rjzyGu85_Gi3XsBOCNvniTwLnXOY20tuiBC8bUkUnO_neG0F7SOKoQIu3Fmd6_MvVEWQ3rvrUx0kwYh5oz8dQ/s727/D%20411217993_1073464560515720_4736780989412352299_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="727" data-original-width="547" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_jB6q-nWce3Nn3Je57aejUp7Ijst5OoqX-dQAowfc0EZjAWpuHSjxSz4unSepT1ejaT-tz-oSM1fGuhZoY9q7xl1iFEs9arwnAU2Y5rjzyGu85_Gi3XsBOCNvniTwLnXOY20tuiBC8bUkUnO_neG0F7SOKoQIu3Fmd6_MvVEWQ3rvrUx0kwYh5oz8dQ/w482-h640/D%20411217993_1073464560515720_4736780989412352299_n.jpg" width="482" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">In t</span><span style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">he afternoon, we opened our gifts to one another, then made some hot drinks and went for a leisurely drive. We were home in time to Skype with Kati and Andrew and the children. Then we went over to Mom's house for some Christmas treats. </span></span></div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf3hBIMatVNrZDxEP9dGoo1vUMHcn1gjxUWkiQwhUdUx4ySe_2HbZXGRFBnxB9JMUSl9cUyVeggOXO5qr9tIV37g5rzG8VvPWiFh8GUiGFWve2dmgQH7z7rMpV0_OxBtnJ_2IT4ESeEIlDHOPBpDGB13aN0_Yb7exZOfzyVfzs6gq6KIAvnd4Vk-iWAg/s1159/D%20411183827_1086180169093454_236442520019419958_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1159" data-original-width="828" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf3hBIMatVNrZDxEP9dGoo1vUMHcn1gjxUWkiQwhUdUx4ySe_2HbZXGRFBnxB9JMUSl9cUyVeggOXO5qr9tIV37g5rzG8VvPWiFh8GUiGFWve2dmgQH7z7rMpV0_OxBtnJ_2IT4ESeEIlDHOPBpDGB13aN0_Yb7exZOfzyVfzs6gq6KIAvnd4Vk-iWAg/w458-h640/D%20411183827_1086180169093454_236442520019419958_n.jpg" width="458" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbMMezAOIPRgJBMIGuwl7KdhYbUn0aCCY3kGPCl9kBXWo-bN1HLlPPmvmsgSByPMS2B5_FDH1zHzmwP1gQbbBgViZftrG4Cx5dTELlDhbeiVOaXwFWYjPAkncvf5qRzmERCfamyYOirKwv-SVl78UkvfaTaBN7nqzNvgvowhHf27rvQtxjWvhRtSq8Bw/s1575/5.25%20x%205.25%20in%20(28)%20(1).png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="782" data-original-width="1575" height="318" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbMMezAOIPRgJBMIGuwl7KdhYbUn0aCCY3kGPCl9kBXWo-bN1HLlPPmvmsgSByPMS2B5_FDH1zHzmwP1gQbbBgViZftrG4Cx5dTELlDhbeiVOaXwFWYjPAkncvf5qRzmERCfamyYOirKwv-SVl78UkvfaTaBN7nqzNvgvowhHf27rvQtxjWvhRtSq8Bw/w640-h318/5.25%20x%205.25%20in%20(28)%20(1).png" width="640" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMziWlQ3dJ7leeJL3OF8aAfSsUNGR9gePEfh5PVxYPA6SAu9FolqI_3fioL5GsiwCOmaRQSU8VbYlqqDvJDiLnPrmRevVIXYc-LV7QLHDvkbIrEbBX39kYvefVcnIuYOWEFjKOH9aZx3jH8dMAcGmFLswgEgeJLAWxm9_PG36BdqFFcuQHxyxCcxgy4g/s1575/5.25%20x%205.25%20in%20(31).png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1575" data-original-width="1575" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMziWlQ3dJ7leeJL3OF8aAfSsUNGR9gePEfh5PVxYPA6SAu9FolqI_3fioL5GsiwCOmaRQSU8VbYlqqDvJDiLnPrmRevVIXYc-LV7QLHDvkbIrEbBX39kYvefVcnIuYOWEFjKOH9aZx3jH8dMAcGmFLswgEgeJLAWxm9_PG36BdqFFcuQHxyxCcxgy4g/w640-h640/5.25%20x%205.25%20in%20(31).png" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At Mom's</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><div><br /></div></div></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimU0Bt55cFqyJaR6PfKkVgSyBBQiqS9AbK8ww5hl2C2jYlmLlOVk1fF1xe13E6lBj5iYZaDhckkfwTLeb72fhjU_hl7iUKsdK0JrwNAZc6bW86F6koS3pgrjOihQAEg4KU1I0TMqqVX6WzgJt-RH0ZOU0MKqw77Kp0JaGwTMTKA5rJR7GhJULxUfWcXA/s760/Etsy%20Order%20Receipt%20Banner%20(4).png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="100" data-original-width="760" height="42" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimU0Bt55cFqyJaR6PfKkVgSyBBQiqS9AbK8ww5hl2C2jYlmLlOVk1fF1xe13E6lBj5iYZaDhckkfwTLeb72fhjU_hl7iUKsdK0JrwNAZc6bW86F6koS3pgrjOihQAEg4KU1I0TMqqVX6WzgJt-RH0ZOU0MKqw77Kp0JaGwTMTKA5rJR7GhJULxUfWcXA/s320/Etsy%20Order%20Receipt%20Banner%20(4).png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The rest of the week did not go as planned as we all came down with some kind of respiratory virus. Plans were rescheduled, but that means . . . </span><span style="font-size: large;">Christmas has lingered!</span><span style="font-size: medium;"> In fact, we will host our final holiday gathering tomorrow when Ron's siblings and their spouses come to Pineapple House to celebrate. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguMNW4skOzdS4h-QAzD1_raZzUZEfP8Tsqhxr8blGxYzFKfZzAip3t1r-5Oya3QEkjLy8LkjTJUMrhOEh6fr2eLna1MrqD-rOLdxPGRCKK7aNFpQc6TAM9RIo91HD1Z5ODr-l1pT7z3Iw8-4cL7v41gz7_8zPvlTwN7Xhtnt0fjWt3Y3MnGSklUQ-Hwg/s828/411268505_694034532537156_3409891533492665232_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="621" data-original-width="828" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguMNW4skOzdS4h-QAzD1_raZzUZEfP8Tsqhxr8blGxYzFKfZzAip3t1r-5Oya3QEkjLy8LkjTJUMrhOEh6fr2eLna1MrqD-rOLdxPGRCKK7aNFpQc6TAM9RIo91HD1Z5ODr-l1pT7z3Iw8-4cL7v41gz7_8zPvlTwN7Xhtnt0fjWt3Y3MnGSklUQ-Hwg/w640-h480/411268505_694034532537156_3409891533492665232_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqTg3qkvFAaR1AIKahyphenhyphen-5Ys8gTQIpvtoDn9mPiWZbfd-Jvot8PgJ1XnXN7SLRH9dBuhIM1AYF77butmlmVl2_b1cTLS5AR5lK0x01pa8ixTO3DyK4HU_enE27NoVcl7nC1Ry0i7zniiseb94lvCv2xCNmMxIFPfgXFN4ybbXUHi9igVbQXMVd50gsUlg/s760/Etsy%20Order%20Receipt%20Banner%20(4).png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="100" data-original-width="760" height="42" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqTg3qkvFAaR1AIKahyphenhyphen-5Ys8gTQIpvtoDn9mPiWZbfd-Jvot8PgJ1XnXN7SLRH9dBuhIM1AYF77butmlmVl2_b1cTLS5AR5lK0x01pa8ixTO3DyK4HU_enE27NoVcl7nC1Ry0i7zniiseb94lvCv2xCNmMxIFPfgXFN4ybbXUHi9igVbQXMVd50gsUlg/s320/Etsy%20Order%20Receipt%20Banner%20(4).png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>So, yes, Christmas is lingering here at our house. Even so, we have taken some time to look back on the past year and document its highs and lows. (I talk about this habit ~ </span><a href="https://thinking-about-home.blogspot.com/2013/10/celebrate-day-23-celebrating-new-year.html" target="_blank">here</a><span>~ .)</span></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">We are also looking ahead and setting some goals and making plans for house projects we'd like to accomplish this year. I'll share some of those with you. I'd also like to tell you about some of the house projects that were completed in 2023. <br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn3BBI82KrFaQn2Bp6ggfA8ivTJISAF4nsFxQwDBMIRbrEOQ09XPOIPn8pQ6_YDSEF8TB3pGIRhd2yI2WbccRK7JspGSg9hoPlscnVphMNXJFH1xTNe6rhtyG7xCkpD1driF8qc4l_gaWlj1hD1OmlD54CoCyKVzZajIv1M4SSEQKONpBCIrlObW1Xug/s1104/D%20413075558_237476329395137_2904787424980706622_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1104" data-original-width="828" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn3BBI82KrFaQn2Bp6ggfA8ivTJISAF4nsFxQwDBMIRbrEOQ09XPOIPn8pQ6_YDSEF8TB3pGIRhd2yI2WbccRK7JspGSg9hoPlscnVphMNXJFH1xTNe6rhtyG7xCkpD1driF8qc4l_gaWlj1hD1OmlD54CoCyKVzZajIv1M4SSEQKONpBCIrlObW1Xug/w480-h640/D%20413075558_237476329395137_2904787424980706622_n.jpg" width="480" /></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">As I often do, I'd like to leave you with a song. My Kati sang this at my Dad's funeral service and it has become a(nother) favorite. It is my prayer for the coming year to make the Lord "My Dwelling Place" more than ever before. There is no better place, no safer place. <br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div></span></div>
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/eiuNq2OWgzg?si=bc3uVuJVjTO5AY02" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Cheryl http://www.blogger.com/profile/00063844335185525553noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6596988245744679027.post-76599894773072953732023-12-21T11:56:00.001-05:002023-12-21T12:10:46.225-05:00A Christmas House Tour of Sorts | 2023<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjzMcUO1r_ZO6jnq8H6Ec7rzOYTsPDfYd44x0-82gneEEYSQiDzntB75uPdvasZdJZ6Zkbrnidc5f0r2c87zNPYlDlwnnhtuZNsn55eTIh5ehzpEKy_R1czHS3jr05_JxM29utwmqcYFXUn-uSHcBhVuAUhF8-t-ebkd7JQl0Tq8wjJrsdqcyyX3qUeA/s1104/403408346_896813511657456_7734710807599536539_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1104" data-original-width="828" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjzMcUO1r_ZO6jnq8H6Ec7rzOYTsPDfYd44x0-82gneEEYSQiDzntB75uPdvasZdJZ6Zkbrnidc5f0r2c87zNPYlDlwnnhtuZNsn55eTIh5ehzpEKy_R1czHS3jr05_JxM29utwmqcYFXUn-uSHcBhVuAUhF8-t-ebkd7JQl0Tq8wjJrsdqcyyX3qUeA/w480-h640/403408346_896813511657456_7734710807599536539_n.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">This year has been one of the most difficult years of my life. One challenge following another, all flowing into one another, often overlapping. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh62oW2r9IP9RwqMZvbznEU64xkiVbI_0CaK3B7DR-um5VOSKUiwqnmdF7Wl7nNvC-q48YL0JcafXYSGzy7hKPGeQpx45Xesw6VZ3Hx_xiu21sZ5HM-PHOJ5aMsWdV6qqTQPP0pggfSPfa9KbL-L6dO0f-jc31jGrs4M6HBYA8zFQQ4tA28x_MgCDsR_g/s828/403421857_6855811591120564_7318411119749229792_n%20(1).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="621" data-original-width="828" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh62oW2r9IP9RwqMZvbznEU64xkiVbI_0CaK3B7DR-um5VOSKUiwqnmdF7Wl7nNvC-q48YL0JcafXYSGzy7hKPGeQpx45Xesw6VZ3Hx_xiu21sZ5HM-PHOJ5aMsWdV6qqTQPP0pggfSPfa9KbL-L6dO0f-jc31jGrs4M6HBYA8zFQQ4tA28x_MgCDsR_g/w640-h480/403421857_6855811591120564_7318411119749229792_n%20(1).jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">But that is why He came!</span><span style="font-size: medium;"> Because this world and we who are in it are hopelessly flawed. Because we are <i><b>not</b></i> enough (contrary to what the memes and the social media influencers try to tell us). </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>He came to save us from our sin and our selves, </b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>and that is great cause to rejoice! </b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCaoGrZjAoDm_msxFZ2ejZ4kk1H56QQo0RcwbQfgJ1pDwgGJhcaWLT76SpUr0wqViiW8qnryzT_W5xrJTV7Kwdg1VmmdXsE7dq4DqwziyfRxY7W7VKa4S8yBR-2UtxEC3Gh6JUkos7veg3mA4gALOTyrxt0Osg4W7WZVpCIwILBhBIWSPEhWQKzRgRig/s1104/409447484_1441466869916044_8974096652371560340_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1104" data-original-width="828" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCaoGrZjAoDm_msxFZ2ejZ4kk1H56QQo0RcwbQfgJ1pDwgGJhcaWLT76SpUr0wqViiW8qnryzT_W5xrJTV7Kwdg1VmmdXsE7dq4DqwziyfRxY7W7VKa4S8yBR-2UtxEC3Gh6JUkos7veg3mA4gALOTyrxt0Osg4W7WZVpCIwILBhBIWSPEhWQKzRgRig/w480-h640/409447484_1441466869916044_8974096652371560340_n.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRoDeargelf1mqC30tdjgVOSaFv9c9451qsbMC2rJSCDNFkjbEluDLJ_SWpq2cku0AnOGEWvNCg23dvR1HXt4v9-TEwy7IwYGNlNzSv7QCE4jgd_eKxrw_2dFcQbcj5oX8Als0k4_yZhDx6R_F5n4OGVP31yPQn1a8k6BbaCpsnm2X8zRWTKwKM7OnkQ/s1104/370120667_1064227761441472_4743545288236145415_n%20(1).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1104" data-original-width="828" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRoDeargelf1mqC30tdjgVOSaFv9c9451qsbMC2rJSCDNFkjbEluDLJ_SWpq2cku0AnOGEWvNCg23dvR1HXt4v9-TEwy7IwYGNlNzSv7QCE4jgd_eKxrw_2dFcQbcj5oX8Als0k4_yZhDx6R_F5n4OGVP31yPQn1a8k6BbaCpsnm2X8zRWTKwKM7OnkQ/w480-h640/370120667_1064227761441472_4743545288236145415_n%20(1).jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">So even though my time and my energy and my enthusiasm have been in short supply during this Christmas season </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">and even though it was a gift card season </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">and there is no festive garland around my front door</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">and I didn't send Christmas cards </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">or bake any cookies</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_ETlBzWjGysMfyPfE1p4htYQFJCUi1UdbIj7eaSUyq5KFPK6FrMhbuOg1fm4CQkI0ZVvduB3SS1bPyYJ55bYcpKhyphenhyphenjpG1hEQa_NGZK0ZuOwA1AsycH0S9HUmEF8qHg-IgKZ1O_wdzh4XUUtHvQvC_Gj6qGDTG012vaehJnY69IsbMNkCB_qwzomDUBA/s1104/411273433_378351961265348_2861568378094859423_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1104" data-original-width="828" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_ETlBzWjGysMfyPfE1p4htYQFJCUi1UdbIj7eaSUyq5KFPK6FrMhbuOg1fm4CQkI0ZVvduB3SS1bPyYJ55bYcpKhyphenhyphenjpG1hEQa_NGZK0ZuOwA1AsycH0S9HUmEF8qHg-IgKZ1O_wdzh4XUUtHvQvC_Gj6qGDTG012vaehJnY69IsbMNkCB_qwzomDUBA/w480-h640/411273433_378351961265348_2861568378094859423_n.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVa6YTJlOU-0Iztdlk6LkbN2U-D-LcGWQjqAM3gN8F6G8UFMRA8Fe3nJ7IBeVXRWgkF94mY2p8Gh6Vl8SBjjK79UNLdE05TjX86UZzr6UJ7ivV75LYRbur8T8NbAt_BNWntpnxIPg5WFnPFc6BWhnHEY_1znKGRlogW3dB5OKHd1sjsKg_eKlNTRiulQ/s1104/409538764_895692925102701_5280211832965194692_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1104" data-original-width="828" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVa6YTJlOU-0Iztdlk6LkbN2U-D-LcGWQjqAM3gN8F6G8UFMRA8Fe3nJ7IBeVXRWgkF94mY2p8Gh6Vl8SBjjK79UNLdE05TjX86UZzr6UJ7ivV75LYRbur8T8NbAt_BNWntpnxIPg5WFnPFc6BWhnHEY_1znKGRlogW3dB5OKHd1sjsKg_eKlNTRiulQ/w480-h640/409538764_895692925102701_5280211832965194692_n.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">I have done what I could . . . and <b>I have rejoiced in His coming! </b><br /></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz0pKqUN5dyucLnOoKncu0Tpu-zd2JPUBU7EuYnemI7xZZ9xP8TRbj1Sc3y7MvJvhNmhtqEOhYxcLGrDIg44uYlBeS1OcXp6KUIV_8xS-HvWstqKWANFH-MKttQDqN186ytWbFYNIeBuRxJ4mNiUZS5faF2ESnz12k0c9rL4L8cMtORe6YeQ8NqNJvVA/s1104/407280304_1470947900486489_5355831051025108654_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1104" data-original-width="828" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz0pKqUN5dyucLnOoKncu0Tpu-zd2JPUBU7EuYnemI7xZZ9xP8TRbj1Sc3y7MvJvhNmhtqEOhYxcLGrDIg44uYlBeS1OcXp6KUIV_8xS-HvWstqKWANFH-MKttQDqN186ytWbFYNIeBuRxJ4mNiUZS5faF2ESnz12k0c9rL4L8cMtORe6YeQ8NqNJvVA/w480-h640/407280304_1470947900486489_5355831051025108654_n.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzSDIsKPiipPrca66fabWTVh_FbnTmllPbOeMV_rNB7YpMI8nVJriTx9uALmHe-UjJvnlNERsixx8sDNz-wPMUZIVfyEIa93u8tTAfo7vSBSxuU_AGK-PGGdU5qVg2H3qtXOD6swv6VY0UlLPpB9OB8I7lXUVfYWESheygYGXP1v9CsJq-iWmsf-CTMg/s1104/386853719_1490551731521559_996845623758043070_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1104" data-original-width="828" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzSDIsKPiipPrca66fabWTVh_FbnTmllPbOeMV_rNB7YpMI8nVJriTx9uALmHe-UjJvnlNERsixx8sDNz-wPMUZIVfyEIa93u8tTAfo7vSBSxuU_AGK-PGGdU5qVg2H3qtXOD6swv6VY0UlLPpB9OB8I7lXUVfYWESheygYGXP1v9CsJq-iWmsf-CTMg/w480-h640/386853719_1490551731521559_996845623758043070_n.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I have made the house festive, little by little, mostly by decorating everything the same as in past years. (It was not the year for new ideas or fresh creativity.)<br /><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix-yLGFbjsu15KHb46qewjauluVG2Mao-cT0WkHBSyfA3sMQca8DMTaxb0gqcWr8EJmzJQ0r_G94eJkostg2mNpizLw88THXpjwDw3RnJTXVQUm3s7kyi1T6l-xFUlK_ya4sLf5g0LvDNYjbbtP2dLpZmGgHYEgRzVO1vu849CLT4eWWYxMM9gKTjCDA/s828/411370227_1788875928250853_8420011788767862401_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="621" data-original-width="828" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix-yLGFbjsu15KHb46qewjauluVG2Mao-cT0WkHBSyfA3sMQca8DMTaxb0gqcWr8EJmzJQ0r_G94eJkostg2mNpizLw88THXpjwDw3RnJTXVQUm3s7kyi1T6l-xFUlK_ya4sLf5g0LvDNYjbbtP2dLpZmGgHYEgRzVO1vu849CLT4eWWYxMM9gKTjCDA/w640-h480/411370227_1788875928250853_8420011788767862401_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF2elsmqCiKHEjCgI_wjz41qQc8uoO4tA8ybfWFXhn2Q43kyobfyZbuyRUxfS12QUp2M9SUNLtfFy3zjsVZeGStG7OqhBQ6pu9G3pCSLyxn-WfWO2jgwGo_5L4BymyKzO8xt-WfTzEzG1s7kz07IJZTa4lAd5En_G084pyL1OM6T77fowhyphenhyphenJtr0toPwQ/s828/411095389_1103835950532599_4112647959896351470_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="621" data-original-width="828" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF2elsmqCiKHEjCgI_wjz41qQc8uoO4tA8ybfWFXhn2Q43kyobfyZbuyRUxfS12QUp2M9SUNLtfFy3zjsVZeGStG7OqhBQ6pu9G3pCSLyxn-WfWO2jgwGo_5L4BymyKzO8xt-WfTzEzG1s7kz07IJZTa4lAd5En_G084pyL1OM6T77fowhyphenhyphenJtr0toPwQ/w640-h480/411095389_1103835950532599_4112647959896351470_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Christmas music, new and old, has been a highlight of this season. Attending a Collingsworth Family Christmas concert (which was <i>amazing</i>). Listening to music at home and in the van as I am out and about. Singing carols with my church family at an assisted living home. Learning Christmas songs for our worship team and making room for those new songs in my heart. Listening to some of Mom's favorite Christmas CDs as we run errands together. Listening to Bekah's Christmas playlist as we take coffee-drives to decompress. And even hosting a "Soup & Carols" gathering for our church music team and their families. Yes, even with my limited time and energy, it was life-giving and so worth it.<br /></span><iframehttps: bawpee_kq="" shorts="" si="8M9EV37oWdBsiao-" src="" youtube.com=""></iframehttps:></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dw74nQnCCnUFaUTWi-2nL_k_RjlBSu2KrHRIF-bRfbyk6UscSQavUvBjM7icnPdJGVzZo_O_qUVfzbqFcjxlA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfW1rpDBk9NS_GHhC4KdMYWYA6zYdSuQnXfBX2IjpmD0S7e544rIAJVHyxF9aV9_4eFkb_pwrfEF7lyI6Dov0Z5n0OYM1KFYLGLfoOVNGXKMnBwroPVI2-n9kJT2EVztEpgQZJY7iQtyQWJkGvakpG3mHt6II2V5xERObmBqUkvAEpVdi6Xr2A3pVrpQ/s1104/409820217_885480223033433_2056956393866889961_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1104" data-original-width="828" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfW1rpDBk9NS_GHhC4KdMYWYA6zYdSuQnXfBX2IjpmD0S7e544rIAJVHyxF9aV9_4eFkb_pwrfEF7lyI6Dov0Z5n0OYM1KFYLGLfoOVNGXKMnBwroPVI2-n9kJT2EVztEpgQZJY7iQtyQWJkGvakpG3mHt6II2V5xERObmBqUkvAEpVdi6Xr2A3pVrpQ/w480-h640/409820217_885480223033433_2056956393866889961_n.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ25KPz4hsTt48NBi_mqY1GXFXGv92pKuIvP6yDLDnFiohhyqTKlpgFhaY5Y84Xh-yD7t025Rp09rVPHmi12yd5zzVPRB0j_F1htTonP1FPl6Pe6qiI49lXmS8NIow-FrL14HbDJyHPDmkBNtduS6mFncIM64O_LyWevPoyRVti8Ab54hIxKZH-T04dg/s828/409358824_900299631592621_7166748727988001702_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="621" data-original-width="828" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ25KPz4hsTt48NBi_mqY1GXFXGv92pKuIvP6yDLDnFiohhyqTKlpgFhaY5Y84Xh-yD7t025Rp09rVPHmi12yd5zzVPRB0j_F1htTonP1FPl6Pe6qiI49lXmS8NIow-FrL14HbDJyHPDmkBNtduS6mFncIM64O_LyWevPoyRVti8Ab54hIxKZH-T04dg/w640-h480/409358824_900299631592621_7166748727988001702_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCm-GF4jqvveul3PZR88SrTNkJ8a3mEsesEK1zqviNwdxwIt-Sfim7cuTZTPAOsMt0oc2st6iWuYJ1Jt3w88p5bFM79BZrDd3n6AirPIHMP-Rnu7J0xdiRxSIaSyUnnTEFqndwzGEfdmYTjv3hCxq8IVeqPoDQPhpvA70YD47sZxAbD9ZbHUz3RfvKzg/s1104/411285873_1532863444157704_6642601095602848048_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1104" data-original-width="828" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCm-GF4jqvveul3PZR88SrTNkJ8a3mEsesEK1zqviNwdxwIt-Sfim7cuTZTPAOsMt0oc2st6iWuYJ1Jt3w88p5bFM79BZrDd3n6AirPIHMP-Rnu7J0xdiRxSIaSyUnnTEFqndwzGEfdmYTjv3hCxq8IVeqPoDQPhpvA70YD47sZxAbD9ZbHUz3RfvKzg/w480-h640/411285873_1532863444157704_6642601095602848048_n.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dw1wUnqMk5k0T9hSOpPqwAt92fuccp7cjmxsuSj3cIl-BCt6PUhvuNT3Wo0XHbPnNIHW0Kof8v_t4emKoXlig' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6uBe9BnxOsNX9YMqXadqGMHDtrTcOlJ1Ykz8FIbAFX-AxE6_zkJR850tyqA0KzZWMs3sJyKj_Tb-7vwDD_U16idshexi_a1VW0iLXXCAa8xzMuw-bj2RYvP2eLQEOKrgWQFCuQ5kqZ52ZV3H4n0Zi6p5OFWZMS-rv1pIYW4o8nNrya7-829is4Yoalw/s1104/411171361_173144649189220_7203900138673484299_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1104" data-original-width="828" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6uBe9BnxOsNX9YMqXadqGMHDtrTcOlJ1Ykz8FIbAFX-AxE6_zkJR850tyqA0KzZWMs3sJyKj_Tb-7vwDD_U16idshexi_a1VW0iLXXCAa8xzMuw-bj2RYvP2eLQEOKrgWQFCuQ5kqZ52ZV3H4n0Zi6p5OFWZMS-rv1pIYW4o8nNrya7-829is4Yoalw/w480-h640/411171361_173144649189220_7203900138673484299_n.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="font-size: medium;">I have sipped my morning coffee out of a pretty mug that was my Daddy's and I have remembered him and his love for Christmas. I don't know if he ever drank a Starbucks coffee, but he loved their seasonal coffee mugs and had a small collection of them. Mom gave me this one and I treasure it. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz9p6e9nr47LobLcqSjyCBMV0WYVMWNdyQUvk8DLGJI7LIkM0_Z0jxQAnmGO0O5xa55vxOPr_KoSydHY8E0ESkrhQuKFUg2lVmIVATDyHSinvDlp0WWRpXRUWwyo06Ubw7oIxVJJde1yNtztigFt4uPwds-gb1SzKD3gaBQ8UOIf5I7_LFoD4Qbkzcuw/s1104/411178669_389738870156655_7160452210010858220_n%20(1).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1104" data-original-width="828" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz9p6e9nr47LobLcqSjyCBMV0WYVMWNdyQUvk8DLGJI7LIkM0_Z0jxQAnmGO0O5xa55vxOPr_KoSydHY8E0ESkrhQuKFUg2lVmIVATDyHSinvDlp0WWRpXRUWwyo06Ubw7oIxVJJde1yNtztigFt4uPwds-gb1SzKD3gaBQ8UOIf5I7_LFoD4Qbkzcuw/w480-h640/411178669_389738870156655_7160452210010858220_n%20(1).jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I hope you did not get whiplash on this year's "house tour" . . . as we hopped around from room to room while I talked! But I have hosted this little cyber home tour ever since I began my blog and I didn't want to stop this year. <i>(You can find any of my other tours ~ <a href="https://thinking-about-home.blogspot.com/2019/12/christmas-home-tours.html" target="_blank">here</a> ~.) </i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>I am going to leave you with a song. </b></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">I have heard this song all my life and have sung it countless times. But in November when Mom, my sister Linda, and I had our annual Mother/Daughter Christmas Shopping Day, "<b>God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen</b>" was playing on a Spotify playlist as we drove from one store to another. I wasn't even giving it my full attention, when all of a sudden, as if it was the very first time, I heard these lyrics strong and clear and it stopped me in my tracks. <br /></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><i>Remember Christ our Savior was born on Christmas day <br /><b> To save us all from Satan's pow'r when we were gone astray </b></i></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><br /><br /></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">And before I could even say anything, Linda said, "Listen at those words!" as she, too, was hearing and feeling it afresh. <br /><br />For really, that is what our celebration is all about! That is why He came! </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">And that is truly "tidings of comfort and joy!" </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><p></p>
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/JiVOOVzbGUU?si=a-6HU1fy8todbJxK" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe><div><br /></div><div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Merry Christmas, my friends!</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>May you know the reality of those "tidings of comfort and joy!" </b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div>Cheryl http://www.blogger.com/profile/00063844335185525553noreply@blogger.com26tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6596988245744679027.post-76107834084966584722023-11-28T08:20:00.002-05:002024-02-26T22:39:57.546-05:00Thanksgiving 2023<p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">This Thanksgiving, we had every one of our children and grandchildren around our table! <i>(A mama's heart is happy when all of her chicks are in the nest, right mamas?) </i>One little boy woke up sick, the turkey wasn't ready at the appointed time, and we all missed <a href="https://thinking-about-home.blogspot.com/2023/10/always-loved.html" target="_blank">Gampy</a>, but the day was also full of gratitude and joyful hearts and music and tradition and family togetherness. We are blessed! </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The table was set for twenty-five this year. </span></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh11-4uDmHhQt0F3jkkzKaH3Iw4uq2zGd4Aq01Dnk3GyPRkB-aLlt5NFezTIKyZSGce78w3z-gK59fHL_bwvjztFncnNhNfLehAT1oe3UN3bGyny4bv6VGYh3opLLTYOz1BQVVmr0j0ki9_h5gPxpHf_HfzH4myqacRbDMm9WdXsjzMaYJ3chT7QgfZhg/s828/371543331_319263634384768_2405792473655979096_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="621" data-original-width="828" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh11-4uDmHhQt0F3jkkzKaH3Iw4uq2zGd4Aq01Dnk3GyPRkB-aLlt5NFezTIKyZSGce78w3z-gK59fHL_bwvjztFncnNhNfLehAT1oe3UN3bGyny4bv6VGYh3opLLTYOz1BQVVmr0j0ki9_h5gPxpHf_HfzH4myqacRbDMm9WdXsjzMaYJ3chT7QgfZhg/w640-h480/371543331_319263634384768_2405792473655979096_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Most years, I have planned my tables weeks (or even months) in advance. But this year has been full of heartache, changes, struggle, and busyness. I purchased <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/1591670635/thanksgiving-name-card-template?ref=yr_purchases" target="_blank">these downloadable place cards</a> on Etsy a few days before Thanksgiving and I planned our place settings and table decor on <i>Wednesday evening</i>. Yikes! The "plus" side was that I had many helpers . . . formatting the place cards, setting up tables, laying out flatware, folding napkins, and assigning seats. </span></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBeGdggY76yEUAldfeksig7quX8hAvNc_x_VvbHygWu_vFQVP_SOpYs5oYBtWOpsTgnXqWaiYSfnxAILMUSojzua1doaK8zKkPy2n6l796RvBYujZGvhQz57eHQk43qQyDpgZY3XTQApvAIleLh73mXsw-fQtk4tcJGorfkAKtkAF4iHtBPHhQXMQyGg/s1104/403403528_1495190581259268_110672751599229860_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1104" data-original-width="828" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBeGdggY76yEUAldfeksig7quX8hAvNc_x_VvbHygWu_vFQVP_SOpYs5oYBtWOpsTgnXqWaiYSfnxAILMUSojzua1doaK8zKkPy2n6l796RvBYujZGvhQz57eHQk43qQyDpgZY3XTQApvAIleLh73mXsw-fQtk4tcJGorfkAKtkAF4iHtBPHhQXMQyGg/w480-h640/403403528_1495190581259268_110672751599229860_n.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">On Thanksgiving morning, I had snuggle time with the three youngest grandgirls. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi435JUvV-m0Pdda9SbN6LWgBVJsRgJ4-ohyphenhyphenpYw5POgXFrY_gC6sDckqn6JEoeoBOgonSvK_ix0_gHqgNEce0p8tlkg9CSRfQKzdnFRZoDXaQXlZTqpPH6QCsYCUIhSH3cTmW3wOY1U_nv_-gArwFee_-GPASyR0Oyn0UnAM_k1ds1uRW0SMaAA_INy4A/s1103/371473084_647091034238185_4174876023054572504_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1103" data-original-width="828" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi435JUvV-m0Pdda9SbN6LWgBVJsRgJ4-ohyphenhyphenpYw5POgXFrY_gC6sDckqn6JEoeoBOgonSvK_ix0_gHqgNEce0p8tlkg9CSRfQKzdnFRZoDXaQXlZTqpPH6QCsYCUIhSH3cTmW3wOY1U_nv_-gArwFee_-GPASyR0Oyn0UnAM_k1ds1uRW0SMaAA_INy4A/w480-h640/371473084_647091034238185_4174876023054572504_n.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div><br /></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><div style="text-align: justify;">As I said, everyone was here for Thanksgiving this year, so I made sure to get photos of each family. <br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Kristin's</b> family: <br />Gavin, Alaine, Ben, Owen, Maddie<br />Macie, Brian, Kristin, Judah<br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwqPMOj6uNFHM0WjQtBY2jBXiHTwTU-vd1DZUWZSiAiSFw3wr0VXWky_ZoZMMmgeyBHq-bl1y4dpeSNWMAlYKkiDWJUjwntxeRRB6sCzJ0H0_jN37fC7gFw4W9wgKzK3z2fHrodywX4smdc77qeOPHOVLskhlJFhTuGtphacUYFmT3iMm3RJ45eGp4oQ/s828/367788422_1755638078277321_6176530561448316352_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="621" data-original-width="828" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwqPMOj6uNFHM0WjQtBY2jBXiHTwTU-vd1DZUWZSiAiSFw3wr0VXWky_ZoZMMmgeyBHq-bl1y4dpeSNWMAlYKkiDWJUjwntxeRRB6sCzJ0H0_jN37fC7gFw4W9wgKzK3z2fHrodywX4smdc77qeOPHOVLskhlJFhTuGtphacUYFmT3iMm3RJ45eGp4oQ/w640-h480/367788422_1755638078277321_6176530561448316352_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /></div></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Ryan's</b> family:<br />Eve, Peter, Ryan, Sarah, Nora<br />Joanna, Katrina, Paul<br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4HgUxlEiflz_JQNmvdhTY-x6kerj5sRLc5N5P9IiOKiHQTJ5ZS9tKxhPJ_b8cedYgsbmw6z-WUVx-qn2MN3diU3ylgWBgiCMKvn-IC1JMXE29RKtLRDFcigKx6nnr4Ql4EPfOtVQ0xLFfugJEuURV8lsSYOdCCQxGq9mN7QoZPcflUcExRyk-K6lU_g/s828/369358610_202731172808527_7073842241350522598_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="621" data-original-width="828" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4HgUxlEiflz_JQNmvdhTY-x6kerj5sRLc5N5P9IiOKiHQTJ5ZS9tKxhPJ_b8cedYgsbmw6z-WUVx-qn2MN3diU3ylgWBgiCMKvn-IC1JMXE29RKtLRDFcigKx6nnr4Ql4EPfOtVQ0xLFfugJEuURV8lsSYOdCCQxGq9mN7QoZPcflUcExRyk-K6lU_g/w640-h480/369358610_202731172808527_7073842241350522598_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Kati's</b> family:</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Ellie, Andrew, Kati, Caleb<br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIbBq104Fii4IALzUDaZWmwpxFQ6x1mO7cfFkAi6yCfmL1a24lykMWf6O1g_sM7fp4-A4k5DpTZPP7oGzWQvvkkmE_ZbCtXafVNy6sBxadr91pLfWua-m-KNOTdiwjsdtmWAK24HweQL_b1K1zb3rZc2cz6FNWlVHj2a-rZ0GyMDKuC7f1ZevdDNxxCw/s828/368065315_1477874339728411_6506680509286291352_n%20(1).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="621" data-original-width="828" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIbBq104Fii4IALzUDaZWmwpxFQ6x1mO7cfFkAi6yCfmL1a24lykMWf6O1g_sM7fp4-A4k5DpTZPP7oGzWQvvkkmE_ZbCtXafVNy6sBxadr91pLfWua-m-KNOTdiwjsdtmWAK24HweQL_b1K1zb3rZc2cz6FNWlVHj2a-rZ0GyMDKuC7f1ZevdDNxxCw/w640-h480/368065315_1477874339728411_6506680509286291352_n%20(1).jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Ron and I with <b>Rebekah</b></span></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLko6FO8G7RT_lHzIb8g1nx3inDMJMp5yR-zRCRe4fZDFyx2tbh0Y9VsKvw91MySayemhPOcDA61ln5v0WD9MjGgqC_FAQcDRYlCX5dvtdlIzCd6gAo7Ev9_2weH0grV1JhXOcsRl-GmcJutUtKXHF_murnG3ebjN2nbEPjF_O1738LQnyd9b04CwjMA/s828/403607001_908571163999760_5165611295217264896_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="621" data-original-width="828" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLko6FO8G7RT_lHzIb8g1nx3inDMJMp5yR-zRCRe4fZDFyx2tbh0Y9VsKvw91MySayemhPOcDA61ln5v0WD9MjGgqC_FAQcDRYlCX5dvtdlIzCd6gAo7Ev9_2weH0grV1JhXOcsRl-GmcJutUtKXHF_murnG3ebjN2nbEPjF_O1738LQnyd9b04CwjMA/w640-h480/403607001_908571163999760_5165611295217264896_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Gammy (my mom) with Joanna</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimNRXsYq20xrbHkIbUCwABka-fYpZPnai8QOyAt53fvtodrs0LZ6xEOrqSB5iW2fBJsGoUIIPyeleJBwMee-UkEjabzANFD-ZQmEJiDYdLvUSMVunMVffbOFrvCZw2As1MEGKn5BQTCxIAbywfPjpfasA0P6WVKPqI-Teb6bIogAG6LRI6xXaOTl8f9w/s1104/403416302_318483190989191_5790027884705069251_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1104" data-original-width="828" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimNRXsYq20xrbHkIbUCwABka-fYpZPnai8QOyAt53fvtodrs0LZ6xEOrqSB5iW2fBJsGoUIIPyeleJBwMee-UkEjabzANFD-ZQmEJiDYdLvUSMVunMVffbOFrvCZw2As1MEGKn5BQTCxIAbywfPjpfasA0P6WVKPqI-Teb6bIogAG6LRI6xXaOTl8f9w/w480-h640/403416302_318483190989191_5790027884705069251_n.jpg" width="480" /></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />While we waited for the turkey to finish roasting, we wrote blessings on our leaves for the <a href="https://thinking-about-home.blogspot.com/2009/11/thankful-tree.html" target="_blank">Thankful Tree</a>. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUkVlUo_sKPoHEjhgjyRbo1JQYfZUjcvYrz0HkNIOU5qzpv6VQkn7wWq5IQ6aokpago6n88F1hyRZ5Y0m0ZFr3cR1waa0t-CKiaRn55plGMIe0uPKtzBDasmWQuMDa7UBB2NEfUVNVTOXR_VOhumPMiNDQY2W6mzOA_p4tuGd8XfFaDLeN7c2upvXd-A/s1104/404195799_1032025011383431_6763127367703304112_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1104" data-original-width="828" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUkVlUo_sKPoHEjhgjyRbo1JQYfZUjcvYrz0HkNIOU5qzpv6VQkn7wWq5IQ6aokpago6n88F1hyRZ5Y0m0ZFr3cR1waa0t-CKiaRn55plGMIe0uPKtzBDasmWQuMDa7UBB2NEfUVNVTOXR_VOhumPMiNDQY2W6mzOA_p4tuGd8XfFaDLeN7c2upvXd-A/w480-h640/404195799_1032025011383431_6763127367703304112_n.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />We also had some <i>beautiful</i> music played by daughter Bekah on piano and granddaughter Eve on violin. <br /></span></div><br /><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/yML2elT9KJg?si=6W7qfLToOPQMKimH" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>Conversation overheard . . . </i></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Gammy:</b> Awww, there's a photo op! You two look so cute there at the window! </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b style="font-weight: bold;">Ryan:</b> We're vultures, not J. Crew. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">🤣🤣</div></span></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTzrESUpYmB6_xbUMp5H1XeyOYw6OtykQb8zdeyKB8iwdlfM-bTk_JRgPsDDVcJTZlruOukW9pIIDCdjklVjk6MX8FF-CNg2I0xBCUkwfpqmTcENQnG_qIHqhECSssOKhJVGFtvLw15YpN2P1sPRAJmXu0c5V_WOq_5EshPcWuFhrisdjmk_hYKlkhow/s1104/403603306_738318984820937_6465081825872048763_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1104" data-original-width="828" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTzrESUpYmB6_xbUMp5H1XeyOYw6OtykQb8zdeyKB8iwdlfM-bTk_JRgPsDDVcJTZlruOukW9pIIDCdjklVjk6MX8FF-CNg2I0xBCUkwfpqmTcENQnG_qIHqhECSssOKhJVGFtvLw15YpN2P1sPRAJmXu0c5V_WOq_5EshPcWuFhrisdjmk_hYKlkhow/w480-h640/403603306_738318984820937_6465081825872048763_n.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">When the feast was ready, we gathered around the long table and sang a "hymn of grateful praise." <br /><br /></span></div><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/3meZlUxDyQo?si=wvN1iXn5JLH6g9u_" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe><br /><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif;"><br />You may remember that we have "servers" each year for our Thanksgiving meal. It eliminates a long buffet line or having all of the food on the table which is already pretty full. This year's </span>servers were the lovely Maddie, Kristin, Eve, and Bekah. </span></div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg34YmhXcek_YrDCENX9DxkEoKBZEcbLqHVWlMj1izMdqn8EP3peTuJCblQEsVAMaVifeaBtWBMFCm0rgufwRYzA6zEqA-xC-Mrw25VNNvRaZYhPhEaowVywToQsSsTewpBeWcuQj6byucBO5Z5LW5DCV1i-aJkMHk9GsqtrHda52Cgz5m1DBYR3RmcEg/s2000/Blank%202000%20x%202000%20(10).png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="2000" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg34YmhXcek_YrDCENX9DxkEoKBZEcbLqHVWlMj1izMdqn8EP3peTuJCblQEsVAMaVifeaBtWBMFCm0rgufwRYzA6zEqA-xC-Mrw25VNNvRaZYhPhEaowVywToQsSsTewpBeWcuQj6byucBO5Z5LW5DCV1i-aJkMHk9GsqtrHda52Cgz5m1DBYR3RmcEg/w640-h640/Blank%202000%20x%202000%20(10).png" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>I love all of these faces!</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxkbe9YrZdkxpHgDVAF-RAkz5IplUqjPVm0jxwqiaQ_UBVdWBSq7vlja1lP9gljDJ_0fQAfFsIDTTJ3x6MeMpksJUKVuCKbDg6Sr_j-a9TQ3YxIKZLzuTycNjQN0aduZatNrjl07UJrVes9bxktC40v-VAF-yIdwXigWmJy6ZYHRiGikEodqfqjVV3gw/s828/403725947_675240878045474_1119007661630082049_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="621" data-original-width="828" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxkbe9YrZdkxpHgDVAF-RAkz5IplUqjPVm0jxwqiaQ_UBVdWBSq7vlja1lP9gljDJ_0fQAfFsIDTTJ3x6MeMpksJUKVuCKbDg6Sr_j-a9TQ3YxIKZLzuTycNjQN0aduZatNrjl07UJrVes9bxktC40v-VAF-yIdwXigWmJy6ZYHRiGikEodqfqjVV3gw/w640-h480/403725947_675240878045474_1119007661630082049_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">You can't see all five pies in this photo. That is a lot of slices per capita! </span></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidEsdTsvMuPRgNBbVSqFsiAsAH49KjQC8Di-KSn9cW8xQTLx_KFdRHMpSLN5OV7N9Y3Jk07BqiJGz8HmaDkziBFig7yIMO-MGp8ILIXyI0CjlPZ_p3glLLUZLKzNcAJjitzrN9VGR68xU5DA-yG2XfhXCasniLcXBANlgYNUbXeLyPiBR_SjW4nAeIMw/s828/369078073_335166622487893_1880877311750024069_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="621" data-original-width="828" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidEsdTsvMuPRgNBbVSqFsiAsAH49KjQC8Di-KSn9cW8xQTLx_KFdRHMpSLN5OV7N9Y3Jk07BqiJGz8HmaDkziBFig7yIMO-MGp8ILIXyI0CjlPZ_p3glLLUZLKzNcAJjitzrN9VGR68xU5DA-yG2XfhXCasniLcXBANlgYNUbXeLyPiBR_SjW4nAeIMw/w640-h480/369078073_335166622487893_1880877311750024069_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />🎜</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">For the joy of human love, <br />Brother, sister, parent, child,<br />Friends on earth and friends above,<br />For each gentle thought and mild.<br /><br />Lord of all, to Thee we raise<br />This our hymn of grateful praise! <br />🎝</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ_8Cut1c0NfoNrWJzZu8jWP3mOISYD-6sMqAQRy2suM1y9BGY0l1tVCMhRChtJCBt98Y6q2iJtB1z-cqQ9htLrnWY9n6udJH621mqcBCy82_tWJrPdCgOUJkSvOIFuRE9WsbBohycHvrzMuC8hQXv5qREEFb2Bbdbbx_vQU0sCl60rrnZHqTfJqRJ8A/s4000/Family.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ_8Cut1c0NfoNrWJzZu8jWP3mOISYD-6sMqAQRy2suM1y9BGY0l1tVCMhRChtJCBt98Y6q2iJtB1z-cqQ9htLrnWY9n6udJH621mqcBCy82_tWJrPdCgOUJkSvOIFuRE9WsbBohycHvrzMuC8hQXv5qREEFb2Bbdbbx_vQU0sCl60rrnZHqTfJqRJ8A/w640-h480/Family.png" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu6J72D5Us84ly9tWcjEUS_u99iHqlqstlmC6Lb8oTsp5YQylV2zUzAtqZ_YnGB-SZcmMtUjBcYOSd0raWkw6ck8b9NLokMcEUuHOj1FTNhIecYm_7NvjIDgA44jzV23qHibO06TLwB4-OL8SjR-1tnKqTO-4RITrKwJMLBs3vILMLvKQY8VOSrupq5w/s3834/Kids.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2875" data-original-width="3834" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu6J72D5Us84ly9tWcjEUS_u99iHqlqstlmC6Lb8oTsp5YQylV2zUzAtqZ_YnGB-SZcmMtUjBcYOSd0raWkw6ck8b9NLokMcEUuHOj1FTNhIecYm_7NvjIDgA44jzV23qHibO06TLwB4-OL8SjR-1tnKqTO-4RITrKwJMLBs3vILMLvKQY8VOSrupq5w/w640-h480/Kids.png" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilNzD9oSo73fU-Xkr1DUF5ERDPoFaNg7pFUcKXA9swryu4pFMfEKPOEx5Bbwy52oX9yNZjPL0AlTixAWtEL-FaHxLUksC7Pat5VlLk-dz23MZ8rWoUWoQ7ad3t5dDcoQqvg_NJhId8mB_C7KweresfGxuKk7M0O4EJ4G7L0Uw0mbJ-8JPHgzj1ssLGRA/s4000/Grandkids.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilNzD9oSo73fU-Xkr1DUF5ERDPoFaNg7pFUcKXA9swryu4pFMfEKPOEx5Bbwy52oX9yNZjPL0AlTixAWtEL-FaHxLUksC7Pat5VlLk-dz23MZ8rWoUWoQ7ad3t5dDcoQqvg_NJhId8mB_C7KweresfGxuKk7M0O4EJ4G7L0Uw0mbJ-8JPHgzj1ssLGRA/w640-h480/Grandkids.png" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />After </span><span style="font-size: medium;">a death, there are many "firsts" without that person. This was our first holiday <a href="https://thinking-about-home.blogspot.com/2023/10/always-loved.html" target="_blank">without my dad</a>. These months have been a blur, and I sometimes wonder if it has all totally sunk in to me. But I keep putting one foot in front of the other because there is so just much to do, and I know that my mom is feeling that same thing. <br /><br />And yet, even with all of the changes and the grief, it is good to pause and be grateful for all of God's gifts and to praise Him for all that He has done! </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><i>Bless the Lord, O my soul;<br /><span> </span><span> </span><span> <span> </span></span>And all that is within me, bless His holy name!<br /><span> </span><span> </span><span> <span> </span></span>Bless the LORD, O my soul, </i></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><i><span> </span><span> </span><span> <span> </span></span>And forget not all His benefits:<br /><span> </span><span> </span><span> <span> </span></span>Who forgives all your iniquities, <br /><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span>Who heals all your diseases,<br /><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span>Who redeems your life from destruction, </i></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span> </span><span> <span> </span></span>Who crowns you with lovingkindess and tender mercies, </span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-style: italic;"> </span><span style="font-family: georgia; font-style: italic;"> </span><span style="font-family: georgia; font-style: italic;"> </span><span style="font-family: georgia; font-style: italic;"> </span><span style="font-family: georgia; font-style: italic;">Who satisfies your mouth with good things, </span><br /><span style="font-family: georgia; font-style: italic;"> </span><span style="font-family: georgia; font-style: italic;"> </span><span style="font-family: georgia; font-style: italic;"> </span><span style="font-family: georgia; font-style: italic;"> </span><span style="font-family: georgia; font-style: italic;">So that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium; font-style: italic;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Psalm 103:1-5 </span></div><br /><br /></div></div>Cheryl http://www.blogger.com/profile/00063844335185525553noreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6596988245744679027.post-24187177374958597312023-10-30T06:00:00.002-04:002023-10-30T07:52:24.640-04:00Always loved . . . <div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXmwcPCsmOmqfy81IF2wtXoFnq8X7GZHAFCp9uGq7fNVm5h_OIhlEyYi692Iq0Jd2Rg0oK4yin6-PV2RWuPgEYVz6ovj0x0etwR7zwAuhzNMtYVgUSCboEAZNLUarYILKZETKmwkL0ZPD6BYm4gJ-v5pt61D2RGuS3NYkizoQEkGMOMVS_fHAemHwaMg/s1236/370254667_2000878683638790_6872297109968720340_n.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1236" data-original-width="827" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXmwcPCsmOmqfy81IF2wtXoFnq8X7GZHAFCp9uGq7fNVm5h_OIhlEyYi692Iq0Jd2Rg0oK4yin6-PV2RWuPgEYVz6ovj0x0etwR7zwAuhzNMtYVgUSCboEAZNLUarYILKZETKmwkL0ZPD6BYm4gJ-v5pt61D2RGuS3NYkizoQEkGMOMVS_fHAemHwaMg/w428-h640/370254667_2000878683638790_6872297109968720340_n.jpg" width="428" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">My Daddy</span><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">1937 ~ 2023</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>At the end of September, we </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; white-space-collapse: preserve;">said good-bye to my hardworking, honest, witty, music-loving, handy, steady, dependable Daddy.</span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: large; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq2YCCUah3uj85Ug_Qt7uiiV-gO4g4nlo61yPeghdAbxvg3b6-pzieu2Pw_nC9gFcHCWIoE8ZWx_ceBR4dZtD4VXemvemb83jbyWBeABakt3SsHANz_LKxjgVSajyiAnE-wKmBiGGvO-Nrj_aH8Synx6pQT9dL2c5iHicuGE2yuZ-dpQn0rVNhUhW_7Q/s280/IMG_3776.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="280" data-original-width="280" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq2YCCUah3uj85Ug_Qt7uiiV-gO4g4nlo61yPeghdAbxvg3b6-pzieu2Pw_nC9gFcHCWIoE8ZWx_ceBR4dZtD4VXemvemb83jbyWBeABakt3SsHANz_LKxjgVSajyiAnE-wKmBiGGvO-Nrj_aH8Synx6pQT9dL2c5iHicuGE2yuZ-dpQn0rVNhUhW_7Q/w400-h400/IMG_3776.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; 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font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFKiY8PGsalPBeSmNPtG-BV35WZgvlXUycN8WaAUMq3z88SifKUrGlEiIPb9WSsfOJgBmV4XaUhdJ2up_owpZGPZ7lkyMs-GllFjOIdiJqSqNlZDd3IVLMDmf1ogLxroW2Q9teKWJiI5tsSTdKtFm7Mcp7LQEJM8vDwGZJEF08Wb1wQVle4AZucybwKQ/s280/IMG_3775.jpeg" style="font-size: medium; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="280" data-original-width="280" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFKiY8PGsalPBeSmNPtG-BV35WZgvlXUycN8WaAUMq3z88SifKUrGlEiIPb9WSsfOJgBmV4XaUhdJ2up_owpZGPZ7lkyMs-GllFjOIdiJqSqNlZDd3IVLMDmf1ogLxroW2Q9teKWJiI5tsSTdKtFm7Mcp7LQEJM8vDwGZJEF08Wb1wQVle4AZucybwKQ/w400-h400/IMG_3775.jpeg" width="400" /></a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiolXWRuJx3rjC5pY9QMTjkC_d5ak7CYqBi-KDoXfAsWm6ehgtKiKO6SlHsigWGveq6wPLOyPa9rsNKrPrqWkmWP5Udh5zPUQXHRQGeLX8aTv8AezCvFrJXfLm1GzEW22bcfxSGz1bNT58MGFI96jBO2DVjD9_Yg6np4bbonGjn9mhFLib7UR1FkxJ5Jg/s1048/370283065_1745053772662056_4471080227621777325_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; 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color: #050505; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6ZHFXLpRRhDr51RDnFuZuvUvhZhgvA2qpoG-dFJBzA4KM71NOSnj5PVFpUgPQumsXXGFQBc0CD0U4Y-f70V3tNZB7TrHRUZs7jc34KhHKSq-VByUw3x2DdlsT0setOzNz6JvXycH6RJtm2LDGgucRX9JoUCoxsqEYBZexBHN5EqkRYGQ7WXAIGKB_7w/s1236/393836710_1427739577789665_5045763116653599098_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1236" data-original-width="827" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6ZHFXLpRRhDr51RDnFuZuvUvhZhgvA2qpoG-dFJBzA4KM71NOSnj5PVFpUgPQumsXXGFQBc0CD0U4Y-f70V3tNZB7TrHRUZs7jc34KhHKSq-VByUw3x2DdlsT0setOzNz6JvXycH6RJtm2LDGgucRX9JoUCoxsqEYBZexBHN5EqkRYGQ7WXAIGKB_7w/w428-h640/393836710_1427739577789665_5045763116653599098_n.jpg" width="428" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: large; white-space-collapse: preserve;">I will love and miss him always. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="xdj266r x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="x3nfvp2 x1j61x8r x1fcty0u xdj266r xhhsvwb xat24cr xgzva0m xxymvpz xlup9mm x1kky2od" style="display: inline-flex; font-family: inherit; height: 16px; margin: 0px 1px; vertical-align: middle; width: 16px;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1APEWt2lo0BYsoPPxBZEL30biQ7sPVFwO62xgvGwLCc1SoLQWK1WUqbPYav2q3z1s3t0KqMHor8DSzDHSRsKZxkstiHnqMeDK3dOhaJxV8vl6-8C1U8AK6JCOc1bsR-VdE0zI1MbfXGA0co9fFKZnfTUehuoWnNeQRDbvv2tdcVJNOkWDwBPgM6dvBA/s320/ShabbyBlogsDividerG.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="11" data-original-width="320" height="14" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1APEWt2lo0BYsoPPxBZEL30biQ7sPVFwO62xgvGwLCc1SoLQWK1WUqbPYav2q3z1s3t0KqMHor8DSzDHSRsKZxkstiHnqMeDK3dOhaJxV8vl6-8C1U8AK6JCOc1bsR-VdE0zI1MbfXGA0co9fFKZnfTUehuoWnNeQRDbvv2tdcVJNOkWDwBPgM6dvBA/w400-h14/ShabbyBlogsDividerG.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span class="x3nfvp2 x1j61x8r x1fcty0u xdj266r xhhsvwb xat24cr xgzva0m xxymvpz xlup9mm x1kky2od" style="display: inline-flex; font-family: inherit; height: 16px; margin: 0px 1px; vertical-align: middle; width: 16px;"><br /></span></div></div><div><br /></div><div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.3px; text-align: justify;"></div><center style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.5455px; line-height: 18.1818px;"></center><center style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.5455px; line-height: 18.1818px; text-align: justify;"></center><center style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.5455px; line-height: 18.1818px; text-align: justify;"></center><center style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.5455px; line-height: 18.1818px; text-align: justify;"></center><center style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; line-height: 18.1818px;"><center style="font-size: 14.5455px;"><table border="0" cellpadding="1" style="color: black; font-size: 14.5455px; line-height: 18.1818px; text-align: justify; width: 600px;"><tbody><tr><td bgcolor="#d4cdb8"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /><i>These past nine months have found us on a private journey of struggle and sorrow. I have mostly stepped away from my blog as the story was not exclusively mine to tell, and I did not want to process it in a public way. As I have told you before, our God has gone before us and He guided us along the way. His paths are not always easy, but He works everything for the good of His children and He is always, always good. <br /><br />I plan to tiptoe back into Blogland, although I suspect that I will never catch up with all that has happened in your world while I was away. </i></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>~~~~ * ~~~ * ~~~ * ~~~ * ~~~</b></span></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /><i>Truly, all of us walk through sorrow along life's way. It is a very real part of living in a sin-cursed world. Perhaps the best thing we can do with our pain is to offer it back to the Lord as an act of worship. </i></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div></div></td></tr></tbody></table></center><center style="font-size: 14.5455px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: small; line-height: normal;"><br /></span></center><center style="font-size: 14.5455px; text-align: justify;"><br /></center></center></div>
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/IylHfBdxyFk?si=55AlJUShbIFRYvVq" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Cheryl http://www.blogger.com/profile/00063844335185525553noreply@blogger.com36tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6596988245744679027.post-41262435129662990382023-08-31T09:25:00.004-04:002023-08-31T09:26:44.037-04:00Lessons<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">There was one Sunday morning, much like any other, when we were running late on our way to our home fellowship meeting. I was frustrated with myself because I was (again) the cause of our tardiness. I said to Ron, "You'd think that by the time I was 52, I would have figured things out and not still be struggling with the same issues over and over again!" And Ron responded something like, "It doesn't matter how old you are; you will <i><b>always</b></i> be learning."</span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I wasn't sure whether that was the good news or the bad news, but I have often pondered that idea often over the past ten-ish years.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>All through life, there are lessons to be learned. </b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6QyBFvFLwgEd4rqQqHNzqKYfeM3_hJTRxS2ROSTWzjU6mHwWw0_oOl_qFSrXhqZgsTQ1_ZHmbtiFb-rcpft-fpBt0ipdE8aoW2p44HwmQBsB9dx8mximAiaEOtI2m-MOtRizZtzg8pi6-KL3zoP5QKQAuziyJqnyvzSgCV7S3mbMag7DYa02QnUaV3Q/s4032/IMG_E2321.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6QyBFvFLwgEd4rqQqHNzqKYfeM3_hJTRxS2ROSTWzjU6mHwWw0_oOl_qFSrXhqZgsTQ1_ZHmbtiFb-rcpft-fpBt0ipdE8aoW2p44HwmQBsB9dx8mximAiaEOtI2m-MOtRizZtzg8pi6-KL3zoP5QKQAuziyJqnyvzSgCV7S3mbMag7DYa02QnUaV3Q/w480-h640/IMG_E2321.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i><b>And in the past seven months, I have learned many.</b> </i><br /><br />My pride has been broken. I thought that I knew the right plan . . . and yet it wasn't. <br /><br />I have learned that sometimes I need to let go of my ideals. <br /><br />I have learned anew the value of having His Word hidden in my heart. <br /><br />I have learned to reach out more, to be more vulnerable, to be needy. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I have learned to appreciate (more) the wisdom of my husband.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I have learned that I have so very much left to learn. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span><span style="font-size: medium;">I have been the recipient of compassion, generosity, empathy, friendship, support, love, and many, many prayers. I pray that I will be able to pass those gifts along to others in their time of need, that I have learned the grace of receiving </span><i style="font-size: large;">and</i><span style="font-size: medium;"> giving. </span><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large; font-style: italic;">It is the Lord. Let Him do what seems good to Him. </span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;">I Samuel 3:18 </span></div></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span class="text 2Cor-4-10" face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span face=""Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px; text-align: start; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></p>Cheryl http://www.blogger.com/profile/00063844335185525553noreply@blogger.com24tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6596988245744679027.post-89618192301596782862023-08-02T23:32:00.001-04:002023-08-02T23:33:52.945-04:00Sixty-Five Years <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Today is my parents' 65th wedding anniversary. </span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; white-space-collapse: preserve;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPbm1eBKmi1i3SRKSTVcWL-u1WwfjAt1UEVFj00xHMSbkUakFtuf5t6WAmgHIPSNirkPNq86A_YdwmyGTJ2TqaKS0yNSmIqqRywa2Vl6dY2shXNF6lMZxh2i7snckkY-hlweFVjERC0SpTdPqZ8_GLEw0rvpvxB8vALbvbB0lS4YMrjwDvcooeuQYoUA/s898/365131287_10230862925021672_3295891371201960195_n.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="898" data-original-width="898" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPbm1eBKmi1i3SRKSTVcWL-u1WwfjAt1UEVFj00xHMSbkUakFtuf5t6WAmgHIPSNirkPNq86A_YdwmyGTJ2TqaKS0yNSmIqqRywa2Vl6dY2shXNF6lMZxh2i7snckkY-hlweFVjERC0SpTdPqZ8_GLEw0rvpvxB8vALbvbB0lS4YMrjwDvcooeuQYoUA/s320/365131287_10230862925021672_3295891371201960195_n.png" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p></p><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">So much has changed since this time last year. We went to see Daddy (who is suffering from the later stages of dementia) this afternoon, Mom in her white dress because she always wears white on their anniversary. She gave him a card and some chocolate-covered cherries. She also brought a CD so that they could listen to "their song" (Moonglow/Theme from "Picnic"). She asked him if he remembered this song and the movie <i>Picnic</i>. <a style="color: #385898; cursor: pointer;" tabindex="-1"></a>He did . . . and he even volunteered the name of the leading actress, Kim Novak. Some days, he doesn't even remember <i>my</i> name, but I was absolutely thrilled that he remembered Kim Novak and maybe <i>(who really knows?)</i> some sweet moments of young love and watching this movie with my mom.
</span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Some days are hard right now, and, honestly, some days feel harder-than-hard, but <b>I am so grateful for today, for a good visit, and for moments of grace</b></span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 15px;"><b>.</b></span></div><div dir="auto" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 15px;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 15px;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 15px;"><i>"Their song" . . . </i></span></div></div>
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/R3uw5gK6iGI" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Cheryl http://www.blogger.com/profile/00063844335185525553noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6596988245744679027.post-20225146520712353492023-07-10T10:01:00.006-04:002023-07-10T10:55:10.899-04:00Seasons<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlq6089soCehoKGZKJtQSz6qBrA9NZwjxi2jBCwEEwoLdCIfBhZZl7EK2uttQSYMjX1_d7IeSxjxHJ3IRgBeD-ZDUOaRi_pCvUndNONfBb_PMRDmlrM3_I1TMuVnE-M0J17DJY72EXd-IXduQdDIFUrCvrYktfV6TSJEfu-LEqwJGSaSagaODjD8nxZQ/s828/359911483_1261303061218890_906157661288740178_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="828" data-original-width="828" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlq6089soCehoKGZKJtQSz6qBrA9NZwjxi2jBCwEEwoLdCIfBhZZl7EK2uttQSYMjX1_d7IeSxjxHJ3IRgBeD-ZDUOaRi_pCvUndNONfBb_PMRDmlrM3_I1TMuVnE-M0J17DJY72EXd-IXduQdDIFUrCvrYktfV6TSJEfu-LEqwJGSaSagaODjD8nxZQ/w640-h640/359911483_1261303061218890_906157661288740178_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p></p><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">In February, I took a photo of my winter mantel. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEGnezzkRtcqMcXOcvroM55k30RJCVfI6z8wJIw2WCP5S1lI81ayDXbL-uCISghp7tkEW5Ce0l2lsEA-qwLeGKXp_EanYDOCh9wpbBrP_Ke_oBamZllGm5kau4WadCmSNshAuK_RhBiQqdpO1Zk24y65hAO6SEL6yZZvr_MQ-IQ9TViTtFvRk-H417Jw/s828/358297590_1398653957362724_5118550930384674776_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="828" data-original-width="828" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEGnezzkRtcqMcXOcvroM55k30RJCVfI6z8wJIw2WCP5S1lI81ayDXbL-uCISghp7tkEW5Ce0l2lsEA-qwLeGKXp_EanYDOCh9wpbBrP_Ke_oBamZllGm5kau4WadCmSNshAuK_RhBiQqdpO1Zk24y65hAO6SEL6yZZvr_MQ-IQ9TViTtFvRk-H417Jw/w640-h640/358297590_1398653957362724_5118550930384674776_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Now, somehow, it is July and my mantel is decidedly summery. I wonder how it can be July already . . . and yet, these months have seemed interminably long. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipCtua62U2UN_s5sSwb5oQJwHLwOFfjCBZOm5N9Fwh3clozrxZgQXPxaRoMPLmBV5gjCSMU36Xk4XwPw5azSHJfyOqbvnao7IEqRVGn0HllMziA8VxCXQJL3W9WgZh2mPfwOUKEXCA1WXTjqwJlXF5mJYDTyhbe8I135vG8AwsrJdN9lcA8wYJ2KJeyQ/s828/360035030_298087402692864_1131984185348790645_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="828" data-original-width="828" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipCtua62U2UN_s5sSwb5oQJwHLwOFfjCBZOm5N9Fwh3clozrxZgQXPxaRoMPLmBV5gjCSMU36Xk4XwPw5azSHJfyOqbvnao7IEqRVGn0HllMziA8VxCXQJL3W9WgZh2mPfwOUKEXCA1WXTjqwJlXF5mJYDTyhbe8I135vG8AwsrJdN9lcA8wYJ2KJeyQ/w640-h640/360035030_298087402692864_1131984185348790645_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">As the seasons have changed this year, so have the seasons of my own small world. So many changes. So many ups and downs. Surprises and unexpected paths. In some ways, I don't even feel like the same person that I was at the beginning of the year. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>But through it all, my God has remained faithful! </b></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />He is unchanging. He is merciful. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">"For the word of the LORD is right and true; He is faithful in all He does."</span> </i></span><span style="font-size: x-small;">Psalm 33:4</span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">"For I am the LORD; I do not change."</span> </i></span><span style="font-size: x-small;">Malachi 3:6</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>"The LORD is gracious and full of compassion, slow to anger and great in mercy. The LORD is good to all, and His tender mercies are over all His works."</i></span> </span><span style="font-size: x-small;">Psalm 145:8, 9</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB_7PhKxJzbiTmeadcgYOp76RIF5mXP2q4qCx60kVMNKfy8e2VS8D2EKfeEkbNJaFs3ZTVjHsc45EPHXJzFrOMgcQbYTrXDy5yq63onIjMHm5aN77Ji5MpoK3w4ZSC26_M-GrECVrsM5A5XpECGqQvGLx77Sw-PnlhH0fl_piNpwh9b2dWbjjJxDJn6w/s2408/8%20x%204%20in%20(1).png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1066" data-original-width="2408" height="285" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB_7PhKxJzbiTmeadcgYOp76RIF5mXP2q4qCx60kVMNKfy8e2VS8D2EKfeEkbNJaFs3ZTVjHsc45EPHXJzFrOMgcQbYTrXDy5yq63onIjMHm5aN77Ji5MpoK3w4ZSC26_M-GrECVrsM5A5XpECGqQvGLx77Sw-PnlhH0fl_piNpwh9b2dWbjjJxDJn6w/w640-h285/8%20x%204%20in%20(1).png" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br />Cheryl http://www.blogger.com/profile/00063844335185525553noreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6596988245744679027.post-21661095848184518402023-04-07T16:34:00.001-04:002023-04-07T16:34:08.213-04:00"Hast Thou No Scar?" <div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />I shared this poem in the first year of my blog </span><span style="font-size: x-small;">(2009!)</span><span style="font-size: large;">, but it remains one of my favorites. On this day of remembering the unfathomable sacrifice of the Lord Jesus, it feels like a good time to be reminded that His followers also bear scars, like their Master. <br /><br /><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhynvbDz6frthA4bTVpXt-hQWmSC-uam9lP5iXr3B_eBiMOQcZJdfKx9ionqTvZQ1tdav_QFM9oBPqZ0e0C_BfmVeGWsbdOoom_Qcyc6yakgz4MLRF70qaMH-9TMPXDlOu-ApTy4r_K0vIKEI735ecSGx3mrva8umAqd1ZXrX16MR-Nw2PwbCx-RpE/s828/339640690_9392118784146396_3150955090255586414_n.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="621" data-original-width="828" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhynvbDz6frthA4bTVpXt-hQWmSC-uam9lP5iXr3B_eBiMOQcZJdfKx9ionqTvZQ1tdav_QFM9oBPqZ0e0C_BfmVeGWsbdOoom_Qcyc6yakgz4MLRF70qaMH-9TMPXDlOu-ApTy4r_K0vIKEI735ecSGx3mrva8umAqd1ZXrX16MR-Nw2PwbCx-RpE/w400-h300/339640690_9392118784146396_3150955090255586414_n.png" width="400" /></a></div><br /></div><br /><blockquote><p><strong style="font-size: large;">Hast Thou No Scar?<br /></strong><span style="font-size: x-small;">by Amy Carmichael</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Hast thou no scar?<br />No hidden scar on foot, or side or hand?<br />I hear thee sung as mighty in the land,<br />I hear them hail thy bright ascendant star.<br />Hast thou no scar?<br /><br />Hast thou no wound?<br />Yet I was wounded by the archers, spent,<br />Leaned me against a tree to die; and rent<br />By ravening beasts that compassed me, I swooned;<br />Hast thou no wound?<br /><br />No wound? No scar?<br />Yet, as the master shall the servant be<br />And pierced are the feet that follow Me;<br />But thine are whole: can he have followed far<br />Who has nor wound nor scar?</span></p></blockquote><p><br /></p>Cheryl http://www.blogger.com/profile/00063844335185525553noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6596988245744679027.post-65234859608339380602023-02-15T23:55:00.000-05:002023-02-15T23:55:21.301-05:00True Love<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZQ3wOvLvKXYmecQL9H2nqy5CsrP6ok2rkYzrcOVE0x2XYH517nzqEVCXSJuLQOAgpcmUqMIW2fX6clbI-HqNmrunp6GAbS8KuYVi7sOSMD3R4UW3TNE5XFnwCK_V5i_QXU3ntj2XhKAmS5N2H0yXpxjXQLt9XkzeTYdlSo7Vgu8lr-cYzQHc8tDM/s1104/331237804_3225237374384774_4199647265099012092_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1104" data-original-width="828" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZQ3wOvLvKXYmecQL9H2nqy5CsrP6ok2rkYzrcOVE0x2XYH517nzqEVCXSJuLQOAgpcmUqMIW2fX6clbI-HqNmrunp6GAbS8KuYVi7sOSMD3R4UW3TNE5XFnwCK_V5i_QXU3ntj2XhKAmS5N2H0yXpxjXQLt9XkzeTYdlSo7Vgu8lr-cYzQHc8tDM/w480-h640/331237804_3225237374384774_4199647265099012092_n.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xdj266r x126k92a" style="background-color: white; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div dir="auto" style="color: #050505; text-align: justify; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">It was our very first Valentine's Day as husband and wife . . . and I was sorely disappointed! </span></div><div dir="auto" style="color: #050505; text-align: justify; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto"><div style="color: #050505; text-align: justify; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span>I had </span><span>had high expectations. Surely my new hubby had some sort of romantic plan for this special day. After all, when we were dating, he had given me sweet cards, a locket, perfume, and candy. He would certainly do no less now that we were married!</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #050505; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div></div><div dir="auto" style="color: #050505; text-align: justify; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Oh, but he did. </span></div><div dir="auto" style="color: #050505; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto" style="color: #050505; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b>Nothing. </b></span></div><div dir="auto" style="color: #050505; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">I was working that year as a teaching assistant. As I sat in the teachers' lounge on my break, all the ladies were talking about their flowers and candy and cards and plans for dinner . . . and I, the newlywed, had nothing to share. I was not a happy woman.</span></div><div dir="auto" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span>Over the years, </span><span>we both have learned a lot about expectations and what makes the other one happy and sacrificial love. It is not always mushy-gushy, but caring and tenderness. </span></span></div><div dir="auto" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE1TS_xjG99DeVM8LnS8CANH53GqocyHEIZmubo06uv-W595K3lk_wpwrlLcJdGZFQnSTOJqIShtgxfl1iuzA3GLa6PkC_KtApISm7YNzNsd-7vGBMBD5ObMDhauytp81RLzE8lye_KB8Pk-q77EqXkQucP6gnDqEtP8b0S-X2R1hboSbKdTXDX1Q/s320/ShabbyBlogsDividerG.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="11" data-original-width="320" height="11" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE1TS_xjG99DeVM8LnS8CANH53GqocyHEIZmubo06uv-W595K3lk_wpwrlLcJdGZFQnSTOJqIShtgxfl1iuzA3GLa6PkC_KtApISm7YNzNsd-7vGBMBD5ObMDhauytp81RLzE8lye_KB8Pk-q77EqXkQucP6gnDqEtP8b0S-X2R1hboSbKdTXDX1Q/s1600/ShabbyBlogsDividerG.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">We have had a rough ten days. My dad fell hard twice as a result of heart "pauses," had a pacemaker put in, has some broken bones, and is very frail. As of tonight, he is here at our house where he will receive home health and therapy. Our whole family has pulled together in every way possible. Our church family and our friends have been supportive and have prayed many prayers for us. <b>Our God has been faithful!</b> We feel incredibly blessed!</span></div><div dir="auto" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto" style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2XAqyW04g_hVJM1YrvX_J7i21-86JlV9yQAOtGRvRa35wguwUwqRPHCETy-JE8cnz8wJiRrlTksBabMBhffhNxzBFHfVxifSHc-2mm8rnJtHpHpxP-F3wHuaSu-5R_aBMA0UlDvElL0c4tjRO6l1yNUx7bwC31MVERcLmwKghSMY2iXL0lRT05UE/s320/ShabbyBlogsDividerG.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="11" data-original-width="320" height="11" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2XAqyW04g_hVJM1YrvX_J7i21-86JlV9yQAOtGRvRa35wguwUwqRPHCETy-JE8cnz8wJiRrlTksBabMBhffhNxzBFHfVxifSHc-2mm8rnJtHpHpxP-F3wHuaSu-5R_aBMA0UlDvElL0c4tjRO6l1yNUx7bwC31MVERcLmwKghSMY2iXL0lRT05UE/s1600/ShabbyBlogsDividerG.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">
<br /></span></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span><i><span style="font-size: large;">But back to my Valentine . . . </span><span style="font-size: medium;">
</span></i></span><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div dir="auto"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #050505; font-family: inherit; text-align: justify; white-space: pre-wrap;"> ♥ </span><span style="color: #050505; font-family: inherit; text-align: justify; white-space: pre-wrap;">TRUE LOVE searches for Vanilla Coke and makes sure there is a cold one in the fridge for me to take with me to the hospital.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="x3nfvp2 x1j61x8r x1fcty0u xdj266r xhhsvwb xat24cr xgzva0m xxymvpz xlup9mm x1kky2od" style="color: #050505; display: inline-flex; height: 16px; margin: 0px 1px; vertical-align: middle; white-space: pre-wrap; width: 16px;"><br /></span></span></span><div style="color: #050505; text-align: justify; white-space: pre-wrap;"></div></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div dir="auto"><span style="color: #050505; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="x3nfvp2 x1j61x8r x1fcty0u xdj266r xhhsvwb xat24cr xgzva0m xxymvpz xlup9mm x1kky2od" style="display: inline-flex; height: 16px; margin: 0px 1px; vertical-align: middle; width: 16px;"></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span> ♥ </span><span>TRUE LOVE is running the vacuum and doing the laundry while I am staying with my dad in the hospital and rehab.</span></div></span><div style="color: #050505; text-align: justify; white-space: pre-wrap;"></div></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span class="x3nfvp2 x1j61x8r x1fcty0u xdj266r xhhsvwb xat24cr xgzva0m xxymvpz xlup9mm x1kky2od" style="color: #050505; display: inline-flex; height: 16px; margin: 0px 1px; vertical-align: middle; white-space: pre-wrap; width: 16px;"></span><span style="color: #050505; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span> ♥ </span><span>TRUE LOVE is praying for me when I am beyond tired and being my sounding board and offering wise advice. </span></div></span></span><div style="color: #050505; text-align: justify; white-space: pre-wrap;"></div></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span class="x3nfvp2 x1j61x8r x1fcty0u xdj266r xhhsvwb xat24cr xgzva0m xxymvpz xlup9mm x1kky2od" style="display: inline-flex; height: 16px; margin: 0px 1px; vertical-align: middle; width: 16px;"></span><span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span> ♥ </span><span>TRUE LOVE is caring for my parents as his own and opening our home to them. </span></div></span></span></div><div dir="auto" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto" style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUAk3bfvknK-fZfI9eB1c_DFocsZR01KpE4AUT7HMeROcgxKkJCYaUt3D8dS0dsU-m_0uwufmFcbsItvwmpQF_YfVwKnFj9T923H8wnAGvttlxjXRbAU0PGRHY9HAFNCuetQTGdsVeI_Rml9iwKQv2DJ1prbL-MBe_qlx3lYLt8CAro6vF2P0AoaY/s320/ShabbyBlogsDividerG.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="11" data-original-width="320" height="11" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUAk3bfvknK-fZfI9eB1c_DFocsZR01KpE4AUT7HMeROcgxKkJCYaUt3D8dS0dsU-m_0uwufmFcbsItvwmpQF_YfVwKnFj9T923H8wnAGvttlxjXRbAU0PGRHY9HAFNCuetQTGdsVeI_Rml9iwKQv2DJ1prbL-MBe_qlx3lYLt8CAro6vF2P0AoaY/s1600/ShabbyBlogsDividerG.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br /></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">So yes, the newlywed who wanted romance and roses has learned a lot. </span></div><div dir="auto" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b>I have learned what true love is.</b></span></div><div dir="auto" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div dir="auto" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div dir="auto" style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><center style="color: black; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.5455px; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 18.1818px; white-space: normal;"><center style="text-align: justify;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: justify;"></center></center><center style="color: black; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.5455px; line-height: 18.1818px; white-space: normal;"><center><table border="0" cellpadding="1" style="color: black; font-size: 14.5455px; line-height: 18.1818px; text-align: justify; width: 600px;"><tbody><tr><td bgcolor="#d4cdb8"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><i>I will be scarce here in Blogland for a while. It is a season that demands adjustment of priorities. Please know that I am thinking of you! I will probably check in with my blogging friends from time to time, although I may read and sneak away without chatting. I'm sure you'll understand. ♥<br /><br /></i></span></div></div></td></tr></tbody></table></center></center><center style="color: black; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.5455px; line-height: 18.1818px; white-space: normal;"></center><center style="color: black; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.5455px; line-height: 18.1818px; text-align: justify; white-space: normal;"></center><center style="color: black; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.5455px; line-height: 18.1818px; text-align: justify; white-space: normal;"></center><center style="color: black; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.5455px; line-height: 18.1818px; text-align: justify; white-space: normal;"></center><div style="color: black; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.5455px; line-height: 18.1818px; text-align: start; white-space: normal;"><br /></div><div style="color: black; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.5455px; line-height: 18.1818px; text-align: start; white-space: normal;"><br /></div></span></div></div>Cheryl http://www.blogger.com/profile/00063844335185525553noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6596988245744679027.post-43304119857228474022023-01-16T07:34:00.006-05:002023-01-16T08:30:30.536-05:00Slow Decorating in the Guest Room <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJxi-Gjx31gfioFcECiiGdD0O2fpA7rnFjADh37ZCxykXvoCvM6JpDAT7JdiqJ_AcaQ9YazyUO_hSCe-eKrhoaVRmlXcxjOEo-y6m8GHxaBe5B5viw_i5QDHEUGKuebtrMnk0114W7C-sdXWo4CKgBe_leBVnxt_eNBnE0gqdnciX5fYKD6M7cyWU/s4092/IMG_7624%20(1).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3084" data-original-width="4092" height="482" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJxi-Gjx31gfioFcECiiGdD0O2fpA7rnFjADh37ZCxykXvoCvM6JpDAT7JdiqJ_AcaQ9YazyUO_hSCe-eKrhoaVRmlXcxjOEo-y6m8GHxaBe5B5viw_i5QDHEUGKuebtrMnk0114W7C-sdXWo4CKgBe_leBVnxt_eNBnE0gqdnciX5fYKD6M7cyWU/w640-h482/IMG_7624%20(1).jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">When Kati got married in May 2019, her room became our guest room. I called it my "consolation prize," this new room to decorate. I had purchased a pineapple post bed on Facebook Marketplace that spring, and eight days after the wedding, Bekah and I set up the bed and jumped into redecorating the room.<br /><br />The bed and coverlet were new. We shopped the house for everything else.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-UvKMLF83nkL6FIxSROY2r_81D7s9tJAKYQRNLZX34skVxTINasyNTZY7hgZ3tCV1LKdfomTyNIBklyvH5x4ufVPmbFjQbHF9ezE3hT_TQJXSew7G-1zOOTlibVnBQ-aX-5aSzwJQDz8IWf9zOevUemIkiE_lt1yCdqx7533ZbdUG1z_Ixpch9ug/s2048/64807511_10219357188785457_5438704949347221504_n.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-UvKMLF83nkL6FIxSROY2r_81D7s9tJAKYQRNLZX34skVxTINasyNTZY7hgZ3tCV1LKdfomTyNIBklyvH5x4ufVPmbFjQbHF9ezE3hT_TQJXSew7G-1zOOTlibVnBQ-aX-5aSzwJQDz8IWf9zOevUemIkiE_lt1yCdqx7533ZbdUG1z_Ixpch9ug/w640-h426/64807511_10219357188785457_5438704949347221504_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">May 26, 2019</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;">We have been <b>slow decorating</b> that room ever since . . one little bit at a time, buying a few pieces, tweaking here and there. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrA8KlMKZjOINQ_2bO-0mDct7A2sAG27Kfmf5kEQpo9HtTJF9MS_s0DVSijwNACBZK3p8gNz4T3P_tF_30Wo5x5QRc3GI3O6mbak0e8QrZWXIHyzPyOr26xwZ8lM3240sB2cC2h9UK28OopkpVfUvn2cvUAQkj7WKoa5d5Ta6HEl_yhigVwgueNiw/s320/ShabbyBlogsDividerG.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="11" data-original-width="320" height="11" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrA8KlMKZjOINQ_2bO-0mDct7A2sAG27Kfmf5kEQpo9HtTJF9MS_s0DVSijwNACBZK3p8gNz4T3P_tF_30Wo5x5QRc3GI3O6mbak0e8QrZWXIHyzPyOr26xwZ8lM3240sB2cC2h9UK28OopkpVfUvn2cvUAQkj7WKoa5d5Ta6HEl_yhigVwgueNiw/s1600/ShabbyBlogsDividerG.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /><br />We found this chest of drawers at a local antique store. </span><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6aIWl2-2ORdn-3q-eHqibHc8k1kijaxagoY59vMjqTGWQPOUxUSAg2s5X-5ZX_TzSGtSU7xODvjRKs92MU6EN_cK7spSUtnnDbPzDdvk02CUos3GiGH1HJW006tMdybpCqASUw5niXMrW5vDgAoI-kK12L3mq_4_TNWK148cj9dOZbHuqf3ZudhI/s640/IMG_0355.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6aIWl2-2ORdn-3q-eHqibHc8k1kijaxagoY59vMjqTGWQPOUxUSAg2s5X-5ZX_TzSGtSU7xODvjRKs92MU6EN_cK7spSUtnnDbPzDdvk02CUos3GiGH1HJW006tMdybpCqASUw5niXMrW5vDgAoI-kK12L3mq_4_TNWK148cj9dOZbHuqf3ZudhI/w480-h640/IMG_0355.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />Bekah spotted <a href="https://thinking-about-home.blogspot.com/2020/08/guest-room-updates.html" target="_blank">this little table</a> at another antique store, a bargain at $36.00!</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg50Q4IDFyqCyPvT3YLt4gs8LuMj74lKj8ZpzCFsoLpabAypvFRlJxolQ3RACBSP-oi_gJ8i6PqaXahI32_AB_SFPauQC2P2h7ru1ISvN1Zt9DIvE9SNm1cqj_KWh7i7Qb3w7hm4ZbafOQPstdbVDDuL2TrLl7hzeRzihtIWDLM1ad5Yrw53S25Te4/s640/IMG_7051.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg50Q4IDFyqCyPvT3YLt4gs8LuMj74lKj8ZpzCFsoLpabAypvFRlJxolQ3RACBSP-oi_gJ8i6PqaXahI32_AB_SFPauQC2P2h7ru1ISvN1Zt9DIvE9SNm1cqj_KWh7i7Qb3w7hm4ZbafOQPstdbVDDuL2TrLl7hzeRzihtIWDLM1ad5Yrw53S25Te4/w480-h640/IMG_7051.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><span style="font-size: medium;">The little stool was buried under stuff in another antique store. It was the perfect little landing area for a purse or a bag as you enter the room. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioJ0XDvQjfj-A84ExyP-QsiltQJJWqMhcUF1mqHrpnJs7rwbhbkKaaT8VQ2KRhd5Rt7t0rAR7xpFgQo_fp0Ygo061Ulq9xHj-rQ0dKGHdlU9RnvOSQH9Wl0rKL5bljrtlORmQU3lV5Q0m-uM1HSXYTCYJUkkRSxJu-wvrn1VgOxebMQ_UVrwLFGiA/s1600/IMG_7066.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioJ0XDvQjfj-A84ExyP-QsiltQJJWqMhcUF1mqHrpnJs7rwbhbkKaaT8VQ2KRhd5Rt7t0rAR7xpFgQo_fp0Ygo061Ulq9xHj-rQ0dKGHdlU9RnvOSQH9Wl0rKL5bljrtlORmQU3lV5Q0m-uM1HSXYTCYJUkkRSxJu-wvrn1VgOxebMQ_UVrwLFGiA/w480-h640/IMG_7066.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu89QhuU3I2C8aNbbJkF-gY7Yvh3_4vn-UhjQnRS5f_dLUxjp2LHpzTvbNbPPOHQMspQ6ySwQqw_UjIw8n46n8wQNZGHIRwfphBWclaK5s_JOZjFo6Qcc5I8mQA08kX9OePRfbGyyo3uCxXpDQaraLJZ_0M2_bJeYON9_p7qanQGimPjig772n5J0/s1600/IMG_7064.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu89QhuU3I2C8aNbbJkF-gY7Yvh3_4vn-UhjQnRS5f_dLUxjp2LHpzTvbNbPPOHQMspQ6ySwQqw_UjIw8n46n8wQNZGHIRwfphBWclaK5s_JOZjFo6Qcc5I8mQA08kX9OePRfbGyyo3uCxXpDQaraLJZ_0M2_bJeYON9_p7qanQGimPjig772n5J0/w480-h640/IMG_7064.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />Last summer, I found the the <a href="http://thinking-about-home.blogspot.com/2022/09/antiquing-top-finds-of-summer.html" target="_blank">lovely matelassé coverlet and shams</a>, also a fabulous bargain at $18.00! </span><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRGK2DTrBmrZvagKEt9QJTG54S9i2yyCz-s8WUVOHLu9RvVE2EzTvrVyL2tH_8QRc4QjocdS3gUO_gWNb9wSeY6AHoGjki0PwUZAjKEB1EULCX3snzmr8b6TF9goCN0kQCIT4s6Mg97EjcK5nJD-D9Yb6Z-rDZUukcK-XNde1-HvDhWaRLjXSoHhk/s4032/IMG_2742.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRGK2DTrBmrZvagKEt9QJTG54S9i2yyCz-s8WUVOHLu9RvVE2EzTvrVyL2tH_8QRc4QjocdS3gUO_gWNb9wSeY6AHoGjki0PwUZAjKEB1EULCX3snzmr8b6TF9goCN0kQCIT4s6Mg97EjcK5nJD-D9Yb6Z-rDZUukcK-XNde1-HvDhWaRLjXSoHhk/w480-h640/IMG_2742.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3REYx7sxfeb2FvClqp6M3tH2rFo76_lhF8PufzhnZUYKvD4QrIwOFwtMiGzT9VHcDAJYMtp6R3_96719pxVAkWU_L5Zyu5OWniS3k3UAU2sUlCuxwkjU4Kfz8KDJRd6ck7UzqclO9ERE494ogvdUZEDKn0G0iLrXUWt04iLfINH3dy2ksSqXL7Wo/s640/IMG_1708.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3REYx7sxfeb2FvClqp6M3tH2rFo76_lhF8PufzhnZUYKvD4QrIwOFwtMiGzT9VHcDAJYMtp6R3_96719pxVAkWU_L5Zyu5OWniS3k3UAU2sUlCuxwkjU4Kfz8KDJRd6ck7UzqclO9ERE494ogvdUZEDKn0G0iLrXUWt04iLfINH3dy2ksSqXL7Wo/w480-h640/IMG_1708.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><br /> Ron made shutters for the windows in the spring of 2021.<br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZlwrkhk3UhATX53fTC4NLRdH4cKpKBmw-KY2jgjpQLIds9dnOWVbW2aPufY2kOz-bcGyMQEXNFkZVkXUuPqxIRBUPSFw-7chXPc3Cr3l4yWcZ0lb1Acw8QoeSQ0aqN7EiQ5fS8fyb1KNb_eQYnET0lORvxqNbQL2XkXQfOKJh91ONUtofkIbpV-U/s4032/IMG_6080.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZlwrkhk3UhATX53fTC4NLRdH4cKpKBmw-KY2jgjpQLIds9dnOWVbW2aPufY2kOz-bcGyMQEXNFkZVkXUuPqxIRBUPSFw-7chXPc3Cr3l4yWcZ0lb1Acw8QoeSQ0aqN7EiQ5fS8fyb1KNb_eQYnET0lORvxqNbQL2XkXQfOKJh91ONUtofkIbpV-U/w480-h640/IMG_6080.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span><span style="font-size: large;">And then there was the succession of chairs . . . </span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">I bought this one on Facebook Marketplace. It had a tan slipcover which was not the right color for the room. The original fabric was a little luster that didn't fit. I could have had it reupholstered, but the chair was actually too big for the space so we moved it to the <a href="http://thinking-about-home.blogspot.com/2017/06/pineapple-house-library.html" target="_blank">library</a> where it became Ron's office chair while he worked from home. (When he went back to the office, I resold the chair on Marketplace for the same price I had paid.) </span><br /><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlT3czHvHxIIfIQMeblTiGyPJVJTZW1s9d6UTYoTfDPZ_Och_OMMuOIqQoKAMqlGYkNcTGHnGT_0onyMtGTiQP8DZAi0v9t49FUO2H2w1W_M-V-jkMyUCqC_nXHvB69dAoPRHRott8SqfAfQ_buLQ52yrzbyXExBMUBUekek1H7yxAwCN-LUMFK50/s640/DSC_0518.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="427" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlT3czHvHxIIfIQMeblTiGyPJVJTZW1s9d6UTYoTfDPZ_Och_OMMuOIqQoKAMqlGYkNcTGHnGT_0onyMtGTiQP8DZAi0v9t49FUO2H2w1W_M-V-jkMyUCqC_nXHvB69dAoPRHRott8SqfAfQ_buLQ52yrzbyXExBMUBUekek1H7yxAwCN-LUMFK50/w428-h640/DSC_0518.JPG" width="428" /></a></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />This chair was another Marketplace find. Even though the fabric was faded, I liked the style and size of this chair and intended to have it reupholstered. </span><span style="font-size: large;"><i>But</i></span><span style="font-size: medium;">, it has since moved to the library . . . <br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit-37wAf4Lr_N4BQNPORh1XgL5I4cIgeVkbS6mHyT8k31btdZAMJqWK8T1RT7UqCwKYIsBAh3PCz62fZ4mzU8hlRYfMEZg1Kuhyo4s6m9Q9nWBanb8I0e66OTcdfGexc_JIEE7vu_f7oCmIl8Ays-FQCiaKzfS2oF1ytUmv_-l-HFLF-jg9LGAlxw/s640/IMG_4856.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit-37wAf4Lr_N4BQNPORh1XgL5I4cIgeVkbS6mHyT8k31btdZAMJqWK8T1RT7UqCwKYIsBAh3PCz62fZ4mzU8hlRYfMEZg1Kuhyo4s6m9Q9nWBanb8I0e66OTcdfGexc_JIEE7vu_f7oCmIl8Ays-FQCiaKzfS2oF1ytUmv_-l-HFLF-jg9LGAlxw/w480-h640/IMG_4856.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">. . . because about a month later, we drove by an antique store and saw <i>this</i> chair in the window display. </span><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI3a__paC1aKeI5neSikP5h-tsbhDEB81uKROnUDrkHRgP058ePj7h3S6bYvBYIDgt4NJSU71hemEDTBOBxEyQ5zctlQfSC3HbyGs-2gaUjYCNLsmioOZ_3qTeFMafFftF8ldOSNhALwSIeUsn9ixhgc472QcB2PAJpYBg-Ptd6pRQrRL1ilKoaUY/s4032/161731105_3741047379306736_2175386707876847094_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI3a__paC1aKeI5neSikP5h-tsbhDEB81uKROnUDrkHRgP058ePj7h3S6bYvBYIDgt4NJSU71hemEDTBOBxEyQ5zctlQfSC3HbyGs-2gaUjYCNLsmioOZ_3qTeFMafFftF8ldOSNhALwSIeUsn9ixhgc472QcB2PAJpYBg-Ptd6pRQrRL1ilKoaUY/w480-h640/161731105_3741047379306736_2175386707876847094_n.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTbUHAHHve8vwDcIJ_L0IsOLL4pWbvXiJXhhFlAu2lf5pl-OkAS-Kkc7YhOP3Qt_-6eYROUFoLyyVvMH1ExWXm-7N_BmOTVAUkWC8obNNRmdC5toPJS1lrPNjDlCvPGwYRlGabkABz7sc4YufBOMwW_1ud0oUJbQLG1_KgFGFLT8bnHn76lY56To8/s4032/IMG_5215.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTbUHAHHve8vwDcIJ_L0IsOLL4pWbvXiJXhhFlAu2lf5pl-OkAS-Kkc7YhOP3Qt_-6eYROUFoLyyVvMH1ExWXm-7N_BmOTVAUkWC8obNNRmdC5toPJS1lrPNjDlCvPGwYRlGabkABz7sc4YufBOMwW_1ud0oUJbQLG1_KgFGFLT8bnHn76lY56To8/s320/IMG_5215.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Close-up view shows true color</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />I loved the style and I was pretty sure it was a Johnston Benchworks chair <i>(high quality furniture maker which is no longer in business)</i>, so we went inside to check it out. It <i>was</i> Johnston Benchworks and it was $99!</span></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Sold! </b></span><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span><span style="font-size: medium;">The fabric on the arms was dingy, but the red check didn't fit my vibe for the room anyway. </span><br /></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />If you have a quality piece of furniture, reupholstering it makes sense, and it is usually economical. Our <a href="http://thinking-about-home.blogspot.com/2015/03/changes-in-living-room.html" target="_blank">living room sofa</a> is also a Johnston Benchworks piece that we <a href="http://thinking-about-home.blogspot.com/2015/03/changes-in-living-room.html" target="_blank">purchased from a friend</a>. When the fabric became worn, we <a href="http://thinking-about-home.blogspot.com/2021/06/so-far-this-summer.html" target="_blank">had it reupholstered</a> because we couldn't buy a new sofa (especially one of comparable quality) for the price that we paid. <br /><br />We planned to reupholster the guest room chair over a year ago, but there were a few obstacles. Last spring, however, I was able to order some discounted fabric through a friend from a company that was discontinuing their furniture line. So instead of ordering fabric only for my guest room chair, I also ordered fabric for the loveseat in the library (the same loveseat that was in The Farmhouse kitchen) and the wing chair that is now in the library, and we'll have those two pieces done later this year.<br /><br />Are you tracking with me? Following all of those chairs around the house? 🤦🏻♀️😂</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Back to the guest room . . .</b> </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">This is what it looks like today. <br /><br />My sister gave me the rug. I'm not sure if it will stay here because the cream colored background is bothering me a little. We'll see. </span></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXdKgl3VVYP1ydRQQYgo6-8iu_jhe52UZEeWlc83tvtjOgBqDjqlRio8fvoDjx5Xh8ByAE_715FMlNAqs4-yVGM-vfg1ZnR5YkjvCedQxJUZ0DkGbI7_oatd1DRwXiTdUuBr72GZG3FCYx0bEHFZkO-R949EiYBmbbnRAiJCvAwmDmILqr5seXBOk/s4032/IMG_7648.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXdKgl3VVYP1ydRQQYgo6-8iu_jhe52UZEeWlc83tvtjOgBqDjqlRio8fvoDjx5Xh8ByAE_715FMlNAqs4-yVGM-vfg1ZnR5YkjvCedQxJUZ0DkGbI7_oatd1DRwXiTdUuBr72GZG3FCYx0bEHFZkO-R949EiYBmbbnRAiJCvAwmDmILqr5seXBOk/w480-h640/IMG_7648.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">And now this corner of the room fits with the rest, with its newly upholstered chair and the shelf that my sister also gave me.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMp5Ay4Rx3-TfTHscYkKJ_3RclW5uR0rViqH01pmaEKWbApPTkl6sr-fhZc5bxYU9U4xjlSVEae-MJFVlFvqodHLT-MpAJJjLMyRm-s82ZHcHoYIBbYR1ziwuUnhvwFIcvxxbBMBFNvSNG3NlTRKEwxvEUoepwAIJECRSIY43uyi1zNqp8lAPS01A/s4032/IMG_7615.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMp5Ay4Rx3-TfTHscYkKJ_3RclW5uR0rViqH01pmaEKWbApPTkl6sr-fhZc5bxYU9U4xjlSVEae-MJFVlFvqodHLT-MpAJJjLMyRm-s82ZHcHoYIBbYR1ziwuUnhvwFIcvxxbBMBFNvSNG3NlTRKEwxvEUoepwAIJECRSIY43uyi1zNqp8lAPS01A/w480-h640/IMG_7615.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkVtgVQOwGuT8USGnFC_DAkuvWeCNxTH_9JCDarkbySVa6CjQaZjXSQ4C5WzrLZs8UBZOokwsssnaOnUrallrf5MtLKjGBpa05vh7OyEfswW_SUeokzSQZguq2KDa4Y6t95xYkoxx58NgeNMDNwVh4j_xzwud6dLx62p-lD3e3w4TAB6gUFTPXEdQ/s4032/IMG_7665.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkVtgVQOwGuT8USGnFC_DAkuvWeCNxTH_9JCDarkbySVa6CjQaZjXSQ4C5WzrLZs8UBZOokwsssnaOnUrallrf5MtLKjGBpa05vh7OyEfswW_SUeokzSQZguq2KDa4Y6t95xYkoxx58NgeNMDNwVh4j_xzwud6dLx62p-lD3e3w4TAB6gUFTPXEdQ/w480-h640/IMG_7665.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfChGSBigN6-fhSNTYKgFHs2YnaSp48rojcAYqEKKyEEqLJgH6gTrMK7VOa4E7VFRk58cfv-q_roMMs53WPO5v_hPT16GQd41jKVOBPSTH0r9mwX6Ym-FUz8cZaxoy4q5rZYjkc5_w51OfbM7SLKb0JNQFNZARCltyOifLC9FBTxWO0gTJ9OrzPUA/s4032/IMG_7613.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfChGSBigN6-fhSNTYKgFHs2YnaSp48rojcAYqEKKyEEqLJgH6gTrMK7VOa4E7VFRk58cfv-q_roMMs53WPO5v_hPT16GQd41jKVOBPSTH0r9mwX6Ym-FUz8cZaxoy4q5rZYjkc5_w51OfbM7SLKb0JNQFNZARCltyOifLC9FBTxWO0gTJ9OrzPUA/w480-h640/IMG_7613.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeNWfp4qOhysxg05c8_t7rDcRXDpGeWCXLM1oCI06jF7oGVIBPGDA9yOburBrLIQRn-yEfGcFgGKldC3TCuaL8bjFrzl1noKpuSkwlyNubR8_rLeUjd5p_JOgHDcwAItURLoa_zc6DjAOOwVpK9G2yWiDS_EW2CSpZnNlsROm9zy39QNG54IgabSk/s4032/IMG_7628.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeNWfp4qOhysxg05c8_t7rDcRXDpGeWCXLM1oCI06jF7oGVIBPGDA9yOburBrLIQRn-yEfGcFgGKldC3TCuaL8bjFrzl1noKpuSkwlyNubR8_rLeUjd5p_JOgHDcwAItURLoa_zc6DjAOOwVpK9G2yWiDS_EW2CSpZnNlsROm9zy39QNG54IgabSk/w480-h640/IMG_7628.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><div><div><br /></div><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">On the list of house projects for 2023 are fishtail swags for the guest room windows, but I haven't even chosen the fabric yet. I'm also on the hunt for a small table to sit beside the chair to hold a guest's book or drink or phone. Other than that, I feel that the guest room is done! (As much as a room is ever "done.") </span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;">We are eagerly anticipating having some special guests in this room soon! </span><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxwjwtUYfAdeyu6SWcGnK0fv9cneKZR8Owf11-1GwFWUPQVInFz3AQaCAxpuiBD1yQOvnI0z6Xc7dp1og8yUhSArImAss82Sb4YMcmYooHwtuQFzBvJKkZYLTBnnANo0HtWPY776bfqQxSTMwT8D9wge4XsGJCXud8dfnRv91pUIoxGpJ2P4D9C1E/s320/ShabbyBlogsDividerG.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="11" data-original-width="320" height="11" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxwjwtUYfAdeyu6SWcGnK0fv9cneKZR8Owf11-1GwFWUPQVInFz3AQaCAxpuiBD1yQOvnI0z6Xc7dp1og8yUhSArImAss82Sb4YMcmYooHwtuQFzBvJKkZYLTBnnANo0HtWPY776bfqQxSTMwT8D9wge4XsGJCXud8dfnRv91pUIoxGpJ2P4D9C1E/s1600/ShabbyBlogsDividerG.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Sometimes it sounds like fun to decorate a space all at once, but I really think that slow decorating is better . . . collecting things over time, looking for just the right pieces, tweaking as you go. What do you think? How do you decorate? <br /><br /><br /></span></div>Cheryl http://www.blogger.com/profile/00063844335185525553noreply@blogger.com29tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6596988245744679027.post-48828216285908123482023-01-06T11:29:00.001-05:002023-01-06T19:07:35.120-05:00Christmastime | 2022 <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEAcpHExOUElGa52mTR5GiPUlZujAXyindUtGLbeS4VBiKksXC6SAr9o7wrptbuz2SuWNyI7dHy9ktUP1NtdHRG4A0WJIzlNnIuFAB_Xfvk5Q3hz2ZPJYP3-L4fuW0MSr36gd688n0LTiakY3kSHtkO4RaYc-MI5_A9GUgLUmhckNLhaDgNlHXOaY/s4074/IMG_7219.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3066" data-original-width="4074" height="482" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEAcpHExOUElGa52mTR5GiPUlZujAXyindUtGLbeS4VBiKksXC6SAr9o7wrptbuz2SuWNyI7dHy9ktUP1NtdHRG4A0WJIzlNnIuFAB_Xfvk5Q3hz2ZPJYP3-L4fuW0MSr36gd688n0LTiakY3kSHtkO4RaYc-MI5_A9GUgLUmhckNLhaDgNlHXOaY/w640-h482/IMG_7219.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">During the Christmas seasons of 2020 and 2021, I was very guarded about my excitement about our plans. Everything seemed tenuous and plans were changing from moment to moment. In spite of everything (including several delays and false alarms), we were blessed to be able to celebrate together both of those years! </span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">And then this year, plans were derailed by an "ordinary" sickness. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">On the day that they were to fly here for a 10-day visit, our kids were struck with a nasty tummy bug (which feels anything but "ordinary" when it hits!) and their trip was delayed . . . and then cancelled altogether when the bug hung on for dear life. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;">And so, it was a Christmas of "<a href="http://thinking-about-home.blogspot.com/2022/06/i-hate-james.html" target="_blank">James</a>," as much of this year was. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">At the end of my <a href="http://thinking-about-home.blogspot.com/2022/12/pineapple-house-christmas-tour-2022.html" target="_blank">last post</a>, I prayed that we would all find joy in our celebrations. <br /><br /></span></p><center style="font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.5455px;"><table border="0" cellpadding="1" style="color: black; font-size: 14.5455px; line-height: 18.1818px; text-align: justify; width: 600px;"><tbody><tr><td bgcolor="#d4cdb8"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: large; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: medium;">Not the joy of warm fuzzies or perfect holiday celebrations.</span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><div style="text-align: center;">Not the joy of an untroubled life.<br /><br /></div></span><span style="font-size: large;"><div style="text-align: center;">But the joy of a Savior who<b> <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=matthew+1%3A21&version=NKJV" style="color: #b51200; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">came to save His people from their sins</a>!</b></div></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div></div></td></tr></tbody></table></center><center style="font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.5455px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: small; line-height: normal;"><br /></span></center><center style="font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.5455px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></center><center style="font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">And so, even though our celebrations did not go as planned and the disappointment was palpable at times, we continued to rejoice in the coming of our Savior and we found joy, even amid the changes. </span><i>(Yes, even in "<a href="http://thinking-about-home.blogspot.com/search?q=i+hate+james" target="_blank">James</a>!")<br /><br /></i></center><center style="font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; text-align: justify;"><i><br /></i></center><center style="font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrK0wsWEnvfZ5vD0Nr6YAvQfNAYnsxw0ibpXZCkxT7xxQHX38FJ3E9RqpwwaKsjGeKDrAUzyKnJ_Z4SQxJFQXQcTDHw5wjrMKGly46df8tCkQwMOzmscFpA8hjxktHOGBuq0H1uOBH1XsS0sUyzDNLiFTSgZRR3hmf0P5ByoEG5zIxOTj8tyaYUrA/s500/CHRISTMAS+DIVIDER.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="140" data-original-width="500" height="90" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrK0wsWEnvfZ5vD0Nr6YAvQfNAYnsxw0ibpXZCkxT7xxQHX38FJ3E9RqpwwaKsjGeKDrAUzyKnJ_Z4SQxJFQXQcTDHw5wjrMKGly46df8tCkQwMOzmscFpA8hjxktHOGBuq0H1uOBH1XsS0sUyzDNLiFTSgZRR3hmf0P5ByoEG5zIxOTj8tyaYUrA/s320/CHRISTMAS+DIVIDER.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b>CHRISTMAS EVE<br /></b></span><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">We had our traditional Christmas morning breakfast on Christmas Eve. One of us balked at this "James." </span><i>("You mean we're going to have Christmas morning breakfast on the day before Christmas and our Christmas buffet the day after Christmas?!) </i><span style="font-size: medium;">But Christmas was on a Sunday and in our slow-ish household, no one could imagine cooking a big breakfast, eating it leisurely, taking some over to Mom and Daddy, and being ready for church by 9:30, so Christmas Eve it was. <br /><br />The menu was traditional, the same one we have had for twenty-ish years: Christmas Morning Casserole, baked oatmeal, Mom's orange rolls </span><span style="font-size: x-small;">(although I made them this year for the first time)</span><span style="font-size: medium;">, fruit salad, and sausage balls. </span><span style="font-size: x-small;">(Oops. We forgot to get the sausage balls that Mom had made, so we ate those another day.) </span><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></center><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIAsDt3CfAPXNk1Uwxcltz1TSsNYKFWPDx1cM0nHlz_SUnwlcoD5ACS5Psd4I8lOmlp_0SlQeMNmKXer1MjCJncpUxR3KlI1BP27JRISBOsVqr4acSFOK4-hienrPeUtEeJDlJbIrdF06rzUL8fyWPiWZzO3LdXv-wKApLAOseU64TF1dhPyOXaIg/s4032/IMG_E7131.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIAsDt3CfAPXNk1Uwxcltz1TSsNYKFWPDx1cM0nHlz_SUnwlcoD5ACS5Psd4I8lOmlp_0SlQeMNmKXer1MjCJncpUxR3KlI1BP27JRISBOsVqr4acSFOK4-hienrPeUtEeJDlJbIrdF06rzUL8fyWPiWZzO3LdXv-wKApLAOseU64TF1dhPyOXaIg/w640-h480/IMG_E7131.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><div style="text-align: justify;">We hadn't planned to attend the Christmas Eve candlelight service because it would have been late for Kati's babies, but since they were not here, we went. I was sad, but it was a lovely service. <br /></div></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsysyrURCBoCUx-TSmMz6rn9DG2gTfvI9NGz1nLfMcmFhcb6yYhDMddzlnwTe_Cf2GdtZISn7GCyswAEE3d2_j4P7-R8jwdpPK4UtpeZqgJr0TLMpVqoLZdsXdKt3NOPoskf_YPggXwL25BDmAOUDQZIE7s3VIovscI7V8swZsSLRJV0-aWMFSVb0/s4032/IMG_E7161.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsysyrURCBoCUx-TSmMz6rn9DG2gTfvI9NGz1nLfMcmFhcb6yYhDMddzlnwTe_Cf2GdtZISn7GCyswAEE3d2_j4P7-R8jwdpPK4UtpeZqgJr0TLMpVqoLZdsXdKt3NOPoskf_YPggXwL25BDmAOUDQZIE7s3VIovscI7V8swZsSLRJV0-aWMFSVb0/w640-h480/IMG_E7161.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Fun fashion note:</b> Bekah has two dresses that are similar and she decided to wear the black one on Christmas Eve and the winter white one on Christmas Day. Of course, it was <span><b style="color: #3d85c6; font-style: italic;">bitter cold </b>so she added the red cardigan. </span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWYtvm0xmm-_6sdkeUaFFLJrLSA0sHtEZuva4zE4MsJ8ukWAnTGkvdpN8cGc66zVzVqRHj1f425VZGyi4VMdlSkrl7Ljqhi-zfv9M2d6paJQG-_ix21F2o1mj7zav7bu8dzj8gET3P7hExIhQgGTTIIBbMcv8_XFXzkL3P_wW_RdwfL1sl5xGHqb0/s1800/6%20x%204%20in%20(20).png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1800" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWYtvm0xmm-_6sdkeUaFFLJrLSA0sHtEZuva4zE4MsJ8ukWAnTGkvdpN8cGc66zVzVqRHj1f425VZGyi4VMdlSkrl7Ljqhi-zfv9M2d6paJQG-_ix21F2o1mj7zav7bu8dzj8gET3P7hExIhQgGTTIIBbMcv8_XFXzkL3P_wW_RdwfL1sl5xGHqb0/w640-h426/6%20x%204%20in%20(20).png" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b>CHRISTMAS DAY</b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />Nearly <i>everything</i> was different about Christmas Day. <br /><br />We went to church in the morning, then opened our gifts to one another and had <i>(what?!)</i> <a href="http://thinking-about-home.blogspot.com/2014/03/slow-cooker-tuesday-week-12-wedding-beef.html" target="_blank">Wedding Beef</a> for lunch. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM0zzduYgljDj_LK5ElsiY8y-vn8VSALpG4RJwIkh-UoeRO82z3t5IuqsB-QcGKcWz5CCsNlAltsrW-WKXO8_z0rurjm-UWCcCN8a7TeNiJd73xlB76ZDDWBl5yZIjBHZYRmNc4WHUvOOZcYENPPYIOOKYMrIdN7j8Bu0bI3kE2aPX7g6qw2rI5_Q/s4032/IMG_7215.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM0zzduYgljDj_LK5ElsiY8y-vn8VSALpG4RJwIkh-UoeRO82z3t5IuqsB-QcGKcWz5CCsNlAltsrW-WKXO8_z0rurjm-UWCcCN8a7TeNiJd73xlB76ZDDWBl5yZIjBHZYRmNc4WHUvOOZcYENPPYIOOKYMrIdN7j8Bu0bI3kE2aPX7g6qw2rI5_Q/w480-h640/IMG_7215.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwxoNeZofcULS-TXA5_9HbltR9L03tSMZSkkU2xbYD3UXHMhBJlR1vMfCCaYBFdkygPEIsKEuQqBUmyMDVyADokF2V1pXjz-0M28tJWwGriOvWnmbPtXIMgoCcAJQ2i31pIrLcm8dil4i0_z6FpOmtnIz7ov_5lNfcf0_Htez1eMA-2bfdLF5S8cw/s4032/IMG_7239.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwxoNeZofcULS-TXA5_9HbltR9L03tSMZSkkU2xbYD3UXHMhBJlR1vMfCCaYBFdkygPEIsKEuQqBUmyMDVyADokF2V1pXjz-0M28tJWwGriOvWnmbPtXIMgoCcAJQ2i31pIrLcm8dil4i0_z6FpOmtnIz7ov_5lNfcf0_Htez1eMA-2bfdLF5S8cw/w480-h640/IMG_7239.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKbY4QOT_yU8JxNdRwQ-Cby0PQba1gcUD-X9zWR2gwkftgnyNzOYJLgXJVVETPgvOFcOekN7Vs_7u___WdhAVnOh17abnaeUxl3G0AZmWnIlQ2otOGLR9x7meNE5Zrnp02qifnoSSXvtNYr8UubPJU8qiH7vqshw0EgJQ1Uuir6opejiQLEux8MZs/s4032/IMG_7254.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKbY4QOT_yU8JxNdRwQ-Cby0PQba1gcUD-X9zWR2gwkftgnyNzOYJLgXJVVETPgvOFcOekN7Vs_7u___WdhAVnOh17abnaeUxl3G0AZmWnIlQ2otOGLR9x7meNE5Zrnp02qifnoSSXvtNYr8UubPJU8qiH7vqshw0EgJQ1Uuir6opejiQLEux8MZs/w480-h640/IMG_7254.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">That moment when you realize that you're twinning with Lamb Chop! <span style="font-size: x-small;">😂</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span><span style="font-size: medium;">Our Christmas Day has always been full of people and feasting and celebrations, but this year all of that was for the next day. So we made some hot beverages, put our Christmas playlist on Spotify, and took a long drive. Very non-traditional, but we enjoyed it. </span><br /><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkvXm-jz1bYJexh5zmIiEZTdJjSN8lx3TfUZ0cnKn_MJVi1V6lHwNwKe7QpZQ7DDCQklxMymiIPPfpFBn9V_giVgKqANNYWDejFfW8RcZBCt-bKX6ZhhS0Mrya2fYvQeJIbLT4EFy2pGAzIW949yVYNE1_eRRt4sAzSQEh91PZpb7466dkH4EbYrM/s4032/IMG_7265.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkvXm-jz1bYJexh5zmIiEZTdJjSN8lx3TfUZ0cnKn_MJVi1V6lHwNwKe7QpZQ7DDCQklxMymiIPPfpFBn9V_giVgKqANNYWDejFfW8RcZBCt-bKX6ZhhS0Mrya2fYvQeJIbLT4EFy2pGAzIW949yVYNE1_eRRt4sAzSQEh91PZpb7466dkH4EbYrM/w640-h480/IMG_7265.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">In t</span><span style="font-size: medium; text-align: left;">he evening, we visited Mom and Daddy. Mom filled us with Christmas treats and I didn't take a single photo except the one of my treat-laden plate. </span><span style="text-align: left;">🤦🏻♀️</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIcBS-ig5QBUABsMH346dm7KuEDNsGx6j6BID_zTmGpdK8XC8Keo0qigoMGkzOY02noGv_xQ3Wdl03Lwa9Kt_-gSdlXpBZrmUvszJDWSw3LTmNSJR_botVKMLNkjuU-wx0pYqBaVWnWWx7i9X3XNxFKoItzMzbX6M1fuPg09C_tS4gFB8r0WsaPQI/s3633/IMG_7270%20(2).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3633" data-original-width="2725" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIcBS-ig5QBUABsMH346dm7KuEDNsGx6j6BID_zTmGpdK8XC8Keo0qigoMGkzOY02noGv_xQ3Wdl03Lwa9Kt_-gSdlXpBZrmUvszJDWSw3LTmNSJR_botVKMLNkjuU-wx0pYqBaVWnWWx7i9X3XNxFKoItzMzbX6M1fuPg09C_tS4gFB8r0WsaPQI/w480-h640/IMG_7270%20(2).JPG" width="480" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">POST-CHRISTMAS</span></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">(It became tedious to always say "the day after Christmas" when we were making our plans, so Ryan started calling it "Post-Christmas" and that worked.)<br /><br />On Post-Christmas, we had our usual family gathering, sans Kati and family and my Daddy who does not venture out much these days. Although we missed them greatly, it was a grand day of celebration, togetherness, laughter, and good food. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpgEk5rEdtt8J2Gaw7GYjIoZqpRCDZr_VUi5Fsw6LLWpcinF-A-fnERIKclDEVwCsFE8GwMsXiZAJF85pdeVxbeekowHtPIIrC_SrDwkeqWWqyiQMkDCVTKw17ZfV8q7gD9bZbPaOUAv1RgydyfeCB6fMREnFGe-JMiXADX5HapyvMQUPtMn1XSbk/s4032/IMG_7273.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpgEk5rEdtt8J2Gaw7GYjIoZqpRCDZr_VUi5Fsw6LLWpcinF-A-fnERIKclDEVwCsFE8GwMsXiZAJF85pdeVxbeekowHtPIIrC_SrDwkeqWWqyiQMkDCVTKw17ZfV8q7gD9bZbPaOUAv1RgydyfeCB6fMREnFGe-JMiXADX5HapyvMQUPtMn1XSbk/w640-h480/IMG_7273.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://thinking-about-home.blogspot.com/2016/12/scarlett-ohara-christmas-punch-non.html" target="_blank">Non-alcoholic Scarlett O'Hara punch</a> served in an antique hobnail punch bowl</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnCunldKoJkMhufoFAum8k-MhoCt2pafopVMcEZuhHuySF78D0WHIZp9G6j07JkI8Forf6E7PTQYXWHPxf6B-hU23w_t2oqw2_GxtJ4vd_BQZNpZCwx8Qpnl3JOdt-zP0lnHfLav5ppnmtBUYFEeGXtx_hwR0VGNs_uPEV45f3zR1vZ9fcLPyjX4M/s4032/IMG_7274.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnCunldKoJkMhufoFAum8k-MhoCt2pafopVMcEZuhHuySF78D0WHIZp9G6j07JkI8Forf6E7PTQYXWHPxf6B-hU23w_t2oqw2_GxtJ4vd_BQZNpZCwx8Qpnl3JOdt-zP0lnHfLav5ppnmtBUYFEeGXtx_hwR0VGNs_uPEV45f3zR1vZ9fcLPyjX4M/w640-h480/IMG_7274.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://thinking-about-home.blogspot.com/2016/12/a-holiday-appetizer-cranberry-pecan.html" rel="nofollow">Hors d'oeuvres buffet</a></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqpTyRpxLITWsS2edWHOMDNtxcAJKMucEybHhCicTiEJxpF2_O2quuHJpvnznWwyGpSH-mb4DERaPMU2p4X9n2q3zfykulbv9K6mBDc72-CNI8gKyvhxMctZRJqErISI4ZqLCBpLcPSWQDZsXb3_Ceri1-TtgCMakTyw7kdQCr2BcsZuRLhcEYQiE/s4032/IMG_7279.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqpTyRpxLITWsS2edWHOMDNtxcAJKMucEybHhCicTiEJxpF2_O2quuHJpvnznWwyGpSH-mb4DERaPMU2p4X9n2q3zfykulbv9K6mBDc72-CNI8gKyvhxMctZRJqErISI4ZqLCBpLcPSWQDZsXb3_Ceri1-TtgCMakTyw7kdQCr2BcsZuRLhcEYQiE/w640-h480/IMG_7279.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg51AOeF9Jw0UI5GC5FqSkcIb2rsHXpBPTtoFSBw8CqqA9dNFnIkuZaPoAQGMiHdyKitmlLQGV01Egc7LEfa4OCTARBw-ohkGRbITLucZP039pbMIWU_yMlIY79pF88_Yv_HGEXqbtNJeVIKtxdBVSKeFiTqFizPhbqEK_nAPj13LMrV41BUc157yU/s4032/IMG_7284.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg51AOeF9Jw0UI5GC5FqSkcIb2rsHXpBPTtoFSBw8CqqA9dNFnIkuZaPoAQGMiHdyKitmlLQGV01Egc7LEfa4OCTARBw-ohkGRbITLucZP039pbMIWU_yMlIY79pF88_Yv_HGEXqbtNJeVIKtxdBVSKeFiTqFizPhbqEK_nAPj13LMrV41BUc157yU/w480-h640/IMG_7284.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJax18vsY_McnqMtBgqUhkR94Ih0O04FYVOn5Sy8_DL40bQe6IRQihg5_o6pWfT-Wcfhz-HuvDqBcNODG_eKJb-15P7MeuDFP4m5vXoAsYhaasrBQ1MbiesblrTBbCsRTaBYPlcTfkn3hJ_QXzBlUXLCvM7AM-IDHLXA5kbM9gWYIy6uQEsbQzlbU/s4032/IMG_7288.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJax18vsY_McnqMtBgqUhkR94Ih0O04FYVOn5Sy8_DL40bQe6IRQihg5_o6pWfT-Wcfhz-HuvDqBcNODG_eKJb-15P7MeuDFP4m5vXoAsYhaasrBQ1MbiesblrTBbCsRTaBYPlcTfkn3hJ_QXzBlUXLCvM7AM-IDHLXA5kbM9gWYIy6uQEsbQzlbU/w480-h640/IMG_7288.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZgy_XOacgZJBC7hTkdLjN_eFbUARxZhQfUevb0R_-3-cpYNWSKkK0HKXFMdnL08X4gylqiJYjteX0h_NyOz5PksOs-1FfdMEIAHkGk_JMS5mu_3HTmH4ZA2UQI5Fb0mlKFGm68KjfFOik8O5WtBdEgj3BIf9n8uO2bDdGgC_IF5tUPP6pSDZVsrk/s4032/IMG_7294.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZgy_XOacgZJBC7hTkdLjN_eFbUARxZhQfUevb0R_-3-cpYNWSKkK0HKXFMdnL08X4gylqiJYjteX0h_NyOz5PksOs-1FfdMEIAHkGk_JMS5mu_3HTmH4ZA2UQI5Fb0mlKFGm68KjfFOik8O5WtBdEgj3BIf9n8uO2bDdGgC_IF5tUPP6pSDZVsrk/w640-h480/IMG_7294.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVXBITmMHdWmXK-K0RqcHbdCACKZi3IpvQkXq4-czKqUcYbVr9mLgFBty23dj8pGbgj-bmc15lg2resMeYuc75l7KVm2xyIp9d6MNG0WAP16OXtObVtDtll2boTIcuvIBbLqGx1XP5sXOzHtnz2vihv8jp0teaYjTuYon0XexA91QQl3nIQv4rRgE/s4032/IMG_7299.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVXBITmMHdWmXK-K0RqcHbdCACKZi3IpvQkXq4-czKqUcYbVr9mLgFBty23dj8pGbgj-bmc15lg2resMeYuc75l7KVm2xyIp9d6MNG0WAP16OXtObVtDtll2boTIcuvIBbLqGx1XP5sXOzHtnz2vihv8jp0teaYjTuYon0XexA91QQl3nIQv4rRgE/w640-h480/IMG_7299.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5yWcmMWIRWnGJiTvOaKYXX_h9H1dkufYxFwB8p5B68b9bmqRFIXCJA-FLWE23txJdFUi4jrKBJfOGLd4z_PF1KCdH_4qy8F9vcZACJ3XIWl7X4t56btsCCV7XHMgjnxfAm-QOah8GK--oKCOR3U6R7BJLeLJk2CSqoFLdSEGvwvo_X16x-FrlwcE/s4032/IMG_7301.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5yWcmMWIRWnGJiTvOaKYXX_h9H1dkufYxFwB8p5B68b9bmqRFIXCJA-FLWE23txJdFUi4jrKBJfOGLd4z_PF1KCdH_4qy8F9vcZACJ3XIWl7X4t56btsCCV7XHMgjnxfAm-QOah8GK--oKCOR3U6R7BJLeLJk2CSqoFLdSEGvwvo_X16x-FrlwcE/w480-h640/IMG_7301.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We hadn't seen Katrina on her birthday earlier in the month,<br />so she began the gift-opening time with a birthday present!</td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibJtmg9DU8M_JtYej6Ubl2nmLdxKVzqkb-kGUJghtxWI23vyR-km2Qa4lVLL8OT4y8_1ruUH4AiH_kmr1ClLxJvEFaK-gM-qlVllPslSB5cczlgQ8Lmqlg_AB2I96sNvtuojYBycjiHw6dvTbKnozh7UKPdP45AiIJRrK8JOrvUkfUxvJAwOGbUXo/s4032/IMG_7320.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibJtmg9DU8M_JtYej6Ubl2nmLdxKVzqkb-kGUJghtxWI23vyR-km2Qa4lVLL8OT4y8_1ruUH4AiH_kmr1ClLxJvEFaK-gM-qlVllPslSB5cczlgQ8Lmqlg_AB2I96sNvtuojYBycjiHw6dvTbKnozh7UKPdP45AiIJRrK8JOrvUkfUxvJAwOGbUXo/w480-h640/IMG_7320.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjNQZRnw50HgqNF9-RV1jtor4UFXw8QOGmqUDfZqEp7KvcR2jAB7X6s8Toy8KjYvyFp4WfyFTR-dtTX1KLpRdWvYM8n2wjigmI-hDje_tGqBr2sMmDH3x1A4q7ipTUVsYC9qWP4kD66a4cupTt9AKmpahaHSLiQ2iMWAmmPCdqFDU18dP3Z0iqVTE/s4032/IMG_7318.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjNQZRnw50HgqNF9-RV1jtor4UFXw8QOGmqUDfZqEp7KvcR2jAB7X6s8Toy8KjYvyFp4WfyFTR-dtTX1KLpRdWvYM8n2wjigmI-hDje_tGqBr2sMmDH3x1A4q7ipTUVsYC9qWP4kD66a4cupTt9AKmpahaHSLiQ2iMWAmmPCdqFDU18dP3Z0iqVTE/w480-h640/IMG_7318.png" width="480" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoEX5gXIJ1Qyw3LnmI_WJTltESGyawPqH7A-9aiwtOJma-kNBQYt3O8lDaTLD9oUoZxghqoK8MLItuxwSl7_jQR3EI1GvJc9qR9S4MzfFV58fzrFyB2AV5qbMsc1kdNARExxLPWV65EAN02neyWrlEC28uD1zSAzlVOCErnU5h5X60hQCDNA0EIi0/s4032/IMG_7332.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoEX5gXIJ1Qyw3LnmI_WJTltESGyawPqH7A-9aiwtOJma-kNBQYt3O8lDaTLD9oUoZxghqoK8MLItuxwSl7_jQR3EI1GvJc9qR9S4MzfFV58fzrFyB2AV5qbMsc1kdNARExxLPWV65EAN02neyWrlEC28uD1zSAzlVOCErnU5h5X60hQCDNA0EIi0/w480-h640/IMG_7332.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; 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margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN1MGxmtFMqCSXbeaU-JP0y9jTs77rJiTdP52XGNYvnPk7FtXJzcmJN-X2-xPIX6WJvwX0KC18BPjAjFpUUPn_R2Oarg3PZYB3sekJ7XwcjMPf5j_YpysnUNctlqpV-O38mTxUL8OdbgXK1DxnIxkPIoslIwD2lC-0lBJO1eYsUXnNoTrDwIvzMGY/w480-h640/IMG_7310.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOe22JzTkr6aPnrq5uM3FGLRBW3ECC-q1C3-aDXMzUApIdDrLErETKWyvXqqCqfuX35XpZsFNMAFm03EsEdUvqy85EuzS73QA2fOSopCYuLewaSh2uRgxv6Vgkb95RNvVLG65nriAGgzR_55qqHiMMeYHZq8n0CcE_B55mf-kAwxSMAJLUJ9Dy5Cc/s4032/IMG_7311.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOe22JzTkr6aPnrq5uM3FGLRBW3ECC-q1C3-aDXMzUApIdDrLErETKWyvXqqCqfuX35XpZsFNMAFm03EsEdUvqy85EuzS73QA2fOSopCYuLewaSh2uRgxv6Vgkb95RNvVLG65nriAGgzR_55qqHiMMeYHZq8n0CcE_B55mf-kAwxSMAJLUJ9Dy5Cc/w480-h640/IMG_7311.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; 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margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYDw_mz7FeXtAq2JOOw5aUaSeWvUqXGHw6U2kTMbB4Y8nnTEe8jwF6iyKp2_2MZz_eV8wI0Rdm8CehZJPakcf9vIKi7lNekQNnyA-jEeUgDd5L0sXZR2qfN6NwT_NQ4yamnJymSwREZ9APAJcbYvcrs34U4uRh-pqP-Bw0DMMTDAc9E3c0scfGy3Q/w480-h640/IMG_7319.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPY0PFCo1hC3jOf7WRV9th7JxNmNSafkIvo6u2ty5GB_jc1IFONwSbUCzy2UaYa8Qmo4cWoP_jMKZIPTNCGmxzVtXXcumyl4UV1zxT4ombrr8nLjRKl8IrtYdDh7V4Av0gzYSfObuO7AYoM0yMGs9xTDowtLtSd4tXIcwzub7AWEleb3U76TIxRbI/s4032/IMG_7353.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPY0PFCo1hC3jOf7WRV9th7JxNmNSafkIvo6u2ty5GB_jc1IFONwSbUCzy2UaYa8Qmo4cWoP_jMKZIPTNCGmxzVtXXcumyl4UV1zxT4ombrr8nLjRKl8IrtYdDh7V4Av0gzYSfObuO7AYoM0yMGs9xTDowtLtSd4tXIcwzub7AWEleb3U76TIxRbI/w480-h640/IMG_7353.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Trying on Katrina's Mini Mouse hoodie, of course. </td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ4xKkqGUB-cOcB7zOeEm-z6YZXKXxuEASw5ER9oDL83BuyjOvoFcgRcSSo8GtukrugLpgsV9uEsyJdY1EFvPrNe0-78gqjo90JE6YjOdnUOKZtiAr-1l8T0QLNJSlHlqmxCVkkIsZ_6k2-uzPuAFUfix0muk01vxgcPrAZvxj0ERcFSrvKJVv74w/s4032/IMG_7350.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ4xKkqGUB-cOcB7zOeEm-z6YZXKXxuEASw5ER9oDL83BuyjOvoFcgRcSSo8GtukrugLpgsV9uEsyJdY1EFvPrNe0-78gqjo90JE6YjOdnUOKZtiAr-1l8T0QLNJSlHlqmxCVkkIsZ_6k2-uzPuAFUfix0muk01vxgcPrAZvxj0ERcFSrvKJVv74w/w480-h640/IMG_7350.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw-oAWCM7gAFTs_Z8vgKybPTznQ098gpk9oa0JmQBX-y4jZM0Lj2RHBX-ewVOYsK2yRohiPkwh_fmeUtnM8P-VSBfeEQLSbnmjogRjpDcVE5_kWxSAqFQF5GDD-2m2pAVpWyodO_ExTmIgIUag9mYnF4_L_M-313EUVAbL-eYVsKKi_BQ6oa3YeKo/s4032/IMG_7351.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw-oAWCM7gAFTs_Z8vgKybPTznQ098gpk9oa0JmQBX-y4jZM0Lj2RHBX-ewVOYsK2yRohiPkwh_fmeUtnM8P-VSBfeEQLSbnmjogRjpDcVE5_kWxSAqFQF5GDD-2m2pAVpWyodO_ExTmIgIUag9mYnF4_L_M-313EUVAbL-eYVsKKi_BQ6oa3YeKo/w480-h640/IMG_7351.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh414sL3Ytmtc2PCTpVCRgMPjrzCM1X5x_zeqI7udo3BJ9QOFngLZF0qKmIXfkS9z336ol2AODQ6cr6oJ_g_9qm4ApdXyOSeeRNc0VATXc_yIUI5dsAuO3bLQKpEaCVBewPRrtzVkBZ4cohX11u0K0hqNDh0OuidhNRElDcgZg-qOaKJHxndbqNMrg/s4032/IMG_7355.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh414sL3Ytmtc2PCTpVCRgMPjrzCM1X5x_zeqI7udo3BJ9QOFngLZF0qKmIXfkS9z336ol2AODQ6cr6oJ_g_9qm4ApdXyOSeeRNc0VATXc_yIUI5dsAuO3bLQKpEaCVBewPRrtzVkBZ4cohX11u0K0hqNDh0OuidhNRElDcgZg-qOaKJHxndbqNMrg/w640-h480/IMG_7355.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dessert buffet</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />And because some of us <a href="http://thinking-about-home.blogspot.com/2022/12/thanksgiving-2022-and-beyond.html" target="_blank">did not get to finish watching it on Thanksgiving Day</a>, we replayed the old home movie that Ron's family had created over thirty years ago. So many laughs! </span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRovB5Jo7XINm-wVRM8j5ZLtNxqJ5k3CME_vtvLczwqyKeLShRufHvMU9teO5bEuE65zClmy0Mvo1q6uHyURFQCP__BRTjid1sBU45xdeqj3_7rbORlu_KJZUlr17_QxSVBI1BRt2ZEdmRTkHnK65wlngWRz90om2tpKP_K898i_38AzUfJsQbKvA/s4032/IMG_7368.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRovB5Jo7XINm-wVRM8j5ZLtNxqJ5k3CME_vtvLczwqyKeLShRufHvMU9teO5bEuE65zClmy0Mvo1q6uHyURFQCP__BRTjid1sBU45xdeqj3_7rbORlu_KJZUlr17_QxSVBI1BRt2ZEdmRTkHnK65wlngWRz90om2tpKP_K898i_38AzUfJsQbKvA/w640-h480/IMG_7368.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4hFK4tZAJ40Pdz1HN-YC1ywBdNGCUteVDJ9WEEQe-3ev8sLbryO6jsJHujhZ5NnWTyYt0zacqNBT3LtfUhn3YMtvJzG9nYPCQ-B4_V5I8sfNmFW--pyY177eyYRwb_FUg_G-62UXOTbuG-Y_o3EJamkrCFHbWOiwTBdkGBbWdUKK5HTpzsH6TeR8/s4032/IMG_7371.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4hFK4tZAJ40Pdz1HN-YC1ywBdNGCUteVDJ9WEEQe-3ev8sLbryO6jsJHujhZ5NnWTyYt0zacqNBT3LtfUhn3YMtvJzG9nYPCQ-B4_V5I8sfNmFW--pyY177eyYRwb_FUg_G-62UXOTbuG-Y_o3EJamkrCFHbWOiwTBdkGBbWdUKK5HTpzsH6TeR8/w480-h640/IMG_7371.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><div><br /></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlgl0CMmw6W1IFHeCBVndVhT-VyGw22oxzVYAHx3VbP2aURCwnFt4JOd7ViUKmxpQapKPbU30r3DxVvPvD_kXnFKj2Vap7A5Ry-IyAHtsXi8g_U2ptM2obK1iQfspYYFGCtyj0VMal_dUtPzf2BkeYmNjl0yJLp3URMUb3HiOlpSlVd13gXEvbkkY/s500/CHRISTMAS+DIVIDER.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="140" data-original-width="500" height="90" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlgl0CMmw6W1IFHeCBVndVhT-VyGw22oxzVYAHx3VbP2aURCwnFt4JOd7ViUKmxpQapKPbU30r3DxVvPvD_kXnFKj2Vap7A5Ry-IyAHtsXi8g_U2ptM2obK1iQfspYYFGCtyj0VMal_dUtPzf2BkeYmNjl0yJLp3URMUb3HiOlpSlVd13gXEvbkkY/s320/CHRISTMAS+DIVIDER.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />Ron had the rest of the week off. But since Kati and Andrew and the babies were not here, we had to adjust our plans. <br /><br />We had planned to share meals, soak up baby time <i>(the babies are now 2 1/2 years and 18 months old, but they're still babies to me)</i>, drink coffee from our favorite coffee shop, and have long conversations with our faraway family (who we haven't seen since May). <i>Sigh . . . <br /></i><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Instead . . . <br /><br />We did a lot, but with no deadlines and no hurry. <br /><br />I did almost no cooking because we had Christmas leftovers. <br /><br />We spent an evening with Kristin and family.<br /><br />Ron and I went out for breakfast at a new-to-us place.<br /><br />We went antiquing on three different days in three different towns. <br /><br />Bekah had friends over for games . . . twice. <br /><br />We took several drives. <br /><br />We drank eggnog lattes two more times. <br /><br />We went out for dinner on New Year's Eve and then came home and played games. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh09gia821-D-1-dIyoO4c94NHeR3LeFuF0uz3rff2OoEJySETCfmEkrff9k4fuj59c_AoiNdYjGrE5uVaYuhy5OzJO3j4dimWLMF6TsKh0oeEmFSsE41kcTHATjoAt8jC9ho5rdwUiXdyv6xP_L5IgeO-924b4S2TYfKyAWvLxsB41vpIp4xRjKhQ/s1104/323690396_1177488769536071_7741062087704768040_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1104" data-original-width="828" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh09gia821-D-1-dIyoO4c94NHeR3LeFuF0uz3rff2OoEJySETCfmEkrff9k4fuj59c_AoiNdYjGrE5uVaYuhy5OzJO3j4dimWLMF6TsKh0oeEmFSsE41kcTHATjoAt8jC9ho5rdwUiXdyv6xP_L5IgeO-924b4S2TYfKyAWvLxsB41vpIp4xRjKhQ/w480-h640/323690396_1177488769536071_7741062087704768040_n.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">So, although we would rather have had all of our dear ones near (and not sick!), and although we missed them so much, (and this mama confesses to some self-pity and some tears), </span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;">we experienced much joy and grace during this beautiful Christmastime of 2022! Emmanuel - God With Us!</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl7sZu48c3wIl6b6QeWm0A5l0b_VSq0tCHYMqsV-6bkKOchoDBqqrIwnewdSCLz5IzONJDqZeRWT4kIGB-fSf9AyFj3Z-8u0r9IPCwx0yxYmq8vpyERN4MyfRJJFS9N_f71p1G4_Ur5nnYvnf0cqWyHh7_usbRKITyjNih8-YAUzeF2QNKm2HlLgg/s500/CHRISTMAS+DIVIDER.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="140" data-original-width="500" height="90" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl7sZu48c3wIl6b6QeWm0A5l0b_VSq0tCHYMqsV-6bkKOchoDBqqrIwnewdSCLz5IzONJDqZeRWT4kIGB-fSf9AyFj3Z-8u0r9IPCwx0yxYmq8vpyERN4MyfRJJFS9N_f71p1G4_Ur5nnYvnf0cqWyHh7_usbRKITyjNih8-YAUzeF2QNKm2HlLgg/s320/CHRISTMAS+DIVIDER.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />The tree lights were off and Ron yawned BIG right in the middle of it (it <i>was</i> past his bedtime and he had no idea I was recording), but it was a beautiful way to usher in the new year . . . with Bekah playing "Be Thou My Vision." <br /><br /></span><span class="x3nfvp2 x1j61x8r x1fcty0u xdj266r xhhsvwb xat24cr xgzva0m xxymvpz xlup9mm x1kky2od" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; display: inline-flex; font-family: inherit; font-size: 15px; height: 16px; margin: 0px 1px; text-align: left; vertical-align: middle; white-space: pre-wrap; width: 16px;"><img alt="🎶" height="16" referrerpolicy="origin-when-cross-origin" src="https://static.xx.fbcdn.net/images/emoji.php/v9/t78/1.5/16/1f3b6.png" style="border: 0px;" width="16" /></span><span face=""Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px; text-align: left; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="font-size: medium;">Be Thou my vision, O Lord of my heart<br /></span><span class="x3nfvp2 x1j61x8r x1fcty0u xdj266r xhhsvwb xat24cr xgzva0m xxymvpz xlup9mm x1kky2od" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; display: inline-flex; font-family: inherit; font-size: 15px; height: 16px; margin: 0px 1px; text-align: left; vertical-align: middle; white-space: pre-wrap; width: 16px;"><img alt="🎶" height="16" referrerpolicy="origin-when-cross-origin" src="https://static.xx.fbcdn.net/images/emoji.php/v9/t78/1.5/16/1f3b6.png" style="border: 0px;" width="16" /></span><span face=""Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px; text-align: left; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="font-size: medium;">Naught be all else to me save that Thou art!<br /><br /></span><span class="x3nfvp2 x1j61x8r x1fcty0u xdj266r xhhsvwb xat24cr xgzva0m xxymvpz xlup9mm x1kky2od" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; display: inline-flex; font-family: inherit; font-size: 15px; height: 16px; margin: 0px 1px; text-align: left; vertical-align: middle; white-space: pre-wrap; width: 16px;"><img alt="🎶" height="16" referrerpolicy="origin-when-cross-origin" src="https://static.xx.fbcdn.net/images/emoji.php/v9/t78/1.5/16/1f3b6.png" style="border: 0px;" width="16" /></span><span face=""Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px; text-align: left; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="font-size: medium;"> Heart of my own heart, whatever befall<br /></span><span class="x3nfvp2 x1j61x8r x1fcty0u xdj266r xhhsvwb xat24cr xgzva0m xxymvpz xlup9mm x1kky2od" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; display: inline-flex; font-family: inherit; font-size: 15px; height: 16px; margin: 0px 1px; text-align: left; vertical-align: middle; white-space: pre-wrap; width: 16px;"><img alt="🎶" height="16" referrerpolicy="origin-when-cross-origin" src="https://static.xx.fbcdn.net/images/emoji.php/v9/t78/1.5/16/1f3b6.png" style="border: 0px;" width="16" /></span><span face=""Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px; text-align: left; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="font-size: medium;">Still be my vision, O Ruler of all.<br /><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://youtube.com/shorts/rU2cXrEIymQ?feature=share" target="_blank"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxX0JqU11znjQrf2RcWGh4vUDYWq9yvCl9ZnMHbXqLNsmarMOJs5m4L-yrpK27Rs7MiYSWLtjQvxGclCVagSw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://youtube.com/shorts/rU2cXrEIymQ?feature=share" target="_blank"><br /></a></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">May HE be your vision in 2023!</span></div><br /><br /><p></p></div></div></div>Cheryl http://www.blogger.com/profile/00063844335185525553noreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6596988245744679027.post-51458611402269339512022-12-22T15:53:00.002-05:002023-01-04T08:37:04.491-05:00Pineapple House | Christmas Tour 2022 <p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSxtYgFMMxHs6horWpx9ee_-wlgNntE5EGJv3Mr9lzG-lIm46qD3pKhzMtlmVQpwFFSsTeUi-jja_hAuf9Az_l_bFChiPFmqqMh1pskajXaAkxpgLaYnMVwlYCOqguZBsAUjbezPbcGItg5jAsYz7XtIOaH1vLzbbnMcz1dHpuzBEwDXm5bvRyBHY/s4066/IMG_6716.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4066" data-original-width="3058" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSxtYgFMMxHs6horWpx9ee_-wlgNntE5EGJv3Mr9lzG-lIm46qD3pKhzMtlmVQpwFFSsTeUi-jja_hAuf9Az_l_bFChiPFmqqMh1pskajXaAkxpgLaYnMVwlYCOqguZBsAUjbezPbcGItg5jAsYz7XtIOaH1vLzbbnMcz1dHpuzBEwDXm5bvRyBHY/w482-h640/IMG_6716.jpg" width="482" /></a></div><br /><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">It has seemed like such a short time between Thanksgiving and Christmas this year! Much remains on the to-do list, but I wanted to pop in long enough to share our Christmas house. It has become a tradition, I suppose, considering that this is the </span><b style="font-size: large;">fourteenth year</b><span style="font-size: medium;"> that I have invited you in! <br /></span><i><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="color: #990000;">(Our other Christmas home tours can be found ~ <a href="http://thinking-about-home.blogspot.com/2019/12/christmas-home-tours.html" target="_blank">here</a> ~ .)</span></i></div></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />This year, there is a mix of<br /><br />the </span><span style="font-size: x-large;">tried-and-true</span><span style="font-size: medium;">, where we just repeat things that we have done before, <br /><br />and the </span><span style="font-size: x-large;">brand new</span><span style="font-size: medium;">, because we have new pieces or even brand new spaces to decorate!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglqPvmBevP4yzkROT8DCK7F42iH5YqPt4HxoZyOj7UbKMUTgLUijyzeO9ltcMvGHoVUP42DLVYiQktDEA-3SHnmmKWc7awFUMsnY0aUF7F5tB8n8OSCDifsFWJwAET0Gzd-L6n1G44MaGoDZnp0qr1Qwqdqwoyi-RPa9NNVw94o_sNrVLbzRPscU0/s320/ShabbyBlogsDividerG.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="11" data-original-width="320" height="11" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglqPvmBevP4yzkROT8DCK7F42iH5YqPt4HxoZyOj7UbKMUTgLUijyzeO9ltcMvGHoVUP42DLVYiQktDEA-3SHnmmKWc7awFUMsnY0aUF7F5tB8n8OSCDifsFWJwAET0Gzd-L6n1G44MaGoDZnp0qr1Qwqdqwoyi-RPa9NNVw94o_sNrVLbzRPscU0/s1600/ShabbyBlogsDividerG.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />In the dining room, there is a good deal of the tried-and-true . . . <br /></span><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP9MjRMeEkQLbj6xqBFOJ7IQJyTI-JuPe7hjxc1eXIqSRT8PJ3OYJ0TqVjY6hx8XC3KtjAxmc5gQLOBfZS_b0GhXTIH6QegwGH1ocCxShRB-QgJv3tNzH7DMTkQYMDlA1nTCMGEyIcGXCs68L_lM3wV3OhpmtWTl-2wabzS7NBNC9-cYiABvENF6E/s4032/IMG_E6812.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP9MjRMeEkQLbj6xqBFOJ7IQJyTI-JuPe7hjxc1eXIqSRT8PJ3OYJ0TqVjY6hx8XC3KtjAxmc5gQLOBfZS_b0GhXTIH6QegwGH1ocCxShRB-QgJv3tNzH7DMTkQYMDlA1nTCMGEyIcGXCs68L_lM3wV3OhpmtWTl-2wabzS7NBNC9-cYiABvENF6E/w480-h640/IMG_E6812.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiXUj8BjhkNvU21ItE0xWEDGUk9niMtypEST3T6G3TPYtAKPGD-wIb2mYMRGJtY1WHZ9a8vS-GEXNhxLbM1XyjXB4YI5-1AqWWAegx8NLU9LIAxUNs_aZB93nrWR8wa3eH3_oIlWCgj3Rv6RT74on_kPREvS73ATQ--1J3II0En5qGD9Citqhip90/s4032/IMG_6806.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiXUj8BjhkNvU21ItE0xWEDGUk9niMtypEST3T6G3TPYtAKPGD-wIb2mYMRGJtY1WHZ9a8vS-GEXNhxLbM1XyjXB4YI5-1AqWWAegx8NLU9LIAxUNs_aZB93nrWR8wa3eH3_oIlWCgj3Rv6RT74on_kPREvS73ATQ--1J3II0En5qGD9Citqhip90/w480-h640/IMG_6806.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">. . . although I do have a new redware platter that I am using as a base for my table centerpiece. </span></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_MTu0ks4Bk7Nw9BKN1kfBAV5wzVWbj9g6nnJvCPaIldG-lZ8yi9j7qzrgORZ5l1z1ZjEmxLlcyWo6v4PHHUxAJWG5TRRAIjprUqtm9XWZ5bzdIKJY2O7p9YAlDJ3cpVf4VUWFHZmxWrmPrSAh6cp9n0s5378fe2URKR-aRU30Cxz6rlUlKJcWQUE/s4032/IMG_E7035.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_MTu0ks4Bk7Nw9BKN1kfBAV5wzVWbj9g6nnJvCPaIldG-lZ8yi9j7qzrgORZ5l1z1ZjEmxLlcyWo6v4PHHUxAJWG5TRRAIjprUqtm9XWZ5bzdIKJY2O7p9YAlDJ3cpVf4VUWFHZmxWrmPrSAh6cp9n0s5378fe2URKR-aRU30Cxz6rlUlKJcWQUE/w480-h640/IMG_E7035.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKTmekdSUUk57UJlTMXYBiADpq3BOsVFgWa94Hqy8ABv1dD9rKipL8A9qJpaaxpup5bOIlzFjQGXKeGQIi_HsJPe9Xw24YFnp4TPNrer1ztboKeSNZUgsV26ZxY_rKIZ6NmdZ7loMIICLMMNJ4U65-BKpaAqu7fNIfyNhThsxRW2f3VxXXnSCuaI8/s4032/IMG_7017.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKTmekdSUUk57UJlTMXYBiADpq3BOsVFgWa94Hqy8ABv1dD9rKipL8A9qJpaaxpup5bOIlzFjQGXKeGQIi_HsJPe9Xw24YFnp4TPNrer1ztboKeSNZUgsV26ZxY_rKIZ6NmdZ7loMIICLMMNJ4U65-BKpaAqu7fNIfyNhThsxRW2f3VxXXnSCuaI8/w480-h640/IMG_7017.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilGHjna3dKigKEiMAIRVVdwyMP9pus8yipzkNnkVv_XuUhOcYTJz2eaO6l2Zr48kbtiXQNylZDmmv-b5yHDcBtLsidZ18tJ-teIKWlCGGa_-BUAZptejw1XDo4WfLMZtsOSTZKyccpesu9uclSo1RXatF0HbH4UiH7qv88bYxLKlSF8femea65epY/s4032/IMG_7009.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilGHjna3dKigKEiMAIRVVdwyMP9pus8yipzkNnkVv_XuUhOcYTJz2eaO6l2Zr48kbtiXQNylZDmmv-b5yHDcBtLsidZ18tJ-teIKWlCGGa_-BUAZptejw1XDo4WfLMZtsOSTZKyccpesu9uclSo1RXatF0HbH4UiH7qv88bYxLKlSF8femea65epY/w640-h480/IMG_7009.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis4Nm1GNqIopatPqZoQsfkJaGCVeV8pzDT0kgeaoy8QyMEe_k0boK7mhzLt6kXNWnyBKjSXlheoj9_PB5_IO5qRETTmUN52RwpTp_P649Iq4HLpgnpvNhBbPmHgZz4J5330A-rjrTXSjKoCF3TzP24hIK_YNdlxRgRcZ-QZ26jz43jFhNYO8E8Ato/s4032/IMG_7015.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis4Nm1GNqIopatPqZoQsfkJaGCVeV8pzDT0kgeaoy8QyMEe_k0boK7mhzLt6kXNWnyBKjSXlheoj9_PB5_IO5qRETTmUN52RwpTp_P649Iq4HLpgnpvNhBbPmHgZz4J5330A-rjrTXSjKoCF3TzP24hIK_YNdlxRgRcZ-QZ26jz43jFhNYO8E8Ato/w480-h640/IMG_7015.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLWXym1337Rk113yUPvQM3UA-l7-RS3HCwMaKE-TVS8dhy2fhMBEQSB-xJi4UTm3FR95Nka-Ei7_6JeeAZY4nlvUCxrY_ZKyF_JojvMV3bDFc-ExscKcAWuu-JkU7tt3Ug6Ym8tx-LKiEZWEmSjI9rerIQRbxy18CAaJL0NlbteG_FZyhjumXSXQ4/s320/ShabbyBlogsDividerG.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="11" data-original-width="320" height="11" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLWXym1337Rk113yUPvQM3UA-l7-RS3HCwMaKE-TVS8dhy2fhMBEQSB-xJi4UTm3FR95Nka-Ei7_6JeeAZY4nlvUCxrY_ZKyF_JojvMV3bDFc-ExscKcAWuu-JkU7tt3Ug6Ym8tx-LKiEZWEmSjI9rerIQRbxy18CAaJL0NlbteG_FZyhjumXSXQ4/s1600/ShabbyBlogsDividerG.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I am still enamored with <a href="http://thinking-about-home.blogspot.com/2022/09/antiquing-in-which-we-discover-and-buy.html" target="_blank">Sarah Hicks' desk</a> (you can read the full story ~ <a href="http://thinking-about-home.blogspot.com/2022/09/antiquing-in-which-we-discover-and-buy.html" target="_blank">here</a> ~) and I wanted to add a bit of Christmas to it. </span></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmJiys7Vzauk2cKLLlx_bl5dAQBI-NDIcT9bxQf5a8HA1z19zT07JLXqPIxOGD1GCw6mtSvhpzpwxv_5vhkUcSprWBr2drR_9InbvVCO8J9k8ROFHmjc0Zi3ZPX4_I3sGecx9ePL5Qt4AkXqF28sXPDb6_ahnf_hg5Dz2aXFtrl68RmISJyLGhE6o/s4032/IMG_7039.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmJiys7Vzauk2cKLLlx_bl5dAQBI-NDIcT9bxQf5a8HA1z19zT07JLXqPIxOGD1GCw6mtSvhpzpwxv_5vhkUcSprWBr2drR_9InbvVCO8J9k8ROFHmjc0Zi3ZPX4_I3sGecx9ePL5Qt4AkXqF28sXPDb6_ahnf_hg5Dz2aXFtrl68RmISJyLGhE6o/w480-h640/IMG_7039.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5SJD3_RhCcB6ernE7-fZfZn4jTeKDSpEnTDbTOGVMlBLN7lL5pvosZhb1_LaIIOCRp0futhA78J94q94qeHp33m1fE459rg79mfSozWTG6tEre4ENjG3a3XLy5K9tUfYxlxGKH5cRt_wrm5Q5x8K7FVKpIiPy03iljkeHa4mmrh5pWVBPQ0iaATM/s4032/IMG_6721.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5SJD3_RhCcB6ernE7-fZfZn4jTeKDSpEnTDbTOGVMlBLN7lL5pvosZhb1_LaIIOCRp0futhA78J94q94qeHp33m1fE459rg79mfSozWTG6tEre4ENjG3a3XLy5K9tUfYxlxGKH5cRt_wrm5Q5x8K7FVKpIiPy03iljkeHa4mmrh5pWVBPQ0iaATM/w480-h640/IMG_6721.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">For the first time in I-don't-even-know-how-many years (20-ish?), I did not make a Della Robbia arrangement for the mantel.<br /><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU0X6ugx4RRRb6ue1-ODKMCKnrc8OCGfqghNHuaNT8Nnh79V_dLgET-OFtHyJ8qCsuPoFOXWKYk2gxaSQQTvUGhtgLVqNWwDF_2TelnULNnN_VVLgExo-nsbYx1hBaDvIK7AhpCcAmKLs1SENn_tSmC1QyOwGpSgfg0aG_kaZt2Oz_Uc_aVZQqq4E/s1600/Della%20robbia%202016.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1066" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU0X6ugx4RRRb6ue1-ODKMCKnrc8OCGfqghNHuaNT8Nnh79V_dLgET-OFtHyJ8qCsuPoFOXWKYk2gxaSQQTvUGhtgLVqNWwDF_2TelnULNnN_VVLgExo-nsbYx1hBaDvIK7AhpCcAmKLs1SENn_tSmC1QyOwGpSgfg0aG_kaZt2Oz_Uc_aVZQqq4E/w320-h213/Della%20robbia%202016.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">della Robbia mantel ~ 2016</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />I got out the garland that I normally use and it looked so tired. (Maybe it was me who was tired.) What I ended up with is not stellar and I will surely come up with something else for next year, but this view in the late afternoon light made me smile. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUmznr9zYRK1_nxB0lB7VVluHTGoNgQdzEnGgEvnlUE-OOpp82Y4Nx3qjM_4j-sAwhyR-izCd6kAJRYFKdDHvjg0khVAXt9bIrspToqlCM6i9UpMNLw7EN9itsglpf4LvhmnW5cf9qe8fmlvi5S1RTgcaqXjK7Jqq85MyLBKfmIUPaugu20VuBMwY/s4032/IMG_6971.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUmznr9zYRK1_nxB0lB7VVluHTGoNgQdzEnGgEvnlUE-OOpp82Y4Nx3qjM_4j-sAwhyR-izCd6kAJRYFKdDHvjg0khVAXt9bIrspToqlCM6i9UpMNLw7EN9itsglpf4LvhmnW5cf9qe8fmlvi5S1RTgcaqXjK7Jqq85MyLBKfmIUPaugu20VuBMwY/w480-h640/IMG_6971.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ1IYBWKfcHBs-63uoauHgWXJ5gtFEWQBMLU5V3AcLujzcO8iTAZtpdmchkXCfwJGCbPk5OBHXPvIJQxvVj8C2llaKjaA2AmfC3X-Tz0iONPZ5f4OmxiJO9HgBg8LM7bmHw-XCqVlHMTeCpch0wibnRygzXS7kQGD6XKgIrCkRiNrIalPfrcbiqqs/s4032/IMG_6997.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ1IYBWKfcHBs-63uoauHgWXJ5gtFEWQBMLU5V3AcLujzcO8iTAZtpdmchkXCfwJGCbPk5OBHXPvIJQxvVj8C2llaKjaA2AmfC3X-Tz0iONPZ5f4OmxiJO9HgBg8LM7bmHw-XCqVlHMTeCpch0wibnRygzXS7kQGD6XKgIrCkRiNrIalPfrcbiqqs/w480-h640/IMG_6997.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr7yy1GGT2dHGQ5m1_MLruP89SQh-d0e1dFw1p4Y8YBYDRJeuadp7Ug-i47nJ7ZTDVNbiBDKledntHJbDd_mj2eYTixmxkOWinQeBP6WeO6HES5Bf4MgIMjrK2WxNy9JGqmgJ0IHjTcQ_EBl4Uwg74eBVl3ub9NyObxDleDM6mchvxNXTFbf-JKiE/s4032/IMG_6994.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr7yy1GGT2dHGQ5m1_MLruP89SQh-d0e1dFw1p4Y8YBYDRJeuadp7Ug-i47nJ7ZTDVNbiBDKledntHJbDd_mj2eYTixmxkOWinQeBP6WeO6HES5Bf4MgIMjrK2WxNy9JGqmgJ0IHjTcQ_EBl4Uwg74eBVl3ub9NyObxDleDM6mchvxNXTFbf-JKiE/w480-h640/IMG_6994.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2VDFnJXGdslMIrT1yZEdGLMP4caaErXZJ7dzksDPLuvZtSAv5lsbxmbJlVkgrj58hY2MGiPOy51CTStN4k7ob3bOY49fit7If3Fu8-RBlDx9PizGqJ2kEGccrytbX1Va7Ee6SEfDe8eZUCn9b3Qaia1Llwf4swwkNHAacGDmtBZ81L7UI-gsA39E/s320/ShabbyBlogsDividerG.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="11" data-original-width="320" height="11" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2VDFnJXGdslMIrT1yZEdGLMP4caaErXZJ7dzksDPLuvZtSAv5lsbxmbJlVkgrj58hY2MGiPOy51CTStN4k7ob3bOY49fit7If3Fu8-RBlDx9PizGqJ2kEGccrytbX1Va7Ee6SEfDe8eZUCn9b3Qaia1Llwf4swwkNHAacGDmtBZ81L7UI-gsA39E/s1600/ShabbyBlogsDividerG.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Here are some Christmas touches in the kitchen. </span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIwsfad8p1HV_bWVZCPcihClPDDQQNYY8xIxM9uf8WXCf2PqiMdJgCpLH2awodnMAAlSicepgD8GM5ooJKmLTeJHyTc7ofqXKXfZXJqQpTmVdYqafadobNs8mjWit34OkxX5q55jC7twX-qmCLVk5Or8Uiilw_T-6rK4K9K3QFkQmVKVOvBxUHA6Q/s4032/IMG_6541.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIwsfad8p1HV_bWVZCPcihClPDDQQNYY8xIxM9uf8WXCf2PqiMdJgCpLH2awodnMAAlSicepgD8GM5ooJKmLTeJHyTc7ofqXKXfZXJqQpTmVdYqafadobNs8mjWit34OkxX5q55jC7twX-qmCLVk5Or8Uiilw_T-6rK4K9K3QFkQmVKVOvBxUHA6Q/w640-h480/IMG_6541.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPiyJwPN_UhRgzi0tuFuCGdkWi1sX3AAk-j2tgaYkjIfbYmA2c_lyjnIBlmwp0rlknXN2eCzqnR6mU0-hbCdETSEJZuifPx4v5_g7pabpyWzOg6ImbSF3xyO4meO1gcHNb0dgqDKOxK-Du-CM_uQvQys9WV878_PB-ehkX1auWVZiVgw0ERwCY75g/s4032/IMG_E6683.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPiyJwPN_UhRgzi0tuFuCGdkWi1sX3AAk-j2tgaYkjIfbYmA2c_lyjnIBlmwp0rlknXN2eCzqnR6mU0-hbCdETSEJZuifPx4v5_g7pabpyWzOg6ImbSF3xyO4meO1gcHNb0dgqDKOxK-Du-CM_uQvQys9WV878_PB-ehkX1auWVZiVgw0ERwCY75g/w640-h480/IMG_E6683.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR3kW367__N0mnnO4xeeHPTdGQAAeuN95x64xoYwc2QCyPCPW9vJHiQd8NIEPaIHfn-RyXdX5yH8Nc3HPcYaCo2Io2jwNc8Nv9-j3pRJ_mGjRbBP-Of3vdZJTuvJlM8TF2i1-CO0NRVfBaqz-gBYmZLiXUATtDKQvW6UJcXo84AiDOUcGWxpFXzbU/s4032/IMG_6738.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR3kW367__N0mnnO4xeeHPTdGQAAeuN95x64xoYwc2QCyPCPW9vJHiQd8NIEPaIHfn-RyXdX5yH8Nc3HPcYaCo2Io2jwNc8Nv9-j3pRJ_mGjRbBP-Of3vdZJTuvJlM8TF2i1-CO0NRVfBaqz-gBYmZLiXUATtDKQvW6UJcXo84AiDOUcGWxpFXzbU/w480-h640/IMG_6738.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX24aXABYCfFboy1OhsuaIp2A1Ro8QwjOLeqWf0_Q4gXMtY-0JtuRnVEMfC1ywPx_XUPKIHuHN9bb0DYxRzxPKKv2pD7lACkYVyFUCyCykKIyOrMzI8rVtqZSrrT1ZhdouCY7iFSqEh-bHieLsH0mu6pLz5aN0cvwaVyP7QrJW21tTZqywsYupem0/s4032/IMG_6661.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX24aXABYCfFboy1OhsuaIp2A1Ro8QwjOLeqWf0_Q4gXMtY-0JtuRnVEMfC1ywPx_XUPKIHuHN9bb0DYxRzxPKKv2pD7lACkYVyFUCyCykKIyOrMzI8rVtqZSrrT1ZhdouCY7iFSqEh-bHieLsH0mu6pLz5aN0cvwaVyP7QrJW21tTZqywsYupem0/w480-h640/IMG_6661.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-BJWYEMtp6Zi0y8iMeFKfsT7NLtPTsOqtWX5wFHJ7_j1O4bbavp33G9RolGVMaefJz3szoqQbsHLTIuEl98Mrj1dH9p7Jt7Rr4-Skfaw4epLUS6e3Ze_d2n8yxNqmnbiK0P22zpMu0obI8y3rZPAB8Avcw10IKeUYhDbHePttiQ-DXEMYPsmPoA8/s4032/IMG_6662.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-BJWYEMtp6Zi0y8iMeFKfsT7NLtPTsOqtWX5wFHJ7_j1O4bbavp33G9RolGVMaefJz3szoqQbsHLTIuEl98Mrj1dH9p7Jt7Rr4-Skfaw4epLUS6e3Ze_d2n8yxNqmnbiK0P22zpMu0obI8y3rZPAB8Avcw10IKeUYhDbHePttiQ-DXEMYPsmPoA8/w480-h640/IMG_6662.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The little gnome on the windowsill was made by our granddaughter Alaine (12) and he joins the pair of wooden trees made by her cousin, our grandson Peter (also 12, although he made them a couple of years ago). </span></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSaVIAMIEYZqNUDdoWKAjuHpG99XE3CS5sqakq-tfqDi4GEgHOGW7eAPonfk5GuGH9fk7QfLEtyfIMLDV0qs3uzqQQzUSyok1JbgLdmSIFzqlHRkeaO2DsI3TY7pmJkJDwyiuqdwZ7vPt_eq9gmpsPIBrESdx8zIs2Si7_dchOuqA5IH4PsOkOnkI/s3967/IMG_7066%20(3).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3967" data-original-width="2975" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSaVIAMIEYZqNUDdoWKAjuHpG99XE3CS5sqakq-tfqDi4GEgHOGW7eAPonfk5GuGH9fk7QfLEtyfIMLDV0qs3uzqQQzUSyok1JbgLdmSIFzqlHRkeaO2DsI3TY7pmJkJDwyiuqdwZ7vPt_eq9gmpsPIBrESdx8zIs2Si7_dchOuqA5IH4PsOkOnkI/w480-h640/IMG_7066%20(3).jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR9nEtDgGP8MZktyPRrEt_Kz90RJmMxR5LQX5lEItlYsNqKY5GeMe5fhD47swrIquKf7eRgjeh7WYbJP4kNbJhdtkuoqOr1fJPvXJkmjFcH_bjNPFOaKlUTyKjCl3Q_yJS44woa4nCEb2Ro2kccfZtp1_qTzIp_4rhk22QAEN88N0OwLr6rGafjw0/s320/ShabbyBlogsDividerG.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="11" data-original-width="320" height="11" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR9nEtDgGP8MZktyPRrEt_Kz90RJmMxR5LQX5lEItlYsNqKY5GeMe5fhD47swrIquKf7eRgjeh7WYbJP4kNbJhdtkuoqOr1fJPvXJkmjFcH_bjNPFOaKlUTyKjCl3Q_yJS44woa4nCEb2Ro2kccfZtp1_qTzIp_4rhk22QAEN88N0OwLr6rGafjw0/s1600/ShabbyBlogsDividerG.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">It was exciting to decorate the guest room this year! If you've been reading here a while, then you may remember that we <a href="http://thinking-about-home.blogspot.com/2019/06/in-one-months-time.html" target="_blank">redecorated Kati's room</a> and <a href="http://thinking-about-home.blogspot.com/2020/08/guest-room-updates.html" target="_blank">created a guest room</a> when she got married. I've only shown you <a href="http://thinking-about-home.blogspot.com/2022/09/antiquing-top-finds-of-summer.html" target="_blank">one side of that room</a> because the other side was not finished. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5PjgKBxBNmHJme2YglEoRpA9Bv1Ublj70DRWhwoRyI4jV4MJaj8H6NFBa6f1mTy7khF1Z57aV2a4ACqS_Q57Qb5tpfwu7ZTKtrAI7S05lNL0MG0JEoRcuH2m_1cQqzJOlre45Ok-_RB7oIxD-seHCuhxNwfYlkEvPu66CPA8u1TKICGlHwAgtevk/s4032/IMG_6800.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5PjgKBxBNmHJme2YglEoRpA9Bv1Ublj70DRWhwoRyI4jV4MJaj8H6NFBa6f1mTy7khF1Z57aV2a4ACqS_Q57Qb5tpfwu7ZTKtrAI7S05lNL0MG0JEoRcuH2m_1cQqzJOlre45Ok-_RB7oIxD-seHCuhxNwfYlkEvPu66CPA8u1TKICGlHwAgtevk/w640-h480/IMG_6800.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ9YGld2CfBxN5axfqNIR0TjTNsc3Xs4OtcDF7YHWNrnWH-c3D33uTbNJnvUGAqwXdm9c_qQM5ZoLHKz_01URFi5PCEBX_app-cTpzFXNXKxpIakyE7bXv3fCeN6UhZ9NXJwcJbCnZqd68XEaVA5uIaInwLgfj-b9wVJlNzrkrtlefGgo25G1BYOo/s4032/IMG_6860.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ9YGld2CfBxN5axfqNIR0TjTNsc3Xs4OtcDF7YHWNrnWH-c3D33uTbNJnvUGAqwXdm9c_qQM5ZoLHKz_01URFi5PCEBX_app-cTpzFXNXKxpIakyE7bXv3fCeN6UhZ9NXJwcJbCnZqd68XEaVA5uIaInwLgfj-b9wVJlNzrkrtlefGgo25G1BYOo/w480-h640/IMG_6860.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I'll </span><span style="font-size: medium;">tell you more details in a future blog post, but we recently had a chair reupholstered and then I hung this shelf that my sister gave me, so of course, I needed to add a few pinecones and bits of greenery to make it festive! </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN9VQaKxVBQ4B9QQy-1acGIJ_xLuRWIsp-AKb7sVAEZoUXDqyAdwqEcI9zwL2nVjU3j9omE-Qmh-iJIal1bOsobwr8e93ul0KG_y04LjZhyNaGAKUmUtaUsidU6ua-XzpNbeXPvuVmXWQ_7S8QXlYFcdV8xMZjNJei-fO02Nqx-P8A8E9NFUX0d3o/s4032/IMG_6788.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN9VQaKxVBQ4B9QQy-1acGIJ_xLuRWIsp-AKb7sVAEZoUXDqyAdwqEcI9zwL2nVjU3j9omE-Qmh-iJIal1bOsobwr8e93ul0KG_y04LjZhyNaGAKUmUtaUsidU6ua-XzpNbeXPvuVmXWQ_7S8QXlYFcdV8xMZjNJei-fO02Nqx-P8A8E9NFUX0d3o/w480-h640/IMG_6788.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5bJENfJU9zXhsf5wFtPAbJQ-_CkpIExeIUqweQFUwLRKCMrnI2tXaOt1e2EV8kbpz6By2JIfMcNwVBQYYh7jb7Gyj6jAPaTFaoaoOujV_x4JSPhaju0_VSY2z9VZgYc79gWNFJ1_g1QvpDmfXorzFZkbI59VCWra0K3RKN1Dn-KlIj_Iv_uIvkTg/s4032/IMG_6804.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5bJENfJU9zXhsf5wFtPAbJQ-_CkpIExeIUqweQFUwLRKCMrnI2tXaOt1e2EV8kbpz6By2JIfMcNwVBQYYh7jb7Gyj6jAPaTFaoaoOujV_x4JSPhaju0_VSY2z9VZgYc79gWNFJ1_g1QvpDmfXorzFZkbI59VCWra0K3RKN1Dn-KlIj_Iv_uIvkTg/w480-h640/IMG_6804.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsrwJieyidajTXbaokZXEQpV2GWxtl10O2bgnQi012tJTKxtEHtig4XG1uw8bnB2zxM1609BYWpVaVCrfMBWUZC8ixtuswgy36epARvXGJ4a0A3Z3BKZ5fJMhvWafvVsYu1ZsEs-qanogLz7Q_aKitS9xwL4-LdAMhgaWfgbarHqQZlni8h7Y2y8U/s4032/IMG_6802.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsrwJieyidajTXbaokZXEQpV2GWxtl10O2bgnQi012tJTKxtEHtig4XG1uw8bnB2zxM1609BYWpVaVCrfMBWUZC8ixtuswgy36epARvXGJ4a0A3Z3BKZ5fJMhvWafvVsYu1ZsEs-qanogLz7Q_aKitS9xwL4-LdAMhgaWfgbarHqQZlni8h7Y2y8U/w480-h640/IMG_6802.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqkk95GxCvUGQIIEalDIPEBtZagkxU11nkhSL6UHTho5bzl80GG8zPY3BpBAPmS7Zba3Bp6XJzJDLlMmsz37DFi6nvTxutK9Ep9dXLA1S2FbCYwMC_xRYdNqhu19S4K2ifIg0ORLJLUylJawbQOLXvHtEr07SIBweQ2bEYn7Dt3ic2llOaXAIi3W4/s320/ShabbyBlogsDividerG.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="11" data-original-width="320" height="11" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqkk95GxCvUGQIIEalDIPEBtZagkxU11nkhSL6UHTho5bzl80GG8zPY3BpBAPmS7Zba3Bp6XJzJDLlMmsz37DFi6nvTxutK9Ep9dXLA1S2FbCYwMC_xRYdNqhu19S4K2ifIg0ORLJLUylJawbQOLXvHtEr07SIBweQ2bEYn7Dt3ic2llOaXAIi3W4/s1600/ShabbyBlogsDividerG.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">This time last year, the <a href="http://thinking-about-home.blogspot.com/2022/07/the-new-sunroom.html" target="_blank">sunroom</a> was a screened-in porch! I had thought about putting a Christmas tree in our new room, but this was not the year. Maybe next year. But the room feels Christmasy with a few extra touches . . . </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">. . . the nativity plaque that our granddaughter Nora (13) made<br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQThEsRZejJLj0UBlVeLl1QcvHf2OyI4NyouQLoAEXYbl5nwd_QRfL5RGb0kdnf4odvWK8Obw-p9A0bwAh_aU1l-Fnt_E3WA8K7SiMkjNH36gYdGh4P94Vx_FECXJ8nWHrnxd7KD10O5SvLMqs6YgQMqhAYfEG8fnMvcL23IbMQOex7m0tqzVAxVQ/s4032/IMG_7077.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQThEsRZejJLj0UBlVeLl1QcvHf2OyI4NyouQLoAEXYbl5nwd_QRfL5RGb0kdnf4odvWK8Obw-p9A0bwAh_aU1l-Fnt_E3WA8K7SiMkjNH36gYdGh4P94Vx_FECXJ8nWHrnxd7KD10O5SvLMqs6YgQMqhAYfEG8fnMvcL23IbMQOex7m0tqzVAxVQ/w480-h640/IMG_7077.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY7chg9DvZlA4yCOJUA9tAFgw8aotaz2zXndj7KouDfwtZMNijMTnQC2D6aG6WnbaV9kN_iWNynlcvgaO4wuNRNb5YpxcSKI4_dZEmuGto6D4cvtVJGatvenRKeVfHQOTJuxjDT5X_OWzE8wMcUlDcSUkSSPF5EZjfzzCx_zsrmBOQIyP1IW4Fim0/s4032/IMG_6692.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY7chg9DvZlA4yCOJUA9tAFgw8aotaz2zXndj7KouDfwtZMNijMTnQC2D6aG6WnbaV9kN_iWNynlcvgaO4wuNRNb5YpxcSKI4_dZEmuGto6D4cvtVJGatvenRKeVfHQOTJuxjDT5X_OWzE8wMcUlDcSUkSSPF5EZjfzzCx_zsrmBOQIyP1IW4Fim0/w640-h480/IMG_6692.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">. . . some greenery in the antique basket on the table</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha4H2jmqGcFtoTtqUc7fztnnp8XXrcGksKfJHJZHJFjAyUfDuzAeJBWwNj67AtqSabO_l13ytXkluZN9s9R_FtlTVw-rIZUU23DtXhJ3Lc2tf353vrjFNQOk1gAx9Ue3hdNJMpH-lN6OTYudxMix2RgkKEJqTil_zoVPTxrXxZZxqUj0Vd9o97XOg/s4032/IMG_6614.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha4H2jmqGcFtoTtqUc7fztnnp8XXrcGksKfJHJZHJFjAyUfDuzAeJBWwNj67AtqSabO_l13ytXkluZN9s9R_FtlTVw-rIZUU23DtXhJ3Lc2tf353vrjFNQOk1gAx9Ue3hdNJMpH-lN6OTYudxMix2RgkKEJqTil_zoVPTxrXxZZxqUj0Vd9o97XOg/w480-h640/IMG_6614.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><div><br /></div><span style="font-size: medium;">. . . </span><span style="font-size: large; text-align: justify;">a little tree in the crock </span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsODXFn8xy5fvA77LhDN5Xqn_4dJTb-sWDHuIESQ57eg8ZGxdSed4qjjlUv9pZC2EuFiHQtrYqUrEWL3kmw9zD9WiiArhg789nZowv21LMVG167GsZOWfwGNTf-AsfzIiuwSZhUAfgu4Ph-VfjiLu-9ksxitLFwPuzHmL2il2ThppGxUmK0nqOgsw/s4032/IMG_6711.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsODXFn8xy5fvA77LhDN5Xqn_4dJTb-sWDHuIESQ57eg8ZGxdSed4qjjlUv9pZC2EuFiHQtrYqUrEWL3kmw9zD9WiiArhg789nZowv21LMVG167GsZOWfwGNTf-AsfzIiuwSZhUAfgu4Ph-VfjiLu-9ksxitLFwPuzHmL2il2ThppGxUmK0nqOgsw/w640-h480/IMG_6711.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">. . . and plaid! </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjakH3xHe_1MPf-drOeQQDe-iHu4Ud8Wtk6hvqQjhj3nqv0nkIOT2Uxi-hWThCE1cGdTVFB6rmrfMRbWMjthM5l2ukYOjr0CgEnEtcFFKc7vx5ct_9lOe4Ri4_haRXwgIJi9iieONj8T2lr5qtRa7ObzaSFzLDwlqWuGmHy87PBP56BSQethkVhJcE/s4032/IMG_6699.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjakH3xHe_1MPf-drOeQQDe-iHu4Ud8Wtk6hvqQjhj3nqv0nkIOT2Uxi-hWThCE1cGdTVFB6rmrfMRbWMjthM5l2ukYOjr0CgEnEtcFFKc7vx5ct_9lOe4Ri4_haRXwgIJi9iieONj8T2lr5qtRa7ObzaSFzLDwlqWuGmHy87PBP56BSQethkVhJcE/w480-h640/IMG_6699.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Last weekend, we added the Moravian star. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCEwaNiK0EhhyUfPvr9EVQGy0IQJmIkNvAYCEycCvhg24qMX6NmJo34itqkApidtLatrGRo9PGlU4GYmdZxffLTkECylerRkpfS_FXQI2NJH_PzJ68bFGfuYf-Q6g4XX7JX5TlQmtEZea2B2y57_ZW6tVvbMCvQ2vf6sY1mYCy_tJWUqUQkVw6JGE/s4032/IMG_7080.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCEwaNiK0EhhyUfPvr9EVQGy0IQJmIkNvAYCEycCvhg24qMX6NmJo34itqkApidtLatrGRo9PGlU4GYmdZxffLTkECylerRkpfS_FXQI2NJH_PzJ68bFGfuYf-Q6g4XX7JX5TlQmtEZea2B2y57_ZW6tVvbMCvQ2vf6sY1mYCy_tJWUqUQkVw6JGE/w480-h640/IMG_7080.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><br /></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZfWnIGqoXATycEjOjOUA0ECLciI1UY448WH6ceZr4UBPYHhxMO_uinWWSfK-Z7DBAQlpJapLsv0cQZXEsjgQfpo_BOFbs2fOtYtCjNRWS2Ez-sWaAM_5GqWPzXyjIAn75-TQiaV5_5d879FSe2m8zzLJuMNlu_lhS5O-ZFI_3DQWNTw20gbNpzsk/s320/ShabbyBlogsDividerG.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="11" data-original-width="320" height="11" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZfWnIGqoXATycEjOjOUA0ECLciI1UY448WH6ceZr4UBPYHhxMO_uinWWSfK-Z7DBAQlpJapLsv0cQZXEsjgQfpo_BOFbs2fOtYtCjNRWS2Ez-sWaAM_5GqWPzXyjIAn75-TQiaV5_5d879FSe2m8zzLJuMNlu_lhS5O-ZFI_3DQWNTw20gbNpzsk/s1600/ShabbyBlogsDividerG.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Thank you for visiting our Christmas home today! </span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG7GEcBUqw82Py4Zqj2UubM6A_feRoDjnFKMtuQ8ZZmDWPx878PvjDEtTx4I9JIOGHaxPGqknx07491ZmhVzAHBrxzNjmQfYpAqi9x-z4lsJOesNl2iUuvNMOgYW9o_pr7tP1RDP8wrFwsc-7RJ558TLYag2IJVR_pJ7Nx7FUpZXUCRl5UipqwVY0/s927/320194038_561803655802625_3029573635613930666_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="927" data-original-width="695" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG7GEcBUqw82Py4Zqj2UubM6A_feRoDjnFKMtuQ8ZZmDWPx878PvjDEtTx4I9JIOGHaxPGqknx07491ZmhVzAHBrxzNjmQfYpAqi9x-z4lsJOesNl2iUuvNMOgYW9o_pr7tP1RDP8wrFwsc-7RJ558TLYag2IJVR_pJ7Nx7FUpZXUCRl5UipqwVY0/w480-h640/320194038_561803655802625_3029573635613930666_n.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /><div style="text-align: center;">We pray that whatever <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; text-align: justify;">your circumstances are this year, that you are able to find JOY. As the angel of the Lord told the shepherds, </span></div></span><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.3px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+2%3A8-12&version=NKJV" style="color: #b51200; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">I bring you good tidings of great joy!</a></b></span></div></div></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.3px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.3px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Not the joy of warm fuzzies or perfect holiday celebrations. Not the joy of an untroubled life.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;">But the joy of a Savior who</span><b style="font-size: large;"> <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=matthew+1%3A21&version=NKJV" style="color: #b51200; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">came to save His people from their sins</a>! </b><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;">The joy of<b> <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+1%3A23&version=NKJV" style="color: #b51200; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Emmanuel - "God With Us</a>." <br /><br /></b></span></div></div>
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/mrmMQdkBPwY" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Cheryl http://www.blogger.com/profile/00063844335185525553noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6596988245744679027.post-65221668457303109872022-12-10T06:30:00.001-05:002022-12-10T06:30:00.174-05:00Gavin is 20 <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Our first grandchild turned 20 this week! </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0R0s0X0MA3CDJcYnV3oYf8Ay-wJlrzID1JHgkGnN--6abfIZiEsI_osSIm2kuYfF52IcOCyh5P3JhHgMrBcqprd8xyMgnULucexqZHsrih7mIfW6_LeeF4viDkVcsLY2N7leW_KMg173BinZOo03cny7FETmvbBlp2KN30cufLSjbXQJnY-IfjH4/s2136/IMG_1494%20(1).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2136" data-original-width="1294" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0R0s0X0MA3CDJcYnV3oYf8Ay-wJlrzID1JHgkGnN--6abfIZiEsI_osSIm2kuYfF52IcOCyh5P3JhHgMrBcqprd8xyMgnULucexqZHsrih7mIfW6_LeeF4viDkVcsLY2N7leW_KMg173BinZOo03cny7FETmvbBlp2KN30cufLSjbXQJnY-IfjH4/w388-h640/IMG_1494%20(1).jpg" width="388" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Gavin, I will never forget that rush to the hospital on that unseasonably warm December day . . . Papa and I eager to meet our very first grandchild, Aunt Kati (age 9) excited to meet her first nephew, and Aunt Bekah (20 months) having no idea what was going on! You were born shortly before we arrived and I'll never forget that wonderful and mysterious feeling that comes when your "baby" has a baby and you are suddenly a different person than you were before that moment. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">And now we have twenty years of precious memories! Holding you as a tiny baby. So many <a href="http://thinking-about-home.blogspot.com/2014/06/sunday-snapshots-inaugural-ice-cream.html" target="_blank">Sunday afternoons</a> of play and pretend and <a href="http://thinking-about-home.blogspot.com/2011/11/small-actors.html" target="_blank">Christmas</a> <a href="http://thinking-about-home.blogspot.com/2012/12/sunday-snapshots.html" target="_blank">pageants</a> and craft projects and <a href="http://thinking-about-home.blogspot.com/2013/12/sunday-snapshots-christmas-cookies.html" target="_blank">cookie decorating</a>. "<a href="http://thinking-about-home.blogspot.com/2013/02/special-days-with-papa-and-gran.html" target="_blank">Special Days</a>." Newsletter days. Watching you grow into a big boy and then a teen and then a man. <a href="http://thinking-about-home.blogspot.com/2020/05/five-on-friday.html" target="_blank">Drive-by graduation</a>. <a href="http://thinking-about-home.blogspot.com/2014/12/the-gift-of-christmas-day.html" target="_blank">Holiday</a> <a href="http://thinking-about-home.blogspot.com/2013/03/sunday-snapshots-resurrection-day-2013.html" target="_blank">gatherings</a>. Listening to your banter with Uncle Ryan. Origami creations. Amazing art. Years of love. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">We will make new memories and share life together, but right now, I look back and treasure what has already been. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">Happy birthday, Gavin! May God continue to direct your path!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: medium; font-style: italic;">"The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord, and He delights in his </span><i><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>way." </span><span>(</span><span>Psalm 37:23)</span></span></i><br /><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">With much love and prayers, </span><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">Papa and Gran </span><span face="-apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #262626; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;">❤️</span><span style="font-size: large;"><br /><br /><br /></span></div>Cheryl http://www.blogger.com/profile/00063844335185525553noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6596988245744679027.post-10812181983737747392022-12-06T10:24:00.001-05:002022-12-06T10:37:36.952-05:00Thanksgiving 2022 . . . and Beyond<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />Autumn was so beautiful this year, full of color and sunshine and pleasant temperatures. Oh, there were many challenges along the way, but also many blessings and we looked forward to gathering with our dear ones to celebrate those and to offer thanks to the </span><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Giver of all good things</b>!</span><span style="font-size: medium;"> <br /><br />We all chatted and made our lists of foods to prepare <i>(although little varies from year to year)</i>. House projects were wrapped up. We cleaned and made beds and cooked and made pies. We selected dishes, planned our tables, made place cards, and ironed napkins. <br /><br />Ryan and family arrived a little before noon on Thanksgiving Day, with plans to stay until Tuesday! Hooray! <br /><br />Kristin and her family arrived a little after that and the festivities began! </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaD3nosgyFqOelcxon1XOqcibcOtZa06UyUjChHo0hfRL5bPMIYT4ttX_w7RRaO27iXGpQQNmk3Xz76BuKd5U1AWsoXOot2Hn_XHrHZVqEHYXpIrl_DsmA5vz5WZwAVKgPVb7BR35LE7mURPFMkfu9I3ufla9G6q5Y-iuBMAc3KRqWcslAtr-n494/s4032/IMG_6226%20(1).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaD3nosgyFqOelcxon1XOqcibcOtZa06UyUjChHo0hfRL5bPMIYT4ttX_w7RRaO27iXGpQQNmk3Xz76BuKd5U1AWsoXOot2Hn_XHrHZVqEHYXpIrl_DsmA5vz5WZwAVKgPVb7BR35LE7mURPFMkfu9I3ufla9G6q5Y-iuBMAc3KRqWcslAtr-n494/w640-h480/IMG_6226%20(1).jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXarRuH42_9VYeYYecQ4pynLgaCMhrgDxlJAz5dsi8YAVibWBRTH6Bj2mKCz3LdcqUIZUUHYLjzEnK3UpL-o_C4FMhD0S7HBETp4uADbe0PsMZ7WEBuhqKCc5GRTdKV0b75_G7FAyE0RB87V1sZaVrfnJTcsCTgs02EaT2TX9I0Xm7LlZ0hVy4CWM/s4032/IMG_6183.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXarRuH42_9VYeYYecQ4pynLgaCMhrgDxlJAz5dsi8YAVibWBRTH6Bj2mKCz3LdcqUIZUUHYLjzEnK3UpL-o_C4FMhD0S7HBETp4uADbe0PsMZ7WEBuhqKCc5GRTdKV0b75_G7FAyE0RB87V1sZaVrfnJTcsCTgs02EaT2TX9I0Xm7LlZ0hVy4CWM/w480-h640/IMG_6183.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrkySOV_ol3Z8ZNPZ-bTQfyiKj0zcoYb5Eh5KRZy-7Tp19j1prV704yH8hp8Qq4d0EGktB5054C3RQ-VFLgVFFQ7F7L0ApELprtzpQ479SE3-JWobaB86zMpU1WJDaateNPbPGkXk5lvQw8OWaZx4yxP3sVCebCgbJda7HfADqF2hY7RWg35dORf4/s4032/IMG_6229.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrkySOV_ol3Z8ZNPZ-bTQfyiKj0zcoYb5Eh5KRZy-7Tp19j1prV704yH8hp8Qq4d0EGktB5054C3RQ-VFLgVFFQ7F7L0ApELprtzpQ479SE3-JWobaB86zMpU1WJDaateNPbPGkXk5lvQw8OWaZx4yxP3sVCebCgbJda7HfADqF2hY7RWg35dORf4/w640-h480/IMG_6229.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIncT1tiOe_FJr0qoUxK1dLU8ywlgTug97xSmYBCufgmp_jcJ8y3w3Sel0pR2vE6f0e1qnAL8FmL83IC1o80IVZ_P-u6GGZzi0FvFlvS1GF_xkyc3Oegp4ea3nsUFTdPgU4bjQWphDOOa6Z9drKl5siSC_B2NYbKTiA-ozvJVW7q04Ly7RMd8ni_Q/s4032/IMG_6194.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIncT1tiOe_FJr0qoUxK1dLU8ywlgTug97xSmYBCufgmp_jcJ8y3w3Sel0pR2vE6f0e1qnAL8FmL83IC1o80IVZ_P-u6GGZzi0FvFlvS1GF_xkyc3Oegp4ea3nsUFTdPgU4bjQWphDOOa6Z9drKl5siSC_B2NYbKTiA-ozvJVW7q04Ly7RMd8ni_Q/w480-h640/IMG_6194.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">Before the meal, as always, we sang a Thanksgiving hymn together. This year's was "Come, Ye Thankful People, Come." Then Ron prayed a prayer of thanksgiving and our feast began. <br /><br />Our "servants" this year were Kristin, Bekah, and Eve. <i>(Maddie is usually a "servant" but she was on crutches due to an ankle injury.)</i> Brian also jumped in to help when we needed to speed things up a bit. Our servants bring each dish in from the kitchen and pass it around the table, helping the youngers when needed. I love this tradition. It beats a long buffet line, and it is better than making space for all of those dishes on the table. God bless the servants!<br /><br /></div></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqyRqmdKt98xg6cou2e9bUKkpZewRThlIVyQwIwMcUnFx4I1iR8VeJKbrpg9i07sZbtp28J1ao8XghgwSQYlBmgTWbjpn8IQI9D36EAdBK9gmWgGdlGkJrhix87VdiVtzp8LlfkBNd-qOWMsBKlxZ2AIIU14Wsb-VH1soqLpfUDk1r53NDOjCA41M/s4032/IMG_6239.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqyRqmdKt98xg6cou2e9bUKkpZewRThlIVyQwIwMcUnFx4I1iR8VeJKbrpg9i07sZbtp28J1ao8XghgwSQYlBmgTWbjpn8IQI9D36EAdBK9gmWgGdlGkJrhix87VdiVtzp8LlfkBNd-qOWMsBKlxZ2AIIU14Wsb-VH1soqLpfUDk1r53NDOjCA41M/w480-h640/IMG_6239.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Another tradition, this one begun just a few years ago: the Thanksgiving selfie! </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAT93PpOWY-Mg9brunfNtcbZgstf7K5u9vXAbqNjZcj8au5dQ5tiFHcNCZnTUJFyMiuhboE4uXV43dNYbIGtZGJXqy1iLAVr8k2CyOEGelBN68iynv-Yu_sk2b_K26Rzxf7TB2b3dk2RP-S9PiQPXABiJ6ReVdWehXJ7ilK4jWyIo9roQdc4E4Isg/s4032/IMG_6246.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAT93PpOWY-Mg9brunfNtcbZgstf7K5u9vXAbqNjZcj8au5dQ5tiFHcNCZnTUJFyMiuhboE4uXV43dNYbIGtZGJXqy1iLAVr8k2CyOEGelBN68iynv-Yu_sk2b_K26Rzxf7TB2b3dk2RP-S9PiQPXABiJ6ReVdWehXJ7ilK4jWyIo9roQdc4E4Isg/w640-h480/IMG_6246.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">But it's hard to see everyone <i>(twenty at our table this year)</i> in one photo, so we took a couple of non-selfies from each end of the table. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjmL92PrCnqQIirlW-8i7dPZT4_R80Pg4e0oQeM9LKNu0TORX7-D0M1xoX2SESL7_vw6GC3kj0MPwkslYfn561Up3G7HW5_ubWfIdtm_DHmH_LNIyhvUJT4w3p58BXsGGmQEyriOP1F-kBfuY6PblmBexKYQbgEQ_ptI_mghCvPbVmhdpTogKInIg/s4032/IMG_6249.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjmL92PrCnqQIirlW-8i7dPZT4_R80Pg4e0oQeM9LKNu0TORX7-D0M1xoX2SESL7_vw6GC3kj0MPwkslYfn561Up3G7HW5_ubWfIdtm_DHmH_LNIyhvUJT4w3p58BXsGGmQEyriOP1F-kBfuY6PblmBexKYQbgEQ_ptI_mghCvPbVmhdpTogKInIg/w640-h480/IMG_6249.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSWTtXMVq0dKYSReM9Thtqx0fvm60hPlObA2pd_tL4tkYZ9cHbPRx2OmysPIa9BfMWZoRYGh2hbRllmQGfHmEranR_qpM1zi3_AqufVu7HJ4gJgNUBPHRAvidA4zxNZhzghhM8m9S3EdMR9EVrAf4beZumUchyr_qDZlYh91du9JsvxdGsz2hLinw/s4032/IMG_6253.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSWTtXMVq0dKYSReM9Thtqx0fvm60hPlObA2pd_tL4tkYZ9cHbPRx2OmysPIa9BfMWZoRYGh2hbRllmQGfHmEranR_qpM1zi3_AqufVu7HJ4gJgNUBPHRAvidA4zxNZhzghhM8m9S3EdMR9EVrAf4beZumUchyr_qDZlYh91du9JsvxdGsz2hLinw/w640-h480/IMG_6253.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />Coffee and dessert were served in the <a href="http://thinking-about-home.blogspot.com/2022/07/the-new-sunroom.html" target="_blank">new sunroom</a> this year!<br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNA2ZEiarlwTrdMKG9AC-TnlUzFlYXnR4dmLr48wbQllfdshTpEBv4KHssZmOsJxXMkSQViSK8pG4fQZT2miGH2srVUTm0ohLqN83jb0WVLjUeikat1--f0_fhyp7Nseh6Gkak0HxSQ5fwXkLzm1Jd8f0nh34VdyZHldAAgUeGAvrh-YIZ-lzHSzY/s4032/IMG_6259.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNA2ZEiarlwTrdMKG9AC-TnlUzFlYXnR4dmLr48wbQllfdshTpEBv4KHssZmOsJxXMkSQViSK8pG4fQZT2miGH2srVUTm0ohLqN83jb0WVLjUeikat1--f0_fhyp7Nseh6Gkak0HxSQ5fwXkLzm1Jd8f0nh34VdyZHldAAgUeGAvrh-YIZ-lzHSzY/w640-h480/IMG_6259.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg42L92fkALzvEIpoP1hVjszLWZ7_T5Jx1o1eYYXz-mJ9aakgL1Bj2ijcqADHg1AnxUoGm2Y8MpFAswzINbBmGLOdJ2yKLGekKEo4Hw6-lQyn6fGWo5qOhINWmys5dF1QexNbRdzJyissVMAMqnsVo6ZkONBEXMGX_xHag-FDJqhS2QiU1LJ2heIWI/s4032/IMG_6280.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg42L92fkALzvEIpoP1hVjszLWZ7_T5Jx1o1eYYXz-mJ9aakgL1Bj2ijcqADHg1AnxUoGm2Y8MpFAswzINbBmGLOdJ2yKLGekKEo4Hw6-lQyn6fGWo5qOhINWmys5dF1QexNbRdzJyissVMAMqnsVo6ZkONBEXMGX_xHag-FDJqhS2QiU1LJ2heIWI/w640-h480/IMG_6280.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj79DQu5Kr5GxDiHHxb0_04iGjUksgQtttqu2us2DK6fsuuut_jyCVlJH6lz7hapeQeer-vBZsZMW4-57G9-mwA6u2rao1QgkJdtqkcgP0wgcYBeqR7DPfYH9W0v-8pi-Y9rLLrO1lOP65JtT66BNV1kk441R9EvMqY_0yj7MGiKrsJsxNLwaeQoI/s4032/IMG_6282.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj79DQu5Kr5GxDiHHxb0_04iGjUksgQtttqu2us2DK6fsuuut_jyCVlJH6lz7hapeQeer-vBZsZMW4-57G9-mwA6u2rao1QgkJdtqkcgP0wgcYBeqR7DPfYH9W0v-8pi-Y9rLLrO1lOP65JtT66BNV1kk441R9EvMqY_0yj7MGiKrsJsxNLwaeQoI/w480-h640/IMG_6282.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Those little toes. 😊</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNS3_jU2WSdFN3ObbGQ7xrU0UrLkkvYw50oEOA0Y--krQdj9JZCYmjpVHrcGYAS6wJz4cAels2sU-uDqZ-C7o6966K4bpV_z_ik-ydRKyddSOQ85DzqxgEAwXvHuZafXc5qYdNGiNcqeNMcz6y-PYa4f2BmHmnIgO2tPSiUMcBRTLe8yG-1eCXq3w/s4032/IMG_6285.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNS3_jU2WSdFN3ObbGQ7xrU0UrLkkvYw50oEOA0Y--krQdj9JZCYmjpVHrcGYAS6wJz4cAels2sU-uDqZ-C7o6966K4bpV_z_ik-ydRKyddSOQ85DzqxgEAwXvHuZafXc5qYdNGiNcqeNMcz6y-PYa4f2BmHmnIgO2tPSiUMcBRTLe8yG-1eCXq3w/w480-h640/IMG_6285.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Little girls eating dessert. 😊</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Our grandson Paul was celebrating a Thanksgiving Day birthday this year! Longtime readers may remember that this was the baby who was <a href="http://thinking-about-home.blogspot.com/2014/11/moving-on.html" target="_blank"><b>due to be born</b> as his family was moving from Maine to Maryland</a> and we were all on pins and needles about the possibility that he could be born as they traveled! He was <i>not </i>born on the trip (whew!), but <a href="http://thinking-about-home.blogspot.com/2014/11/another-thanksgiving-blessing.html" target="_blank">made his arrival just a few days later</a>. And now he's eight! </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz-93W7QiVyFnnMP6HU-RvDKqmpDMZBcj7FCRJnFR83PQhCmL-47sBEp_4Ck4Irr-f1qtGmIip0CTki30erg31Uh6wy8fC7cluUknMNxO6YeKEFKuXsrsgv9bL73LMIgJ7yJzDfbHhtn7_OKm0shr8zaaP0URhjEEO6P9veD9Vh7o3SxLgxz9miik/s4032/IMG_6299.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz-93W7QiVyFnnMP6HU-RvDKqmpDMZBcj7FCRJnFR83PQhCmL-47sBEp_4Ck4Irr-f1qtGmIip0CTki30erg31Uh6wy8fC7cluUknMNxO6YeKEFKuXsrsgv9bL73LMIgJ7yJzDfbHhtn7_OKm0shr8zaaP0URhjEEO6P9veD9Vh7o3SxLgxz9miik/w480-h640/IMG_6299.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">After Paul opened his birthday presents, we all settled in to watch an old home movie that Ron and his brothers and a sister created thirty-some years ago! Some of the cousins (now in their 40's and 50's) were in it too. It was a comedy, originally created as a gag gift for a Christmas party, but it had been added to several times. It was time for the younger generation to watch it! </span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPj42NaYwIVPfnemKkytYdnMK7MjGJF4AONvQaF6Uf44rAJG62l2fqKMoJbzllDA1W8yFXUg5pxoQm-KLELMrp96K29R4F4e3YI3Taa9qGBJJ2hLbStNqNVfEU2Kri97XSve16E7fZ0ugCu76Q1fGux4PxICQjIVQuGtMycmeS-nKiTJcINj0fKns/s4032/IMG_6307.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPj42NaYwIVPfnemKkytYdnMK7MjGJF4AONvQaF6Uf44rAJG62l2fqKMoJbzllDA1W8yFXUg5pxoQm-KLELMrp96K29R4F4e3YI3Taa9qGBJJ2hLbStNqNVfEU2Kri97XSve16E7fZ0ugCu76Q1fGux4PxICQjIVQuGtMycmeS-nKiTJcINj0fKns/w640-h480/IMG_6307.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><i><b>But then . . . </b></i></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">one of the grands started feeling sick and part of our group left. <br /><br />Later in the evening, Mom called and she was sick and getting sicker. She declined my offer to take her to an urgent care facility or the ER on Thanksgiving night. <br /><br />On Friday, my sister and I convinced Mom to let me take her to a walk-in clinic. Can you guess what happened? We spent</span><span style="font-size: large;"> h o u r s there . . . along with a gazillion other people who were sick. </span><i style="font-size: large;">(Don't get sick on a holiday weekend!) </i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />Mom was given medication and sent back home to recover. I arrived back at home in time to celebrate Peter's twelfth birthday with some gifts and cupcakes (and leftover pie because that's what happens when your birthday is near Thanksgiving). <br /><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXucgbiObJuP4y3ZUb0dvvBEjNoIOwsRdkm44y9CatoGipJi2fUdGkD0JhKUOCtn1iffKw9JfgwdKprOITIspAbjENt4RtiWgIOc96B-Sq6d2BxNOYw22dzZm8DojqtzMWrNj2-h4twETSliP5ggKmjyZO2x8qLuxK2lfqfDBPdyVpjyciswqw2B8/s2735/IMG_6349.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2735" data-original-width="2051" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXucgbiObJuP4y3ZUb0dvvBEjNoIOwsRdkm44y9CatoGipJi2fUdGkD0JhKUOCtn1iffKw9JfgwdKprOITIspAbjENt4RtiWgIOc96B-Sq6d2BxNOYw22dzZm8DojqtzMWrNj2-h4twETSliP5ggKmjyZO2x8qLuxK2lfqfDBPdyVpjyciswqw2B8/w480-h640/IMG_6349.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtFAzitBbDgsWc2uYgWBb_sf-z8jjVMaTdLE8BmqFyGzeTaASCjO5pKwQqg_arj5c627G-QPuHR2M-SH4JdjpP-4m_PoicvnsfOTwImO45qAXQt9Lq69JbDAh-ivE8BnAg1rx2tccqS73ZflKgzTvwFtsDf_2LVsgzdFkXwQ8nUZFRh8CeZIyhiOg/s4032/IMG_6353.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtFAzitBbDgsWc2uYgWBb_sf-z8jjVMaTdLE8BmqFyGzeTaASCjO5pKwQqg_arj5c627G-QPuHR2M-SH4JdjpP-4m_PoicvnsfOTwImO45qAXQt9Lq69JbDAh-ivE8BnAg1rx2tccqS73ZflKgzTvwFtsDf_2LVsgzdFkXwQ8nUZFRh8CeZIyhiOg/w480-h640/IMG_6353.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We sang to both birthday boys, <br />because we forgot to sing to Paul on his Thanksgiving Day birthday.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />On Saturday, one of Ryan's children woke with a high fever . . . and then people started dropping like flies! Within twelve hours, seven people (out of eleven) in the house were sick. 😱 <br /><br />And thus began day after day of <br /><ul><li>get up</li><li>eat breakfast</li><li>lie around</li><li>eat lunch</li><li>lie around</li><li>eat dinner</li><li>lie around and watch a Christmas movie</li><li>go to bed</li></ul><div>The only variations were taking temperatures and taking meds.</div><div><br /></div><div>On Monday night, an eighth person joined the sickies. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div>In the meantime, Kristin's family was having a similar round of illness at their place. <br /><br /><br /><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOW-_ZflpNlH65rgpZBXBac4Q61Tqs4b9qrJcOdqYSQoUHbX6_70let7XEG2P_qDtDXG4nJwbG_lKW9APhwsNAyp2U263mrXPfIPrPRIUKtF6TC74LNh8JIOGu735Qff9bcJOXUvOw9aDtcHQcje5MqLPUbTZB6muV4WiC6Ul2qK4eW7rui-vujdw/s320/ShabbyBlogsDividerG.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="11" data-original-width="320" height="11" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOW-_ZflpNlH65rgpZBXBac4Q61Tqs4b9qrJcOdqYSQoUHbX6_70let7XEG2P_qDtDXG4nJwbG_lKW9APhwsNAyp2U263mrXPfIPrPRIUKtF6TC74LNh8JIOGu735Qff9bcJOXUvOw9aDtcHQcje5MqLPUbTZB6muV4WiC6Ul2qK4eW7rui-vujdw/s1600/ShabbyBlogsDividerG.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /><br />Our visitors (at least the drivers) felt well enough to travel back home on Thursday, although the fevers returned and they crashed for a few more days after they got home. <b>This virus was a doozy! </b><br /><br /><br /><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjff5S1qddfwa7fKeYfL02dDZTpd9XlmScMWyvR5xoh2r6ZG3Ye4oATNnCBNHUDKHkFz0rY2R0QJ4QF-jNu1F3zxMrDge10auU2Ad7dRrmecJ9bi_NeMaZrUvrFmk8VFGaJP3oUnsK1vU2NYqbZ6Ubt39q8TVN1mGmM8TY8XBULFBIVKqsG2IkBTM8/s320/ShabbyBlogsDividerG.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="11" data-original-width="320" height="11" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjff5S1qddfwa7fKeYfL02dDZTpd9XlmScMWyvR5xoh2r6ZG3Ye4oATNnCBNHUDKHkFz0rY2R0QJ4QF-jNu1F3zxMrDge10auU2Ad7dRrmecJ9bi_NeMaZrUvrFmk8VFGaJP3oUnsK1vU2NYqbZ6Ubt39q8TVN1mGmM8TY8XBULFBIVKqsG2IkBTM8/s1600/ShabbyBlogsDividerG.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span><span style="font-size: large;">I am thankful that I can rest in God's good plans for my life, yes, even when I don't understand the plan.<br /></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />As we drove home from the walk-in clinic on the day after Thanksgiving, Mom was apologizing to me for taking up my time when I had family visiting and there were plans to celebrate a birthday boy. (That's a "mom" thing, isn't it?) But I assured her that, although it was certainly nothing that either of us would choose, it was apparently part of our assignment for the day. <br /><br />We talked about how quickly life passes . . . <br /><br />and how a single day is such a small fraction of a life . . . <br /><br />and how our one very short life is such a small fraction of the thousands of years that people have lived on earth . . . <br /><br />and how all of time is just a "blip" compared to eternity!<br /></span><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #f3f3f3; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">For our light affliction, WHICH IS BUT FOR A MOMENT, <br />is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #f3f3f3; font-size: x-small;">II Corinthians 4:17</span></div><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><b><span style="font-size: large;">His plans are preparing us for eternity! </span></b><br /></span><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyejwdA4IPGYCOVPGZhdfXWPA5ydgIEYCzCZCll1op0PKl8XC4Q1qLV_wFeHc8inztxIKs5CwFNEgtEYMBsqBEU1BjyKi4in9VEsev5vkMQPnA2TBXZWoRwgQic_MvsZqTAwL5kP07yUvD4yCE4cFSJnT7NgS65vr7iXW7_59B4VhJfzWofQWMBlU/s320/ShabbyBlogsDividerG.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="11" data-original-width="320" height="11" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyejwdA4IPGYCOVPGZhdfXWPA5ydgIEYCzCZCll1op0PKl8XC4Q1qLV_wFeHc8inztxIKs5CwFNEgtEYMBsqBEU1BjyKi4in9VEsev5vkMQPnA2TBXZWoRwgQic_MvsZqTAwL5kP07yUvD4yCE4cFSJnT7NgS65vr7iXW7_59B4VhJfzWofQWMBlU/s1600/ShabbyBlogsDividerG.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">Sooo . . . </span><br /><br /><span style="color: #7f6000; font-size: large;">HAPPY THANKSGIVING</span><span style="color: #783f04; font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-size: medium;"> in my typical "a day late and a dollar short" way!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">And . . . </span><br /><br /><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;">MERRY CHRISTMAS</span><span style="font-size: medium;"> as you celebrate this month. I hope to check in with you before it's all over, but no promises! <br /><br />Now I'm off to finish decking the halls! <br /><br /><br /></span></div>Cheryl http://www.blogger.com/profile/00063844335185525553noreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6596988245744679027.post-28116633448489200512022-11-07T07:46:00.000-05:002022-11-07T07:46:37.356-05:00Gathering the Moments | October 2022<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWVsbTTsCUkvf0ANaoueKCkOSvMmnu-1JrWsO3UdWRXTil-nhA6Bvx-dVCCyfbdpERl-TW63JEFyqKipqPQFF4qjebbIVg5vD97kFtz1euD-n9dN5J1hEFa4JXksYI6RL5KyicSBKDVjY0udlKQmyhpT471yW7T65xds5TMWJHyis2t9VRUmNkwGU/s4032/IMG_E4677.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWVsbTTsCUkvf0ANaoueKCkOSvMmnu-1JrWsO3UdWRXTil-nhA6Bvx-dVCCyfbdpERl-TW63JEFyqKipqPQFF4qjebbIVg5vD97kFtz1euD-n9dN5J1hEFa4JXksYI6RL5KyicSBKDVjY0udlKQmyhpT471yW7T65xds5TMWJHyis2t9VRUmNkwGU/w480-h640/IMG_E4677.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">As I have gathered the moments of last month, I am newly aware of how much life is lived in even one short month. Changes. Endings. Struggles. Victories. Joy. Sorrow. Growth. All of that and more. And while I cannot show all of that in a few photos (nor do I wish to), I can share some sweet moments that are a part of the story. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLQZ2jCk_z_wwEbyriruvnPMAzuRCjyExipS9xiNFDAqrRqb8l6r7xCS9T7sSGSUceM833_sdWszfZQzeZUGPlqMkmccTJ164zc0Ss6UmsglMvP0OZUjjSyvG68zcs-oRT9YGdfdKtUpXSvB1D2bUXhJBZYrvFRXL7BDokckzXHTJV0FI3Y8SF31w/s2730/IMG_5137%20(2).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2730" data-original-width="2047" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLQZ2jCk_z_wwEbyriruvnPMAzuRCjyExipS9xiNFDAqrRqb8l6r7xCS9T7sSGSUceM833_sdWszfZQzeZUGPlqMkmccTJ164zc0Ss6UmsglMvP0OZUjjSyvG68zcs-oRT9YGdfdKtUpXSvB1D2bUXhJBZYrvFRXL7BDokckzXHTJV0FI3Y8SF31w/w480-h640/IMG_5137%20(2).JPG" width="480" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">We had such fun recreating this 2012 photo of aunt/nieces/nephews! </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKTKsOG9_EgOf2d3gTIrUDZ-T4yPfGdVfkvP3fH1hvR0x6Wa3MNhdbTKkIHMBz8ehectRf0M7owLeRWCVHbUVbIfINN4843PMHpr1ttPr907u_mkRxplrKziTQfP9K7qEJUg-pZdOmx0_x58b_wJ5z8Rp28PDIXiowaci721tZic-Quvu8SexHcOw/s960/IMG_4905.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="645" data-original-width="960" height="430" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKTKsOG9_EgOf2d3gTIrUDZ-T4yPfGdVfkvP3fH1hvR0x6Wa3MNhdbTKkIHMBz8ehectRf0M7owLeRWCVHbUVbIfINN4843PMHpr1ttPr907u_mkRxplrKziTQfP9K7qEJUg-pZdOmx0_x58b_wJ5z8Rp28PDIXiowaci721tZic-Quvu8SexHcOw/w640-h430/IMG_4905.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Original photo, taken by Kati in 2012</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2WchkR9SjLXcebh2FGjOESPmJawyULYL9vgYUQ8Qr8PyKg6jL-WXDzTWPl8ns7w4NXFX-TSKxop2LiHyM0m_CAye3k6CtIgjAtZ_HZkA2Y_YHBj4q3YvaO73S6F2qayO3BfhncQkrdRdoOQ__9FfRg7bWf0A-yK6mdfdNtN5n9VsmxUvwHUJJTAA/s2048/IMG_4906.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2WchkR9SjLXcebh2FGjOESPmJawyULYL9vgYUQ8Qr8PyKg6jL-WXDzTWPl8ns7w4NXFX-TSKxop2LiHyM0m_CAye3k6CtIgjAtZ_HZkA2Y_YHBj4q3YvaO73S6F2qayO3BfhncQkrdRdoOQ__9FfRg7bWf0A-yK6mdfdNtN5n9VsmxUvwHUJJTAA/w640-h480/IMG_4906.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Recreated TEN years later!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG4Z0dR_Hm6DZoG-N-c5sTU8rciMMQh7WhESQOjZk4AiJccrBWEQr3o6sTk1GphVeMILsHZ4tE9ljnbza7aRAl73JU92xI34LQFR3xhn32-PYBsv9rvhS3i6Aznp0m9L5DHXHgcQeKupDWYpf7X9e-fDxD6TYTcqX9ER7hxuzCQVkAm687vD0v7u4/s2048/310929862_10228582622255528_2953123074598345912_n.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG4Z0dR_Hm6DZoG-N-c5sTU8rciMMQh7WhESQOjZk4AiJccrBWEQr3o6sTk1GphVeMILsHZ4tE9ljnbza7aRAl73JU92xI34LQFR3xhn32-PYBsv9rvhS3i6Aznp0m9L5DHXHgcQeKupDWYpf7X9e-fDxD6TYTcqX9ER7hxuzCQVkAm687vD0v7u4/w640-h480/310929862_10228582622255528_2953123074598345912_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Also ten years later, but in order of current heights.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMMWA7sjpJHknZ6JFiR8Q_XZmR0hq3NuMH4ixcIoO8GWM-2a4BfLsJa_iel1fEe4_weRDnSGNN9t2MFwAMzeS2A1zYlUvKe8vu43fHJUjFRdXBA_bb5pBIJY9ee5RnEL2h3EsU7IhwHgo5kham1Hgmdsq4Od-YoJizbfjv16aEfTegtcViop5At7M/s4032/IMG_E4796.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMMWA7sjpJHknZ6JFiR8Q_XZmR0hq3NuMH4ixcIoO8GWM-2a4BfLsJa_iel1fEe4_weRDnSGNN9t2MFwAMzeS2A1zYlUvKe8vu43fHJUjFRdXBA_bb5pBIJY9ee5RnEL2h3EsU7IhwHgo5kham1Hgmdsq4Od-YoJizbfjv16aEfTegtcViop5At7M/w480-h640/IMG_E4796.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">We celebrated a couple of birthdays this month. Ben turned 14. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPiYqS4XSTQKQ9IKzA_93shaHcitBzqcWNBZn7Pa32TSm8-CqDJbzYehabbV2ZRsogaNP4uVntUdn0JDt8y4POiNj5mw9YgxRdYgR7J5sgnrpRVRTzExc6LH29uzbzZSlZN6-cTiQ5tV4cXzw-2ZH8E4aspSQUwdoFLN-h4UuME-7vIair6q1_pg8/s4032/IMG_4838.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPiYqS4XSTQKQ9IKzA_93shaHcitBzqcWNBZn7Pa32TSm8-CqDJbzYehabbV2ZRsogaNP4uVntUdn0JDt8y4POiNj5mw9YgxRdYgR7J5sgnrpRVRTzExc6LH29uzbzZSlZN6-cTiQ5tV4cXzw-2ZH8E4aspSQUwdoFLN-h4UuME-7vIair6q1_pg8/w640-h480/IMG_4838.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbip5BCI_DVFalrkSTxJL_g6lXDYo4R982OJ5SLrkob7N0KR97aQnvZkU5ElsDB2JgS6GSM5oLQpJ03JioGsC5xJRrNxP2-xxTTFvichxdPXYPvZ3ineWDjUWRi0HJaw0giPJnLz-99D8nr2T4O84vYA9Afc1k6VzPl6vFirNXSwyZUSFFzhN_LnU/s4032/IMG_4851.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbip5BCI_DVFalrkSTxJL_g6lXDYo4R982OJ5SLrkob7N0KR97aQnvZkU5ElsDB2JgS6GSM5oLQpJ03JioGsC5xJRrNxP2-xxTTFvichxdPXYPvZ3ineWDjUWRi0HJaw0giPJnLz-99D8nr2T4O84vYA9Afc1k6VzPl6vFirNXSwyZUSFFzhN_LnU/w480-h640/IMG_4851.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">Daddy turned 85 . . . another milestone birthday! </span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKqvFfrA-fi3gPi6UZIL-QhZcIw7ycXzc061zk2IVST3s7GKjhMGx-WeJ8gqUQJx18G1V2I3vw1nGOQ7wJdb_LwdC_fb265NkMVd6TBUPAkuXLsfcxdG6DsGeLbAgR-uKhzkg2B9MWmP72ZlW27CQczzsJ0KRGNJtHGN8AvcWrkaHu9nHxi4sPWok/s4032/IMG_4936.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKqvFfrA-fi3gPi6UZIL-QhZcIw7ycXzc061zk2IVST3s7GKjhMGx-WeJ8gqUQJx18G1V2I3vw1nGOQ7wJdb_LwdC_fb265NkMVd6TBUPAkuXLsfcxdG6DsGeLbAgR-uKhzkg2B9MWmP72ZlW27CQczzsJ0KRGNJtHGN8AvcWrkaHu9nHxi4sPWok/w480-h640/IMG_4936.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifmSzOJF1_r-Li5AILGM3rQfxuYaKC0Nss56ex9tLaRh5hHWGnmFEGQs55KyhgtCWGppCP-ekFbmtrUl40kNqoxWKCz4LylbqKZlVT0F4fx8z97UB4d5oPP-NJIcsPVkrByYk3WdoBJFEfAqw1ck2gIJXQDUmwdFm1KBjH6OExv8tycPaj-YxQC44/s4032/IMG_4947.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifmSzOJF1_r-Li5AILGM3rQfxuYaKC0Nss56ex9tLaRh5hHWGnmFEGQs55KyhgtCWGppCP-ekFbmtrUl40kNqoxWKCz4LylbqKZlVT0F4fx8z97UB4d5oPP-NJIcsPVkrByYk3WdoBJFEfAqw1ck2gIJXQDUmwdFm1KBjH6OExv8tycPaj-YxQC44/w480-h640/IMG_4947.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />Ryan and family have been exploring (and loving) their new area. </span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcptu5j_qvpFCJ7LBupHVeKwSSLUH3efw_KxA5TOGQ-SviQZ_7zX3mZaVS48hymq5FQH-I0Grec-ycmAVQBqhVu8qXyFVkIwDaIerdVaZgL3jyjydvi2XYoWra6C7lMzeVAIfeS3fvXFsMuln3btYPScfsqcaoQ9fwLQ32WT_nRoKi04GUf67E6ts/s4032/IMG_4908.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcptu5j_qvpFCJ7LBupHVeKwSSLUH3efw_KxA5TOGQ-SviQZ_7zX3mZaVS48hymq5FQH-I0Grec-ycmAVQBqhVu8qXyFVkIwDaIerdVaZgL3jyjydvi2XYoWra6C7lMzeVAIfeS3fvXFsMuln3btYPScfsqcaoQ9fwLQ32WT_nRoKi04GUf67E6ts/w640-h480/IMG_4908.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjw_TZNLi003wC-YmUxjB9UfGvFs4nORBv-kYFdrUL5O2hDYaBSDEfOo43BZWvo86AhdczqIR2HihOMVqRd-mTtD-lBoDYfVAWWSphPAuxIyUNfYjk44UyuyxN_0QYd41PHAJiIQJ8tmjHoELCOconkJzehTpKX0NmHDfxVo5skAnf8By4fmFq65Q/s3088/IMG_4909.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2316" data-original-width="3088" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjw_TZNLi003wC-YmUxjB9UfGvFs4nORBv-kYFdrUL5O2hDYaBSDEfOo43BZWvo86AhdczqIR2HihOMVqRd-mTtD-lBoDYfVAWWSphPAuxIyUNfYjk44UyuyxN_0QYd41PHAJiIQJ8tmjHoELCOconkJzehTpKX0NmHDfxVo5skAnf8By4fmFq65Q/w640-h480/IMG_4909.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxEFP9QmD1jcgS96nU5EWYKianFRTHj7EfcTPAzMycjCJvyDS5vf7E8bPuxFEIwh-2-2qAOA32yqmSbguFba8sokfYlBPTpcpC8vAFr5QkMPdHvV5c_Ut9nq6pYG-G2jocrznfs8UoxS9gaNJgljPj80oeV39gGIOecuo5nePO1Ty6Gb-ee4NB8Zk/s4032/IMG_4726.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxEFP9QmD1jcgS96nU5EWYKianFRTHj7EfcTPAzMycjCJvyDS5vf7E8bPuxFEIwh-2-2qAOA32yqmSbguFba8sokfYlBPTpcpC8vAFr5QkMPdHvV5c_Ut9nq6pYG-G2jocrznfs8UoxS9gaNJgljPj80oeV39gGIOecuo5nePO1Ty6Gb-ee4NB8Zk/w480-h640/IMG_4726.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQZYh5JjHMSBObmQElq08-W466pXJEtplTfXw0XhPflbR86amL5WhJ1a5MQzqdOIqaOu1cd-FQ2MU6UtATqrGWv0jK3ZCcWmDTz9jWcKV7Y573uldaSj4OzX5oh1UipRVLVrPlGXoL21fcHaBPz6MMAu38Z8T1wGuh0u4_x8UkyP2IFWdhglFlk4A/s4032/IMG_5090.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQZYh5JjHMSBObmQElq08-W466pXJEtplTfXw0XhPflbR86amL5WhJ1a5MQzqdOIqaOu1cd-FQ2MU6UtATqrGWv0jK3ZCcWmDTz9jWcKV7Y573uldaSj4OzX5oh1UipRVLVrPlGXoL21fcHaBPz6MMAu38Z8T1wGuh0u4_x8UkyP2IFWdhglFlk4A/w640-h480/IMG_5090.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><span style="font-size: medium;">They came "home" on a long weekend . . . to visit, to pick up one of their vehicles that had been at our house since their August move, <i><b>and</b></i> to take the cousins on their annual camping adventure!</span><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdqJ7lK6QKKWetdToBMmH8y0VEpoFo1at1yob676pSvsikyeRjne8v8hNRfzP1NMHL27p6GXuFUxxbWK5m_l0kMez5NFBkgRyhZ80vR3nmT7kmpDrQt5UcFbTngdOnT-MbPYI6KjUW4--csoscanWEcK06_nBj0owBsoTAfX0IMX4H4H2tOlQfLh0/s4032/IMG_4968.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdqJ7lK6QKKWetdToBMmH8y0VEpoFo1at1yob676pSvsikyeRjne8v8hNRfzP1NMHL27p6GXuFUxxbWK5m_l0kMez5NFBkgRyhZ80vR3nmT7kmpDrQt5UcFbTngdOnT-MbPYI6KjUW4--csoscanWEcK06_nBj0owBsoTAfX0IMX4H4H2tOlQfLh0/w640-h480/IMG_4968.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Planting a weeping willow tree to replace a large maple that had to be cut down.</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-8PqpCzDBJNXPvQMnKoRCTb88ky8bRK7vUfI-TjQo7JFGft0ZNt2qMqyfPKCX9IJycCCGq1RzZxDNhuyoTkHMIq23cw46bT1iuuMopjYMpYA5V8V8fTsDw-eghcmngjqdrNO6SMgsTytcmUMuDacu7TwNumezy_8dF91w3Nst9NxdnmxtiXr2uS8/s3374/IMG_4973.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3374" data-original-width="2531" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-8PqpCzDBJNXPvQMnKoRCTb88ky8bRK7vUfI-TjQo7JFGft0ZNt2qMqyfPKCX9IJycCCGq1RzZxDNhuyoTkHMIq23cw46bT1iuuMopjYMpYA5V8V8fTsDw-eghcmngjqdrNO6SMgsTytcmUMuDacu7TwNumezy_8dF91w3Nst9NxdnmxtiXr2uS8/w480-h640/IMG_4973.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Ryan and Sarah always plan a series of games and challenges for the campers. This year, Ben won the championship! </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW7P_rUS9m-_huRdqm8D5Lnb7Tr1urMK1Vymk5L3Ra3g4ngnom1Ndb7vLZUZ-L4m9uyRuXRdQbDHUhkUihMr-clSBoiT27-LS_zngXQ7dnUV9CYgYcCTR4SIl3KHM2OhglILZJy7ITss2FIf7wGIhutMp0ilq5kFrm6zNT8jeTnWUzbOjF3V4NgUA/s1800/6%20x%204%20in%20(19).png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1800" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW7P_rUS9m-_huRdqm8D5Lnb7Tr1urMK1Vymk5L3Ra3g4ngnom1Ndb7vLZUZ-L4m9uyRuXRdQbDHUhkUihMr-clSBoiT27-LS_zngXQ7dnUV9CYgYcCTR4SIl3KHM2OhglILZJy7ITss2FIf7wGIhutMp0ilq5kFrm6zNT8jeTnWUzbOjF3V4NgUA/w640-h426/6%20x%204%20in%20(19).png" width="640" /></a></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />Ron, Bekah, and I joined the campers for an evening meal around the campfire. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMljZBHBpWvJd8DembS_ZBsZABY_zox_dRJj_5n-egD--PuWdySLveAOr-J5HFk-Ger1FDIWdvNAEAplU0BKu8y6qW_QLhKZk5K_FDQYDGjWk_o2ivhI0-_cSReA11RkwjeM5liee847bmKU-3IchYHQyTW8RKNsgqcRCkYjL-Zzx5wnASiKyb_Tw/s4032/IMG_5033.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMljZBHBpWvJd8DembS_ZBsZABY_zox_dRJj_5n-egD--PuWdySLveAOr-J5HFk-Ger1FDIWdvNAEAplU0BKu8y6qW_QLhKZk5K_FDQYDGjWk_o2ivhI0-_cSReA11RkwjeM5liee847bmKU-3IchYHQyTW8RKNsgqcRCkYjL-Zzx5wnASiKyb_Tw/w480-h640/IMG_5033.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho0kUEOVKxLvsCCZ50hDPOg1iVYTUG4XQckccwOcSyJkjMqqwA0yZRcTOAo6l565XX3y_PvZmbn0xT8wisZiCsY86iDUj12lQjf1hMMmmi6TSbJrt1Gf-knzp96GinGWOtbpV0LFMbkfqEPwWIJjzSep55M6Y9fy4enaj4rD67AsBRDou1pgraFW4/s4032/IMG_5045.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho0kUEOVKxLvsCCZ50hDPOg1iVYTUG4XQckccwOcSyJkjMqqwA0yZRcTOAo6l565XX3y_PvZmbn0xT8wisZiCsY86iDUj12lQjf1hMMmmi6TSbJrt1Gf-knzp96GinGWOtbpV0LFMbkfqEPwWIJjzSep55M6Y9fy4enaj4rD67AsBRDou1pgraFW4/w480-h640/IMG_5045.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />Kati sent me this photo of her own family enjoying some autumn goodness. She and Andrew are so good about sending us snippets of their days and we are grateful for that! </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxmTPsiKnOntU00lE2ke0n-ODZkgipGND_OJCSqwT4kVAt8eHsiUPeoMujpDXlTK4z90HAia8UtT4pa88aP2WwPu05oyRVPU9QbtjOdpt0wUsH73ACvWNfWFbAw6E2gPt2hPl73CQuisT9warjt5u168jMYYSiy2rySzRO8FXTuwzpMoyjz2BQT2k/s4032/IMG_5247.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxmTPsiKnOntU00lE2ke0n-ODZkgipGND_OJCSqwT4kVAt8eHsiUPeoMujpDXlTK4z90HAia8UtT4pa88aP2WwPu05oyRVPU9QbtjOdpt0wUsH73ACvWNfWFbAw6E2gPt2hPl73CQuisT9warjt5u168jMYYSiy2rySzRO8FXTuwzpMoyjz2BQT2k/w480-h640/IMG_5247.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">We enjoyed our first October in the new sunroom. We had a front row seat to some beautiful foliage! (But I think we'll love this room in every season!)</span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYaNzKNnsb2DnZpRiQQ6KbOaP_EHX672xOD9xtfBprRMmVXKOzwcuNcsY2QHppMO_zqR-VkCY7gcjdnMq6R80FprfpGVDYXPvEBP_QD9Wyr-TzzrXeWI5ApT7XthJjx_PFTsm36VOm80jOm0Dkj0QRHpRYjS5DMc5NyYU8LBRA0EaU_BuTg_kzZgI/s4032/IMG_E5229.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYaNzKNnsb2DnZpRiQQ6KbOaP_EHX672xOD9xtfBprRMmVXKOzwcuNcsY2QHppMO_zqR-VkCY7gcjdnMq6R80FprfpGVDYXPvEBP_QD9Wyr-TzzrXeWI5ApT7XthJjx_PFTsm36VOm80jOm0Dkj0QRHpRYjS5DMc5NyYU8LBRA0EaU_BuTg_kzZgI/w640-h480/IMG_E5229.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Also loving that pumpkin stem! Do you buy pumpkins for the stems?</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq1CyOJ7GcZNrLsSqqh-8Rri1E2QP3nfUVQOMHAae7sDRXouH-yUjJNpF8Io0sojzgAqH0bZZjkj66SGRX8obA4UerPqLvy2ZKBy30RvJZ4OpYf2ev6_cw7MclajRueZjejwmuBhgr0fBswweWYXx15ww8uxicf1yF16ZH9X1BCsxSrp8yWNPkN8g/s4032/IMG_5270.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq1CyOJ7GcZNrLsSqqh-8Rri1E2QP3nfUVQOMHAae7sDRXouH-yUjJNpF8Io0sojzgAqH0bZZjkj66SGRX8obA4UerPqLvy2ZKBy30RvJZ4OpYf2ev6_cw7MclajRueZjejwmuBhgr0fBswweWYXx15ww8uxicf1yF16ZH9X1BCsxSrp8yWNPkN8g/w640-h480/IMG_5270.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">This cluster of turning leaves is on one of my favorite trees, the Japanese maple tree in my parents' front yard. </span></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuJ6EnEIanCZrS47ic10nQuiJ2S5LThwCeCmrQ1sRH5cczfCZbLQpuI8MzTNTUE3MODa34rkSGh4R3cDnvzz5RkO4yef5MDifyXByOkJs_kVsuysFW9WqWg_0hgqaZcLE0V7nINrADEH7K6SWjcHq3E16MzWDU7ynsz3C3ooQBXjB9jSq_bm2tZYs/s4032/IMG_E5112.JPG"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuJ6EnEIanCZrS47ic10nQuiJ2S5LThwCeCmrQ1sRH5cczfCZbLQpuI8MzTNTUE3MODa34rkSGh4R3cDnvzz5RkO4yef5MDifyXByOkJs_kVsuysFW9WqWg_0hgqaZcLE0V7nINrADEH7K6SWjcHq3E16MzWDU7ynsz3C3ooQBXjB9jSq_bm2tZYs/w480-h640/IMG_E5112.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnUAqmw4vX_gAe1tnUnR9FGl1Kr3u9DPXsjigChkFFemxRlQq7eNCcme7B74w_fU2YdpfY0kN3Ml4vk4FLpFF98h_79SaJrdnHHlKSCRcyODRzMB-hzvSJfOtJyV53gBSXQj8Tk3ZaGnYJ_aRr1Qbriftk6PVCYbs8FCsW_hkGe83Nvm1Io7GDt8U/s4032/IMG_E5132.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnUAqmw4vX_gAe1tnUnR9FGl1Kr3u9DPXsjigChkFFemxRlQq7eNCcme7B74w_fU2YdpfY0kN3Ml4vk4FLpFF98h_79SaJrdnHHlKSCRcyODRzMB-hzvSJfOtJyV53gBSXQj8Tk3ZaGnYJ_aRr1Qbriftk6PVCYbs8FCsW_hkGe83Nvm1Io7GDt8U/w640-h480/IMG_E5132.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Manz soaks up the sunlight on my bed in the afternoon.</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRlKokfeYaWNn7GF75IWJ_DidqCiZeYWFMd8RZDQLfnHN9rwi52vTg_IT_1c-tqrCv3sZzbmhFTw5w93HLXM5pJM727GZOEMKfJF0CtjZU4oPRUOz6V-kIIbC5mteaRepKNkR0FS4fgNWXC92hxqLc9wlS0VznpzPu8ztMc73820DpGLhho1jGgQ0/s4032/IMG_5313.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRlKokfeYaWNn7GF75IWJ_DidqCiZeYWFMd8RZDQLfnHN9rwi52vTg_IT_1c-tqrCv3sZzbmhFTw5w93HLXM5pJM727GZOEMKfJF0CtjZU4oPRUOz6V-kIIbC5mteaRepKNkR0FS4fgNWXC92hxqLc9wlS0VznpzPu8ztMc73820DpGLhho1jGgQ0/w640-h480/IMG_5313.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The table was set for October's book club.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span><span style="font-size: medium;">In the struggles and the victories, in the beginnings and the endings, in the joys and the sorrows, </span><b><span style="font-size: large;">our God is always good.<br /><br /></span></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtGFwW_xpTLLrJmhyUGXtQjwqyZTMWWzYtsi1CzyR0wV_LIR_UL9ULFbexQFZ7_BQspD_VGfyiDrv_jQf0z13kSILikrRBHlDpyNwBlJ1_Mt10jbYf95z3_UoiOisIuYHNlWgbGD8oZPQzSziq159Squbiiq3rOVdmpy63vlSoictsEeC8kJQTBzk/s4032/IMG_E5298.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtGFwW_xpTLLrJmhyUGXtQjwqyZTMWWzYtsi1CzyR0wV_LIR_UL9ULFbexQFZ7_BQspD_VGfyiDrv_jQf0z13kSILikrRBHlDpyNwBlJ1_Mt10jbYf95z3_UoiOisIuYHNlWgbGD8oZPQzSziq159Squbiiq3rOVdmpy63vlSoictsEeC8kJQTBzk/w480-h640/IMG_E5298.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div>Cheryl http://www.blogger.com/profile/00063844335185525553noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6596988245744679027.post-14876195087482414412022-10-20T09:24:00.000-04:002022-10-20T09:24:14.882-04:00He Wants To Fill With Himself <p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />Life has been busy and full here, and I have needed time to be still and ponder. I came across these words which were such an encouragement to me, and I hope they will be to you too.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBpKaL6SCuR7UtjCpItHMya2C9btSNGMN4kFokPl7JNI5kxYfOgfCuNssafSrj4R8W8AQooeXqbXHcnTL6tNu834tVnd-n1TqoFyoPlls7FXNQYM7FMN9h5OelfihPsBgCRShsHclhizIgybIbXV5yCsRrKVPqRZrVfxbBZS4TiOOqyR0JDdBQczQ/s1237/3.5%20x%205%20in%20(6).png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1237" data-original-width="1050" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBpKaL6SCuR7UtjCpItHMya2C9btSNGMN4kFokPl7JNI5kxYfOgfCuNssafSrj4R8W8AQooeXqbXHcnTL6tNu834tVnd-n1TqoFyoPlls7FXNQYM7FMN9h5OelfihPsBgCRShsHclhizIgybIbXV5yCsRrKVPqRZrVfxbBZS4TiOOqyR0JDdBQczQ/w544-h640/3.5%20x%205%20in%20(6).png" width="544" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div><br /></div>Cheryl http://www.blogger.com/profile/00063844335185525553noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6596988245744679027.post-68883267132091482302022-09-30T06:20:00.003-04:002022-09-30T09:18:59.354-04:00ANTIQUING: In Which We Discover and Buy A Piece Of History<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr3vK95bJy_Ch9ijvMn1tOPRXgzuPEEtSkDpGeCNf4cpgaey08xXyU4kPvLuIjFdVg4foWDOXE_XAxJvnksPls-_obTS-HbS8SPj-XeX-gdvw9qmjJt95yTHS6B7pWNVs6U4QscQJGvQKY1anFp34mKICABmbgVa56evSj3dAfeV6LaqBokUCIf9U/s4032/IMG_4359.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr3vK95bJy_Ch9ijvMn1tOPRXgzuPEEtSkDpGeCNf4cpgaey08xXyU4kPvLuIjFdVg4foWDOXE_XAxJvnksPls-_obTS-HbS8SPj-XeX-gdvw9qmjJt95yTHS6B7pWNVs6U4QscQJGvQKY1anFp34mKICABmbgVa56evSj3dAfeV6LaqBokUCIf9U/w480-h640/IMG_4359.JPG" width="480" /></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"><span><span>Some of our plans had unexpectedly changed, so Bekah and I went on an impromptu road trip/antiquing adventure. We had meandered through a lovely store, oohing and aahing, and even asking about a paint color in a certain booth.</span> </span><i><span>(Because I am still in search of the <a href="http://thinking-about-home.blogspot.com/2018/03/kitchen-progress-and-long-story-about.html" target="_blank">"perfect" color</a> for my kitchen and I have. not. found. it.)</span><span> </span></i><span>I was looking through one last booth when Bekah asked me if I had seen the booth with the beautiful desk. I had somehow missed that space and she said, "You're going to want to see it!"</span><br /><span><br /></span></span><span><span style="font-size: medium;">So I followed Bekah down the aisle to the booth with the desk . . . and she was right! <br /><br />Here was a simply beautiful plantation desk. It had this note taped to the side:<br /></span><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy-u7VZMM1llPOsCPwm3a66S81BrdTMlxgSTVaaIH-2C7J5tIWDQvXvM4OwaCQzGaanhYmL-u-pYNjfgZPmST5YwptUAzfztgQw1CmeeIOwW-E61Ssoxye1VDfazabZWtaxym7Ajub02XxSbPoYJLH4QSq9h0zn9-NqAxdRHIhnlGaHEq9z0k4g7w/s4032/IMG_3949.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy-u7VZMM1llPOsCPwm3a66S81BrdTMlxgSTVaaIH-2C7J5tIWDQvXvM4OwaCQzGaanhYmL-u-pYNjfgZPmST5YwptUAzfztgQw1CmeeIOwW-E61Ssoxye1VDfazabZWtaxym7Ajub02XxSbPoYJLH4QSq9h0zn9-NqAxdRHIhnlGaHEq9z0k4g7w/w640-h480/IMG_3949.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /></div></div><span><div style="font-size: large; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Bekah and I stood there and bemoaned the fact that Alfred Hicks had just died the previous year, that this desk had been in his family since 1810 . . . and that now it was here in an antique store! Why didn't anyone in Alfred's family want this piece of family history?! Did Alfred not have any descendants, or did they not value their family's history? Or were there many other items that they loved more and so they chose to let this desk go to another home? <br /><br />Regardless of the reasons, it made us a little sad to think of Alfred and his homeless desk. But I certainly had not come on this antiquing adventure with plans to spend $500.00! Besides, where in the world would I put a desk in my house? I had no empty spaces or blank walls. <br /><br />However . . . there were a few baskets in the booth that were also a part of Alfred Hicks's estate. It was a small way for me to validate Alfred's place in history, so I chose this wonderful basket with the family name inscribed in the handle. </span><br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: large; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhROqMh8vqefZoJalCIapTmTv5K4xGCZ8M_yxfnWTZ_H4imDt8CJLonLkbrsNX4aqBoIst5yiyfkAw7uI9v_ir1afd5JGWbm8dXbB2XaHCqXOhcc4I_TKZX8GBO8tMpRwKtAh-1kHl3Gh9OFkteHNFQwWlQUPs9hOCSWZSlQ2mUfd_wcjRwi0K3_s/s4032/IMG_3059.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhROqMh8vqefZoJalCIapTmTv5K4xGCZ8M_yxfnWTZ_H4imDt8CJLonLkbrsNX4aqBoIst5yiyfkAw7uI9v_ir1afd5JGWbm8dXbB2XaHCqXOhcc4I_TKZX8GBO8tMpRwKtAh-1kHl3Gh9OFkteHNFQwWlQUPs9hOCSWZSlQ2mUfd_wcjRwi0K3_s/w480-h640/IMG_3059.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><div style="font-size: large; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: large; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWpjBipvqxZRdzrNj-wpu61RGRllsmtpy7g2BvBALTtmnD1FvT4WlZLst_3NB1L5Id3YE5X0KLUpP3S0f8CKw-y0aurSrzN9XRVFDpnXPmy4580cU6yTEpys6PiqLwYaaAosD5bwxFx_4caotAlAOOWl9m71itB2meav3d3QjGFNeTpg68K_DUXmM/s4032/IMG_3057.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWpjBipvqxZRdzrNj-wpu61RGRllsmtpy7g2BvBALTtmnD1FvT4WlZLst_3NB1L5Id3YE5X0KLUpP3S0f8CKw-y0aurSrzN9XRVFDpnXPmy4580cU6yTEpys6PiqLwYaaAosD5bwxFx_4caotAlAOOWl9m71itB2meav3d3QjGFNeTpg68K_DUXmM/w640-h480/IMG_3057.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">We left the antique store, me feeling good about my purchase, Bekah still drooling over the desk. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: large; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: large; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3I7K1czF3fVEstyhTfQVdx-CyowmeFd5eHqmCfe2zZl96WmKSpavytPsVIhMietecL_Ha39KXuyIwTwLdi4XIBQt3aVXHvEeBu1TOMXu03GLPydMmO41MxTAPTmyQuDzXtwq3FtoGwveHUA1OBi5HN-jPlI9iTh842ZYoEw50UU4oJfig_oN4tys/s320/borderblackleafvine.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="36" data-original-width="320" height="36" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3I7K1czF3fVEstyhTfQVdx-CyowmeFd5eHqmCfe2zZl96WmKSpavytPsVIhMietecL_Ha39KXuyIwTwLdi4XIBQt3aVXHvEeBu1TOMXu03GLPydMmO41MxTAPTmyQuDzXtwq3FtoGwveHUA1OBi5HN-jPlI9iTh842ZYoEw50UU4oJfig_oN4tys/s1600/borderblackleafvine.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">As we drove to lunch, Bekah started searching for any information about the Isaac Hicks family. Much to our surprise, she discovered that Isaac Hicks was a successful Quaker merchant from Westbury, New York, who dealt in both dry goods and the shipping industry from 1790 to 1807. (You can read more ~<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isaac_Hicks" target="_blank">here</a>~.) <br /><br /><b><i>And I have his basket!</i> </b><br /><br />Bekah read on. <br /><br />And then: "Mom! Isaac Hicks was a cousin of <b>Edward Hicks</b>!" <br /><br />I have long admired the art of <a href="https://www.nga.gov/collection/artist-info.1396.html" target="_blank">Edward Hicks</a>. As a matter of fact, I have a framed print of Hicks's <i><a href="https://philamuseum.org/collection/object/52107" target="_blank">Noah's Ark</a></i> hanging above my living room mantel. (The same print also hung in the living room of The Farmhouse.) </span></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghYPlOT_JjFVDQ57BYCkRzgnfF2FYY93cknYEWwA66Tk3J42mrvddlLcfLsilz5k2pdHA4GN5whEiulfUQlDVt4drxvXd-htCJjhjP66mL_263hPEs7pt-dThv6S9wdERxUuZ-MsSuJPrFia_ZW1egr_yLyvJlSHPVJ5sptpuAEJ5rfvSyT22Uhdo/s1104/308331026_1122805471665647_5759027706070579285_n.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1104" data-original-width="828" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghYPlOT_JjFVDQ57BYCkRzgnfF2FYY93cknYEWwA66Tk3J42mrvddlLcfLsilz5k2pdHA4GN5whEiulfUQlDVt4drxvXd-htCJjhjP66mL_263hPEs7pt-dThv6S9wdERxUuZ-MsSuJPrFia_ZW1egr_yLyvJlSHPVJ5sptpuAEJ5rfvSyT22Uhdo/w480-h640/308331026_1122805471665647_5759027706070579285_n.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Noah's Ark</i> over the mantel at Pineapple House</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: large; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3Z-uGxglGPijeyuIQ-0lt9bvYmTDc1-DDXqs7_M24uG-fbnnUqm_RiTjNLZBNL4wmn2vV0Jwh58hffeKASo9Y7FnEfXMnGSoWONjYvdMPIjuvagqQsV8jQfdWcGqvH26u2gCdW4qcr9WggzobPbLslWaOHFjm30NBHM2GZYnCZq7crO62TrL4MYk/s1600/December%202014%20595.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1066" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3Z-uGxglGPijeyuIQ-0lt9bvYmTDc1-DDXqs7_M24uG-fbnnUqm_RiTjNLZBNL4wmn2vV0Jwh58hffeKASo9Y7FnEfXMnGSoWONjYvdMPIjuvagqQsV8jQfdWcGqvH26u2gCdW4qcr9WggzobPbLslWaOHFjm30NBHM2GZYnCZq7crO62TrL4MYk/w426-h640/December%202014%20595.JPG" width="426" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Noah's Ark</i> in The Farmhouse living room</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: large; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">A few years ago, we purchased another Hicks print, <i><a href="https://www.pafa.org/museum/collection/item/peaceable-kingdom" target="_blank">Peaceable Kingdom</a></i>, for our dining room. We had it matted and Ron made the frame. <br /><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: large; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCWt7lj3kOmgx1YbzRhoR4-3S9coOJg3UICcZD9O5e5E1HGD3MbbIvqjKQ7XgfeT_3rjEZ2mA-5v4r-bdOL_28JAeGJbncdVrzR3sIfxjROKI66xVuDupXPGhCM7dv-yYK-J457t-0AB1Oj11LB8kqgDcjF6LnAFP0CGwhO2KebQBB1Ms57F15b0U/s4032/IMG_3068.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCWt7lj3kOmgx1YbzRhoR4-3S9coOJg3UICcZD9O5e5E1HGD3MbbIvqjKQ7XgfeT_3rjEZ2mA-5v4r-bdOL_28JAeGJbncdVrzR3sIfxjROKI66xVuDupXPGhCM7dv-yYK-J457t-0AB1Oj11LB8kqgDcjF6LnAFP0CGwhO2KebQBB1Ms57F15b0U/w480-h640/IMG_3068.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: large; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjJc-laOM_Ap9puaAxK3P5wpj-2WXWGQDXXagO2JJxvn3eP3y6UeLE6dhZqDT-Cm3fbeMkWH32mWL6Egr5t8qdoe1DLBBw1Q42mFwThLgxxpIFxNpu7cIcw7oeb0Qt62c2Z9cd2C3fKNeC8ork11mKckOIoDfv73bHGLZnvLc9itoTrhTGkDlUXLw/s4032/IMG_3065.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjJc-laOM_Ap9puaAxK3P5wpj-2WXWGQDXXagO2JJxvn3eP3y6UeLE6dhZqDT-Cm3fbeMkWH32mWL6Egr5t8qdoe1DLBBw1Q42mFwThLgxxpIFxNpu7cIcw7oeb0Qt62c2Z9cd2C3fKNeC8ork11mKckOIoDfv73bHGLZnvLc9itoTrhTGkDlUXLw/w480-h640/IMG_3065.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">To say that we were thrilled with the connection between Isaac Hicks and "our" artist Edward Hicks would be an understatement! </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: large; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: large; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: large; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiStWyYF2tZ6_HOZeWllqFK0UBqLfCYwtblX5mjYQ_iQFF4qUv-An72-9Ig843wZX0pa529e8X5PCWQ50P5R0F-WcTm40cj3CA99zyJRPAME5VQpOuG3RiADZxkuyIrc40R5twbtw8YDpIqT96RFWB1F2qj0nqsZvqhaGncL2cIEwRmH8Zs-KQMxww/s320/borderblackleafvine.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="36" data-original-width="320" height="36" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiStWyYF2tZ6_HOZeWllqFK0UBqLfCYwtblX5mjYQ_iQFF4qUv-An72-9Ig843wZX0pa529e8X5PCWQ50P5R0F-WcTm40cj3CA99zyJRPAME5VQpOuG3RiADZxkuyIrc40R5twbtw8YDpIqT96RFWB1F2qj0nqsZvqhaGncL2cIEwRmH8Zs-KQMxww/s1600/borderblackleafvine.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">By the time we had eaten lunch, Bekah had decided to return to the antique store to purchase a smaller basket that had belonged to Isaac Hicks. We both went home with treasures and we felt that we had preserved a bit of history.</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxHh0u5iQ8_Aav6_kVReUvNVWCPzWLDpR4gMbM83R4jWhlKACP3CFDOJIVakpx-EEFNcsFKBysRQud1KOGR21nA9MCrMlSI1hG9nPT-KYUpSJgn_i8s25VfjLlfkszQwO1YExo7hcZ2rVM5k3NxJT_nN9I7PKN9ZL32bEQu3850ZjCzzo-wUiazGo/s4032/IMG_4605.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxHh0u5iQ8_Aav6_kVReUvNVWCPzWLDpR4gMbM83R4jWhlKACP3CFDOJIVakpx-EEFNcsFKBysRQud1KOGR21nA9MCrMlSI1hG9nPT-KYUpSJgn_i8s25VfjLlfkszQwO1YExo7hcZ2rVM5k3NxJT_nN9I7PKN9ZL32bEQu3850ZjCzzo-wUiazGo/w640-h480/IMG_4605.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5XGCny0ODjybjGw64kA55WOtpPPutPYabK9DJBK35mhu9sNtlHzHhrdM2copafLOy5SepKxLMWSc9swTnixoo4gLeGn6B-tv_W9N1kWGUlqpUPQctcCf4buadUkLZyG2H-Pd7K7C5yKJO5Pr3kH0Un0cylgeOD1wRaqj5jt25s9RUarTe44cMA-A/s713/IMG_3113%20(2).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="535" data-original-width="713" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5XGCny0ODjybjGw64kA55WOtpPPutPYabK9DJBK35mhu9sNtlHzHhrdM2copafLOy5SepKxLMWSc9swTnixoo4gLeGn6B-tv_W9N1kWGUlqpUPQctcCf4buadUkLZyG2H-Pd7K7C5yKJO5Pr3kH0Un0cylgeOD1wRaqj5jt25s9RUarTe44cMA-A/w640-h480/IMG_3113%20(2).JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div><span><br /></span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSPPLuVzE8-FKyMtU-FnS7KCAsH7Hm4xmN6qDpocvFGQuWV2fQW2vDWNJczLPZzaSstcdkowkbI7_y26RFER2nvTSN2tAgOsrvVmdXHDGat4q7jym_JXs8jcdTxtjPZTRCUCJHH0-p-fRw9YpwrFQkxBRjltjTSnQRc5PreUp0TF_Y_pwfS6hgwuI/s320/borderblackleafvine.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="36" data-original-width="320" height="36" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSPPLuVzE8-FKyMtU-FnS7KCAsH7Hm4xmN6qDpocvFGQuWV2fQW2vDWNJczLPZzaSstcdkowkbI7_y26RFER2nvTSN2tAgOsrvVmdXHDGat4q7jym_JXs8jcdTxtjPZTRCUCJHH0-p-fRw9YpwrFQkxBRjltjTSnQRc5PreUp0TF_Y_pwfS6hgwuI/s1600/borderblackleafvine.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">As the weeks passed, we still talked about the desk and how beautiful it was and how we hoped that someone who really appreciated it would buy it. But one night, it dawned on me that I could actually move something that I already had to make a space for Alfred's desk that I loved. Of course! And then I hatched a plan to ask Ron if the desk could be my birthday/Christmas gift for several years. (My wheels were spinning!) He said yes! </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />So Bekah and I made a plan to return to the antique store. Before we went, I called ahead to be sure that the desk was still there. It was . . . <b><i>and</i></b> it was now 20% off! </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>Off we went on another road trip, this time with a definite purpose! </span><br /><br /><span>As one of the men at the store prepared the desk to be loaded into my van, I chatted with one of the proprietors at the front counter. He mentioned how lovely the desk was, and how it was such a great size as many plantation desks are so large. And then he said, <b>"It was the history that got you, wasn't it?"</b> <br /><br />Yes! He was absolutely right. It <i>was</i> the history, and the way that an unknown man and his desk had pulled on my heart strings. </span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXY0DDjP_-Gp1wLsXe-UKZWgNvRgIO_2qLvOB9GRw7ZfbKDuwItb5L9pXtWVioAiYUeG9TAhZ8dT7ZqTxLoS2zTOEPTOB3WmJxCZWZnkZY5Jhusv3494gDR8I4B1PgeLiT47556stZLbhDHbtdhIwPXylw44-PvOC2H6YkZTKsQK5WKvlsu_2T8HY/s320/borderblackleafvine.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="36" data-original-width="320" height="36" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXY0DDjP_-Gp1wLsXe-UKZWgNvRgIO_2qLvOB9GRw7ZfbKDuwItb5L9pXtWVioAiYUeG9TAhZ8dT7ZqTxLoS2zTOEPTOB3WmJxCZWZnkZY5Jhusv3494gDR8I4B1PgeLiT47556stZLbhDHbtdhIwPXylw44-PvOC2H6YkZTKsQK5WKvlsu_2T8HY/s1600/borderblackleafvine.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Bekah and I headed for home a little giddy. We couldn't believe that we actually had Alfred's desk in the back of our van . . . and it was ours! </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: large; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcO33SiNGIDOBYy-Ok1OFVVTZh5-g08HI_l_B2WpCB2-LqeiOqIN5mR344tRDDnfMRnpRe5XGD-HqZKcKbUhbnHraPQSyswXik4aADx8c6zlRceh4CXfO322ciz3AceVhyVvZRU8YXlpgeDObEDYWs_P0PKGP_VFG7KiT1IZkLBmQyP6y28rvM_nc/s4032/IMG_3823.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcO33SiNGIDOBYy-Ok1OFVVTZh5-g08HI_l_B2WpCB2-LqeiOqIN5mR344tRDDnfMRnpRe5XGD-HqZKcKbUhbnHraPQSyswXik4aADx8c6zlRceh4CXfO322ciz3AceVhyVvZRU8YXlpgeDObEDYWs_P0PKGP_VFG7KiT1IZkLBmQyP6y28rvM_nc/w640-h480/IMG_3823.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: large; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuQqDq6LY8qrFxr14dgFpWmqd7IVFNnXyMeiwlGn3k9jQGt3OIKfd0dhAyiAMSPX-2Oqj_xluDF-czJdkKJCTxAU4hBDDfvsQgHZhJSqeJORL8m6aSXtzyGRa4Gnts8_wIUCqJ2NQmWRh7kUVNyY3IWNXgG7FPXvw4Cb7rUpEE2kfDkHjPLGpQ_Dc/s320/borderblackleafvine.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="36" data-original-width="320" height="36" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuQqDq6LY8qrFxr14dgFpWmqd7IVFNnXyMeiwlGn3k9jQGt3OIKfd0dhAyiAMSPX-2Oqj_xluDF-czJdkKJCTxAU4hBDDfvsQgHZhJSqeJORL8m6aSXtzyGRa4Gnts8_wIUCqJ2NQmWRh7kUVNyY3IWNXgG7FPXvw4Cb7rUpEE2kfDkHjPLGpQ_Dc/s1600/borderblackleafvine.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: large; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Here is the desk that was in the Hicks family for <b>211</b> years. And now it is our family's turn! </span><br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzv5q7FPJomCy_X50hJIz0ikUZRo2LNgXSIzG2txPC1MwwltmcMwQbNiCtq6-ilQSAtRlk0BYn3NzGZt3l_ZVYz25MJbMKIXnE-r_ZnrExjRPOqg5d2JDD1F4FTlSa_xp6UH2yMKmiD8gY3vSyz_0rBp1ZOlCP_VgBOkdxrjxCZhOl8I9Yz3Yy59o/s4032/IMG_4599.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzv5q7FPJomCy_X50hJIz0ikUZRo2LNgXSIzG2txPC1MwwltmcMwQbNiCtq6-ilQSAtRlk0BYn3NzGZt3l_ZVYz25MJbMKIXnE-r_ZnrExjRPOqg5d2JDD1F4FTlSa_xp6UH2yMKmiD8gY3vSyz_0rBp1ZOlCP_VgBOkdxrjxCZhOl8I9Yz3Yy59o/w480-h640/IMG_4599.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><div><span><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I had several ideas of where to put the desk. This is the first place that I tried it, here in the living room, across from the front door . . . and this is where it will stay. It will be the most visible in this spot and I love it here. <br /><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigRNgXOoVS_7OYxfU4ZLWMa4sE8_6WXas8VZ1LEHSBAylcBxX5HNv5igezAm5eTpcFTAt_EJlmyG_VXTXceVcyuvTWMPXKJL1pNST3baS2_osaDN6cFFB46ZVCPAZVgcDEcUx9ChnlTCRKMYVDx5xkY84Dp5O8sgtF5cEpqVI55vhXawkL1Ladaws/s4032/IMG_4600.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigRNgXOoVS_7OYxfU4ZLWMa4sE8_6WXas8VZ1LEHSBAylcBxX5HNv5igezAm5eTpcFTAt_EJlmyG_VXTXceVcyuvTWMPXKJL1pNST3baS2_osaDN6cFFB46ZVCPAZVgcDEcUx9ChnlTCRKMYVDx5xkY84Dp5O8sgtF5cEpqVI55vhXawkL1Ladaws/w480-h640/IMG_4600.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I think it looks quite at home! </span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: large; text-align: justify;"><br /></div></span>Cheryl http://www.blogger.com/profile/00063844335185525553noreply@blogger.com32tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6596988245744679027.post-672474353833564742022-09-15T08:59:00.002-04:002022-09-15T09:42:30.215-04:00ANTIQUING: Top Finds of the Summer <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />In spite of the whirlwind pace of our summer, I was able to squeeze in several antiquing adventures . . . some with my good friend and antiquing partner Barbara, and some with Bekah who also enjoys antiquing and has a great eye! <br /><br />Today, I'll tell you about two <b>fantastic bargains</b> that I found this summer. <i>(I'm saving my favorite find for a separate post. ~ swoon ~)</i></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPd9YCNRJAK2nVtBRIL5cslHPF8mvpHXwO2_nyjCv6JJKF9nKvdn1xJPazCoZrK83yut824qDPMzbvX_RLbR7vy5_RLowBmBXfbspj2zOgQQb1bzHNd660fm95WAniSx2JluO9FVAwFw6dIjVK6CbzMd7Sf3GkI8YB-1xtQFuE7aGDHxHdWRHiuww/s4032/IMG_E9483.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPd9YCNRJAK2nVtBRIL5cslHPF8mvpHXwO2_nyjCv6JJKF9nKvdn1xJPazCoZrK83yut824qDPMzbvX_RLbR7vy5_RLowBmBXfbspj2zOgQQb1bzHNd660fm95WAniSx2JluO9FVAwFw6dIjVK6CbzMd7Sf3GkI8YB-1xtQFuE7aGDHxHdWRHiuww/w480-h640/IMG_E9483.jpg" width="480" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /><i><br /></i></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span><span style="font-size: x-large;">BARGAIN #1</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">In an upstairs cranny of an antique store, there lay a white matelassé coverlet. It had a lovely pattern, so I peeked at the price. The tag said full/queen matelassé with four shams . . . for $18.00! <i>What?</i></span></span></p><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">There were only two shams with the coverlet (I asked at the register, but no one knew about the other two), but no worries! I really only needed two and the price was amazing, so I gladly paid and brought the set home with me. It washed up beautifully and I put it on the pineapple post bed in the guest room. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu02HLbUpn8d9uXASs81Zhjzw2JSyeqAq8vhOg6IGfszA9ctSxTSW6azoi9cxGuzDlrk83hkWjWQMIq3kjj3mx-Od0x2KpPypGrIPMRBfqIzdAcKsE7Fn2NBpHuU85qgw6wKjMoR8MZhq9btWDzZ49RgaIUCdWYYX13JL6JBsr3Hox9BkNJHl68rY/s4032/IMG_1708.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu02HLbUpn8d9uXASs81Zhjzw2JSyeqAq8vhOg6IGfszA9ctSxTSW6azoi9cxGuzDlrk83hkWjWQMIq3kjj3mx-Od0x2KpPypGrIPMRBfqIzdAcKsE7Fn2NBpHuU85qgw6wKjMoR8MZhq9btWDzZ49RgaIUCdWYYX13JL6JBsr3Hox9BkNJHl68rY/w480-h640/IMG_1708.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6nEnT3Lznx_JHNj87WF-YK2f15jqs-WhgTcDUQXsNXdPGFjjSdrboIzk7EgrolFzidRTs6llp-E32X53OopfcIRgDCamI_w9QQ5tjJWKf5A7E3iVmtBtlxpNeS83AxqnDnOGUcEm2Ny_YzwC1jXaBxvQvOCNuYaxz79WO5lqzXc4hkS2Bap6-EH8/s4032/IMG_1716.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6nEnT3Lznx_JHNj87WF-YK2f15jqs-WhgTcDUQXsNXdPGFjjSdrboIzk7EgrolFzidRTs6llp-E32X53OopfcIRgDCamI_w9QQ5tjJWKf5A7E3iVmtBtlxpNeS83AxqnDnOGUcEm2Ny_YzwC1jXaBxvQvOCNuYaxz79WO5lqzXc4hkS2Bap6-EH8/w480-h640/IMG_1716.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">s</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4rISPeegduNLM7MJ3NlTSyA6GW2MJIVOYbpTenUFEOc5ckPponj6ocmZw4dJqvQgPCeTeJtixH9fWSsTM8SdBHtM4np3U7sEk_uV6CR7uUMja9Ts7Dvo7yph7Hfp2Mjf-ZGzVQQNjCPRQT534rhIPfmAhYOM7tvy_LZYg4qPoMBqBHvGozI_hKRg/s4032/IMG_2742.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4rISPeegduNLM7MJ3NlTSyA6GW2MJIVOYbpTenUFEOc5ckPponj6ocmZw4dJqvQgPCeTeJtixH9fWSsTM8SdBHtM4np3U7sEk_uV6CR7uUMja9Ts7Dvo7yph7Hfp2Mjf-ZGzVQQNjCPRQT534rhIPfmAhYOM7tvy_LZYg4qPoMBqBHvGozI_hKRg/w480-h640/IMG_2742.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZDrxFYVRkeBVMn5PhzYbv5IKOipSzdQpMHlxe4t4mV_L6eVDWBqV568zr6azGQZXEfThbYyf-9cc4ddMpgJzOaQbh7q5b0rD_n39vJJqzHYwjqY_Ept9olLA-F3gzSQK9iv8HA3P2yqvcPrKWrNIoQ-kekE1KCLIkTXVBSP3U9kVzTMDBHmGPlLQ/s4032/IMG_1713.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZDrxFYVRkeBVMn5PhzYbv5IKOipSzdQpMHlxe4t4mV_L6eVDWBqV568zr6azGQZXEfThbYyf-9cc4ddMpgJzOaQbh7q5b0rD_n39vJJqzHYwjqY_Ept9olLA-F3gzSQK9iv8HA3P2yqvcPrKWrNIoQ-kekE1KCLIkTXVBSP3U9kVzTMDBHmGPlLQ/w480-h640/IMG_1713.JPG" width="480" /></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">BARGAIN #2</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Inspired by the stone fruit collections that I had seen on Instagram, I purchased my first piece a couple of years ago and began my own collection. Although I have seen some that cost far more, I had paid fifteen or twenty dollars for the pieces that I bought. <br /><br />In fact, I had bought a stone apple for $15 that very morning in July. Barbara and I had visited one store and were waiting for another to open, when she suggested that we go to a thrift store that she had seen but had never been to. We needed to use some time, so we decided to give it a try. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">As we browsed, my eye caught sight of a basket of fruit. It looked like stone fruit, but it couldn't be, could it? <br /><br />I picked up a piece . . . and it <i>was</i> stone! And then I looked at the price and each piece was ONE dollar! And (can you believe this?) . . . it was half-price day at the thrift store that day, so each piece was actually <b>fifty cents</b>! <br /><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcCp3BTkt3EJmU24pxAC-Jg7joW1AyItUWIVosSMYw5aEVqsskXYFnAR7baZs7Imi4KpYrdfuaDcljV5_u9q4bNzOserM8J4UAh28zgMFEjAlOZQHXM1wy-BGk6eE9MzWIM2TrBVpbtqf-10gbwJKo0ZDgK0_SUlYFN6n0F8BDxFEBjp-gNSzGM5M/s4032/IMG_2020.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcCp3BTkt3EJmU24pxAC-Jg7joW1AyItUWIVosSMYw5aEVqsskXYFnAR7baZs7Imi4KpYrdfuaDcljV5_u9q4bNzOserM8J4UAh28zgMFEjAlOZQHXM1wy-BGk6eE9MzWIM2TrBVpbtqf-10gbwJKo0ZDgK0_SUlYFN6n0F8BDxFEBjp-gNSzGM5M/w480-h640/IMG_2020.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />I chose six pieces of fruit, including an apricot and a fig, neither of which I had ever seen for sale, and more than doubled my collection! <br /><br /></span></div></div><h2><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTtq4hbQQ0eUzAEKnn4-nl-m93XPlyy1rw3VsfuhTHARrisOtz24ycRIP4Vlv2Pf3VV--z9hhlO-O4scuVCq4755VfcI9XtvW88tOnyyc_5AOVa8eStURn7C6HNzDLFA6iNrczyJYXlby8hXfsMQsoBSnFeOanjjGugQ1g0Iw0gKbPRu2CNl_ioy8/s4032/IMG_2029.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTtq4hbQQ0eUzAEKnn4-nl-m93XPlyy1rw3VsfuhTHARrisOtz24ycRIP4Vlv2Pf3VV--z9hhlO-O4scuVCq4755VfcI9XtvW88tOnyyc_5AOVa8eStURn7C6HNzDLFA6iNrczyJYXlby8hXfsMQsoBSnFeOanjjGugQ1g0Iw0gKbPRu2CNl_ioy8/w640-h480/IMG_2029.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLLrwQoVoj9WzwXgVZ2awmoysbF4hpoKYh_JvnzzZMT6FpPzBrEwqYRBq28TtJxGO_q-zJhE8lCPCr589NSBoMoAB36QlS9vLdULpch8IkLt2fbOkx_3jGJzGitsiHYewxvdTBwS4S4gqeHbQswDnGupeQEvaDYMgH8mWl4Fkoe_M_sc81jrsZkzc/s4032/IMG_2082.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLLrwQoVoj9WzwXgVZ2awmoysbF4hpoKYh_JvnzzZMT6FpPzBrEwqYRBq28TtJxGO_q-zJhE8lCPCr589NSBoMoAB36QlS9vLdULpch8IkLt2fbOkx_3jGJzGitsiHYewxvdTBwS4S4gqeHbQswDnGupeQEvaDYMgH8mWl4Fkoe_M_sc81jrsZkzc/w640-h480/IMG_2082.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW3CDYy55rWGgeQcCmG25ib0HkR_pMyeMXsD3ocHJbYgINqTWs9CtxQ0iDK_aEw6xNuJewOaN4SLq6dV-2wEcbt6pJ5E_ofEGtE1Ya5Jb-SHL8OTcQ6RoCP-E3vS4jd89aXbuMaWVODdH2OaOKwGzkC2Ge8EQmP1GMoM-lPYT4OqLyQ9HIy1ihd28/s1104/stone%20fruit.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1104" data-original-width="828" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW3CDYy55rWGgeQcCmG25ib0HkR_pMyeMXsD3ocHJbYgINqTWs9CtxQ0iDK_aEw6xNuJewOaN4SLq6dV-2wEcbt6pJ5E_ofEGtE1Ya5Jb-SHL8OTcQ6RoCP-E3vS4jd89aXbuMaWVODdH2OaOKwGzkC2Ge8EQmP1GMoM-lPYT4OqLyQ9HIy1ihd28/w480-h640/stone%20fruit.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></h2><span style="font-size: medium;"><div style="text-align: justify;">I am so happy with my bargains! Which reminds me of a cRaZy <b>autocorrected</b> text I once sent to Kati . . . </div></span><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwvQazQB5gg29li3SpS1_fstSaebuyJLIduxMr1syHvGIAzPQsyP65M26MM2hNCLxigmxOMl17C1Y68IeToVqrYLyiQOsxsiZPzTKSk0f2MeSF8E2Wt1tBSRGUANm1X5-h9KetRshpogfrWl9sYkK3ygB82RbtzdRbs_lDVimvP4w1_Nekc37zjvI/s720/48384118_10217950330414877_6961796795999453184_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="480" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwvQazQB5gg29li3SpS1_fstSaebuyJLIduxMr1syHvGIAzPQsyP65M26MM2hNCLxigmxOMl17C1Y68IeToVqrYLyiQOsxsiZPzTKSk0f2MeSF8E2Wt1tBSRGUANm1X5-h9KetRshpogfrWl9sYkK3ygB82RbtzdRbs_lDVimvP4w1_Nekc37zjvI/w266-h400/48384118_10217950330414877_6961796795999453184_n.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />Because doesn't everyone love a good Bahrain? 😂<br /><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div>Cheryl http://www.blogger.com/profile/00063844335185525553noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6596988245744679027.post-70635286942131106762022-09-06T06:30:00.015-04:002022-09-06T06:30:00.165-04:00Gathering Summer Moments <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /><b>Summer 2022</b></span> <span style="font-size: medium;">was a busy, event-filled summer.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: medium;">For us, "summer" began a little early this year (in </span><span style="font-size: x-large;">May</span><span style="font-size: medium;">), when Bekah finished classes, <a href="http://thinking-about-home.blogspot.com/2022/05/five-on-friday.html" target="_blank">Maddie graduated</a> from high school, and we took our <a href="http://thinking-about-home.blogspot.com/2022/06/visiting-kati-and-family.html" target="_blank">trip south to visit Kati and family</a>. </span><br /><br />It was a <a href="http://thinking-about-home.blogspot.com/2022/06/i-hate-james.html" target="_blank">summer of change (or "James")</a> as we prepared for Ryan and Sarah to move to a new state at the end of summer, and we started being greedy for time with them. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">It was the summer of <a href="http://thinking-about-home.blogspot.com/2022/07/the-new-sunroom.html" target="_blank">the new sunroom</a>. <br /><br />This summer held opportunities for Bekah to gather with other young adults from our church. <br /><br />Of course, summer is always birthdays, as we have twelve summer birthdays in our family. <br /><br />It was also a summer of illness and treatments and struggle for several dear friends and relatives and those things are never far from our hearts and our prayers. <br /><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>~ * ~ * ~ * ~</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAXbWPKRyb6gJ9psnZ-ccNQzaYgcihpu7KMq6NeCWRhu7yUpoXW5LvjJIcwQ7H7ch0SvIxSakDEyq7IzdEwq1s-3xh6AWCrO8df86NUkbCbGDgwgzUv3YBxEcMk2rhg0pwwTUhf6eX6JkX9LgRvGEr5BZp6WPaIrSgFgc7IXI6P9SY1Xl1D7GXUVM/s4032/IMG_1767.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAXbWPKRyb6gJ9psnZ-ccNQzaYgcihpu7KMq6NeCWRhu7yUpoXW5LvjJIcwQ7H7ch0SvIxSakDEyq7IzdEwq1s-3xh6AWCrO8df86NUkbCbGDgwgzUv3YBxEcMk2rhg0pwwTUhf6eX6JkX9LgRvGEr5BZp6WPaIrSgFgc7IXI6P9SY1Xl1D7GXUVM/w480-h640/IMG_1767.jpg" width="480" /></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: x-large;">June</span><span style="font-size: medium;"> was filled with </span><a href="http://thinking-about-home.blogspot.com/2022/06/more-grand-moments.html" style="font-size: large;" target="_blank">moments with the local grands</a><span style="font-size: medium;">, including our </span><a href="http://thinking-about-home.blogspot.com/2022/06/more-grand-moments.html" style="font-size: large;" target="_blank">Annual Grand Summer Sleepover</a><span style="font-size: medium;">. It was also Father's Day and homemade ice cream and house hunting (Ryan and Sarah) and home inspections (Ryan and Ron). </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0oMpjleVa4uyKmlvH0BMq_dYe35LsohOyI8HWmGTc7biUiyDlVwA9J20_a2BlPH-sGu-y7aDuO-5JsOqewFgdVz9PE3TrFOocveMAsTzhcti6jrsRW1-PjUpTD1ZTTP-Gta8YCTBlAKr_5U6pu5p3vnQMgNXyCLYHPCWXpE3GBJG6mF8NA6_umms/s4032/IMG_1820.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0oMpjleVa4uyKmlvH0BMq_dYe35LsohOyI8HWmGTc7biUiyDlVwA9J20_a2BlPH-sGu-y7aDuO-5JsOqewFgdVz9PE3TrFOocveMAsTzhcti6jrsRW1-PjUpTD1ZTTP-Gta8YCTBlAKr_5U6pu5p3vnQMgNXyCLYHPCWXpE3GBJG6mF8NA6_umms/w480-h640/IMG_1820.JPG" width="480" /></a><br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO0lx5VvF8KZ1OLppl82ekVTBzK21EJq4ej1J6PTfcflt8o4e8LfBleHa2LIYQGMno-5p3-DBKp26r0pjE44-flsOXM1X_-EXhgRWHa2PJdirVJ26XspljQsow0yw494Mbpvc4FbRVYMOtdrn1x8x319LGnNqDYl9A0gZisg-PfI5_gjCUcz-vbiU/s1697/5.25%20x%205.25%20in%20(8)%20(1).png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1697" data-original-width="1598" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO0lx5VvF8KZ1OLppl82ekVTBzK21EJq4ej1J6PTfcflt8o4e8LfBleHa2LIYQGMno-5p3-DBKp26r0pjE44-flsOXM1X_-EXhgRWHa2PJdirVJ26XspljQsow0yw494Mbpvc4FbRVYMOtdrn1x8x319LGnNqDYl9A0gZisg-PfI5_gjCUcz-vbiU/w602-h640/5.25%20x%205.25%20in%20(8)%20(1).png" width="602" /></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6VyIT-w3qja3SWuz3NICG5KP74mbRG9VIdZNkq6mmU8JAnAhb4uu4I3RQCWMu_aiX-WDFmAOYLqDX5xg9W4_dN4NWpkGEElP2Y8zobQFQs6FChAjWFBhs6EBieyj32zcr1eeQjy3j52mKBjvzdshsj4B4BE5mGok26i0wN3XNT8gDJ2E0sgj20e0/s4032/IMG_1425.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6VyIT-w3qja3SWuz3NICG5KP74mbRG9VIdZNkq6mmU8JAnAhb4uu4I3RQCWMu_aiX-WDFmAOYLqDX5xg9W4_dN4NWpkGEElP2Y8zobQFQs6FChAjWFBhs6EBieyj32zcr1eeQjy3j52mKBjvzdshsj4B4BE5mGok26i0wN3XNT8gDJ2E0sgj20e0/w480-h640/IMG_1425.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEGvfh8s7tYHlIhUR_KqAH_ZCgza3pD_5Vdm4C6YOEqFJmu9nawsUQ7KMckrYrcJnTebuGUkmG8Nlp7UZG_HsaCMinAS-11sY0qhx5l918LIXhN5B2rI6vN7x2R99T3oPakeXiMjqKlckGijHf4DamDQUp_Fx7vPQpAuv1hX6Pdr8nh2bnPSzT9ug/s4032/IMG_1406.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEGvfh8s7tYHlIhUR_KqAH_ZCgza3pD_5Vdm4C6YOEqFJmu9nawsUQ7KMckrYrcJnTebuGUkmG8Nlp7UZG_HsaCMinAS-11sY0qhx5l918LIXhN5B2rI6vN7x2R99T3oPakeXiMjqKlckGijHf4DamDQUp_Fx7vPQpAuv1hX6Pdr8nh2bnPSzT9ug/w480-h640/IMG_1406.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; 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text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwO6tHPm_sxo3ra-XefdWmkwh1Iyp5WJm2jocc2TwhKzSU58zqclUg4B2r_IaENa7MY2kGVdORubAAm5fDFWozM9dHgVONwJQx3L7cs6TWrDSIu0RdkpAXzaECjwkf5MyKngZClei-mDAe9lCVjEzEfDVMZkUT0eMA3cN0KDQYwUOCJsl5l9f5Sxo/s4032/IMG_1863.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwO6tHPm_sxo3ra-XefdWmkwh1Iyp5WJm2jocc2TwhKzSU58zqclUg4B2r_IaENa7MY2kGVdORubAAm5fDFWozM9dHgVONwJQx3L7cs6TWrDSIu0RdkpAXzaECjwkf5MyKngZClei-mDAe9lCVjEzEfDVMZkUT0eMA3cN0KDQYwUOCJsl5l9f5Sxo/w480-h640/IMG_1863.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">From the faraway family: Kati's family flew down to visit Andrew's parents in June. All four got Covid and had to extend their stay. Ellie celebrated her first birthday while they were there! </span></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkKcVApgJRWIPAcgU07B9DO2XD9agSJtjJLO2lgsRPu8dndkutLYZoFzsUwd2JSYSQ8-rDggk6bphwDJKaJn2rO2HvtMZx_9HZCC04hy1YX3DjJYngB8SoWIWEH7Xtg5_mZbh4PBSNBOI-ks77pA_zMORaxhAYTnxFSrybh2jq3LqDSCAPyModgis/s3300/8.5%20x%2011%20in%20(5).png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3300" data-original-width="2550" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkKcVApgJRWIPAcgU07B9DO2XD9agSJtjJLO2lgsRPu8dndkutLYZoFzsUwd2JSYSQ8-rDggk6bphwDJKaJn2rO2HvtMZx_9HZCC04hy1YX3DjJYngB8SoWIWEH7Xtg5_mZbh4PBSNBOI-ks77pA_zMORaxhAYTnxFSrybh2jq3LqDSCAPyModgis/w494-h640/8.5%20x%2011%20in%20(5).png" width="494" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="font-size: x-large;">~ * ~ * ~ * ~</b></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha-MrgoB2HatlY4KpRf8sgL63ECqs9D6CvHbMjobtjVjDGxH17cwev626BK3uLsBwpaDofpb0-UG1yNpMfr272gdJNd2oOtkdIWEuKirP7sFuvWSh5jkPUDrVOhXoZPdsOQ1WGUE7HKggc8TPEH_Nqdgz5XUoJnr4eWKbYMxHb9VplHsUhUHyrpMY/s2474/IMG_E2783.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2474" data-original-width="1881" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha-MrgoB2HatlY4KpRf8sgL63ECqs9D6CvHbMjobtjVjDGxH17cwev626BK3uLsBwpaDofpb0-UG1yNpMfr272gdJNd2oOtkdIWEuKirP7sFuvWSh5jkPUDrVOhXoZPdsOQ1WGUE7HKggc8TPEH_Nqdgz5XUoJnr4eWKbYMxHb9VplHsUhUHyrpMY/w486-h640/IMG_E2783.jpg" width="486" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: x-large;">July</span><span style="font-size: medium;"> was <a href="http://thinking-about-home.blogspot.com/2022/07/the-habit-of-hospitality.html" target="_blank">Sunday gatherings (x 5)</a> and a <a href="http://thinking-about-home.blogspot.com/2022/07/a-last-minute-trip-and-gracious-hostess.html" target="_blank">little trip</a> with Maddie and Bekah. And more house hunting and home inspections. And more homemade ice cream. It was hanging out with grands, playing games. The annual <a href="http://thinking-about-home.blogspot.com/2022/08/summer-birthday-celebration-2022.html" target="_blank">Summer Birthday Celebration</a> was the month's finale. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIanRmp6Njo_79VUtO8kFvoKPrdUxnxfgBdXYPWsStd8vPZFlihtCC0t-g0Du9rTKKhf6UBKxWHceKIbsVo60h4e3EyMmqE6ikwdAMPyDDY7U46AxAbxNadao0PNdPAYHnPjXz1wG34jmlBP4XyseNmb8l62NvK3WLaeQvsF_PiRKZ8bXDRYnZYf0/s1800/6%20x%204%20in%20(16).png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1800" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIanRmp6Njo_79VUtO8kFvoKPrdUxnxfgBdXYPWsStd8vPZFlihtCC0t-g0Du9rTKKhf6UBKxWHceKIbsVo60h4e3EyMmqE6ikwdAMPyDDY7U46AxAbxNadao0PNdPAYHnPjXz1wG34jmlBP4XyseNmb8l62NvK3WLaeQvsF_PiRKZ8bXDRYnZYf0/w640-h426/6%20x%204%20in%20(16).png" width="640" /></a></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; 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margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvnpiHC6hu_-Qf83uO21h1Vq5ReIawot60IOByPoFH9jE_P4J-jXrm3B67X-ikBW-NAqW3r574tSGhWn93gBjEJxKmJuNF7cAC88-lhWT5Hx08jvbc1yqwEwz3Vm6-nAUchOe1xpLC6nuWXpXNtpH1gydJI9T4kV_mVWObINQbuHlZg7xK6xsbXf8/w480-h640/IMG_2149.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDzSae3eNYAKD4cdr5RAnCfTwLj8fgy3HybimNywFp8HZcybMBNax5omTD3MK3baex5lgRIVD4N7Vnbh7pRXRH7LNhGmjHg9E-Maryqrd9soaATUPkgd0mzlwpk4CsQeEd2G00lIqS7V9a_96_PEXsb1C-nQaBeJz0POV5U5Ty9VbeOPPLVBYk9v0/s4032/IMG_2226.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDzSae3eNYAKD4cdr5RAnCfTwLj8fgy3HybimNywFp8HZcybMBNax5omTD3MK3baex5lgRIVD4N7Vnbh7pRXRH7LNhGmjHg9E-Maryqrd9soaATUPkgd0mzlwpk4CsQeEd2G00lIqS7V9a_96_PEXsb1C-nQaBeJz0POV5U5Ty9VbeOPPLVBYk9v0/w640-h480/IMG_2226.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; 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margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnss6e65hTzRsT7i5GAxFv-voytpZxZAazZRdSQLe8qDgJnMAXRcS7h2ma6E1aDMI1frfz_9WUKvbPr0CdOQUqOSfRs747uCRk3v8nrnny_pknF0YVtlcBr6D0dZ8d68V2DV5_YVdvPgalb7mK2-adi5srpu6o_JEN8Y63JwDPNMeFS3fgrOgESKQ/w480-h640/IMG_E2574.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghUZZmDts5Ahd4YRFLFvdsJxPvxUU708d6GPRuKgR9u8tLuOuzcS9Wo24HktiFjHYEh6vmsi_YXz2OIuhj4lYuXARVKUv4TxJkRy_F2NPSWmQIYLz-zRv8oZTNW1j60VSdyRFiIyGVED3Aj_wmMNKumwZG1VjcKm5-NoLUJiLzi6g-4xWKwc45y3I/s4032/IMG_2768.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghUZZmDts5Ahd4YRFLFvdsJxPvxUU708d6GPRuKgR9u8tLuOuzcS9Wo24HktiFjHYEh6vmsi_YXz2OIuhj4lYuXARVKUv4TxJkRy_F2NPSWmQIYLz-zRv8oZTNW1j60VSdyRFiIyGVED3Aj_wmMNKumwZG1VjcKm5-NoLUJiLzi6g-4xWKwc45y3I/w480-h640/IMG_2768.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD-XmrgBJ1r51W1pCoXYbMIKh_diojEA09NQyh145qjkZ5t-a9IawyXY08G3uCoG0EGsbFAD8xDwEesLcA4j2Xw364vboXGm088ols1kAlJ8XqAqVwKdmhmHv_pl622JXf9Bjg-qd9W0rpwxm6BflLIcl7OhIRHAgs-pQtKoQyUaC3e_MZ1NkncAY/s4032/IMG_2869.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD-XmrgBJ1r51W1pCoXYbMIKh_diojEA09NQyh145qjkZ5t-a9IawyXY08G3uCoG0EGsbFAD8xDwEesLcA4j2Xw364vboXGm088ols1kAlJ8XqAqVwKdmhmHv_pl622JXf9Bjg-qd9W0rpwxm6BflLIcl7OhIRHAgs-pQtKoQyUaC3e_MZ1NkncAY/w480-h640/IMG_2869.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNy4Mpf6dTuVL7yiy2Gfj3BrJuGFMQWZoYkxi32Sw6Jtb0MGDIsuSm2RSX3obvye4jMnXYCCU3sjrINJr4q237pzyTYBBE4shetNEg2WkfHsUxV9ObFKBBvn6r1AloW1i0_mCqlzTz2XMEpYDvAziDVga-hKZOHf4yrvhjqE4sTgZ0zPitq2uUVjs/s4032/IMG_2657.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNy4Mpf6dTuVL7yiy2Gfj3BrJuGFMQWZoYkxi32Sw6Jtb0MGDIsuSm2RSX3obvye4jMnXYCCU3sjrINJr4q237pzyTYBBE4shetNEg2WkfHsUxV9ObFKBBvn6r1AloW1i0_mCqlzTz2XMEpYDvAziDVga-hKZOHf4yrvhjqE4sTgZ0zPitq2uUVjs/w640-h480/IMG_2657.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><span style="font-size: medium;">A little peek at the faraway grands . . . </span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYeq_RazcIrScD9hcu5acP6PkKB-A7SvCB5VYpB7UA2dvwgLcQ6G1pe7o645ujY-Jc69DaKEYVYaL60dBQleYgEX9p3bufLCy9hkhFkquRsT0WXc9CNGNJ5SCzFRDxhydpfVQq4iiDTjEJo1BzThQmmx5NHscADqF6xxH4nkZLTZzmypECJmS7wG0/s1104/IMG_2830.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1104" data-original-width="828" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYeq_RazcIrScD9hcu5acP6PkKB-A7SvCB5VYpB7UA2dvwgLcQ6G1pe7o645ujY-Jc69DaKEYVYaL60dBQleYgEX9p3bufLCy9hkhFkquRsT0WXc9CNGNJ5SCzFRDxhydpfVQq4iiDTjEJo1BzThQmmx5NHscADqF6xxH4nkZLTZzmypECJmS7wG0/w480-h640/IMG_2830.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="font-size: x-large;">~ * ~ * ~ * ~</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic5r_mSIQ2S2TFT16EW6p10jn0azBbTqhwGuoh7aQKivU4_n9liG9NZoCZXuV9LdnkCrYsNMNTNgqDovNgMBkSeyZ8NtOQCmbCqqbm66xgV2SXHlirYorMqXnckO9xG0hwl5Ry-O4dTPWERrOiBfSBKCkpbgNqFKBLHfYMfEtzU0FonJFOPFzeox4/s4032/IMG_3815.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic5r_mSIQ2S2TFT16EW6p10jn0azBbTqhwGuoh7aQKivU4_n9liG9NZoCZXuV9LdnkCrYsNMNTNgqDovNgMBkSeyZ8NtOQCmbCqqbm66xgV2SXHlirYorMqXnckO9xG0hwl5Ry-O4dTPWERrOiBfSBKCkpbgNqFKBLHfYMfEtzU0FonJFOPFzeox4/w480-h640/IMG_3815.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">August </span><span style="font-size: medium;">was a whirlwind!</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Antiquing with Bekah and then with Barbara. </span><i>(I'm planning a separate post to tell you about some special finds!) </i><span style="font-size: medium;"> <a href="http://thinking-about-home.blogspot.com/2022/08/grand-15.html" target="_blank">Adoption Day</a>, at long last! A Grand Game Night. Seven birthdays. Three anniversaries. A move. Ryan and family spending about a week with us between the movers packing up their old house and settlement on their new one. (What a gift that week was!) And then to finish off a crazy month, Covid came to our house. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihtLKU3YOA6SPbQ9p13epOKNglM2AmrXCrCeX_tdUansm3RIxCRUzgLXzDee88LA8qdoDOjtK8vEZiKZ6T7fjK2ePNYX877aQ4LOrIg1xs3ZYG3warAAty6OYHwi4s09YqOvNkeL7zUKDY9C-Q39CfJ6zJOeX-_1ddT4cmCPe6L9OYVZ1sSSa5tl4/s4032/IMG_3034.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihtLKU3YOA6SPbQ9p13epOKNglM2AmrXCrCeX_tdUansm3RIxCRUzgLXzDee88LA8qdoDOjtK8vEZiKZ6T7fjK2ePNYX877aQ4LOrIg1xs3ZYG3warAAty6OYHwi4s09YqOvNkeL7zUKDY9C-Q39CfJ6zJOeX-_1ddT4cmCPe6L9OYVZ1sSSa5tl4/w480-h640/IMG_3034.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXfBDLq7AnLCG0FaxKz7lDdUHdDVpMwtx6XdA5SJUurqDJzrtMZXzYF_VebeOXihXW3Y0p0HXz2G9nLyGqxBgQqJgaCvXbbdqA5Z86cWNTsTR53X9STN6W7up7-44Yiu7LvROer3bjnoata9zb7-zuQYI0UGvYOx2nh0P0xU4IVE16PpNPLX-8NcQ/s4032/IMG_E3056.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXfBDLq7AnLCG0FaxKz7lDdUHdDVpMwtx6XdA5SJUurqDJzrtMZXzYF_VebeOXihXW3Y0p0HXz2G9nLyGqxBgQqJgaCvXbbdqA5Z86cWNTsTR53X9STN6W7up7-44Yiu7LvROer3bjnoata9zb7-zuQYI0UGvYOx2nh0P0xU4IVE16PpNPLX-8NcQ/w640-h480/IMG_E3056.JPG" width="640" /></a><br /><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">A few more precious moments from Adoption Day:</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkT3oTVXD3JklpmKHgOzS0lpifTz5ee4-Noa7U_6XOzg1t1lVSzUZunAsqNr9fj9qylNQaJdbUZ7hJ_DIM5X32XAnoXn18gTLawFuv2lAatA0wXrGb24XkgXxJUqRC3Y2rYwRFDd-hb29xidocsgaAxhmLB_tKSNYgX2IIUunwfe8D2kB3zNuS1Zs/s4032/IMG_3129.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkT3oTVXD3JklpmKHgOzS0lpifTz5ee4-Noa7U_6XOzg1t1lVSzUZunAsqNr9fj9qylNQaJdbUZ7hJ_DIM5X32XAnoXn18gTLawFuv2lAatA0wXrGb24XkgXxJUqRC3Y2rYwRFDd-hb29xidocsgaAxhmLB_tKSNYgX2IIUunwfe8D2kB3zNuS1Zs/w640-h480/IMG_3129.JPG" width="640" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje-ZRJ6lorko7IY-eZ6dmuYiYTRNRIvG4r2gNWBIYJt7J5P0KPyGIxX6rA_Wc-urGb-zcvOYgEg3v18uSafEFO9xGAglOg6BInYqyco35UOMR9ZxUGgetFhQ8XbLBlVdGDO6KWXMB64bg_QvIZwwnVekPKeqs8ScW__wztCB699BkAP-pQ4yLdIfM/s1536/297180557_10160476410008792_1161591690586183698_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="1536" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje-ZRJ6lorko7IY-eZ6dmuYiYTRNRIvG4r2gNWBIYJt7J5P0KPyGIxX6rA_Wc-urGb-zcvOYgEg3v18uSafEFO9xGAglOg6BInYqyco35UOMR9ZxUGgetFhQ8XbLBlVdGDO6KWXMB64bg_QvIZwwnVekPKeqs8ScW__wztCB699BkAP-pQ4yLdIfM/w640-h426/297180557_10160476410008792_1161591690586183698_n.jpg" width="640" /></a><br /><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; 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margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisTS_DITKu4Mnqh4D-CvneUiGBWk8w7r5BFneOgeBH46YMQ3rd8polaYbyUnvzT0rgWPcrui98Y_k9NvudGeNow0KOeO5xDDpFwgeEVbG-SgvDqUbbWXcT1uJevoBCbwxpcHW7NTKf7SR4d9yTMsIMpMTcVzGWai1STX5PArX7YV0Q3rrAaNw8Ins/w480-h640/IMG_3289.JPG" width="480" /></a></span></div></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfmYkCWaRiI5SUd33mYdujK7EktUfVc322xH7mOukew4cw_vpU-LLLlnYrXZeToRq6kQc67l580rIJC9ODcW6tgGUbn6ME_sHBa1Cvc9MrGIlEjmJ8zAel_y2eQZZpnY4oqd6gCJUT0P-w1FFgbOoY5Dbk3SoZptHk0K4TrsSf70RIqS435yjuLcc/s4032/IMG_3390.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfmYkCWaRiI5SUd33mYdujK7EktUfVc322xH7mOukew4cw_vpU-LLLlnYrXZeToRq6kQc67l580rIJC9ODcW6tgGUbn6ME_sHBa1Cvc9MrGIlEjmJ8zAel_y2eQZZpnY4oqd6gCJUT0P-w1FFgbOoY5Dbk3SoZptHk0K4TrsSf70RIqS435yjuLcc/w480-h640/IMG_3390.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibDVvFX3FUvauHizVGHGVOT5P5P9WBPwWh-x4vbxjrb7QfrgpQ9Odl7TUiF3dvyFEFGvGj3eFOBas98fLrdMWSWrWQqfZbbJfv7Y5Sbg8iVpnJze0X6_6hVjSDV938nBRUrQXazlghu-VcFEVmBCUnJxMMkZ9sAyAIqvs2tnx7IWQalm7Dlp-PeTA/s4032/IMG_3404.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibDVvFX3FUvauHizVGHGVOT5P5P9WBPwWh-x4vbxjrb7QfrgpQ9Odl7TUiF3dvyFEFGvGj3eFOBas98fLrdMWSWrWQqfZbbJfv7Y5Sbg8iVpnJze0X6_6hVjSDV938nBRUrQXazlghu-VcFEVmBCUnJxMMkZ9sAyAIqvs2tnx7IWQalm7Dlp-PeTA/w480-h640/IMG_3404.JPG" width="480" /></a><br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSyFN73XsNW1UUw4FoaW38VVV55q02fdxtY73OT_RALVxSMu5PkVGNp4oqWzLR-zY_6EOZjy1vOIyCQn7iWgZWoFAqvv7M5h2EW_MeGoVeS4FC4_A1ICuq3WeIIwmF2J_F4bMTzhPTTFrBqKaZMVA73GxwdQts69O8PRd2LS5E9_TXBdPPqnWqzsE/s1711/5.25%20x%205.25%20in%20(10)%20(1).png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1711" data-original-width="1571" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSyFN73XsNW1UUw4FoaW38VVV55q02fdxtY73OT_RALVxSMu5PkVGNp4oqWzLR-zY_6EOZjy1vOIyCQn7iWgZWoFAqvv7M5h2EW_MeGoVeS4FC4_A1ICuq3WeIIwmF2J_F4bMTzhPTTFrBqKaZMVA73GxwdQts69O8PRd2LS5E9_TXBdPPqnWqzsE/w588-h640/5.25%20x%205.25%20in%20(10)%20(1).png" width="588" /></a></div></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">As I said, the week that Ryan, Sarah, and children spent with us was such a gift.<br />It was a precious time of transition between them being just a few minutes away <br />and being a few hours away.<br />Ron worked at the office. Ryan worked from our house. We ate, played games, drank iced coffee (Sarah brought her homemade concentrate . . . <i>mmmmm</i>), went to the playground, and listened to music. We sang/kissed/hugged babies to bed, had a family shrimp feast, and the cousins created a music video. We celebrated a couple of birthdays, had an afternoon of our own music, singing and playing instruments, drank coffee and tea, talked and talked and laughed and told stories and gave Bekah life advice. <br /><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkNs-Sy9CGsYSMxaoUfqdfqX-IwyNJxKcHK6rQF320b3MI8MfBbKr6oB-TNf6xZUoF29OWb6Fj38JCpx_7pI-2AU2D9yxSES0r01MY1hifoEB9GFOwav3EaQrtJYXcEf3IReLue7-Wng2BT5VogwRx34ii62yjT7IuIWOeuGhWXw6yeOOHeqY3kSg/s4032/IMG_3486.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkNs-Sy9CGsYSMxaoUfqdfqX-IwyNJxKcHK6rQF320b3MI8MfBbKr6oB-TNf6xZUoF29OWb6Fj38JCpx_7pI-2AU2D9yxSES0r01MY1hifoEB9GFOwav3EaQrtJYXcEf3IReLue7-Wng2BT5VogwRx34ii62yjT7IuIWOeuGhWXw6yeOOHeqY3kSg/w480-h640/IMG_3486.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; 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text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQz_S-E2TFEKwzQLFur5aIDTRQiDl0Jqe4XzvuaZq6tA6nAPidzVos62uIV810YHifOgPMC9COBdxUMq4vSyZ7qftF7HhPlZs_nxw7-_M_ZETZCRV7Q89u5trPLjes27h_7pf4MLCFVuZ3DuyhSFxEDJ8dl-wpjaRgTQ8FbbEJZx7azMef9smr12c/s4032/IMG_3767.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQz_S-E2TFEKwzQLFur5aIDTRQiDl0Jqe4XzvuaZq6tA6nAPidzVos62uIV810YHifOgPMC9COBdxUMq4vSyZ7qftF7HhPlZs_nxw7-_M_ZETZCRV7Q89u5trPLjes27h_7pf4MLCFVuZ3DuyhSFxEDJ8dl-wpjaRgTQ8FbbEJZx7azMef9smr12c/w640-h480/IMG_3767.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"><br />* * * * * * * </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiupLfEoYLieHML_Vtf8lY2j0ZH50-pBstj4RdCStgznP-wugiJDheE2zUTve8Xl6tCvqSaaVSPkfzYf5XWuQNOmG-JZozZOXPkjrYNV8-TZEdazJFLh-gh2Pz85CCC0qE8p7NpHkwOxh2tm_XcraGmMva48deV-EIUoqubNtrYSetHldEQQgeiw8U/s4032/IMG_E3323.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiupLfEoYLieHML_Vtf8lY2j0ZH50-pBstj4RdCStgznP-wugiJDheE2zUTve8Xl6tCvqSaaVSPkfzYf5XWuQNOmG-JZozZOXPkjrYNV8-TZEdazJFLh-gh2Pz85CCC0qE8p7NpHkwOxh2tm_XcraGmMva48deV-EIUoqubNtrYSetHldEQQgeiw8U/w480-h640/IMG_E3323.JPG" width="480" /></a><br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOrm_s3EuCJsjP7Cqu3nD39tSsSh9u4fv6yFzTBUDPVpqim4XNgXU47CdkuyC1VSkpbdnQTO6Ct-zJIjPP-CcmeAV-k0XY6RUsayYi_P07F575oGQjogl07NOEHy6oS9W1oLIPqK2CAF1-roa81Iu903OWuG5c9FDTsoxYJqW1P3uoA-KGsimFRwk/s4032/IMG_3875.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOrm_s3EuCJsjP7Cqu3nD39tSsSh9u4fv6yFzTBUDPVpqim4XNgXU47CdkuyC1VSkpbdnQTO6Ct-zJIjPP-CcmeAV-k0XY6RUsayYi_P07F575oGQjogl07NOEHy6oS9W1oLIPqK2CAF1-roa81Iu903OWuG5c9FDTsoxYJqW1P3uoA-KGsimFRwk/w480-h640/IMG_3875.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgExZ23FtTCX7oNqg-puc-6aEZ2YJdQDWiVIQbYKvzNZPAldh1xBoDH-iVbhTZxAX9jSO8h3FY7DpDLU6FUkjqb3WIcODj-362zDtNLsaKKgygZKWMn8rzaZ1GVaVUZ4r4v084KyjxmyLKy-ucoBS1mMGhWDHKae0KE3iqGTXbquBMfgHSYLVtUg0o/s4032/IMG_3995.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgExZ23FtTCX7oNqg-puc-6aEZ2YJdQDWiVIQbYKvzNZPAldh1xBoDH-iVbhTZxAX9jSO8h3FY7DpDLU6FUkjqb3WIcODj-362zDtNLsaKKgygZKWMn8rzaZ1GVaVUZ4r4v084KyjxmyLKy-ucoBS1mMGhWDHKae0KE3iqGTXbquBMfgHSYLVtUg0o/w480-h640/IMG_3995.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Celebrations are low key when there is sickness in the house. <br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirr0x2AR93suCADp-X8ZPdY2OknWMkxeEcEAX-FmP4alF50XRxrHl1g3NlRJa51wqMsgCURQhxcPEL6M_mpwjXdUtayCcEGrRUUJXnCZKYUWBSK0WRWqzqHxjijS6HjdGQvogtweehpSv9j2S2rAAkW3CBlblCJRhjNqkRWaTRiKEcA3ZfoYTeMeY/s4032/IMG_E3979.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirr0x2AR93suCADp-X8ZPdY2OknWMkxeEcEAX-FmP4alF50XRxrHl1g3NlRJa51wqMsgCURQhxcPEL6M_mpwjXdUtayCcEGrRUUJXnCZKYUWBSK0WRWqzqHxjijS6HjdGQvogtweehpSv9j2S2rAAkW3CBlblCJRhjNqkRWaTRiKEcA3ZfoYTeMeY/w480-h640/IMG_E3979.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Poor Bekah was pretty miserable, but there are many reasons to be grateful.<br /><br />1) She did not get sick while Ryan and family were here.<br />2) Her scratchy throat began just before she was going to visit Gammy for her birthday, so she played it safe and did not go.<br />3) She was sick before her college classes began.<br />4) Both Ron and I stayed well.<br /><br />I thank the Lord for all of those things!</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiZ9MnicBk67UZhrJEVD-lO1q57r4o8_0h8b-_mz_sNebvcR_eexGbtLqI4YyRQlg8CoRd77Dyv3LR_Ia8eka_MishRX0gxRy2YI6w6caXPxqQpt52oLFOlbAsfQ2__LiTndjJt9H4A5rBhm8vZPGWOonqpfaayjIimbeEVa1WcdTSLItZFl9eXfY/s4032/IMG_3914.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiZ9MnicBk67UZhrJEVD-lO1q57r4o8_0h8b-_mz_sNebvcR_eexGbtLqI4YyRQlg8CoRd77Dyv3LR_Ia8eka_MishRX0gxRy2YI6w6caXPxqQpt52oLFOlbAsfQ2__LiTndjJt9H4A5rBhm8vZPGWOonqpfaayjIimbeEVa1WcdTSLItZFl9eXfY/w640-h480/IMG_3914.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />An August peek at the faraway grands . . . <br />I grin every time I see this picture that Kati sent me. <br />She said they had been in those cubbies for several minutes! <br />Oh, the cuteness of those four chubby little baby legs!</span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKU_048A3UVRVmW_vBE6Qsndb8c2o3OBAkCn4sp6T362CT2rgoM2sZu-n0CE5q258_CvDRdJxl-kcTdN99Um7uTczjD0FX7EyqXzR8xQ90gC7CPVuuG9rlnta-5Urto3eCYXNnYVZ2nmDcXCg-6nR0drtNVInmMehoAAGNYcvZZGHMVmmUJMmfckM/s4032/IMG_4017.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKU_048A3UVRVmW_vBE6Qsndb8c2o3OBAkCn4sp6T362CT2rgoM2sZu-n0CE5q258_CvDRdJxl-kcTdN99Um7uTczjD0FX7EyqXzR8xQ90gC7CPVuuG9rlnta-5Urto3eCYXNnYVZ2nmDcXCg-6nR0drtNVInmMehoAAGNYcvZZGHMVmmUJMmfckM/w480-h640/IMG_4017.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinFg6L3JQTjAmPtSz8sZfR5ffqtKAZUH9stdmz3O5uGBOL6AQNBKF3Nt4ZlPNtpXz4MMEn59bLpYEJbW13YWJVEyO2biV4RZcXvdIj1IauERP9BJkL9P7EPgg_1fM2kutvlNB7h6NeT1WGptPf7Qycu6APY1Cfi1LJOGA530TH4ujCuq3sUzA6mxc/s1800/6%20x%204%20in%20(17).png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1800" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinFg6L3JQTjAmPtSz8sZfR5ffqtKAZUH9stdmz3O5uGBOL6AQNBKF3Nt4ZlPNtpXz4MMEn59bLpYEJbW13YWJVEyO2biV4RZcXvdIj1IauERP9BJkL9P7EPgg_1fM2kutvlNB7h6NeT1WGptPf7Qycu6APY1Cfi1LJOGA530TH4ujCuq3sUzA6mxc/w640-h426/6%20x%204%20in%20(17).png" width="640" /></a></div></span><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I am going to close this (very long) post with a quote by Elisabeth Elliot.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">It has been on my mind lately and has brought great comfort and stillness to my soul.<br /><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkVJ2CDAzSCWVKroy8NvNnNftvUVBa89Eg44DUtGXH3Oygz4VSaG60ZYbXtbrXT7GgXf_po5cY0t0C6qeGd3GCUSTKs8x-nOThnZJz1-8KRq2uXyxXKAfzTZRC9AiXuCZRUac6D6HnSkYB1l5VU3i8kMYp-3ZnQER0H3bfGy3tTN9MxmYpjJ6AdMA/s1500/3.5%20x%205%20in%20(1).png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1050" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkVJ2CDAzSCWVKroy8NvNnNftvUVBa89Eg44DUtGXH3Oygz4VSaG60ZYbXtbrXT7GgXf_po5cY0t0C6qeGd3GCUSTKs8x-nOThnZJz1-8KRq2uXyxXKAfzTZRC9AiXuCZRUac6D6HnSkYB1l5VU3i8kMYp-3ZnQER0H3bfGy3tTN9MxmYpjJ6AdMA/w448-h640/3.5%20x%205%20in%20(1).png" width="448" /></a></div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><br /><br /></div>Cheryl http://www.blogger.com/profile/00063844335185525553noreply@blogger.com16