tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28540064026160104222024-02-21T12:22:15.900-05:00Counting Your Blessings One By OneBlessing Counterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09464499449142181452noreply@blogger.comBlogger422125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2854006402616010422.post-47199843055818377952019-01-25T16:54:00.000-05:002019-01-25T16:54:46.018-05:00Golden Hour Memories<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
It's called the "magic hour"</div>
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Before the sun sinks low</div>
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When everything is bathed</div>
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In a warm, golden glow</div>
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Colours look much richer</div>
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Flowers, more velveteen</div>
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And a country garden</div>
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Is a haven of green</div>
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The dragonflies hover</div>
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As light glints on their wings</div>
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Tree frogs start their chorus</div>
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And sing of peaceful things</div>
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~ Kathy Figueroa </div>
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FINALLY posting these photos of a truly amazing girl and friend of mine. She has a truly beautiful heart - and a beautiful smile to match! I have to admit, golden hour photo shoots are my absolute favourite with all that beautiful warm light shining around us. She was a complete natural in front of the camera and yep there were plenty of laughs throughout this. Thankful for memories and friends like these!đâ </div>
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<br />Blessing Counterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09464499449142181452noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2854006402616010422.post-78042040173207366632019-01-04T08:43:00.002-05:002019-01-04T08:43:38.286-05:00Dear 2018<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Ok so I'm going to be completely honest. Writing this post was a bit challenging and at one point, I was on the verge of giving up. I kept getting stuck and I couldn't figure out why until I realized that I was trying to write about the whole entire year of 2018 in one post. Once that finally hit I was just completely overwhelmed. Because 2018 has been b.u.s.y. Physically, emotionally, mentally, spiritually...the whole lot of 'em. I also have trouble writing more "serious" posts because I either ramble or feel like giving up cause it just doesn't sound like me at all. Add on top of that the fact that I have to be kind of vague (I still go under a pseudonym for goodness' sake) and it gets quite crazy. So! I have decided I'd just tackle a part of my year instead of attempting the whole 365 days of 2018. Here goes...</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6FD1e_rdoktC2hy_1oHHQ_BhVjqvF54WImJd7hwJlER_BltXCJcAvvjS8P5x8dpNpLCHn2MynCF3OZZ1SXqmxBRUzK2tvh-8kuaPYJ_gr3rYifo5ZC9494Mw3hAntTZMC83lchaOmrHZq/s1600/Dear+2018+%25281%2529.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="315" data-original-width="560" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6FD1e_rdoktC2hy_1oHHQ_BhVjqvF54WImJd7hwJlER_BltXCJcAvvjS8P5x8dpNpLCHn2MynCF3OZZ1SXqmxBRUzK2tvh-8kuaPYJ_gr3rYifo5ZC9494Mw3hAntTZMC83lchaOmrHZq/s1600/Dear+2018+%25281%2529.png" /></a></div>
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Wow. It's hard to believe you have finally come to an end. I had mixed feelings about saying goodbye to you honestly. You were one of the worst years of my life...and yet at the same time, you were one of the best.</div>
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I've learned a lot. I've learned that a smile can hide a breaking heart, but I also know that it's one of the most awful feelings a person could ever experience. I've learned that people come and go but it's when people give up and leave that you see who you can truly trust. I've learned that life is not always black and white (much as I sometimes wish it could be) and we need to find a way to see through the grey. I've cried so hard I thought my heart was going to burst into a million pieces. I've despaired and fallen into darkness that I thought was impossible to escape. There is so much pain and hurt and confusion...but there is also clarity.<br />
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On Christmas Eve a man asked me if I was happy. I almost broke down right there in our church lobby. Because it made me realize that no, I'm not happy. I'm hurting. It wasn't all "merry". But you know what? That is completely, totally, absolutely ok. It's ok to hurt. It's ok to have pain. You don't have to be happy just because people expect you to be happy. And I mean, trust me, I <i>was</i> happy about the meaning of Christmas. I am thankful that Christ came to earth in human form to save us from our sins and to give us the gift of salvation and eternal life. But there can be pain with joy. One of the most important things I learned this semester at school is that lament is part of wisdom. Lament. Pain. Hurt. It's ok to ask why. To cry out to God and demand why, why was life this way? Why did it have to be so hard? Why can't it be some other way? Just why, why, why?<br />
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I've messed up. I've made mistakes. I've been broken. But despite all the challenges you held, 2018, it's taught me so many things. I've learned to view things from a different perspective. I've learned that there really is such a thing as unconditional love. I've learned more about what true friendships actually look like. I've seen first-hand people my own age on fire for God and honestly, I admire them so much. I've learned that opening up with people helps SO much. Along with truth and understanding comes clarity. And with clarity comes well - changes. And confusion, strangely enough. It's hard to figure out what to do when you want to be respectful but at the same time, you want to be able to do what you believe God is calling you to do. There's going to be trouble and conflict ahead, I'm fairly certain. I don't know what 2019 holds for me, but I suspect it's going to be hard. And I only pray that God gives me the strength to do what's right. There will be changes. Many, many changes. </div>
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Life is hard. And you've definitely shown me that. And I know that life is only going to get harder. But I know that along with the darkness comes light. No matter how hard it gets, there's always gonna be hope in something better. No matter how hard life may break me, I'm still gonna get back up again because this life is SO worth living. Not for myself, but for the one and only God of the universe.<br />
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"Now I'm just a beggar in the presence of a King</div>
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I wish I could bring so much more</div>
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But if it's trueYou use broken things</div>
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Then here I am, Lord, I'm All Yours"</div>
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"Broken Things" - Matthew West</div>
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Dear 2018...<br />
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Thank you. </div>
Blessing Counterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09464499449142181452noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2854006402616010422.post-16392621869469867102018-12-14T14:54:00.001-05:002018-12-14T14:58:12.148-05:00College Life<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKmpAP6JlWoLufU9kB0z-VYHhxYfyaUi2DuTJqPpEN1YOA4voyPzRom5WeLxk-0t4CDka-nNN8HvqXMwNDhxEoJdUKFDZa9990oIjtVix_0ooei2VhsVKC5NcA7F8wEpienrPp26-B9Des/s1600/College+Life.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="315" data-original-width="560" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKmpAP6JlWoLufU9kB0z-VYHhxYfyaUi2DuTJqPpEN1YOA4voyPzRom5WeLxk-0t4CDka-nNN8HvqXMwNDhxEoJdUKFDZa9990oIjtVix_0ooei2VhsVKC5NcA7F8wEpienrPp26-B9Des/s1600/College+Life.png" /></a></div>
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Hey! Ok so my goal was to try and post at least every month...but hehehehe you can see how well that worked. In my defence, I've had a <i>lot</i> of school. And I mean, yes, I know that everyone has a lot of homework, high school or college. But uh yeah. The average course load for a full time student is 3-4 courses or 12 credits. I have 9 courses equalling 19.5 credits. NINE. Life of a music student y'all đđ</div>
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But! School has been pretty amazing and I've been learning a ton. Literally ;) </div>
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My courses this semester have been as follows:</div>
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<b><span style="color: #cc0000;">Two Applied Music Lessons ~ </span></b>these were vocal lessons and because of the certificate I was in, I had to take two. So yeah. Also, it was sooo encouraging to learn that I was the only in that program and no one else was because it was the harder one. Greeeeeeaaaattt :P </div>
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<span style="color: orange; font-weight: bold;">Large Ensemble I and II ~ </span>so much singing! and so much music to learn! We ended up having so much going on in choir, my music professor decided it was enough content for two semesters instead of one. It's been a pretty fun experience though. In October, the choir went to New York to sing at Carnegie Hall (more on this later ^_^) and then in early December, we had four concerts over the span of two days. (also more on this later ;))</div>
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<span style="color: #38761d;"><b>Contemporary Music and Performance Practice ~ </b></span>well...not really much to say about this. Except that it was very long and was mainly learning about genres of music. It was also a night class and yeah. I'll leave it at that. However, I DO have to do a presentation on Monday and I'm looking forward to that because it's gonna be on country music and I love country :D)</div>
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<b><span style="color: #0b5394;">Introduction to the Old Testament</span> ~ </b>had to read the whole Old Testament in 12 weeks. TWELVE WEEKS. And yes. Everything. Leviticus, 1+2 Chronicles, Isaiah, Jeremiah, the whole shebang. And that's not including the really really thick textbook that gave me about a 100 pages of joy every week. (Ok actually though, the textbook was really interesting) And I did learn a lot and was probably one of my favourite classes because the professor was just amazing and made all his lessons so intriguing. </div>
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<span style="color: #351c75;"><b>Hermeneutics ~ </b></span>basically just learning how to interpret the Bible. And make lots of observations. Like...lots. </div>
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<b><span style="color: #a64d79;">Christian Formation ~ </span></b>A mini-course on living life to the fullest as a Christian. Actually had already done a lot of the stuff that was taught here...budgeting, scheduling, managing time, avoiding procrastination, etc. But we got to do some community work which was really fun (including carolling!!!) and I'm looking forward to doing more next semester! </div>
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<span style="color: #cc0000;"><b>Music Fundamentals III ~ </b></span>HAHAHAHAHAHA. OK. This course was...INTERESTING. I mean, I learned a lot, that's for sure. But my first class I just sat there with basically 3/4 of the content going over my head. And then I found out that it was a second-year course. And that there was a Music Fundamentals I and II that came before III. Makes sense I guess. Except that I hadn't taken those courses because <i>apparently</i> my theory scores were high enough for me to skip I and go into III. And yet <i>somehow</i> I could barely keep up with what was going on. And II was for ear training and sight singing. Hehe. Also hadn't taken that. Imagine my shock when my teacher gave me a sheet of music and said "Ok sing this out loud using solfege!" Soooo yeahhhh...this course was definitely a learning experience. But! I have survived it and completed it so YAY!</div>
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Anywayyyy...here's a look at the past four months through some pictures ^_^ </div>
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// Studying đ</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG-cwRmd662-UPgdlj88-XR5J4ijayi9D6uNOAFdEUXn4QHZXoGSHaOuqUVYmBfQCVb5FElQVmVsMYgN7DCiIxB9AH3B1bNXUmBRPhXdIpcWk834QbXwYpjcbwkUDMnai_1exFtQYJRpgr/s1600/Screen+Shot+2018-12-14+at+9.27.51+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="445" data-original-width="679" height="418" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG-cwRmd662-UPgdlj88-XR5J4ijayi9D6uNOAFdEUXn4QHZXoGSHaOuqUVYmBfQCVb5FElQVmVsMYgN7DCiIxB9AH3B1bNXUmBRPhXdIpcWk834QbXwYpjcbwkUDMnai_1exFtQYJRpgr/s640/Screen+Shot+2018-12-14+at+9.27.51+AM.png" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY9QjMr-q8Z-l7ixBW8inEHcfn5UNeI3VrPJzhCzcekpeNoBjShDjv893cBWUSIjeZ1EgqnTA5G-D7UzHwy5XlAZJ4F4t9WGCUybZuxBLKtbXYIjBXW2SysuIJWjERzwfiRoeOXqwGN0UN/s1600/Screen+Shot+2018-12-14+at+9.28.51+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="439" data-original-width="990" height="282" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY9QjMr-q8Z-l7ixBW8inEHcfn5UNeI3VrPJzhCzcekpeNoBjShDjv893cBWUSIjeZ1EgqnTA5G-D7UzHwy5XlAZJ4F4t9WGCUybZuxBLKtbXYIjBXW2SysuIJWjERzwfiRoeOXqwGN0UN/s640/Screen+Shot+2018-12-14+at+9.28.51+AM.png" width="640" /></a></div>
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// New York!</div>
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Super amazing experience although yeah, I'm not meant to live in the city. Too much stuff going on. And so many people. It's crazy. But we got to go to Central Park, walk through some rather expensive stores (Tiffany's is craaaazy), go to a street food market thingy at night <i>and</i> go to Times Square at night. And then the highlight of the trip...Carnegie Hall! It was so much fun and the architect of the building was breathtaking. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCRzqEas6cXEmN-BQYBLqpaeZNJQhiy2HptkXP1J4e57EJRKL3Lxcepg3amLJlTQxR0qNaybeHN1Z1tdcv91154PI22OxUxBlbNCZbjGRAAnRrPJYmcpZj0_Oq5ARhJ0mkeuiHsOpHCKWn/s1600/IMG_4905.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCRzqEas6cXEmN-BQYBLqpaeZNJQhiy2HptkXP1J4e57EJRKL3Lxcepg3amLJlTQxR0qNaybeHN1Z1tdcv91154PI22OxUxBlbNCZbjGRAAnRrPJYmcpZj0_Oq5ARhJ0mkeuiHsOpHCKWn/s400/IMG_4905.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj67M6UcH6WWXmWeugGsFZWe2XfNR3nG4KF1dbhd8JHP3-asv4StgMwh8nnYDd_mZX2qajBq51VojHXuQPBuIZPiqSZZ4fZLoXPsO0CVMYUPWKb1RT_5XMQ6kD7m3xXwK6gQ8NpRA2-iZ5O/s1600/IMG_5131.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="539" data-original-width="720" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj67M6UcH6WWXmWeugGsFZWe2XfNR3nG4KF1dbhd8JHP3-asv4StgMwh8nnYDd_mZX2qajBq51VojHXuQPBuIZPiqSZZ4fZLoXPsO0CVMYUPWKb1RT_5XMQ6kD7m3xXwK6gQ8NpRA2-iZ5O/s640/IMG_5131.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our College Choir!</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwVVaG9mOvV8V0ACuzROKA49EjcLQDobFgJZySRytgxMWF1svXzJrmbSnr1CHo5rLNcuss5duGWUgAPJOGYTHpd-WZGz3Dzg3JdAojC03gi9zISxYJB3QratBoCvrRJ2r_FK_BKvvK8f_N/s1600/IMG_4976.jpg" imageanchor="1" 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/AVvXsEjwVVaG9mOvV8V0ACuzROKA49EjcLQDobFgJZySRytgxMWF1svXzJrmbSnr1CHo5rLNcuss5duGWUgAPJOGYTHpd-WZGz3Dzg3JdAojC03gi9zISxYJB3QratBoCvrRJ2r_FK_BKvvK8f_N/s640/IMG_4976.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-Sps2NHcScdoHU9G2A-musDVLzcNIk5dV8NvE_GqouPHQNktRs6KLEVYkZxrxvezJnisPq0bRY4RG6DF2uNu2UlEmDKu3dFXlFsbtcTt5DPB3YMwSHaDdtYqgLXIGPv8QUEqxxvwciBcV/s1600/IMG_5002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-Sps2NHcScdoHU9G2A-musDVLzcNIk5dV8NvE_GqouPHQNktRs6KLEVYkZxrxvezJnisPq0bRY4RG6DF2uNu2UlEmDKu3dFXlFsbtcTt5DPB3YMwSHaDdtYqgLXIGPv8QUEqxxvwciBcV/s640/IMG_5002.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9A6l7ygfZYI48t0Ow47feyXcKPfR8xBfa-0H_tYIJjzmWtDvGYoVWzKmrgdRvHy8oledbZhtQncZMqXeDtZL1lrty38-JJclpYIlsnjaOteC4ydplwXTagohn6Ed3LY_xyUAsqiPj0hCV/s1600/IMG_5130.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9A6l7ygfZYI48t0Ow47feyXcKPfR8xBfa-0H_tYIJjzmWtDvGYoVWzKmrgdRvHy8oledbZhtQncZMqXeDtZL1lrty38-JJclpYIlsnjaOteC4ydplwXTagohn6Ed3LY_xyUAsqiPj0hCV/s640/IMG_5130.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2DS5dn7TNl5ESuDCDnN5JkkZ7FT-QS3g8RnaCwg-JlMEmL43M8Im508RV7enxVio8ckT-smkjReYa8rJeBAyLZKY6kXo547PGCvQ-cAz9sXbyR8bMSKRGxrVFcPezYSlKXhc6PdP8SvTW/s1600/IMG_5102.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1066" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2DS5dn7TNl5ESuDCDnN5JkkZ7FT-QS3g8RnaCwg-JlMEmL43M8Im508RV7enxVio8ckT-smkjReYa8rJeBAyLZKY6kXo547PGCvQ-cAz9sXbyR8bMSKRGxrVFcPezYSlKXhc6PdP8SvTW/s640/IMG_5102.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Following 2 photos are not mine and were taken by a professional photographer :D</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6N5ZvbMY59_2GdaJ8N6saQpQb7S7hRG17YFLpnFUCO8KzR643Q2IpmR6eXkCSimF7n1KunuWVE4CMJQibm310q6azX-8S1XHSBGlQ4KYq9bKUSXRgpa0VdLUHWPhNBGOZkau8vWJq8LsT/s1600/IMG_5105.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6N5ZvbMY59_2GdaJ8N6saQpQb7S7hRG17YFLpnFUCO8KzR643Q2IpmR6eXkCSimF7n1KunuWVE4CMJQibm310q6azX-8S1XHSBGlQ4KYq9bKUSXRgpa0VdLUHWPhNBGOZkau8vWJq8LsT/s640/IMG_5105.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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After the performance at Carnegie, the choir and orchestra were taken on a dinner cruise and it was so. much. fun. We passed the Statue of Liberty and the Brooklyn Bridge and eeks walking on the top deck with the wind blowing in our faces was amaaaazing.<br />
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//Babysitting<br />
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Cause I mean...I can't go without kids y'all. I sometimes scare my roommate by coming into our room and randomly saying out loud "I want a baby" :P But yeah anyway, I ended up babysitting for one of the seminary students who attend the same college I do and my first time was so much fun. I carved pumpkins for the first time, although I was a little taken aback by all the teeth I had to cut out for one of them :P I love the kids to bits and the parents are absolutely amazing, godly people who are honestly just a huge blessing in my life.<br />
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// Reading Week + Midterms </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLEKzmqT28lTuscxZK_dv2rQTuI3dtYrNas77Lf1-yk_XQXowGLx52tphBbCHwNG6hhQ1AULXgOyydqmB8xISh0CTt681AFQj3204MnB1KnfBtF9o_36Rrn9w513xvJfMOTfI9Ip05RiJ8/s1600/Screen+Shot+2018-12-14+at+9.29.32+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="493" data-original-width="548" height="574" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLEKzmqT28lTuscxZK_dv2rQTuI3dtYrNas77Lf1-yk_XQXowGLx52tphBbCHwNG6hhQ1AULXgOyydqmB8xISh0CTt681AFQj3204MnB1KnfBtF9o_36Rrn9w513xvJfMOTfI9Ip05RiJ8/s640/Screen+Shot+2018-12-14+at+9.29.32+AM.png" width="640" /></a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Having fun with filters xD</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lookit all those notes :O </td></tr>
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I had been warned by some second-year students that the Hermeneutics midterm exam was one of the hardest exams ever so I tried to be as prepared as I could. I ended up memorizing all eight lectures word for word. My brain was absolutely fried at the end of it, but during the exam, I honestly just flew through it :P </div>
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// Community Work</div>
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Part of one of my courses is to do community work, so the class is basically split into groups and then assigned certain areas of the village nearby to care for and witness to. We did a food drive in early November and it was quite the experience. Some of it was very encouraging, other times, not so much but all in all it was really fun and a great way to bond with the rest of my group as well. </div>
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// Christmas Banquet</div>
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This is an annual event the college holds every November and goodness was it fun! I wore heels for the first time and can you believe it...didn't break an ankle!! xD</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiAYAx1uTr1lmuz2IYN__G2G1QJ6QFfP0Jq-airYsDfgNSik8-Ui4y0VcmpswjYZpAxTvY0MSwAwz30hPEg_YLOWhD2BrpWYFNN5GtKlRuroIv0m-EJoXbrwSZbr-SOPG4LW6_1RZzcgUd/s1600/JJVV9566.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiAYAx1uTr1lmuz2IYN__G2G1QJ6QFfP0Jq-airYsDfgNSik8-Ui4y0VcmpswjYZpAxTvY0MSwAwz30hPEg_YLOWhD2BrpWYFNN5GtKlRuroIv0m-EJoXbrwSZbr-SOPG4LW6_1RZzcgUd/s640/JJVV9566.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My Parakaleo Group</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmpcOyFTh7pzOJ63Rlya0mphhdjV5JV5IaSru7RsNO9s9_fLOkIAb0n4soempNPVvHAydTiFfu5HKIF9gj1RBpg_i2pZC8p7WNufXrFQHxvHMkGkjnlDX4tm0OGSiMjMYoEdVwt79AR4W3/s1600/NKQB5077.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmpcOyFTh7pzOJ63Rlya0mphhdjV5JV5IaSru7RsNO9s9_fLOkIAb0n4soempNPVvHAydTiFfu5HKIF9gj1RBpg_i2pZC8p7WNufXrFQHxvHMkGkjnlDX4tm0OGSiMjMYoEdVwt79AR4W3/s640/NKQB5077.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">All my roomies đ</td></tr>
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// Christmas Concert(s)<br />
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The college choir had been practising for this event since the middle of October and the closer to the date of the concerts, the more intense practice became. It was a really big event at my music professor's church and normally all four concerts were always sold out, which meant there were a couple thousand or more people coming every year. The last week before the concert, we had rehearsals on Sunday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and then two concerts on Saturday and two concerts on Sunday. It was craaazy. There was sooo much singing I thought I was going to lose my voice. Weirdly enough, it ended up strengthening my voice instead and on Monday during my vocal lesson, my teacher and I were both surprised to find that I could still sing :P<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Love this girl đ</td></tr>
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// MY FIRST PAID GIG</div>
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Ok so I was soooo excited to find a PM asking if I was able to play at a Christmas banquet with one of the college graduates at a church nearby. It was very last minute and I only had one night to learn six Christmas songs (which happen to have chords at every single beat, but I found a way around it xD) but it was so much fun! I know I made a ton of mistakes, especially when I was nervous, but it was a great experience and people were very forgiving. And Julia, the one singing, was amaaaazing. Honestly, she has an incredible voice and it was so exciting getting to perform with her. Definitely made a lot of memories that night! </div>
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// Finals<br />
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My dear, dear sister gave me this box to help me through finals. Isn't she the sweetest? đđ<br />
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I caved and bought ice cream and consoled myself with it during studying because well - it was just necessary xD </div>
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Aaaannd yesterday, I had my LAST exam and it was the hardest but I finished it and I'm still alive and AHHHHH I'M DONE THE SEMESTER. So so so so SO so so so happy!!!! And then we made spaghetti and got people over to share it with and it actually tasted good and *happy sigh* it was a nice way to end the semester.<br />
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Honestly, this semester has been amazing even though at times it was so crazy busy I didn't think I could do it anymore. Work was relentless and never ended...until now. And boy oh boy. The feeling of no homework is AWESOME. I'm so thankful to God that I was given the opportunity to come here and I'm hoping I can continue it the next few years, but even if I don't, I'll still be glad for the memories I made here. I'm not the most extroverted person and tend to stay in my room a lot - partly because I'm an introvert and also because honestly, I had SO much homework :P I've learned so much and the people here are amazing. The relationships I've formed here are precious and they've taught me so much about life, God, and myself. I've found clarity where before all I could see was a tangled mess of pain and depression. I've found love and understanding and endless encouragement and support. They're amazing and I don't ever want to leave them đ</div>
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But for now, we're all gonna take a nice Christmas break with NO SCHOOL and it's going to be absolutely positively amazing. </div>
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Now for home and the holidays!đâ</div>
Blessing Counterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09464499449142181452noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2854006402616010422.post-25693597690881393122018-09-04T16:30:00.002-04:002018-09-04T16:30:46.729-04:00C.O.L.L.E.G.E.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Y'all. You are now looking at a brand new, super nervous, super excited, kinda confuzzled, (and still crazy) college student (ok so this picture was taken <i>before</i> college but honestly not much has changed besides the fact that my arms are scarred all the way up to my elbows with blisters and burns from an evil garden of parsnips...but yeah that's a whole 'nother story) </div>
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But yeah...the next step in my life began yesterday when I began moving my life into a dorm room.</div>
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I feel like everything went by in a blur though - one minute there was a stack of boxes in my room and the next I was pinning the last couple pictures to my wall. I love how small the college is though. It's just like this super awesome community where I'm pretty sure everyone will probably know everyone else by next week - two weeks latest. And everyone is so very welcoming. One of the funniest moments of yesterday was backing up in front of the dorm and then having this swarm of people in blue shirts suddenly opening the trunk of the car and just grabbing ALL my stuff and carrying it away to my dorm with no explanation at all. Nice but totally unexpected. </div>
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Then there came the unpacking which went by super fast thanks to my mom, sister, and dorm mate/friend. My shelf was instantly filled with textbooks and an overabundance of super pretty notebooks. And then of <i>course</i> the pictures and other delightful whatnot to make everything more homey and cozy and lovely. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB5HtQwaj-HX3FgQxSJkcR2wlDjK_ixFqz-CYNuV4Iv6ZKzoXcPsxTLrbPv8jZirI5X-aJXmrweFpr38v6qQaMrC3epoLeYM13oQN1TAbCZJSyUP_wmcVt3a8l4Rg3hgTqKkoLQJHAscr0/s1600/IMG_4707.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB5HtQwaj-HX3FgQxSJkcR2wlDjK_ixFqz-CYNuV4Iv6ZKzoXcPsxTLrbPv8jZirI5X-aJXmrweFpr38v6qQaMrC3epoLeYM13oQN1TAbCZJSyUP_wmcVt3a8l4Rg3hgTqKkoLQJHAscr0/s400/IMG_4707.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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Ahhhh and the kitchen! While ok more the DISHES. I went shopping for college stuff with my two besties and thrift stores are AMAZING. Like - just hands down awesome. I've always wanted to fill my own little house with dishes and stuff and I kinda got the chance to do that with my dorm room. So we went to the thrift store and came back with a box packed full of stuff - all for under $20! There were these super cute yellow plates that were 5 for a $1...and then super cute mugs for like 25 cents each and a casserole dish and ramekins and spoons and knives and forks and yeahhh it was awesome. Wasn't able to take a picture of everything but here's some of the stuff:</div>
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And chocolate. So much chocolate. Bars of chocolate, candied chocolates, chocolate chip granola bars, huge can of hot chocolate, chocolate ice cream, Nutella...I think you might get the point. Lots and lots of very delicious chocolate. I have amazing friends and family, you guys xD<br />
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Oh my goodness you guys. Ok so at lunch...there was this ADORABLE 7 week old puppy. And I held him and he was wrapped up in my flannel shirt and HE WAS SO CUTE. I really really want a puppy â¤ď¸<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMEZYjAJrjlePELNoc6pL-wBtf1zV_QsjFayTB6czd6YhCPvims_cEG6uy3f_WtA6_uLjg-seTiy0GL2JLgBI1LDUiW72rhyphenhyphen-8FMfp0CuaGsEbF4zACJ43xAHG8IKeD1I7dSrqQ2Z5uXmj/s1600/IMG_4713.jpg" imageanchor="1" 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/AVvXsEiMEZYjAJrjlePELNoc6pL-wBtf1zV_QsjFayTB6czd6YhCPvims_cEG6uy3f_WtA6_uLjg-seTiy0GL2JLgBI1LDUiW72rhyphenhyphen-8FMfp0CuaGsEbF4zACJ43xAHG8IKeD1I7dSrqQ2Z5uXmj/s640/IMG_4713.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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Aaaand of course this super special girl who has supported me basically my whole life and who helped to unpack all my stuff and then hid a box full of awesomeness and notes that made me laugh so hard. Yes we cried. I mean, we tried not to. But then she did when we said goodbye and then I couldn't hold it back anymore and yeah we cried in the middle of the parking lot. I mean, it's hard! How do you <i>not</i> cry when you don't get to live with your best friend after like...her whole life?? Botheration now I'm starting to cry writing this :P I'm very much so gonna miss her...but we're gonna keep in touch as much as possible. Thank goodness for technology. And weekends!!!! </div>
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Honestly...I still feel the same. I've just kinda been plopped into a new place and room...but it's still me. Which is a good thing I think :P I dunno...I thought I'd feel like some kind of college student but don't know what that feels like - or if that even is a thing. I just feel like...me :P </div>
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Despite all the confuzzledness I feel though, I DO know that I'm thankful for this opportunity and I'm excited to see what God has in store for me in this stage of my life. </div>
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No clue whatsoever what life is going to be like now...but I'm trusting the Lord with it all. Every class, every person, every day and every night - every single step of the way, He's in control of it all. (and yeah I need to keep reminding myself of that ;)) </div>
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Happy school year everyone! đ</div>
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Blessing Counterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09464499449142181452noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2854006402616010422.post-69773817608700458032018-08-09T18:15:00.000-04:002018-08-09T18:15:22.154-04:00Choosing Joy<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
I'm tired. I never fully understood the whole "emotional rollercoaster" thing until this year. Cause oh boy. It's funny how you can feel on top of the world one day and then down in the deepest, darkest depths of despair the next. I thought I had cried the hardest I could possibly cry one day - and then cried even harder the next.</div>
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I overthink things. I question my motives, my decisions, and am always second guessing myself. Take the past two days for example. I feel like I went through a bunch of odds and ends jobs that were almost back-to-back to each other the entire day. And I'm hoping I was doing that because I truly wanted to help people. But what if I was doing it just to keep myself busy and not let myself sink into that dark depression again? Or the next morning, I woke up fairly early and got right into my day - but doing a lot more than I usually do. Did my devotions, then ate breakfast (since I don't normally eat breakfast that's actually kind of a weirdly big deal for me), took Maple for a walk on the road (I like never do that), read a book by the Girl Defined gals, started to go on the computer to scroll through social media, but suddenly decided to read through a whole container of books with my baby sister instead (also hardly ever do that), emptied the dishwasher (one of my brothers' chores), and then drove to change bunkies at a neighbours'. When I got home, I read an entire book then fell asleep - and woke up crying because I finally remembered what I had dreamt about the night before. You know those dreams where it just <i>hurts</i> and then when you finally wake up you're so relieved that it was just a dream and not real? Yeah, one of those. And when I finally sat down and let my mind think - yep. Now it's bugging me that the reason I actually did all those things that morning was not that I wanted to be involved in my family life and be a help - but rather because I was unconsciously trying to forget that dream.<br />
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I almost feel like that's what I've been doing all summer. Working, trying to keep busy, desperately searching and finding things to do to keep my mind on anything and everything but the thing that will drag me down. Hoping that maybe if I stay busy enough I'll forget, that the pain will go away, that it won't hurt anymore, that the ache will fade. And sometimes I feel like it's working - but then one thought and I come crashing back down again.<br />
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But, praise the Lord, I'm learning.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvJ84_LGJlb6eSv8eMe0DItG3qluNZtsBVXsf0RMttJgRUY2H29GKVFZlNdwiPJCWuxvgDvLHbWkBGcHmewlteDBS3ewL-VDHnvFb5IpsPyGs9HJb-uxPcsjrZGRO7WgBBQGuSErDLQAzJ/s1600/Choosing+Joydeals%2521+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" data-original-height="315" data-original-width="560" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvJ84_LGJlb6eSv8eMe0DItG3qluNZtsBVXsf0RMttJgRUY2H29GKVFZlNdwiPJCWuxvgDvLHbWkBGcHmewlteDBS3ewL-VDHnvFb5IpsPyGs9HJb-uxPcsjrZGRO7WgBBQGuSErDLQAzJ/s1600/Choosing+Joydeals%2521+%25281%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Enter that thing called Choosing Joy. Possibly one of the hardest yet best choices any person could make. Because when I decide to follow joy, my mind is directed onto something else. It doesn't make me forget the worries and problems of life - but it helps me find a way to deal with them.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieaf6J1XCeHwCKvr9lnLJ4JFvbTC7GgHVrUGkYzPjhIRUpA1NY3ZEFq8R0fOljdjMgKTmG2tAgTGmPr_jhxFHcS8G47PIT4mn3BQHnvxcoV-uBilC7j0yDo0rbmtFlppDI6M-5bQsI20_1/s1600/IMG_4262.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="802" data-original-width="620" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieaf6J1XCeHwCKvr9lnLJ4JFvbTC7GgHVrUGkYzPjhIRUpA1NY3ZEFq8R0fOljdjMgKTmG2tAgTGmPr_jhxFHcS8G47PIT4mn3BQHnvxcoV-uBilC7j0yDo0rbmtFlppDI6M-5bQsI20_1/s400/IMG_4262.JPG" width="308" /></a></div>
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Happiness is not the same thing as joy. Why? Because <u>joy does not depend on the circumstance</u>. If you're reading this, you probably know how difficult it can be to choose joy in the middle of a hard time. How, at some points, it would be so much easier to just give in to the feelings and stop fighting those tiring mind battles and just sink. But I'm telling you right now, as someone who's gone through it and someone who still is going through stuff - it IS possible to choose joy right smack in the middle of the problem. No matter how hard the circumstance.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigkLn_im7AsbykGfLFyH9rzpirOXQGnpka43mMtY7Las9M4A4LDf3PJVlS_VH_69sSzIbeB-ffvH8UlXh3Zs2fFupAdwKkzvr3nGIwBgsUelWq27jMr57RVk1sOaV8hirX72z4U0AY75K9/s1600/Add+heading.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="789" data-original-width="940" height="332" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigkLn_im7AsbykGfLFyH9rzpirOXQGnpka43mMtY7Las9M4A4LDf3PJVlS_VH_69sSzIbeB-ffvH8UlXh3Zs2fFupAdwKkzvr3nGIwBgsUelWq27jMr57RVk1sOaV8hirX72z4U0AY75K9/s400/Add+heading.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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I'm not going to pretend that choosing joy - and continuing to choose joy - is easy. It's not. I mean, when everything's going all fine and dandy then yeah, of course, it's easy to be joyful. But when times are hard? When everything seems to be falling apart? When you feel like you're sinking into a black hole? Proclaiming joy - pure, 100% joy - is <i>not</i> easy.<br />
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Even if you're able to somehow drill the whole choosing joy thing into you, it can still be a struggle. One day, by God's grace, I was reminded of James 1:2-3 where it says to "count it all joy...when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness". I was determined to count it all joy no matter what happened - and then the very next day went through one of the hardest things I've had to deal with in my life. So there I was, basically crying my heart out and at the same time whispering "I choose joy" over and over through my tears.<br />
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I'm still thanking God for giving me the strength to have been able to do what I did that day. Despite the seemingly endless hurt and ache, I was eventually able to refocus myself and actually be joyful. I still remember looking at my sock drawer of all things and realizing that the ache had turned into joy - a joy that made me want to twirl and dance around. It was a joy that was anchored in some<i>one - </i>Someone who I knew I could always count on, who would never end, who was always faithful and who was <i>the</i> best source of joy in the whole entire universe.<br />
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I still struggle to choose joy in circumstances. It's definitely not something that automatically happens once you conquer it the first time. Maybe it makes it easier, but it's something you have to choose over and over and over again. But I've realized - it's so much more worthwhile to choose joy. It might be harder to follow, but it has more lasting results than the whole "keep busy and you'll maybe forget" lie I was believing for a while. And, I don't know about you, but for me personally, I find it harder to stay grumpy. I can get grumpy easily enough, but staying that way for an extended period of time is a bit harder. Like, if I'm grumpy but something funny happens, I <i>have</i> to laugh even though I'm "supposed" to be grumpy. Or the times when I'm feeling down but really want to have some fun but can't very well do so being grumpy, so then decide to maybe save the grumps for later :P I'll admit, there have been occasions where that was so not the case and I've sunk into darker, deeper depressions than I'd like to have experienced. But I couldn't ever truly stay that way. That God-given joy and peace and love isn't just some fairy tale! It's very, very real. So yeah. I still prefer choosing joy. And trust me, I'm not just saying that because I want to spew out inspiring quotes and it's really easy for me to say because I'm not actually going through anything right now etc. Yeahhhh no. I'm saying this as someone who is going through something Right. This. Very. Moment. So there!<br />
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I don't want to feel like I'm acting all the time. It's too tiring that way. I want to be myself - and I want myself to be joyful. I want to overflow with joy, spread joy, give joy, share joy. I want to be someone who chooses joy no matter what - and I hope I AM that kind of person. Not for any reason on earth. But because of God who wants me to be joyful too. And I'm praying that the joy I have is not any kind of world-given joy but is the truest, most authentic joy that exists - the kind that can only be obtained through our Heavenly Father.<br />
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Aaaand of course we, as Christians, need to make sure our truths are grounded in THE truth. So...here are some truths on joy.<br />
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<b><u>TRUTH: We are called to be joyful </u></b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZdL_sJguFesarJ4VGA3_iIYPwPCrm1PLysc2Xt8VFwLzUj6x5LhwIQkB08WMJIkQeDsaowmMqqElZom6q0B4nrni-4N85t5auY8-lFVHbXSI-zTLfl415vdVkghhmZOZa_WQwvyJSC_1M/s1600/IMG_4292.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZdL_sJguFesarJ4VGA3_iIYPwPCrm1PLysc2Xt8VFwLzUj6x5LhwIQkB08WMJIkQeDsaowmMqqElZom6q0B4nrni-4N85t5auY8-lFVHbXSI-zTLfl415vdVkghhmZOZa_WQwvyJSC_1M/s640/IMG_4292.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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"Be glad in the Lord, and rejoice, O righteous, and shout for joy, all you upright in heart!" - Psalm 32:11<br />
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"Oh sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvellous things! His right hand and his holy arm have worked salvation for him" - Psalm 98:1<br />
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"Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart" - Psalm 37:4<br />
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"Shout for joy in the Lord, O you righteous! Praise befits the upright" - Psalm 33:1<br />
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"Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth!" - Psalm 100:1<br />
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"Clap your hands, all peoples! Shout to God with loud songs of joy!" - Psalm 47:1<br />
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"Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise!" - Psalm 95:2<br />
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"Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth; break forth into joyous song and sing praises!" - Psalm 98:4<br />
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(soooo many more passages like these...but I'll leave some for you to look up yourself ;))<br />
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<b><u>TRUTH: The hard times won't last forever (Praise the Lord!!)</u></b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9VOFpJlVd7aQhqdE1pKeAG2MPtmIqHZriq1bX2GLpLVkiWCAvQAuOZi3CSQiVfUq8fu7UxnEcW8mg6xZbjg13v77wDD1q0MkR9WhRN3-WCBWvH_X-1Z6ddJQ3T1jXiioWkDjwHhIchQnc/s1600/IMG_4285.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="960" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9VOFpJlVd7aQhqdE1pKeAG2MPtmIqHZriq1bX2GLpLVkiWCAvQAuOZi3CSQiVfUq8fu7UxnEcW8mg6xZbjg13v77wDD1q0MkR9WhRN3-WCBWvH_X-1Z6ddJQ3T1jXiioWkDjwHhIchQnc/s640/IMG_4285.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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"Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes with the morning" - Psalm 30:5<br />
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"Those who sow in tears shall reap with shouts of joy!" - Psalm 126:5<br />
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<b><u>TRUTH: A joyful life can be a testimony and witness to God</u></b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGShMwF8__fysEu1k7SQX88ssYKEOMY4_U1oobiBInxjKIISKqAu1y3EuC5i5xEVz-t_wEUW15Zv7rS0-zCe9wZVVeVwcXiln8Ym9hyphenhyphenTZKUSijr8OTJdoeNcWNCdWzvuMdRNmX8jsET8_4/s1600/IMG_4271.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGShMwF8__fysEu1k7SQX88ssYKEOMY4_U1oobiBInxjKIISKqAu1y3EuC5i5xEVz-t_wEUW15Zv7rS0-zCe9wZVVeVwcXiln8Ym9hyphenhyphenTZKUSijr8OTJdoeNcWNCdWzvuMdRNmX8jsET8_4/s640/IMG_4271.JPG" width="640" /></a><b><span id="goog_2076058092"></span><span id="goog_2076058093"></span></b>
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"The fruit of the Spirit is love, JOY, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control" - Galatians 5:22<br />
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<b><u>TRUTH: Joy is actually good for you! Like chocolate - but even better đ</u></b><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG9aPm8AkRObVJrSvCVaZnjDChQ0GXXGeUPW-HQDiLsJxKJDzjgptCv3FM7hBWYmpzy0PMDiv2hXJ7Tq9LP4Hm9v-NvN00Mx1Lwsv8f1iJN2JlKwXxEYIXudQmTR55SpIpDxRMZB2xG64G/s1600/IMG_4261.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="720" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG9aPm8AkRObVJrSvCVaZnjDChQ0GXXGeUPW-HQDiLsJxKJDzjgptCv3FM7hBWYmpzy0PMDiv2hXJ7Tq9LP4Hm9v-NvN00Mx1Lwsv8f1iJN2JlKwXxEYIXudQmTR55SpIpDxRMZB2xG64G/s640/IMG_4261.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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"A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones" - Proverbs 17:22<br />
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"I perceived that there is nothing better for them than to be joyful and to do good as long as they live" - Ecclesiastes 3:12<br />
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"And I commend joy, for man has nothing better under the sun but to eat and drink and be joyful, for this will go with him in his toil through the days of his life that God has given him under the sun" - Ecclesiastes 8:15<br />
<u><b><br /></b><b>TRUTH: The truest and best joy comes only from God</b></u><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDFpeNmInvAStYsOFCW0qt04AtQUAw9N-iqCucgG_5UE7blq77Yp6mQgj5lWXNeZQ73SpmBlociyPRD-vTQgrRA56sGcXy75oJHaRZ_njqyryJDpAghl3wrQUiev9kv3H449HrEKhXP4RG/s1600/IMG_4289.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="960" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDFpeNmInvAStYsOFCW0qt04AtQUAw9N-iqCucgG_5UE7blq77Yp6mQgj5lWXNeZQ73SpmBlociyPRD-vTQgrRA56sGcXy75oJHaRZ_njqyryJDpAghl3wrQUiev9kv3H449HrEKhXP4RG/s400/IMG_4289.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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"The joy of the Lord is your strength" - Nehemiah 8:10<br />
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"You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore" - Psalm 16:11<br />
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"For you make him most blessed forever; you make him glad with the joy of your presence" - Psalm 21:6<br />
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"For he will not much remember the days of his life because God keeps him occupied with joy in his heart"- Ecclesiastes 5:20<br />
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"Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit" - Psalm 51:12<br />
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"May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope" - Romans 15:13<br />
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"Now thanks be to God, who always causes us to triumph in Christ, and makes evident the savour of his knowledge by us in every place. For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ in them that are saved, and in them that perish" - 2 Corinthians 2:14-15<br />
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<b><u>TRUTH: Joy is a choice</u></b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0bOEIOZ-2aFNcLBdvNA5bYUdJ_r8XoXg50apvskN3Q1TMZKH5RLhXr9sw7LHI_KQxhuePI_f2oanJyZSrZK21nGlKaiLUfFEKsxuVMRJmlBUfVOibnB-b0sQtKKVqC7sfrrPeMAmTJH6I/s1600/IMG_4288.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0bOEIOZ-2aFNcLBdvNA5bYUdJ_r8XoXg50apvskN3Q1TMZKH5RLhXr9sw7LHI_KQxhuePI_f2oanJyZSrZK21nGlKaiLUfFEKsxuVMRJmlBUfVOibnB-b0sQtKKVqC7sfrrPeMAmTJH6I/s400/IMG_4288.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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"I <u>will</u> rejoice in the Lord; I <u>will</u> take joy in the God of my salvation" - Habakkuk 3:18<br />
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"Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds" - James 1:2<br />
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<b><u>TRUTH: You can be joyful in the fact that God has got e. v. e. r. y. t. h. i. n. g in control and He's ALWAYS there for you!</u></b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeROHPUXxu-T9x7Zehru_yOCFoiQAq9zC3dzKo6e8pTjtU4HjZy0K_B_3y8ZrBWkPU7jpfDf-lZJjZP5quvpyUOm9Q_7ptMyjkYbmMp39oVSeVegeP7Nky85IH7kAGnhjftYlloldyX0ls/s1600/IMG_4294.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="639" data-original-width="960" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeROHPUXxu-T9x7Zehru_yOCFoiQAq9zC3dzKo6e8pTjtU4HjZy0K_B_3y8ZrBWkPU7jpfDf-lZJjZP5quvpyUOm9Q_7ptMyjkYbmMp39oVSeVegeP7Nky85IH7kAGnhjftYlloldyX0ls/s640/IMG_4294.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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"In the day of prosperity be joyful, and in the day of adversity consider: God has made the one as well as the other, so that man may not find out anything that will be after him" - Ecclesiastes 7:14<br />
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"Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you" - Deuteronomy 31:6<br />
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"So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand" - Isaiah 41:10<br />
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"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him and he will make your paths straight" - Proverbs 3:5-6<br />
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"The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles. The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit" - Psalm 37:17-18<br />
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'" am with you always, even to the end of the world" - Matthew 28:20<br />
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"And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast" - 1 Peter 5:10<br />
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"And He said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my strength is made perfect in weakness'" - 2 Corinthians 12:9a<br />
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"...for with God all things are possible" - Mark 10:27b<br />
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"For we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose" - Romans 8:28<br />
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"There is no temptation overtaking you but that which is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tested beyond what you are able to bear, but will with the testing also make a way to escape, that you may be able to endure it" - 1 Corinthians 10:13<br />
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There's still gonna be hard times. I'm still gonna fail. I'm still gonna cry. I'll probably be down in the dumps sometime sooner or later. But it's what happens later that really counts. Am I gonna stay a grumpy bear (and scare off anyone who comes within a ten-foot radius of me)? Or am I gonna sort through those feelings, refocus myself, and choose joy?<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBEekBc9pZF92f6gYpaOOu1HAY1bx2SSjIfFfM3OdjZo7T37MOhBhi_cL7Bxuxt68dBx_yOy_rkgWpNcPV48v-FRy_wOVtYeHCFfzpanGn5Dm6sQDeADjr8G22NcFBisCxkmY3dGSAoVy9/s1600/IMG_4268.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBEekBc9pZF92f6gYpaOOu1HAY1bx2SSjIfFfM3OdjZo7T37MOhBhi_cL7Bxuxt68dBx_yOy_rkgWpNcPV48v-FRy_wOVtYeHCFfzpanGn5Dm6sQDeADjr8G22NcFBisCxkmY3dGSAoVy9/s640/IMG_4268.JPG" width="640" /></a><br />
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Trust me, I know it can be hard to choose joy, especially with everything going on around us. I need to constantly remind myself to redirect my thinking. It strays like nobody's business.<br />
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One way I've found that helps me choose joy is to... focus on joy. *blows mind* A shock to hear I'm sure ;) But it's true! The past little while, I tried finding ways to focus on joy. I wrote down quotes/Bible verses that I wanted to remember, saved inspirational images from my FB feed, switched my desktop screen to yet another quote, went through my Bible several times over to underline verses, etc. I just wanted to have these good (and godly) reminders everywhere so that no matter what, I'd have these things right in front of my face telling me to refocus myself and to shut up the dark thoughts dragging me down. </div>
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Of course, it's not just the quotes that are doing the work. It's ultimately a matter of the heart. Whether we're actually willing to let the light be shone into our darkness. But if we give ourselves over to God, if we turn our focus on Christ and let <i>Him</i> lead us - then well, we're good to go!</div>
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I thought I'd share some of the quotes I've saved over the past couple of months. Prepare yourself though - there's a lot đ</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcejbol3dkEXN_o1Ks8Vdxl9HNl8t9u3-K8z8fp-HMjAYEpyPtKvxSqhhRozVPeROq3TzW7aTBb45RYk5vgfryl-YVKkdsogWrnzaJ_YU5U02al8K1hOpfNns6stUivB6WLxCeq99fgYla/s1600/IMG_4252.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcejbol3dkEXN_o1Ks8Vdxl9HNl8t9u3-K8z8fp-HMjAYEpyPtKvxSqhhRozVPeROq3TzW7aTBb45RYk5vgfryl-YVKkdsogWrnzaJ_YU5U02al8K1hOpfNns6stUivB6WLxCeq99fgYla/s1600/IMG_4252.JPG" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOxQAZPrxVcXw3q237IU4m4o0keLnbfP8tm3Z-pJgIBJLHldL2qYJnKu_ZuE8-gLDu2Qazbfhi9ZWIvs2JmgPBDDu8ZE-Q88rHDARRAPE_ILh04QAZWvamsuxUMgJIvbics8hFhEhihwr8/s1600/IMG_3741.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="512" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOxQAZPrxVcXw3q237IU4m4o0keLnbfP8tm3Z-pJgIBJLHldL2qYJnKu_ZuE8-gLDu2Qazbfhi9ZWIvs2JmgPBDDu8ZE-Q88rHDARRAPE_ILh04QAZWvamsuxUMgJIvbics8hFhEhihwr8/s640/IMG_3741.JPG" width="512" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYSFY0cAIwV3uRASiZt5HOOsPH4wrd8shWt2bLtAln7_5w9omUmzXlKvdBJbytsxvAqooTueVZBHxtWyW-Caz56zFxXsvKR4NKSA7IZg_fhS8fUfPLmwwxEFktqlSmeGA11LHvJfeZQFld/s1600/IMG_4164.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1136" data-original-width="640" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYSFY0cAIwV3uRASiZt5HOOsPH4wrd8shWt2bLtAln7_5w9omUmzXlKvdBJbytsxvAqooTueVZBHxtWyW-Caz56zFxXsvKR4NKSA7IZg_fhS8fUfPLmwwxEFktqlSmeGA11LHvJfeZQFld/s640/IMG_4164.PNG" width="360" /></a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><a href="https://www.pinterest.co.uk/pin/365495325991015009/">Image Credit</a></td></tr>
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And more quotes for you, just in case there wasn't enough already đ</div>
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<span style="color: #cc0000;">"It is not happy people who are thankful, but thankful people who are happy"<span id="goog_1241256673"></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #e69138;">"Joy does not simply happen to us. We have to choose joy and keep choosing it every day" - Henri J. M. Nouwen</span></div>
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<span style="color: #f1c232;">"The joy we feel has little to do with the circumstances of our lives and everything to do with the focus of our lives" - Russel M. Nelson</span></div>
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<span style="color: #6aa84f;">"I find joy in every day, not because life is always good, but because God is"</span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6;">"Participate joyfully in the sorrows of the world. We cannot cure the world of sorrows, but we can choose to live in joy" - Joseph Campbell</span></div>
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<span style="color: #a64d79;">"Don't let your happiness depend on something you may lose" - C. S. Lewis</span></div>
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<span style="color: #674ea7;">"Joy is not necessarily the absence of suffering, it is the presence of God" - Sam Storms</span></div>
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Choosing joy can be hard. But just like anything else in the Christian walk, it is <i>always</i> worth it later on. And we're never alone in the fight! I maaay have believed the lie that I was alone for a little while...but then I was reminded that we're never alone in our struggles. We all learn the same lessons in life - just maybe at different times and circumstances. And that's why we have all these awesome brothers and sisters in Christ to pray for us and encourage us along in our walk for the Lord. </div>
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It's going to be a struggle. Probably a daily battle too by the looks of it. But God's on my side - and since He is, no one, not even Satan, can stand against us. </div>
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I'm choosing joy, y'all! </div>
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Blessing Counterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09464499449142181452noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2854006402616010422.post-40088583168311699682018-07-17T08:00:00.000-04:002018-07-17T08:00:13.672-04:00THE RELUCTANT GODFATHER...Blog Tour!!! <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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*happy sigh* Just LOOK at that cover. Isn't it just amazing? I have a thing for filigrees...and gold...and ahhhhh xD </div>
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Aaaaanyway we gotta get onto the book and a ton of other fun stuff too. Ahem. Welcome to the second day of <i>The Reluctant Godfather</i> blog tour relaunch! If you've never been to my blog before, then welcome and greetings and hope you enjoy your visit! And to those who've been here before...welcome to you too and SO glad you came back!! đ Now! Onto the tour!! </div>
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ABOUT THE BOOK</div>
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A humorous and magical re-telling of Cinderella from a unique perspective. </div>
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Burndee is a young and cantankerous fairy godfather who would rather bake cakes than help humans. A disgrace to the fairy order, Burndee has only two wards entrusted to his care...a cinder girl and a charming prince. </div>
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A royal ball presents Burndee with the brilliant solution of how to make his wards happy with the least amount of effort. He'll arrange a meeting and hope the two fall in love. </div>
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The debut novella from Allison Tebo, <i>The Reluctant Godfather</i> is a new addition to the charming fairy tale tradition of Cameron Dokey and K. M. Shea </div>
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You can find (and buy!!) <i>The Reluctant Godfather</i> on Amazon <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Reluctant-Godfather-retelling-Cinderella-ebook/dp/B01N9Y4I5A">HERE </a>or on Allison's website<a href="http://allisonteboauthor.com/shop/"> HERE</a></div>
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MY REVIEW</div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(24, 24, 24); color: #181818; text-align: left;">This charming little novel is a retelling of the classic Cinderella storyâŚbut with a twist! Iâve read a lot of Cinderella retellings, but this one has got to be one of my favourites. It comes from a very unique point of view, not your typical retelling, thatâs for sure! And the twist at the end! Ahhh! I mean, Iâm *very* glad it happened, but stillâŚtotally wasnât expecting that at all xD I'm not gonna reveal the twist cause DUH but hey, if youâre curious, you should go read it. *hint hint* Really though, I very much recommend this book to basically anyone and everyone! </span><br style="caret-color: rgb(24, 24, 24); color: #181818; text-align: left;" /><br style="caret-color: rgb(24, 24, 24); color: #181818; text-align: left;" /><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(24, 24, 24); color: #181818; text-align: left;">Oh yes and Burndeeâs baking! *happy sigh* As a baker myself, I love love LOVE reading about any kind of baking in books :D And the wonderful author, Allison Tebo, not only did an awesome job with the characters and the plots and story telling, she did a marvellous job describing all that baking. Made me feel hungry yet strangely satisfied all at once ;)</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #181818; font-family: inherit;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(24, 24, 24);">My favourite </span></span><span style="color: #181818;">character I think is a lot of people's favourite...but I mean, he's just AWESOME ok? And I think it might also have to do with the fact that you just don't normally see a fairy godfather in the Cinderella story. And let me tell you...he sure ain't the bubbly, bouncy, bippity boppity boo fairy godmother in Cinderella. If anything he's more like...the exact opposite. And yet somehow he's just as awesome...maybe even <i>more</i> awesome. Despite his cantankerousness (</span></span><span style="color: #181818;">Is that a word??) he just had me laughing so much...he probably would've frowned on that but oh well. Burndee's just amazing, y'all. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #181818;">But I won't tell you ALL about him, otherwise it'd spoil the fun for you when you read it. So...obviously you know what I'm gonna say. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #181818;">Go read it!!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJR06BkaxxxDtQ6XVr7x5x3xtnfsrRTc-pAdpdjNHdOkTcSFzKz_CZyhcAWQ8TffAsE2RUP5hSv93sTP4Kcem_tWoQTHre0RoQiyuM3bnFBTvBI0mopftAefaH9ZYb7zF9A3dij4QYnXr9/s1600/TRG%252C+quote+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="280" data-original-width="336" height="332" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJR06BkaxxxDtQ6XVr7x5x3xtnfsrRTc-pAdpdjNHdOkTcSFzKz_CZyhcAWQ8TffAsE2RUP5hSv93sTP4Kcem_tWoQTHre0RoQiyuM3bnFBTvBI0mopftAefaH9ZYb7zF9A3dij4QYnXr9/s400/TRG%252C+quote+2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS6zY8193krZMWmpdnYsS6Uv6TIbgHyLuNpzYWlkf3XOCogVvREhMxi9NSqBlYzrsX2menQTxHU6DaEGZecIxefHiWmGGuJyqRPovBFyES15g_A7tuIdEmHppzml7LGMgP6WEVA40fxH_G/s1600/Allison+Tebo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1263" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS6zY8193krZMWmpdnYsS6Uv6TIbgHyLuNpzYWlkf3XOCogVvREhMxi9NSqBlYzrsX2menQTxHU6DaEGZecIxefHiWmGGuJyqRPovBFyES15g_A7tuIdEmHppzml7LGMgP6WEVA40fxH_G/s320/Allison+Tebo.jpg" width="251" /></a></div>
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Allison Tebo is a Christian author in her mid-twenties who loves to write fiction in every genre. It is her goal to write fiction that appeals to many different kinds of people by writing clean, classic fun. Her desire is to provide quality stories for every age to enjoy. When she is not writing, Allison works as a sales associate for a major transportation company or might be found singing, painting, baking, or defending her championship title as Gif Master. </div>
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Find her on social media! </div>
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<a href="http://allisonteboauthor.com/">Website</a></div>
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<a href="http://allisonswell.website/">Blog</a></div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/16192992.Allison_Tebo">Goodreads</a></div>
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/allisonteboauthor/">Facebook</a></div>
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<a href="https://twitter.com/AllisonTebo">Twitter</a></div>
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So today, I have the privilege and honour of interviewing the author herself....Allison Tebo! Shall we? đ</div>
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<b><span style="color: red;">Welcome to the blog, Allison! So...how long have you been writing for and when did you discover your passion for writing? </span></b></div>
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<span style="color: purple;">I've been writing for sixteen years. I originally started writing to imitate my big sister, who is also a writer--but almost immediately discovered that writing was something I loved to do. </span></div>
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<b><span style="color: red;">That's amazing! It's always so much fun when we discover passions of ours. Now let's talk about this novella of yours! What is your favourite part about <u>The Reluctant Godfather</u> and who's your favourite character? </span></b></div>
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<span style="color: purple;">My favourite part about <i>The Reluctant Godfather</i> is that it makes people laugh. Even though I've read it so many times myself, it still makes me laugh. Laughter is such a gift, and to be able to give it to other people in the pages of a story is a blessing. My favourite character, at this point, would probably have to be Burndee--he is such a bundle of curmudgeonly insecurities and raw talent. A gruff, sarcastic mentor with a heart of gold. </span></div>
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<b><span style="color: red;">Yessss...Burndee is awesome. He just always had me laughing! Ok so slightly random question, but I tried to tie it into writing. What's your favourite food to snack on while you're writing?</span></b></div>
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<span style="color: purple;">I try not to eat TOO much while I write -- but I love to reward myself with some chocolate. I occasionally munch on popcorn or slurp on ice cream. </span></div>
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<b><span style="color: red;">Chocolate đThat's all I'm gonna say on that certain topic xD Where do you find is the best place for you to write?</span></b></div>
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<span style="color: purple;">Either my desk in my bedroom or on the living room computer. I am very picky about where I write and once I get accustomed to working in a certain place, it's difficult for me to write anywhere else. </span></div>
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<b><span style="color: red;">Now for that one question where you just reveal some awesome amazing advice đ What would you say to anyone aspiring to be a writer?</span></b></div>
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<span style="color: purple;">Don't rush into publication! A writer isn't necessarily the same thing as an author. Just because some publish doesn't mean you have to. If publishing is in your future--then I would advise you wait. Maturity will only enrich your writing to where it needs to be for publication and prepare you better for being a published author. Nothing in the world can replace experience--not only in honing your craft, but in living your life. Nothing can replicate the maturing that comes only through time. Just like a connoisseur waits for wine to age, the same truth applies to writers. </span></div>
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<b><span style="color: red;">There. See? Told ya. Awesome amazing advice. And totally relevant to life in general as well! Thank you so much for the interview!! ^_^ </span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">GIVEAWAY</span></b></div>
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Surely you didn't think we weren't going to have a giveaway too did you? This tour has it ALL, I'm telling ya! And ahhh would you just look at these amazing prizes??</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguIlC7u2mjqrmcfq9llbJgE1WZtAzcxRH09_j8VkIZsgVPjCis9Qbb3-6TuDAZBGR04CL0llKdHFT4IK1504oC51PG7j4Nfz1a8d8A6TbvYSPKikEEWYgBC1vnJGX1YbaUWwrtSDauEbB9/s1600/Copy+of+The+Reluctant+Godfather+%25281%2529.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="315" data-original-width="560" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguIlC7u2mjqrmcfq9llbJgE1WZtAzcxRH09_j8VkIZsgVPjCis9Qbb3-6TuDAZBGR04CL0llKdHFT4IK1504oC51PG7j4Nfz1a8d8A6TbvYSPKikEEWYgBC1vnJGX1YbaUWwrtSDauEbB9/s640/Copy+of+The+Reluctant+Godfather+%25281%2529.png" width="640" /></a></div>
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All you gotta do is enter in the Rafflecopter below đđđ and you're good to go! The giveaway is only open for another 10 days so hurry and sign up! </div>
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<a class="rcptr" data-raflid="cbb544c96" data-template="" data-theme="classic" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/cbb544c96/" id="rcwidget_x32ga3y8" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a>
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And just another pic of the prizes because they're just that awesome đ</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE3ovytTU2RA5eLL1t0GoY5LQXTOSnqq9MD3-QFVvteCggyy2ABPUWCgiD530mX1otEIxQRHoPf5V5DxmMoqNR6chhjSho_CGxEZhzyzoQbC4BwZdof37bpOCFwy5eMvT_uBSIggoXNKea/s1600/IMG_2465.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1255" data-original-width="1600" height="502" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE3ovytTU2RA5eLL1t0GoY5LQXTOSnqq9MD3-QFVvteCggyy2ABPUWCgiD530mX1otEIxQRHoPf5V5DxmMoqNR6chhjSho_CGxEZhzyzoQbC4BwZdof37bpOCFwy5eMvT_uBSIggoXNKea/s640/IMG_2465.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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That about wraps up my post for today! But...the party doesn't end here! You can check out Alli's blog here: <a href="http://allisonswell.website/">Allison's Well</a> for more posts and fun stuff from her. And here's a schedule so you can follow the blog tour the next few days! </div>
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<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="-webkit-text-decoration-skip: none; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Sunday, July 15th:</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Introduction // Kellyn Roth @ </span><a href="https://kellynroth.blog/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="-webkit-text-decoration-skip: none; background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Reveries</span></a></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Review // Olivia R. @ </span><a href="http://meanwhileinrivendell.blogspot.com/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="-webkit-text-decoration-skip: none; background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Meanwhile, in Rivendell ...</span></a></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-decoration-skip: none; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Monday, July 16th:</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Book Spotlight // Gabriellyn @ </span><span style="-webkit-text-decoration-skip: none; background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="https://pageturnersweb.wordpress.com/" style="text-decoration: none;">PageTurners</a></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-decoration-skip: none; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Tuesday, July 17th:</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Review & Author Interview // Chloe @ </span><a href="https://purelybyfaithreviews.wordpress.com/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="-webkit-text-decoration-skip: none; background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Purely by Faith</span></a></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-decoration-skip: none; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Wednesday, July 18th:</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Author Interview // </span><a href="http://blog.kimiawood.com/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="-webkit-text-decoration-skip: none; background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Kimia Wood Blog</span></a></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-decoration-skip: none; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Thursday, July 19th:</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Book Spotlight // Serethiel @ </span><a href="https://the-book-sprite.blogspot.com/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="-webkit-text-decoration-skip: none; background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Book Sprite</span></a></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-decoration-skip: none; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Friday, July 20th:</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Book Spotlight // Angela R. Watts @ </span><a href="http://thepeculiarmessenger.wordpress.com/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="-webkit-text-decoration-skip: none; background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Peculiar Messenger</span></a></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-decoration-skip: none; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Saturday, July 21st:</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Author Interview & Book Spotlight // Victoria Lynn @ </span><a href="http://www.rufflesandgrace.com/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="-webkit-text-decoration-skip: none; background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Ruffles and Grace</span></a></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-decoration-skip: none; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Sunday, July 22nd:</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Review // </span><a href="http://blog.kimiawood.com/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="-webkit-text-decoration-skip: none; background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Kimia Wood Blog</span></a></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-decoration-skip: none; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Monday, July 23rd:</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Book Spotlight // Hannah @ </span><a href="https://www.hsjwilliams.com/blog/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="-webkit-text-decoration-skip: none; background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">H.S.J. Williams</span></a></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-decoration-skip: none; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Tuesday, July 24th:</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Review // Rayleigh @ </span><a href="http://literatureapproved.com/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="-webkit-text-decoration-skip: none; background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Literature Approved</span></a></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-decoration-skip: none; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Wednesday, July 25th:</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Author Interview // Medomfo @ </span><a href="http://www.writingsfromagodgirl.wordpress.com/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="-webkit-text-decoration-skip: none; background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Writings From a God Girl</span></a></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-decoration-skip: none; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Thursday, July 26th:</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Character Interview // Angela R. Watts @ </span><a href="http://thepeculiarmessenger.wordpress.com/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="-webkit-text-decoration-skip: none; background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Peculiar Messenger</span></a></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-decoration-skip: none; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Friday, July 27th:</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Review // </span><a href="http://jessicagreyson.com/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="-webkit-text-decoration-skip: none; background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Jessica Greyson</span></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Review // Gracelyn Buckner @ </span><a href="http://gracelynbuckner.wordpress.com/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="-webkit-text-decoration-skip: none; background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Literatura</span></a></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-decoration-skip: none; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Saturday, July 28th:</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Book Spotlight // Erika Mathews @ </span><a href="http://writtenrest.wordpress.com/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="-webkit-text-decoration-skip: none; background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Resting Life</span></a></div>
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<span id="docs-internal-guid-de3d02a1-a44f-f67f-6712-413e02e23ed3"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Wrapup // Kellyn Roth @ </span><a href="http://kellynroth.blog/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="-webkit-text-decoration-skip: none; color: #1155cc; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Reveries</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></a></span></div>
<br />Blessing Counterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09464499449142181452noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2854006402616010422.post-50376959370515534752018-07-10T06:47:00.002-04:002018-07-10T06:47:41.800-04:00A Grizzly Bear Brunette Really <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Ok ok here's the picture you've been asking for. Apologies for not posting it in my previous post...but I did have a reason! The look was supposed to be a surprise for my friend and if she saw it on my blog...well obviously that wouldn't work very well xD </div>
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But <i>voila</i> here's the three-quarters "grizzly bear" me!</div>
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<br />Blessing Counterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09464499449142181452noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2854006402616010422.post-88004600738802394572018-06-27T22:52:00.002-04:002018-06-27T22:52:20.254-04:00My Very Hairy AdventureOk that title sounds kinda off. But oh well. I made the mistake of having a cappuccino at like 7pm last night and I only had around 6 hours of sleep. My mind is a liiiiitle wonky. (ask my friend...I think she mighta thought I was going mental or something ;)) So just a warning...this post is going to sound VERY scatter-brained. You all get to have a taste of what I'm like with too much coffee and too little sleep ;)<br />
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Anyway! Onto this very interesting "adventure". First off, I should probably say, I rarely ever go to a salon to get my hair cut. The last time I went I think was around 6 years ago? But Mom or my sister normally just cut it and there done. However, this time around, since we were in Singapore, Mom thought it would be a good idea to get it cut here. So I did.<br />
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Oh yeah, so have I ever told you all of the first (and so far only) time I donated my hair? I was 6 at the time and Mom did my worst nightmare. She made a mistake and my hair ended up at my chin. MY CHIN. That was a very scarring experience...I'm scared every time scissors come near my head now.<br />
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So what happened when I went into that salon? Well...I understood less than half of what the hairdressers were saying. They were speaking English, but Singaporeans have well - a very Singaporean accent and I can't understand it. They also don't understand me. Don't believe it? Here's what happened at a bakery we were at a couple days ago.<br />
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Me: May I have the pork floss please?<br />
Them: Peanut butter?<br />
Me: Nooo...floss<br />
Them: KAYA??<br />
Me: help<br />
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So there. Aaaanyway, when I realized I couldn't understand barely any of what they were saying, I was starting to freak out. I mean, what if they cut off too much? I only wanted to trim it since I'm trying to grow it out. I started to back out...but Mom really wanted me to get my hair cut there. So I sent up a quick prayer and went in.<br />
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The minute I sat down in the chair and let my hair out, the hairdresser's eyes just about popped out and this time I understood what he said. "Wow. That's...long" (And in my head I was just going "yep! it's long! I want to keep it that way!!!!)<br />
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Then he started playing with my hair (which feels perfectly horrid just staying. I mean, a strange man feeling my hair and looking at it and YEAH). Anyway, he commented again on how long it was and then said something about layers and he made an indication about where he was gonna cut it and I nearly died. I don't remember much of the conversation following, but I know that I stressed over and over AND OVER again that I wanted to keep it long. "just trim it" "keep it long" "LONG layers" "long" "long" "LONG"<br />
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And then the dreaded moment came. The scissors went <i>snip</i> and I closed my eyes and reminded myself "Don't worry. Hair grows back. It'll grow back. It. Will. Grow. Back."<br /><br />I finally found the courage to open my eyes...and there was the smallest little bit of hair on the ground. *happy sigh* Seriously...by the time he was done, my hair looked like it hadn't even been touched xD I mean, the dead ends were gone...but the length was there! YIPPEEEEEEE (yeah yeah yeah, you all probably think I'm crazy :P)<br />
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Oh yeahh and also some funny things I also observed at the salon. So when your hair is long:<br />
// people keep saying how long it is<br />
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// your hair fills the entire sink (and they comment again on how long it is xD)<br />
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// the guy washing your hair takes several pumps of shampoo and starts to rub it in...then realizes he's gonna need waaaay more<br />
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// it takes TWO guys to blow dry your hair (i just about died laughing when this happened)<br />
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Oh yeah. And guess what? I'M A BRUNETTE.<br />
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Kinda. Because yeah. I was being super adventurous and ended up going into TWO salons in one day. So basically, a few weeks ago, Mom thought it would be fun if I got highlights. I was a little skeptical of it at first, but finally decided to give it a try. So after I got my hair cut, we found a salon and in I went.<br />
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You all. I came out looking like a brunette.<br />
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It was supposed to be black with brown highlights. Instead...it looked waaay more like brown with black highlights.<br />
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Hehe soooo remember that little fiasco where I stressed long layers? Oops...not the best for highlights. Anyway, not the highlights I was looking for. Instead of highlighting the nonexistent layers...he streaked the top....and then pretty much dyed my entire bottom half brown. I will say, it's a very nice brown and a natural brown at that...but STILL. I'm still in disbelief about my "highlights". I think I do like it...but I doubt I'd ever do this again. Really...every time I see my hair I just keep going "IT'S BROWN"<br />
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So yeah! That happened this week. How has your week gone? đBlessing Counterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09464499449142181452noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2854006402616010422.post-22128548136814568122018-05-31T06:31:00.000-04:002018-06-01T01:23:49.545-04:00Filters, Heights, and Sushi Trains<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Hello again! A lot has happened in the past ten days so that blog title isn't quite right as it doesn't nearly sum up all the stuff that is actually in this post. But oh well...Here goes! </div>
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// Does anyone have the Facebook app on their phone? Maybe you know of this, maybe you don't, but Facebook now has these very fun filters which is SO much fun to use, especially on little people. Although...I did show my grand uncle and grandfather the filters and then we had a bunch of fun trying it out on all of us xD I've been using it a lot on Sweet Pea as she loves seeing herself as little animals. Prepare yourself for a flood of adorableness ;) </div>
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// Swimming! An essential really for us in Singapore. If we didn't have access to a pool I think we'd be long gone by now :P But thank goodness, our granduncle has not one, but TWO (not including the kiddie pool) pools that we have access to at the apartment! Been spending quite a bit of time there đ<br />
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// Gems. Like actually, these cookies are called gems. And they're soooo good. It's pretty much a tiny little biscuit with some kind of icing on it. Sweet but delicious!<br />
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// Stationary stores. The past little while we've been in Singapore, I've been doing a lot of drawings (might be able to post them later!) and my aunt thought it would be a great idea to go to some stationary stores. They're AWESOME. We've been to ArtFriend, Typo, Smiggles, Muji...the list goes on. And they've got some pretty fun stuff there. I'm probably gonna grab some stuff on the way home because once I get back home...T-two months until college đśđđ<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Look. At. All. Those. Pens đś</td></tr>
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// First trip out alone! So...as most of you probably know...we're kiiinda country folk so yep us in Singapore is pretty much the story of the country mouse and the city mouse. Travelling on a bus might seem totally normal to some...but not to us xD T'was quite the adventure and we were VERY happy to find ourselves at the right place and not lost! Celebrated with Starbucks :D<br />
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// Brought everyone out swimming and then picked up some ice cream later. Toblerone loved it so much he was quick to tell me his plans for our next outing. "Next time we go swimming...let's get ice cream again ok?"<br />
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// Malaysia. We took a weekend trip to Melaca and visited some quite interesting places! And the pool at the hotel đ<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> At the shopping mall đ</td></tr>
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The two older boys had an allergic reaction one of the nights in Malaysia, so I slept with Sweet Pea and Toblerone. Oh boyyyyy...the child woke up about every hour and a half and the other kept rolling into my bed. And goodness gracious if you could've seen Sweet Pea's face when she realized I wasn't Mom xD (yes, she still nurses! :P) </div>
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We also took a river cruise but whilst waiting for the boat we thought we saw an alligator in the river. Our tour guide assured us that there were no alligators. So we went. </div>
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And saw this. Not an alligator true...but still...a relative xD </div>
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Also...driving in Singapore is a nightmare. In Malaysia...AHHHH xD It's about as big as a two lane road in Canada, but here there are cars parked on both sides with cars driving down the middle AND motorcycles and bicyclists weaving in and out. One motorcyclist actually got so close she fell against the bus we were in and had to push herself off to regain her balance. </div>
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// Sushi!! Soooo good and made even more fun because it was delivered to us by these super cool trains! I think I had just as much fun as the younger ones watching the trains speed by with food :D </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Crabstick Salad Sushi...A.M.A.Z.I.N.G.<br />
(my mouth is literally watering just seeing this picture)</td></tr>
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// Back on laundry duty! I normally do the laundry at home and just started doing it again here. Except it's different. For one, they don't have dryers because it just makes more econmical sense to hang the clothes outside to dry. It's so warm anyway.<br />
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But in apartments...*shudders* It makes my skin crawl every time I look down.<br />
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// Deja vu!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">2014</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">2018</td></tr>
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// Dare Devil's 7th birthday! We celebrated with this p.r.e.t.t.y awesome Transformers cake that my grand uncle and grant aunt bought for him.<br />
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That about sums it up for now! 2.5 weeks gone...4.5 weeks to go! :DBlessing Counterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09464499449142181452noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2854006402616010422.post-86609442898324061952018-05-21T00:15:00.000-04:002018-05-21T00:15:20.366-04:00Greetings from Halfway Across the World...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Hello again! Been awhile since I posted again..aghhh I'm trying to keep up but yeahhh. This time, I'm writing in a very warm, very humid country that is almost half way across the world from home. Imagine this. 12 C degree weather in Canada...(oh beautiful cold) to - near 40 C degrees. It's a wonder I haven't already melted into a huge puddle xD </div>
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<span id="goog_2033507319"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7RGWUoXdM6tYNpjF1LNcsur3h6Homn72UuEA2AeoGpOGyczupv8z7W1iQGOoleuTla_SkxmyonvIsN6WQSNHl5bGT77UW4D_Zp5ZWJZEupqLyrkwcXroERKL3KhbCZeWf7h_bzmQCnnH8/s1600/summer+deals%2521.png" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7RGWUoXdM6tYNpjF1LNcsur3h6Homn72UuEA2AeoGpOGyczupv8z7W1iQGOoleuTla_SkxmyonvIsN6WQSNHl5bGT77UW4D_Zp5ZWJZEupqLyrkwcXroERKL3KhbCZeWf7h_bzmQCnnH8/s1600/summer+deals%2521.png" /></a></span></div>
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Not sure how much I'll be able to blog, but I suddenly have a ton of time on my hands. Like...wowzers. From juggling a full-time job, school, and everything in between that to...basically nothing is quite an experience. We'll probably get a lot busier later on once we visit people and stuff, but for now, we're just trying to recover from the flight.<br />
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Strangely enough, all three times we've gone to Singapore in the past 6 years, we've always had a kid that was around 1. So yep. 8 kids and two adults (mom and my grandfather - dad's gonna join us later on) on a plane for roughtly 15 hours. And then transferring to fly for another 4-5 hours. đ´<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our first flight</td></tr>
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So actually...Sweet Pea wasn't as bad as we thought she was gonna be. Quite proud of her actually. She had a few hyper moments (too many M&M's given to her by yours truly xD) and a couple tantrums, but then again, she IS only 18 months. So all in all, I'd say she did a pretty good job considering she had to stay in the same place for over 15 hours. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Trying to maintain sanity...almost there...</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">These two got together fairly well, although sleeping next to Toblerone...ughhh. He kept kicking me in the ribs :P</td></tr>
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We finally reached Singapore (after a stop at Taiwan where we sat for a couple hours in a vividly pink Hello Kitty sitting station thing. It was SO pink xD) then tried not to die stepping outside the airport. The humidity was oh my goodness. It was like you could <i>feel</i> the water in the air. Once we reached the apartment, we piled in, ate some snacks and then - the jetlag hit. The past few nights for me are basically summed up in these quotes:<br />
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Thank goodness for the pools though! They <i>really</i> help to cool down.<br />
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Being our typical crazy selves, we decided to make a train on the kiddie slide. So yep! All eight of us piled onto that slide. Took a little longer than it probably should've, but we did it! Proof below xD<br />
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Aaaaannnd yeah...the girls' hair has not gone too well with the humidity and heat. Sweet Pea's hair is finally growing out and getting longer but yeahh. Her bed head is hilarious xD<br />
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And my hair...let's just say I think it's been trying to go for a Mother Gothel look lately.<br />
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That's it for now, but hopefully I'll be able to post more updates on our trip later on! How are your summers going? Finally summer weather or is the spring-winter-summer-all-at-the-same-time thing still going on? xD </div>
<br />Blessing Counterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09464499449142181452noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2854006402616010422.post-35949071055288826472018-04-24T14:16:00.000-04:002018-04-24T14:16:09.597-04:00WCTH....There are rumours floating around on When Calls the Heart...someone tell me they're not true đśBlessing Counterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09464499449142181452noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2854006402616010422.post-28530762715567096202018-04-14T20:08:00.001-04:002018-04-14T20:08:56.578-04:00Catching UpAs I write this, I am seriously wondering whether I will even be able to post this after I finish. My timing is pretty awful honestly. I've been thinking about writing a blog post the past few weeks and the day I finally sit down to write...is in the middle of an ice storm. So yeah. Let's see how long my wifi lasts and if it'll even let me post by the time I finish :P<br />
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At this point of time, I think I'm about to blow up at anyone who says to me that homeschoolers literally just stay at home all day and don't have a social life or friends or that they play all day and have extremely flexible schedules and blah blah blah. Literally. I do <i>not</i>. I've started working full time at Tim Hortons, but since I want to try and have the rest of the day to do other things, I work in the morning. At either 5 or 6 in the morning. Which means I'll be waking up 4 or 5 in the morning. So a normal day will be waking up at 4 (or 5) then working until 1pm, then coming home. The only problem with me waking up so early is that I NEED a nap, otherwise I'm an absolute bear the rest of the day. Ask my family. But life still goes on, work or not. Once a week visits with a lady at church, babysitting in the afternoon, youth at night, etc. So YES. In case you're asking. I'm tired. I'm also struggling with finding time with my devotions since my whole morning is gone. So if y'all have any advice I'll glady take it. Also...may I just say...smiling at work has gotten harder. There's so much swearing. I mean, come on people! You DO know that you'd say what you wanted to say faster if it wasn't swearing every other word right? And my biggest fear with hearing all of this for 7-8 hours a day is that the words just swirl around and around in my head and I'm afraid of saying something accidentally. Let's just say I've been trying to guard my words as much as possible lately. And all the gossip...they've had something bad to say about pretty much every single worker at Tim Hortons. Sometimes I wonder if they make things up just so they have something to talk about.<br />
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*takes a deep breath* Ok I'll stop ranting now. Sorry xD The blessing...ok so even though it's hard, yes it's a huge blessing that I get to work at Tim Hortons and under the boss I have too. All the workers complain about her or have snide remarks about her but I like her. I think she's pretty amazing and sooo flexible and very fair and friendly and nice and as my first boss, I think I'm pretty blessed.<br />
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More blessings from the past few weeks...definitely my family! They've been pretty patient with grumpy old me which I sometimes take for granted but realize it's not just anyone who would still love me even though I'm in tears over the silliest things or mad at something stupid or...I think you get the point.<br />
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Oh! I also got accepted into the college I applied to and I'll, Lord willing, be attending there this coming September. I'm also moving onto campus so...yeah. I'm foreseeing a LOT of tears in the near future xD<br />
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We also celebrated my dad's birthday and managed to find the exact number of candles for his cake. The cake kiiiiinda looked like it was on fire xD But it was a delicious cake. Then...Dad got a birthday surprise none of us was expecting. So you know how baseball players slide to a plate? Well! That's what Toblerone decided to try doing. Except he slid into a chair. And banged his head. And put a massive gash right above his eyebrow. Lots and lots of blood. We ended up having to bring him to the ER and he got three stitches. Boys...<br />
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Ooohhhh...and I managed to throw together a dish for my Italian cooking class in less than 40 minutes AND without making a massive mess or using too many dishes. Might not sound like much but it's kind of a bit accomplishment for me cause me and cooking is...yeahhhhh xD </div>
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Oh yeah and this ice storm I mentioned earlier? Apparently, it could very possibly rival the ice storm we had in 2013...and that was BAD. So yeahhh hopefully our house doesn't turn into a positive igloo by tomorrow. </div>
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Anywayyy...my siblings are wanting to watch a movie with me so I shall see you all later! How's the weather where you all are? Do you have an actual spring or is it still winter for you? (can you imagine teaching younger children seasons? Imagine if they wondered why it was called spring even though it looked like winter outside...) (also I've been so tired lately I thought "prove" was spelled "proove" and the Statue of Liberty was British :P)Blessing Counterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09464499449142181452noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2854006402616010422.post-85891509315308249822018-03-26T17:40:00.001-04:002018-03-26T17:40:49.164-04:00Sisters in Christ...Sisters for Life <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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Super super<span style="text-align: left;"> blessed to have been able to share a very special day with a very special person! My sister and I got baptized yesterday - praise the Lord!! It was an amazing day shared with family and friends and eeks! It was all completely by God's grace and I'm so glad we were able to do this, and even better, together! đ</span></div>
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDofr0xgChusTHTkSolEXIY3Ly9eNstG1-_Pvkzyt1c334AZZeNkBVN9s6rpAMXoaT9ZJB-2xo4LAGHH8VDmDtJaczloGm6K7TqO7RMSzOhsxGX0hlO6gOsQ_PQXwHXDVvxkJrkbHa1NZ1/s1600/FullSizeRender+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDofr0xgChusTHTkSolEXIY3Ly9eNstG1-_Pvkzyt1c334AZZeNkBVN9s6rpAMXoaT9ZJB-2xo4LAGHH8VDmDtJaczloGm6K7TqO7RMSzOhsxGX0hlO6gOsQ_PQXwHXDVvxkJrkbHa1NZ1/s400/FullSizeRender+%25282%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This was right after we changed out of our baptismal clothes....weirdly enough we don't look wet...but we<br />WERE "dunked" as our youth pastor puts it xD </td></tr>
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Hope you are all having a wonderful week!! </div>
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"Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice!"</div>
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~ Philippians 4:4 </div>
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Blessing Counterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09464499449142181452noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2854006402616010422.post-8307271765620803722018-03-08T15:30:00.000-05:002018-03-08T15:30:23.731-05:00A Bit of Randomness<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Realized I haven't done a randomness post in a really long time. But! Just cause I haven't posted doesn't mean there hasn't been any randomness. Because believe me - randomness is a part of my life. I just ain't me without it xD </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh4yT0R1H6ai4pdhEr4qsvh6po0fmf6W10jBHTmHMPmi2q-CLBuEA9ePU9wLQg8ZNgpil-mhRKzUg1RYao5Kr89qiH3szbqrJ-6wZmtdjDH8O8KBHiHRSKL0WlY7Ef3IlnTvFMzeTQ5AQV/s1600/randomness.png" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh4yT0R1H6ai4pdhEr4qsvh6po0fmf6W10jBHTmHMPmi2q-CLBuEA9ePU9wLQg8ZNgpil-mhRKzUg1RYao5Kr89qiH3szbqrJ-6wZmtdjDH8O8KBHiHRSKL0WlY7Ef3IlnTvFMzeTQ5AQV/s1600/randomness.png" /></a></div>
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- So! This is what happens when your sister, who has very fat thumbs and does not text well, sends me the address of the house from which to pick her up from babysitting:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuPQbvtC9Xs3RrAaxLxt4rCVz1L1-Xx_-pbfmc67ODRj4uaEdQ96fmJtNQI7-uvZ5fpNf_mPXGljw3MpoX3qSQOgQp_AfLeD3sSXrpCuzUEXQiupvfOeO_88mn-ZMyK24WfwTDiRl2zYxN/s1600/Screen+Shot+2018-03-08+at+2.34.10+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuPQbvtC9Xs3RrAaxLxt4rCVz1L1-Xx_-pbfmc67ODRj4uaEdQ96fmJtNQI7-uvZ5fpNf_mPXGljw3MpoX3qSQOgQp_AfLeD3sSXrpCuzUEXQiupvfOeO_88mn-ZMyK24WfwTDiRl2zYxN/s400/Screen+Shot+2018-03-08+at+2.34.10+PM.png" width="270" /></a></div>
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- Ooh yes...and our family went on a cruise. VERY interesting experience. Interesting as in thousands of people, Mexican boyfriends, seasickness, beautiful water, all-day food, so much food, too much food, WAY too much food xD<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs3ohCdlrKctxI00yvbpHXGcjubb353pux4tkzQ3tnDKX6MXbYWsjJXIJp9ccVt3xq4JnorgyWT6zh4ncm0uBD2LmUXPnwrVeUhyphenhyphenDt41KsZ3mhqsDIpTEEkcUEtjeYRYT8P4vppqfrb6Ls/s1600/IMG_2868.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs3ohCdlrKctxI00yvbpHXGcjubb353pux4tkzQ3tnDKX6MXbYWsjJXIJp9ccVt3xq4JnorgyWT6zh4ncm0uBD2LmUXPnwrVeUhyphenhyphenDt41KsZ3mhqsDIpTEEkcUEtjeYRYT8P4vppqfrb6Ls/s400/IMG_2868.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ok so just saying...I kinda like this boat better...I guess I just like smaller things? xD</td></tr>
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Pool side soft serve ice cream...soooooo good!<br /><br />
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Honestly, I think my favourite part of the cruise was stopping by Costa Maya. So basically, we flew to Florida then traveled by ship to Mexico where we stopped at Costa Maya and Cozumel. Costa Maya was more village like and so friendly. Very friendly. Too friendly. *points above to aforementioned Mexican boyfriend shindig*<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVASFXoK0rScP-kIM_aMIZsbmguzwXHqh_re0cwEUzvWh97a3K09ZUh309ToRt3xfeSA4GURpPMrz7nYtooTxJXgOrIkJBGv0eCJBFI7ILtzeUf_wcz1SIGORlXGuMuBzDirAc-XkzdJKN/s1600/IMG_2879.JPG" imageanchor="1" 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/AVvXsEiVASFXoK0rScP-kIM_aMIZsbmguzwXHqh_re0cwEUzvWh97a3K09ZUh309ToRt3xfeSA4GURpPMrz7nYtooTxJXgOrIkJBGv0eCJBFI7ILtzeUf_wcz1SIGORlXGuMuBzDirAc-XkzdJKN/s640/IMG_2879.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
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But just the same, it was a very beautiful place and the water đ</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Look. At. That. Blue!!</td></tr>
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Ooh yes and the man who cleaned our rooms was SO nice! He left us these adorable towel animals each night on our bed. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDPXbqY6r0WiPZ-Vltc0ljPmP8cAFlTCGVu9ip_GktPchPZMmIYUbGYBc4zwkp-CK5MKsvjXYO21fGLS5c881BVqSJercDhFLIUfR9io6QaZpU0YTv1c_s2tvCdwvVtX0bT_-rTbEmgh1t/s1600/FullSizeRender.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDPXbqY6r0WiPZ-Vltc0ljPmP8cAFlTCGVu9ip_GktPchPZMmIYUbGYBc4zwkp-CK5MKsvjXYO21fGLS5c881BVqSJercDhFLIUfR9io6QaZpU0YTv1c_s2tvCdwvVtX0bT_-rTbEmgh1t/s400/FullSizeRender.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I accidentally knocked the poor elephant's head off the first night :P</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM1XIyB99SgEAY92rTBubfXfb_m_NEmpLi_rWtHizpnIG32WBuNvWkaAP6WWdw3W889Sm6bQiKrPxLSc-2d6vCaMT5myWN1lScLmIKdgs0bzDZ0enlaQplMYGDf1sVeKRc3A9qNLsqB_Jr/s1600/IMG_2913.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM1XIyB99SgEAY92rTBubfXfb_m_NEmpLi_rWtHizpnIG32WBuNvWkaAP6WWdw3W889Sm6bQiKrPxLSc-2d6vCaMT5myWN1lScLmIKdgs0bzDZ0enlaQplMYGDf1sVeKRc3A9qNLsqB_Jr/s400/IMG_2913.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
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- Random photo of the Child. Yes she's sleeping. And yes I took advantage of her and used FB filters on her xD<br />
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- Tiger Lily is somehow (don't ask me how) working through Precalculus (she's got brains, I tell ya. I was already half dead after Algebra II). But she got stuck on a question and I tried to help her. Using sticky notes. AND WE GOT IT *does the happy dance*<br />
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- Don't you just love it when the clock says 1, 2, 3, 4??<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP6K484rgyM6EnBPe-uXVWjE1_f4YqlhTjeH1XaSiCqGbslyzXfp0OaWj5lWtfLw0J7ySIhvjmoXeH4WZV_oj-W7ZNNidikNltF9BE1rvkxJtKvzzP0NwHfKPillzfecrarZpfwoEZ7GEp/s1600/IMG_2777.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="361" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP6K484rgyM6EnBPe-uXVWjE1_f4YqlhTjeH1XaSiCqGbslyzXfp0OaWj5lWtfLw0J7ySIhvjmoXeH4WZV_oj-W7ZNNidikNltF9BE1rvkxJtKvzzP0NwHfKPillzfecrarZpfwoEZ7GEp/s400/IMG_2777.PNG" width="225" /></a></div>
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- I turned 18. Oh yeah and I graduated. Hurrazie! Moving on...<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My grandparents took Tiger Lily and I out for my birthday...sweet potato fries are amaaaaaazing</td></tr>
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- *happy sigh* I just LOVE my sistahs! "Kidnapped" my bestie for her birthday and we went out to a lovely cafe and had lunch with mocha lattes and these...desserts. I think they're eclairs and cream puffs? And we talked and talked and talked and talked and talked and talked and at the end of the day we still had more to talk about it. I don't think we'll ever run out of things to talk about xD<br />
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- I made pretzels. They looked so good. They were soft. They smelled good. And they tasted NASTY. I was supposed to boil them in baking soda water for a minute...I musta done something horribly wrong because ugh ugh ugh. I almost cried when I tried it - it was like eating a spoonful of baking soda. Not that I've tried that before. But I think that's what it would be like. It was BAD xD<br />
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- The result of my sister and me being super bored and wanting to do something random...RAINBOW ICE CUBES<br />
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- I marked my brother's whole entire grammar book...and he talked to Siri<br />
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- And I know it's not Easter yet, but I wanted to make coloured meringues. Really wanted to make it. Story is, I couldn't go to sleep last night (honestly, watched my clock go from 11:30 to 12:30 to 1:30 and then I remember going "hey look my clock says 2, 2, 2," before I think I finally fell asleep :P) and so I just thought about a ton of stuff. And one of the things I thought about was how I hadn't brought any baked goods yet to the staff at my church and I was trying to figure out what I could bring and I thought of coloured meringues! So yep! That's what my tired brain came up with xD<br />
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I think that's probably enough randomness for now. Hopefully I haven't lost you xD I would put more of that adorable baby sister of mine, but there are some videos I want to post and I can't figure out how to stick 'em on Blogger. Quite sad really. Any tips? </div>
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Also just a heads up, I <i>might </i>be attempting a blog tag or two soon. Emphasis on the word might. Mainly because of time. But maaaaaybe also because one of them is a #myfirstpostrevisted...'nough said. *inwardly cringes* :P </div>
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I hope you all have a wonderful day!! </div>
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Blessing Counterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09464499449142181452noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2854006402616010422.post-36991825575134283612018-03-05T18:19:00.001-05:002018-03-05T18:19:41.084-05:00Good ol' H2OYou know...sometimes I think I take water for granted. Also...for some peculiar reason, I tend to make a lot of realizations while I'm taking a shower xD<br />
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Water might be a rather insignificant topic to talk about...but I said I was counting my blessings. Not just the massive, important blessings. ALL the blessings. Tiny and great.<br />
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After a rather busy shift working at Tim Hortons, I took a shower just cause I mean, being on your feet for 5 hours straight has its drawbacks xD (and just saying, it's even worse for people with flat feet. Which I have. Very, very flat feet) And then I realized, I take hot water for granted. I take for granted the fact that I can just turn a handle and hot water will come out. I don't give it enough recognition and I hadn't realized it as a blessing. Until now anyway. It's a blessing.<br />
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Thank you, God, for hot water đ<br />
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<br />Blessing Counterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09464499449142181452noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2854006402616010422.post-76897133788210077322018-02-27T08:53:00.001-05:002018-02-27T08:53:12.072-05:00Setting Yourself Apart for ChristOk, so a question for all of you. It's been on my mind a lot this weekend and I thought it would be nice to get your opinion on it.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">How does one set themselves apart from the world...but not act like a snob? </span></div>
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I do have a bit of a backstory as to why this came into my mind, but that might be a different post. I just want to hear your thoughts first ;) </div>
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So....thoughts? </div>
Blessing Counterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09464499449142181452noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2854006402616010422.post-69950666594089327412018-02-23T14:12:00.000-05:002018-02-23T14:12:22.909-05:00Connected by the Heart <div style="text-align: left;">
One of God's biggest blessings to me has got to be my sisters. I mean, He sure knew what He was doing when He gave me sisters.</div>
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Sisters aren't just the girls you're biologically related to. To me, they're also the girls that I can share my secrets and struggles with. They're the girls who will always be there for me, through the thick and the thin. The ones who will not only laugh with me but cry with me as well. The ones who won't leave me to go through something alone. The ones who remind me of God's promises, who always have a Bible verse at hand to throw at me (in the best way possible), and who point me back to God when I'm looking every which way but the right one. The ones who encourage me and the ones who will tell me my flaws, not to hurt me, but because they love me. The ones that I shall grow old with (we'll be just so old and wrinkled, sitting in rocking chairs knitting... huh, actually I wonder if knitting will even be a thing in the future...ok getting sidetracked...where was I? Oh right...) </div>
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I think one thing I've learned is that we can still always be there for one another, even if we can't always be <i>with</i> each other. I do not share a home with certain sisters of mine...and so sometimes we've had to resort to virtual hugs and conversations over text. Which trust me, awesome as they are, are not as nice as <i>actual</i> hugs and person-to-person conversations. But we've learned that just because we're not right in front of each other doesn't mean we're not still there for each other. We make do and then just give each other ginourmous hugs when we do get to see each other xD </div>
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The future seems to be coming faster than I would like it and the idea of being separated from my sisters is rapidly becoming a reality. But even though the world is most likely going to be under threat of drowning from all of our tears when that time comes (just kidding...kinda :P), we're still going to be sisters. Distance isn't going to break us apart. If anything, it could even bring us closer together. The quote "Side by side or miles apart, Sisters will always be connected by the heart" is so true. I am so blessed by my sisters and the bonds that we shall forever share. </div>
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Thank you, God, for sisters đ</div>
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"A sister in Christ is a sister for Life"! </div>
Blessing Counterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09464499449142181452noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2854006402616010422.post-90631591325585022582018-02-20T20:55:00.001-05:002018-02-20T21:00:54.179-05:00Hello Again!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
*crawls back into the blogosphere* Hello again...anyone out there? </div>
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So...I made the sudden realization that I have not blogged seriously in - well, let's just say a very long time. I'm going to blame it on my absoutely horrible time management skills. But don't let anyone ever say blogging is easy. It takes time and care and - did I mention time? </div>
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But even though there never seems to be enough time to do everything...*takes deep breath* I am going to attempt to start blogging again. I'm kinda rusty and getting back into the blogosphere might be a little slow...but you gotta start somewhere right? </div>
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I'm going to make a confession. I haven't been counting my blessings. Not very often anyway. There are so many things in life that I've either completely ignored or forgotten about because I didn't count them and to be honest, I think it really has affected my life.<br />
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Time management is not my forte. I think you've all been able to guess that by now. Life has not really helped because if anything, it's gotten busier. But just because it's busier doesn't mean I can't still look at the little things. All the little and big blessings God puts into my life. Sometimes you just need to take a step back. Take a deep breath. And count the blessings.<br />
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So that's what I'm going to do. My posts might be a little short at times - I might just log in, type out a blurb of a blessing and then skedaddle. But so long as I can keep counting those blessings!<br />
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Don't know if anyone's out there or if anyone even remembers me... *inwardly hopes that is not the case*...but hello again and big hugs if you are and do!<br />
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I hope everyone is doing well in this beautiful life that God has blessed each and every one of us with. Can't wait to hear from you and catch up too!<br />
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Oh yes, and my blessing for this post? Life. Yes, it's crazy and hectic and absolutely full of ups and downs and messed up things but it's my life. And I thank God for it every day.Blessing Counterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09464499449142181452noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2854006402616010422.post-45956121185019596652017-12-21T08:00:00.000-05:002017-12-21T08:00:07.233-05:0012 Days of Christmas // Day 8 // Christmas Collaboration<div style="text-align: center;">
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How is it only 4 more days 'til Christmas?? Time is just flying, I tell ya! </div>
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Anywayyy...welcome to the 8th day of the<a href="http://fireflysstoryspace.blogspot.ca/"> 12 Days of Christmas </a>blog party! </div>
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For today's post, I actually did a collab with my bestie, Olivia Nickerson from <a href="https://kids9blog.wordpress.com/">9 Kids plus 2</a>. A couple of weeks ago, we all were given the opportunity to play at a Christmas recital and it was AMAZING. There were some ups and downs in getting everything ready, but as you can see in the video below, we were able to pull if off p.r.e.t.t.y well if I do say so myself!</div>
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To hear the background story on rehearsals and practices and such (as well as a possible amount of ranting ;)) you can go to Livs' blog <a href="https://kids9blog.wordpress.com/2017/12/21/12doc-day-8-collab-post">HERE</a> and read our collab post. </div>
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Have a lovely Thursday everyone and don't forget! </div>
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<span style="color: red; font-size: x-large;">4 More Days to Go!!! </span></div>
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Blessing Counterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09464499449142181452noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2854006402616010422.post-32065286458219073972017-12-19T10:07:00.000-05:002017-12-19T10:07:11.720-05:0012 Days of Christmas // Day 6 // Why's Personalization Important? <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Welcome to Day 6 of the party! How are y'all enjoying yourselves? Aren't there some pretty awesome posts coming up? Also...anyone see the super cool, super amazing giveaway that Faith's hosting? If not...you'd better go check out her blog! Here, I'll even help you get started and give you the <a href="http://fireflysstoryspace.blogspot.ca/">link to her blog</a> ;)</div>
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<img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPKPBw4N3E7M6pvnJFJIVrNtjEO5-nx4HY_IcjG77oMRqbF_S8C4r4vER57zKQob5Fqs2dHy0Q29cJ1XKazzka66CEfDiTIH9225gFvMIdD9_Kw1vwbqTAdGl_3huko6XGMUM5gMpyi0x3/s640/image1+%25284%2529.JPG" width="640" /></div>
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Today I bring to you...a hack in writing <span style="color: red;"><i>calligraphy</i>. </span></div>
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To start off, you're gonna want to grab a piece of paper and a pen and sharpie marker. The sharpie marker is optional, but it does make it easier - sometimes. Also, if you do decide to go for the sharpie, make sure it's the fine tip. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZGTt_PruMVq5ZT2DdLvrQfakpAyu9_pro3HhoAS_2dlmwpkU8bwwUFPHD7u8VLvaNajyP0F_qWDWIE2vlZoCP6n9geoz1r01Od-oWjFdQC5o_cqnlv9FVe41kCNVeNhFLC9BGCP6rNpS0/s1600/IMG_2460.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZGTt_PruMVq5ZT2DdLvrQfakpAyu9_pro3HhoAS_2dlmwpkU8bwwUFPHD7u8VLvaNajyP0F_qWDWIE2vlZoCP6n9geoz1r01Od-oWjFdQC5o_cqnlv9FVe41kCNVeNhFLC9BGCP6rNpS0/s400/IMG_2460.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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Using the pen, write some words down; cursive works the best. Don't be afraid of making mistakes. If you go slow, your lines will end up kinda shaky. Just let the ink flow from the pen and just <i>write</i>. Ok so that's easier said than done, especially when you're a perfectionist (*points to self*) but try not to worry too much about it.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx1sAd5h1AEb4gXsb9D6DAGk_9AUmeo6-GR-Xr9VkQqAe8L5fuUmsXel97aMbp7p3yvBkJ2e2KjYlNM_y3S5JGxy8jEzLfCpx4DdqTQzFP1l0Fb6VRffxiXhKbaaPXRlSBdZIQDGnDoUIs/s1600/IMG_2461.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx1sAd5h1AEb4gXsb9D6DAGk_9AUmeo6-GR-Xr9VkQqAe8L5fuUmsXel97aMbp7p3yvBkJ2e2KjYlNM_y3S5JGxy8jEzLfCpx4DdqTQzFP1l0Fb6VRffxiXhKbaaPXRlSBdZIQDGnDoUIs/s400/IMG_2461.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Once you've got the words written down, write a second line along any downward stroke on the word.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnYR0Xg0Bd-yCBiZf3SLFYqj3LW9HWwhQeqjszCsDN53h02IRjvxLPVnmgIxX9-btP9FXT6rNB_-UREuiSgiBAxvuF8LwIuhU7zUgCo2CCybpleSI8cy90zLsh6ydT6RVfrtp4Oz9cOFrK/s1600/IMG_2462.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnYR0Xg0Bd-yCBiZf3SLFYqj3LW9HWwhQeqjszCsDN53h02IRjvxLPVnmgIxX9-btP9FXT6rNB_-UREuiSgiBAxvuF8LwIuhU7zUgCo2CCybpleSI8cy90zLsh6ydT6RVfrtp4Oz9cOFrK/s400/IMG_2462.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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The rest of the lines maaayy look like they need to be thickened or made darker - but don't darken them. That'll ruin the effect of the final product later.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBjd5B_Xt9FjiRXJEnXPdUQ9mncsCiyElP8AY9tmunSjKdlOKRn2gAKpH4VDDOrMoT4ufrLDL3ojrxVpY-dQCPhPQum00JMY1vOOst3gD7aHGL1X96z3xiOa7xO3IpLzhw5Azl8sSppV63/s1600/IMG_2463.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBjd5B_Xt9FjiRXJEnXPdUQ9mncsCiyElP8AY9tmunSjKdlOKRn2gAKpH4VDDOrMoT4ufrLDL3ojrxVpY-dQCPhPQum00JMY1vOOst3gD7aHGL1X96z3xiOa7xO3IpLzhw5Azl8sSppV63/s400/IMG_2463.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Once you've got those second lines drawn, start filling them it! And - try to stay within the lines. We're going back to the days of colouring pages y'all! ;)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhct59FAcRqQtCg8qITGv5gYHQP5tE9-mrb5YsmTz_PpcQCmnIrG0C4wtkA0dsse_hV7o3cmX726eFOCZiPq5UhliXMeVJW43Ni2EnkfolrhKKtyDUCPbWpH8xVU2_RFhn0YJxcUUJq3SQ8/s1600/IMG_2464.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhct59FAcRqQtCg8qITGv5gYHQP5tE9-mrb5YsmTz_PpcQCmnIrG0C4wtkA0dsse_hV7o3cmX726eFOCZiPq5UhliXMeVJW43Ni2EnkfolrhKKtyDUCPbWpH8xVU2_RFhn0YJxcUUJq3SQ8/s400/IMG_2464.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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So, the reason I said that sharpie marker helps but sometimes doesn't, is because of this. When you're filling in the lines, Sharpie makes it go a lot faster. However, especially depending on the type of paper you use, the marker will sometimes bleed out so then your curves aren't as smooth as you'd like. You can probably see some of that on that "J". So if you don't mind taking a bit more time, you can always use an ink pen too.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYh63xHIG79x48btRbGf9gdWDKwdxphkFsHRCgEz-IrMGWsZoGgA37kZFlT1Q2qMxT3HhZdobWNQaAtzlcmOJTSo6EknVgvoe5f8Il3Eee2ttFnT7h0HuBR1CEIqhmSJc1l7qlWq4dsmQj/s1600/IMG_2465.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYh63xHIG79x48btRbGf9gdWDKwdxphkFsHRCgEz-IrMGWsZoGgA37kZFlT1Q2qMxT3HhZdobWNQaAtzlcmOJTSo6EknVgvoe5f8Il3Eee2ttFnT7h0HuBR1CEIqhmSJc1l7qlWq4dsmQj/s400/IMG_2465.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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And another fun font you can use...if you use caps and then again drawing lines along any downward stroke on the word and just leave it like that.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEuz9Zl9A23mDXfn0YLEQvTN9wSHKMPTMO26PEmitxFdiYDQtisxBZV1T2LD2YLqRV27Sh3KV9SiV2uTX3iGQGKTt8aIAL1DSjj6HuCns_6r_5t5gez0F_Lzx9JLIZrR01Ne_oC1FaNdRt/s1600/IMG_2466.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEuz9Zl9A23mDXfn0YLEQvTN9wSHKMPTMO26PEmitxFdiYDQtisxBZV1T2LD2YLqRV27Sh3KV9SiV2uTX3iGQGKTt8aIAL1DSjj6HuCns_6r_5t5gez0F_Lzx9JLIZrR01Ne_oC1FaNdRt/s400/IMG_2466.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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And you're done! Super easy and super fun too. It does take a bit more time than if you were to just write a Christmas card, but hey. That's what makes it even more special, right?<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAyPiQlr1DSAx_UXF1bLWGLqaZsInAr-jxj_7xMLd0M1mfjEtMnypYPUWPzhkrytyxhiIy-_EhZZqW5kVQabxLuocJsod8zl8BRMKKENaef6U5S5Ddfft0FkZNsyo4zOr3rdjK2PYK-lyn/s1600/IMG_2467.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAyPiQlr1DSAx_UXF1bLWGLqaZsInAr-jxj_7xMLd0M1mfjEtMnypYPUWPzhkrytyxhiIy-_EhZZqW5kVQabxLuocJsod8zl8BRMKKENaef6U5S5Ddfft0FkZNsyo4zOr3rdjK2PYK-lyn/s640/IMG_2467.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Which brings me to a question I've had this year: Why is Personalization So Important?</div>
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It's the season where everyone's buying gifts for people - friends, family, the lady at the post office, your next door neighbour, etc. I've always liked writing cards (sometimes rather lengthy ones xD) to people whenever I give them a gift, but this year especially, I wondered if I could personalize the <i>gifts</i> themselves. </div>
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Why? Well, you know the saying "time is precious and can not be bought"? Well, I believe that it's not how much money or how big the gift is that makes it special...it's how much <i>time</i> you spend on it. That's what makes homemade gifts so special to me, because I know that a person spent their time, precious time that once used can never be used again, on it. </div>
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Now I'm not saying buying gifts is bad. No indeedy. But <i>how</i> do you buy gifts? There's a difference between grabbing a random thing off a shelf to stick in a bag and actually taking the time to look for the right gift. </div>
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So this Christmas season when you're buying and wrapping those gifts - remember the true motive for it...and the reason behind it. Nothing can compare to the ultimately precious and amazing gift that God gave to the world, but we can use that as an example as to what we should follow. Let's not just give a gift because we have to or because everyone else is doing it. Let's give gifts to show people how special they are to you and to show how much you love them. </div>
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Because that's the whole meaning of Christmas. Right? </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxSETZjFuEnKTzWhCUpr1efgrQcRysoFhY4_nxSBl1IYgj_n3FE4T83CGWpTENA-KZNWptWhVUK8SkVqXfc8OpM_DskahWP9pgiXsX6prKNYIWRZ8DrngQweQcAdXtkgjC9R3jpyrkUaRf/s1600/IMG_2469.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxSETZjFuEnKTzWhCUpr1efgrQcRysoFhY4_nxSBl1IYgj_n3FE4T83CGWpTENA-KZNWptWhVUK8SkVqXfc8OpM_DskahWP9pgiXsX6prKNYIWRZ8DrngQweQcAdXtkgjC9R3jpyrkUaRf/s400/IMG_2469.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />Blessing Counterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09464499449142181452noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2854006402616010422.post-50965935139059701672017-12-16T09:29:00.002-05:002017-12-16T09:29:18.902-05:0012 Days of Christmas // Day 3 // Cinnamon Roll Cookies<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Ack! Welcome to the third day of the blog party! Go <a href="http://fireflysstoryspace.blogspot.ca/">HERE</a> to visit Faith's blog and see the list of bloggers posting today with their awesome Chritmas posts!!</div>
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<img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPKPBw4N3E7M6pvnJFJIVrNtjEO5-nx4HY_IcjG77oMRqbF_S8C4r4vER57zKQob5Fqs2dHy0Q29cJ1XKazzka66CEfDiTIH9225gFvMIdD9_Kw1vwbqTAdGl_3huko6XGMUM5gMpyi0x3/s640/image1+%25284%2529.JPG" style="text-align: center;" width="640" /></div>
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So for this post...you all get to see me attempt to try a new recipe! I had actually seen my friend already try to make it, and since they looked so good I decided to try them myself. And yep...as is typical when I'm in the kitchen, I encountered problems. BIG ones. But anyway. You'll get to that later. So! Onto some <span style="color: #cc0000;"><b>Cinnamon Roll Cookies!</b></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqOOcgitUbF6HaMtjp5BQN2diWM8-KTMPXFjS3bz9Y9xpjPAA3V3us4CgN3KsJL-UghxIRNpBQZ_8wpo_6hh9PK48inaAvYkiZPNRFF72dUFx6gcuI2UXoYxUDb40hlPXFuLAOxSXjqr7A/s1600/IMG_2453.JPG" imageanchor="1" 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/AVvXsEgqOOcgitUbF6HaMtjp5BQN2diWM8-KTMPXFjS3bz9Y9xpjPAA3V3us4CgN3KsJL-UghxIRNpBQZ_8wpo_6hh9PK48inaAvYkiZPNRFF72dUFx6gcuI2UXoYxUDb40hlPXFuLAOxSXjqr7A/s640/IMG_2453.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
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So to start you will need: </div>
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2 1/4 cup Flour </div>
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3/4 cup White Sugar</div>
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3/4 cup Butter</div>
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1 Egg</div>
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1/2 tsp of Baking Powder</div>
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aaaand</div>
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2 teaspoons Vanilla<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhw9I9R-y8sZ1zOi1G-B-14I1lS0OdnPtO8q2MZA9ufaUx7QUXj_Va35dYR5DaKLOp3TLLHYGj3TKKkYriy4SVKv0zm-FNAlqQRa-uivj3dw-60HW1PqBOVwVkXYjsj9JMHzORPJBWkbg8/s1600/IMG_2423.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhw9I9R-y8sZ1zOi1G-B-14I1lS0OdnPtO8q2MZA9ufaUx7QUXj_Va35dYR5DaKLOp3TLLHYGj3TKKkYriy4SVKv0zm-FNAlqQRa-uivj3dw-60HW1PqBOVwVkXYjsj9JMHzORPJBWkbg8/s400/IMG_2423.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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Take the butter and sugar and mix it together. And then beat it. Very well.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaoS3WCwEVY94_zAMUu4Mp5Y7QCaEKCSAbKv08ZBgwGtR-3QSQmKjOFmqMmt347pUH1O89wjIzszOoGSCa1v9O0oURfKUk4jNCJAUFUNkzbhPzFwLIx9jRur-uRydXkdKhW2ADG3lTCAGK/s1600/IMG_2424.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaoS3WCwEVY94_zAMUu4Mp5Y7QCaEKCSAbKv08ZBgwGtR-3QSQmKjOFmqMmt347pUH1O89wjIzszOoGSCa1v9O0oURfKUk4jNCJAUFUNkzbhPzFwLIx9jRur-uRydXkdKhW2ADG3lTCAGK/s400/IMG_2424.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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You'll know you've beat it enough when it becomes lighter and fluffier. Something like this.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPhYWUyhwZ6YjjDiVj5tehN5mQSQigyJ_CRdja-zBeyHmniQOcPJTG7DfEZBu5A_JJQ-45skFYuv1ezk3Ut846FdJszdkWvY-inwK0PvpnxSQ3EgwbokH1NjNMU6z8dhr2fl4KlHr_vpjL/s1600/IMG_2425.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPhYWUyhwZ6YjjDiVj5tehN5mQSQigyJ_CRdja-zBeyHmniQOcPJTG7DfEZBu5A_JJQ-45skFYuv1ezk3Ut846FdJszdkWvY-inwK0PvpnxSQ3EgwbokH1NjNMU6z8dhr2fl4KlHr_vpjL/s400/IMG_2425.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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Drop in that egg and mix it up. One key thing when making cookies is to make sure you stir it enough...but not <i>too</i> much. Otherwise it'll get all doughy and icky.<br />
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Once that egg's stirred in, stir in that oh so good smelling but awful tasting vanilla.<br />
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Dump in the flour (ok so don't actually dump in the flour. I was in a hurry and dumped it and...yep! Got flour aaaaaallll over me. That was fun xD) Anywayyyy...stir that in until just incorporated.<br />
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My dough was extremely dry (I'm blaming the extreme cold outside <i>and</i> inside cause really, our house is like a fridge...might I even say freezer? in winter) soooo I used my fingers to bring the dough together.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3MNWCwdAGIGtUXn-KV3DP_e78v3Gg00YcjaMQMgKf9rzwr4BoxE8Vs5XBv0R4zQ73-ByZVbWIZinQFgW1oHDsfFMPtcBQ2cX3fpQ-CZyb4mkRQ_Sysnn793Q8l7bNlPH-Z7K1LXVcvYiy/s1600/IMG_2430.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3MNWCwdAGIGtUXn-KV3DP_e78v3Gg00YcjaMQMgKf9rzwr4BoxE8Vs5XBv0R4zQ73-ByZVbWIZinQFgW1oHDsfFMPtcBQ2cX3fpQ-CZyb4mkRQ_Sysnn793Q8l7bNlPH-Z7K1LXVcvYiy/s400/IMG_2430.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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Once you've got the dough together into a ball, cut it in half and then leave it to rest while you get your filling. I mean, they <i>are</i> cinnamon roll cookies, so of course it needs a filling! For anyone who's made cinnamon rolls before, you probably already know what's in here.<br />
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Sooooo you will need:<br />
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2 tablespoons Butter (sofftened or melted, whatever's easier for you)<br />
1/4 cup white Sugar<br />
1 tablespoon cinnamon<br />
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Gonna say now though...if you feel like you need more of any of those ingredients - go for it. I added more cinnamon to mine because *shrugs* You can never have too much cinnamon.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdGj0GVtcYL5CM1U3e9Ca24hGj2LZn-cn55z4zXWwYGj8JlUTroP3ROlLsBZJa-4DjYYpuGGYVrCtgMTfjlO8ZFYxADIamz7vhTPuLM9u-llzCDSoLhkh0BMnHi4o6PIyCU1VaImEfoG_w/s1600/IMG_2431.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdGj0GVtcYL5CM1U3e9Ca24hGj2LZn-cn55z4zXWwYGj8JlUTroP3ROlLsBZJa-4DjYYpuGGYVrCtgMTfjlO8ZFYxADIamz7vhTPuLM9u-llzCDSoLhkh0BMnHi4o6PIyCU1VaImEfoG_w/s400/IMG_2431.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Excuse the peculiar rotation of my picture. Didn't quite upload properly xD)</td></tr>
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Mix the cinnamon and sugar together and watch all those lovely swirls blend together.<br />
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Now for the fun part...aka the really messy part. Grab one of the balls of dough and place it on a mat or cutting board or parchment paper. Now, I tried it on a flexible cutting board we had - BIG mistake. My dough was waaaaay too crumbly and trying to roll it up was a HUGE mess because it kept cracking :/ SO...what I ended up doing was adding a liiiiitle water (very, very tiny bit) to my second ball of dough and letting it soften up a bit before rolling it out.<br />
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So yeah! Take a rolling pin and roll your dough out into a rectangle. Also...I reeeeaaaallly don't like it when recipes say by how many inches the length and width of said rectangle should be....because well...is it normal to have a ruler to measure your dough with or something? If it is...I shall admit then I am not normal. Cause yeahhhh....I've never rolled dough out exactly as the recipe says :P I just guesstimate. Since you're rolling UP the dough, you want to make sure it's not too thin otherwise you're gonna have a rather hard time.<br />
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Once the dough's rolled out to your desired thickness, length, and width, spread half of the butter (remember you have another ball you gotta roll out) all over the dough.<br />
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Then sprinkle on the cinnamon-sugar! Don't forget the edges...they don't want to be left out. </div>
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Aaaannddd...as I mentioned earlier, after this you roll your dough up just like a cinnamon roll. Start at one end of the dough and begin to roll it up, moving along the dough until one roll is complete, and then going back over to do it. Rolling it tightly is KEY for the cookies to come out properly.<br />
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And taking a short break from ingredient pictures to show you my dear sister's face as she watched me dispair over my first roll since it cracked all the way up to the end xD<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvwniBKuTHmH8Kts1PUC8LdtqTDy-M-0jJyZs9loCFlObXmQDR60YulkvwxdftN2f7rnC22JszCEfcTaJhC4NIiA0oclRiI2CF0IKJm-zZi4LT4Y6UilVzOLW4lwOm9xMydKdmVNVJs7jA/s1600/IMG_2437.jpg" imageanchor="1" 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/AVvXsEhvwniBKuTHmH8Kts1PUC8LdtqTDy-M-0jJyZs9loCFlObXmQDR60YulkvwxdftN2f7rnC22JszCEfcTaJhC4NIiA0oclRiI2CF0IKJm-zZi4LT4Y6UilVzOLW4lwOm9xMydKdmVNVJs7jA/s640/IMG_2437.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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This here's the second ball of dough...softened and rolled out a liiiitle thicker than the second one. Also placed it on parchment paper which helps soooo much. It rolled waaaay better too.<br />
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After you've got your dough all rolled up, place it in the fridge and let it chill. For some recipes, you can skip the chilling, but for these ones, you MUST chill the dough. Otherwise you will completely lose the shape of your dough.<br />
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It also helps sooo much when you cut out your dough since it's all nice and firm. I think this was my favourite part of the recipe...cutting the dough into nice little swirly circles. So fun!<br />
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Lay your cookies on a baking tray and stick them in an oven preheated to 350 degrees F for 10-12 minutes. </div>
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Once they're brown underneath, you'll know they're done. </div>
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Once they're cool, it's time for the next step that is <i>crucial </i>for any cinnamon roll to be a cinnamon roll. Don't know about you, but cinnamon rolls just aren't complete until they have...<br />
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ICING. Your icing is pretty simple to make, just milk and icing sugar and a little vanilla if you want it. Watch the consistency of your icing though, too thick and it won't drizzle nicely, but too thin and it'll just become invisible on your cookie! It must be just right, as Baby Bear would say ;)<br />
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And there! You're done! They make a great cookie for parties or just a snack at home! I was able to bring them to our church youth Christmas party, which was sooo fun ^_^<br />
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Let me know if you try this recipe at home! I'd love to see pictures of them :D And let me know how the rolling goes ;)<br />
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<i>Do you like frosting on cinnamon roll cookies? </i></div>
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<i>What's one of your favourite Christmas cookies? </i></div>
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<i>You ready for Christmas??</i></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-size: x-large;">10 More Days to Go!!! </span></div>
<br />Blessing Counterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09464499449142181452noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2854006402616010422.post-36377873203470073972017-12-14T08:00:00.000-05:002017-12-14T08:00:51.219-05:0012 Days of Christmas // Day 1 // Christmas in a Mug Let the countdown begin! Can you believe it? TWELVE more days until Christmas!! Ahh...SO exciting!<br />
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Anyway...I come to you with <b>The 12 Days of Christmas</b>, hosted by the lovely Faith P. You can go to her blog <a href="http://fireflysstoryspace.blogspot.ca/">HERE</a> to see all the other wonderful bloggers joining us in this fun Christmas blog link up.<br />
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<img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPKPBw4N3E7M6pvnJFJIVrNtjEO5-nx4HY_IcjG77oMRqbF_S8C4r4vER57zKQob5Fqs2dHy0Q29cJ1XKazzka66CEfDiTIH9225gFvMIdD9_Kw1vwbqTAdGl_3huko6XGMUM5gMpyi0x3/s640/image1+%25284%2529.JPG" style="text-align: center;" width="640" /><br />
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To kick off the 12 Days of Christmas, I'm going to start off with a Christmas gift DIY that I did this year for several presents. It's super simple, very pretty, and tons of fun too!<br />
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<span style="color: red; font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b>Christmas in a Mug</b></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuamY5Nwgcn0QRWqFkHNX481oyfNigD_4PPFpN9X7uoisKLMu2d3D1hdHkMjuKOOPKiBy9_InJD9o6RgUAGYWTIrF0Jw1sdE2AjF8znmqY75NapT8JI_wQ8-XLzdKJnHG1CWkx0ksbXFUb/s1600/IMG_2375.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-size: 24px; font-weight: 700; 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/AVvXsEjuamY5Nwgcn0QRWqFkHNX481oyfNigD_4PPFpN9X7uoisKLMu2d3D1hdHkMjuKOOPKiBy9_InJD9o6RgUAGYWTIrF0Jw1sdE2AjF8znmqY75NapT8JI_wQ8-XLzdKJnHG1CWkx0ksbXFUb/s640/IMG_2375.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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Sooooo...to start off, you are going to need: </div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b>A Mug</b></span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdnGgZqHeRfRf8jpqz2obw7Ia7cHpKw_6cgqRxR37sdX9M-BM5BZefOVmWFJm1FzuQ6lsj1tsEusDzxuio_7I-G_C8ldzwNZvPEH2DX8JIxIgj8Wv59kBkWXaN7f4u-JgtcekHBnq7hnsc/s1600/IMG_2383.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdnGgZqHeRfRf8jpqz2obw7Ia7cHpKw_6cgqRxR37sdX9M-BM5BZefOVmWFJm1FzuQ6lsj1tsEusDzxuio_7I-G_C8ldzwNZvPEH2DX8JIxIgj8Wv59kBkWXaN7f4u-JgtcekHBnq7hnsc/s400/IMG_2383.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Isn't this sweater mug just so cute?<br />
You can find a variety of Christmasy mugs at a dollar store. Heads up though, just cause it says dollar store doesn't mean it's actually a dollar xD But...they're still a pretty good price and usually pretty good quality too!<br />
My sister and I went to the dollar store one day and came back with several types of Christmasy mugs like this one. I LOVE the sweater mug, it just looks so nice and cozy. </td></tr>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b>A Pair of Fluffy Socks</b></span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjpwm6OslP80r3N3O4J7QsE6MJdJi6ilgyFQlj4agNxwH6RN7irDx08zuCL8GgGWLsyLowR24eKkeCY7WpZtawibYXd6md80UyBVC5bqIeoMl3gBmNojl9Vl5loj_j_5pVSOOTg8zQyrk3/s1600/IMG_2384.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjpwm6OslP80r3N3O4J7QsE6MJdJi6ilgyFQlj4agNxwH6RN7irDx08zuCL8GgGWLsyLowR24eKkeCY7WpZtawibYXd6md80UyBVC5bqIeoMl3gBmNojl9Vl5loj_j_5pVSOOTg8zQyrk3/s400/IMG_2384.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">'Cause who doesn't love a pair of fluffy socks? I think I wear these kind of socks all winter long. Lovely to snuggle up with a warm cup of something hot, a blanket, a book, and these oh so soft and fluffy socks!<br />
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<span style="color: red; font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b>A Candy Bar</b></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgehCuhwPlr4RijwN92gh3QFkamoRnxsvQPe4kORzmlZjM2ysJTHkmUJeW_7DMfV310eUw399tufUyIpcfOASuyOp-Mz5QN2U92tXW-94I0_A5Me2pzBPCzFebGvTgXt3Bgy2QSScwX483G/s1600/IMG_2385.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-size: 24px; font-weight: 700; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgehCuhwPlr4RijwN92gh3QFkamoRnxsvQPe4kORzmlZjM2ysJTHkmUJeW_7DMfV310eUw399tufUyIpcfOASuyOp-Mz5QN2U92tXW-94I0_A5Me2pzBPCzFebGvTgXt3Bgy2QSScwX483G/s400/IMG_2385.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Any candy bar works just fine! Kit Kat, Snickers, Mars Bar, etc. For this mug, I'm using a Coffee Crisp, but I also grabbed a couple Kit Kats for other mugs. </td></tr>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b>A Variety of Chocolates</b></span></div>
Choice of chocolate is completely up to you! To make it more Christmas-y, you can grab chocolates that are wrapped holiday style. And really, Bulk Barn is the place to go, y'all! I seriously love that place.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjey1BVlqb9NzQAPBCp7gNdJfrnGqleTtPGO_BHFWCUquAAfLgwr-lSgvXHHEMRPO44-GycmpxRJQbwiO9rhhjYKiPuQmZ_AXenLgdMw-1HGF8yAJUqH4YO0YwBY04AF7_jzONYO0cXkIVO/s1600/IMG_2386.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-size: 24px; font-weight: 700; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjey1BVlqb9NzQAPBCp7gNdJfrnGqleTtPGO_BHFWCUquAAfLgwr-lSgvXHHEMRPO44-GycmpxRJQbwiO9rhhjYKiPuQmZ_AXenLgdMw-1HGF8yAJUqH4YO0YwBY04AF7_jzONYO0cXkIVO/s400/IMG_2386.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Peppermint Hersheys. SO good. And the wrappers add great colour to the mug!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1QdkC2ZvXrZ54m12o7CaYLwY0-9azIXx69xYMVGLngjSQZBeXblkDrcgmLNv71n45R0lKUIIeTRvjrWxfhSsZgbhFAe9B1byvZYP9CmgB7Rf-OcOO9aJ0SN3G87Ceixuv_AiS0gqz48Ua/s1600/IMG_2388.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-size: 24px; font-weight: 700; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1QdkC2ZvXrZ54m12o7CaYLwY0-9azIXx69xYMVGLngjSQZBeXblkDrcgmLNv71n45R0lKUIIeTRvjrWxfhSsZgbhFAe9B1byvZYP9CmgB7Rf-OcOO9aJ0SN3G87Ceixuv_AiS0gqz48Ua/s400/IMG_2388.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ooh, and these darling chocolates-wrapped-like-presents. Perfect for the theme!</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_-MzeTDp8kFDyMm0lG3yjm7PYPvqpvPAFXysibH7VRQOhCGE1ED353PXPKOHEyl4XMlZ6LlpMvC6ziRS-s-yXjzZAkoQy3f9G85xAOes5ExbvfzVk37B8mFgXRWvFEP8wJ4UPDjtH0kX4/s1600/IMG_2387.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-size: 24px; font-weight: 700; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_-MzeTDp8kFDyMm0lG3yjm7PYPvqpvPAFXysibH7VRQOhCGE1ED353PXPKOHEyl4XMlZ6LlpMvC6ziRS-s-yXjzZAkoQy3f9G85xAOes5ExbvfzVk37B8mFgXRWvFEP8wJ4UPDjtH0kX4/s400/IMG_2387.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Aaaand, almond Hersheys. Course...the wrapper again. Gold accents - perfect. </td></tr>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b>Candy Canes</b></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwgVgWtyLoGTJQvn2T81YJg34q6jwPrk5FuCiyytXXZDqZLnKPj-dXLCOY1a9AaZ-y8njXCT0_iY-Skwuu0S-uVS0DZfj0TpxZL1dAMqQbPkMiimt8CKTUV29ShEYQTv2YCUY0cNSLJYjr/s1600/IMG_2389.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-size: 24px; font-weight: 700; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwgVgWtyLoGTJQvn2T81YJg34q6jwPrk5FuCiyytXXZDqZLnKPj-dXLCOY1a9AaZ-y8njXCT0_iY-Skwuu0S-uVS0DZfj0TpxZL1dAMqQbPkMiimt8CKTUV29ShEYQTv2YCUY0cNSLJYjr/s400/IMG_2389.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Just some mini candy canes to stick randomly in the cup. I was aiming for a heart...but it wouldn't really stay xD <br />
(proof of this later on)</td></tr>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b>Other Small Gifts</b></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5jEAzevfnKPe4Sm88XSL0MHTLEBPAprd_-PDk9Lsppceag-GcLPpYGYuYYADNS4idhwgaXGNx6mAaZF8u07zKysFVUjBse37Ni0SrXghyphenhyphenUJ0IkCwYZ2aZ7fIcydjNXVWQeOadABtZ9O2x/s1600/IMG_2391.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-size: 24px; font-weight: 700; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5jEAzevfnKPe4Sm88XSL0MHTLEBPAprd_-PDk9Lsppceag-GcLPpYGYuYYADNS4idhwgaXGNx6mAaZF8u07zKysFVUjBse37Ni0SrXghyphenhyphenUJ0IkCwYZ2aZ7fIcydjNXVWQeOadABtZ9O2x/s400/IMG_2391.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Totally optional, but if you want to add even more to your mug, you can always grab other small gifts like gift cards or lip balms. One of my students from my English class makes and sells lip balms (her strawberry scented ones are THE BEST) so I bought several from her to use as filling in my mug. And I also got a Tim's card to slip in as well.</td></tr>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b>One Big, Glorious, Red and White Peppermint Stick</b></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOwPOZAh0w50oIe73L2dozAwFp5wA733gDHlgy_blQChrzxkFVRRvhv9zFqOz8s11OOEKpVdb3KhZCht6W9vbjbggBU2A3fd1ZDRB-V5dRdpjdXcLN-kQ_sRd53TS_hqRs128F5AMcR_ww/s1600/IMG_2393.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-size: 24px; font-weight: 700; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOwPOZAh0w50oIe73L2dozAwFp5wA733gDHlgy_blQChrzxkFVRRvhv9zFqOz8s11OOEKpVdb3KhZCht6W9vbjbggBU2A3fd1ZDRB-V5dRdpjdXcLN-kQ_sRd53TS_hqRs128F5AMcR_ww/s400/IMG_2393.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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Ok so! To assemble the mug, you're first gonna take your oh-so-fluffy socks and lay 'em out flat. Then put the candy bar on one end and roll it up! Then squish it into the mug so that it fills it perfectly! </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-sqg4ZFm1nQohV7ykdQfXA4OhJHdr33eJGRXjsRWdbkNxflplMt_9GbnKRpp6VHlpZsJI1Xni0ZvFnvfjVKQLcA5sh6sdKyTZ-h63myHfvlT9ywJ7UsaDS81DC9KHKXAzCTU8hYCO164B/s1600/IMG_2392.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-size: 24px; font-weight: 700; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-sqg4ZFm1nQohV7ykdQfXA4OhJHdr33eJGRXjsRWdbkNxflplMt_9GbnKRpp6VHlpZsJI1Xni0ZvFnvfjVKQLcA5sh6sdKyTZ-h63myHfvlT9ywJ7UsaDS81DC9KHKXAzCTU8hYCO164B/s400/IMG_2392.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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Then stick the gift card in the back and the big peppermint stick next to the candy bar. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtJ899LFI7U76biekUiE7aSqA3CgE8DkuhHgC-UsMAmChSUn28lcoK8D4P-pKkELt-hhz9rOZ5_IBg3Ri0oucQVrXNXydO9VM6chU1n2U6Wse3-lUYtxvg_0wOGC366yQM_F4vc7TjqoGK/s1600/IMG_2394.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-size: 24px; font-weight: 700; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtJ899LFI7U76biekUiE7aSqA3CgE8DkuhHgC-UsMAmChSUn28lcoK8D4P-pKkELt-hhz9rOZ5_IBg3Ri0oucQVrXNXydO9VM6chU1n2U6Wse3-lUYtxvg_0wOGC366yQM_F4vc7TjqoGK/s400/IMG_2394.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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Now for the mini candy canes. As you can see here, I attempted the heart and it didn't look TOO bad...</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuC-mzXyC1nNqEsc5ThSwZdxZLiJzGIyM-5yokUlkxUfKjmL4VVd_VUpxEal_mLAdGa0yvqcgjgYxLAf1DzkIIiT7fDN8yzGD3926lAVwFcxCHaIfrl9LjZhtwHTtUOFgtqm7fjEXKP3a0/s1600/IMG_2395.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-size: 24px; font-weight: 700; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuC-mzXyC1nNqEsc5ThSwZdxZLiJzGIyM-5yokUlkxUfKjmL4VVd_VUpxEal_mLAdGa0yvqcgjgYxLAf1DzkIIiT7fDN8yzGD3926lAVwFcxCHaIfrl9LjZhtwHTtUOFgtqm7fjEXKP3a0/s400/IMG_2395.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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But then they closed together because yep, that's what they wanted to do. I "sprinkled" both types of Hersheys into the cup, but I will admit, I did a teeeeny bit of rearranging because some of the colours were clumping together. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSOMGWF9fCEp3x-x7rH8o7oIrD6wKAMwXfjQJ8dnwjZqKcfgR3U7UoSSs2w8fSbXk0riDH6uU0mBun5xF38oYTLkW8-_-lhGoXlbkoGSHFTFbpN09BJgk7YDWpWgU5CTWr3sBCChXTZo_z/s1600/IMG_2396.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-size: 24px; font-weight: 700; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSOMGWF9fCEp3x-x7rH8o7oIrD6wKAMwXfjQJ8dnwjZqKcfgR3U7UoSSs2w8fSbXk0riDH6uU0mBun5xF38oYTLkW8-_-lhGoXlbkoGSHFTFbpN09BJgk7YDWpWgU5CTWr3sBCChXTZo_z/s400/IMG_2396.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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Then to finish it off, add the chocoate presents. </div>
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And <i>voila!</i> You're done! </div>
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And that wraps it up for today! Hope you enjoyed this post and let me know if you've ever tried this before! </div>
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Don't forget to check by Faith's blog for more Christmas posts by a bunch of awesome bloggers! </div>
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<span style="color: red; font-size: x-large;">12 Days to Go!!! </span></div>
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Blessing Counterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09464499449142181452noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2854006402616010422.post-59794344879934946762017-11-14T06:00:00.000-05:002017-11-14T06:00:00.371-05:00Christmas Comes Early Blog Tour<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Christmas time is here! Okay, so not quite yet. It's still over a month away, but that doesn't mean we can't start celebrating early, right? So today, we're celebrating the release of not one, not four, but <i>eight</i> new Christmas books! All written by Rebekah A. Morris. I'll be spotlighting two of her books today and you can find out more about the others as you follow the tour.<br />
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About the Books</h1>
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<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>A Christmas Disaster</h2>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "garamond"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">As the students of Coolidge High School prepare for their annual Christmas play, excitement mounts. Performed at the local theater, the play, with the students in complete charge of, the performances have become a tradition in town. Everything is going well until the morning of the final performance when calamity hits. Should the students cancel the final performance or try to turn the disaster into something good?</span></div>
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<span class="apple-tab-span"><span lang="EN-US">Christmas Smiles</span></span><span lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span></h2>
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About the Author</h1>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPtymXa5x-Cf4eeuW2zSCg913ZAMSCpjGQkFPVP2IhI_AZVq5eLQrxU53mSvTzpNdHaOYSveSyX4g7L7fvNmgAQ1fZQQ8uwy96QQhkNkvaRFHP6EK-KKR-8zeTFTbHoRH-fl72EaTt7jo/s1600/Author+Picture.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="240" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPtymXa5x-Cf4eeuW2zSCg913ZAMSCpjGQkFPVP2IhI_AZVq5eLQrxU53mSvTzpNdHaOYSveSyX4g7L7fvNmgAQ1fZQQ8uwy96QQhkNkvaRFHP6EK-KKR-8zeTFTbHoRH-fl72EaTt7jo/s200/Author+Picture.png" width="150" /></a></div>
Rebekah A. Morris is a homeschool graduate, an enthusiastic freelance author and a passionate writing teacher. Her books include, among others, Home Fires of the Great War, The Unexpected Request, Gift from the Storm, and her bestselling Triple Creek Ranch series. Some of her favorite pastimes, when she isn'tâ writing, include reading and coming up with dramatic and original things to do. The Show-Me state is where she calls home.<br />
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<span class="s1"><b><span style="font-size: large;">~ Christmas Smiles ~</span></b></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">This story was a delightful read! It definitely doesnât start off as one of those stereotypical Christmas stories where thereâs jingle bells and hot cocoa and soft fluffy snow and everyoneâs happy and joyful. Quite the opposite really. Laina is struggling through some difficulties in her life and everything just seems to be in an utter disaster. She isnât happy in the slightest with her aunt and she is even contemplating moving away to live with her grandmother - if her grandmother can even be located.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">But then just when she doesnât think the day could get worse, something happens leaving her and the rest of her family in shock. As they all recuperate from the sudden event, Laina learns that all the while, God had a plan for her and, as things are revealed, she is able to understand the reason for certain circumstances.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">I think one of the things I loved most about this story was how Laina was struggling to understand why her aunt was so âmeanâ to her and then finally figuring it all out and it just making so much more sense. It reminds me of how we all struggle through life trying to seek understanding when, instead, we could just hand it over to God and trust Him because He already knows whatâs going on. So no matter how hard it might be, we can just keep smiling because God is in control!</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">âLife was certainly a mess. It wasnât anything like she had read in storybooksâ ~ <i>Christmas Smiles</i></span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><b><span style="font-size: large;">~ A Christmas Disaster<span class="Apple-converted-space"> ~ </span></span></b></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">Ahh! Ok this storyâŚthe characters! The descriptions! Everything! Rebekah has this amazing way of writing stories that literally <i>stick </i>in your mind. The story is almost like a moving picture when you read it; everything is so vivid and clearly described.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">The students of Coolidge High School are putting together the biggest theatre production they have ever made and goodness, is a lot of work going into it! At first, everything is running smoothly, but then, on the last day, disaster strikes and the whole play is left leaning precariously on the edge of being cancelled.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">If thereâs one thing you learn from this story, itâs perseverance. Even though it seemed impossible to continue the play, the students were determined to try their best to keep it going. They set their minds on it and worked harder than they had ever worked before, even though they didnât know whether it would actually be successful. If thereâs a willâŚthere is definitely a way.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">âWhew!â Derek sighed. âThereâs no way I want to be an actor now! Itâs hard enough running backstage.â ~ <i>A Christmas Disaster<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></i></span></span></div>
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Tour Schedule</h1>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>November 13</u></b></div>
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<a href="http://bookishorchestrations.blogspot.com/">Bookish Orchestrations</a> â Introductory Post</div>
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<a href="http://www.readanotherpage.com/blog">Read Another Page</a> â Book Spotlight from the author</div>
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<a href="https://kayleeskindofwrites.blogspot.com/">Kaylee's Kind of Writes</a> â Book Spotlight</div>
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<a href="http://writtenrest.wordpress.com/">Resting Life</a> â Review and Excerpt</div>
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<a href="http://perryelisabeth.blogspot.com/">Perry Elisabeth</a> â Excerpt</div>
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<a href="http://www.rachelrossano.com/">Rachel Rossano's Words</a> â Book Spotlight and Excerpt</div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>November 14</u></b></div>
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<a href="http://www.readanotherpage.com/blog">Read Another Page</a> â Book Spotlight from the author</div>
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<a href="http://odelia.littleapplesofgold.com/">Odelia's Blog</a> â Author Interview and Book spotlight</div>
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<a href="http://bryceswritingcorner.blogspot.com/">Bryceâs Creative Writing Corner</a> â Author Interview, Review, and Excerpt</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://countingyourblessingsonebyone.blogspot.ca/">Counting Your Blessings One by One</a> â Review and Excerpt</div>
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<a href="https://lisarector.blogspot.com/">Perpetual Indie Perspective</a> â Book Spotlight</div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>November 15</u></b></div>
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<a href="http://www.readanotherpage.com/blog">Read Another Page</a> â Book Spotlight from the author</div>
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<a href="http://jessaswhimsicalwritings.blogspot.com/">Whimsical Writings for His Glory</a> â Author, Review, and Excerpt</div>
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<a href="http://www.maidensformodesty.com/">Maidens for Modesty</a> â Author Interview and Review</div>
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<a href="http://www.thedestinyofone.com/">The Destiny of One</a> â Book Spotlight</div>
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<a href="http://rebekahashleigh.blogspot.com/">Rebekah Ashleigh</a> â Book Spotlight</div>
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<a href="https://onceuponanordinary.wordpress.com/">Once Upon an Ordinary</a> â Review</div>
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<a href="https://www.stephany-tullis.com/blog">Stephany's BLOG Snippets</a> â Book Spotlight and Excerpt</div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>November 16</u></b></div>
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<a href="http://www.readanotherpage.com/blog">Read Another Page</a> â Book Spotlight from the author</div>
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<a href="http://laurelgarver.blogspot.com/">Laurel's Leaves</a> â Author Interview</div>
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<a href="http://fireflysstoryspace.blogspot.com/">Stories by Firefly</a> â Review</div>
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<a href="https://clairembanschbach.wordpress.com/">Claire Banschbach</a> â Author Interview</div>
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<a href="http://kelseysnotebookblog.blogspot.com/">Kelsey's Notebook</a> â Review and Excerpt</div>
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<a href="http://www.jayelknight.blogspot.com/">Jaye L. Knight</a> â Book Spotlight and Excerpt</div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>November 17</u></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://www.readanotherpage.com/blog">Read Another Page</a> â Book Spotlight from the author</div>
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<a href="http://www.rufflesandgrace.com/">Ruffles and Grace</a> â Book Spotlight</div>
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<a href="http://withajoyfulnoise.blogspot.com/">With a Joyful Noise</a> â Book Spotlight</div>
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<a href="http://ordinarygirlextraordinaryfather.blogspot.com/">Ordinary Girl Extraordinary Father</a> â Review <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<a href="http://bookishorchestrations.blogspot.com/">Bookish Orchestrations</a> â Closing Post</div>
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Blessing Counterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09464499449142181452noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2854006402616010422.post-19238956388301523362017-09-27T07:30:00.000-04:002017-09-27T07:43:39.037-04:00Where Dandelions Grow - Book Release<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZi9oqLfZPE818f40WOTsCqkWdModUDz7Z00wAfwknLdKaZFH_mv2SJ8Aa6ERNPeZNM5tmpR8ei-X9kZEYx0bB5Xo1vM3VrHj9O4_uZTvJN07EZa2I-6tjLBZ398JrmVzmT6vopM0IdUUh/s1600/image1.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZi9oqLfZPE818f40WOTsCqkWdModUDz7Z00wAfwknLdKaZFH_mv2SJ8Aa6ERNPeZNM5tmpR8ei-X9kZEYx0bB5Xo1vM3VrHj9O4_uZTvJN07EZa2I-6tjLBZ398JrmVzmT6vopM0IdUUh/s640/image1.PNG" width="640" /></a></div>
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*throws confetti* <i>Where Dandelions Grow</i> is being released.......TODAY!!!!! Woo hoo! I was honoured to be asked to read Miss Lydia Howe's darling book so today I get to share my review with you!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC-2Ip1fPF33vxmGtHNMHCLdFzoD7L_W2se2lhTYM32iset8CsTlgQqyomgWL0FA2vlauM-jIbrFhsmMkCQLG3p5li_F2gT7B_sXhv97GvvvEH_b294R5dIpXuc0ZzUeG9gH3pEiMimG_q/s1600/Where+Dandelions+Grow+v1.21.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC-2Ip1fPF33vxmGtHNMHCLdFzoD7L_W2se2lhTYM32iset8CsTlgQqyomgWL0FA2vlauM-jIbrFhsmMkCQLG3p5li_F2gT7B_sXhv97GvvvEH_b294R5dIpXuc0ZzUeG9gH3pEiMimG_q/s400/Where+Dandelions+Grow+v1.21.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
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<span class="readable reviewText" style="line-height: 21px;"><span style="font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif; font-size: 14px;">Where Dandelions Grow is an absolutely charming little novel, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. It has also given me a wild desire to start a cafe/bookstore of my own. I mean, when I read about Noveltea, oh my goodness, I couldnât (and still canât!) think of anything better I would LOVE to do! I mean ahhhhh!</span><span style="font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif; font-size: 14px;"> Books? And coffee? And baked goods? In the same place??? *hugs self in delight* Seriously, if you can find a way to also add music performance or something in that, it literally could not get any better xD </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif; font-size: 14px;">Ok ok enough ranting about that darling Noveltea (and isnât that name just sooooo </span><span style="font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif; font-size: 14px;">charming??) The characters! My favourite is probably Lexie because sheâs so darling and understanding and she loves writing and is cheery and cares for others and yeahhhh.</span><span style="font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif; font-size: 14px;"> And *potential spoiler* when all the cousins get together and meet up and reminisce about the past, itâs so sweet! </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif; font-size: 14px;">And donât think this story doesnât come without lessons. It does! And some very good lessons too, I might add. The author does a very good job in adding lessons to the overall theme of the book. And not in a âpreachyâ kinda way either. </span><span style="font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif; font-size: 14px;">Ms. Howe incorporates it into a characterâs life struggles, making it very realistic and relatable. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif; font-size: 14px;">Favourite Quote: âLearn to not dwell on the past, to live in today, not yesterday. When the memories feel like theyâre going to consume you, make the decision to push the hurt out of your mind. Even though it will be hard, practice forgiving quickly and from the heart. Be willing to reach out and take the first; always take the higher roadâŚFill all of your actions with love.â ~ </span><span style="font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif; font-size: 14px;">Mrs. Reed, Where Dandelions Grow. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif; font-size: 14px;">I would definitely recommend this book to people of all ages! </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif; font-size: 14px;">** I </span><span style="font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif; font-size: 14px;">received an ARC copy from the author in exchange for my honest review</span></span><br />
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<span class="readable reviewText" style="line-height: 21px;">Find on <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/35969327-where-dandelions-grow">Goodreads </a></span></div>
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<span class="readable reviewText" style="line-height: 21px;">Find on <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Where-Dandelions-Grow-Lydia-Howe-ebook/dp/B0753JSDBS/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1506429834&sr=8-1&keywords=where+dandelions+grow">Amazon</a></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><b>~ About the Author ~</b></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIDpH7snCfsg9vjwhuDds_BCR1_c3Gk2sLZ-H7_GKa6gx43-0gjozlInocxiVKEiNa3Fj118RhDA4nfrdrjDGNCTonDmEsFPsU5pqWr3IDcJq6rxWVJT5sEQth6dQE5oogMY3ckAnAdtyn/s1600/Screen+Shot+2017-09-26+at+8.47.47+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIDpH7snCfsg9vjwhuDds_BCR1_c3Gk2sLZ-H7_GKa6gx43-0gjozlInocxiVKEiNa3Fj118RhDA4nfrdrjDGNCTonDmEsFPsU5pqWr3IDcJq6rxWVJT5sEQth6dQE5oogMY3ckAnAdtyn/s320/Screen+Shot+2017-09-26+at+8.47.47+AM.png" width="213" /></a><span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">Lydia Howe (aka Aidyl Ewoh) is a twenty-something adventurous author who enjoys hiking in the mountains of Asia and South America, building life-size models of dinosaurs, taking road trips across Europe and cooking for large crowds.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">Lydia grew up in a barn and has always dreamed of living in a tipi. She is trained as a John Maxwell coach and her passions include self-development and Christian apologetics. One of her life-long dreams was realized when her first book, âCave Secrets of the Pterodactylâ, was published by Answers in Genesis in 2013. Her second book, âAction Kidsâ Clubâ was published in November of 2014. Find her online at </span></span><span style="color: #0000ee; font-size: small;"><u><a href="https://lydiahowe.com/">https://lydiahowe.com/</a></u></span></div>
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Have you read <i>Where Dandelions Grow</i> yet? (If you haven't...well, you know what you gotta do! ;)) </div>
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P.S. Check out her blog <a href="https://lydiahowe.com/blog/">HERE</a> to read her post and enter in a <a href="https://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/0c09a66526/">fun giveaway!</a></div>
Blessing Counterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09464499449142181452noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2854006402616010422.post-86548263989062575092017-08-30T11:18:00.000-04:002017-08-30T11:18:47.924-04:00Goodbye Summer âď¸Summer is over...and it feels like it's gone by WAY too fast. But *sigh* all the memories we made! It's been amazing ^_^<br />
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Also...some of you might have noticed I stopped doing the monthly highlights posts over the summer. *guilty grin* I'm gonna <i>try </i>to continue it over the fall...but this summer was just SO busy I didn't have time to do it. So count this post as a highlight of the WHOLE summer. Which means it's probably gonna be super long, so if you wanna skim over it, don't worry - I won't feel bad ;)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2xJhsHl_7hybLFt8YDVQz9dCREs9rF9iBHYHu5TK-SOC3iyhTvoRtDOFQPpiGX3dW2mkWbThLxK6iyco94fIsZ7i0ezZMSgS2w4BjfOET15iO7tFpkUn6A22nxZWmaE3wjNEjx0F9rYMo/s1600/Waffles+%25282%2529.png" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2xJhsHl_7hybLFt8YDVQz9dCREs9rF9iBHYHu5TK-SOC3iyhTvoRtDOFQPpiGX3dW2mkWbThLxK6iyco94fIsZ7i0ezZMSgS2w4BjfOET15iO7tFpkUn6A22nxZWmaE3wjNEjx0F9rYMo/s1600/Waffles+%25282%2529.png" /></a></div>
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// Church Job.<br />
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One of the major things that took up a lot of my summer was the job I accepted at my church. Guess what? Working 30 hours in 7 weeks and working 30 hours a week <i>for</i> 7 weeks are two very different things. Who knew? ;P So my summer was pretty much taken up with this as it was a Tuesday-Friday job working 9-5. BUT it all worked out in the end and I'm so glad I was able to do it. Definitely helped me grow a bit closer to the church and the people there. Some of the highlights of that job...<br />
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- meeting the other summer workers. They're pretty awesome people ;)<br />
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- helped at my first VBS ever. And I don't mean just helped lead a group of kids. I mean the prep behind it. ALL of it. It is absolutely, completely eye-opening to see all the work that goes behind setting up a camp. I saw and did a lot...and I don't think that was even half of everything! There was still the worship rally prep, and finding people, and organizing snacks, and etc. I just helped with the decorations and the setting up teams. Mainly the decorating though. Two full weeks just decorating. It was space themed. Lots of stars. And paint. And Pinteresting xD<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My attempt at galaxy flags.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Whew. Ok. Sooooo....cutting out stars...there were a lot of stars. Like. A LOT. Hundreds upon hundreds. And I'm not even exaggerating. My fingers were cramping after that. And then I had to write over 50 thank you cards xD </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I wrote on rubber balls!! It was weirdly satisfying... :P</td></tr>
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- cleaning classrooms. I think the hardest one was probably the toddler room. Had to wipe down every. single. toy. Do you know how many toys were in there? And the blocks đś</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjnG07NjTv3t5bu2sZDzaJ3a4iZ9rHMpcg_axMK9kK7d-ReowTgnjsbHiY5Y_LMO14nVgydlAyW5_s7qCLqJYNtXzKa0LCZFwE7Ot2dFzjuAlCWgXj7xSlery2je1Z3lJm3axLu1p_cWOT/s1600/IMG_1345.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjnG07NjTv3t5bu2sZDzaJ3a4iZ9rHMpcg_axMK9kK7d-ReowTgnjsbHiY5Y_LMO14nVgydlAyW5_s7qCLqJYNtXzKa0LCZFwE7Ot2dFzjuAlCWgXj7xSlery2je1Z3lJm3axLu1p_cWOT/s400/IMG_1345.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2Vmx1GSB1nCoNA3cnthyTjqWctgwVy1cvpHwpw9nCpcogXZs79yNH8kmnl9lgfKkENiw8Xpc97Gx4MXy5bEyBYuQACl8p_uTwYGJPuwp6HAeHOhiIK1HXfPDbhEBiAXI7lHOPSezZ91_b/s1600/IMG_1346.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2Vmx1GSB1nCoNA3cnthyTjqWctgwVy1cvpHwpw9nCpcogXZs79yNH8kmnl9lgfKkENiw8Xpc97Gx4MXy5bEyBYuQACl8p_uTwYGJPuwp6HAeHOhiIK1HXfPDbhEBiAXI7lHOPSezZ91_b/s400/IMG_1346.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This was only one corner. Of one room. Of TWO rooms that made up the toddler area. A lot of toys, I tell ya</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2q7AHOHWHbDKTjSoI1CgDTlA7dOn_TGITSqCDcOHRsvMwDSb8n4kcLhG6rYsvOzQ_BY2jbWjtLfo-ZQA1oIqJxTvLTuVQoHBfOyDR0igHM8uKnRHzZEaCP_WNOifBTodYg96A5lpmnd3E/s1600/IMG_1355.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2q7AHOHWHbDKTjSoI1CgDTlA7dOn_TGITSqCDcOHRsvMwDSb8n4kcLhG6rYsvOzQ_BY2jbWjtLfo-ZQA1oIqJxTvLTuVQoHBfOyDR0igHM8uKnRHzZEaCP_WNOifBTodYg96A5lpmnd3E/s400/IMG_1355.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oh yeah and this really weird Shrek outfit that I found in a bag of dress-up clothes. To be honest...I think it's a little too scary to be in the toddler room. Or that could just be me. </td></tr>
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- Sports Camp. Not my absolute favouritest camp...I broke up more fistfights than I'd like to admit. BUT, despite the tons of tears and finding myself in the depths of despair sometimes... I made friends. And I was even able to witness to someone after one of the aforementioned fights.<br />
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<span class="s1">- Meeting the youth pastorâs new babyâŚ9 hours after he was born. Seriously, this was probably one of my absolute favourites of the summerâŚand it wasnât even part of the job. He was SO cute and seeing first time parents with their baby is so. adorably. sweet. I got to watch the parents learn how to swaddle a child and the father was telling me about the first diaper changeâŚit was so cute. I guess having so many siblings and seeing so many babies has kinda made me take for granted babies. When I get a new sibling, sure thereâs the joy and happiness, but itâs also just like âOh yeahâŚtotally normal.â Seeing these first time parents though really opened my eyes and appreciate babies even more. And oh boy haha. The drive to the hospital was quite interesting. So basically how it went was on Thursday night, us summer workers found out that the baby was on the way. Friday morning, we got news that Baby had been born at 3 in the morning and we were invited to come over to the hospital to visit. So after getting some work done at the church, the two guys (whom shall remain unnamed, letâs just call them K and C) and I got ready to head over to the hospital. C thought it would be a good idea to pick up a helium balloon so we went over to the dollar store first. After a lot of thought and looking through almost all the balloons seems like (turns out boys can take about as long as girls do choosing things ;)) we decided on a balloon that said âHappy 0th Birthdayâ. C was just killing himself laughing over that and kept saying âHeâs only 0! Can you believe it, you guys? Heâs 0!!â :P We FINALLY made it to the hospital and ahhhhh. Holding newborn babies is just PRECIOUS. He was sooo cute and so perfect and *happy sigh* Thank you, God, for giving us babies.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></div>
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<span class="s1">Oh and haha, funny story. While I was holding the baby, he threw up a teensy bit and I asked for a blankie to clean him up. K instantly got up from the seat he was sitting on and said âOk this I have to see. How are you not freaking out right now?â xD<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></div>
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<span class="s1">HeheâŚC and I probably took advantage of K that day. Honestly, he didnât know much about babies at all. C and I were joking about how Baby had been pretty much just swimming for 9 months and K just looked up startled and was like âHow did he breathe??â And oh boyâŚwhen he asked what a placenta was and how it worked and all... I tried explaining and then had to stop cause he was starting to look kinda sick xD<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">- Taking inventory of the library</span><span class="Apple-converted-space" style="letter-spacing: 0px;"> </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-converted-space" style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Went through ALL the books in the church library to take stock of what we had and what was missing. Thank goodness I had my friend to help me out there. It was WAY more fun being able to do it with someone đ</span></div>
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<span class="s1">- Basketball Tournament, Pool Party, Water Day</span></div>
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<span class="s1">These were fun youth events to help out at! The Basketball Tournament wasâŚwelllâŚyeah. I was the only girl there and I hadnât even planned on staying anyway. I pretty much just hid in the kitchen cause I donât like basketball and Iâm super shy xD And just saying, trying to bake cookies in a church overrun with teenage boys is HARD. I mean, I guess itâs a good thing cause it means they liked them, but still. I was trying to save them for snack, peoples! I was so desperate I hid the cookies in a cupboard because they were disappearing at such a frightening rate :P<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span><br />
<span class="s1"><span class="Apple-converted-space"><br /></span></span> <span class="s1"><span class="Apple-converted-space">// Family Trip to Cape Charles, Virginia! </span></span><br />
<span class="s1"><span class="Apple-converted-space">Pictures here: <a href="http://countingyourblessingsonebyone.blogspot.ca/2017/07/family-vacation-photosfinally.html">Family Vacation</a></span></span></div>
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// <span style="color: red;"><b>Adventure Camp 2017</b></span><br />
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Best. Week. Ever.<br />
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<span style="font-size: 16px;">Thereâs just something about spending a whole week with your friends. Definitely something to treasure. And we made so many good memories *hugs self in delight* </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX8DBd_fRh52nUXh3AztOkLWLJlKEfvtd8BXyoKz3SF0N0mNcIpKQ2IAspTnfuy5iRv5pPMw-7KpXUlkqresUcrFvaUjeEGoru044tvry2MlS9ga8t5vVWqprhjiITLf-6-qxB1rycAat9/s1600/IMG_1523.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1600" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX8DBd_fRh52nUXh3AztOkLWLJlKEfvtd8BXyoKz3SF0N0mNcIpKQ2IAspTnfuy5iRv5pPMw-7KpXUlkqresUcrFvaUjeEGoru044tvry2MlS9ga8t5vVWqprhjiITLf-6-qxB1rycAat9/s640/IMG_1523.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
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<span class="s1"><br />My best friend and I were put on the same teamâŚwe were so incredibly happy. Seriously, when we found out, we had to go outside and just <i>dance -</i> we were so excited. Squealing and jumping up and downâŚliterally. It wasnât just some sort of âput in asterisksâ kind of thing. We were literally, real life going crazy with joy xD<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></div>
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<span class="s1">The third person on our team was a new guy but we went together a LOT better than I expected. We communicated really well and worked together and listened to each other and yeah. I was really blessed with my team đ</span></div>
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<span class="s1">We had a hayride, and ran up a very, very big hill, attempted a lip-sync battle (and kinda failed at it xD), wove milk-bag mats, learned about Paul and his missions, played a new game called âThe Lordâs Armyâ (created by the camp directorâŚit was amazing and SO much fun), and sang some AWESOME songs. The âMy Godâ song is a twist on âMy God is So Bigâ. A HUGE twist, I might add. When I first heard it, my eyes nearly popped out, I just totally wasnât expecting it. But it is SO much fun to dance toâŚI think itâs a camp favourite now.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span class="Apple-converted-space">My God</span></span></div>
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He is the Light</div>
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<span class="s1">On Thursday, we also have a camp cheer, so on Wednesday, Livs, Daniel, and I gathered on Facebook and started brainstorming. I will admit, we probably did more joking and teasing and laughing than we did writing a cheer. BUT we ended up with a cheer ready for Thursday and we won too! So yippee!! :D<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></div>
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<span class="s1">We also had a falconry show and goodness was that man funny. And his winks! Oh goodnessâŚwe were all positively dying. Let me see if I can find a GIF for you. </span></div>
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<a href="https://tenor.com/view/edward-norton-wink-gif-3477100">Wink GIF</a> from <a href="https://tenor.com/search/edward-gifs">Edward GIFs</a></div>
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<span class="s1"><br /></span> <span class="s1">There. Literally. That's what his winks were like xD<span class="Apple-converted-space"> (</span></span>Also no clue why there are two GIFs showing up...but better two than none I suppose :P)</div>
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<span class="s1">And I got to hold an owl. Theyâre not my favourite birds, Iâll admit, but the EYES. They were so yellow and bright and big they almost seemed unreal.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ah yes. And this picture shows the view I had during a game of leader hide and seek where all the leaders hid and the campers had to find them. I sat in a patch of goldenrod. For 45 minutes. It rained. I kept sitting. No one found me.<br />
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OH. And of course...Water Day. 'Cause no camp is complete without a water day. SO. MUCH. FUN. We all got very nice and wet and we had an awesome rapidfire slidedown with all the leaders. Ya know how people set up long tarps on a hill and cover it in soap and water? Well that's what we had, with leaders going down about two seconds after each other. It was very fun. And we only had a pile-up once :P I will say though, the day after, I discovered a lot of bruises on my legs, knees, and FEET (cause yes, apparently feet can bruise. A lot xP)<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">All the Head Leaders on the last day. Exhausted but alive ;)</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Last picture on the last day of the last camp of the summer :'(<br />
Next year can we make it two weeks maybe? ;) </td></tr>
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So yeah! Adventure Camp 2017 was a complete blast and we made a lot of memories. With best friends, old friends, and new friends. Can't wait for next year!! :D </div>
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// Complete Summer Randomness</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcdcTYlAq3DimBlfLODFK-CZqrChuWNBUSeTjax1SunMo1Idcj_ms66LE-AMbuKhIGqbe4q0_tfOcFqByZbE8pNZbM3bDgUugKqzuJrCYCA5cMD4CTQFqgPmhAhHgJpojEoagf6LiEaU6a/s1600/IMG_1225.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcdcTYlAq3DimBlfLODFK-CZqrChuWNBUSeTjax1SunMo1Idcj_ms66LE-AMbuKhIGqbe4q0_tfOcFqByZbE8pNZbM3bDgUugKqzuJrCYCA5cMD4CTQFqgPmhAhHgJpojEoagf6LiEaU6a/s320/IMG_1225.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Made a lot of cookies this year ^_^</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw32fLxPoP7vgwGFLNc2B9FeHdRr7jiQLs6-RCeYM4ez3KBvD4BUK2ePhvkJtDAx9FNisO_-lJdznTBqUZ52gx5MQ9Ku3vOTmhnyTvW2egrPczis0IdUsBhS9W_58iR8mTnYT6ytadEhzG/s1600/IMG_1487.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw32fLxPoP7vgwGFLNc2B9FeHdRr7jiQLs6-RCeYM4ez3KBvD4BUK2ePhvkJtDAx9FNisO_-lJdznTBqUZ52gx5MQ9Ku3vOTmhnyTvW2egrPczis0IdUsBhS9W_58iR8mTnYT6ytadEhzG/s400/IMG_1487.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Toblerone's birthday cake. I'll leave ya to guess how old he turned ;) </td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_TQUal3cjKfkBKzuLjcIofnOwMsP1BGwG9tDEkXlz2xdMwBfhTFghFfHJKkO8P6Am4T1SYa1sfyLnPcVZv9W5aPoHcyba40JaHgnOCte17ccSd78kiIvp-huSNHgs8NxH1YXHWFi4ybiE/s1600/IMG_1499.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_TQUal3cjKfkBKzuLjcIofnOwMsP1BGwG9tDEkXlz2xdMwBfhTFghFfHJKkO8P6Am4T1SYa1sfyLnPcVZv9W5aPoHcyba40JaHgnOCte17ccSd78kiIvp-huSNHgs8NxH1YXHWFi4ybiE/s400/IMG_1499.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibJx9VQ6bA-bR-YlVgKhW-xwz5o8_tLOoB3lYs74fzVaNizkSbZ7ds9dpssSZxAnWAsoepQdWt0C6m2sl8W197uQx1UaBTWWK5V3Me3eAlOKBlmQfrFL_BELfI1EBoP_gPs8EPO4z-r7c1/s1600/IMG_1219.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibJx9VQ6bA-bR-YlVgKhW-xwz5o8_tLOoB3lYs74fzVaNizkSbZ7ds9dpssSZxAnWAsoepQdWt0C6m2sl8W197uQx1UaBTWWK5V3Me3eAlOKBlmQfrFL_BELfI1EBoP_gPs8EPO4z-r7c1/s400/IMG_1219.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This dear girl started working at Timmie's. I got to train her ;)<br />
#sistersforlife</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPhSXhkvibOULYWSVnlzgHzYA8GXHQb-sGv_4qYmRhhtDjmzthnVZdW9SCBHzbISkosfw_XnylPM6-HA8D6mI4cUkOYqUm9sL_obJZZyjOil7qZPIMOfX4U_lZD2lx2fRpPE5Zgb_RKDMr/s1600/IMG_8931+-+Version+3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="945" data-original-width="1600" height="378" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPhSXhkvibOULYWSVnlzgHzYA8GXHQb-sGv_4qYmRhhtDjmzthnVZdW9SCBHzbISkosfw_XnylPM6-HA8D6mI4cUkOYqUm9sL_obJZZyjOil7qZPIMOfX4U_lZD2lx2fRpPE5Zgb_RKDMr/s640/IMG_8931+-+Version+3.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: red; color: white; font-size: small; text-align: left;">CANADA DAY!!! </span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: small; text-align: left;"> 150 years...woo hoo!!! </span></td></tr>
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I dyed my hair....</div>
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It was with chalk. It was completely for fun. It washed out. It also wasn't that bright xD It was SUPPOSED to be pink...but dying dark hair pink isn't the easiest thing in the world. Honestly, Tiger Lily and I were trying so hard to get the colour to show and we started using the other hair chalks in the set to see if those would work... and by the time we finished, I had blue, green, purple, <i>and</i> pink in my hair. And it looked more red than anything else xD But we had fun. That's what matters. đ</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC-MMviuPJbIAra6ZsEPQHoP_6Otky6x5UIn7NWY-_htoKwSTY3xZ4dVdneHUJc0ULWEUk0A10aXpY7y_oG_BY52T4yOsgQXjLugsx0BCAY6mu9wivMmWMaWLVGrbRe4GN3shOw8NNvkFp/s1600/IMG_1366.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC-MMviuPJbIAra6ZsEPQHoP_6Otky6x5UIn7NWY-_htoKwSTY3xZ4dVdneHUJc0ULWEUk0A10aXpY7y_oG_BY52T4yOsgQXjLugsx0BCAY6mu9wivMmWMaWLVGrbRe4GN3shOw8NNvkFp/s400/IMG_1366.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My attempt at capturing the golden light and completely failing with these wackos ;P </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oh yeahhhh and I got my braces off!!! *cheers*<br />
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// Friends<br />
Ok so...while this was probably the hardest years with people I've ever experienced in my 17 years...I'd say it was also THE best year of friends ever. Seriously. We grew closer not only as friends, but as sisters in Christ. We shared laughs and tears, we danced and prayed, we had endless supplies of hugs (btw as awesome as "virtual hugs" or "ghost hugs" are...real hugs are waaaayyy better ;)) and We. Made. Memories. Memories that will forever remain in my heart. Memories that we'll look back on years down the road and have fun reminscing.<br />
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I just love making memories, don't you? đ đ đ đ <span style="font-family: "apple color emoji";">â¤ď¸</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our lovely, sweaty selves after a water fight at the park. Fun times, y'all ;)</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIEYTXSGFvAMEcrkV1WQPh4YlFgwuuGq2guYvK4WtD_T0ck7e24YxeLuX8qWqnm1jJtH7vQRwavhwHQjYxkW3kxQZ1Snn0uI2yfa9ggJwbj1NPqm2PR7CbYOnvXwIrJ-E5KISFI9ZaCc8e/s1600/IMG_0921+%25281%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIEYTXSGFvAMEcrkV1WQPh4YlFgwuuGq2guYvK4WtD_T0ck7e24YxeLuX8qWqnm1jJtH7vQRwavhwHQjYxkW3kxQZ1Snn0uI2yfa9ggJwbj1NPqm2PR7CbYOnvXwIrJ-E5KISFI9ZaCc8e/s400/IMG_0921+%25281%2529.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGW5lTnqwW-_4aQFchyAP3XXfVkrPkFY2XBIj_uJlXmJcC4t5twdvlz3D-STCWAnWpy-NENlZ5pQe1cSnVTbkYDofW2UEXY-zMEgG_2cIjNr7WOc1Qrfi5YE0K9NiWys9ntILxPFeevY_J/s1600/IMG_0924.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGW5lTnqwW-_4aQFchyAP3XXfVkrPkFY2XBIj_uJlXmJcC4t5twdvlz3D-STCWAnWpy-NENlZ5pQe1cSnVTbkYDofW2UEXY-zMEgG_2cIjNr7WOc1Qrfi5YE0K9NiWys9ntILxPFeevY_J/s640/IMG_0924.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Surprise!! Tiger Lily and I planned a secret visit and we drove down and caught them completely by surprise ;) And then helped make curtains xD And also talk (lots and lots of talking) and eat lunch and then explore the town and just have a ton of fun!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-geTNfbw3DzhUQcNYNWE3hI7hMjW_gmtUi-YH2TRFyVGkPOLMR3EOBulEg1_HTAH_VJmva3whNKb6Q3X5wO66WavVqd42-yf76wwooxom3HbVXCY_LiNCs7vqaw8I_meR7FkR3cCJCXX6/s1600/IMG_1398.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-geTNfbw3DzhUQcNYNWE3hI7hMjW_gmtUi-YH2TRFyVGkPOLMR3EOBulEg1_HTAH_VJmva3whNKb6Q3X5wO66WavVqd42-yf76wwooxom3HbVXCY_LiNCs7vqaw8I_meR7FkR3cCJCXX6/s400/IMG_1398.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Girl date at Starbucks! #mochafrappsarethebest </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Watching WCTH!!! FINALLY! <span style="font-family: "apple color emoji"; font-size: 12px;">â¤ď¸</span><br />
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Bring-Your-Friend-To-Work Day! K so...it's not actually a thing, but it totally should be. Since I was at church working, Livs came down with me one day to help me take inventory of the library. So we got a whole awesome day together and then came home to find out that our younger siblings had made an awesome gooey monkey bread for dessert ^_^<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhLQz4pViwEhvi-3zACoUCkLnYYE3zYVh6LeXWXeu-ZFEQvSqAojPEuO0Bqw1Qyj0CchyphenhyphenuWv_E28X_lXYI6zWFgdwWGWWyVSLIZaDFaMcE30FbKRWWdE9m6-wpyq7H58Nejgko1cpCbsVG/s1600/IMG_1456.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhLQz4pViwEhvi-3zACoUCkLnYYE3zYVh6LeXWXeu-ZFEQvSqAojPEuO0Bqw1Qyj0CchyphenhyphenuWv_E28X_lXYI6zWFgdwWGWWyVSLIZaDFaMcE30FbKRWWdE9m6-wpyq7H58Nejgko1cpCbsVG/s400/IMG_1456.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">MONKEY BREAD đ</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3BbAAvmeUp5QmqgpqVRW2z6pwCq6WXHP3PInaMqpgQywXcrVll3-UMH87fjrJmPnxExkguA-p-apOTUAR9ga4m2Ptif5iu56HqK9jhhjQMHSNr2Cc0cFAuMIcXyWnz_qBtAYMN12DEbWP/s1600/IMG_1458.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3BbAAvmeUp5QmqgpqVRW2z6pwCq6WXHP3PInaMqpgQywXcrVll3-UMH87fjrJmPnxExkguA-p-apOTUAR9ga4m2Ptif5iu56HqK9jhhjQMHSNr2Cc0cFAuMIcXyWnz_qBtAYMN12DEbWP/s400/IMG_1458.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Sleepover night during Adventure Camp! </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFZoXv0212JMXxplxlZhNE01oDwMT3vEnvEMQQw23-nfVgQwO9yE_WxBa1hqyFpxN90RI9bAf-PJNfEVtMn_nZH0JV0rBqB12XyWPPU7KjbjzQ_2dyowwTpam8H5fPGm3vlhob5s_1fsFO/s1600/IMG_1590.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFZoXv0212JMXxplxlZhNE01oDwMT3vEnvEMQQw23-nfVgQwO9yE_WxBa1hqyFpxN90RI9bAf-PJNfEVtMn_nZH0JV0rBqB12XyWPPU7KjbjzQ_2dyowwTpam8H5fPGm3vlhob5s_1fsFO/s400/IMG_1590.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Baking late at night makes for some...um..very interesting times. Very. Lots of giggles.<br />
Lots of music. And dancing. And more giggles. End result was Cookies-made-with-lots-of-love.<br />
The best kind really ;)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXTxmM2hbmTBaEUv4A6r6pGlBo9fcQQE_TWOqBFWCHJo9Hm-xt6WomzaYHO7kNU_UVp7KTeZ5WeOtLU03kNOwGS9cmn5ArkcAnFAUWfPt7lKAkmXT91WjEY7pTzcCwYaA4oCNQ6rLAVIy0/s1600/IMG_1607.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXTxmM2hbmTBaEUv4A6r6pGlBo9fcQQE_TWOqBFWCHJo9Hm-xt6WomzaYHO7kNU_UVp7KTeZ5WeOtLU03kNOwGS9cmn5ArkcAnFAUWfPt7lKAkmXT91WjEY7pTzcCwYaA4oCNQ6rLAVIy0/s400/IMG_1607.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bed time! Kinda. Not really xD </td></tr>
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Oooohhhhh this was fun xD We had a mini photo shoot...and someone had the brilliant idea to try and capture all of us jumping at the same time in mid-air on the trampoline. Problem #1. There was no one to take the picture so the camera was on a timer. Problem #2. The trampoline had been moved a considerable distance away from the deck because the boys had been lawn mowing. Problem #3. You literally had to leap into the trampoline to get in. So basically...one of us (guess who...yep, yours truly) had to press the shutter, run across the lawn, leap into the trampoline, get up, and then jump with everyone else when the light went off. In 10 seconds. </div>
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Hey. We tried it. The first time, I set the timer, ran across the yard, leaped....and landed on my stomach. Half in and half out of the trampoline #fail And when we jumped...well...as you can see in the below photo...we weren't zactly synced :P </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyKSZowRw0eWuYOVsGkCBr1IkRwUOx58tzaCwd-3fbbgAfdWC7GkJuPVYtiJ4ggn8CF3hrbDCwPEDsUc8yUnyVK-bgyBIBv762-qYuSksXO9SJi_ObbPUCjrYFIH-Y6l7cM8A0OuZh2Tv5/s1600/IMG_8935.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyKSZowRw0eWuYOVsGkCBr1IkRwUOx58tzaCwd-3fbbgAfdWC7GkJuPVYtiJ4ggn8CF3hrbDCwPEDsUc8yUnyVK-bgyBIBv762-qYuSksXO9SJi_ObbPUCjrYFIH-Y6l7cM8A0OuZh2Tv5/s640/IMG_8935.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Or in this one either for that matter...</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJZz7VBBtgE_7AKh9W9ENZiCjHo6IeWUMZrZPmq0zvWZksnrQeotdNmKjdhOACjYxiT6IgT72-HjasmaF7BJU69kfWSEWkF2TVqnQYliE6jrawEqj8DSf4Qfl9ZC1__guZXtApbJo0IAUv/s1600/IMG_8937.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJZz7VBBtgE_7AKh9W9ENZiCjHo6IeWUMZrZPmq0zvWZksnrQeotdNmKjdhOACjYxiT6IgT72-HjasmaF7BJU69kfWSEWkF2TVqnQYliE6jrawEqj8DSf4Qfl9ZC1__guZXtApbJo0IAUv/s400/IMG_8937.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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Fast forward about 3 or 4 more photos...and yep. None of them worked :P It's HARD, I tell ya! Oh well. We tried it. And it was funny. Maybe one day we'll get it ;) </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj17XJe9tUevxUYIcMi-Udr29chCtuOOdfmvBDYq53-GLyg1xV69Ngwc9OsIWXKKhrzVSbVabac9u18nAqekju-IluKugLHuVgQ2NGDdGjQv3OVCGbAgv_tx2UyanKTIutgjJ5xxI41-t2v/s1600/IMG_8967+-+Version+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj17XJe9tUevxUYIcMi-Udr29chCtuOOdfmvBDYq53-GLyg1xV69Ngwc9OsIWXKKhrzVSbVabac9u18nAqekju-IluKugLHuVgQ2NGDdGjQv3OVCGbAgv_tx2UyanKTIutgjJ5xxI41-t2v/s400/IMG_8967+-+Version+2.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_brY2p9UQAn1HYycj9fh41NIXfqEIv_IDvU7GAa25mOUHKZS6I6ZJXx5iIjyqbRHxBuzQKDgPRcjeXXhVqvAKHvP-lSwFwF9I4Rx5799YnuOK9RkSECE8N3rsWFuEEhcO7tKYedRRNJTb/s1600/IMG_8950+-+Version+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_brY2p9UQAn1HYycj9fh41NIXfqEIv_IDvU7GAa25mOUHKZS6I6ZJXx5iIjyqbRHxBuzQKDgPRcjeXXhVqvAKHvP-lSwFwF9I4Rx5799YnuOK9RkSECE8N3rsWFuEEhcO7tKYedRRNJTb/s640/IMG_8950+-+Version+2.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Love these girls so so much đ<br />
#friendsforever #sistersinchrist #besties</td></tr>
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// Music</div>
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This summer I have listened to ... a LOT of music. My friend and I made a whole playlist and there's about 50 songs on there. And that wasn't even all the music I listened to. However, these 4 are some of my absolute favourites, especially Thy Will. đ</div>
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Thy Will</div>
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No Matter What</div>
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You're Not Alone</div>
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Whole Heart</div>
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// Life Lessons</div>
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<b>God. Is. In. Control. </b>He was, he is, and he shall forever remain in control.<br />
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I think one of the biggest things I've struggled with over the summer is learning to just lean on God, trust in Him, and believe that he will do what <i>he</i> thinks is right <i>when</i> he wants.<br />
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I've battled with thoughts...been tempted to just give in and let the horrid thoughts take root and become words and actions. "<i>Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it" - <b>Proverbs 4:23</b></i><br />
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I've demanded justice. I've wanted to make things right and make sure that people knew the <i>right</i> thing. "<i>Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, "Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord."" - <b>Romans 12:19</b></i><br />
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I've felt completely helpless. I've despaired. "<i>But those who trust in the Lord for help will find their strength renewed. They will rise on wings like eagles; they will run and not get weary; they will walk and not grow weak." - <b>Isaiah 40:31</b></i><br />
<i><b><br /></b></i> And God's shown me, either through His word or through my family and friends, that you know what...it's not about <i>me</i>. All I've been doing is thinking about myself. "I think..." or "I wish..." or "I want to do this...". I, I, I, I, I. Getting to be pretty self-centered *shakes finger at self disapprovingly*<br />
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It's time to hand things over to God. Let him do his amazing work and stop trying to take matters into my own hands. And it can be hard to let things go and hand it over just like that. But I'm gonna keep on praying and I'm gonna let the Spirit work in my heart. Because God is in control. And I wouldn't have it any other way.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSOgM5bBSQiP2T3E4nrqOA3oaYcFpsPgHVfUoKyMZ5xYzv-uZ5HA4zGyBtr-t8UNsNLgRJui_AaRl49hHqTumigHjzgYXVVhb9lg4LxQvAWXIOV2o6xKo3aHqwaQGZInmAlVc92da5H2KQ/s1600/IMG_1471.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSOgM5bBSQiP2T3E4nrqOA3oaYcFpsPgHVfUoKyMZ5xYzv-uZ5HA4zGyBtr-t8UNsNLgRJui_AaRl49hHqTumigHjzgYXVVhb9lg4LxQvAWXIOV2o6xKo3aHqwaQGZInmAlVc92da5H2KQ/s640/IMG_1471.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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And that about wraps up my summer! It wasn't EVERYTHING that happened...I'll spare you from that. You'd be here at least a week if I did that ;) But this pretty much sums it up. I can't wait to be able to re-read this post a couple years or maybe even just a year from now đ I love memories. Making them and remembering them. It was a good season. </div>
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Goodbye, Summer <span style="font-family: "Apple Color Emoji";">âď¸</span><br />
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Do you like making memories?<br />
What's one of your favourite memories from Summer 2017?<br />
You ready for fall?<br />
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</style>Blessing Counterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09464499449142181452noreply@blogger.com13