tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22677825257770086132024-03-12T22:24:37.139-05:00Life After the Air Force!Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger532125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2267782525777008613.post-58626314214326178202023-12-10T19:01:00.006-06:002023-12-10T19:52:54.611-06:0021 Days In...0 Progress<p> <span style="font-family: Jost;">I can't believe we have been in our home for 3 weeks now; today is actually 3 weeks since move-in day. What have we accomplished? Absolutely nothing. π When I look at how much we have moved around and figure that this finally is our last move, I figure I will have plenty of time to get settled. Of all the things I planned to do as soon as we moved in and didn't, I am regretting that I waited too long to get ahold of someone to put up Christmas lights, because now it just seems like a waste of money since we would have to pull them down January 2nd. We haven't even gotten our Christmas tree up yet. I am pretty decided that whenever I get around to it, I will just put it up and call it early prep for next Christmas. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: Jost;">We had a nice Thanksgiving with all of our Oklahoma and Texas family. Well, not all our TX family...just the Brinson side. We haven't seen Norman's side of the family for a while. Several years in fact, and I can't believe it's been as long as it has. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: Jost;">We are enjoying our new home, to the extent that it's almost weird. The kids' bedrooms are smaller, but even despite that, they both have expressed many times how happy they are here. And even though there is no logical reason for why, I feel safer here. Maybe because this house is smaller, and we have a good feel for the entire space? It's not big enough for someone to be hiding upstairs or something. Regardless, I am so thankful to be in a one-storey house and to have eliminated the stairs and the risks associated with them for both myself and Chase. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: Jost;">This week the boys will be getting new beds that will fit their space better, and we will get their desks assembled. I also have a standing locker plus standing dressing mirror with makeup and jewelry storage to get set up in my bedroom. Organization is the goal for us, and we have a lot to get put together and set up over the next week or two...or however long it stretches out for us to get things assembled lol. Have I mentioned how <strike>lazy</strike> relaxed we have been in getting settled? π </span></p><p><span style="font-family: Jost;">Well, I suppose that's all for now. We have been spending this chilly Sunday in bed, snuggling with our kitty cats and getting caught up on our shows. We finished The Crown, at least we got caught up until they drop the next 6 episodes. And now we are getting caught up on For All Mankind. Next up is Bass Reeves; basically we are being bums today, and we are enjoying every bit of the lazy day. So we don't have a lot of news worthy info, but I'm attaching a quick video that has just a very few clips of our new home. The furniture is not ours; I took the recordings when we had gone the day of the inspection. Eventually I will post pictures when we get it settled with our things. I hope everyone has a fantastic week! Ciao bebes!</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Jost;">πFinally homeπ</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='345' height='287' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwxa5ieHPp2AOpOEo0M6ON672oxXIswJRjsUbq-XVb7M8hAITTP43wnAV-guc3jcYHxuPonlirt5LV-lNj7NQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2267782525777008613.post-52328887351631725832023-11-17T00:43:00.005-06:002023-12-10T19:54:54.525-06:00Israel and Palestine Conflict<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Raleway;">**For my regular readers, this is not my normal content. Feel free to skip this post, as it does not contain any family news. I am following the crisis between the Israelies and the Hamas/Palestinian people, and I want to organize some information in a place where it won't get lost. Thanks!!**</span></div><span style="font-family: Raleway;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Raleway;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">The events of October 7th, 2023, have thrown not only Israel and Palestine into the worst conflict since the Holocaust, it has shocked and horrified the entire world. Protests have been happening all over the globe, and there is a huge outcry for the people of Palestine. Cities have been filled with protests on both sides of the issue, and clashes have ramped up all over the world. </div></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Raleway;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Raleway;">It seems as if every publication or network has a slanted opinion, and they masterfully push their agenda through their reporting. Before I was married, I was a journalist, so I absolutely understand the necessity of unbiased reporting. What I will attempt to do in this post, is lay out some of the context that has been missing for a lot of people. I am not going to give my opinions...I will only be discussing the facts and then provide links to different media organizations who have reported on what I discuss, to provide a better, more complete stance. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Raleway;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Raleway;">The fact is that I am a stranger to most people who will come across this blog. I have wanted to gather some resources and have a comprehensive list that I can come back to and keep updating over time. I had thought about a separate website, but this blog has kept track of everything my family and I have experienced for the last 15 years or so, and given the magnitude of this crisis and how it has touched my life, I want to have this record here. We all know how the internet works...you can have a deeply convicted belief about something and do such intensive combing through the web and gather sources to back your beliefs. Anyone can do this about any subject. Scholars do it to drive a point home, religions do the same with the Bible to justify their beliefs. I am a stranger to most of you, so you will either read this and listen with an open mind, or you will sort through these sources solely to try to catch me out on something to discredit me. I genuinely love intelligent discussions with people who hold different beliefs, and I feel that it is so important to have conversations with people who disagree with us...so that we can learn empathy and study our beliefs in light of new information. By doing this, we will be able to find out if we still believe the same things we once did, after we hear additional information. If we aren't checking ourselves and continuously looking to understand situations in light of additional information, then we will only be deceiving ourselves, thereby becoming an untrustworthy source. It is true that there are three sides...his side, her side, and the truth, that lies somewhere in the midst of that. All I ask is that you respect this blog and understand that a lot of work and research was put into this. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Raleway;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Raleway;">I will be continually adding to this, and if you have any particular questions, disagreements, opinions, I am happy to kindly and civilly discuss these things in the comments and search out more information. I will not reply to anyone who is mean, aggressive, or rude. I understand this is a very charged topic, but we must remain civil. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: Raleway;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Raleway;">****************************************</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Raleway;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Raleway;">I may end up moving the order of things around, but for now, I am going to start where this truly began...at least for the world outside of the Middle East. People have come out saying that it wasn't true that Hamas went door to door...that they didn't search out women and children, and that the beheading of babies was a hoax. The videos below are interviews with members of Hamas, with them discussing what their mission was on October 7th, and what they personally did. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: Raleway;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Raleway;">Accounts from 6 activists</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Raleway;">Source - Times of India</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Raleway;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Raleway;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/zF5GRHi0K_4" width="320" youtube-src-id="zF5GRHi0K_4"></iframe></span></div></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Raleway;">Accounts from Hamas, who say their instructions on 10/7 were to kill, torture, rape, and behead Israelies.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Raleway;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ufCJtScBmcY" width="320" youtube-src-id="ufCJtScBmcY"></iframe></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Raleway;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Raleway;">More interrogations. This Hamas operative explained how his orders from Hamas differ from Muslim religious beliefs. This highlights the mindset of extremists</span><span style="font-family: Raleway;">. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Raleway;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/GFVAOPSgwYo" width="320" youtube-src-id="GFVAOPSgwYo"></iframe></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Raleway;">It's important to understand the mindset of the Hamas leadership, & hear from them what they expect from their own people. </span><span style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Raleway;">Ismail Haniyeh, a leader of Hamas</span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Raleway;">explains why Gaza needs the blood and sacrifice of the Palestinian people, specifically women and children.</span></div><span style="font-family: Raleway;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/NFDszL9Assw" width="320" youtube-src-id="NFDszL9Assw"></iframe></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Raleway;">Something that has been an enormous source for outrage, is the claim that the Israelies (IDF) attack, bomb, and/or kill indiscriminately. What people must understand is that Hamas imbeds its members within the civilian population of Palestine. Instead of trying to protect the Palestinian people, they store their weapons and make their staging grounds in civilian areas, such as schools, churches, hospitals, etc. The clip below is of a member explaining that they use ambulances to move around in the area, to set up ambushes, and to transport any materials they may need, for the sole reason that Israel will not fire on ambulances. They use the conscience of the IDF against them, taking advantage of the fact that Israel purposely will not fire on an ambulance out of a desire to not target civilians. This clearly goes to show how if the world didn't know that, and intelligence informed IDF that Hamas would be moving into place in an ambulance, and if Israel acted on that and struck the ambulance, all Hamas would scream out to the world that the Israelies are targeting the civilian medical population. Context is critical in understanding all the details. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Raleway;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/wu_oh9I2tJo" width="320" youtube-src-id="wu_oh9I2tJo"></iframe></div><span style="font-family: Raleway;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Raleway;">The next videos are focused on the extensive tunnel system underneath Gaza, and the purpose and importance of them. Two of these clips include interviews from sons of Hamas leaders and one is the son of a co-founder of Hamas. Source - Deep Journal Globe.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/smFQy7yN2Zg" width="320" youtube-src-id="smFQy7yN2Zg"></iframe></div><span style="font-family: Raleway;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/vBkUNyfLw3g" width="320" youtube-src-id="vBkUNyfLw3g"></iframe></div><span style="font-family: Raleway;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div data-en-clipboard="true" data-pm-slice="1 1 []" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Raleway;">Another thing that is reported, but then discounted, then reported on and discounted again is the reports of Hamas storing weapons, contraband, uniforms, go bags, intelligence via laptops, communication equipment, and medical supplies (which the Palestinian people say they are out of, but Hamas actually has because it stole it from the civilian population). </span></div><div data-en-clipboard="true" data-pm-slice="1 1 []"><span style="font-family: Raleway;"><br /></span></div><div data-en-clipboard="true" data-pm-slice="1 1 []" style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/0LNeG-eSQVM" width="320" youtube-src-id="0LNeG-eSQVM"></iframe></div><span style="font-family: Raleway;"><br /></span></div><div data-en-clipboard="true" data-pm-slice="1 1 []" style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/EzNsf7PcsjQ" width="320" youtube-src-id="EzNsf7PcsjQ"></iframe></div><span style="font-family: Raleway;"><div data-en-clipboard="true" data-pm-slice="1 1 []" style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div data-en-clipboard="true" data-pm-slice="1 1 []" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Raleway;">Another disturbing thing, is that schools are used to not only store weapons, but they use classrooms as a staging ground. I am only attaching 1 video dedicated to this, but I highly encourage you to research this for yourself.</span></div><div data-en-clipboard="true" data-pm-slice="1 1 []" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Raleway;"><br /></span></div><div data-en-clipboard="true" data-pm-slice="1 1 []" style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/UXfXD4joUVs" width="320" youtube-src-id="UXfXD4joUVs"></iframe></div><br /></div><div data-en-clipboard="true" data-pm-slice="1 1 []" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Raleway;"><div data-en-clipboard="true" data-pm-slice="1 1 []">Even when other nations provide materials to the Gaza Strip and West Bank to help ease the burdens on the Palestinian people, Hamas spits in the face of such kindness. In the clip below, Hamas brags it will use the gift of water pipelines provided by EU to build bombs for the sole purpose of attacking Israel. </div><div data-en-clipboard="true" data-pm-slice="1 1 []"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/MvvqBcA-9yA" width="320" youtube-src-id="MvvqBcA-9yA"></iframe></div><div data-en-clipboard="true" data-pm-slice="1 1 []"><br /></div></span></div>This is an intercepted call of Hamas, discussing the acquiring of fuel from the public.Keep in mind hospitals are out of power, & the blame is going to Israel, but Hamas is using the fuel to keep electricity & ventilation going deep in the tunnels below the hospital/Gaza.</span></div><div data-en-clipboard="true" data-pm-slice="1 1 []" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Raleway;"><br /></span></div><div data-en-clipboard="true" data-pm-slice="1 1 []" style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/H0KjObXKk5c" width="320" youtube-src-id="H0KjObXKk5c"></iframe></div><br /></div><div data-en-clipboard="true" data-pm-slice="1 1 []" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Raleway;">There are I think three more points I would like to include below, because it is honestly imperative to not just Americans, but other countries as well. I am including this for context, because not only do we need to understand their history, we need to understand the ideology they hold tightly to. A big movement that we have seen, that has touched many people around the globe, are the Pro-Palistenian protests by the LGBTQ+ community. It only makes sense that this group would feel a kinship and solidarity with a group of people who are seemingly being attacked, persecuted, and killed. The issue that we have got to understand is that this particular group of people have extreme religious convictions that are in direct contradiction with the LGBTQ+ community. It is common knowledge that people who are a part of this community are not just outcasts to them...they have a deep hatred and an inability to agree to disagree. It is not an exaggeration when you hear people talk about Palestinian people being murdered by being thrown off tall buildings, an being dragged behind vehicles until they are dead and dismembered, simply for wanting to live authentically. In some of the interviews I watched, Palestinian people, when asked how they feel about having the support of the LGBTQ+ groups, actually laugh, call them infidels, and express that they don't want their support. There are some people who are happy to have the support, but the vast majority of people not only explain that they don't want any support from that group, but they call those individuals all kinds of names and exclaim how stupid they are. This is the religion who justifies honor killings of their own children. It is of no consequence to them to kill a stranger. The irony is that they believe so strongly in their faith, that if a person from the LGBTQ+ community visited Palestine, there is a very real possibility that they would be murdered because of that belief. What Americans get wrong is believing that there is a mutual respect and support for each other, because of the shared feelings of oppression. But you cannot ascribe those feelings of kinship to a people who do not see any similarity when they look at you. </span></div><div data-en-clipboard="true" data-pm-slice="1 1 []" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Raleway;"><br /></span></div><div data-en-clipboard="true" data-pm-slice="1 1 []" style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/38LU9kxkruE" width="320" youtube-src-id="38LU9kxkruE"></iframe></div><div data-en-clipboard="true" data-pm-slice="1 1 []" style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/IZX_SVPSLIM" width="320" youtube-src-id="IZX_SVPSLIM"></iframe></div><div data-en-clipboard="true" data-pm-slice="1 1 []" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Raleway;"><br /></span></div><div data-en-clipboard="true" data-pm-slice="1 1 []" style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/EQ3oAR6PqIk" width="320" youtube-src-id="EQ3oAR6PqIk"></iframe></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/HQxS4M4C8HU" width="320" youtube-src-id="HQxS4M4C8HU"></iframe></div></div></div></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div data-en-clipboard="true" data-pm-slice="1 1 []" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Raleway;"><br /></span></div></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div data-en-clipboard="true" data-pm-slice="1 1 []" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Raleway;">I also believe it is important for younger American citizens to have a glimpse of how Palestine reacted when we were attacked on 9/11. There are conspiracies galore about the cause of the attacks, but we need to take a real look at who mourned with us and who celebrated in that terrible loss of life. I was a senior at university when 9/11 happened, and I will not waste your time with information you don't care about, but 9/11 set the course of my life on a trajectory I wasn't prepared for, and everything has been shaped by those attacks ever since. We have to look at this with clear eyes, and know who our allies are and who they are not. The entire world watched Palestine celebrate the attacks. There was dancing in the streets, and the joy and jubilation they expressed toward the loss of life in the U.S. is still something those of us who lived through it will always remember. While Americans are gathering in protest for the Palestinian people they feel so much sorrow for, the Palestinian people look at us in absolute amazement that we are so dumb. Do some searching...they think Americans are fools, and they laugh at our ignorance. While we are raising their flag and our hearts are breaking for them, they have nothing but contempt for the American infidels and the members of the LGBTQ+ community, that they would kill without a single care or concern. That is not my impression...my opinion...it is based on the hours of footage and hours of written materials the Palestinian people have taped and written. These clips show a tiny bit of that belief.</span></div></div></div></blockquote><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div data-en-clipboard="true" data-pm-slice="1 1 []" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Raleway;"><br /></span></div><div data-en-clipboard="true" data-pm-slice="1 1 []" style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/lxRZTbUkks4" width="320" youtube-src-id="lxRZTbUkks4"></iframe></div><span style="font-family: Raleway;"><br /></span></div><div data-en-clipboard="true" data-pm-slice="1 1 []" style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/TJWioi-YhkQ" width="320" youtube-src-id="TJWioi-YhkQ"></iframe></div><span style="font-family: Raleway;"><br /></span></div></div><span style="font-family: Raleway;"><div style="text-align: center;">Another part of this difficult topic, perhaps maybe even more controversial than the subject of how Palestinians view the LGBTQ+ community, is not just the ideology, but just how young they start teaching these beliefs to children. Coming from a culture where we shelter and protect our kids, it seems almost impossible that this is happening. But it is, and although it is so difficult to see, we need to understand that these beliefs are what they believe in completely. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Most of the children we know, are not singing children's songs, with Mickey Mouse, that includes the subject of AK-47, death, and war. While the U.S. continues to struggle with differing beliefs regarding gun legislation, in the Middle East, children are attending summer camp to learn how to wage Jihad. This first clip is an interview by a mother who gives great insight on how they view this loss of life in relation to their faith.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/erIn4nUAkJ0" width="320" youtube-src-id="erIn4nUAkJ0"></iframe></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/gi-c6lbFGC4" width="320" youtube-src-id="gi-c6lbFGC4"></iframe></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/lJPRxDAlYZc" width="320" youtube-src-id="lJPRxDAlYZc"></iframe></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/-MXvKF9Z5eI" width="320" youtube-src-id="-MXvKF9Z5eI"></iframe></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/L3hYjDNbj4Y" width="320" youtube-src-id="L3hYjDNbj4Y"></iframe></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Raleway;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">The cartoon below is especially unnerving.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/q4Yybze98ZU" width="320" youtube-src-id="q4Yybze98ZU"></iframe></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div data-en-clipboard="true" data-pm-slice="1 1 []" style="text-align: center;">And I will wind up this first round of videos with the interview of a Palestinian peace activist: This is a pretty good overall summary of the Palestinian authority and Hamas conflict. (Forbes)</div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/5WGg1nGWw-c" width="320" youtube-src-id="5WGg1nGWw-c"></iframe></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Raleway;"><br /></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2267782525777008613.post-24033838108250594382023-11-02T00:22:00.001-05:002023-11-02T00:22:29.831-05:00Big Life Changes!<span style="font-family: Indie Flower;">I have stayed away and not posted in awhile, because I had been so worried that if I spoke too soon about how the sale of our house was going, I might jinx our luck! π However, things went so beautifully, and we are on the downhill slide now!</span><div><span style="font-family: Indie Flower;"><br /></span><div><span style="font-family: Indie Flower;">On August 22nd, the 4 of us drove two cars out to Branson, MO, to get set up in a temporary condo. On the 26th, Eli and Norman drove back home to Yukon to oversee the move, so they were there to direct the packers, movers, handyman, have new carpet installed, and then finally to hand the keys over to our miracle worker of a realtor. The house went on the market on Tuesday, September 12th, and we officially closed on Friday, October 19! That has to be a record of sorts, because everything worked out amazingly. We listed the house for $600k, and sold it for $630k, which still has me floored. God had his hand over the entire situation, and we are just so very thankful for how this turned out. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: Indie Flower;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Indie Flower;">We had originally planned on staying at least 8 weeks in Branson in the timeshare, but the boys asked to come back to the Oklahoma City area the first of October. For the last two years, they have worked at a Halloween Haunted Trail, and they loved it, so they wanted to do it again this year. So we have rented an Air BnB, we put in an offer on the most beautiful home (that is smaller, more easily maintained, and so much more well suited to us and our needs at this point in our life). The sellers accepted our offer, and the inspection and appraisal went off without a hitch. We are so incredibly grateful for how this entire process has gone. We are so ready to get settled and have this all behind us, but we know we have been blessed throughout this entire process, and it could not have gone any smoother. So many times Norman and I catch ourselves being so overwhelmed by how beautifully this has gone, and we know without a doubt that God has been guiding our steps at every single turn. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: Indie Flower;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Indie Flower;">During this entire time, we have had friends excited for us to find our "dream house". Because that is the American dream, right? Most people keep going after more. More house, more amenities, etc. What we learned throughout this process is that the home we sold, in every possible way, was our life-long dream house. That house had everything and was the ultimate "we made it, life is perfect" home. Almost 4,000 sq ft. 5 bedrooms. We even had a designated cat room. We had a laundry room downstairs...and upstairs. Everything was custom made, our saltwater pool was heated, and we even had our own pool house. It was literally the home that people dream of having, and we decided to let it go. Throughout this process, we have realized that we don't want "excess". We are a family of 4, and we are incredibly happy to downsize to a more manageable space. The young woman who was living with us for over a year has moved out, and we just really have needed to get into a home without stairs, which is super important for Chase and me. Our POTS and Ehlers-Danlos make stairs tricky, so thankfully the home we are buying is only one floor. </span></div></div><div><span style="font-family: Indie Flower;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Indie Flower;">I have the photos from the home we have sold, plus the listing photos of our new home, and I will be making a couple slideshows of them, because I want to always remember this process and know beyond any shadow of a doubt, that when you do follow God...when you seek him out and wait for guidance through prayer, it will come. Because one thing I have learned is that there is no such thing as no. When you think you are getting a no, what you are actually getting is a "not yet" or maybe "something else entirely is planned for you". At 44 years old, I am still learning that I have so much work to do on myself when it comes to patience, among other things. But we are all works in progress, and I am just realizing that I have so much more work to do in that area. π So until next time peeps...ciao!</span><span style="font-family: 'Slabo 27px';"> π₯°</span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2267782525777008613.post-64612105285739394432023-08-14T20:52:00.004-05:002023-08-14T21:25:00.691-05:00Almost There...<span style="font-family: Indie Flower;">Today the packing/moving company came out to evaluate the house and give us the estimate for the cost of the move. Next Tuesday we will be leaving for Branson, MO, and Norman and Eli will come back here to oversee the packing and the few small repairs the house needs a few days after we get settled in our temporary home. We are really happy to be making this move, but I would be lying if I said we weren't having some anxiety about all of this. We are just so broken, that the physicality of the move worries us. We always get through things alright, so this will be no different. </span><div><span style="font-family: Indie Flower;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Indie Flower;">Norman and the kids attended the Lariat Creek 50th Anniversary celebration last Saturday, and although I was not up for going, I was happy to have Norman and the kids represent me for the family. The coordinator had found a video of my dad talking about his love of the camp and our family's tie to the land, and they ended the program by playing that video. It was so out of the blue, my mom and brother were so taken aback that the tears really hit hard. I know for my mom, especially, it was terribly difficult. In the end, I'm glad I didn't go. I wish I was stronger sometimes, but I know that would just be too much. That place...the loss of my dad...life can be so brutal and exhausting, and learning to live with indescribable losses is so hard. You never fully recover...you just learn to live with the void as best you can and move forward by whatever means necessary. The kids have been having friends over quite a bit to eek out every last bit of summer fun out in the pool. I really hate giving that up. The lady we bought the house from put in a $90k+ pool and pool house, and she took a major loss when she sold it to us. She is just so wealthy, that it didn't phase her at all. We will be putting in a pool, but it won't be anything near the $100k system we have here. That is the saddest part for me and the kiddos; however we will figure it out and enjoy getting to design it the way we want it. π₯° </span></div><div><span style="font-family: Indie Flower;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Indie Flower;"><a href="https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZT8NuAj8x/" target="_blank"><b style="background-color: #d0e0e3;">Click HERE for family swim day!</b></a><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Indie Flower;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Indie Flower;">Here are a few photos of the most recent family swim day. These days are so precious.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Indie Flower;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Indie Flower;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzmutZi1x1qbCrBmBLvUb2jbM0Q1afbGOsopZQUj_UBfLGsisjknu2T_pgkTv3MDXQIpszoUT1fsrP8mnh9B32-8au5ptFUmPtxqq07chTbRGLZ34OlZNqvabssWSQanFujkit9WU6p3eXLz2AazUBfFdj5J6AeXwB7l7RX-RRliVyQ2Rwp8AiiRmRACY/s2159/Screenshot_20230814_203613_Gallery.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2159" data-original-width="1080" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzmutZi1x1qbCrBmBLvUb2jbM0Q1afbGOsopZQUj_UBfLGsisjknu2T_pgkTv3MDXQIpszoUT1fsrP8mnh9B32-8au5ptFUmPtxqq07chTbRGLZ34OlZNqvabssWSQanFujkit9WU6p3eXLz2AazUBfFdj5J6AeXwB7l7RX-RRliVyQ2Rwp8AiiRmRACY/w320-h640/Screenshot_20230814_203613_Gallery.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM74VRzXv9LV2Uc2X0YDRREPHJLDDOaBX8K82XJNDno8H-wZaAjJ05-MRPHJW9Z0FTMf5MyhSU11g7Ssfk_EX1KDTZYBFLif7G5NPkAmEYBNUpLlpOF1Yz132EjqifkpUZEQV4avz4Dborg5N-12-TWe7yMBNmmOMVUGKmIOHY105O5q5MAmHGGNU0grw/s1059/Screenshot_20230814_204318_Gallery.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1059" data-original-width="692" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM74VRzXv9LV2Uc2X0YDRREPHJLDDOaBX8K82XJNDno8H-wZaAjJ05-MRPHJW9Z0FTMf5MyhSU11g7Ssfk_EX1KDTZYBFLif7G5NPkAmEYBNUpLlpOF1Yz132EjqifkpUZEQV4avz4Dborg5N-12-TWe7yMBNmmOMVUGKmIOHY105O5q5MAmHGGNU0grw/w418-h640/Screenshot_20230814_204318_Gallery.jpg" width="418" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwdxSBsGN2f38XttZegSgP8HidGakq6AaPPArumjTQcqwU6x1YA2TYUMQWHUphLx5FKA6DbOdWpbHt6KAdCDslstHQspK7eKm0zp0BAH_SAr29oJ5Uose-RhlRc-ixYhd15P3bP_rteHqC0vwwX-q2-AM91BZoAaRim46f1NlWjvNSvJt5Jt0doGJIAbU/s994/Screenshot_20230814_203642_Gallery.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="994" data-original-width="728" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwdxSBsGN2f38XttZegSgP8HidGakq6AaPPArumjTQcqwU6x1YA2TYUMQWHUphLx5FKA6DbOdWpbHt6KAdCDslstHQspK7eKm0zp0BAH_SAr29oJ5Uose-RhlRc-ixYhd15P3bP_rteHqC0vwwX-q2-AM91BZoAaRim46f1NlWjvNSvJt5Jt0doGJIAbU/w468-h640/Screenshot_20230814_203642_Gallery.jpg" width="468" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8aED2avhoXD----fIJeLiP0v7oN87x6ehcoJTrFDcHw01KenrTGgs6UMXogFq9yilRXrTowTPLqW1vvox1Z11ZazCMMY0Y2IwEHS-Vho6DfDpv1ff-t0LHlFxeIzRi7_fLcyG70G5tZasOev9UUQYYyi-FqP8pIo7Y4XlZGbYyo0eYyK9q8H_tFjrmns/s1251/Screenshot_20230814_203723_Gallery.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1251" data-original-width="850" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8aED2avhoXD----fIJeLiP0v7oN87x6ehcoJTrFDcHw01KenrTGgs6UMXogFq9yilRXrTowTPLqW1vvox1Z11ZazCMMY0Y2IwEHS-Vho6DfDpv1ff-t0LHlFxeIzRi7_fLcyG70G5tZasOev9UUQYYyi-FqP8pIo7Y4XlZGbYyo0eYyK9q8H_tFjrmns/w434-h640/Screenshot_20230814_203723_Gallery.jpg" width="434" /></a></div><br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcZOn1pcUnkZf8VVAxD2FIrGFvZYsDfvt0cf-KfYHV6Oua_aIMGsrCksQJ4Ev5AatOhDs62fdIkIfSA1EH837YZ1WuzH6LSIluZ8cNK9BsJWrkp2ZBwgtsvJvnhrtyaInLx7Amj2QfvNsgl4o6Zl255ZcppHmlY7Bt7ifdQCWxmqbtMEtxx4cNKKNG7PM/s1114/Screenshot_20230814_205013_Gallery.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1114" data-original-width="913" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcZOn1pcUnkZf8VVAxD2FIrGFvZYsDfvt0cf-KfYHV6Oua_aIMGsrCksQJ4Ev5AatOhDs62fdIkIfSA1EH837YZ1WuzH6LSIluZ8cNK9BsJWrkp2ZBwgtsvJvnhrtyaInLx7Amj2QfvNsgl4o6Zl255ZcppHmlY7Bt7ifdQCWxmqbtMEtxx4cNKKNG7PM/w524-h640/Screenshot_20230814_205013_Gallery.jpg" width="524" /></a></div><br /></span><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2267782525777008613.post-71142696995682128142023-07-30T03:58:00.005-05:002023-07-30T04:14:45.102-05:00Playing Catchup...Surgery, birthday, & move (again!)<span style="font-family: Catamaran;">So...I have completely neglected this blog, and I'm accepting of the fact that every time I write about being better with my consistency it just backfires on me π. Our family has been going through all the things, and honestly I need to just buckle down and bring this blog back up to date. </span><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: Catamaran;">Norman and I finally had our Medtronic Spinal Stimulator surgeries on June 19th, and the recovery has been difficult. Norman is really struggling to get relief, because he still has some swelling, but all of my healing is pretty much complete. I feel an enormous amount of relief from the device, and the two times I have had my settings adjusted, they have been able to zero in on where the device is most needed. This 2nd adjustment was the biggest help for Norman, and I do feel that he has some relief, but it isn't as much as he had hoped. We will keep working with the settings, and hopefully he will eventually get the results he wants. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: Catamaran;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Catamaran;">The kids went to church camp last week; it was Eli's last year to go, since he graduated from high school in May, but Chase has 3 more years he can attend if he wants to go. He had a difficult time managing the heat because of his POTS/EDS, but he made it through. Lariat Creek is such a precious place to us, and next month we will be attending the 50th anniversary of the camp opening. My grandfather gave the land and helped build it from the ground up. I grew up on those 80 acres, riding with my dad as we plowed the fields surrounding the camp, drinking from a natural spring that is Lariat Creek, and I rode my horses out there so much. Our family home was a farm of 180 acres just 3 miles east of the camp, so often times I'd get my horse from home, and I would ride Harlan out to the camp to go visit with the camp grounds caretakers. In the summers, the caretaker's grandkids would visit from South Dakota, and I enjoyed spending time out there just playing in the creek and jumping on the 100 foot suspension bridge. I always felt so much love and pride in that place, and I have always been so thankful for the family I was born into and the legacy behind my name. That place is such an intrinsic part of who I am, and to have the boys now be proud of the link they have there, my grandpa, their papa, and me, it just makes my heart so happy. It is also where we held Norman's retirement ceremony from the Air Force, so yeah...that is a precious place to me for many, many reasons. I am feeling a little nostalgic, so I'll post a few of my favorite photos of us and the kids at camp. π</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRtz7caso-KIJ863h6_WSqpHggdL33YcZ1N7j2WbTEgzD3mxSnR0_AIqfKsQfFYWE9fVxn8YCzthaTw3SmIyd1ZaJDK7NkqGgFrC7x6PL8hdZydzX4A2wq0VH1MF5Gtrv9FEuJWTTvCqquiMGZUsVKcAMdknj8wecxe_eK5mf1Bt-6_REsvr2htJ6Krpk/s1418/Screenshot_20230730_010921_Shutterfly.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1418" data-original-width="1021" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRtz7caso-KIJ863h6_WSqpHggdL33YcZ1N7j2WbTEgzD3mxSnR0_AIqfKsQfFYWE9fVxn8YCzthaTw3SmIyd1ZaJDK7NkqGgFrC7x6PL8hdZydzX4A2wq0VH1MF5Gtrv9FEuJWTTvCqquiMGZUsVKcAMdknj8wecxe_eK5mf1Bt-6_REsvr2htJ6Krpk/w460-h640/Screenshot_20230730_010921_Shutterfly.jpg" width="460" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj751UjS1ExkWO1Fgna5A7aGq9yK0Dl-cEgMxv8lsoWKxXW3Jy_t3QjtHSYN7BcFnuhrbDQq3D1uDFGlAZ_QTeI31E3iRbWR8KyOTxd7ihWgsdm29E8VZi3qixG4SSZ9cvKfCS81QUa1HWBvlCbnSxcX-g8pW1qXh1WWYe8fTlo0W-GDcHyinbpMqOUvyA/s1278/Screenshot_20230730_010843_Shutterfly.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1278" data-original-width="1079" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj751UjS1ExkWO1Fgna5A7aGq9yK0Dl-cEgMxv8lsoWKxXW3Jy_t3QjtHSYN7BcFnuhrbDQq3D1uDFGlAZ_QTeI31E3iRbWR8KyOTxd7ihWgsdm29E8VZi3qixG4SSZ9cvKfCS81QUa1HWBvlCbnSxcX-g8pW1qXh1WWYe8fTlo0W-GDcHyinbpMqOUvyA/w540-h640/Screenshot_20230730_010843_Shutterfly.jpg" width="540" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuR2D6DSO_KbtpGB7gXIXXyczJTGhX4JVPjvGEhp5maMWMVworrWpygL1WciyeFHmXMBke0Onr4y2zHzsnU08u32oyFqJY-J_UU8Qol-y0SNjLwsyBiFvqD76iB2Nd1uGYz2gDXE5bon4sjF-4nXFJuxVCXCAlyp6kRAP1Id6fPzfVXHo2hgb1ccZX5ss/s915/Screenshot_20230730_005840_Shutterfly.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="697" data-original-width="915" height="488" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuR2D6DSO_KbtpGB7gXIXXyczJTGhX4JVPjvGEhp5maMWMVworrWpygL1WciyeFHmXMBke0Onr4y2zHzsnU08u32oyFqJY-J_UU8Qol-y0SNjLwsyBiFvqD76iB2Nd1uGYz2gDXE5bon4sjF-4nXFJuxVCXCAlyp6kRAP1Id6fPzfVXHo2hgb1ccZX5ss/w640-h488/Screenshot_20230730_005840_Shutterfly.jpg" width="640" /></a></div></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Catamaran;">The boys at Lariat Creek, 2010</span></div></blockquote><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFV5MiJ2VeNQ6ahago4JNnGaeEKNbO3BFUUC5Z32uWRAczeiA3MFnX78Usqdneg53n-H0We-F7368lKbvaI0ZwW0uw-04aKhKdzUDEfeNXMRMpM5LpQtwxsrKSvW11kl1rrJEy6EsXeGIcwNWCYBjCxbTrJdJVg_SaxmQD3J24tLPRDq0swnFD3jF5idE/s1313/Screenshot_20230730_010557_Shutterfly.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1313" data-original-width="1079" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFV5MiJ2VeNQ6ahago4JNnGaeEKNbO3BFUUC5Z32uWRAczeiA3MFnX78Usqdneg53n-H0We-F7368lKbvaI0ZwW0uw-04aKhKdzUDEfeNXMRMpM5LpQtwxsrKSvW11kl1rrJEy6EsXeGIcwNWCYBjCxbTrJdJVg_SaxmQD3J24tLPRDq0swnFD3jF5idE/w526-h640/Screenshot_20230730_010557_Shutterfly.jpg" width="526" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Niece Hailey & me</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXl_GgPFguR7uWbgP1166Z3puXXTB3RfKoSVwVcfm2KwqUJrvoQBzWNBtFKkVQK5o9QCkdv7VC4S5XctlOQOjC9icCjvJ1SQN0ogq9p7iyzK1LUhvZVVAWNKazE1oJMoEXse5Jk0YkUeumpCYIGDOMTL8IQRArm7lPCt1YLfG0m9-lbZwfv5l-H1OQxHY/s1290/Screenshot_20230730_010300_Shutterfly.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1290" data-original-width="1079" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXl_GgPFguR7uWbgP1166Z3puXXTB3RfKoSVwVcfm2KwqUJrvoQBzWNBtFKkVQK5o9QCkdv7VC4S5XctlOQOjC9icCjvJ1SQN0ogq9p7iyzK1LUhvZVVAWNKazE1oJMoEXse5Jk0YkUeumpCYIGDOMTL8IQRArm7lPCt1YLfG0m9-lbZwfv5l-H1OQxHY/w536-h640/Screenshot_20230730_010300_Shutterfly.jpg" width="536" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">My dad baptizing Chase</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpxd7Ff2Zi67x9YSZ7srLmWxIsv9FYExoYqeTh2-GwPSzrWhdlkPtvDolJcDpKbTr292oSfsYtxGfrecvm3XeeyrMCNiY4RdLmzhZQo7imEOfUQ6PWUoBzjGLuxW_hjFIizIJbjFH9s84Y7dmazPGcmy0rs_3Ja68jQ-94EyjKH1AwgfWBneLEONAe8f8/s1421/Screenshot_20230730_010123_Shutterfly.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1421" data-original-width="1079" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpxd7Ff2Zi67x9YSZ7srLmWxIsv9FYExoYqeTh2-GwPSzrWhdlkPtvDolJcDpKbTr292oSfsYtxGfrecvm3XeeyrMCNiY4RdLmzhZQo7imEOfUQ6PWUoBzjGLuxW_hjFIizIJbjFH9s84Y7dmazPGcmy0rs_3Ja68jQ-94EyjKH1AwgfWBneLEONAe8f8/w486-h640/Screenshot_20230730_010123_Shutterfly.jpg" width="486" /></a></div></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><div style="text-align: center;">Sweet brothers 2018</div></blockquote><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0igTCxoWnSA-bSvZAvVqeQSa5_sPwZpKZeeYlTCzBnZqlbtTi-dzGYqyUOcAf2Z4tVizQ7BM_k6SGBXZcXu2j8HsYviZ9J241PJfklCej2sfX195HkjacOI8YRqTPeow2j4yXZcQmc-URY3U1X5ucPHb3tGgHxU970YGq8XC6kNiQX4NwBAsK655Xttk/s1335/Screenshot_20230730_010409_Shutterfly.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1335" data-original-width="1079" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0igTCxoWnSA-bSvZAvVqeQSa5_sPwZpKZeeYlTCzBnZqlbtTi-dzGYqyUOcAf2Z4tVizQ7BM_k6SGBXZcXu2j8HsYviZ9J241PJfklCej2sfX195HkjacOI8YRqTPeow2j4yXZcQmc-URY3U1X5ucPHb3tGgHxU970YGq8XC6kNiQX4NwBAsK655Xttk/w518-h640/Screenshot_20230730_010409_Shutterfly.jpg" width="518" /></a></div></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><div style="text-align: center;">My dad & neice Cam</div></blockquote><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjeYXzYZgaXc3tCGyL2Cx7jzvTJaB8jpup2crRKWx0-iECxEAje240ZcGr_1k0d5cJ2cMoRdMcIDL9OD4zw2mqTaWUDRRbyvyqax1JBL19fwbFW4HWPPWSEMEPpx55rgQynol0GgINLn9-K3Nc0tiITpTHb4Ap9F572dtv3J_U7R1JUybrc5ZBgRg30ZI/s1048/Screenshot_20230730_010003_Shutterfly.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1048" data-original-width="925" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjeYXzYZgaXc3tCGyL2Cx7jzvTJaB8jpup2crRKWx0-iECxEAje240ZcGr_1k0d5cJ2cMoRdMcIDL9OD4zw2mqTaWUDRRbyvyqax1JBL19fwbFW4HWPPWSEMEPpx55rgQynol0GgINLn9-K3Nc0tiITpTHb4Ap9F572dtv3J_U7R1JUybrc5ZBgRg30ZI/w564-h640/Screenshot_20230730_010003_Shutterfly.jpg" width="564" /></a></div></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><div style="text-align: center;">Last day of camp</div></blockquote><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGub_hNGcIQ_iXq1RgLVgp-wLqT0xI0sXFRnvgzHb_JARZcodjgfd5Ht2WmLDuDBlN7ZVcqQj536cwGN3HnGG7_OfL037fDichKnqIYClYdYzNVH76F-fIKjh_T-1hWhppClipPt0Ak0LXWCcimgFp6NVOGg7QW77U_E-G4-PlvR_LiAc3uc-O4ZaUNvk/s1392/Screenshot_20230730_010336_Shutterfly.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1392" data-original-width="962" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGub_hNGcIQ_iXq1RgLVgp-wLqT0xI0sXFRnvgzHb_JARZcodjgfd5Ht2WmLDuDBlN7ZVcqQj536cwGN3HnGG7_OfL037fDichKnqIYClYdYzNVH76F-fIKjh_T-1hWhppClipPt0Ak0LXWCcimgFp6NVOGg7QW77U_E-G4-PlvR_LiAc3uc-O4ZaUNvk/w442-h640/Screenshot_20230730_010336_Shutterfly.jpg" width="442" /></a></div></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><div style="text-align: center;">Jordan & Cam</div></blockquote><div><span style="font-family: Catamaran;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Catamaran;">I turned 44 on July 16, and I have officially been married for half of my life. Married 22 years and 44 years old. I don't know where the time went. Norman surprised me with the most beautiful cake. It's no surprise that my favorite animal in the whole wide world are sphynx cats, and so my precious husband got ahold of our cake lady, and she completely blew my mind with my birthday cake. She told Norman that creating the sphynx took SIX HOURS!!!! π And just as a side note, for some reason or another, when Norman and I got serious early on, we intentionally started saying, "I love you today". It is important to us that we not fall in a rut, we acknowledge that this is a choice we make every day, to tell each other I love you today. Him putting that on the cake meant so much. I love him with my whole heart, and I don't know how or why God chose to bless me with a lifetime with him, but I am so thankful that He did. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: Catamaran;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh26ftOaIyJ5Fy_fdnU0QqEHiIpDWIb3RoVyRhoqCWnURDnwRbBMq8z5tLacb9c4sW07zdkag7LDZV5HdIWIMEqaKs6wkMGf1yhA85qFjxHOJvqGT2m3y4hHe6X1d36nms8X5GIoK98iphFPty4OCRdSSALAEpMXYqvlCugRXHNIjl0oLjuKkZjoNgXXQk/s1834/Screenshot_20230730_011115_Gallery.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1834" data-original-width="1077" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh26ftOaIyJ5Fy_fdnU0QqEHiIpDWIb3RoVyRhoqCWnURDnwRbBMq8z5tLacb9c4sW07zdkag7LDZV5HdIWIMEqaKs6wkMGf1yhA85qFjxHOJvqGT2m3y4hHe6X1d36nms8X5GIoK98iphFPty4OCRdSSALAEpMXYqvlCugRXHNIjl0oLjuKkZjoNgXXQk/w376-h640/Screenshot_20230730_011115_Gallery.jpg" width="376" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTgU34AVv9HGAF-dUPplSf4y1pfY_xYjBJA00bPivODJT-Lgws010uVfgpQ3IKp8oSwIZ6XkYFNj7VMvCsIh9kwpYAl8PRmTr2Z4m18NPIuTh7acbBclBuoCkgPZOMwo7o7fRgmury0tfd_OwRQbSgBlnQq5wXlOvNZxig5dBhCjpUC3FWp9IwTTe-6UU/s2049/Screenshot_20230730_011145_Gallery.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2049" data-original-width="1079" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTgU34AVv9HGAF-dUPplSf4y1pfY_xYjBJA00bPivODJT-Lgws010uVfgpQ3IKp8oSwIZ6XkYFNj7VMvCsIh9kwpYAl8PRmTr2Z4m18NPIuTh7acbBclBuoCkgPZOMwo7o7fRgmury0tfd_OwRQbSgBlnQq5wXlOvNZxig5dBhCjpUC3FWp9IwTTe-6UU/w338-h640/Screenshot_20230730_011145_Gallery.jpg" width="338" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_XeEo6sjoCEqFPvYpkEoVpr2l07T6Qf9uXOmNUqlvTr8H4k49gw7RQ2FQq5OGI_a_XkBx_SZ6itDl82KjEOaPuoqauHua0QKtmnCoHaXaABpUPY6xZkbZlC3Kd-STlZCJU25PuJUBCdmk9qmrsJXJ5MErF79zJ4yyOsln32P6XCmH28CIKkr3aKYr7N0/s1926/Screenshot_20230730_011056_Gallery.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1926" data-original-width="1077" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_XeEo6sjoCEqFPvYpkEoVpr2l07T6Qf9uXOmNUqlvTr8H4k49gw7RQ2FQq5OGI_a_XkBx_SZ6itDl82KjEOaPuoqauHua0QKtmnCoHaXaABpUPY6xZkbZlC3Kd-STlZCJU25PuJUBCdmk9qmrsJXJ5MErF79zJ4yyOsln32P6XCmH28CIKkr3aKYr7N0/w358-h640/Screenshot_20230730_011056_Gallery.jpg" width="358" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div><span style="font-family: Catamaran;">Emma has lived with us for an entire year now, and the time has flown by. For Eli to be graduated now, have Chase be going into 10th grade, and Emma have 1 full year post graduation, time seems to be flying. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: Catamaran;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Catamaran;">My medical stuff has been kind of off the wall, and I don't even know how to write about it at the moment. What Norman and I have been doing over the past few weeks is pretty much mapping out our life in terms of our future, our health, our kids, Norman's job, all the things. We have decided to downsize to a home that has no 2nd floor...we have to get rid of stairs. I don't ever go upstairs, and Chase, who has the same issue I have with stairs, is needing to be on the ground floor. Also, given that 2 out of our 3 kiddos are graduated from high school, we really can downsize and get a more manageable home. A few of our friends have been asking what our wishlist is for our "dream house", but honestly in terms of a perfect home, this house we are in is my dream house. I think it is like 3500 sq feet, large in-ground heated saltwater pool, separate laundry upstairs for the kids, and an entire extra bedroom we converted into a room for our cats. We all love it here, but as crazy as this sounds, with all of the health things, plus the fact that Norman will be retiring in about 6-7 years (and he may cut his hours down to part-time) we are just wanting to get in a smaller, cozier, more manageable house. Truthfully, I'd like to pay the least amount we can for our house, because putting in a pool is a necessity. So yes, I absolutely would be insanely at peace in a small home, as long as it has room for an awesome pool. π</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Catamaran;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Catamaran;">That's all I've got for now. Please feel free to catch up with our vlogs! Ciao!</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Catamaran;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Catamaran;"><a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@okiegirlstace?_t=8ePgCurGj6p&_r=1" target="_blank">Click here to view all videos</a><br /></span></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZT88pJUby/" target="_blank">Click here for family pool day!</a><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZT88phBCm/" target="_blank">Click here for 22 years of marriage in a flash!</a><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><div><span style="font-family: 'Slabo 27px';"><br /></span></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2267782525777008613.post-80757358195218172832023-04-23T13:11:00.002-05:002023-04-23T13:19:29.016-05:00Kitty Spa Day - Paw-di-cures!!!!<span style="font-family: Rajdhani;">Yesterday we pulled out the grooming stuff, and we scrubbed the kitties clean! Norman helped me wrangle the munchkins, and he did great in recording some video of a squirming Aiko for me! Emma works at a salon that happened to carry specific wipes, one is for paws and body, and the other is for eyes and ears. Please go check out their products; we were really happy with the quality, and we can't wait to try more of their products. </span><div style="text-align: center;"> <a href="https://johnpaulpet.com/" target="_blank">Click HERE to visit John Paul Pet!</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Rajdhani;">And no, I am not paid to say that!</span> πππ</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Rajdhani;">If you would like to see a sweet kitty get a mani/pedi...</span></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTRTmWTdC/" target="_blank">PLEASE CLICK HERE!</a></div></blockquote><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW0dYKuD96S1Us81DRyJSF_DWVYoriQTlKvUzU2_B19cngSGmRQ2PdYBjwHr-20cxizdAHLyvpG3qTUsVD8qOZHNTYpLes4HedCDqRFEbo4lZ0esvTcLXj5-V1-XFkVCf1QM_pfWud1DCDS2A4kKMmPyHk0uMegyR-FCV3qmnZ5UTm2kgeKtEqvC1-/s1079/Screenshot_20230423_125620_Gallery.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1025" data-original-width="1079" height="608" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW0dYKuD96S1Us81DRyJSF_DWVYoriQTlKvUzU2_B19cngSGmRQ2PdYBjwHr-20cxizdAHLyvpG3qTUsVD8qOZHNTYpLes4HedCDqRFEbo4lZ0esvTcLXj5-V1-XFkVCf1QM_pfWud1DCDS2A4kKMmPyHk0uMegyR-FCV3qmnZ5UTm2kgeKtEqvC1-/w640-h608/Screenshot_20230423_125620_Gallery.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq5AraBF5hySkH_X1BB06P7LOUyI0YBErnqrhq-qET-sR7RgI4iUPsQpVXRtDKxEtAj5H9eFvzQT6L3u1oocaBfgXs-658Y-kdM6H99uFGysTj7H9BnZ7v2UdshV-ygkFjQendTB81g-B2LKmlB1RauKpanFHGe2ulQmYd-j07EP-d7cFx7tYH8Mnx/s1221/Screenshot_20230423_130849_Gallery.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1221" data-original-width="1079" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq5AraBF5hySkH_X1BB06P7LOUyI0YBErnqrhq-qET-sR7RgI4iUPsQpVXRtDKxEtAj5H9eFvzQT6L3u1oocaBfgXs-658Y-kdM6H99uFGysTj7H9BnZ7v2UdshV-ygkFjQendTB81g-B2LKmlB1RauKpanFHGe2ulQmYd-j07EP-d7cFx7tYH8Mnx/w566-h640/Screenshot_20230423_130849_Gallery.jpg" width="566" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2267782525777008613.post-68950685402504561162023-04-14T14:03:00.002-05:002023-04-18T21:17:59.210-05:00Welp, It's Been a Minute<span style="font-family: verdana;">For some insane reason I thought that it would be a great idea (and save a few bucks) if I just dyed my hair at home. Bad idea. I have always been blonde, but I wanted to switch things up and dye my hair brown. It came out purple and red and brown. So here I am sat with my head under a dryer at the salon waiting for the color to develop. And just because my day needed more drama, when I was putting on my eye makeup I poked a metal instrument that I was using to separate my lashes, straight into my eye. So I think urgent care will be my next stop. At least it's Friday!!!</span>πUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2267782525777008613.post-25374168786653752342023-01-22T23:23:00.006-06:002023-01-22T23:54:37.032-06:00Catching Up!<span style="font-family: Courgette;">Hello 2023! Looks like I have a ton of catching up to do! So my last post was me explaining how our surgeries had failed, and truly both Norman and I were at a loss. We were able to only get prescriptions for our pain medications from our DC doctors one last time post surgery, but since the government ended the "emergency teledoc" services, that meant that we couldn't be given any prescriptions unless we were seen in person. And Norman and I could not commit to flying from Oklahoma to Washington DC every single month. We were struggling to find a pain management team here in Oklahoma, but we did eventually find one of the few doctors who does prescribe pain medication. Most of the doctors here only do injections, which I cannot have, so we were really worried for a while. But we did find a new medical team, and they did propose a different treatment plan...the electrical spine stimulator. So in the next few weeks, both Norman and I will be undergoing the trial to see if the device makes a difference for us, and if so, we will have the surgeries to have the device implanted. We are so hopeful, because this has a very high success rate, so we will hopefully get relief from it!</span><div><span style="font-family: Courgette;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Courgette;">Emma has been with us now for several months, and we enjoy having her here. She moved in with us during the end of summer, but now it just feels like she has always been with us. Eli is driving now, and Chase has completed Drivers-Ed and will be getting his permit this week. It's so crazy how fast it has gone. I still remember going to the hospital to have them, and now they are 16 and 19. It goes by too fast!</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Courgette;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Courgette;">For Christmas we surprised the kids by flying to Florida and taking them to Universal Studios to an event called Orlando Informer. It basically is a night time event where they only allow a small amount of guests in the park, and since there aren't as many people there, there are pretty much no lines, and all restaurants are free. Not really free...it is just unlimited food and drinks that you pay for with each ticket purchase. Everyone had a ball, and I made some cute videos of our trip...I'll link below. Norman and I did struggle a lot, and if anything it just highlighted the difficulties we both have with our backs and legs. With Chase and me both dealing with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome and POTS, it was a really painful trip. But the kids had a ball, and that was the whole point. So I'd say it was still a success. </span><span style="font-family: Courgette;">Both Norman and I did end up needing scooters, which was a completely new experience, and once we got home It took me about 9 days of hobbling around my room before I even wanted to venture out into the kitchen. It is so disheartening to see how much of a difference I have in my mobility from the last time we went to Disney/Universal and then our Israel trip in 2019. Both Norman and I are praying so hard that this implant truly will help us. For all of my readers who pray, please keep Norman and me...plus our three kiddos in your prayers. Our issues affect the whole family, so please remember the kids. π</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Courgette;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Courgette;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Courgette;">That pretty much catches me up! I will post some photos below along with some little video links I made of our trip. I hope that those of you who still read my blog are having a great 2023! I'll try to not take 4 months until my next post!!! π Ciao!</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Courgette;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Courgette;">Universal Studios</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Courgette;"><br /></span></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTRpGuhfu/" target="_blank">Universal Studios Harry Potter Link!</a></div></blockquote><p> </p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><p style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTRpGh7C4/" target="_blank">Spiderman Video & Family Snippet</a> </p></blockquote><p> </p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTRpG2q43/" target="_blank">Goofy Kiddos</a></div></blockquote><p> </p><p> <span style="font-family: Courgette;">Christmas Videos!</span></p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTRpGHXhj/" target="_blank">Family Christmas Video</a></div></blockquote><p> </p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><p style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTRpGfJ2B/" target="_blank">Our House/Christmas Decorations</a> </p></blockquote><p> </p><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqysBYFVh9Aw_ZBvSKd5TQtDnKx8UkXR7ckIktxOioahrxHojiigkQAPKuq9CHxnlhnknij5o9cVJBVqQBDbBkTT_Ra23YoWEew-n-6DqML3Kztqayu1SZcAjDtAjSLWcXqVNJfc97NU2a_UhE3Z-eqIRpw7Wl3mff4uSeT88sMPCCl-2RxWOojM_X/s4000/20221202_170024.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="1868" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqysBYFVh9Aw_ZBvSKd5TQtDnKx8UkXR7ckIktxOioahrxHojiigkQAPKuq9CHxnlhnknij5o9cVJBVqQBDbBkTT_Ra23YoWEew-n-6DqML3Kztqayu1SZcAjDtAjSLWcXqVNJfc97NU2a_UhE3Z-eqIRpw7Wl3mff4uSeT88sMPCCl-2RxWOojM_X/w298-h640/20221202_170024.jpg" width="298" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; 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margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1078" data-original-width="819" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6pec4LlvLcWkYqsvtfb5biZPN4kFQKpvrKuwwdHMjVFSPdt4mlv3-A-Kqd8vPVcTNnHkticIwutWmVjq1YSW5Uwa0ZW-WDq9cSuqBnwe-lFqrJNMpJBWnX0llMuYRtJhut-nrpKmzl2vdHFghPQF9F_IVOlmaIKvy-GBmfQG_6iJoKxl0ckuo5F1-/w486-h640/Screenshot_20230122_230140_Instagram.jpg" width="486" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Courgette;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Courgette;"><br /></span></div>And here is a picture of the kids with Nana after their Christmas performance. They are both in Spotlight Theater Productions, and Eli has one last semester with them before he graduates. My baby is grown!</span> ππ€―π₯Ί</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEKd6SBlNEZoo0fPOXzEndOuAJuNaaqV_qJbWJS29ZqBYxSLaDjbrt6RZmY1lI6PcgRKoAKNloLQtqb46YnKOV6ysRnSq3mJs0XqT8_edHkZL5qBuJPGQzyrOJi-5sgzvoFcSDwd30k1vyk0EHwPBL8UvkOMndkRmMy0TIE4QiUfhOf9gF1qRrS-aL/s4000/20221210_164133.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="1868" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEKd6SBlNEZoo0fPOXzEndOuAJuNaaqV_qJbWJS29ZqBYxSLaDjbrt6RZmY1lI6PcgRKoAKNloLQtqb46YnKOV6ysRnSq3mJs0XqT8_edHkZL5qBuJPGQzyrOJi-5sgzvoFcSDwd30k1vyk0EHwPBL8UvkOMndkRmMy0TIE4QiUfhOf9gF1qRrS-aL/w298-h640/20221210_164133.jpg" width="298" /></a></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2267782525777008613.post-77916309726469820632022-09-27T08:15:00.173-05:002022-10-25T06:09:49.654-05:00We Had Our Surgeries!!!!!<div class="separator"><b><u><span style="background-color: #d9ead3; font-family: Courgette; font-size: large;">Updated and reposted on 10/25/22</span></u></b></div><div class="separator"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand;">Disclaimer: I wrote this post several weeks ago, so some things have changed, and as time progresses, I am positive things will change even more. So while we were first absolutely ecstatic about how we felt post-op, we have since come down from that sense of elation we had experienced, and we truly do not know what the future holds for us or what our next steps are, especially in light of a new diagnosis I am facing. So this blog, although I have taken a hiatus of sorts to adjust to some things, will be not only a journal for me but hopefully a source of support and inspiration for others who face the same medical diagnosis. If I do not delve too deeply into that right now, please know that I will be filling you all in in the upcoming days. To all of my precious friends who haven't given up on me and my blog...thank you. I have a feeling I will be turning to this blog to let my emotions out...to sort out my feelings, and to help any others facing this so that they don't feel alone. I am so grateful for all of you. </span></div><div class="separator"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand;">Before I get into this blog, I want to encourage my new readers to stick with me to the end of this post, because I have some pretty amazing things coming up that I think you will love. I have some pretty incredible give-a-ways that I have never done before... free weekend getaways sound good to anyone??!! Please stick with me through the end of the blog for a little more info on what I have planned for 2023!</span></div><div class="separator"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand;">So...as many of you guys know, Norman and I have needed surgery for a long time. But so many things kept getting in the way, we were beginning to wonder if they would ever happen...well...THEY DID!!!! After two cancellations due to Norman's blood clot and then round THREE of Covid, we finally succeeded in having them done. We flew out on Saturday, September 10th, and I had my surgery on Tuesday the 13th and Norman had his on Wednesday the 14th. We were both discharged on Wednesday, and we spent the following 5 days recuperating in our beautiful condo at Wyndham National Harbor. Not long after we were back at the resort, we started realizing that while our incisions hurt a great deal, the lower section of our spines (L3-4, L4-5, L5-S1) didn't hurt much at all! π³ I kept thinking that maybe it was just a fluke..that it would eventually start back up...but it never did. It wasn't until we had to get out for our post-op appointments that both of us fully realized that we truly were not experiencing any of the typical spinal pain that has been our constant and unwelcome companion for so long. We do, however, still hurt...it just is a different type of pain, and is located in a different place. Instead of it being directly on our spine, it is migrating to the sides and we are also having muscular pain. Norman's surgeon actually found that one of the screws in the cage surrounding his spine, had started to come loose. That obviously wasn't helping him at all, and that absolutely had to be addressed. So no matter the outcome, the surgeries were 100% necessary. </span></div><div class="separator"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand;">We felt so good after our post-op check-up, that we decided to stop and eat at Founding Farmers, one of our favorite DC area restaurants. And even after spending that time out, walking around and enjoying our time at Founding Farmers, we STILL felt good (much to our amazement) so we decided we would walk down to the Wharf and check out the beautiful boats and ferris wheel. We had such an enjoyable time, just walking and enjoying the atmosphere that we decided to ride the ferris wheel and just keep enjoying our pain free evening. Both Norman and I have been in pain pretty much our entire marriage. Every trip we take we have had to make loose plans, knowing full well that when we actually get there, we may have to leave early, cut the day trip short, and inevitably let our kids down or disappoint them at some point. For those of you with a debilitating injury or a chronic pain, you know exactly what i'm talking about...and it stinks. It doesn't hurt us nearly as bad as it hurts our hearts knowing that we let our kids down. It was pretty amazing to be able to have that time together to have a mini-date of sorts and do something fun like ride the ferris wheel. It was a beautiful night, and I thank God we were up to being able to do something fun in the midst of all the medical stuff.</span></div><div class="separator"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyEoMJxIVjLygOKmCkSq1-s3KETcpiAX5tKno4XsC62kUJbFWCcfplQB1e5oYN0CG1K48TObUI3yvLHpsIeRVROkc2L1GQ_nNm3sUYXE3Sw5MU6ChhvWagx3EDvt_wkvIrDUOG4cTxLAzi_AnEeU0eSFrQNXMnkvOBD0yAz3xJUzKTG4T8-B5gzyew/s4000/20220921_142914.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="2252" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyEoMJxIVjLygOKmCkSq1-s3KETcpiAX5tKno4XsC62kUJbFWCcfplQB1e5oYN0CG1K48TObUI3yvLHpsIeRVROkc2L1GQ_nNm3sUYXE3Sw5MU6ChhvWagx3EDvt_wkvIrDUOG4cTxLAzi_AnEeU0eSFrQNXMnkvOBD0yAz3xJUzKTG4T8-B5gzyew/w360-h640/20220921_142914.jpg" width="360" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFjM3yjoXdxI8V91JWunOcSyyLDGVbhRKn9phPXgCCn525nGqW-P_ZDg3JDZvDvwJRvb-YGIKT-tCaMGYWDOYWg9G_W3HVYT3WUjiLjSvKhEkx2z3mtt1Z4mRvKPnoXojWlhMmYIOsJQaPv4DC1YG2oxfu9bKlXvI5n90R0pflaJnfAnZurpEJ47vj/s1321/Screenshot_20220921-140614_Gallery.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1321" data-original-width="712" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFjM3yjoXdxI8V91JWunOcSyyLDGVbhRKn9phPXgCCn525nGqW-P_ZDg3JDZvDvwJRvb-YGIKT-tCaMGYWDOYWg9G_W3HVYT3WUjiLjSvKhEkx2z3mtt1Z4mRvKPnoXojWlhMmYIOsJQaPv4DC1YG2oxfu9bKlXvI5n90R0pflaJnfAnZurpEJ47vj/w344-h640/Screenshot_20220921-140614_Gallery.jpg" width="344" /></a></div><div class="separator"><br /></div><div class="separator"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPmtD7B16dokWKsfrK0iM7ODLDXPO6HakaX90beygNq14qOy11HencLLjWC18Zs4Y95dfgG53D0YzFf3fc6NEYH6odlzJRlu7cRGv8EzgAZe_Na6LF2WNoHgDNN5x4HP8onwXOT0MI24C1ftJS5UGhqb1jGFr8vpuxyF-lCnMeJ2Z3iBDI9ArXbVWO/s1290/Screenshot_20220921-140513_Gallery.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1290" data-original-width="958" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPmtD7B16dokWKsfrK0iM7ODLDXPO6HakaX90beygNq14qOy11HencLLjWC18Zs4Y95dfgG53D0YzFf3fc6NEYH6odlzJRlu7cRGv8EzgAZe_Na6LF2WNoHgDNN5x4HP8onwXOT0MI24C1ftJS5UGhqb1jGFr8vpuxyF-lCnMeJ2Z3iBDI9ArXbVWO/w476-h640/Screenshot_20220921-140513_Gallery.jpg" width="476" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinukWF92vh6i5CLmjvZQlnTIWus-IvYP4x7CsUfFeqxwTJM0IMGoG2A5tFTOTQttTVMwuwwFWx90v74_vphd0kqUecS167zFj9fbMNQnm9-frpWA3uPcJi8ZgdQ92VlAGv0QYR4KtmDlVmraoZEwsvazfMBWFCIgr3KKr16xaVJsjzNRH4nnN2WQ5A/s4000/20220920_151720.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="2252" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinukWF92vh6i5CLmjvZQlnTIWus-IvYP4x7CsUfFeqxwTJM0IMGoG2A5tFTOTQttTVMwuwwFWx90v74_vphd0kqUecS167zFj9fbMNQnm9-frpWA3uPcJi8ZgdQ92VlAGv0QYR4KtmDlVmraoZEwsvazfMBWFCIgr3KKr16xaVJsjzNRH4nnN2WQ5A/w360-h640/20220920_151720.jpg" width="360" /></a></div><div class="separator"><br /></div><div class="separator">Surgery Day!</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKdRje9jX8IeP2QoTO28jLWdrl6zHSG3vWNL8Qsh1s43u1hM_GRazSevgdrKD49GotBQwjNTk-h_hLw7XiBBSrgoeQHkKmlcHtgHD5LPeVgocGYvARwPCNThZuCYKH91pFHl4-OJihMvrbBp-4iTtbmrHDua1qzgR8ZL6V27KNDi1Teg4dccoROQEe/s4000/20220913_143511.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="2252" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKdRje9jX8IeP2QoTO28jLWdrl6zHSG3vWNL8Qsh1s43u1hM_GRazSevgdrKD49GotBQwjNTk-h_hLw7XiBBSrgoeQHkKmlcHtgHD5LPeVgocGYvARwPCNThZuCYKH91pFHl4-OJihMvrbBp-4iTtbmrHDua1qzgR8ZL6V27KNDi1Teg4dccoROQEe/w360-h640/20220913_143511.jpg" width="360" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuqhRbe6_PacRqhdT1X2BfpmvW7quPl2PZesfYraq_79cCbzD2lO54P3q1mWmUZsrpb9pCiltRgxapNzGUMR9ijzK6dsP2W0VNkefopQghOmfty5SI7kAFD_teclvYKb7hkF97G72l6XXF5dchbaV0c_bmzxCulhxK0scgzCzta83y6ieSqHxsgC-d/s4000/20220914_094304.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="2252" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuqhRbe6_PacRqhdT1X2BfpmvW7quPl2PZesfYraq_79cCbzD2lO54P3q1mWmUZsrpb9pCiltRgxapNzGUMR9ijzK6dsP2W0VNkefopQghOmfty5SI7kAFD_teclvYKb7hkF97G72l6XXF5dchbaV0c_bmzxCulhxK0scgzCzta83y6ieSqHxsgC-d/w360-h640/20220914_094304.jpg" width="360" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Doing our required walking post-op! What a beautiful place to get to explore!</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0rotYEVpEKRzX9hKdqWM5x-YBoGXDLkZI-cpwhUZV15LEBkP2JUKVLl6wJsztWO436dZlnDL5pVSWqe4AUKfaIyRfUgLsr3k5yQwMLmjsDU-ur-sbnq3s0FvYf3-I9Wy6wEhnm2L6447hdd7u3rKRQVQmjGeDUcq8vBPAeAn-nK08IsLtmGYSg-11/s1280/23053.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0rotYEVpEKRzX9hKdqWM5x-YBoGXDLkZI-cpwhUZV15LEBkP2JUKVLl6wJsztWO436dZlnDL5pVSWqe4AUKfaIyRfUgLsr3k5yQwMLmjsDU-ur-sbnq3s0FvYf3-I9Wy6wEhnm2L6447hdd7u3rKRQVQmjGeDUcq8vBPAeAn-nK08IsLtmGYSg-11/w640-h480/23053.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxyTEKw2m1hl8FF6Ug-lLjNw02SqoRrGdEnVUuxYpahFCbJvtpXCRwtrfWoOFFZ6rzahMEgNPm7S_i0EpZCQreS5WsjIJhPBDJNgjI3WC-nY6JlteKWNZGcm1P6Qwn5w58b3Fa0sf6Xdv7bWEXLxBMQq1G0JZG7OjlKv5uwd8Ad6FTdXKeYUp9eMrR/s2645/23061.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2645" data-original-width="1984" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxyTEKw2m1hl8FF6Ug-lLjNw02SqoRrGdEnVUuxYpahFCbJvtpXCRwtrfWoOFFZ6rzahMEgNPm7S_i0EpZCQreS5WsjIJhPBDJNgjI3WC-nY6JlteKWNZGcm1P6Qwn5w58b3Fa0sf6Xdv7bWEXLxBMQq1G0JZG7OjlKv5uwd8Ad6FTdXKeYUp9eMrR/w480-h640/23061.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbZB98IYothcESp-mW1vedNpN1dcKrkwMqDwjg6BdQHnTQr3pMgiXjDavLV_7Spwnm_HDzNH7xE7mqSTaWgXEWauj3wFqZ3bL3ZVIjz8mq35U97fkzLUKllvZZMOj24gUrIAlSkL0bWFi8-ISIhiUQw3rByaA75GQZubRT58qV6oFv1fFYlRhD23pD/s570/VideoCapture_20220922-034703.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="570" data-original-width="320" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbZB98IYothcESp-mW1vedNpN1dcKrkwMqDwjg6BdQHnTQr3pMgiXjDavLV_7Spwnm_HDzNH7xE7mqSTaWgXEWauj3wFqZ3bL3ZVIjz8mq35U97fkzLUKllvZZMOj24gUrIAlSkL0bWFi8-ISIhiUQw3rByaA75GQZubRT58qV6oFv1fFYlRhD23pD/w360-h640/VideoCapture_20220922-034703.jpg" width="360" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp0ZjgiHy-bIvdbSlb-4a1T5OlpbBkg9yp_X0uBpmPAlmvAhVz00CYb1SQdkrrAFiPiP4NjbOTKgLQMa0i4CCuf6hU8aCfSpee8blGXKLpm0eya3lwC2nBpNyNIq_KsSEDN33-HuuhH5z--BmMxcAmc019qCV0Acqs5zg3n3psxFCrR8LHLteAPDoC/s960/23047.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp0ZjgiHy-bIvdbSlb-4a1T5OlpbBkg9yp_X0uBpmPAlmvAhVz00CYb1SQdkrrAFiPiP4NjbOTKgLQMa0i4CCuf6hU8aCfSpee8blGXKLpm0eya3lwC2nBpNyNIq_KsSEDN33-HuuhH5z--BmMxcAmc019qCV0Acqs5zg3n3psxFCrR8LHLteAPDoC/w480-h640/23047.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5mAMGtxeQR58ZIQTDOj0kh-ScwY_CJdUtD7Uk_qJxnYyUqtMpax8mkLikpqvKejCOXdJuvcjdUaWEmu3B2VeVd9t4dVzY1ZCWujjmxsTtW8KbKeEmh1fjzZ8YX3eojNqKAq_EZOf1xL1cbKrxAPbBTmleUsR1j5Eax2lLdejLYv82gdMrPLEaLKVd/s960/23051.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5mAMGtxeQR58ZIQTDOj0kh-ScwY_CJdUtD7Uk_qJxnYyUqtMpax8mkLikpqvKejCOXdJuvcjdUaWEmu3B2VeVd9t4dVzY1ZCWujjmxsTtW8KbKeEmh1fjzZ8YX3eojNqKAq_EZOf1xL1cbKrxAPbBTmleUsR1j5Eax2lLdejLYv82gdMrPLEaLKVd/w480-h640/23051.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div></div><div class="separator"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand;">ANNND I have something big and exciting in the works for all of my followers!!! It will be beyond worthwhile, so feel free to invite your friends to come follow not just my blog, but follow me on my new TikTok, page, because only my followers on these pages will be eligible for some crazy incredible weekend getaways at beautiful resorts! And by weekend getaways, I mean no purchasing anything to enter, no gimmicks, not a dime out of your pocket at all. I have started a TikTok page...yes, I</span><span style="font-family: "Patrick Hand";"> know I'm late to the game, but better late than never! I am just now starting to get that going, so all I ask is that (when I'm ready) I will ask you to follow if you aren't already and share my TikTok page, and I will be doing massive weekend getaways to beautiful resorts...no strings attached. I have so many things in store for 2023, and I am truly excited to share everything with you. And perhaps the most exciting thing is that for my European followers, you guys are eligible to win weekend getaways on your side of the pond!!! Yep, you read that right! This is not just limited to my United States followers. I have been really excited over the past few years to have gifted vacations not only to ex-boyfriends of mine and their significant others, but I have been able to get to know some of Norman's ex-girlfriends, and I would love to gift them with a get-away too, along with any of my blog followers who have stuck with me through all of my hiatuses and sudden absences. I still have a bit more work to do before im ready to announce everything, but I know that some pretty neat things are coming. I will also be holding contests where you can submit friends or family...anyone you feel is deserving of a vacation, and submit a short essay on why they deserve to be the winner. </span></div><div class="separator"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand;">I know that these past few years have really been a nightmare for so many people with Covid and the devastating losses of dearly loved family members. I am not sure that I will ever truly get to a point where I am at peace with losing my dad, and now that I am facing a devastating medical diagnosis that not only affects me, but since it is genetic, we found out that my youngest has it as well, and I feel so much guilt surrounding that. I am an intensely private person, but it got to the point that I had to start telling people, and that was so incredibly difficult. For those of you who are true introverts, I know you know what I mean. </span></div><div class="separator"><span style="font-family: Patrick Hand;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator"><span style="font-family: "Patrick Hand";">I will wait until my next post to really get into my diagnosis and what it means for Chase and me and our family. But I will go ahead and tell you the name. It's Ehlers Danlos Syndrome. That in conjunction with POTS can make for a really fun life at times (insert sarcasm here). You can feel free to Google it if you want, or you can wait until my next post where I explain how this truly affects our day to day life. It isn't easy, for sure, and it's a huge reason why I want to do these give aways. The link for my TikTok page is below, so please go ahead and follow me and share, that way you dont miss anything! As you will notice, I am just now getting started on my TikTok page, so it will take me a little more time to get it where i want it. But I wanted to include you guys from the very beginning, so here goes! Lots of love to you all!!!</span></div><div class="separator"><span style="font-family: "Patrick Hand";"><br /></span></div><div class="separator"><span style="font-family: "Patrick Hand";"><a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@okiegirlstace?_t=8WnX4J1Axck&_r=1" target="_blank">Click to visit Stacey's TikTok page!</a><br /></span></div><div class="separator"><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><br /></a><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><br /></a><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><br /></a><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><img height="128" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54486/373/2793CB31E815DED91A3AD8A5841CA3E4.png" style="background: none 0% 0% repeat scroll transparent; border-bottom: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top: 0px; border-width: 0px;" width="196" /></a><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><br /></a><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><br /></a><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><br /></a><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><br /></a><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><br /></a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2267782525777008613.post-42139681308072333692022-07-21T02:45:00.004-05:002022-07-21T02:47:05.028-05:00Covid, Round 2? Nope...Round 3<div class="separator"><br /><span style="font-family: Catamaran;">What a nightmare this past week has been. I wasn't going to blog about it, but then I decided that I wanted to make a post to be able to remember when all this mess took place. Last Wednesday morning, Norman came into the bedroom while I was still asleep, and he woke me up with the frustratingly devastating news that he had Covid. Destroyed does not even come close to describing how I felt at hearing this news, because not only were our kids supposed to leave for church camp Sunday, but the spine surgeries we so desperately needed were in jeopardy. I had been having a sore throat, so I took a test, but mine came back negative, which I knew was wrong. By Saturday my symptoms had gotten increasingly bad...body aches that made me feel as though I had been run over by a truck (and I promise that's what it felt like as I actually have been hit by a car π«), terrible raging headache, and a throat that burned really bad. I retested on Sunday, and of course then it showed positive. We had to tell the kids the heartbreaking news that the camp they look forward to attending all year was off...no way they could go, because even though they were asymptomatic, they still had been exposed. It broke their hearts, and it made me feel awful for doing that to them. But more devastating than that, we had to cancel our much needed surgeries, with absolutely no idea when we can reschedule. And then tonight Chase texts us from his room that he is feeling the mild sore throat that is how Norman's and my Covid started. So we are extra grateful that we kept them home from camp to keep them from infecting anyone else. To make things more complicated, our friend's daughter was supposed to have moved back in with us last week, but she had delayed her move to this Saturday. She starts her new job here in OKC on Monday, so she can't delay that anymore, but I worry for her now that Chase has it and he is upstairs, just 2 doors down from Emma's room. Covid is no joke people. Please take care of yourselves, and if you feel sick, please get tested and start on the antiviral Paxlovid to minimize the damage done to your body. I'm sorry I have no cute photos to attach to this post. My entire life this past week has consisted of living in bed and bingewatching Hulu and Netflix shows to try to make time pass more quickly. Prayers and love to all you guys...please watch out for, and take care of yourselves and those you love. If you feel sick but have a negative test result, please quarantine yourself for just a few more days and retest, just to make sure you don't expose someone accidentally. I knew I was positive on Wednesday/Thursday because I have been through this before. I promise you that it may be an inconvenience to you, but you could save someones life by being cautious. Love to all...xo</span></div><div class="separator"><br /></div><div class="separator"><h1 style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Shadows Into Light;">Stace</span></span></h1><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><br /></a><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><br /></a><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><br /></a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2267782525777008613.post-28152989406897096612022-06-30T04:39:00.007-05:002022-06-30T05:06:24.772-05:00New Wheels & Theater Party<div class="separator"><span style="font-family: Shadows Into Light; font-size: x-large;">Well, after weeks...well, more like months of needing to get the boys vehicles, we finally buckled down and got it done last week. We traded in our expensive (read 'much beloved family car that we could finally afford bc we only needed one vehicle") car to get a more affordable family car with a small enough payment to afford Eli and Chase's cars. </span></div><div class="separator"><span style="font-family: Shadows Into Light; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator"><span style="font-family: Shadows Into Light; font-size: x-large;">We are all very happy with our vehicles, and the whole process was made even easier and better because we were able to get all three at the same place. That was pretty amazing, and we were so thankful that we didn't have to go schlepping all over town for 3 different transactions. </span></div><div class="separator"><span style="font-family: Shadows Into Light;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSY5B2HnObKIFvXshevOH_65pneI1lwU8_UHIdvfcBH9c0E-ANtND8rGnhrAOod_VQhWMGaLAx8ljsUXNh85SyybLYSlvhgzpuYvNs5SX8mHlW2WXemRf5-zELD8zwUQYL74CVAYQXDhUkKwceEjpJeWBgu2XpNn6zQY4g6Ay4Wtk0jpgVrAy0s_dh/s973/Screenshot_20220626-002737_Message+.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="821" data-original-width="973" height="540" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSY5B2HnObKIFvXshevOH_65pneI1lwU8_UHIdvfcBH9c0E-ANtND8rGnhrAOod_VQhWMGaLAx8ljsUXNh85SyybLYSlvhgzpuYvNs5SX8mHlW2WXemRf5-zELD8zwUQYL74CVAYQXDhUkKwceEjpJeWBgu2XpNn6zQY4g6Ay4Wtk0jpgVrAy0s_dh/w640-h540/Screenshot_20220626-002737_Message+.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /></div><div class="separator"><span style="font-family: Shadows Into Light;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Then last Saturday we hosted the summer party for the kids theater group, and there were soooo many kids, and soooo much food! The day was gorgeous, besides the fact that it was 100Β° and I believe one of the hottest days of the year. Half of the time was spent swimming, then they came inside to play the Wii before a few of the kids went back out to swim again. By that point we still had so much food left over and I was missing my family, so my brother & sis-in-law and their 3 kiddos came over to eat and do a night swim. I believe we had about 13 kiddos from the theater group over, and I could not be happier with this group. They are so sweet and kind and appreciative of everything. They are an easy group to love! So here are a few photos from their summer party. I will say that as much as I love getting in the water, I won't be sad when they are forecasting snow instead of 100Β° temps!!!</span> π</span></div><div class="separator"><span style="font-family: Shadows Into Light;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdCuwZv7BayHQ0T8FYR6w01ziHdbo3814SCEZQYsVWjekoBQBIth-zgKhsL3s-I7ytDcSscJB39iuAqcRAOtZ8-OrDJXzmmJ6kAiC7SdcOXTPUXikcKfqJQVII7vEdoQsa0VQ_dIdqmCxTh2uaWtptV_KBY4pMtceiybbFSWxo4k6perQallm4hJWO/s1440/IMG_20220628_003151_305.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1440" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdCuwZv7BayHQ0T8FYR6w01ziHdbo3814SCEZQYsVWjekoBQBIth-zgKhsL3s-I7ytDcSscJB39iuAqcRAOtZ8-OrDJXzmmJ6kAiC7SdcOXTPUXikcKfqJQVII7vEdoQsa0VQ_dIdqmCxTh2uaWtptV_KBY4pMtceiybbFSWxo4k6perQallm4hJWO/w640-h640/IMG_20220628_003151_305.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; 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margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1440" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitZq-OtNitGOQEluBP4KABiFol1OUGP0LHEU8ElNLq3X37rJtjRXo6eWhriuWe0df_9qwjfAGjktTHuE4hi8a6S1r0boMBKmLU18_DM07aZ0Ty_zuQ1t6VAdCQvEV4sJxKhvbt6XbHVwveG0DRnn339UPRYwL1ZetslCOAEl0IBUkphOTGsgyQHTox/w640-h640/IMG_20220628_003151_491.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeIq8vDKcWBmMIVWkWeDhpGjf0IJSz6hk675gQlC_n28khN9JPvaK9bwlSxDvqyfT2kgPq7WJIJAbiUHnc-EPdg2AmCQuNI5xT5HNfXhD-VFVw-aFp6PrrdgRWY-7liNoaSl4nFa66i4Az8IRptX5YCGia9z60aNlDo-Ymd2S_hCEuIHm9YomN36gA/s4032/20220625_221210.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeIq8vDKcWBmMIVWkWeDhpGjf0IJSz6hk675gQlC_n28khN9JPvaK9bwlSxDvqyfT2kgPq7WJIJAbiUHnc-EPdg2AmCQuNI5xT5HNfXhD-VFVw-aFp6PrrdgRWY-7liNoaSl4nFa66i4Az8IRptX5YCGia9z60aNlDo-Ymd2S_hCEuIHm9YomN36gA/w480-h640/20220625_221210.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; 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margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4608" data-original-width="3456" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4Y_rxW-P2CoQGJLdTbJpm3iji_TVqlFV3y85QPvjDpizI7MPw_UWDC60hP_Vya362zk5RyV3yFqOQ-6V6J5Jx4VeU830JjIfEVJTbMUbygJnNan8zgmAUIBuZjaEk30oE4HoHaGkwdaMeJPBseJwwOxZIoKJAKK-RakW3TFBgAWYlOfJWY8apH6Uk/w480-h640/20220625_163107.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaw6uKF1yCFzDkHUyHeN220joJveQxW5z5G-LtjS8zWJ6--8sGPi0G0HetvN0E4WmKQfa5zADaUMTwEFfYpJq__dDAHpbwTKDJ0Xn_HdsyMM7SnlIn3GpQNaOJqXIywk3e8nImaXpBu6U0Vs45PM-Tsc9NcLftXuSejyScv-FDmMfkvNZw2jS1HRZw/s4032/20220625_131649.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaw6uKF1yCFzDkHUyHeN220joJveQxW5z5G-LtjS8zWJ6--8sGPi0G0HetvN0E4WmKQfa5zADaUMTwEFfYpJq__dDAHpbwTKDJ0Xn_HdsyMM7SnlIn3GpQNaOJqXIywk3e8nImaXpBu6U0Vs45PM-Tsc9NcLftXuSejyScv-FDmMfkvNZw2jS1HRZw/w480-h640/20220625_131649.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: Shadows Into Light; font-size: x-large;"><span>Here are some photos I took of my brother and his family later on in the evening once the party was over. I know I keep saying it, but I truly am so thankful to finally be home and have the ability to see my family whenever I want or need to.</span> </span></div><div class="separator"><br /></div><div class="separator"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQFI7rGmLPVA0wqcX3wojTK1Ju4Ic4gYsFj0pJOzhY4ZfKJxxFMNPwuZqz5Csv7nVSgdZNY8AKvZbr9_Rq_QXrdV_JvZHjg25rm4100zIjT-s9jm5fG0GH3PYGcA6MR-Jf2Eudz2OqEQysRK6kf2W8qSsiRYpESfsCgm9taWYRd2Okhof7BZKFbC55/s4032/20220625_191111.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQFI7rGmLPVA0wqcX3wojTK1Ju4Ic4gYsFj0pJOzhY4ZfKJxxFMNPwuZqz5Csv7nVSgdZNY8AKvZbr9_Rq_QXrdV_JvZHjg25rm4100zIjT-s9jm5fG0GH3PYGcA6MR-Jf2Eudz2OqEQysRK6kf2W8qSsiRYpESfsCgm9taWYRd2Okhof7BZKFbC55/w480-h640/20220625_191111.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVsIbRoWJfSroHkT_S8i5jjku481sG5p-S-uXLoEBijUars2QAExlFzxb757B5bmlmxf4VdlGRF8Kn1saF4xTNRTvP65xIS2uLPW1VFhvIZRM-Ud28v-mFIx28g7r2j76lvFGLSB44lYMk18SaR7tJRB3F6VTTzTzS8PBSl4RTlWvqeorlNj1vwppE/s4032/20220625_205505.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVsIbRoWJfSroHkT_S8i5jjku481sG5p-S-uXLoEBijUars2QAExlFzxb757B5bmlmxf4VdlGRF8Kn1saF4xTNRTvP65xIS2uLPW1VFhvIZRM-Ud28v-mFIx28g7r2j76lvFGLSB44lYMk18SaR7tJRB3F6VTTzTzS8PBSl4RTlWvqeorlNj1vwppE/w480-h640/20220625_205505.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXJLup6Tmk_Z9WGEXYvqQpHHSCllqbBSR55KzpI1tQmnMe6-Nag86gJTMnJAJk6a3gLvY4F7JQmQhOHBoHRYh7IOs8FHO0bytqRvWHL1xWYcPVyJw_WjblahvNksaun-5hPvURMBakffP1bAJNhhMOf5x1eKCrGw-qC0VGBysmpDJgdK7fF1igGWeu/s4032/20220625_191103.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; 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text-align: center;"><br /></div><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><br /></a><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><br /></a><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><br /></a><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><br /></a><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><br /></a><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><br /></a><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><br /></a><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><br /></a><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><br /></a><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><br /></a><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><br /></a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0Yukon, OK, USA35.5067215 -97.76254410000001412.853717205995707 -132.9187941 58.159725794004288 -62.606294100000014tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2267782525777008613.post-47539075328188241482022-06-01T16:19:00.003-05:002022-06-01T16:19:22.544-05:00A Week of Gratitude <span style="background-color: white; color: #134f5c; font-family: Indie Flower;">We have been so fortunate the past week or so for all the rain we have received, during what is usually a dry time of the year. Norman took off today, and we have been enjoying the rain and thunder. It is so calming to me. It is perfect napping/reading weather.</span><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #134f5c; font-family: Indie Flower;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #134f5c; font-family: Indie Flower;">Monday was Memorial Day. My family went out and placed flowers on our families graves on Sunday after church to avoid dealing with the rain and storms on Monday. It still seems so surreal that my dad is gone. I still struggle with church...it is my biggest trigger, because so often my dad led singing, and some songs we sing I hear him so clearly and it steals my breath. Norman and I have purchased our burial plots to the right of my dad, so it is comforting that when the time comes, I will have my dad on one side of me and Norman on the other. My brother and his wife have theirs right by us as well, so I find so much comfort in knowing that our physical bodies will be near to each other and our spiritual bodies will be together in Heaven. Sometimes in the midst of my grief...on the really hard days, this is the only thing that comforts me and brings me peace. </span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9eGD0-opvWDpmhaX19VMF2DN6xyRp0_VVmtQkCTTxky8cgvWNasQ9Ex0hiSmW-P1YX5zZn93KbcoIfGYUuuHF1PM5m5xsUCKca9nNVlJaT7UWb1d1OWwABwsWWSrL_8NfbsuB7IPzDacpA_sewPulPXxW1EHyYuz4WptaKkIeLNJCvxW9WTtPQyID/s4608/20220529_142856.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="4608" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9eGD0-opvWDpmhaX19VMF2DN6xyRp0_VVmtQkCTTxky8cgvWNasQ9Ex0hiSmW-P1YX5zZn93KbcoIfGYUuuHF1PM5m5xsUCKca9nNVlJaT7UWb1d1OWwABwsWWSrL_8NfbsuB7IPzDacpA_sewPulPXxW1EHyYuz4WptaKkIeLNJCvxW9WTtPQyID/w640-h480/20220529_142856.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg98QQPNXiEGusZhLXrpqIiJBG72jT8bkAICVbZaEFqgNwdkYkUm2WIBAoDRWwBnxVEVmGFFKM1fHL1Tg7321CdPjOqhJGisKt-SxgT8T1l7R6A7gXhsn0wjDbQHNVin-FU7gUC8yz0P-tgZqg5AC4lA0_9NWIZWqZmjnLgk0IZbGHI4MYUP_WtqZyx/s4032/20220529_142837.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg98QQPNXiEGusZhLXrpqIiJBG72jT8bkAICVbZaEFqgNwdkYkUm2WIBAoDRWwBnxVEVmGFFKM1fHL1Tg7321CdPjOqhJGisKt-SxgT8T1l7R6A7gXhsn0wjDbQHNVin-FU7gUC8yz0P-tgZqg5AC4lA0_9NWIZWqZmjnLgk0IZbGHI4MYUP_WtqZyx/w480-h640/20220529_142837.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRPKthRzeSE3ioOtZH5TBaANmByvI0w0nH0eHG1sUGJIgB6nrAQBMHDDvhIeVgMNF896VoBZQP7x0B0IdQFuYXNgICYHRH-zz6vGfZVoslXe3HCJp5ZYBw4aGGw1JdOcdZ0Q9vKdfvl2LPKxnIeYZ836Ddz71QpryruDztWK5X2w8ploEv2xhjv5yo/s4608/20220529_142851.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4608" data-original-width="3456" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRPKthRzeSE3ioOtZH5TBaANmByvI0w0nH0eHG1sUGJIgB6nrAQBMHDDvhIeVgMNF896VoBZQP7x0B0IdQFuYXNgICYHRH-zz6vGfZVoslXe3HCJp5ZYBw4aGGw1JdOcdZ0Q9vKdfvl2LPKxnIeYZ836Ddz71QpryruDztWK5X2w8ploEv2xhjv5yo/w480-h640/20220529_142851.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #134f5c; font-family: Indie Flower;">I can't talk about Memorial Day and not talk about our friend Sara. In her early twenties, her husband Nick was deployed to Iraq. He was given a few days of leave to be there for the birth and meet his namesake...little Nicholas. He had to return to Iraq about 3 days after baby Nick's birth, but within just a couple of days of his return, Nick's convoy was hit by an IED at a checkpoint and was killed...leaving Sara a widowed brand new mother. Nick is a true hero, and we should remember him and say his name. Sara is a dear friend, and we will forever be indebted to her for giving the ultimate sacrifice. She is so strong, and I am in constant awe of her strength. </span></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGoC53NmY4r3V80ksU0foZ1UtxF2S-HCVf-Wn1TbmC0xtDW7TW0ji3siIMPi0hbKnippxmxnXO_KEkAoN1yoOPGZ2usf0zNPBmv0T78RIzleCMABGwICGfo7c4KxQH52TqNwv5W6SaVEbmPr_i_HjHQhgh40ez5L_fItkpGiaV35xu06xHmcQ_M114/s1146/Screenshot_20220530-160231_Facebook.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1146" data-original-width="1080" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGoC53NmY4r3V80ksU0foZ1UtxF2S-HCVf-Wn1TbmC0xtDW7TW0ji3siIMPi0hbKnippxmxnXO_KEkAoN1yoOPGZ2usf0zNPBmv0T78RIzleCMABGwICGfo7c4KxQH52TqNwv5W6SaVEbmPr_i_HjHQhgh40ez5L_fItkpGiaV35xu06xHmcQ_M114/w604-h640/Screenshot_20220530-160231_Facebook.jpg" width="604" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB3D76Uz2dB0PmmKiVojugOE768WLg06MWGefFHyR0T1liT7PJMj5LmgmtA1Mdj02QRoP7xzeSHg0ZnFgNwScvN74JO8Xok-MEfsopGyK2_DjV9_mJJMLSExa2QN0HW6jk4gtDdPAjTSq6OocnZhN1q09WO3IsjVUsmwUEF60YKbyHaGgyv1DhnArD/s1402/Screenshot_20220601-160823_Facebook.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1402" data-original-width="1080" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB3D76Uz2dB0PmmKiVojugOE768WLg06MWGefFHyR0T1liT7PJMj5LmgmtA1Mdj02QRoP7xzeSHg0ZnFgNwScvN74JO8Xok-MEfsopGyK2_DjV9_mJJMLSExa2QN0HW6jk4gtDdPAjTSq6OocnZhN1q09WO3IsjVUsmwUEF60YKbyHaGgyv1DhnArD/w494-h640/Screenshot_20220601-160823_Facebook.jpg" width="494" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></blockquote><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #134f5c; font-family: Indie Flower;">At some point when the rain stops this week we have got to go car shopping. Eli needs his license and a car before we have to go back to DC, and with Chase being 15 and a half, we just decided to go ahead and get him a car too. That kid is ready to fly the coop as soon as possible, so even though Eli hasn't really cared one way or the other, Chase most definitely cares. I cannot believe my kids are this old. How is Eli a Senior in HS already? I still remember so vividly being on bedrest with him, and these past 18 years have flown!</span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #134f5c; font-family: Indie Flower;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #134f5c; font-family: Indie Flower;">Our surgeries are scheduled for the end of July, and I am so ready for it. I am so hopeful that my quality of life will be better afterward, so July can't get here fast enough. </span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #134f5c; font-family: Indie Flower;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #134f5c; font-family: Indie Flower;">This weekend we will be doing a cleaning overhaul of the living room and kitchen, and we will get the pool house in order. We told the kids that once we give them the green light then we don't care who they invite or when, as long as they keep things clean. We bought this house specifically for the kids to have a hangout spot where they can have friends over to swim and hang out as much as they want, and also so we can (secretly spy on them...haha) make sure they are staying safe lol. One neighbor is old and deaf and the other has a pool too, so we are fortunate to live where we do. </span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #134f5c; font-family: Indie Flower;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #134f5c; font-family: Indie Flower;">That's all for now. Hopefully with my next update, I will be able to post that we have been successful with our car shopping! Have a great summer guys!!</span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #134f5c; font-family: Indie Flower;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #c27ba0; font-family: Pacifico; font-size: x-large;">Stace</span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2267782525777008613.post-33468835252891604582022-05-07T02:46:00.010-05:002022-05-07T03:26:32.822-05:00Playing Catch-up!<span style="background-color: white; color: #741b47; font-family: Indie Flower;">Things have been so crazy hectic since my last blog. My mom was struck by lightening in her house...her home took a direct hit, and the electricity came up through the floor and burned her feet and legs. </span><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #741b47; font-family: Indie Flower;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #741b47; font-family: Indie Flower;">Then just this past Monday, she and my brother sustained damage from a tornado that moved up the street they live on out in the country. My poor mom just cannot catch a break. </span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #741b47; font-family: Indie Flower;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #741b47; font-family: Indie Flower;">Last week the kiddos had Prom, and then following that, Norman and I had to fly out to DC to have in person visits in preparation for our surgeries in July. We left the kiddos home to house sit while we were gone, so I took some video of us flying in to DC, and you can see the Washington Monument and the Lincoln Menorial. We also fly right over the Potomac as we land, so although it isn't the best quality video, the kids enjoyed it. </span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dws1LsPW4xcpP01HrU2tDuZiXHODZOnej5b8OT_owshU9y_n3C_opWaqCoOuHJ3h1gTpRLXD6kAFJPJgsGiQA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Indie Flower;"><span style="background-color: white;">Much to my sweet husband's annoyance, I came across a sphynx who needed rehoming. She came to us abused and in such poor health. After a couple of thousand dollars in vet bills, she seems to be improving. She will always have a head tilt from trauma she sustained early on in her life somehow. Her little name is Hopi...like Hope with a long "e" sound. She was practically feral when we got her, and she even lept at my face and attacked me a couple of times. But she has acclimated very well, and we love her so much. Everyone, meet Hopi!</span></span></div><div><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Indie Flower;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Indie Flower;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibWRgC1AiX_QubdgjdMnUPONIorJME9IBAabRlaM2WQgC_c-O_fR1unCtGZXn2ZLddtrgI3FIUbYU4ej5gJROTxNsvwjdCwf-ncLlHWrhEO12PZhumYz8x59nzajoqBKn_sCTo6CzmBPI85_Z_GJCKEi8cglvm9GMJiO5DFovowMVA3R0O7vnZzfMu/s4032/20220413_152031.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibWRgC1AiX_QubdgjdMnUPONIorJME9IBAabRlaM2WQgC_c-O_fR1unCtGZXn2ZLddtrgI3FIUbYU4ej5gJROTxNsvwjdCwf-ncLlHWrhEO12PZhumYz8x59nzajoqBKn_sCTo6CzmBPI85_Z_GJCKEi8cglvm9GMJiO5DFovowMVA3R0O7vnZzfMu/w480-h640/20220413_152031.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd1PXp38SHnUpx58meWV4U_vi2SN2_MQrAHbVGnc2M95ppCgq5m2zp1wUozLdjOUziuGrzqTXdcAXhWuLjZazYYpnPa5u8JmPtCFqcJEr_0OU7h_jQHCBK0nJugoYRiX_0tbPZ8mRD0iWiqOM9gBiFCq1hv_EqhAnZfY_3fXXt47EZfa9UtqLYSfyb/s4608/20220413_224005.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4608" data-original-width="3456" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd1PXp38SHnUpx58meWV4U_vi2SN2_MQrAHbVGnc2M95ppCgq5m2zp1wUozLdjOUziuGrzqTXdcAXhWuLjZazYYpnPa5u8JmPtCFqcJEr_0OU7h_jQHCBK0nJugoYRiX_0tbPZ8mRD0iWiqOM9gBiFCq1hv_EqhAnZfY_3fXXt47EZfa9UtqLYSfyb/w480-h640/20220413_224005.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>And here is a pic of the Three Musketeers all snug in their sleep sacks. π<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0D2SGagDrZZ50hjs5JWpbBVGiUUDAlHMS1CGcVFcXEhkUy4-pVbg9QecNF_TuXS8JkZhbYATAUshq2T2R9d2fQxv9x7rBS8YF6sXYvfmwykjZKw-d_ozxxDkWCylvAMSWzub50sWwbrDyzlNQYw1PRmSaxRrZlPK94eLSSKQz9SUBe29nYk64MJSt/s4032/20220501_005544.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0D2SGagDrZZ50hjs5JWpbBVGiUUDAlHMS1CGcVFcXEhkUy4-pVbg9QecNF_TuXS8JkZhbYATAUshq2T2R9d2fQxv9x7rBS8YF6sXYvfmwykjZKw-d_ozxxDkWCylvAMSWzub50sWwbrDyzlNQYw1PRmSaxRrZlPK94eLSSKQz9SUBe29nYk64MJSt/w480-h640/20220501_005544.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3PJcxu2wkJyg2YzO44XXxHmrLIxRD_KeLYiEcoNKxomsvP12T9C8veAdTIVr-eUkQBxDKjTbAnpFn6JHcA6aMFEfBTn7glLTEWd094L-1GXLcGELvdRf2dqJUD5Q6qS-cYUXPjQo88uhyZ2hWWGU0kh5vyZUWTXIG3RnXanreD9JssDygfYXHYkY9/s4032/20220501_005603.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3PJcxu2wkJyg2YzO44XXxHmrLIxRD_KeLYiEcoNKxomsvP12T9C8veAdTIVr-eUkQBxDKjTbAnpFn6JHcA6aMFEfBTn7glLTEWd094L-1GXLcGELvdRf2dqJUD5Q6qS-cYUXPjQo88uhyZ2hWWGU0kh5vyZUWTXIG3RnXanreD9JssDygfYXHYkY9/w480-h640/20220501_005603.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><span style="background-color: white;">Here are some prom pics from the kids' Red Carpet Gala Prom 2022 in Mustang, Oklahoma. We love these kiddos so much!!</span></span></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8Kq9IRs1bBpPBzGhrlmrCQg-loxgcUFLZpVxIOSb_q2a7tHnaTNfyy8oSYpQ2EcnU3BaqLW4c0K8r7-VMrE_BPL4JGU5j5YMr-fsetbgNbpb_L6yz_xw3kYTlnYy4m-EdrFALKqBDF01pUQAR53kxtPR41H5etYCO6CMNIkPk7U7FdVxjhFOASvBK/s1800/119749.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1800" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8Kq9IRs1bBpPBzGhrlmrCQg-loxgcUFLZpVxIOSb_q2a7tHnaTNfyy8oSYpQ2EcnU3BaqLW4c0K8r7-VMrE_BPL4JGU5j5YMr-fsetbgNbpb_L6yz_xw3kYTlnYy4m-EdrFALKqBDF01pUQAR53kxtPR41H5etYCO6CMNIkPk7U7FdVxjhFOASvBK/w640-h426/119749.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNm-sSxcqiVi1Shb_WFoLuGn5kUJExLneF4S9ehqBiYVvCxmkfyZUnshfQ2h70Jrb181eb5hYXrDazQv0DjM-iM2iqroBgUfBjl_ec3nGVhgF_XJZ3XmLC_IPSZ9UcS9o5lpu1x-R-PmRzLO7Oc3bfgcfSaZLkM6Nl5IbhX1dWF3rD350J1S-0ndqa/s1280/119802.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNm-sSxcqiVi1Shb_WFoLuGn5kUJExLneF4S9ehqBiYVvCxmkfyZUnshfQ2h70Jrb181eb5hYXrDazQv0DjM-iM2iqroBgUfBjl_ec3nGVhgF_XJZ3XmLC_IPSZ9UcS9o5lpu1x-R-PmRzLO7Oc3bfgcfSaZLkM6Nl5IbhX1dWF3rD350J1S-0ndqa/w640-h480/119802.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQdlSu2tQ0LvO8xF_1CJv6Powshy3MpitPaHwNKW955R0AE8_HdqPxtM0DZwUyK4pEvXvCB6WqSwLTLP0MXu3dguNNSZjQYP9r1CH8wleCdY9fIc1y5A5mQjyCLXnXcDo2K6S9OAMr4gOUfQv0mAG0cB2npa66OaCHx-wRbyoQrZjuIgUAeHmXFnq_/s2048/119704.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1538" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQdlSu2tQ0LvO8xF_1CJv6Powshy3MpitPaHwNKW955R0AE8_HdqPxtM0DZwUyK4pEvXvCB6WqSwLTLP0MXu3dguNNSZjQYP9r1CH8wleCdY9fIc1y5A5mQjyCLXnXcDo2K6S9OAMr4gOUfQv0mAG0cB2npa66OaCHx-wRbyoQrZjuIgUAeHmXFnq_/w640-h480/119704.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAgv6zKRd8u3T7lclvGOqvRn45CJ35x4zvFYvpnVHcvfHHaaQBfBaRzBm2r19OOkx6nxs8ERhNqabzBxBa7M4OtKgPhZvPqiis3pTUm4O8ZI1H0VkYHcJp8L6DImijkReCof-HSSR5MLzd4yUELul2Bp7cx5KMUQ7WpjQu4D2UpqZjo82ARPT76llx/s4096/119713.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4096" data-original-width="2726" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAgv6zKRd8u3T7lclvGOqvRn45CJ35x4zvFYvpnVHcvfHHaaQBfBaRzBm2r19OOkx6nxs8ERhNqabzBxBa7M4OtKgPhZvPqiis3pTUm4O8ZI1H0VkYHcJp8L6DImijkReCof-HSSR5MLzd4yUELul2Bp7cx5KMUQ7WpjQu4D2UpqZjo82ARPT76llx/w426-h640/119713.jpeg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW35N_TaOrYL6LNEfn6Djyk7hto5SoKPwXOZE26hd47TukHFwz8aXz0-DcWr3EnYmG2QGmDXDlM-9rVG81phGlmFTMjOY0zRKjbtOEZHV9zKyaNlWsPmbymbFFKv2e_p8Cc9o2tT-GBY2j6YLjjcFAl-cPrIuquXMJcMSqV61Gif9yJQ6X4JLtYaE-/s960/119764.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="721" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW35N_TaOrYL6LNEfn6Djyk7hto5SoKPwXOZE26hd47TukHFwz8aXz0-DcWr3EnYmG2QGmDXDlM-9rVG81phGlmFTMjOY0zRKjbtOEZHV9zKyaNlWsPmbymbFFKv2e_p8Cc9o2tT-GBY2j6YLjjcFAl-cPrIuquXMJcMSqV61Gif9yJQ6X4JLtYaE-/w480-h640/119764.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA68uviIFljbSc_jz-ZCZrGC695XbGROE-nRS9HPbqeje1D1Anpk3J974SoBbe8zOHyR-vBfzQ-YuQ6qEr9ucFqZBTTFt_z-KvE2cuZXhn85ZpYj6QKR-_yZAlxmvRCZBNBebhj9dimAfnB5Yak5eBuTS9lD8eSWDfPgDmnLVvmzArmpvPveTCDL5u/s960/119768.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA68uviIFljbSc_jz-ZCZrGC695XbGROE-nRS9HPbqeje1D1Anpk3J974SoBbe8zOHyR-vBfzQ-YuQ6qEr9ucFqZBTTFt_z-KvE2cuZXhn85ZpYj6QKR-_yZAlxmvRCZBNBebhj9dimAfnB5Yak5eBuTS9lD8eSWDfPgDmnLVvmzArmpvPveTCDL5u/w480-h640/119768.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9yrO5If8YqNyaH7IiORTr5DXmo3Unr87vCZLXxv6CFgf-hkX8p6SplGWT7RuZCLM2DkeiwMyytwyLZ8q_e-6vgMvYIIGuM_pHgiRAAYXn3Wl229_SJtHWuk1Bgi3k74F_1pWqzqbSiJWWYjsDFuYvImlmwuE4QDRxerM5hmzYOSWVtLYUsh-BfL3g/s960/119791.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9yrO5If8YqNyaH7IiORTr5DXmo3Unr87vCZLXxv6CFgf-hkX8p6SplGWT7RuZCLM2DkeiwMyytwyLZ8q_e-6vgMvYIIGuM_pHgiRAAYXn3Wl229_SJtHWuk1Bgi3k74F_1pWqzqbSiJWWYjsDFuYvImlmwuE4QDRxerM5hmzYOSWVtLYUsh-BfL3g/w480-h640/119791.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl9tI9q8EG_Uie7PZNT_FTenYB8q1XMKBEew41J1-31T7_c2S8rTB4-tHUX99XLhjKkDcQt8O7dJOi2zo5Y8EGxlsegWjVPjq_QkylFB1F3rmZBae4-AI5lStwMKSwTXXZr2n7EjEeTIWj6M5cW5uPvOKyQpD-BzVjwC5m9BhEPibbTOieAW0YV3go/s2048/120296.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1366" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl9tI9q8EG_Uie7PZNT_FTenYB8q1XMKBEew41J1-31T7_c2S8rTB4-tHUX99XLhjKkDcQt8O7dJOi2zo5Y8EGxlsegWjVPjq_QkylFB1F3rmZBae4-AI5lStwMKSwTXXZr2n7EjEeTIWj6M5cW5uPvOKyQpD-BzVjwC5m9BhEPibbTOieAW0YV3go/w640-h426/120296.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2267782525777008613.post-28729584236863027352022-03-31T01:58:00.006-05:002022-03-31T02:18:41.741-05:00Catching Up<span style="font-family: Catamaran; font-size: large;">It's only 12:15 am here, so we are only 15 minutes into the 31st, but yesterday, March 30th would have been my best friend's 45th birthday. I slept most of the day because I wasn't feeling very well, but every second I was awake, I was keenly aware of what the date was, and so aware of the fact that time does not, in fact, heal all wounds. Grief is this strange thing that seeps into every aspect of your life, and though time keeps marching forward, all that truly changes is the amount of people in my life who have made that transition from being an active part of my life to being a painful memory and a part of my past. I guess that is the curse of getting older...you grieve for the people you lose, and someday someone will grieve for you. That's just the circle of life. </span><div><span style="font-family: Catamaran; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Catamaran; font-size: large;">I hate that the quality of my photos is so bad, but I'm so thankful for them, because they remind me of the time we did have. I will forever miss this sweet girl. </span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1DeYUB24fZLx5_waDHkMm03S6C7nJ6IgfjNbm37Ur3wEXUo8pXHUxKtVQrghmPQESN61w0iXjqKrw672Wz2k3KriBm9D-k6Uuw00srCGa6HgW243e-iRu7CJQQcc_5cOYySZ7TI8EtayQ22wUbtVhD6Fp2PnVk4tr1hqFHgYAeupVwJv4M_17wGtt/s612/Screenshot_20220330-025110_Facebook.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="612" data-original-width="514" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1DeYUB24fZLx5_waDHkMm03S6C7nJ6IgfjNbm37Ur3wEXUo8pXHUxKtVQrghmPQESN61w0iXjqKrw672Wz2k3KriBm9D-k6Uuw00srCGa6HgW243e-iRu7CJQQcc_5cOYySZ7TI8EtayQ22wUbtVhD6Fp2PnVk4tr1hqFHgYAeupVwJv4M_17wGtt/w538-h640/Screenshot_20220330-025110_Facebook.jpg" width="538" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCsqMVdZ-FByZupiXR6Kr0GkLhS8Hnhc4CQAcgI3pvnYwLCIR-OFD2R0W50yboI1VK6t-dcfGiD7plyPsEfJja__RuGhVpbEjhm2qO-Omwy5W7s1brn4BnfQEDsLdHIJmp8yBPP_zJCCbHPzpnniSPUjY0HDvaAjl82Qslc58Zs24VBxXxmBYZ3XQr/s881/Screenshot_20220330-025144_Facebook.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="881" data-original-width="469" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCsqMVdZ-FByZupiXR6Kr0GkLhS8Hnhc4CQAcgI3pvnYwLCIR-OFD2R0W50yboI1VK6t-dcfGiD7plyPsEfJja__RuGhVpbEjhm2qO-Omwy5W7s1brn4BnfQEDsLdHIJmp8yBPP_zJCCbHPzpnniSPUjY0HDvaAjl82Qslc58Zs24VBxXxmBYZ3XQr/w342-h640/Screenshot_20220330-025144_Facebook.jpg" width="342" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiobvMZk5NRu1N6ncsny3zthh35MA5OE6QeWvqDKUjxhpSo5wxiNQpniyngxifwshL5IGfCVYmDtZvJxgkAJ-qozeLFJ__VFlMvDucsStVZpZ1NF3tirWCwj2fqYexdOsTKvzE0-XUUr3dMC9OWgTG7U8YiElF4TWck47Dsd6-i5ekRLQI9Ifdo8Pz_/s1088/Screenshot_20220331-002418_Facebook.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1088" data-original-width="990" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiobvMZk5NRu1N6ncsny3zthh35MA5OE6QeWvqDKUjxhpSo5wxiNQpniyngxifwshL5IGfCVYmDtZvJxgkAJ-qozeLFJ__VFlMvDucsStVZpZ1NF3tirWCwj2fqYexdOsTKvzE0-XUUr3dMC9OWgTG7U8YiElF4TWck47Dsd6-i5ekRLQI9Ifdo8Pz_/w582-h640/Screenshot_20220331-002418_Facebook.jpg" width="582" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO7xSw3zoqXwaCEo6pDmqpjYVbRE2NvYAmL1XIz-80zpSO4aydSQ6sE_bkuSTaDyg0Dq98gisEjrsubIVdzX0PqWM0ByvotO-s66l-HWFAwLGE2wMwbwgP2nnSrOcaYIwQb3cinaw3_2jCdD4WJdRFpyjBqqRb5-rcGalaBJ0K4TFwQQ2iYR0bDCF4/s860/Screenshot_20220330-025036_Facebook.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="860" data-original-width="572" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO7xSw3zoqXwaCEo6pDmqpjYVbRE2NvYAmL1XIz-80zpSO4aydSQ6sE_bkuSTaDyg0Dq98gisEjrsubIVdzX0PqWM0ByvotO-s66l-HWFAwLGE2wMwbwgP2nnSrOcaYIwQb3cinaw3_2jCdD4WJdRFpyjBqqRb5-rcGalaBJ0K4TFwQQ2iYR0bDCF4/w426-h640/Screenshot_20220330-025036_Facebook.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div><span style="font-family: Catamaran; font-size: large;">Things have been so crazy lately. My mom's house was struck by lightening, and everything was either fried and melted (all the wiring completely melted), or blown up. Mom has spent the past week replacing all her tv's, security system, garage door, plus she has had to have nearly everything rewired. She had her heart checked out in the ER, and luckily she's ok, but she did have burning in her feet and legs. Her two dogs got a big jolt as they had been stretched out on the floor, but they seem to be ok. It was a really scary ordeal. </span></div></div><div><span style="font-family: Catamaran; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Catamaran; font-size: large;">The boys had a youth group retreat this weekend out at Lariat Creek, and an incident out there solidified the need for us to change churches. The boys, for whatever reason...maybe because they have traveled...maybe because they are homeschooled and are learning more since they can go at their own pace...whatever the case is, they need more depth from their youth minister, and I'm not sure why, but this group is so clickish that even after a year and a half, Chase especially is just not feeling a part of the group. He normally makes friends quickly, but the kids here are just not very open to new kiddos. We love going to church with my mom, and it's hard to let that go, but the boys come first. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: Catamaran; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Catamaran; font-size: large;">My back surgery is scheduled for the second week of May. Norman was supposed to have his then as well, but he found out a couple of days ago that he has a blood clot, so his surgery has to be pushed back a few months, and that was really disappointing. Devastating really, because we both really want to put all of this behind us. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: Catamaran; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Catamaran; font-size: large;">I haven't blogged in such a long time...I think because our life is pretty groundhog day'ish. Chase turned 15 in January, and we are getting ready to get Eli a car. He is ready to get a job and have more freedom, and Chase is too, but he has a little longer to wait. He at least can get his permit in July. I still can't believe our kiddos are this old. It seems like just yesterday I was taking care of toddlers, and now we are looking at the fact that Eli will graduate from high school next year. I'm not ready for that at all. Prom is coming up the end of April, and I know they are so excited for that. Where did the time go.?! I still remember getting ready for my prom! Time passes so quickly....</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Catamaran;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Catamaran;">We got an ice cream cake for Chase this year, at his request. He isn't a fan of cake, so I wasn't able to do a cool themed cake like normal. It looked pretty plain, but it was pretty good! And I had to get a pic of him and his beanie, because he has really taken to wearing them all the time. Please disregard the Amazon boxes in the entryway. Our house is always looking like an Amazon warehouse, and I accept full responsibility lol. Thank God for my patient husband who loves me despite my relationship with Amazon. </span>π</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxdmY_5_9ww_UJm8Q_wibZT5wTiDhh2OtVqXBf1s9UdVDJveZv6PyJUXKUXrAQlKjoLBWpKpiaETf45xA7Uzg1DWySbjtAEEQ3ReCfWlvxNMKqBwAvvjVajg2aMVNDMhlymE9JKYpGHt8WMjBKtu_vOUphvM7isbX4lBzV2cPmlEFgHDEPWDGFzIE5/s1210/Screenshot_20220331-004900_Gallery.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1210" data-original-width="812" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxdmY_5_9ww_UJm8Q_wibZT5wTiDhh2OtVqXBf1s9UdVDJveZv6PyJUXKUXrAQlKjoLBWpKpiaETf45xA7Uzg1DWySbjtAEEQ3ReCfWlvxNMKqBwAvvjVajg2aMVNDMhlymE9JKYpGHt8WMjBKtu_vOUphvM7isbX4lBzV2cPmlEFgHDEPWDGFzIE5/w430-h640/Screenshot_20220331-004900_Gallery.jpg" width="430" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Catamaran; font-size: large;">Besides that, there's not much more going on at the moment. The kids do school everyday, Norman is happy in his job and even happier that he can work from home <span><span><a href="https://youtube.com/shorts/gvpb5uLHHVE?feature=share" style="background-color: white;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #351c75;">See video of Norman and his "assistant"</span></a><span style="color: #4c1130;"> .</span></span>W</span>e are happy just being together, staying in and binge watching everything Taylor Sheridan produces lol. I suppose we are boring by most people's standards, but we are content, and I couldn't ask for sweeter kiddos or a more loving husband. I'll wrap this up for now...hopefully my next blog will be about Eli's new car..that is hanging over my h</span><span style="font-family: Catamaran; font-size: x-large;">ead, and I won't relax about that until we get it done. I'll wrap this up with a video clip of the last snowstorm we had for the winter. I hate to see winter end...it's definitely my favorite season. We are de-winterizing the pool next week, so I am looking forward to that aspect of summer. (Sorry about the links...for some reason i couldnt get the videos to embed into the blog page. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: Catamaran; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Catamaran; font-size: x-large;">Ciao for now! Lots of love to all you guys out there who still read my random thoughts and my even more randomly timed posts!! π€</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Catamaran; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: Catamaran; font-size: large;"> <span style="background-color: white; color: #0000ee;"><a href="https://youtube.com/shorts/Vf0zJl5UQ00?feature=share" target="_blank">Last Snowstorm 2022 - Youtube Video</a><br /></span></span><div><span style="color: #0000ee; font-family: Catamaran; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Catamaran; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2267782525777008613.post-86432938967010594682022-01-09T02:42:00.002-06:002022-01-09T02:44:49.540-06:00Goodbye 2021...and a Cautious Hello to 2022<div class="separator"><span style="font-family: Catamaran;">This Christmas has got to take the cake when it comes to the oddness of it all. Dad not being here was so strange...and my mom's way of trying to move forward included not hanging his stocking up. For 41 years I've seen all of our hand-made stockings hanging side by side, and new ones were lovingly made every time a new grandbaby joined our family. It was more unsettling and so jarring to me to not see his stocking there next to my moms. I noticed she has taken off her wedding band and instead wears the band that my dad got for her in Israel. These are such small changes, but it is so incredibly painful to watch this transition, and it scares me because someday I know that it will either be me left alone without Norman, or it will be Norman left without me. That is a pain so deep that I cannot bear to even think about it. I simply cannot imagine your partner of 50 years just suddenly gone...and yet the world moves on and nobody cares that you are grieving. And the bloody statement that people toss out about time healing your heart. That is utter nonsense. </span></div><div class="separator"><span style="font-family: Catamaran;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator"><span style="font-family: Catamaran;">Life does go on though...and as proof, I now have a sweet new nephew...Jordan and Callie's baby, Crew Oliver. Born one day before Eli's birthday; he is so sweet, and he was the highlight of our Christmas. </span></div><div class="separator"><span style="font-family: Catamaran;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator"><span style="font-family: Catamaran;">I don't know what 2022 holds, but I pray it is better than 2020 and 2021. I'd say it can't get any worse, but just as sure as I say that, I will be proven wrong. So here's to some hope...the little I'm still holding onto. I'm praying this 2nd round of covid that hit our house goes away quickly and we can resume life as normal. I pray everyone reading this will have a happy and healthy 2022. Love your family...hold them close and tell them how much they mean to you. You never know when your last moments with someone will be. </span></div><div class="separator"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjLqScRYyGHuiJFGuBjjs4JTmze8q9jDXZS_4mSp8ZQBIh0u2gAsaU5Yx54uCqR-fMPUbV_c8ZF7bz0jZOAYGU9q2Jl_X08gHAJ8fZZTIVIxVZDCJe9eHRKPPHNbv6y3C3eYMci8uWgm5_PTeH7GjPFWyh9ZvpKw73qT96Psuf0q6xev-9q9_qCo485=s708" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="708" data-original-width="708" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjLqScRYyGHuiJFGuBjjs4JTmze8q9jDXZS_4mSp8ZQBIh0u2gAsaU5Yx54uCqR-fMPUbV_c8ZF7bz0jZOAYGU9q2Jl_X08gHAJ8fZZTIVIxVZDCJe9eHRKPPHNbv6y3C3eYMci8uWgm5_PTeH7GjPFWyh9ZvpKw73qT96Psuf0q6xev-9q9_qCo485=w640-h640" width="640" /></a></div><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><br /></a><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"></a><span style="font-family: Tajawal;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Tajawal;">From L to R: Chase (14), Eli (18), Crew (2 mos), Lincoln (5), and Camryn (9</span>)<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjdxlzEWP2Zw2zxnWAu7560FYmlpgtvyC89p8AWtPA4vJzKs_Edgo5Zjgned4ZIEcbGSsR3eQ6sH8ZI3uwiLLOA4gqGAYb5kxXxky4RRmYy2_SYt0FVjlXK6FtKcDMXGFjDg6nHk3IJN0RERACDpf5yOnQ8JiiZYUAtsLPZ3RPZNAlAbjUO62YkVVCw=s1440" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1440" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjdxlzEWP2Zw2zxnWAu7560FYmlpgtvyC89p8AWtPA4vJzKs_Edgo5Zjgned4ZIEcbGSsR3eQ6sH8ZI3uwiLLOA4gqGAYb5kxXxky4RRmYy2_SYt0FVjlXK6FtKcDMXGFjDg6nHk3IJN0RERACDpf5yOnQ8JiiZYUAtsLPZ3RPZNAlAbjUO62YkVVCw=w640-h640" width="640" /></a></div></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2267782525777008613.post-57589324764564246142021-12-04T02:44:00.003-06:002021-12-04T02:46:47.780-06:00Holidays After Loss Suck<div><span style="font-family: Nanum Myeongjo;">*Disclaimer...I started writing this before Thanksgiving, but I had to set it aside. Sometimes the memories are too much.*</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Nanum Myeongjo;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Nanum Myeongjo;">This year has been so difficult...and now with the holidays coming up, truthfully I wish I could just fast forward through them. I guess we all go through this...well, I guess those of us who were blessed with parents whom we have loved and who have been good parents to us go through it. I realize that many people aren't blessed with that gift, and that comes with its own set of intense emotions. It has been so strange, the different emotions that Norman has gone through losing his parents. We have taken the same journey, but we haven't experienced the same type of anything...love, anger, pain, despair, etc. We have walked the same road of loss but faced completely different things, and I am certain that our journey is not over yet. It's so crazy that the very thing I am so thankful to have had growing up and throughout adulthood... loving, giving, precious, selfless parents...is the thing that cuts so deep and has caused a level of grief that is insurmountable. My dad was a giver. He gave enough food to fill people's freezers if he knew they were hungry. I grew up raising and showing show pigs. My dad raised Yorks, but my love was with Spots (Spotted Poland Chinas). He would just give an entire pig to a family and cover the butcher fees. He would open our freezer and give beef from our own stock. He gave show animals to kids at a boy's home, including feed to get through the season, so that they could experience 4-H and FFA. He gave his time to listen to others...he covered people's bills when they struggled...and he never wanted recognition. He never wanted to be paid back. He just loved people, and he wanted people to know that Jesus loved them too. He was a high-school teacher by day and a wheat and cattle/hog farmer every other minute of every single day. He often joked that he taught school to support his farming habit, and as most other farmers would attest, nobody can survive on farming alone. I miss his wit...his particular sense of humor. He was a practical joker to his core, and his grin when he pulled something over on someone was what I see when I think of him. I'm so thankful I was his daughter. He instilled a love of our farm...the church camp that was my grandfather's and then my dad's legacy, the love of horses deep in my soul, and the level of responsibility he tasked me with was so unfair...at least that's what teenager me felt. But I'm so, so grateful for it now. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: Nanum Myeongjo;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Nanum Myeongjo;">Thanksgiving was a quiet day, spent with my mom, our family of 4, and my brother, sister-in-law and their 3 kids. They just had a baby in October, so I got in plenty of snuggle time with Crew. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: Nanum Myeongjo;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Nanum Myeongjo;">Monday afternoon we are taking mom to go see The Chosen Christmas movie, and I think that is the first time she has been to a movie since my dad died. Baby steps.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Nanum Myeongjo;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Nanum Myeongjo;">Norman and I somehow came across this show called Catfish, hosted by Nev Schulman and Max something...lol sorry Max! But it is crazy how many people have been catfished! Norman told me about his own catfish story...it must have been in '98 or '99 maybe. He was in Germany, and he was emailing this chick in Atlanta. Apparently she used someone else's photos, but when he came home to Atl to visit his family, they decided to meet. Not weird for Norman, but this chick lied about who she was and agreed anyway! π€― Like...WHAAA?!?! Lady...you knew this would not end well! So Norm shows up at her house and all the lights are out, but she left him a note on the door telling him to come in. At this point I'd be getting back in my car and hightailing out of there, but I guess the curiosity was killing him, plus, he's in the Army. Short of her ambushing him, he feels pretty confident in his ability to keep himself safe. I still think it's crazy. But he goes in...she's hollering for him to come upstairs. I'm still thinking, "don't go idiot! It's a trap!" But he goes upstairs to find this woman who is under the covers and who refuses to let him turn on the lights. I will end this story up by saying that he got unbelievably mad (who wouldn't...she had been lying to him for a long time), and all I can work out is that she wasn't the 130lb chick she presented herself to be...you can guess the rest. I just don't get the lying. Show the real you, people! There are gorgeous, kind, wonderful people in every size and shape body. What's unattractive is pretending to be something you are not. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: Nanum Myeongjo;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Nanum Myeongjo;">I love hearing his dating stories...maybe that makes me weird, but we have been married 20 years. I love hearing about his time in Germany and the experiences he had there. I only know of 2 girls he dated in particular....One ended up marrying his friend, although they aren't married anymore, and the other girl made him speak German because she wasn't entirely comfortable with her English. His German wasn't fluent, so I would have loved to watch their interactions and see how they communicated. I think she ended up having a baby with another soldier and have wondered if she ever made it here to the U.S. I am still friends with some of my ex-boyfriends...heck one came to a birthday party I threw for Norman! He is even connected to one or two of them on LinkedIn. But I am not friends with any of his exes, and someday I wish (as weird as that sounds) that I could somehow find them on FB. But they would think I'm weird for sure. I just love hearing stories and learning what Norman was like before we met. I didn't have the ability to reminisce about him much with his mom...thats for another blog post I'll probably never write...but I'd give anything to hear more stories about funny/crazy things he got up to when he was younger. Maybe someday...</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Nanum Myeongjo;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Nanum Myeongjo;">So this past Tuesday we finally went to pick up the 3 rats that Eli wanted for his birthday. They are sweet as can be, but 1 is blind and startles easily, and that makes him have a tendency to bite. The first night we got him, Eli got such a deep bite, blood was all over the place, so Norman took him to the ER. Then Chase got bit and I got bit pretty bad too. It will take some time for the poor thing to adjust. I ordered handling gloves, so that should help. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: Nanum Myeongjo;">I am attaching some photos from Thanksgiving, and some of our 3 new rat children. We got them from a reputable rattery, they are clean and vaccinated, so while the bites hurt, we are not in danger health wise. I just had to throw that in there. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: Nanum Myeongjo;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Nanum Myeongjo;">To all you guys who still read my ramblings...thank you. This year has been so hard, and the holidays just magnify our losses. We are thankful to all our friends and family...I may not know who still reads this, but I am grateful that you do. Hugs to all of you...</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVEl0aTKhWIBRrUwDYNKIW-jsxyQqFfw79h70kRaQ4mHt03a7GDXm6-OcxdCedb6ins6y7vHcnbEQRlNzPv4vXnAXb7kIYZ1Mx-OkYrohep-SQtWu8hJvCVz7z5dtO65ky3xRamettUak/s1083/Screenshot_20211127-154844_Instagram.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1083" data-original-width="1080" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVEl0aTKhWIBRrUwDYNKIW-jsxyQqFfw79h70kRaQ4mHt03a7GDXm6-OcxdCedb6ins6y7vHcnbEQRlNzPv4vXnAXb7kIYZ1Mx-OkYrohep-SQtWu8hJvCVz7z5dtO65ky3xRamettUak/w638-h640/Screenshot_20211127-154844_Instagram.jpg" width="638" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Callie, Linc, and Crew</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN5CZD5PaOC82268Xhg8VBoze9g3L0CcuF-GiI2QsH7FF41kJ663DfMpTsC8h0pGdiy9fx5zgOqLg8NoCbm00UWIE4N-eVBDw9NM_b52IauznPCFpoCPP88pLTqH0dN85Gda6mWfqCcs0/s2048/20211127_150209.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN5CZD5PaOC82268Xhg8VBoze9g3L0CcuF-GiI2QsH7FF41kJ663DfMpTsC8h0pGdiy9fx5zgOqLg8NoCbm00UWIE4N-eVBDw9NM_b52IauznPCFpoCPP88pLTqH0dN85Gda6mWfqCcs0/w480-h640/20211127_150209.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><span style="font-size: x-small;"><div style="text-align: center;">Callie,Linc, Crew, Cam, Jordan</div></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2Pn_D06RDnbc1q6iPEWYA_bnrJLv-lxtKjJTOqXyS-cDydJnu-S9KG2Frhz1kz53dKfwrZo561BofOkx1oRvPTRqE0-YMzG8ujCqVyBSDGbatgPqO1hD3_vCLXZ3D2PN7HXnU-3RDWGU/s2048/20211127_115937.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2Pn_D06RDnbc1q6iPEWYA_bnrJLv-lxtKjJTOqXyS-cDydJnu-S9KG2Frhz1kz53dKfwrZo561BofOkx1oRvPTRqE0-YMzG8ujCqVyBSDGbatgPqO1hD3_vCLXZ3D2PN7HXnU-3RDWGU/w480-h640/20211127_115937.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">My brother and baby Crew</div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdvhEVK_q-gMZA8HQQH7CTUhvbbb0b7-mNZ5KWVrgqsFyiggDfGu09otbFO5k9hnGKGAmaQ2GOmxg906D5EnlYOnCfzNX7-A4w8MV1kEnyMDshyphenhyphenbfEvqPQ9DoyUchmglnw4LstwgL42Hc/s2048/20211127_111035.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdvhEVK_q-gMZA8HQQH7CTUhvbbb0b7-mNZ5KWVrgqsFyiggDfGu09otbFO5k9hnGKGAmaQ2GOmxg906D5EnlYOnCfzNX7-A4w8MV1kEnyMDshyphenhyphenbfEvqPQ9DoyUchmglnw4LstwgL42Hc/w480-h640/20211127_111035.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>Baby Crew - 1 month old<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqheErvY6N27zf7pgi4OM5gALqPkt2DGZr-8SmjD_696Ba0hBisgLvikLrW0xzGpVjS-o9OiW1Je4InTDw4mlUvPDyWg5qKTEMZ86Z498jw1rDd-I_OLpNFSdJxR_Q3mxwZZg5VZ7WyeQ/s2048/20211127_111738.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqheErvY6N27zf7pgi4OM5gALqPkt2DGZr-8SmjD_696Ba0hBisgLvikLrW0xzGpVjS-o9OiW1Je4InTDw4mlUvPDyWg5qKTEMZ86Z498jw1rDd-I_OLpNFSdJxR_Q3mxwZZg5VZ7WyeQ/w480-h640/20211127_111738.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Crew and 14 year old Chase</div><div><div style="text-align: center;">My baby π</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9wo4IGcEa3ogH3rXRiA8hy4PZWbizA3sLlxFFPYhnydf_O3IqQz3MZ8mJIhl5D8zipZa-qjwoYZxS24j1Z_8vnyygsm6BDPYfFY_XrU-We3gNAHSnL_8GGzmcL3mEy6Wq9WE_U8aA72c/s2048/20211127_125403.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9wo4IGcEa3ogH3rXRiA8hy4PZWbizA3sLlxFFPYhnydf_O3IqQz3MZ8mJIhl5D8zipZa-qjwoYZxS24j1Z_8vnyygsm6BDPYfFY_XrU-We3gNAHSnL_8GGzmcL3mEy6Wq9WE_U8aA72c/w480-h640/20211127_125403.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Linc and Chase</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUH9XauT9Mh-F9UHVRnbukEBV3DJuEFe5ag3ZAjEvs95kVXgStPet_qtcgMEb0rrSacoEMqm4QDdk2Cv47ZQDWZOXw3Nyb7-SeFaIt03Pmh0p5YTdKP0mGaQagR95tJRFaOphyphenhyphen995hUUg/s2048/20211127_145206.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUH9XauT9Mh-F9UHVRnbukEBV3DJuEFe5ag3ZAjEvs95kVXgStPet_qtcgMEb0rrSacoEMqm4QDdk2Cv47ZQDWZOXw3Nyb7-SeFaIt03Pmh0p5YTdKP0mGaQagR95tJRFaOphyphenhyphen995hUUg/w480-h640/20211127_145206.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">18 year old Eli & baby Crew</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHZcO8CNY4nXv3FjgvT4lMpC_O9at5MsXAyJI3y8bgWb0jPW4gjmiWNzlU37l1X4JeWRiQtKx1OeyiGXfaPoX8HLk1h8fgQ8Add3UKZ7xEV1vSPWCS06PIKi6jzSfpvqDXZ14lphzULds/s2048/20211127_124423.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHZcO8CNY4nXv3FjgvT4lMpC_O9at5MsXAyJI3y8bgWb0jPW4gjmiWNzlU37l1X4JeWRiQtKx1OeyiGXfaPoX8HLk1h8fgQ8Add3UKZ7xEV1vSPWCS06PIKi6jzSfpvqDXZ14lphzULds/w480-h640/20211127_124423.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">My mom and Crew</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHLik_UFQEz2f4Q3lvO9yJi2Q611clzEcbNVpPg9NNENFZ7rm33yt8hXinuEZb4DLB_CVR9mXTCRoD-m_D-DThibooOwiGiklnf3sXgTKCFD0VwsllZebAMFVICBC1tHDibvbH2gUYU34/s1378/IMG_20211127_183739_874.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1377" data-original-width="1378" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHLik_UFQEz2f4Q3lvO9yJi2Q611clzEcbNVpPg9NNENFZ7rm33yt8hXinuEZb4DLB_CVR9mXTCRoD-m_D-DThibooOwiGiklnf3sXgTKCFD0VwsllZebAMFVICBC1tHDibvbH2gUYU34/w640-h640/IMG_20211127_183739_874.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">My sweetie, Norman</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUVxPS6O-Wsm9WBkmQqJrwI11nepWhysGwUHKZ6lFqwr-QXPAuyI6yUcYu_omdaRC0u-vPqAxtqDd0HnXY3uw3uA7VDcqYXK2ntc2joCeazSP7FSbVP_owwK0rIq8lN0U7_e65vjnBDo8/s2048/20211127_143622.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUVxPS6O-Wsm9WBkmQqJrwI11nepWhysGwUHKZ6lFqwr-QXPAuyI6yUcYu_omdaRC0u-vPqAxtqDd0HnXY3uw3uA7VDcqYXK2ntc2joCeazSP7FSbVP_owwK0rIq8lN0U7_e65vjnBDo8/w480-h640/20211127_143622.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Cam and Crew</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2ep5e9NwMAS0qJo-0pH6jXimf2o5OiZZt81Mm5u10MHYIfzz12JSbc0WyyfCu0FgGIoZdeu9LcHQA6N4SKxUMrNlUpeM_xO1SdHEZ3vmVmUa3-qCK-QICl6W2rbl6ztVmFdqaN_1d0j8/s2048/20211130_154439.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2ep5e9NwMAS0qJo-0pH6jXimf2o5OiZZt81Mm5u10MHYIfzz12JSbc0WyyfCu0FgGIoZdeu9LcHQA6N4SKxUMrNlUpeM_xO1SdHEZ3vmVmUa3-qCK-QICl6W2rbl6ztVmFdqaN_1d0j8/w480-h640/20211130_154439.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><span style="font-size: x-small;"><div style="text-align: center;">Poor blind dude...aka the biter</div></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz9dG6YTQnMffafPJBTlnIWIRKxmedRIHUuvQ25E1EO5flF_8WZ-RcxSNc5ZHF4_ADegWkwrJtwPaujlGcSI99tvZ-x2o74ImFvy6WDD9FGIfLlMOInVH093XrVHmXazu1J2gtcoCVI58/s2048/20211130_153803.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz9dG6YTQnMffafPJBTlnIWIRKxmedRIHUuvQ25E1EO5flF_8WZ-RcxSNc5ZHF4_ADegWkwrJtwPaujlGcSI99tvZ-x2o74ImFvy6WDD9FGIfLlMOInVH093XrVHmXazu1J2gtcoCVI58/w480-h640/20211130_153803.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Eli and the chomper</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCYLWElSjoRqUnw5gYXh6jQySzdXWD7_oj7dp4zxcAdyAZBuMvf88v0JHuD8HA3Q2Fw59Ghb81mxkBAfEu6b_0l0lLa31n2RVDtBl6WAUSNe-P-ZgpVe3YzWvsJKClx4e9ofdk56xj4Mk/s2048/20211130_154648.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCYLWElSjoRqUnw5gYXh6jQySzdXWD7_oj7dp4zxcAdyAZBuMvf88v0JHuD8HA3Q2Fw59Ghb81mxkBAfEu6b_0l0lLa31n2RVDtBl6WAUSNe-P-ZgpVe3YzWvsJKClx4e9ofdk56xj4Mk/w480-h640/20211130_154648.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Their cage for now...they are getting a bigger one for Christmas.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDOz5jvO3g1zV5_x4H4K6VfTnCMZ22ulQqQZMvcadW6t5uOlXmRE5aLRalgBVr6DaulIQLTCHubZvI3MQoHGqkQH5t5NabnfbKMyASgRCAFXrMlv37d3LuL5IEoS31_WjyFT0XCCwg1JA/s2048/20211130_151351.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDOz5jvO3g1zV5_x4H4K6VfTnCMZ22ulQqQZMvcadW6t5uOlXmRE5aLRalgBVr6DaulIQLTCHubZvI3MQoHGqkQH5t5NabnfbKMyASgRCAFXrMlv37d3LuL5IEoS31_WjyFT0XCCwg1JA/w480-h640/20211130_151351.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">The 3 amigos</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8Q5zCbNUwyQmRS4UgPXMcbEePKakolhD6wt79vRliJQsq8hd29WdnIhsN-Mo32F55gt8lXFTQFjH8kfHvzPJtF8OqFJeu2FLtPL2YjnDfNxZ4Uxzs0K9Nro7Im8ZJLPUjzt86e11ZT7A/s2048/20211130_151401.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8Q5zCbNUwyQmRS4UgPXMcbEePKakolhD6wt79vRliJQsq8hd29WdnIhsN-Mo32F55gt8lXFTQFjH8kfHvzPJtF8OqFJeu2FLtPL2YjnDfNxZ4Uxzs0K9Nro7Im8ZJLPUjzt86e11ZT7A/w480-h640/20211130_151401.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2267782525777008613.post-78507715321333794792021-10-15T07:07:00.006-05:002021-10-15T13:08:52.678-05:00My Baby is 18!<span style="font-family: Amatic SC;"><b>When I saw the last entry I wrote was in August, I was really frustrated with myself. I seriously am trying to be better at blogging, but I am obviously doing a really crap job of it. </b></span><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: Amatic SC;"><b>A few weeks ago the 4 of us flew out to Washington DC so Norman and I could have in person appointments with our surgeons. Luckily they will continue to keep us on even though we moved to Oklahoma, so the appts went well, and we were really happy to be out there soaking up a little bit of the DC we love so much. </b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Amatic SC;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Amatic SC;"><b>We were able to go to the Bible Museum, and we ate at the cutest tavern...<a href="https://gadsbystavernrestaurant.com/" target="_blank">Gadsby's Tavern</a> for dinner. </b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Amatic SC;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Amatic SC;"><b>You know how some things happen in your life that you just can't explain...you just find yourself in a situation you had no control over it...you just...land in it. So last week was one of the times for sure. We had flown into DC on Saturday morning, and we were staying in our favorite resort down at National Harbor. I was tired and cranky and sore, so we were going to send the boys up the street to buy us waters and snacks for the hotel room. Normally the boys go or Norman goes. But for whatever reason, I decide that even though my back is screaming and my legs and feet are burning, I decide that we should all go as a family. No idea why. So we start heading down toward CVS, and we start seeing all these people and hearing all this music. So just to be clear, we were all really tired. All we wanted was water, some breakfast foods and snacks, and then we wanted to take quick showers and go straight to sleep. But instead we found ourselves headed toward the wharf, following the music and the crowds, and we walked smack dab in the middle of "The U.S. Army Band, Pershing's Own". We were pretty much all overwhelmed and there's no doubt we are staying right here. I always...ALWAYS get teary-eyed when I see that look that Norman gets on his face any time military bands perform. He was a music major...I mean, he wanted to be in the Army Band, but life takes you down many winding roads that sometimes, even after a successful military career, plus a successful career now with the government, he has so much to be proud of. Our trip was so incredible!</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Amatic SC;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Amatic SC;"><b>Saturday was Eli's 18th birthday party. He had several friends over from church and his theatre class, and they had a great pool party (thanks to the pool heater for making it possible to swim in October)!</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Amatic SC;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Amatic SC;"><b>We also have some family news! My brother and SIL had their 3rd baby...he is such a doll! Our boys got hired to work at a haunted house every weekend, so after we drop them off tonight, Norman and I are gonna meet our sweet new nephew, Oliver Crew. </b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Amatic SC;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Amatic SC;"><b>We have had so many tornadoes this week. 5 yesterday morning, but none of us were affected. We have already been hit by one, so I will be happy to never have to endure that again!</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Amatic SC;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Amatic SC;"><b>So that's all for now! Here are some random photos of the past few weeks.</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Amatic SC;"><b> </b></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi3b4b5ndMbsM7fQmukIuvJKZQe6_YQK0BUmwPNNwZulIu5kAHPM8HGqPQ4Q10MKbIBoc3jAC3mtO038f3QIW-KDdtYWJQ8s7BN_ILs9k4O7KR1679FNKdsPwfQEiNETN29EMedUmBj2k/s2048/20211009_195503.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi3b4b5ndMbsM7fQmukIuvJKZQe6_YQK0BUmwPNNwZulIu5kAHPM8HGqPQ4Q10MKbIBoc3jAC3mtO038f3QIW-KDdtYWJQ8s7BN_ILs9k4O7KR1679FNKdsPwfQEiNETN29EMedUmBj2k/w480-h640/20211009_195503.jpg" width="480" /></a></div></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Amatic SC;"><b>Sweet cousins. They had the whole house to play in, but they were more interested in the dog kennel lol.</b></span></div></blockquote><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbSjfo41n_lalT_r7aU7nAghjO7kNT6PGpwldppr1_SAA-Lz0QdIKxrQE2paylXLxyXpNbAknGdcGJSwxWB5CoBziflkkFLyt0z0bZxMlr88H3cplXrOz7Qb-a1d5-HPWl-ETKgbXSqrA/s2048/20211009_191423.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbSjfo41n_lalT_r7aU7nAghjO7kNT6PGpwldppr1_SAA-Lz0QdIKxrQE2paylXLxyXpNbAknGdcGJSwxWB5CoBziflkkFLyt0z0bZxMlr88H3cplXrOz7Qb-a1d5-HPWl-ETKgbXSqrA/w480-h640/20211009_191423.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY8atTqa7YriAEZinTAEbGmPTkvh8yN0DPezSIQKeIfm8RdrDajE85W4SObYimEu3RsDPMDxPfw08ImyBEjTD2PrCspj_YQbYIwm5fqJPAF3VUmgL8qH198ZU_hJHP_XRKNTCLs297_Jg/s2048/20211009_140026.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY8atTqa7YriAEZinTAEbGmPTkvh8yN0DPezSIQKeIfm8RdrDajE85W4SObYimEu3RsDPMDxPfw08ImyBEjTD2PrCspj_YQbYIwm5fqJPAF3VUmgL8qH198ZU_hJHP_XRKNTCLs297_Jg/w480-h640/20211009_140026.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Amatic SC; text-align: center;"><b> Happy 18th Birthday Eli!</b></span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOALiu-Q7ispRj_bfLLdTc2y6AZP6u3CjDB91zPPZTaD2fU17HRvss7ajk1WsK4Ju5btcSG58Lt3Zp9_PiYBFbNwpY0P8fMJA3tvQktLIJWQGrC3vKi3fj-6S86Ie4x7zvfI-5bnSeWww/s2048/20211009_135659.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOALiu-Q7ispRj_bfLLdTc2y6AZP6u3CjDB91zPPZTaD2fU17HRvss7ajk1WsK4Ju5btcSG58Lt3Zp9_PiYBFbNwpY0P8fMJA3tvQktLIJWQGrC3vKi3fj-6S86Ie4x7zvfI-5bnSeWww/w480-h640/20211009_135659.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Amatic SC;"><b>A couple of DC shots.</b></span> π</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG1Rlyjb7Mt7ZQ6Xx9AprxHpU-tNuVbNAKE17TRKBmk5r8O2DHsny1BydSFLfWkWjTmMGG5IDGGipjedoML9fUYdwslROGv42a8z5Jc3-Zawp1dOWyJ5wQYxU0PU2cS_z83qp3LXQCN9Q/s1080/IMG_20211003_035954_275.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG1Rlyjb7Mt7ZQ6Xx9AprxHpU-tNuVbNAKE17TRKBmk5r8O2DHsny1BydSFLfWkWjTmMGG5IDGGipjedoML9fUYdwslROGv42a8z5Jc3-Zawp1dOWyJ5wQYxU0PU2cS_z83qp3LXQCN9Q/w640-h640/IMG_20211003_035954_275.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJZ8qtVtNpzjsAOx_HxBcOrTT79U5fPgTASFqXu9DGPpOKiXRuC1WJBISyqw_YbtfbNa0KguMCjzKg-CSdtb4jjdgNX9NP-XEju7ofH0GIPDlqx8AiRA88W3PPbyWCSvAcSxpJfzgJSCw/s960/FB_IMG_1632623107260.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJZ8qtVtNpzjsAOx_HxBcOrTT79U5fPgTASFqXu9DGPpOKiXRuC1WJBISyqw_YbtfbNa0KguMCjzKg-CSdtb4jjdgNX9NP-XEju7ofH0GIPDlqx8AiRA88W3PPbyWCSvAcSxpJfzgJSCw/w480-h640/FB_IMG_1632623107260.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2267782525777008613.post-82697693668660056512021-08-23T12:51:00.002-05:002021-08-23T12:59:05.472-05:00Moving Forward<span style="font-family: Raleway; font-size: medium;">Life is a funny thing. Sometimes the things you swear you were put on this earth to do, you find out that you aren't able to do those things at all. When the things you relied upon with complete certainty suddenly fall apart, you are left struggling to figure out what direction you are supposed to take. I guess that's where I am. </span><div><span style="font-family: Raleway; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Raleway; font-size: medium;">The adoption....the failed adoption...it is still not something I can fully deal with yet. But I will briefly explain what happened, because in my last post I said I would. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: Raleway; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Raleway; font-size: medium;">Norman grew up in a home that was full of narcissism...verbal and emotional manipulation. Braden was starting to do this to us. He was starting to completely unravel and become controlling to us and the boys. Change our communication style, change the way we talked and he had started to outright scold us and lecture us on some of the common phrases and communication styles we have used our entire lives. We were completely dumbfounded...we have never experienced anything like it before in our lives. To sum it up in one word...well...two words...it was total narcissistic behavior. It dredged up ptsd, and the boys were struggling as were Norman and me. After panic attacks and 4 sleepless nights, we realized that the peace we had worked so hard to have in our family was about to be undone, we stopped the adoption.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Raleway; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Raleway; font-size: medium;">Our hearts are broken. We know that we were Bradens last chance. But we couldn't sacrifice our peace and safety. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: Raleway; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Raleway; font-size: medium;">Letting go of the lifelong plan I'd had of adopting is something that I am really struggling with. I suppose it will always be something I carry with me...this place in my heart that I had given to Braden...I suppose it will always remain this painful piece of me. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: Raleway; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Raleway; font-size: medium;">That is why it has been so long since I blogged last. Since my last blog, I've had a birthday, Norman, Eli and I got Covid again, school has started up and Eli is a junior and Chase is in 8th. Chase had decided to go back to public school, but after seeing Covid get out of control here and this state doesn't have any mandates in place to control it, he adamantly declared that he would happily stay home. I have enrolled them in a few homeschool programs, so that they can make friends and get more established here. Eli will start drivers ed in another month or so, so we will be on the lookout for a car for him. Our babies are growing so fast...ready or not. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: Raleway; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Raleway; font-size: medium;">That's all I've got for now. I'll attach a few random pictures of our family that were taken over the summer. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: Raleway; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Raleway; font-size: medium;">I hope all my blog followers are doing well and surviving this Covid madness. Thanks for continuing to follow me even though my blogging is so random. Have a great week!</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Raleway;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwosAdstqSt45MrAWjK6BUTmQT6OyK6QuCqDKvtf347rICRWfct6KrokuqI9vvCcWvq8C8y7SdPyMturpEg1K1B0FVwzfvhoUnGQ0CuZtRMyX3nRfSUpHUSeSCmXHb-qPk-8c8Lwe9NS8/s2048/received_255305556048800.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwosAdstqSt45MrAWjK6BUTmQT6OyK6QuCqDKvtf347rICRWfct6KrokuqI9vvCcWvq8C8y7SdPyMturpEg1K1B0FVwzfvhoUnGQ0CuZtRMyX3nRfSUpHUSeSCmXHb-qPk-8c8Lwe9NS8/w480-h640/received_255305556048800.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Tajawal;"> Chase (14) and Eli (17)at camp</span></div></blockquote><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKr3jzFlNz_1n_AFGSu8W39a-3NociEG1Bpl6tEisJkQQf12Gap4S2IZCYHqEjZFhbWGFLfA1KXGCdjR0-sHVL75lsJVSDNATF1Ml22eCxY3T4HNCT4UXo6LqKqqIF6mtie86ilwLtVJk/s2048/20210718_141746.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKr3jzFlNz_1n_AFGSu8W39a-3NociEG1Bpl6tEisJkQQf12Gap4S2IZCYHqEjZFhbWGFLfA1KXGCdjR0-sHVL75lsJVSDNATF1Ml22eCxY3T4HNCT4UXo6LqKqqIF6mtie86ilwLtVJk/w480-h640/20210718_141746.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Tajawal; text-align: left;">Pool time!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOm9B1EuECe6yt6VtcpKs11uWrBSuUhZEKt891_3G6pf33xffTn7UcO-YWmX8SQSf1vS0T-7RGsAb1DdT21k_b7VfcR6GxiI0pqaAPRFdaKpY8Sz0QPlHAlqHqelhZHm487QQeu6tF4l0/s2048/20210716_200819.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOm9B1EuECe6yt6VtcpKs11uWrBSuUhZEKt891_3G6pf33xffTn7UcO-YWmX8SQSf1vS0T-7RGsAb1DdT21k_b7VfcR6GxiI0pqaAPRFdaKpY8Sz0QPlHAlqHqelhZHm487QQeu6tF4l0/w480-h640/20210716_200819.jpg" width="480" /></a></div></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Tajawal;"> <span style="font-size: medium;">Cousins Chase and Cam</span></span></div></blockquote><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3QoRVHUMhW00oy5Ini1kkOMHWkLm-5WXJqLXe0gKtsFtDBQBl4WTCyqoUns53e9OGdl8BeKef5LoSWK7sAsPZ95ZHrvSarr1NrfT4Ub-wl-fRglixPS7zi-wiHbSw2Jg17cHG6oak-Ic/s2048/InShot_20210823_121817261.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1382" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3QoRVHUMhW00oy5Ini1kkOMHWkLm-5WXJqLXe0gKtsFtDBQBl4WTCyqoUns53e9OGdl8BeKef5LoSWK7sAsPZ95ZHrvSarr1NrfT4Ub-wl-fRglixPS7zi-wiHbSw2Jg17cHG6oak-Ic/w432-h640/InShot_20210823_121817261.jpg" width="432" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNeQQ7gwSrFECdkwRlYcJj_qTqP2-_FdokrirhaaZIVzjBdBnODGiTbhX7nadGheaF0GCGyppCz1mTC3EB3lDodZo8zj4ArApm-mVdIDGpCcQND1SbxdUOPMsPNyP5YeZ15XWu30L_rs4/s2048/InShot_20210823_121853463.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1627" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNeQQ7gwSrFECdkwRlYcJj_qTqP2-_FdokrirhaaZIVzjBdBnODGiTbhX7nadGheaF0GCGyppCz1mTC3EB3lDodZo8zj4ArApm-mVdIDGpCcQND1SbxdUOPMsPNyP5YeZ15XWu30L_rs4/w509-h640/InShot_20210823_121853463.jpg" width="509" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn9IQ83eT59XcKjYeBMku3NOiQXozmvVS_rEGc2x1oiYCK1cBAm3ti1yuFjCQueK1Rs7Q7_QyRxhXu3272qYq7ZQd3TrONywRDzOciAPFbEpxBb3lLvniVfaioLzYTx2YzPFEKT_Y-qT0/s2048/20210624_145430.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn9IQ83eT59XcKjYeBMku3NOiQXozmvVS_rEGc2x1oiYCK1cBAm3ti1yuFjCQueK1Rs7Q7_QyRxhXu3272qYq7ZQd3TrONywRDzOciAPFbEpxBb3lLvniVfaioLzYTx2YzPFEKT_Y-qT0/w480-h640/20210624_145430.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgarYCwUbH2AsuNTTMOElLVX855f9NPTgl_TgIQl_zRET9gCtEpZe3DVKYCd8OvO3013cfGxKKdhE74066aKsoEXjrVOjhtQv62UYWSULCvGPxYpa1KwFAj8TbLc2rfkbJeraiInXFkFsg/s861/IMG_20210721_200108_775.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="861" data-original-width="861" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgarYCwUbH2AsuNTTMOElLVX855f9NPTgl_TgIQl_zRET9gCtEpZe3DVKYCd8OvO3013cfGxKKdhE74066aKsoEXjrVOjhtQv62UYWSULCvGPxYpa1KwFAj8TbLc2rfkbJeraiInXFkFsg/w640-h640/IMG_20210721_200108_775.jpg" width="640" /></a></div></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><div style="text-align: left;"> <span style="font-family: Tajawal;">Our baby Aiko</span></div></blockquote><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigJLLxVL9L7o8gYHOGowp-WvCMfTa-7e0uPRzW9kj1znUXi2h1ky3DbRc6AhWXQxUB83Bbe7m9-uRWE_O11dAbF1msLvrE9R4rSN13oaleqarldvmCyhdD5cSGha7ih5uvrqHKih6neZ4/s2048/20210716_193222.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigJLLxVL9L7o8gYHOGowp-WvCMfTa-7e0uPRzW9kj1znUXi2h1ky3DbRc6AhWXQxUB83Bbe7m9-uRWE_O11dAbF1msLvrE9R4rSN13oaleqarldvmCyhdD5cSGha7ih5uvrqHKih6neZ4/w480-h640/20210716_193222.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Raleway;">The sweetest birthday cake Norman had made for me. Birthday #42 for me...1st one without my dad. It was definitely bittersweet. </span></div></blockquote><div><br /></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #c27ba0; font-family: Satisfy; font-size: x-large;"><b>Stacey</b></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2267782525777008613.post-11041861981143030792021-07-16T18:07:00.001-05:002021-07-16T18:07:12.379-05:00Changes<span style="font-family: Quicksand;">We have gone through so much...so many changes, and I am not in a place in my life right now where I can get into explaining any of it. I am posting this blog to let my readers know that in one week, I will be reverting back to the fourcannons.blogspot.com website. I will explain everything when I am emotionally ready to do so. Thank you so much for understanding, and please write down or bookmark the fourcannons web address. </span><div><span style="font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Quicksand;">Much love,</span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img height="52" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54486/373/2793CB31E815DED91A3AD8A5841CA3E4.png" style="background: none 0% 0% repeat scroll transparent; border-bottom: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top: 0px; border-width: 0px;" width="80" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr></tbody></table></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2267782525777008613.post-57037579006706448642021-05-20T23:18:00.001-05:002021-05-20T23:18:12.055-05:00We're Getting Closer!<div><span style="font-family: Satisfy;">Last weekend we were given the approval to go visit Bray for the first time. We drove to Dallas on Friday, spent Saturday with him bowling and going out to eat, and then Sunday we headed home. We found out today that the tentative date for our approval to bring him home as a foster kiddo is July 2nd. We wish desperately that we could bring him home sooner, but we are just thankful that it won't be any longer than that. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: Satisfy;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Satisfy;">We have appts Monday to get fingerprinted, and we will mail off the paperwork for the remaining background checks. We have training three Saturdays in June that are required, and then it's just a waiting game. We are so excited, and we absolutely cannot wait to get him home. β€ Only 43 days to go.</span></div><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img height="81" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54486/373/2793CB31E815DED91A3AD8A5841CA3E4.png" style="background: none 0% 0% repeat scroll transparent; border-bottom: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top: 0px; border-width: 0px;" width="84" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2267782525777008613.post-87319796774747300732021-04-29T20:46:00.002-05:002021-04-29T21:03:14.011-05:00Annnnd...Another Update!<div><span style="font-family: Quicksand; font-size: medium;">Today we found out that the application was approved by Texas, and it is now in Oklahoma City! We are so ecstatic and can't wait until the day he gets to come home. Coming soon... #partyoffive</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Quicksand; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Quicksand; font-size: medium;">Luna had to go to the vet today...poor kitty was so sick. She had impacted bowels, which caused a fever and an overall feeling of...well... crap. She will be fine, but I snapped this photo after Norman got her home and was still in the kennel. The kittens are still not too fond of Luna, and vice versa, but they are hilarious to watch. I managed to catch Sheeba mid hiss which was great. We love our furry and not so furry fur babies.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Quicksand; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcSqPxJtIt9oZjTL8Il8R4mrHNzXOB9rIMv3UPbjmzCxdE9yGVpAGP88G7GpgzNaNtbE6L3j-_O8BTMObWdY3UJEJSUBQ6BjlItUJlBx6RNhtcbU2-TI69ldc-iQn_-h5lCaWwmFa9RRo/s2048/20210429_174118.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcSqPxJtIt9oZjTL8Il8R4mrHNzXOB9rIMv3UPbjmzCxdE9yGVpAGP88G7GpgzNaNtbE6L3j-_O8BTMObWdY3UJEJSUBQ6BjlItUJlBx6RNhtcbU2-TI69ldc-iQn_-h5lCaWwmFa9RRo/w300-h400/20210429_174118.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div><span style="font-family: Quicksand; font-size: medium;">Please make a note that our blog address will be changing soon to fivecannons.blogspot.com!</span></div><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img height="51" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54486/373/2793CB31E815DED91A3AD8A5841CA3E4.png" style="background: none 0% 0% repeat scroll transparent; border-bottom: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top: 0px; border-width: 0px;" width="79" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2267782525777008613.post-60886744379803356472021-04-29T00:52:00.001-05:002021-04-29T01:04:25.756-05:00Party of Four...Errr...FIVE!<div><span style="font-family: Raleway; font-size: medium;">Today we got a bit further down the foster/adoption road! Our kiddo's social worker finished the ICPC paperwork, so he sent it up to his boss today, and his boss sent it up to Austin to finish up at the state level...then they send it on over to Oklahoma, and - hallelujah - we can start getting all the things done that Oklahoma requires. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: Raleway; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Raleway; font-size: medium;">I wanted to give everyone ample warning that this blog's url will be changing. Instead of this blog being fourcannons.blogspot.com, it will be changing to fivecannons.blogspot.com. Please please write this down, because I will be changing it permanently to FIVECANNONS in a couple of weeks, and I want to make sure everyone is switched over. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: Raleway; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Raleway; font-size: medium;">Also, if you are subscribed to my blog via email, that will stop within the month. The 3rd party platform that made that possible will not be offering that service. I am looking to find another widget that will allow that, but as of right now, it will be ending in May. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: Raleway; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Raleway; font-size: medium;">That's all for now peeps, but I will leave you with a precious picture of our kitties!! Ciao! </span></div><div><span style="font-family: Raleway; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNJKmspQrkOCCA00emBvTzhnxbeIKvdFY2tQuONdjLrD3lOWUK159GSYSw1v8e0tFVlMsvvhj7B4Zix6hxhVscRARRgz7uSSs8WG3wwkM4TVqZn9pwkaUX23_w_x16cfzML0bOIVpPgP8/s2048/IMG_20210419_044616_319.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="362" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNJKmspQrkOCCA00emBvTzhnxbeIKvdFY2tQuONdjLrD3lOWUK159GSYSw1v8e0tFVlMsvvhj7B4Zix6hxhVscRARRgz7uSSs8WG3wwkM4TVqZn9pwkaUX23_w_x16cfzML0bOIVpPgP8/w362-h362/IMG_20210419_044616_319.jpg" width="362" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: Raleway; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><br /></div><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img height="52" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54486/373/2793CB31E815DED91A3AD8A5841CA3E4.png" style="background: none 0% 0% repeat scroll transparent; border-bottom: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top: 0px; border-width: 0px;" width="80" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0Yukon, OK, USA35.5067215 -97.7625441000000147.3997093575675521 -132.9187941 63.613733642432443 -62.606294100000014tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2267782525777008613.post-66408278412938094122021-04-19T01:30:00.002-05:002021-04-19T19:47:59.535-05:004 Cannons Becoming 5<div>It has been 25.5 days since we met the precious soul who has become our 3rd son and our 5th family member. We have filled out and submitted everything through his CASA worker to begin visits, and we have had the social worker initiate the state to state approval. It is such a slow process, and it is painful. Painful to see him have to endure what he has to, and painful to want to hug him and bring him home and make sure he feels loved and secure from now on and not be able to. We will keep pushing the system...pushing for them to expedite your case sweet kiddo...we won't stop until you are home. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54486/373/2793CB31E815DED91A3AD8A5841CA3E4.png" style="background: none 0% 0% repeat scroll transparent; border-bottom: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top: 0px; border-width: 0px;" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2267782525777008613.post-61174667048763162712021-04-02T02:12:00.004-05:002021-04-02T02:12:59.911-05:00It's Been a Minute...<div class="separator"><span style="font-family: Dancing Script; font-size: medium;">Well, it has been a little while since I blogged last. It seems like during this little writing hiatus I have almost nothing to blog about, yet at the same time I feel like I have everything to blog about. </span></div><div class="separator"><span style="font-family: Dancing Script; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator"><span style="font-family: Dancing Script; font-size: medium;">It has been hard to adapt to this life...the one where my dad isn't in it. I have such a hard time just wrapping my head around the fact that my dad doesn't exist here with us anymore. I honestly don't think grief of this magnitude is something you ever "get over". I believe it is just something you learn to live with, little by little, each day. I am so thankful for Norman and the comfort he always gives me.</span></div><div class="separator"><span style="font-family: Dancing Script; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator"><span style="font-family: Dancing Script; font-size: medium;">In March we had the craziest winter ice storm. We finally have a whole home gennie now, so that if we ever lose power in the future, it will just kick on seamlessly, and we won't have to ever worry about it being an issue. We were incredibly lucky that we were only without power for a couple of hours, because for some areas, they were without water and power for over a week. </span></div><div class="separator"><span style="font-family: Dancing Script; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator"><span style="font-family: Dancing Script; font-size: medium;">Last week we initiated the process to become foster and adoptive parents. We are actively working on getting the clearance to foster a sweet kiddo whom we have come to adore. I will chronicle our adoption journey on here; we are hoping that it won't take too terribly long to be approved, because we are ready to bring this kiddo home. That's all for now; I need to try to get a little sleep. Ciao πΌπΈπ»</span></div><div class="separator"><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img height="74" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54486/373/2793CB31E815DED91A3AD8A5841CA3E4.png" style="background: none 0% 0% repeat scroll transparent; border-bottom: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top: 0px; border-width: 0px;" width="90" /></a><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><br /></a><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><br /></a><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><br /></a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2267782525777008613.post-64628284111704045752021-02-09T16:51:00.005-06:002021-02-09T17:08:05.179-06:00Loss<div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;">It has taken me awhile to feel up to blogging. Last Saturday, January 30th, on my parents 50th wedding anniversary, my dad slipped away from us and into Heaven. He had promised mom he would make it to their 50th...and somehow that wonderful man kept his promise to her. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;">I always knew it would be hard...losing a parent...but there is absolutely nothing that can prepare you for this kind of grief. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div><span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;">That's about all I'm up to saying right now. But to everyone who sent cards, letters, phone calls, and gifts of food, we are eternally grateful. Hug all your loved ones. You never know when you say goodbye to someone that it may really be the last time</span><span style="font-family: "Dancing Script"; font-size: large;">.</span></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2OMzKFXaKzI-VXLMh3eTSFvLDEGNTDTTPqKlVcq6bEP7nRPcPjL6mxrOTUHQmEhv-piLyYnFto9ZnwEtmBSNhB6PWqXHX1NBDS8bqfBGIbYENPBIptQtuCTFaBpL-o8VoYQmV9cfcjxU/s1620/20171224_162214_hq.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1215" data-original-width="1620" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2OMzKFXaKzI-VXLMh3eTSFvLDEGNTDTTPqKlVcq6bEP7nRPcPjL6mxrOTUHQmEhv-piLyYnFto9ZnwEtmBSNhB6PWqXHX1NBDS8bqfBGIbYENPBIptQtuCTFaBpL-o8VoYQmV9cfcjxU/w640-h480/20171224_162214_hq.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWdUWRhvgYMED4ymG6E_HbbBPXE74e0VTMNkj7bdUGIgS9RzyspWoMWjtPxf04BIW3RtOjx8CD78JtAXuNsQ4cTwDmlIxjkh16fKmLBt6KPWTgvVPU-wSN6_6CYapgScxFlJPCg2L_j68/s2048/20191112_150143_original.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWdUWRhvgYMED4ymG6E_HbbBPXE74e0VTMNkj7bdUGIgS9RzyspWoMWjtPxf04BIW3RtOjx8CD78JtAXuNsQ4cTwDmlIxjkh16fKmLBt6KPWTgvVPU-wSN6_6CYapgScxFlJPCg2L_j68/w480-h640/20191112_150143_original.jpg" width="480" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFdJ_Wq9SPdtcnBDO6au3q1OIpHQsZtPfHeYyx5EebcN_ZQE_n9MwZmcVei1IrLikO65_-9OHiMwLSl5spayZ4xtvFEoK7OVGQIKXYr_hiIqTb7Yu8a-xu9j7QOJ9kF6D8IjUCs4LKukQ/s2048/20191114_153949_original.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFdJ_Wq9SPdtcnBDO6au3q1OIpHQsZtPfHeYyx5EebcN_ZQE_n9MwZmcVei1IrLikO65_-9OHiMwLSl5spayZ4xtvFEoK7OVGQIKXYr_hiIqTb7Yu8a-xu9j7QOJ9kF6D8IjUCs4LKukQ/w480-h640/20191114_153949_original.jpg" width="480" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI0vD2Auvy15fKMTfIj9miId59qFNuxD_enWdcngpqFRi2jqQL0_wx5HVNhbo95vYnjKDAtKQjj11hnubBgQSbFo-sqxjnIac_tQeCQwb3rcBQKF1MdJRAcXlDkii9e5iY7OG4at186sk/s2048/IMG_20190524_091548_original.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI0vD2Auvy15fKMTfIj9miId59qFNuxD_enWdcngpqFRi2jqQL0_wx5HVNhbo95vYnjKDAtKQjj11hnubBgQSbFo-sqxjnIac_tQeCQwb3rcBQKF1MdJRAcXlDkii9e5iY7OG4at186sk/w480-h640/IMG_20190524_091548_original.jpg" width="480" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNmW01M-fBt3uy81IANbOoYYvgVA63LP5UbcGhw6Mpev9WxUUS6tHYNhKLlA80tseiiXnA-ClHW41-7HWJ4YO6M3GH-8LnoIydyMZZd4tEAGT4h9WC2bFhVI2lRU-dYrj4wk2o7y6gYk0/s1351/Resizer_16124814048290.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1351" data-original-width="1080" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNmW01M-fBt3uy81IANbOoYYvgVA63LP5UbcGhw6Mpev9WxUUS6tHYNhKLlA80tseiiXnA-ClHW41-7HWJ4YO6M3GH-8LnoIydyMZZd4tEAGT4h9WC2bFhVI2lRU-dYrj4wk2o7y6gYk0/w512-h640/Resizer_16124814048290.jpg" width="512" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54486/373/2793CB31E815DED91A3AD8A5841CA3E4.png" style="background: none 0% 0% repeat scroll transparent; border-bottom: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top: 0px; border-width: 0px;" /></span></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1