tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-43395577632037590082024-03-14T02:08:52.323-05:00My Journey 139sheilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03521953062352392129noreply@blogger.comBlogger330125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4339557763203759008.post-1404617377930232292022-07-26T19:05:00.000-05:002022-07-26T19:05:11.515-05:00So many changes ...<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwB2ShKK09jomIa1FoIEtDGBlay0htR31DnOvLOMjabQbBJCxsvPqoOYWfzD6_WRinlLkJWuoGAObLScMebdmmmQJ09tjbbeniG0A64_GhWCZMYA09B1OYLpMkHVfQeRiT37XUy5GqM6h-NJtMUp7hS2y56sbzAXRZMEAacRYAACS6uaZ4lzkAQ2nZ/s1600/chattblog.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" width="320" data-original-height="1132" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwB2ShKK09jomIa1FoIEtDGBlay0htR31DnOvLOMjabQbBJCxsvPqoOYWfzD6_WRinlLkJWuoGAObLScMebdmmmQJ09tjbbeniG0A64_GhWCZMYA09B1OYLpMkHVfQeRiT37XUy5GqM6h-NJtMUp7hS2y56sbzAXRZMEAacRYAACS6uaZ4lzkAQ2nZ/s320/chattblog.jpg"/></a></div>
We like to tell people that we love Chattanooga so much we moved here twice!
Since my last post in 2020, we spent eight months in Michigan with my parents and returned {again} to Chattanooga! We could have chosen to go anywhere after that time in Michigan but it was never a question, Chattanooga, our friends, our church, they all had our heart, and we were ready to go back "home"!
We packed up the few things we had returned to Michigan with, including our traveling buddies, Patch and Finn and headed back to "our" city in April 2021. As has always been the case, God had things prepared in advance for us and we found an adorable little duplex to live in, I found a good job, Rick was able to reconnect with some soccer people and was soon busy coaching again.
Though an extremely brief summary of the last two years, it pretty much sums it up, though the lessons God has taught along the way are far too numerous to mention!
As we fast-forward to today, there have been some changes and some exciting opportunities!
After 9 months at the childcare center I started at in 2021, I had the opportunity to move to another center that was Christ centered, their website states that they are "Unashamedly Christian"! It has been pure joy to be a part of my new center and to see where God is leading me! I have actually taken some college courses and have more scheduled for this fall! Not bad for the girl who said she would "never" go back to school!
Rick graduated from UWGB in December with his Bachelor's of Science in Psychology with an emphasis in Brain Behavior and Health. We are in the beginning stages of an extremely amazing job opportunity for him which will require us to trust even more in the Lord and His provision for us. Stay tuned for more updates!
Our church continues to bless us exceedingly, abundantly above what we could ask or think! I am so thankful that when we first came to Chattanooga, my girls encouraged me to make finding a church a priority. After much prayer, and some church hopping, God led us to True Life Church in East Ridge, Tennessee and we couldn't be more thankful!
So, there it is ... 2 years condensed into a few *kind of* short sentences! I don't plan to take another 2 year break from blogging, so follow along if you'd like to see where God has led, how He continues to lead and the lessons I'm learning from Him in the process!
sheilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03521953062352392129noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4339557763203759008.post-80521307974936076952020-07-04T20:53:00.000-05:002020-07-04T21:15:44.200-05:00what’s more fun than fun shoes?<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">I like fun shoes & what’s more fun than fun shoes ... how about f</span><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">un shoes at a great price with fun shoelaces! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">win.win.win!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">I found all of these shoes for amazing deals and wasn’t willing to pay almost as much for shoelaces as I did for the shoes themselves ... hello Google! </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img id="id_1ffa_b2ef_ea71_3b93" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/HQz2lGe6nDcJcLK3V_1nMChu8VTnRLMN6oRmV8i3h3IWHpPz6K1Myv8S37QBY4g" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">I was able to make myself some fun shoelaces for my fun shoes and I am thinking I’m going to make a bunch more and sell them ... what do you think? I was even able to attach aglets (the plastic ends of shoelaces) so they are easier to lace and won’t fray! </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img id="id_9d56_2e65_f265_ea81" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/isZ9ANVjElqZTiLIj5a0e7wBpuVAhVZEylfrW4GOtk16w_zNLED5raZ07lj15pY" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">Would you like some? They can be made from any ribbon and any colors, some of the ribbon I used is wired and some isn’t, I like how the bows look with the wired <font size="4">ribbon!</font></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><font size="4"><img id="id_48c4_5f7b_78b7_c268" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/OlA8QQAk--FOXt1GcrT_mgiXl7AxVi7xICGvEN_HsX5jX6rnNTXz2SvfsY7bxFE" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"></font></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><font size="4"><br></font></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><font size="4">I’d</font> love to hear your thoughts, let me know if this is something you’d like for yourself, for your kids or your grandkids!</span></div>
sheilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03521953062352392129noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4339557763203759008.post-3291395720933153932020-06-25T15:45:00.000-05:002020-06-25T15:45:12.599-05:00eating keto and popcorn treats :)<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I’m often asked how we eat Keto, how we stick to it and for recipes.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">After 3 months of being home, almost a week with no electricity during lockdown and less activity than normal, June 1 came with a commitment to get back on track! For me the first step to being “good” is to have as few carbs in the house as possible! This was a little more difficult this time as we’re watching three littles so being carb free wasn’t as easy! They like their cheese crackers, graham crackers and pasta! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> I did tuck aside any other high carb pantry items that i kept on hand in case of another lengthy power outage, and got serious about our groceries!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Today was a good example of an easy to make, really good, low carb lunch!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I made an oversized turkey patty, think pan sized, which I seasoned with a garlic & herb seasoning blend. Once the turkey was cooked through, I spread a layer of garden veggie & chive cream cheese, tomatoes & provolone cheese. I covered the pan until the cheese was melted. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Once cut into 1/4’s I added a side of cucumbers to Rick’s plate, the remaining sliced tomato and Avo Verde Salsa. I enjoyed some carb free jalapeño Parmesan crisps with the salsa! Everything was bought at Aldi’s and we have leftovers enough for a second meal!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Easy, peasy and really yummy! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I realize Keto may not be for everyone but I feel so much better, have much less stomach bloat, no sugar crashes and no negative gluten effects as I’m sensitive to gluten. I don’t miss sweets or breads, pastas or other snacks at all ... except that amazing popcorn in my pantry made by Old Mill Kettle Corn!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">That was a shameless plug for some amazing popcorn made by the company our friend Emma owns! :) You can order some here: </span><a href="https://oldmillpopcorn.com/?fbclid=IwAR1X3YzBpGV0VFr1qgTo90Y3Xbja34kSYduL7WhmkknoUHKPUz8AhPeVo7g">https://oldmillpopcorn.com</a></div>
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sheilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03521953062352392129noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4339557763203759008.post-13522209773981041072020-06-20T07:40:00.001-05:002020-06-20T07:43:55.140-05:00Chatta”zoo”ga, Chatta-shopping & more ...<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjySYhJdW4tHC7VSEu-fqLDS-APtQlDVhMyc4Oqw8ofE68E9WXTkzrHMvyS-FKjuMEZmnURVmipx6ueFbZ7K-QZcnAB9sQJo6oa1tteLod91H1vWcvbaFva0gaDYbeIE5y40pjEZ_vIP0/s1600/7EC58CFC-2CCA-4A69-B163-DF834A45578A.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjySYhJdW4tHC7VSEu-fqLDS-APtQlDVhMyc4Oqw8ofE68E9WXTkzrHMvyS-FKjuMEZmnURVmipx6ueFbZ7K-QZcnAB9sQJo6oa1tteLod91H1vWcvbaFva0gaDYbeIE5y40pjEZ_vIP0/s320/7EC58CFC-2CCA-4A69-B163-DF834A45578A.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">Early Wednesday evening Rick’s brother Ken and sister-in-law Linda came into town! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">It’s always fun the see family and this time has been no exception!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">We had not yet visited the Chattanooga Zoo so we took a trip into town </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">and checked it out and were pleasantly surprised! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">It was more than we were expecting! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">I included a few pictures of my favorite zoo animals, and some humans too! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">We also visited the Mercantile and some antique stores.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">Where else can you find Sasquatch, who we left at the store, </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">sparkly black Cons which just happened to be my size, yes,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">they had to come home with me</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">and Donald Trump earrings?!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">The floppy hat didn’t come home with us either but it was tempting,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">I kind of liked it!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">The sarcasm t-shirt was tempting as well and the butt rub gave us a good laugh! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">I’ve also been reading a few really good books and God and I have had some really</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">good conversations! I’m still learning everyday, and hopefully putting what</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">I’m learning into practice ... drawing me closer to Him and learning to</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">love others with more purpose! Because our job situations have been shaken up, I’m open to God’s</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">leading and an exciting opportunity seems it could be opening up, if you feel led,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">please pray along with me for clear guidance! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">Happy weekend .... we’re soon off to do some more exploring! </span></div>
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<br />sheilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03521953062352392129noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4339557763203759008.post-19879262638743325422020-06-17T05:31:00.001-05:002020-06-17T05:31:55.000-05:00I AM HIS!<div class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 25px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 3px;">
<span class="s1" style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">So here’s the thing. I had a super long post started. I tried to be eloquent and write it the right way. You know, so it would catch your attention, so you’d want to read it, so you’d like what I wrote. Then I realized, that’s just what I wanted to share! This is my blog,with my thoughts, my prayers, my journey with God. I need to write to please Him and nobody else! That is scary, and revealing and freeing all at the same time.</span></span></div>
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<span class="s2"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I AM HIS!</span></span></div>
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<span class="s2"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">He calls me by name and reaches out to me in my moments of despair and cheers for me in my moments of victory! </span></span></div>
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<span class="s2"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I AM HIS! </span></span></div>
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<span class="s2"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I am His yet daily I seek for, I strive for, I cling to your affirmation of me. This seeking, striving, clinging leads me to be someone I’m not. </span></span></div>
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<span class="s2"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Don’t get me wrong, I am not saying that this means I can be self serving, rather it should lead me to be selfless. But it should also lead me to live a life in line with who Christ created me to be, not in line what I think others would want me to be. </span></span></div>
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<span class="s2"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I wanted to please my parents so I made sure that I checked the boxes of what a good Sunday School girl looked like. My heart wasn’t always where it should be but at least most of the time it looked like I was doing what was expected of me. </span></span></div>
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<span class="s2"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">In high school, I wanted my friends to like me so I pretended to go along with them, agreeing with whatever crowd I was with at that time. </span></span></div>
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<span class="s2"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I wanted all of the young mamas in my circle to like me so I put my girls in the same box all their children were in. I expected my children to act the same as theirs, accomplish what theirs did. I parented according to what they thought of my parenting skills; I didn’t let my children be my children, I tried to make them cookie cutter images of others. </span></span></div>
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<span class="s2"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I wanted my husband to love me. I cooked all the meals, washed all the clothes, scrubbed all the floors. I smiled when I wanted so scream and I hid in the shower on the rare occasion I allowed myself to cry, because big girls don’t cry. </span></span></div>
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<span class="s2"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I wanted everyone to like me all of the time. I want everyone to like me all of the time. I smile and I agree and I still do all the things. </span></span></div>
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<span class="s2"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I try to check the boxes that make others see me as a good daughter, sister, wife, mom, grandma, friend, Christian. I live to gain approval and be good enough to be loved. </span></span></div>
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<span class="s2"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I AM HIS! </span></span></div>
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<span class="s2"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I need to stop checking all the boxes. I need to stop putting on a smiling face all the time. </span></span></div>
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<span class="s2"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I AM HIS!</span></span></div>
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<span class="s2"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I need to seek His approval, His love and His affirmation. In finding my all in His finished work in the cross, I will be full! He created me, He knows me, He loves me. I am his cherished Child and I am His beloved bride! </span></span></div>
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<span class="s2"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I do not need to seek the approval of any man (or woman or child). This will not make me selfish, but it will make me more selfless. If my worth, my acceptance, my peace is placed in Him and Him alone, I will find peace. I will not need to seek the approval or the affirmation of others. I will be free to live wholeheartedly, to serve willingly to smile joyfully. </span></span></div>
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<span class="s2"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I AM HIS!</span></span></div>
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<span class="s2"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">He wants to mold me and make me into Who and Whose I was created to be! He can be and will be my all in all, if I let Him! </span></span></div>
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<span class="s2"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I AM HIS! </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: center;">I need to stop checking the boxes. I need to stop trading what is best for what I think is good. I need to grow past my need of expecting anyone or anything other than Him to fill me, affirm me or approve of me. If I seek His face at all times, my service can be done in love. I can live in a way that pleases Him and not man, knowing that I don’t need man’s approvals or accolades or affirmations, because I already have all of those things from my ABBA Daddy! He is the creator of the heavens and the earth, of the grains of sand and the mountains, of the sun moon and stars and yet, I AM HIS</span><span style="text-align: center;">!</span></div>
sheilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03521953062352392129noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4339557763203759008.post-38884547540675132852020-06-14T13:27:00.002-05:002020-06-14T13:27:57.734-05:00r.e.s.t.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhucJxs6HYaJxEEir5fisSB_kz1vCFKDNr3V1IjVqvw4nlkrMtH6htfWlFy8DmU7cj4FYMI9cq1OG21m5nDy8h60kZU2r-4uA1bKEoGh4ZIiAK2wG1juAa-sHpsGSDsQ1rXjsulD-U_S5g/s1600/44E4FF24-E143-44EF-9348-77AD0ABB3DA8.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhucJxs6HYaJxEEir5fisSB_kz1vCFKDNr3V1IjVqvw4nlkrMtH6htfWlFy8DmU7cj4FYMI9cq1OG21m5nDy8h60kZU2r-4uA1bKEoGh4ZIiAK2wG1juAa-sHpsGSDsQ1rXjsulD-U_S5g/s320/44E4FF24-E143-44EF-9348-77AD0ABB3DA8.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Rest, true rest, peaceful rest, rest that restores and renews cannot be found outside of my relationship with Christ. It has to be the first thing in my life. It has to be my priority. It las to be my all. Sadly, it is not. </div>
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Rest, true rest, peaceful rest, is impossible to come by when my days, my hours, my moments are constantly bombarded by the cares of this world. It also most certainly cannot be achieved through a constant barrage of all that mainstream media and social media throws my way, every minute of every day; and night. </div>
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Today, I spent some time outdoors, in the beautiful sunshine of Eastern Tennessee; praying that as I felt the sun shining down on me, I would allow my Precious Savior speak truth to me. As the warm sun shined on me as if it were He, Himself shining on me and as I felt occasional breeze kiss my face, I felt it as His gentle caress. In the relative stillness of that time, I asked Him to fill me, to speak to me, to convict me. </div>
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Answers that I was seeking came fairly quickly, though I argued with them because I did not like them. </div>
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Answers to questions like:</div>
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*Where do you turn to first thing in the morning, often before you seek Me?</div>
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*What occupies too much of your time?</div>
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*What causes you the most stress?</div>
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*What threatens to steal your peace and wreck havoc on relationships you claim are important?</div>
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*What causes divisions/dissension between you and those you love, those you call friend?</div>
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*What distracts you or drives you? Is it how many “likes“ or comments your latest post gets, how many views your story has? Do you crave the approval of man or Me? </div>
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*Do you allow man to affirm you, or do you seek your affirmations from Me?</div>
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*What clutters your mind, your life and your home and steals your peace?</div>
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My friend, those are hard questions. </div>
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They are questions that are a hard truth to accept especially when the answers to those questions were:</div>
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*Fecebook, Instagram, Twitter, the news</div>
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*My phone, social media, current events </div>
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*Wanting to be right at the cost of offending others</div>
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*Media, differing views with those I love on current affairs .... the virus, the riots, the state our country is in</div>
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*My perceived right to be right and to speak it without regard of how someone on the other side feels</div>
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*I crave the approval of man</div>
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*I allow or at least seek to have man to affirm me</div>
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*I have let my mind become cluttered with the things of earth and though we moved to Tennessee with minimal earthly possessions, I have accumulated too much stuff since being here and to use the catchy term, I need to “Marie Kondo” my life! </div>
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All this to say that I have much more to say. I will be trying to post to my blog as I work through this process. The name of my blog is “My Journey 139”. The 139 represents Psalm 139, my life passage. I urge you to read it if you haven’t! If you don’t have a Bible, you can Google it or I’ll be happy to share it with you! This is my journey and may be painful at times. I desire to serve God first, my family next, followed by friends, neighbors, acquaintances, and lastly all of the other obligations I have in life. As with all journeys, there have already been many joyful moments, some very sad moments, some moments of extreme trials and heartache as well as some mountaintop moments and victories! It is my journey to walk with my Precious Saviour, and if you choose to walk alongside me, I’m glad you are here and I pray we can learn from Him together!</div>
sheilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03521953062352392129noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4339557763203759008.post-20204527329867125182020-03-04T05:43:00.002-06:002020-03-04T05:43:33.869-06:00words of affirmation<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Good job! You rock! Look how cute you look today! I love your shoes! Great job scoring that goal! Good work sharing the ball! I'm so proud of you .....</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Words of affirmation. I love to give them and I love to get them.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As I struggled with God at the beginning of last week and asked Him to draw me close, truly close to Him, I asked Him to show me areas of life that I needed to let go of. Interestingly, when I sat quietly and let Him show me things from my past that I was holding on to that were holding me back from fully living the life He has promised me most of them were directly related to affirmations.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I didn't want my parents to be upset with me, so I behaved in certain ways. I wanted my friends to like me, so I tried to do what I thought they wanted me to do. If I didn't feel affirmed, I sought ways to be accepted, approved of, affirmed. As a newly married young mama, I wanted to be loved, accepted, affirmed. I wanted my husband to love me, and tell me how much he loved me ... often. I wanted my children to adore me and think I was the best mom. I wanted the other moms in my MOMs group to think I had it all together. I parented my girls based on what others thought of my parenting skills, not always based on what was best for my girls. I based my success as a parent by measuring my girls against other moms children. If someone's child got straight A's, mine should too. If someone else's child played in band, mine should too. I actually asked my oldest when she was a senior if she had intentionally gotten a "bad" grade in a class so she would graduate third in her class, not first or second so she didn't have to give a speech. After all, my best friend's daughter had been at the top of her class, mine should be too. Yes, that last scenario really happened. This and so many other things flooded back. God was helping me to uproot very unhealthy thought patterns and actions. This is just a very short list of what God and I talked about last week (well mostly He talked and I tried my best to listen).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I speak affirmation, but I also SEEK affirmation. I post on social media to be affirmed. I flood my poor husband with affirmations so he will affirm me in return. I hurt others and myself in the cycle of it all, yet because I forget to look to the One who created me and is the greatest at affirming me, I am continually searching. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sunday, our Pastor spoke on offenses, and how we need to stop being so easily offended. Guess what? Not feeling affirmed leads to quickly feeling offended. OUCH!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This week, my devotions are speaking of prayer, something I have been focusing on. Praying with faith, and thankfulness that God already has the answers. I've been praying boldly to believe in those answers, and I've also worked to quiet my mind to hear God speak to me during my day. Guess what? He has, and I still have so much listening to do!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Yesterday morning, my devotional challenged me to pray</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">BIG, BOLD, DANGEROUS prayers!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So, I did! I shared some of them with Rick before I went to work and then continued to pray them throughout my day. That same devotional reminded me that if I will change my prayer life from stale and boring to big and bold, I will also be vulnerable for attacks from Satan, because he does not like BIG, BOLD, DANGEROUS prayers! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You know what? By the end of the day, 2 of the requests I had specifically brought to God had been addressed. They weren't fully answered, but there was some clear direction in two very specific areas of our lives that weren't there in the morning! I was so excited about it that I wrote a nice long Facebook post and posted it! God is so good and nothing will stop me from praying those big, bold dangerous prayers.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Literally moments after I hit "post" on Facebook, I saw something on Instagram that offended me. I was taken aback. Honestly, I was hurt. I was offended. I shared my indignation with Rick. Instead of affirming me, I felt like he rebuked me. Now I was doubly offended and not feeling at all affirmed. I went to bed in a bit of a "huff" attacked by Satan ... and begged God to speak to me. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In "God fashion" He did. He reminded me that when I began to pray big and bold, Satan would attack. He reminded me that my offense was not in line with what He had for me. That the offense I had taken at what I saw on Instagram and with Rick's response was an overreaction. That my worth in His Kingdom comes from him, not from Rick or an Instagram post. He reminded me that my response was evidence of seeking affirmation that I didn't feel I was getting, and my being so quickly offended over it was a sin.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I spent a somewhat restless night wrestling with all of these thoughts, of giving all of it back to God and trusting Him to affirm me. Praying to not so easily be offended. To forgive quickly if I do feel offended. To trust God, to love others, to continue to affirm, but not in hopes of receiving affirmations in return but because they come from my heart.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Oh, to be more like Jesus and less like me.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'm thankful for what He has been working in my life! I'm thankful for quick answers {or the beginnings of answers} to some of my big, bold, dangerous prayers and I'm thankful that even when I respond poorly and have to run to Him yet again with all the pieces of my easily offended heart, He pieces them all back together. He tenderly loves me and reminds me of truth. He forgives, forgets, brushes me off and reminds me that this is a new day. A new chance to trust and obey and a new day to again pray BIG, BOLD, DANGEROUS prayers! </span></div>
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sheilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03521953062352392129noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4339557763203759008.post-19173093426316475212020-02-28T20:11:00.001-06:002020-02-28T20:11:28.027-06:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A year.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">52 weeks.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">365 days.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">8,760 hours ...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Seems like yesterday, seems like much longer!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The little photo collage below is a brief glimpse of the past year! </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfa_SANIXoxsVPkTxz-R8Iyk-WJ4l-_25aKP_VcSnK2GR-u8Vw6ljdYZ-AYWTVJ7UfenOcyBcpE6mhuo7FsG1RPLEbmPGAiU7eonLGjLPCIpSM16CXChuCQf6sCDhEmi2-bPRfyLO0MRU/s1600/oneyearinchatt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfa_SANIXoxsVPkTxz-R8Iyk-WJ4l-_25aKP_VcSnK2GR-u8Vw6ljdYZ-AYWTVJ7UfenOcyBcpE6mhuo7FsG1RPLEbmPGAiU7eonLGjLPCIpSM16CXChuCQf6sCDhEmi2-bPRfyLO0MRU/s320/oneyearinchatt.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Our mountains" as we drive to church.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">One of my favorite flowers, pansies, blooming year round.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A beautiful sunny sky over a soccer field.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My quiet spot where I meet with God each morning.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Our cute little fireplace.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My best friend on the walking bridge downtown.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Picking cotton {bucket list item}.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sunset over the mountains from a beautiful log cabin.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A waterfall in the mountains.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">These pictures can only begin to tell the whole story!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Not shown are ...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Co-workers from Soccer Shots & Grace Children's Center who welcomed us, embraced us, </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">and helped us adjust to a new town. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">100's of precious little ones we've had the opportunity to coach.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Families of those little ones who have become dear friends.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Coaches, players & associates of some of the local soccer teams who've become good friends, and have given us opportunities we could only have imagined including the privilege of being able to love on their little people!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Soccer, soccer and more soccer ... to coach, to watch and to play!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A Green Bay Packer fan group to watch Packer games with!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A Liverpool fan group to watch Liverpool games with!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A wonderful new church & church family. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A cute, cozy little town house that has quickly become home.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">One year ago tonight as we fell asleep in Louisville with our next stop being Chattanooga, I had no idea what to expect. It was Rick & me, our 2 pets and what we could fit into Rick's car and my Jeep. We didn't have a place to live lined up, I didn't have a job, we had only met Rick's new boss via FaceTime, and we knew only 3 other people who lived here. We didn't even know where we'd spend our first days in Chattanooga!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">... but God ...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">As always, God was with us and He had gone before us!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">He was with us as we arrived in town, found a pet friendly hotel and then our apartment. He was with us as we purchased furniture and necessary household items and acclimated to "city living" {me}. He heard me as my words to Rick as I fell asleep each night were, "I love our new city"!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So, here we are tonight, on the eve of the day that marks one year since our arrival here. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Still loving our new city. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Having learned more of God's great love for us. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Having seen our marriage grow and strengthen as we faced new jobs, a new home, a totaled car, recovery from a concussion and more!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Thankful for God's provision through it all!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Having learned {again} that God is always in control, He is with us, He was with us and is going before us! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We look forward in anticipation to our future with our hearts knit together with a bond that is stronger than it was a year ago. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I personally am thankful that I have realized that though I miss my parents, my girls and my brother & his wife, my home is where Rick is and that before God calls us to our eternal home, wherever God takes us will be home! I have learned to love God and Rick more, to trust God with all the pieces of my life and to let Rick truly be the head of our home! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I have learned that I am stronger, and braver and capable of more things than I ever thought I was!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I still love our city, but I guess that now after a year I can stop calling it our new city. I look forward with great excitement to all of our tomorrows!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I'm so very thankful that God brought us here and for all that He has taught me through this year!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Here's to Chattanooga ... and more importantly ... here's to a God who always knows what I need better than I do!</span></div>
sheilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03521953062352392129noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4339557763203759008.post-39677013742325317532020-02-16T19:56:00.001-06:002020-02-16T19:56:46.482-06:00Is that all?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Is that all?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It was an innocent question from a 4 year old's</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> point of view ... </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">and I was reminded of it this morning at church!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I remember it clearly, we were sitting in the living room on the gray couch that was kind of picky ... I remember how the furniture was arranged and my mom and dad must have asked me how my birthday was, or which present was my favorite or something along those lines, and my response was, </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"is that all"?</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I really don't think I was trying to be ungrateful or sassy, I just wanted to know if the presents were over or if there were more! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I wasn't afraid to say it, I wasn't afraid to ask my Daddy if he had MORE for me!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">However we got to the point of that question, I asked it, and for whatever reason, there was more ... and it was </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">EVERY LITTLE GIRL'S DREAM</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">it was an</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">EASY BAKE OVEN!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Now I could bake cakes just like mommy did! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I was so excited!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFz8f6pS9b5feb5SsZXuryC5MME7_YEwl7WN4TH0MVp1hH1-UH9FUfWxSPhW8ygRgCWs7nFavQ_IpUD5z0onOzjynNAYOGFdO62T8Alp5SDk-oAeID9H_fU0LHoZGavXryjHNFgmv-wBo/s1600/easybake.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="980" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFz8f6pS9b5feb5SsZXuryC5MME7_YEwl7WN4TH0MVp1hH1-UH9FUfWxSPhW8ygRgCWs7nFavQ_IpUD5z0onOzjynNAYOGFdO62T8Alp5SDk-oAeID9H_fU0LHoZGavXryjHNFgmv-wBo/s320/easybake.jpg" width="290" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">What I was reminded of in church this morning was that my 4 year old self was not afraid to ask my earthly Daddy</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"is that all"?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Today at church Pastor told a few stories ... </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">One of them was this:</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtrtX3nC1_FUPiTQItpE8W83njusF4W0dcGIQFvp3i0KVlBNmJZXsChGmT0K5pPOz411QFAyVXwI6cg-9QzZzR8A4XC5sLzqB00DTd5OtqNgxYbfKW5awzTDF6oebiIQpWX4TmXmtoYaE/s1600/pray+abc.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="890" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtrtX3nC1_FUPiTQItpE8W83njusF4W0dcGIQFvp3i0KVlBNmJZXsChGmT0K5pPOz411QFAyVXwI6cg-9QzZzR8A4XC5sLzqB00DTd5OtqNgxYbfKW5awzTDF6oebiIQpWX4TmXmtoYaE/s320/pray+abc.jpg" width="296" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">and the other was that sometimes we pray speaking to God as if He can only hear us if we speak with "all the right words" rather than as if we are having a conversation with a friend. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Do we approach God formally as if we might do it wrong, </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"our Gracious Heavenly Father ..."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">or do we speak to Him as if we are speaking to our best friend or our earthly Daddy? It's not that God doesn't deserve our reverence, but it isn't found in "how" we come to Him! If we have accepted Him as our Lord and Savior, He has sent His Holy Spirit to indwell us! He lives within us, He knows our deepest desires, He knows our "hidden" sins, He knows our hopes, our dreams and our fears ... He WANTS to have an intimate relationship with us. He wants us to approach Him with the faith that He can move our mountains, He can heal our deepest hurts and He can calm our greatest fears! He wants us to have the faith that He has our best in mind, and that even though we don't always understand, or it doesn't always make sense to us we can trust Him! He wants us to approach Him as we approach our earthly fathers, without the fear of asking </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"is that all"!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">When Pastor reminded us of that, I was instantly a 4 year old child, sitting on a picky couch, innocently asking my loving earthly Daddy "is that all" and because I wasn't afraid to ask, I received.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">HOW MUCH MORE DOES MY HEAVENLY FATHER LOVE ME?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">If I can approach my earthly father and ask him "is that all" and expect that he has more to give me, how much more could my Heavenly Father give me, </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">if only I dared to ask HIM</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"is that all"?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I want to learn to pray as a child. When life is too much for me and I feel like everything around me is falling apart, when I feel I can't do this anymore and I am frozen in my fear, or anger, or pain, I want to fervently and reverently pray </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">trusting that He will put those letters together, </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">knowing that He will put those letters together </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">because He knows my heart better than I do.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I also want to learn to PRAY BOLDLY!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I want to pray, speak</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">ing to God as that little girl in my childhood living room spoke to her Daddy. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I knew I was my Daddy's princess, I trusted that he loved me, I believed that as much as it was in his power he wanted to give to me exceedingly abundantly more than I asked not because I was asking for "more" but because of his great, great love for me!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">If at 4 years old I could trust that my earthly father had that much love for me, that I could boldly ask him for more, if I could approach him with faith and not fear, why oh why can't I trust and believe that his love can't even begin to compare to my Heavenly Father's love for me?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I want to fully trust and believe that I can approach God with prayers that are </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">EXCEEDINGLY ABUNDANTLY beyond that which I can ask or think!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I don't believe that He is a genie in a bottle who will just hand me anything I ask for, but I also know that I need to have faith that my God loves me with a love that exceeds any love I have ever felt here on this earth. That He knew me before I came to be (Psalm 139:16) that he knit me together in my mama's womb and that He has never nor will He ever leave me or forsake me!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I can approach Him boldly and without fear! I can ask Him </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"is that all"</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">and I can expect</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">GREAT THINGS</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">from Him! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So tonight as I fall asleep, I will pray</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">and I will follow that with</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"is that all"</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">knowing that He will put the letters together, and He will answer</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">EXCEEDINGLY ABUNDANTLY</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">above what I ask!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I will trust FULLY that however He answers my prayers He has all things planned for me ... for my good and His Glory!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Goodnight Abba Daddy ... is that all?</span></div>
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<br />sheilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03521953062352392129noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4339557763203759008.post-65117209928025912682020-02-14T19:07:00.001-06:002020-02-14T19:35:37.967-06:00february 14.this guy & God is good<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">February 14, 1992</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi67gqsocQ_xNvqWr1WX8JiKveGzhEDdw2kkD6-E4uah08Jpn3zHXqPPVeoYqeXm7rThjbTIjVX3j0cRw3K-vUEs0YGr2NETvYfXYovQ-i6IneYaTiM8BZNiW91TTCzhTJgtdS5DI8xOog/s1600/21492.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi67gqsocQ_xNvqWr1WX8JiKveGzhEDdw2kkD6-E4uah08Jpn3zHXqPPVeoYqeXm7rThjbTIjVX3j0cRw3K-vUEs0YGr2NETvYfXYovQ-i6IneYaTiM8BZNiW91TTCzhTJgtdS5DI8xOog/s320/21492.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I promise to love you</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">In richer or poorer</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">In sickness and health</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Until death do us part</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Simple, traditional wedding vows. Everyone says them, but how much do we think about them? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">For better or worse - every marriage has good days and bad days, that one makes sense.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">In richer or poorer - ok this one is fairly easy too, both may come, though I'm guessing most people hope there's more richer than poorer.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">In sickness and health - this one might be harder, especially the in sickness part, but we still vow it, thinking, hoping the sickness part doesn't ever come our way.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Until death do us part - when we're about 80 years old right? When our kids are grown and we are enjoying our grandchildren and great grandchildren, that's how it's supposed to go right? That's what marriage is, growing old side by side, enjoying seeing our family grow, and welcoming children, their future spouses who we've prayed for, our grandchildren and great-grandchildren.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I'm guessing if you are anything like me, that is the scenario you had in your head when you repeated those sacred vows, when you made that covenant before God and loved ones. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">What happens though when the death do us part comes much, much sooner than you expected? When it comes just three months shy of your 20th wedding anniversary? Twenty years, that's all Lord? But, but, but, I wanted to celebrate 20, and 30 and 40 and hopefully 50. This is not what I had planned. It's not what I signed up for. This is not a fairy tale ending.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">When my world as as I knew it came to a screeching halt on November 5, 2011, and the "until death do us part" of our wedding vows became my reality my heart was shattered, my dreams were gone and what I always thought life would be was forever changed.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">In a moment, in the blink of an eye, in the sigh of a doctor and 6 words, "I'm sorry, Rickey didn't make it" the until death do us part of my wedding vows became my new reality. The day of Rickey's funeral, I remember putting his wedding ring that had been returned to me in the hospital back on his finger and telling the funeral director's wife that no, I didn't want it taken off, it was Rickey's and it was staying with him. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">He had fought the good fight, he had finished the race and I fully believe that he stood before his Lord and Savior and heard the words, "well done my good and faithful servant, well done".</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Until death do us part. Death is very final. That may sound strange but until I experienced it first hand, I didn't fully realize the truth of how final and life changing death is. Life is never the same again. There is always something different in your life because of death.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">But Rickey, he loved well, he loved fully, he loved with all that was within him and I fully believe that because of the way he loved, he helped to teach me how to love and not just how to love, but how to love well. He taught me what a good thing real love is and even in death, he left me with love and the courage to live life without him.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I never for a moment doubted that when Rickey left this earth, he was immediately with the Lord. That the joys and splendor of heaven exceeded anything on this earth and even if he could, he would not return to us, even for a day. Because of the life he lived, even though his death left a huge hole in our hearts, I had the calm assurance that he was with the Lord and all could be well with my soul ... some day.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Because I was loved well, I believed that God could bring love to me again, I didn't know when or how, or who, but I felt in my heart that God had plans for my future and that I needed to trust that future to Him!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I also knew that I would need to find someone special, because to love someone who has lost so much would probably not always be easy. I would need someone who was willing to love me and help me learn to love again. I would need someone who would understand that I will always have a special place in my heart for the one I loved and lost but that my heart was big enough to love them too. No small task, and I was fully aware that not everyone could do that.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">God, in his great grace, in his love and mercy brought just that person into my life and I am amazed to this day that I have been given the great opportunity to live and laugh and love again!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Because of this man, I can honestly say I have found joy, and happiness and love again and life is good, very good! </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdfj_kl_6l3fTOcFbey72JV_l09lI1Tf8cc8IfMFkeerA4ultNNgChWqF6XLvQxHoL0CSb0lqZ27VKLdyGfxpvHZNIPeh0FlE3LqO1VPcW27v81B4GoC1sQGWAbASBYTyXRBY4fKz7zjk/s1600/rickvday.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdfj_kl_6l3fTOcFbey72JV_l09lI1Tf8cc8IfMFkeerA4ultNNgChWqF6XLvQxHoL0CSb0lqZ27VKLdyGfxpvHZNIPeh0FlE3LqO1VPcW27v81B4GoC1sQGWAbASBYTyXRBY4fKz7zjk/s320/rickvday.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Valentine's Day is typically pretty low key for us ... this guy keeps it that way on purpose ... he remembers with me that this was my anniversary. He knows and remembers that is was a special day that Rickey and I shared and he chooses to honor that - for me. He took the chance and fell in love with me and three teenage girls. He let me love him when I was honestly still pretty much a train wreck! He was patient with me, he encouraged me to grieve, he grieved with me, and he proved to me that God does bring beauty from ashes! He is the only person who has visited Rickey's grave site with me, and he has always respected the love that I and others had for Rickey! He has never tried to be a replacement as a husband, a dad, a son in law or friend. He has been an addition, a bonus to a life that had been good, and now is still so very, very good!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">To say I've been twice blessed is an understatement. God saw fit to bless me for almost 20 years with an amazing husband and the best daddy ever to our three girls. When God allowed the worst heartache I'd ever endured into my life, he carried me through. He gave me the courage and strength to carry on and then he brought Rick to me! Just today on the way home from quietly celebrating this Valentine's Day, Rick reminded me that he still remembers this was my anniversary, and that he honors that day by the quiet celebrations we have, and for that I love him even more today than I did yesterday! As I said yesterday, our move to Chattanooga has been good for us, it has been a sweet season in our marriage, and Rick's tenderness to me today was another reminder of his great, great love for me, and of God's tender loving kindness towards me!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">p.s. even though he keeps it low key, I think he pretty much nailed it with these pretty white topaz earrings! :) </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi87CYUsnpDQiqcpj_feqjsHkwSniqDwkEf6rTwtp_Nebe9aCjrne_LVTXp2w_J5Jxl7wzIZGvom5-yP9-xla5RQsduSMsFW4OUdAQf6gn-JcAKMSnewlcKbECNQlFNzHK1JCC1fGF2Rw8/s1600/earrings.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1460" data-original-width="1460" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi87CYUsnpDQiqcpj_feqjsHkwSniqDwkEf6rTwtp_Nebe9aCjrne_LVTXp2w_J5Jxl7wzIZGvom5-yP9-xla5RQsduSMsFW4OUdAQf6gn-JcAKMSnewlcKbECNQlFNzHK1JCC1fGF2Rw8/s320/earrings.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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sheilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03521953062352392129noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4339557763203759008.post-37599249672391346922020-02-13T19:35:00.003-06:002020-02-13T19:36:25.744-06:00home<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Home.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">What does it mean to you?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">If you'd have told me a year ago that home would look like it does today, I honestly wouldn't have believed you!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">A year ago, we had had conversations about a potential job offer for Rick in Chattanooga, TN. We were trying to figure out when we could visit Chattanooga so he could have an in person interview and we could visit the area, seeking potential housing and all of the "things" that would be necessary for a complete life change ...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Fast forward a few days to February 17, when the job was offered to Rick without having to go through the in person interview process. This meant no chance to visit, no chance to look for housing, no chance to decide if this move was what *I* wanted ... Rick texted me the afternoon of February 17, 2019 and said "I just accepted the job at Soccer Shots Chattanooga". After my initial shock and probably less than excited "huh?" that I texted back, I realized that I should congratulate him and ask when the job started ... which I did and to which he replied that they wanted him to start at the beginning of March!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Without going into all the details that quickly followed, I'll just say that we pulled into Chattanooga on March 1, 2019! The whirlwind of the 11 days that transpired between February 17 and March 1 is a blog post all its own!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">But now, nearly a year later, I can say this crazy, life changing, kind of spontaneous, completely off the wall move has been a sweet, sweet thing!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">We and our pets have acclimated to our new home amazingly well!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I have now transitioned from an all out die-hard country girl to an I love my city girl! I love being within 3 miles from Target, Kohl's, Chick fil A, Walmart and a fairly good sized mall and almost any other store or restaurant you can imagine!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I can now find my way most places without the help of my GPS! </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I usually use the terms y'all and bless your heart in the right context! </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I know that to put something up means to put it away, having your picture made is the same as having your picture taken and that when you grocery shop, your groceries go in a buggy! I know that if someone tells me someplace is in Bumble, it means the same as in the boonies! I know that </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">BBQ doesn't mean doused with BBQ sauce and that when they say this is the Bible Belt, they weren't kidding! I know what it's like to look in almost any direction and see mountains, and I've survived a snowstorm of 3" of snow and lived to tell about it! I've loved to wear shorts and flip flops every month of the year and getting a suntan in February!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I realize that though short, our time at Northland Scholars Academy was such a blessing because though it was still close to home, it moved me from my comfort zone, and prepared me for this bigger move that God already had in store for us!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">We have been blessed beyond measure by the true Southern hospitality that has greeted us at every turn! We have had awesome jobs & co-workers, met some of the most amazing people we've ever known and made some very dear friends! We found a church that has not only welcomed us but honestly made us feel like we have been worshiping with them for much longer than the ten months or so since we started attending! We have friends who have played for all of the local professional soccer teams and have enjoyed babysitting some of their children!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">This has also been a sweet season for our marriage as we truly have become each other's best friend and have walked through the good times and the challenging times of this year holding God and each other tightly and appreciating each other more with each passing day! I have learned that I can honestly say to Rick that wherever I am with him is home! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Our year has not been all perfection, we have faced some challenges; some small, some big. I had a fairly serious car accident in September that totaled my jeep, Libby and gave me a pretty good bump on the head and some lingering concussion symptoms. My mom and dad have had some health issues that caused me to wonder if I should be here or back in Michigan with them and we've had some work related challenges.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Through it all, this crazy, spontaneous, life changing move has been more than I could have imagined! There honestly is no place I'd rather be tonight than in our cozy little apartment relaxing with my best friend and our sweet pets! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">God is good, and He has seen us more than faithfully through this year! We've enjoyed more soccer games than I could ever have imagined seeing, we've become a part of a Liverpool football club (which Rick loves) and the Chattanooga Packer Backers (which I love)! We've attended some amazing concerts and enjoyed downtown Chattanooga and all that it has to offer! We've visited the mountains and the girls! We've welcomed another precious grandbaby and have another due any day! We have discovered that a quiet Christmas at home with just the two of us can be just as precious as a house full on Christmas (though we did miss seeing and spending it with family)!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">We have lived and loved and laughed and cried, but through it all, God has drawn us close to each other and Himself. We have seen more blessings than sadness and we now feel completely at home in our sweet new city! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Home.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It really is where your heart is ... and for now, my heart is right here in Chattanooga!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqf3hkVqGpCWYWluznUSxrAzBVzs_BQS-dfDhZl8SDVAPYYHkFV47t-mMxy7mwjz7kfX6ly27hSBqqxH1-pHafNLaXvQcKG0XwV8mOEo7e1vgeiFGeYhkQgXENIcOup9msvWQF4VjN_vo/s1600/home.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqf3hkVqGpCWYWluznUSxrAzBVzs_BQS-dfDhZl8SDVAPYYHkFV47t-mMxy7mwjz7kfX6ly27hSBqqxH1-pHafNLaXvQcKG0XwV8mOEo7e1vgeiFGeYhkQgXENIcOup9msvWQF4VjN_vo/s320/home.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />sheilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03521953062352392129noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4339557763203759008.post-10639394753469678122020-02-10T18:40:00.003-06:002020-02-10T18:58:48.389-06:00how organized are you?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_dUN0sQHILhAhdOoCQWCx4F4UpNCYMfWzxbI9N6xcCrIo6IlrenFQYW_ktfeK3yhpbhhJSR4yT_B0s3KgI1EUCGxWj7bvIbEvmfYMOA-JJnzTouRMgq87C7AKgKIXjGh1Pi5ps5Pl9j0/s1600/85106338_832048867313448_1453612663216013312_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_dUN0sQHILhAhdOoCQWCx4F4UpNCYMfWzxbI9N6xcCrIo6IlrenFQYW_ktfeK3yhpbhhJSR4yT_B0s3KgI1EUCGxWj7bvIbEvmfYMOA-JJnzTouRMgq87C7AKgKIXjGh1Pi5ps5Pl9j0/s320/85106338_832048867313448_1453612663216013312_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7IpzVf6TUTGLtgTWWw1FywzRmJtMmSz_1H03_c5z8QuTTGJBT-aX3otiIIWV0GqFFzqRss71AWM7QdQWurPKWoty2nIes3FX8E_-ZPRJGCWofc5_yij3jGDnFTZ-eZYfhYaiHDwxh8Rs/s1600/84222137_264872637829351_4318473815219765248_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">How organized are you?</span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7IpzVf6TUTGLtgTWWw1FywzRmJtMmSz_1H03_c5z8QuTTGJBT-aX3otiIIWV0GqFFzqRss71AWM7QdQWurPKWoty2nIes3FX8E_-ZPRJGCWofc5_yij3jGDnFTZ-eZYfhYaiHDwxh8Rs/s1600/84222137_264872637829351_4318473815219765248_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">I try so hard to be and every year I say I'll do better, but it seems I don't keep up with it very well. This year with many things on our plates that we will be juggling, I felt the need even more than I have in the past to be organized, so I went ahead and sprung for a really nice planner hoping that would inspire me!</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">After much research, I chose the Christian Planner.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7IpzVf6TUTGLtgTWWw1FywzRmJtMmSz_1H03_c5z8QuTTGJBT-aX3otiIIWV0GqFFzqRss71AWM7QdQWurPKWoty2nIes3FX8E_-ZPRJGCWofc5_yij3jGDnFTZ-eZYfhYaiHDwxh8Rs/s1600/84222137_264872637829351_4318473815219765248_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">I really do like it as It has a beautiful red vegan leather hard backed cover - it is available in other colors as well. It opens nice and flat for ease in writing in it and it is nice and roomy! </a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7IpzVf6TUTGLtgTWWw1FywzRmJtMmSz_1H03_c5z8QuTTGJBT-aX3otiIIWV0GqFFzqRss71AWM7QdQWurPKWoty2nIes3FX8E_-ZPRJGCWofc5_yij3jGDnFTZ-eZYfhYaiHDwxh8Rs/s1600/84222137_264872637829351_4318473815219765248_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">We are almost half way into February and though I'm not utilizing it as well as I could be, I'm using it and trying to make sure that it's a daily in my life!</a></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7IpzVf6TUTGLtgTWWw1FywzRmJtMmSz_1H03_c5z8QuTTGJBT-aX3otiIIWV0GqFFzqRss71AWM7QdQWurPKWoty2nIes3FX8E_-ZPRJGCWofc5_yij3jGDnFTZ-eZYfhYaiHDwxh8Rs/s1600/84222137_264872637829351_4318473815219765248_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7IpzVf6TUTGLtgTWWw1FywzRmJtMmSz_1H03_c5z8QuTTGJBT-aX3otiIIWV0GqFFzqRss71AWM7QdQWurPKWoty2nIes3FX8E_-ZPRJGCWofc5_yij3jGDnFTZ-eZYfhYaiHDwxh8Rs/s320/84222137_264872637829351_4318473815219765248_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">There is a double page spread at the beginning of each week ... the first page is for sermon notes and the second page is for devotional notes during the week! Since I love to write, and like to "doodle" I'm really enjoying this portion! Plus we really love our new church and I like to take notes as Pastor Danny preaches so I can look back over the scriptures and main points and remind myself of the sermon during the week!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTxNqZwXrf5ZQl12T8UCI3fi1D4uTkFloOlYKVicHbvPNCNZJnphg5NxZdVDwycn2gicMemMiI9AerqMegKrhLBVlcRc6_U5g8758Lt0XlDGgn6gqtUT4OaKl3D9spKcFBXKWO9k9jmDk/s1600/85100610_813160712442175_882897456168173568_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTxNqZwXrf5ZQl12T8UCI3fi1D4uTkFloOlYKVicHbvPNCNZJnphg5NxZdVDwycn2gicMemMiI9AerqMegKrhLBVlcRc6_U5g8758Lt0XlDGgn6gqtUT4OaKl3D9spKcFBXKWO9k9jmDk/s320/85100610_813160712442175_882897456168173568_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">At the beginning of the planner, there is a "vision board" which I really like as well! I did not complete mine as I am thinking I want to add things during the year as God lays them on my heart! I did add my "Word of the Year" on these pages which is actually three words that all hoed significant meaning to me as I approached 2020. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">My word is "BIG" with each letter having special meaning:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">B = Be a BLESSING - I want to bless Rick, my family, friends and others I come into contact with, coworkers, store clerks ... everyone and anyone possible!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I = Be INTENTIONAL - I want to intentionally pray and serve and love others! One small way I have been working on that is to notice a worker's name tag if they are wearing one and to either thank them or wish them a good day by name at least once during our interaction! I want to intentionally show kindness to others ... nobody is a stranger ... only friends we have yet to meet and what a way to show friendship and love than by calling someone by name?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">G = Be GRATEFUL - in all things and for all things! It starts each morning, being grateful for another day of life, for waking up to a wonderful husband and 2 sweet pets in our new home which has been such a blessing! It's being thankful for loving parents and amazing children and their spouses and the grandchildren we have been blessed with! For a job and food on the table and a beautiful city that we loved and oh, so much more! Even on difficult days, there is always something to be grateful for, and this reminds me to always look for that!</span> </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaC5Rchq-1c61MWjxOXMuq3Dot3z536ill4LYHkLi9vQtFSzQhyphenhyphenHufFOLAJpz1_p2NpI3W2O86UrQFAFI-ZBuBKYA0NuExh3kO_kZP3ZKD5CiCsnc0gOc-7bT19gagdiZl1nDIRni68vU/s1600/86280332_3964698376888669_58902104915312640_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaC5Rchq-1c61MWjxOXMuq3Dot3z536ill4LYHkLi9vQtFSzQhyphenhyphenHufFOLAJpz1_p2NpI3W2O86UrQFAFI-ZBuBKYA0NuExh3kO_kZP3ZKD5CiCsnc0gOc-7bT19gagdiZl1nDIRni68vU/s320/86280332_3964698376888669_58902104915312640_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Another nice feature in this planner is that it contains monthly and weekly calendars and on the weekly calendar there is a section where you can track "healthy habits".The lines are blank so you can choose to fill them as you wish - you can also change them each week depending on life circumstances! For now, I'm including gym & tanning time, getting enough water & watching my spending habits. I'm also including my devotions and writing time as those are related to my emotional/mental/spiritual health which is as important as physical health - if not more!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">So there you have it .... my goal of the year, become a little more organized, a little more structured, and hopefully focus more on God and less on me. Trust more in God and less on me. Bless others, intentionally serve others and be grateful ... always be grateful! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Are you a planner person? Are you organized or could you, like me, use some work in this area? If you are intrigued about the planner/journal I'm loving, you can find them at</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://christianplanner.com/">christianplanner.com</a>*</span></div>
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*<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This is my personal review of this product. Christian Planner has not paid me for this endorsement, and I do not receive any benefit if you purchase one - I'm just so pleased with it, I wanted to share a review and let you know how you can purchase one for yourself if you, like me are a little organizationally challenged!</span></div>
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<br />sheilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03521953062352392129noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4339557763203759008.post-34558906452479637592020-02-09T17:22:00.000-06:002020-02-09T17:28:29.771-06:00an old comfy sweatshirt<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje3uGSdU9icKtlEvfKYRdIRasYRglShXYKrM5kXgYThUOw-2kQFnBig920RWzgvvjKJLzJTQqC5YsJHeTI3g7DIiPFJtmkDTGV40t-5l_b5V-oWlVF8r70o0wh87uyPC49rqch5ZoLwAE/s1600/comfy+sweatshirt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje3uGSdU9icKtlEvfKYRdIRasYRglShXYKrM5kXgYThUOw-2kQFnBig920RWzgvvjKJLzJTQqC5YsJHeTI3g7DIiPFJtmkDTGV40t-5l_b5V-oWlVF8r70o0wh87uyPC49rqch5ZoLwAE/s320/comfy+sweatshirt.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It’s a slip into an old comfy sweatshirt kind of day!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">You know those days, nothing you must do except fix lunch, finish up some laundry, get ready for the week and relax with your best friend watching the new XFL football league – have you watched? Do you have a favorite team?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">This old comfy sweatshirt kind of day is a favorite kind of day for me!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I’ve not officially blogged in a long time, though I’ve posted some pretty long posts over on my Facebook page! I do want to get back to blogging and not post such long posts on Facebook! I’m going to try my best to keep up with it! Please, stick with me if you’d like! You can sign up to receive a notification by entering your email address in the *get notified when I post* section in the sidebar to the right! I PROMISE that I won’t EVER abuse or sell or share your e-mail address!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Now, back to that old comfy sweatshirt … while I love my comfy sweatshirt, it got me to thinking how easy it is to revert to old comfy ways of living, especially if life isn’t going exactly as I think it should be! Those times when my future is uncertain or I’ve been hurt by someone or I’m worried about someone I love.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Even though God is shaping me and molding me more and more into His likeness, when I’m squeezed because things haven’t gone my way or I just don’t understand life it’s so easy to fall back into old comfy ways of living or thinking or reacting. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I find that these are the times I:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">*overreact<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">*become grumpy<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">*become judgmental<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">*think negative thoughts<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">*look to others for answers instead of God<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">*forget Who is in control<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">*doubt His constant love for me<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">*become irritable<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">*snap at Rick<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Can you relate? While resorting to my old comfy sweatshirt for a cozy afternoon at home is not a bad thing, resorting to old bad habits of *stinkin’ thinkin’* is not a good thing!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">When we resort to those old comfy ways, we are forgetting that in </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">we are new creations; no matter how long ago we became Christians!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">When I find myself in a place of sliding into old comfy thought patterns, I need to renew my mind, I need to realize what I’m doing, I need to ask Rick to pray for me, I need to immerse myself in scripture, inspirational music and prayer!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I’ve been focusing lately on quieting my mind, trying to find a nothing box ... for real? Guys claim there is such a place, I'm still working on finding it! It’s been a challenging practice, to be still and know, and to listen to what God is saying to me. I find it pretty easy to have a dialogue with God, but usually it’s pretty one sided … I do all the talking and expect Him to do all the listening! Learning to be quiet and listen to Him is something that has challenged me and stretched me and grown me!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Do you do this? Do you have any tips for doing this? How do you quiet your noisy thoughts? How do you still your mind, how do you avoid resorting to your old comfy ways that unlike a comfy sweatshirt are better left in the past?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Share in the comments ways you quiet your mind and focus on Him, I’d love to hear how God has worked in you and helped you in this way!</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<br />sheilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03521953062352392129noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4339557763203759008.post-91852711810793787172019-05-27T19:58:00.001-05:002019-05-27T19:59:10.861-05:00He knew. . .<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
As I sit here on my comfortable couch in our cute little air conditioned apartment in Chattanooga, I'm again amazed at how God works in our lives.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4X9EtWgml-x29wX9-BasfEj3nrygMLVotF97AHOqYbV0uror44j_WMyjEcG4f7gZM204bNOCRmxCffaLeFg510jNUq7B5tAvX6DzRb7W7dnolGxbu2rQ-FFL0tMmrzkN1oDtE-St5rbA/s1600/61352299_10162001270320615_9077901679222849536_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4X9EtWgml-x29wX9-BasfEj3nrygMLVotF97AHOqYbV0uror44j_WMyjEcG4f7gZM204bNOCRmxCffaLeFg510jNUq7B5tAvX6DzRb7W7dnolGxbu2rQ-FFL0tMmrzkN1oDtE-St5rbA/s320/61352299_10162001270320615_9077901679222849536_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Several years ago when Rick mentioned that he would like to check out the church at the local homeless shelter in Menominee, Michigan, I'll admit I was hesitant.</div>
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No, that is not accurate.</div>
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I was opposed to it. </div>
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There, I said it. I.did.not.want.to.go.there. I was open to attending another church, just not that one. Let's go to Faith, I said, or maybe New Life. Rick was fairly insistent, he wanted to go and check out the church that was affiliated with the shelter. I.did.not.</div>
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But, God.</div>
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There's always a "but God" in a story like this it seems.</div>
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But, God.</div>
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He had a different plan, He could see to the future. He could see to today, May 27, 2019. I could not.</div>
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We went to church at Abundant Life Church & Mission. We met a homeless man and his cute little dog who were traveling through town that first Sunday we were there. The man was pleasant, his dog was adorable. That's about all I remember from that first visit. That and the fact that I felt I'd done my duty, I attended church there and next week, we could attend a church of MY choosing. We did not do that. We continued to visit Abundant Life, me still feeling like it wasn't home, going because it was where Rick wanted to go. </div>
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But, God.</div>
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Slowly, very slowly, I began to feel like it was our church. Like the people were our family. I began to allow myself to get to know Pastor Dave - who by the way is a great guy - in no means your normal, run of the mill pastor; in fact, I dare say, not like any other pastor you have ever or will ever meet. Yet, he is a man of God, firm in his beliefs and convictions and with a heart of gold and a desire to serve God and others! On the outside, he is a big, bold, gruff former Marine turned pastor. Some may even say he is intimidating which he can be until you get to know him, or if you cross him or those he loves and is called to protect. He is truly one in a million - in every good way! We also met some good people who became dear friends while there and have enjoyed walking a road of loving them through foster parenting, the birth of a baby, adoption, divorce and a pending new marriage with a beautiful blended family of eight, yes EIGHT children! God is good, He is faithful. He led us to Abundant Life. He loved me through my stubbornness about not wanting to attend Abundant life. He brought me full circle to loving Abundant Life. He gave me a church family where I least expected it. Even when we moved out to Dunbar which was an hour away from Menominee, we made the drive at least twice a month to worship there. He allowed Abundant Life to be one of the hardest things for me to say good bye to when we moved to Chattanooga.</div>
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But, God.</div>
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He allowed all those things; no He blessed me with all those things for more than just the obvious ... He was preparing me for bigger things. He was preparing me for Chattanooga, and for Brielle, and for the Community Kitchen here in Chattanooga, Tennessee.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwe-mi4bRya5NOkC0EviT9F2w7nxIHfahyphenhyphenTXsICdBO6EfmsCbCRUkeo3VcwG0pq1tb49mMbuogvzxLNE61rWbtb097Lr0V3vJwjcrBGnisdSunmp3Nu-TgOVpdNeSBL3mmlvXJuc8UHOs/s1600/61628097_10162001270285615_2979343505278631936_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="960" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwe-mi4bRya5NOkC0EviT9F2w7nxIHfahyphenhyphenTXsICdBO6EfmsCbCRUkeo3VcwG0pq1tb49mMbuogvzxLNE61rWbtb097Lr0V3vJwjcrBGnisdSunmp3Nu-TgOVpdNeSBL3mmlvXJuc8UHOs/s320/61628097_10162001270285615_2979343505278631936_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Brielle, my sweet new friend who God brought into our lives through Soccer Shots. Brielle who has experienced loss, Brielle who shares having had to say goodbye to someone she loved way too early in our earthly way of thinking. Brielle who is living to give back to others, and has invited me to join her on her journey of being a blessing to others!</div>
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A few weeks back, she asked me to help in the evening at a local elementary school as she and her mom brought books for children while helping to feed them pizza and playing games with them. That was fairly easy, I play soccer with children every day; I relate well to children, I enjoy children! Pastor Robert was great with the kids, the kids had fun and so cute; we had a blast!</div>
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This time Brielle asked if I wanted to help serve breakfast, at 6:45 in the morning, in the not so nice area of downtown Chattanooga ... and on a holiday no less! A day I could sleep in, and get up and enjoy a leisurely cup of coffee with Rick She wanted to know if I wanted to help serve breakfast at the downtown Community Kitchen ... the local homeless shelter. I wanted to tell her thanks but no thanks, maybe some other time ... but, God! This shelter is unlike the one in Menominee, it's a day shelter only. These folks are truly homeless, as in living on the streets, under the bridges, not being temporarily housed in a shelter setting while being given help and instruction and direction while they get back on their feet and secure jobs and eventually housing. This is not said to diminish the work of Abundant Life, but to compare the difference of the people utilizing the services being offered. The people utilizing the Community Kitchen in Chattanooga are truly carrying everything.they.own with them. They come with backpacks, or black garbage bags. They come hungry, hot and probably tired. They come possibly hungover or under the influence of drugs or alcohol. They come with a myriad of problems, that truly I cannot imagine.</div>
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They come.</div>
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By the dozens.</div>
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For a hot meal.</div>
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Maybe for a kind word spoken to them.</div>
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Maybe for a smile given to them.</div>
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Maybe in hopes that today will be better than yesterday.</div>
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Maybe in hopes that today will be cooler than yesterday.</div>
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They come.</div>
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They come, homeless, helpless and maybe hopeful.</div>
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But, God.</div>
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He sees past the homelessness.</div>
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Past the tattered clothes.</div>
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Past the obvious signs of drug and alcohol abuse.</div>
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Past the mental and emotional struggles these precious souls face daily.</div>
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God sees them.</div>
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Every.Single.One.Of.Them.</div>
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He sees them as He sees me, as He sees you.</div>
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He sees them as His precious, blood bought child.</div>
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He sees them as His own.</div>
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He loves them as He loves me, as He loves you.</div>
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He died for them, as he died for me and for you.</div>
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He sees them. He loves them.</div>
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To us they may be like the woman at the well, or the man with leprosy, or the blind man beside the pool..</div>
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To Him, they are the forgiven woman at the well, the man cured of his leprosy and the man with sight returned to him.</div>
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God began preparing my heart for these people of the streets of Chattanooga years ago when I met the pleasant man and his dog at Abundant Life Church and Mission. He began preparing me for them when I had no idea I'd ever be living in Chattanooga, Tennessee. He began preparing me for them before I ever knew how important it would be for me to be able to look each one of these precious human beings in the eye, give them a sincere smile and offer them all I could offer them today ... a warm bowl of oatmeal, a day old bagel, a carton of milk and/or a cup of coffee. He began preparing me to love on those who the world may look on as unlovable in a very small way. </div>
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Today, He showed me why He brought me to Abundant Life church. </div>
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Today, He taught me yet again that His hand on my life knits my days together in ways I may get a glimpse of here on earth and may not fully understand until I get to heaven.</div>
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Today, He showed me again His precious guiding hand in my life; He reminded me that He has written every chapter of my life up until today and that He has also written all the chapters that will follow. He reminded me He is always there orchestrating things greater than I can ever imagine.</div>
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Tonight, I will fall asleep thanking Him for teaching me yet again that we are all precious in His sight, praying that I may have been a blessing to just one person this morning, and asking that I will be a blessing again ...</div>
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Yes, again!</div>
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Tomorrow, Brielle and I will be going back to serve breakfast at the Community Kitchen. We will be offering a hot meal, hopefully an encouraging word, a smile, and hopefully being a good reflection of Jesus as we may be be the only Jesus they see tomorrow; and I want to reflect Him well!</div>
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Brielle, my sweet friend, thank you for inviting me to join you on your journey of giving back to others ... you may never know this side of Heaven just how much you have blessed me in the few short months I have known you! </div>
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I can't wait to serve breakfast tomorrow!</div>
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sheilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03521953062352392129noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4339557763203759008.post-59816567470814994682019-05-12T22:17:00.002-05:002019-05-12T22:17:35.405-05:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqe-rCytnx2IeoaE9R92N4JxlWBDi5kLf1aHADjikTxC5NvveY3tRJOEkHz3tjbvDJNrt_nY8C5zGO_xJgiodOlOmTQTTQ_oUI63uS-CieWIl9ismI89E1vS4sv_Bsb8uJ_Uj2fsTQ_a4/s1600/626E1315-69F1-4DD1-B62B-237C3BFDFC5C.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqe-rCytnx2IeoaE9R92N4JxlWBDi5kLf1aHADjikTxC5NvveY3tRJOEkHz3tjbvDJNrt_nY8C5zGO_xJgiodOlOmTQTTQ_oUI63uS-CieWIl9ismI89E1vS4sv_Bsb8uJ_Uj2fsTQ_a4/s320/626E1315-69F1-4DD1-B62B-237C3BFDFC5C.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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Last night as we walked in to the Red Wolves soccer game, a lady asked “are you a mom?”When I replied yes, she handed me this carnation and wished me a Happy Mother’s Day!<br />
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I’m not sure why but it struck a chord with me, and touched me deeply! Strangers blessing strangers ... we’ve actually seen much of that here in Chattanooga! Maybe it’s simply a Southern phrase but when my Starbucks barista or the checkout girl at Walmart or the guy at the downtown outdoor market says “have a blessed day” I am touched, I am blessed and I am reminded to be a blessing to others ...<br />
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When this sweet lady at the game handed me this pretty little long stemmed carnation and said Happy Mother’s Day, I instinctively hugged her. I hugged her, a total stranger! She looked at me and smiled and said, “well, I didn’t expect a hug, thank you!” If you aren’t a “hugger” I hear you and know this makes you uncomfortable, thankfully, she appreciated it 😊<br />
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All of this to say, take a moment today and love on people!<br />
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Today we honor moms especially but be tender, love on everyone you see! Last night a simple act of kindness, a single flower and a thank you hug, brightened my day and hers and cost both of us nothing ...<br />
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You never know, your small kindness could be just what that person needs today, and it won’t cost you a thing!<br />
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Let‘s start a kindness revolution ... try it this week, do at least one random act of kindness each day! I think you’ll find that in addition to brightening someone else’s day, it will brighten yours too!sheilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03521953062352392129noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4339557763203759008.post-37915693089556156362019-04-12T14:11:00.000-05:002019-04-12T14:15:39.198-05:00chattanooga living ♥️<div style="text-align: center;">
since visiting chattanooga in december 2017, rick talking about wanting to live here since i met him and actually moving here i’ve discovered some things i didn’t expect and some things i anticipated! </div>
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i anticipated:</div>
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traffic</div>
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i didn’t anticipate:</div>
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i wouldn’t mind driving in it and actually like the challenge! </div>
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i ’m just thankful for lola my gps !</div>
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i anticipated:</div>
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a wide variety of grocery stores nearby, all of which were larger than gary’s & the pembine grocery!</div>
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i didn’t anticipate:</div>
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grocery delivery and how much i would love it!</div>
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i anticipated:</div>
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lots of restaurant choices & food delivery</div>
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i didn’t anticipate:</div>
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how many choices we would have and that i actually prefer to go out to eat as opposed to having it delivered!</div>
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i anticipated:</div>
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lots of shopping options!</div>
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i didn’t anticipate:</div>
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how many would be within 2 miles of me!</div>
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i anticipated:</div>
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mega churches </div>
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i didn’t anticipate:</div>
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how many churches there would be!</div>
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i anticipated:</div>
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nice weather</div>
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i didn’t anticipate:</div>
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how nice the weather would be!</div>
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i anticipated:</div>
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mountains </div>
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i didn’t anticipate:</div>
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seeing them in almost every direction!</div>
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i anticipated:</div>
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apartment (almost tiny home) life</div>
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i didn’t anticipate: </div>
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how tiny our apartment would be, how easy 3 rooms are to keep clean and how much i love it!</div>
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i anticipated:</div>
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needing to find a job</div>
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i didn’t anticipate:</div>
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how much i would love the job that God had obviously already lined up for me!</div>
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i anticipated:</div>
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missing everyone back home</div>
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i didn’t anticipate:</div>
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though i miss everyone, technology makes staying in touch so easy, the separation isn’t as bad as i thought it might be.</div>
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i anticipated:</div>
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rick & i would grow closer to each other because it’s just the 2 of us.</div>
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i didn’t anticipate:</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
how much our relationship would grow even in this short time and how much fun we would have!</div>
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i anticipated:</div>
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things to do!</div>
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i didn’t anticipate:</div>
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how many things there are to do, many of them free or very low cost.</div>
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<br /></div>
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i anticipated:</div>
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southern hospitality </div>
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i didn’t anticipate:</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
how true that phrase is! we have encounters so many kind, helpful, friendly strangers that we do truly feel at home here!</div>
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i anticipated:</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
southern drawl.</div>
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i didn’t anticipate:</div>
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children don’t have one, but, ya’ll, i have a hard time understanding some adults!</div>
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😊</div>
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i anticipated:</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
an adventure and hoped it would be an enjoyable one.</div>
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i didn’t anticipate:</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
how much of an adventure it has been, how much i’d enjoy it and how much fun we would have! honestly, i think rick is tiring of me saying to him:</div>
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“honey, i love our new city!”</div>
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here are a few more random pictures:</div>
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sheilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03521953062352392129noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4339557763203759008.post-72699549150807654452019-04-02T06:12:00.001-05:002019-04-02T06:12:17.285-05:00so much change!<div style="text-align: center;">
i always say i am going to be better at this blog thing and then i get busy and it’s one of the first things to go, even though it’s relaxing for me to write out thoughts, so i’ll try again!</div>
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here we are, settled in to our cute apartment in chattanooga...it’s not a “tiny home” but it’s close! we have three rooms! a combination kitchen, dining, living room space, a bedroom and a bathroom ... and we love it! </div>
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i never dreamed i would love city life, and life away from “home” but i have to say, i love it here!</div>
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here are a few pictures of our new home and my weekend project, repurposing an old butcher block table into a rolling kitchen island! i posted from my phone and they posted in kind of random order! sorry, i’ll have to try and figure that out! :)<br />
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if you care to follow our adventures, i plan to try and share more re here on a regular basis, you can sign up to be jotiwhen i post if you want, and if you’re not interested, i completely understand! </div>
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sheilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03521953062352392129noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4339557763203759008.post-48605331318963967082018-11-11T11:00:00.001-06:002018-11-11T11:00:45.427-06:00life does go on ♥️<div style="text-align: center;">
It is hard to explain to others the dynamic of “life” after death because honestly it is so very different for everyone.</div>
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For me seven years later, it is still surreal. It seems unreal that Rickey has been gone for seven years. I was told shortly after he died by a good friend that eventually I’d forget the exact sound of his voice, his touch, small details like that, taken for granted while someone is here with us. I didn’t believe that, didn’t want to believe that. I thought it would diminish the love I had for him and if I could or did forget those things.</div>
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The thing is, time heals. I won’t say it heals all wounds because there will always be an empty spot at the table, at events like weddings and new baby visits. It doesn’t heal all, but rather it softens the sting.</div>
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God touches and heals our hurting hearts, He comforts as only He can, and he places others in our lives to love us through the memories! </div>
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We have just come to the end of the week that forever changed our lives seven years ago. Each day this past week, I did remember, I remembered the police car in my driveway, the ride to the hospital, the time in the ER and the days that followed. I remembered events from the day after the accident and the day of the visitation. I remembered the day of Rickey’s burial, down to how my bosses corduroy jacket felt as I gripped his arm for strength as the casket was lowered. I rested in the knowledge that the box being lowered only contained the shell of Rickey, that his soul was already alive and free in heaven, but that last glimpse of the box containing his earthly body will always be etched in my mind. </div>
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That week, this week is over for another year. This year, as last, the memories are sweeter, the love still there, but the of sting of pain and loss not so sharp.</div>
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God has been so good. He has blessed and given strength!</div>
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I feel so fortunate that during this week, I could share each day the memories with Rick, he who is a gift to me as he listens, loves and understands! He gets that I love him, he is my new best friend, yet he allows memories of another best friend and loves me through those memories!</div>
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This year, too, memories were mingled with excitement!</div>
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Excitement that all 3 girls were led to Godly husbands and we will be celebrating the wedding of Kajsa & Zach in just a month, the recent celebration of the birth of precious little Will Axel to Tessa & Andrew and an upcoming trip overseas in five short days!</div>
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Stay tuned as I plan to try and blog more and to share our Scandinavian adventure over the next three weeks!</div>
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God is good, time does soften the pain, living and loving is possible after loss and I’m ever so thankful for God’s Grace in these truths!</div>
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♥️</div>
sheilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03521953062352392129noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4339557763203759008.post-53590740871352094922018-05-19T08:14:00.002-05:002018-05-19T08:14:11.709-05:00we are getting a new ... address!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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because i'm usually too wordy, i'm going to bullet point this list because i have lots of things to do today!</div>
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WE ARE MOVING! :) </div>
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when we were in florida in november/december, we talked about the real possibility of moving for employment. i quickly fell in love with being so near the sand and the beach and being able to wear flip flops at Christmas! i was convinced that we were supposed to move to florida!</div>
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rick wasn't feeling that pull, but was willing to look wherever we were led! we stopped in chattanooga on the way home and also loved the charm that area offered, so began to consider that as an option as well, so much so that he had a job interview offered to him in january which for some reason, we couldn't make work out, and he did not get to interview for the position. </div>
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in late january, we had the opportunity to visit out at the former northland international university and to hear about some of the many ways the campus is being revived. rick instantly felt a pull back to northland. i did not! the sandy beach there was covered in snow and the lake was iced over. it was going to be a long time until i could wear my flip flops there!</div>
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but God ...</div>
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by the time we left that day, i had caught the vision and the northland spirit which still feels alive there today!</div>
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in february, after meeting with the team putting together some exciting things, it became a waiting game as we awaited dotting "i's" and crossing "t's". it was a long wait for me, i'm not the best with being patient! in the meantime, rick continued to look into government/military positions in the medical field, keeping all of our options open, just in case the opportunity at northland fell through. we strongly felt that God would open the doors He wanted opened and close all others.</div>
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rick actually received several e-mails from positions he applied for, but none came to fruition, he kept teasing me that he would get called for an interview as soon as northland was ready to move forward and i just laughed at him!</div>
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last week, we had a lengthy phone call on tuesday night with northland and on wednesday? on wednesday, he got a call from a va clinic in chattanooga, wanting to schedule a phone interview! imagine t.h.a.t.! on thursday, as was already scheduled, we spent the afternoon at northland, not being able to fit in the interview with chattanooga and on friday, we went in for our first day of work at northland! while we were at northland on thursday, we both knew that chattanooga was not the opportunity that God wanted rick to pursue and that northland was where we belonged!</div>
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while our specific job titles are still actually still being ironed out and for the summer as we will be wearing many hats, we are proud to say that we are both on staff with </div>
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NORTHLAND SCHOLARS ACADEMY!</div>
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nsa is an international/us academy offering excellence in education for 9-12 grade high school students. these students will have the amazing opportunity to graduate from high school with an associates degree and move forward either right into the workforce, or to furthering their educations!</div>
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because we will be heavily involved with summer adventure camps for students coming to northland from all over the world and then with academics/activities and athletics on campus, the hour drive each way does not make much sense - especially from november - april when we'd have to battle the snow and weather, so the decision was also made, that us living on campus was the best case scenario.</div>
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this weekend will be a BUSY one filled with packing and making arrangements, trying to be pro-active as our new home will be mostly move-in ready by the end of next week!</div>
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we are very excited for this opportunity that God has brought to us and we are anxious to see the school grow and flourish and are honored to be a part of the team that is building this!</div>
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if you have read this far, thanks! we aren't moving far, so for those of you who are local, we'll still see you and would love to have you come visit our new home! for those who aren't local, but want to visit if you're in the area, i'll get you our new address, our duplex has 2 spare bedrooms! for the rest of you, the internet has made the world small, so please, continue to follow along with us on this adventure and as always, if you'd pray along with us through these changes, it would be much appreciated! </div>
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happy saturday to you all!</div>
<br />sheilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03521953062352392129noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4339557763203759008.post-1821054063164436752018-05-11T15:39:00.000-05:002018-05-11T15:39:10.627-05:00well then.<div style="text-align: center;">
i love word pictures, so would you indulge me one for a moment?</div>
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imagine yourself standing with your toes on the very edge of a dingy, gray stone cliff. in front of and below you is a drop-off, a very, very deep drop off. so deep in fact, you can barely see the bottom and you're not sure what is down there, you are so high up that it seems you are in the clouds. behind you and to your sides is a wall of stone, you cannot turn back or to either side, the only way you can move is forward. to move forward means stepping into the unknown, but you hear a strong steady voice saying "take one step, just one step at a time, I am here, I will bring you safely to the other side". gulp. {have i ever mentioned i'm afraid of heights?} timidly, you take a step, and just like that, there is a stepping stone under your feet where a great nothingness was just moments before. there is also a hand rail on either side to hold on to and you feel no fear whatsoever even though now, you are traversing this great chasm. you take the next step. and the next. as you continue to step, the stepping stones continue to appear ... one at a time, but one after the other right in tune with your steps. you again hear that voice urging you forward "take one step, just one step at a time, I am here, I will bring you safely to the other side". as you continue forward, the sky becomes even more blue, the brightness of the sun just a little brighter and all green things even more green ... kind of like all things coming back to life in the spring.</div>
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that my friends is an image that God gave to me today!</div>
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yesterday i posted about how rick and i are waiting on God before we offer up more information on where He is leading us.</div>
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that is because very honestly, yesterday, we didn't have a clue. we thought we knew, but we were becoming unsure as time marched onward and we felt like each day was groundhog's day, the movie!</div>
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today, we still aren't 100% sure, but may i just say that i serve a really big God?</div>
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today we went to the gym and since our membership includes use of the tanning beds, we chose to enjoy the warmth and "sunshine" they offered to us after our workout as fall like weather made a come back to the u.p. this morning! it was 46 degrees, cloudy and chilly as we drove into town to the gym ... brrrrr ... my dreams of sunshine and barefoot walks on the beach came to mind, not to be helped when my brother-in-love sent me a picture of a wall hanging that said "memories made in flip flops last a lifetime", thanks alot, kenny!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP7-SgbK7Fpd8A_rLqiMsA2vwx9SarPKhtDAbjaH9goOCU5zlMVHmtu1TvUxGQpkaw0ksM5Wp-Ubb4bBRhSPvYF7kElJNFz0pXUqFn5OEr4tM2UAognZd48-xdwhD8MpzQignOAuzTdOE/s1600/flipflops.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="960" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP7-SgbK7Fpd8A_rLqiMsA2vwx9SarPKhtDAbjaH9goOCU5zlMVHmtu1TvUxGQpkaw0ksM5Wp-Ubb4bBRhSPvYF7kElJNFz0pXUqFn5OEr4tM2UAognZd48-xdwhD8MpzQignOAuzTdOE/s320/flipflops.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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while i was laying in the tanning bed, i came before God as i often do when i'm in there. for some reason in the tanning bed and on my lawnmower are two places i really connect with God, maybe it's because He has my full attention in both places and i'm fully not distracted by my phone or outside influences?!</div>
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anyway, i humbly asked Him to set my mind at peace. i asked that i be content with His will and His timing. in His plan for our lives. i asked that He increase and i decrease and my faith in Him grow! </div>
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now, in no means am i saying that i snap my fingers and God jumps, honestly it's a prayer that i've prayed many times over the past 3+ months, but today, i had so much peace when i prayed that it was crazy!</div>
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anyway ... as the day progressed {before we even got home actually} some answers to those 3 months + of praying were being answered ... in ways we couldn't really imagine. </div>
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the answers were slightly different than we were anticipating, but they were answers and they were good! as we are still doing some e-mailing and waiting for a little more information, i'm going to hold of on sharing too much detail, but i just wanted to give a little update, and ask that you please continue to pray along with us throughout the weekend and the upcoming weeks that as we are now moving forward, God would really make the path clear, as clear as traversing that great chasm as the stepping stones appear guiding our path!</div>
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to say i'm excited is an understatement! to say i'm a little scared is an understatement! to say that this is really the first time in my life i feel so stretched and asked to totally lean on Him for EVERYTHING is an understatement!</div>
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but God ... </div>
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He knows.</div>
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He has a plan.</div>
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He has had a plan.</div>
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He makes no mistakes.</div>
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His timing is NOT my timing.</div>
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He promises to never leave me.</div>
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or forsake me.</div>
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"for I know the plans I have for you." He promises.</div>
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{jeremiah 29:11}</div>
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"all the days ordained for me were written in Your book before one of them came to be."</div>
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{psalm 139:16}</div>
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His promises are rich.</div>
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His promises are true.</div>
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His promises never fail.</div>
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my faith falters.</div>
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my faith waivers.</div>
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my faith fears.</div>
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but God ...</div>
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He still loves me, and His eye is still on this sparrow! </div>
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♥</div>
sheilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03521953062352392129noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4339557763203759008.post-9759965321703230892018-05-10T16:54:00.002-05:002018-05-10T17:03:01.589-05:00w.a.i.t.i.n.g<div style="text-align: center;">
some of you may have seen through my facebook posts that rick and i have recently been in a </div>
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"season of waiting" </div>
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and i'm very admittedly not a good "waiter"!</div>
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in november, after a few conversations with some of rick's family members, and a hospital stay his mom had just had, we felt that God was calling us to go to florida to spend some time with his mom. it would help the family out, and rick could speak directly with some of mom's caregivers, see her medical reports and spend some much needed time with other family who live near mom. </div>
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because i had left lularoe back in august and most of the funds owed to me had finally been returned to me, we had a bit of a cushion that we planned to use for living expenses as we diligently sought God's leading at this point in our lives. in less than a week, we had packed up 3 seasons worth of clothing, made arrangements for the care of our home and 10 pets, mapped a route, making arrangements for a few stops between the upper peninsula of michigan and south florida and on november 18, my 51st birthday, we jumped in the car and headed south with plans to either stay for a week or through Christmas, depending on what it seemed the need was when we got there!</div>
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our visit with mom was good! her health was better than we had anticipated and following our original plan, we started our journey back north almost a month after our arrival via georgia, north carolina and Christmas in kentucky {as we had originally planned earlier in the fall, before the florida trip came about}.</div>
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while we were in florida, we had the chance to take walks along the beach and have long talks about where we felt God was calling us ... p.s. those walks along the beach made me sure He was calling me THERE! we prayed, we discussed, we looked at many options and we came home feeling pretty settled that we knew not only our wishes for the future but God's call on our future!</div>
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fast forward a month or so after we got home, rick had an interview that we thought fit perfectly into our plans, and we were excited! then, God threw us a curve-ball! we couldn't make the interview fit into our schedule, it just wouldn't work out right with our time table and that of the prospective employer, and we were a little stumped until a different opportunity landed literally right in our laps! </div>
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this one was completely different than the first, it was NOT on my radar in any way, shape or form. trust me on this one, i argued with rick and i argued with God! it did not include sunshine, warm temperatures most of the year or miles and miles of sandy beach on the ocean!</div>
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but God ...</div>
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as we met with the prospective new employer, God opened my eyes to the beauty of the new position{s} being offered. He changed my mind and my heart as i began to see this new opportunity as a gift straight from His hand! it's an opportunity that is in somewhat "familiar territory" to me that will allow me {us} to serve God and to serve others, which is exactly what i have a heart to do!</div>
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the new position{s} were not slated to begin immediately, it was a work in process, but we truly were at such peace with feeling God's hand at work that we were o.k. with that, we still had some of the lulafunds and all was still well! </div>
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as the money from lularoe that has been supplementing our income have slowly been used up, i have begun to wonder if i didn't hear God correctly, but rick reminds me each day that his God's arm has not shortened and that He does indeed have His best plan in mind for us! we are still very excited about this new opportunity, and as we are staying tuned on the updates on the progress that is being made until we are brought on board, we remain excited to begin this next new adventure {i'm a bit more anxious to get going on it than rick is, he is a much more patient waiter than i am}! just today, he reminded me that we had been told that we were wanted as part of this new "team" that is forming, and we just have to be patient as the behind the scenes work is completed!</div>
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so, there you have it! i'm not being intentionally vague, we're just not ready to share all the details yet, but they are good, very good and we are excited to watch as God opens doors and leads us down paths we did not expect to be led down! </div>
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each day with God can be an adventure if we just let it! i always want to push ahead and put the cart before the horse, but thankfully, rick encourages me to be still, to be patient, to wait on God's timing and not mine!</div>
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when the time is right, we promise to share with you the details of this next stage in our lives, and until then, if you'd just remain in prayer with us that everything that needs to fall into place does, that i would remain patient and trust in God's timetable, and that when the plans are set, that God would use us where He places us for our good and His glory! :) </div>
sheilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03521953062352392129noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4339557763203759008.post-35600740992864325172018-04-25T11:01:00.002-05:002018-04-25T11:02:11.505-05:00<div style="text-align: center;">
when I met rick in july of 2012, i was a bit of a trainwreck!</div>
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spiritually, i was ready to walk away from church.</div>
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emotionally, i hadn't grieved, i didn't know how to grieve and after 8 months, i didn't want to grieve, it was just easier to just keep stuffing my feelings</div>
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phycially, i weighed less than 100 pounds and existed on diet mountain dew and the occasional salad or cup of soup</div>
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but, i thought i was doing pretty good and i think on the outside, most people thought the same.</div>
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in almost 6 years, i've learned much</div>
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i've grown much</div>
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i've come to realize that God isn't "the church" and though i may feel failed by humans, God will not fail me and truly, He will never leave me or forsake me</div>
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emotionally, i've cried, i've screamed, i've yelled at God for taking rickey, i've asked Him for and received forgiveness again and again</div>
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i've learned that grief is not a destination but a state of being and that i can grieve in my own way, in my own time and on my own terms and it's o.k.</div>
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i still have no doubt that on 11/5/11 rickey went instantly from falling from that high peak on the roof he was on into the presence of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ</div>
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i have no doubt that his faith was strong and secure and that Jesus welcomed him with open and loving arms and those precious words, "well done, my good and faithful servant, well done, enter into your eternal rest"</div>
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physically, i can with all honesty say that i feel better today than i did in 2012, goodness, i feel better than i did in 2002 and 1992</div>
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thanks to rick and a few other amazing people who i've joined forces with and who have come alongside me, i feel healthier and happier and stronger than i have in years</div>
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rick is a "guru" in the health/wellness/fitness arena and takes his study of all things health/wellness/fitness very seriously</div>
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one of our mottos at our clinic was "you'll never realize how bad you felt until you know how good you can feel"</div>
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this is so true, for mind, body and spirit</div>
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today, i encourage you, become healthy</div>
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take care of your spiritual life, evaluate, reevaluate your relationship with God and make decisions that will affect you into eternity, so just as rickey, there is no doubt as to where you will spend eternity when your days on this earth are over</div>
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take care of your emotional life, do you need to forgive or be forgiven, if there is an area or a person in your life who you need to make things right with, just do it, make the first move, fix what you can and let go of what you can't</div>
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physically, choose today to correct imbalances in your life, drink enough water, go for that walk, get enough sleep, make better food choices, begin to heal yourself; from the inside out</div>
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our bodies were made to do what's right, we've just abused them for so long, that they are filled with toxins and most of us are physical trainwrecks from the inside out</div>
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autoimmune disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, infections, weight gain, obesity, overall poor health are rampant, just take a look around you, or take a look in the mirror</div>
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those are the outwardly visible symptoms, just think of what your body must look like on the inside after years and years of toxins and too many carbs and too much sugar</div>
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my guess is that the majority of you, like me are a train wreck and don't know where to begin or how to start fixing things</div>
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don't put if off until tomorrow, start today, with one small step, try starting with drinking enough good old water</div>
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aim for a bare minimum of half of your body weight in ounces - every day and then go from there</div>
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if you want to talk, please reach out, i'm here and i do care</div>
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if you have a burden that you're carrying, don't carry it alone, broken is an o.k. place to be, just don't stay there, give it to God and share it so you don't have to carry it by yourself</div>
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if you are lethargic, moody, suffering from ill-health, if you take too many medications to count or you don't take any, but just know there has to be a way to feel better, we want to help</div>
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reach out, do it today</div>
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i'm here</div>
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rick is here</div>
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we care</div>
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we want to help </div>
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you are never to broken to be helped and we'd love to come alongside you and help in any way we can ... just take the first step and ask</div>
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remember ... you are cherished, loved and adored!</div>
sheilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03521953062352392129noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4339557763203759008.post-86654526199567989252018-03-26T18:12:00.002-05:002018-03-26T18:12:40.257-05:00{i.promised.myself.i wouldn't}<div style="text-align: center;">
well, my 7 days of the "drink pink experience" are complete.</div>
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i went into the 7 days with a goal in mind.</div>
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i was going to prove that this product was just hype and that there was no way it could do what people claimed it could to.</div>
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which means if the placebo effect is real, i should have overcome it with my mind and experienced either no results or perhaps even negative results, right?</div>
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the placebo effect is that if you think it will work, it will and we saw it work once when a friend gave her husband 2 m&m's for his headache. without close scrutiny, he swallowed them down and settled in to watch t.v. in an hour or so, she asked him how the headache was, and yep, it was gone, those pills really worked! he believed the pills he was taking for his headache would make the headache go away, and they did just that, even though they weren't pills at all!</div>
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i also said after this past year and my direct sales experiences that were less than stellar at times that i was not getting into direct sales again ... ever.</div>
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but, here i am, eating my words because i believe in this product! i have seen it work first hand in just 7 days! and if i can have the results i had in 7 days, i can't imagine what will happen in 7 weeks or 7 months!</div>
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rick has looked over the ingredients in the products and though he's not completely sold on all of them, he has given them a thumbs up, which if you know how closely he studies all things supplemental and claiming to be natural and of benefit, you know is a good thing! i will also add here, that even though the "pink drink" is sometimes promoted for weight loss, there is still no substitute or magic formula for that. you need proper nutrition, enough calories as undereating is as detrimental as overeating, and exercise for fitness. you cannot just replace those aspects with a drink or a pill or a shake and achieve results without changing the lifestyle that made you overweight in the first place!</div>
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taya and i have joined with some amazing ladies in this company and i'm actually pretty excited to see where it goes. though there is a money making aspect, that takes a backseat to the fact that the products that i have available to offer you contain natural ingredients. they are pure and good for you. they are not produced by big pharma therefore, i will make no medical claims, but i will tell you that i have had a reduction in symptoms of conditions that i could be on prescription medications for; namely my thyroid and menopause symptoms. those hot flashes were hitting me at a rate of 2-3 per hour from early evening until morning and then occasionally throughout the day! :) </div>
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what you do with the information that i share is completely up to you! i'm thrilled if you are willing to give them a try and find that they improve your quality of life. i'm also totally o.k. if you say thanks, but no thanks. the choice is yours! i do know that having a healthy gut is of primary importance, we and the girls have taken probiotics for almost 5 years now, and our level of health is the best it has ever been! when you have healthy bacteria in your stomach, you are able to absorb the nutrients in the food you eat, and in any medications/supplements you do take! </div>
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so to sum up my experience, it was a positive one. i'm thankful that God led me to say yes to it and i gave it a go! i'm excited to see additional improvements in my physical health and in my emotional well-being! i'm excited to have some more energy and focus and good sleep! i'm also excited to see taya see a reduction in migraines and anxiety, and whose hubby wouldn't like if we girls don't have a reduction in pms symptoms?! </div>
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so, to sum it up, in the past 7 days, i'm happy to report: </div>
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<span class="_5mfr _47e3" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 0; margin: 0px 1px; vertical-align: middle;"><img alt="" class="img" height="16" role="presentation" src="https://static.xx.fbcdn.net/images/emoji.php/v9/f51/1/16/2714.png" style="border: 0px; vertical-align: -3px;" width="16" /><span class="_7oe" style="display: inline-block; font-family: inherit; font-size: 0px; width: 0px;">✔️</span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">more energy ... check</span></div>
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<span class="_5mfr _47e3" style="line-height: 0; margin: 0px 1px; vertical-align: middle;"><img alt="" class="img" height="16" role="presentation" src="https://static.xx.fbcdn.net/images/emoji.php/v9/f51/1/16/2714.png" style="border: 0px; vertical-align: -3px;" width="16" /><span class="_7oe" style="display: inline-block; font-family: inherit; font-size: 0px; width: 0px;">✔️</span></span>better sleep .... check</div>
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<span class="_5mfr _47e3" style="line-height: 0; margin: 0px 1px; vertical-align: middle;"><img alt="" class="img" height="16" role="presentation" src="https://static.xx.fbcdn.net/images/emoji.php/v9/f51/1/16/2714.png" style="border: 0px; vertical-align: -3px;" width="16" /><span class="_7oe" style="display: inline-block; font-family: inherit; font-size: 0px; width: 0px;">✔️</span></span>less anxiety ... check</div>
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<span class="_5mfr _47e3" style="line-height: 0; margin: 0px 1px; vertical-align: middle;"><img alt="" class="img" height="16" role="presentation" src="https://static.xx.fbcdn.net/images/emoji.php/v9/f51/1/16/2714.png" style="border: 0px; vertical-align: -3px;" width="16" /><span class="_7oe" style="display: inline-block; font-family: inherit; font-size: 0px; width: 0px;">✔️</span></span>less irritability ... check</div>
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<span class="_5mfr _47e3" style="line-height: 0; margin: 0px 1px; vertical-align: middle;"><img alt="" class="img" height="16" role="presentation" src="https://static.xx.fbcdn.net/images/emoji.php/v9/f51/1/16/2714.png" style="border: 0px; vertical-align: -3px;" width="16" /><span class="_7oe" style="display: inline-block; font-family: inherit; font-size: 0px; width: 0px;">✔️</span></span>better mood ... check</div>
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<span class="_5mfr _47e3" style="line-height: 0; margin: 0px 1px; vertical-align: middle;"><img alt="" class="img" height="16" role="presentation" src="https://static.xx.fbcdn.net/images/emoji.php/v9/f51/1/16/2714.png" style="border: 0px; vertical-align: -3px;" width="16" /><span class="_7oe" style="display: inline-block; font-family: inherit; font-size: 0px; width: 0px;">✔️</span></span>reduced menopause symptoms ... check</div>
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<span class="_5mfr _47e3" style="line-height: 0; margin: 0px 1px; vertical-align: middle;"><img alt="" class="img" height="16" role="presentation" src="https://static.xx.fbcdn.net/images/emoji.php/v9/f51/1/16/2714.png" style="border: 0px; vertical-align: -3px;" width="16" /><span class="_7oe" style="display: inline-block; font-family: inherit; font-size: 0px; width: 0px;">✔️</span></span>reduced autoimmune symptoms ... check</div>
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</span>sheilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03521953062352392129noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4339557763203759008.post-47071182638310472812018-03-23T16:05:00.001-05:002018-03-23T16:05:15.769-05:00{pink.drink.day.5}<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDXdOvks7BpXW8cqcPCWn-5vf6dHvjeMQiWdNgeoHDktNcALM2aPsmYtIiFNYv12yUl9Vx4rhysnYh36rRlru6o0jcbp9BgAxivjcJZD4RTCYBnZ9DSNyS2Me47vsahWoHLn8MbU8nCnU/s1600/day5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="720" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDXdOvks7BpXW8cqcPCWn-5vf6dHvjeMQiWdNgeoHDktNcALM2aPsmYtIiFNYv12yUl9Vx4rhysnYh36rRlru6o0jcbp9BgAxivjcJZD4RTCYBnZ9DSNyS2Me47vsahWoHLn8MbU8nCnU/s320/day5.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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i'm sorry! i know i promised daily updates, but honestly, i didn't want to seem over-the-top so i thought maybe i'd get through the bulk of the challenge before posting again.</div>
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here i am on the morning of day 5.</div>
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my product arrived and i started the challenge on monday.</div>
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i went into it knowing that there is truth to the "placebo effect" ... meaning that if i thought it would work ... it would. so, i tried to actually start with the mindset that it would NOT work ... meaning, i'd see no noticeable effects.</div>
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#1. i'm going into this fairly healthy - we eat basically keto/paleo, almost no grains/very limited carbs/nearly zero sugars, yada, yada, yada</div>
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#2. i already take a pro-biotic and have for almost 5 years so my "gut" is pretty healthy and vitamin d on a daily basis. i'm taking a naturopath approach to menopause and while somewhat of a nuisance, compared to horror stories i've heard, it's been a pretty easy road for me</div>
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#3. i don't believe there is a "magic pill" for anything ... weight loss especially. it takes clean eating, proper nutrition {getting enough calories} with exercise included for toning and fitness</div>
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#4. it was a nightmare getting out of lularoe. i'm not going back into direct sales, i'm done with it, over, finished.</div>
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so ... since monday what can i report?</div>
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i promised an honest review ... so here goes!</div>
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i used the "slim" which is known as "the pink drink"</div>
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a "brief" search for info on the product brings up much information, so here's just a little blurb:</div>
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<span class="_5mfr _47e3" style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 0; margin: 0px 1px; vertical-align: middle;"><img alt="" class="img" height="16" role="presentation" src="https://static.xx.fbcdn.net/images/emoji.php/v9/f7a/1/16/31_20e3.png" style="border: 0px; vertical-align: -3px;" width="16" /><span class="_7oe" style="display: inline-block; font-family: inherit; font-size: 0px; width: 0px;">1️⃣</span></span> Increases friendly microbes called <a class="_58cn" data-ft="{"tn":"*N","type":104}" href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/akkermansia?source=feed_text" style="color: #365899; cursor: pointer; font-family: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;"><span class="_5afx" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; unicode-bidi: isolate;"><span aria-label="hashtag" class="_58cl _5afz" style="font-family: inherit; unicode-bidi: isolate;">#</span><span class="_58cm" style="font-family: inherit;">Akkermansia</span></span></a>- a remarkable microbe, which positively impacts disrupted metabolism associated with being overweight by 250 times</div>
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<span class="_5mfr _47e3" style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 0; margin: 0px 1px; vertical-align: middle;"><img alt="" class="img" height="16" role="presentation" src="https://static.xx.fbcdn.net/images/emoji.php/v9/f99/1/16/32_20e3.png" style="border: 0px; vertical-align: -3px;" width="16" /><span class="_7oe" style="display: inline-block; font-family: inherit; font-size: 0px; width: 0px;">2️⃣</span></span> Increases <a class="_58cn" data-ft="{"tn":"*N","type":104}" href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/lactobacillus?source=feed_text" style="color: #365899; cursor: pointer; font-family: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;"><span class="_5afx" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; unicode-bidi: isolate;"><span aria-label="hashtag" class="_58cl _5afz" style="font-family: inherit; unicode-bidi: isolate;">#</span><span class="_58cm" style="font-family: inherit;">Lactobacillus</span></span></a> by 365 times and <a class="_58cn" data-ft="{"tn":"*N","type":104}" href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/bifidobacterium?source=feed_text" style="color: #365899; cursor: pointer; font-family: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;"><span class="_5afx" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; unicode-bidi: isolate;"><span aria-label="hashtag" class="_58cl _5afz" style="font-family: inherit; unicode-bidi: isolate;">#</span><span class="_58cm" style="font-family: inherit;">Bifidobacterium</span></span></a> by 290 times - contributes to overall <a class="_58cn" data-ft="{"tn":"*N","type":104}" href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/health?source=feed_text" style="color: #365899; cursor: pointer; font-family: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;"><span class="_5afx" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; unicode-bidi: isolate;"><span aria-label="hashtag" class="_58cl _5afz" style="font-family: inherit; unicode-bidi: isolate;">#</span><span class="_58cm" style="font-family: inherit;">health</span></span></a></div>
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<span class="_5mfr _47e3" style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 0; margin: 0px 1px; vertical-align: middle;"><img alt="" class="img" height="16" role="presentation" src="https://static.xx.fbcdn.net/images/emoji.php/v9/fb8/1/16/33_20e3.png" style="border: 0px; vertical-align: -3px;" width="16" /><span class="_7oe" style="display: inline-block; font-family: inherit; font-size: 0px; width: 0px;">3️⃣</span></span> Increases <a class="_58cn" data-ft="{"tn":"*N","type":104}" href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/butyrate?source=feed_text" style="color: #365899; cursor: pointer; font-family: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;"><span class="_5afx" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; unicode-bidi: isolate;"><span aria-label="hashtag" class="_58cl _5afz" style="font-family: inherit; unicode-bidi: isolate;">#</span><span class="_58cm" style="font-family: inherit;">Butyrate</span></span></a> by up to 58% and <a class="_58cn" data-ft="{"tn":"*N","type":104}" href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/propionate?source=feed_text" style="color: #365899; cursor: pointer; font-family: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;"><span class="_5afx" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; unicode-bidi: isolate;"><span aria-label="hashtag" class="_58cl _5afz" style="font-family: inherit; unicode-bidi: isolate;">#</span><span class="_58cm" style="font-family: inherit;">Propionate</span></span></a> by up to 29%- short-chain fatty acids that help regulate your metabolism.</div>
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Our great-tasting <span class="highlightNode" style="background-color: rgba(88, 144, 255, 0.15); border-bottom: 1px solid rgba(88, 144, 255, 0.3); font-family: inherit; padding: 0px 1px;">Pink</span> <span class="highlightNode" style="background-color: rgba(88, 144, 255, 0.15); border-bottom: 1px solid rgba(88, 144, 255, 0.3); font-family: inherit; padding: 0px 1px;">Drink</span> is only 5 calories, contains no artificial sweeteners, flavors or colors and is gluten-free, non-GMO and 100% vegetarian. <span class="_5mfr _47e3" style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 0; margin: 0px 1px; vertical-align: middle;"><img alt="" class="img" height="16" role="presentation" src="https://static.xx.fbcdn.net/images/emoji.php/v9/f69/1/16/1f331.png" style="border: 0px; vertical-align: -3px;" width="16" /><span class="_7oe" style="display: inline-block; font-family: inherit; font-size: 0px; width: 0px;">🌱</span></span></div>
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along with another of the products called x-factor + because it is promoted to reduce episodes of "personal summer" {aka hot flashes} that ladies *my age* can suffer with.</div>
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so, my "take" after 5 days ...</div>
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** i have more energy. hands down. no question.</div>
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** i've slept better. last night i don't think i moved all night and i woke up ready to get out of bed and tackle the day without laying around and psyching myself up to do it.</div>
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** i've been battling muscle fatigue at the gym, to the point of limiting my workouts, i've seen some improvement.</div>
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** my mind is sharper and more focused, i'm finishing tasks and not quite so scatterbrained {oh, look, a squirrel!}.</div>
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** i've had noticeably less hot flashes, and they have been less intense and shorter in duration.</div>
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so ... what is my take after 5 days?</div>
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i do think there is a usefulness to these products. </div>
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what i've seen in just 5 days makes me want to know more.</div>
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my desire in life is to help others and be a blessing ... and to share products that will help you feel better and enjoy life more would certainly bless many lives.</div>
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i'm willing to give these products a longer chance than 7 days and i'm willing to try other products the company offers. </div>
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i love the fact that they are not pharmaceutical in nature and that they are derived from natural ingredients ... many of the ambassadors with the company are *crunchy* mamas and that appeals to me.</div>
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whew!</div>
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so, that is my HONEST review!</div>
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i'll be hosting a challenge through my facebook group my journey 139 within a few weeks if you want to see for yourself what you think of these products. don't just follow me blindly ... try them for yourself, see if you don't feel better and stronger and have more vitality for life ... what have you got to lose? it's only 7 days!</div>
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head back over to my FB page <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/myjourney139/" target="_blank">HERE</a> and join if you aren't a member and then either comment to my wall, comment on the "join the challenge post" or PM me if you want to try it for yourself with absolutely NO COMMITMENT ever beyond the 7 day challenge! </div>
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<br />sheilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03521953062352392129noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4339557763203759008.post-58390790806511266062018-03-20T20:35:00.001-05:002018-03-20T20:35:19.444-05:00{pink.drink.day.one}<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkaiQz8-6R7v5GhD9XCWm17tsH5eNHXdmpvC6nMYd8I9aydqyeRorxN5Out-ObcVTWBHhWWOFOTJrOGND_m_ftf6YZc5rAhHfoPk2qHahrX6ZffCOqoKB93t1FD6E_CPg0g20mDw5bf1Q/s1600/7day.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="960" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkaiQz8-6R7v5GhD9XCWm17tsH5eNHXdmpvC6nMYd8I9aydqyeRorxN5Out-ObcVTWBHhWWOFOTJrOGND_m_ftf6YZc5rAhHfoPk2qHahrX6ZffCOqoKB93t1FD6E_CPg0g20mDw5bf1Q/s320/7day.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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i promised an honest review as i go through this 7-day challenge of the "pink drink" and the "x-factor" supplement.</div>
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yesterday {monday} i weighed in hoping that my product would arrive in the mail. being at that "stage of life" i often experience episodes of "personal summe r" {a.k.a. hot flashes}and i am finding my metabolism to be a bit sluggish no matter how well i eat and i've been a but more fatigued than normal when we work out. for these reasons i told kim that i'd be willing to at least give this plan a chance!</div>
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after weighing in, i began my day as normal with my 12 oz of warm lemon water followed by a 12 oz glass of water.</div>
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we "intermittent fast" which is another post for another day, but basically it means that we consume all our our daily calories in a 4 - 6 hour window, so we went to the gym as normal doing our normal workout followed by a quick protein shake to replenish and break-fast. i also drank my usual 32 oz of lemon water while we were at the gym :) </div>
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when we got home, my goodies had arrived in the mail, and since the x-factor is supposed to be taken with food, i took those as i prepped some chicken, asparagus & zucchini for our lunch :)</div>
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after lunch, i mixed up the first of my "pink drink" for a taste test ... and first trial run! i could smell the watermelon as I opened the pouch and mixed it with 12 oz of ice water. i was pleasantly surprised with the flavor, though i'd not recommend less than 12 oz of water as it had plenty of flavor, and i think it may be too strong with less :)</div>
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i can't say that i felt a sudden urge to go and run a marathon or anything, but i was able to complete several projects and stay awake until 10 with rick watching some t.v. - we do typically go to bed at 9 as our pets usually wake us up fairly early in the morning, and our circadian rhythm is pretty well set so that was possibly a good sign!</div>
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though i am typically a good sleeper, i did have an exceptionally good night's sleep, and was not awakened by any episodes of personal summer like I often am! :) </div>
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i woke feeling refreshed and rather than roll over and go back to sleep, i spent some quiet time with God before getting out of bed and having my warm lemon water followed by my 2nd "pink drink". </div>
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before lunch today, i again took my x-factor followed by our typical non-workout day "break-fast" of eggs and bacon.</div>
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again today, i can't say that i felt a major difference, but i'm not falling asleep as i type this, and i may have a bit more clarity and sharpness. i think i've also had a few less episodes of "personal summer", or at least it seems like it!</div>
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since we are very particular about any supplements that we consume, rick is still doing some research on the ingredients in these products, and i'll transcribe some of his thoughts on that later in the week!</div>
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thanks for checking in and i'll keep posting more updates throughout the week!</div>
sheilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03521953062352392129noreply@blogger.com0