tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31889794027735852692024-03-13T19:51:42.887-04:00LadybuglizzyLadybuglizzyElizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11282663016612508897noreply@blogger.comBlogger325125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3188979402773585269.post-6825871666699872442013-11-24T23:03:00.001-05:002013-11-24T23:07:50.544-05:00Ten<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Greetings from Connecticut, 2003</div>
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<span style="text-align: start;">November 25 marks ten years of being home from my mission. I don't really know what to think of that, except, Dang! How did that happen? Time moves quite fast sometimes. When I look back at life, it's been a rollercoaster- many ups and downs. </span></div>
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<span style="text-align: start;">I suppose that's fitting for someone who has worked at an amusement park. </span></div>
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<span style="text-align: start;">I remember the day, I remember leaving the mission home without Sister Coleman, who was staying and touring CT with her mother. I remember feeling awful that I had no companion and was breaking a rule, but there was nothing to be done about it. I remember the elder who had a carry on that easily weighed 50 pounds, he didn't want to pay for a heavy suitcase. I remember a layover in Chicago, where a year and a half earlier I had come through as a scared brand new missionary, and how we ran into a group of brand new missionaries on their way to Connecticut. I remember trying to deplane and how it felt like an eternity until I could get off that plane to run and see my family. Didn't everyone know how anxious I was to see them?? </span><br />
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<span style="text-align: start;">I remember how great and surreal it was to be home and see my family. How devastating it is to be released as a missionary, and to become 'mortal'. How weird it was to watch tv or be by myself. How wonderful that Thanksgiving was, two days after arriving home. How hard it was to figure out what to do with myself and find a job. You've had a great adventure and learned so much, now what are you supposed to do with it?</span><br />
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<span style="text-align: start;">Where do I find myself ten years after arriving home? Someplace I never thought I'd be. I'm nearly halfway done with my second year of teaching. Far away from my family, living in Phoenix of all places. That's right, this mossy Washingtonian is living in the desert. Working in a school that for the last year and a half has been very difficult and brought me to my breaking point at times. I have a blessed life though- I have good relationships with my family and many close people in my life. I have a sweet little apartment that spoils me with it's luxuries. I have a Cheesecake Factory close by! I have sorted through a lot of my things. I have opportunities for creativity as a remake or arrange things in my place. I have a studio area! I have a wonderful ward that has lifted me up and saved me more than they know. I have a temple fairly close and soon I'll have one very close. I have learned a lot about myself and my strengths and weaknesses, having had to work on things that I thought were strengths and grow even more. </span><br />
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<span style="text-align: start;">I look back at the hard times- finding new work, moving to Pennsylvania, etc- and how they lead to blessings and good things. The craft store dying gave me a better job with a few more opportunities at BB&B. I hated, absolutely hated moving to Pennsylvania, but then it became a Promised Land of sorts for my family and I. I found a place to go to school and worked hard to graduate, which allowed me this job and life. I grew through service in the branch and very small ward I was a part of out East, as well as my time working with the YSA and planning things for them. My family now has a house and we've had other opportunities for growth. Dad is home more, which is amazing. </span></div>
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<span style="text-align: start;">When five years had passed since arriving home from my mission, I was really freaked out and upset. Probably because I felt like I hadn't really accomplished what I wanted. These days it doesn't bother me, I'm calm and relaxed about it and more comfortable in my skin. I have a pretty good life, I've been able to achieve some independence. </span><br />
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<span style="text-align: start;">Where will the next ten take me? I don't know, but I know that as I do the will of the Lord and do what I should, then I'll be happy no matter the challenges. His love is always there. I want to do my best to have a blessed life. </span><br />
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Here I am, ten years later, with a sweet friend at the Mesa temple. Life is good.</div>
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And yeah I'm still rockin' black skirts. </div>
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<br />Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11282663016612508897noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3188979402773585269.post-60472301795233347522012-11-18T23:43:00.001-05:002012-11-18T23:44:54.664-05:00The Saga Continues<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I spent about a month in Mesa with friends until I could move into my apartment in Phoenix- about an hour's drive each way especially with traffic! When I look back on that period of time, I'm amazed at what I survived. Broke down Jeep, rental car, commuting on a crazy freeway, extreme AZ heat, flat tire, paperwork and errands for my AZ credential, and oh yeah, starting work! It was beyond overwhelming. No wonder I didn't sleep so well.</div>
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But there were some bright points in that time and adventures to be had.<br />
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I got to go to the Mesa temple, my friends live literally two minutes from it which blows my mind- it was hours to get to Palmyra! </div>
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Happy Mom could see it with me- so lovely! </div>
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Olive trees outside- neat!</div>
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Enjoyed eating at this place called Tia Rosa:</div>
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Finally became an art teacher! </div>
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My room is crazy big!</div>
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A mind boggling amount of tortilla choices! </div>
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I'm in the right spot ;)</div>
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Another great place in Mesa is Organ Stop Pizza- you get good pizza and awesome organ music performed live.<br />
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That whole wall is organ parts! Amazing! </div>
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I know that God is looking over me through everything. When I was exploring my classroom, I opened a cupboard door and was surprised to be face to face with Kermit. Through this whole time I have missed my departed Grandmother dearly and I long to talk with her about all these changes in my life. She was an artist and she loved Kermit and had a stuffed one in her room for as long as I could remember. I took it as a little sign that she was aware of me and loves me. Kermit now has a place of honor on my Smart Board and I smile and think of her every time I look at it.<br />
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My world has been turned upside down, but I'm rolling with the punches. Challenges keep you close to the Lord!</div>
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Stay tuned for more!</div>
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Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11282663016612508897noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3188979402773585269.post-37475952424817996412012-09-22T16:41:00.001-04:002012-09-22T17:09:37.357-04:00Taking the LeapI don't even know where to begin in this post, since so many things have been going on. Right at the end of July my prayers were answered and I was offered a position at a middle school in Phoenix and accepted. School began for them at the beginning of August but they didn't expect me to arrive right away. Good thing, because I had a lot of packing and preparation to do!<br />
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I spent my time trying to pack for my trip and also not leave a big mess behind in my hurry. I packed many many boxes! The plan was for my mom to accompany me in the Jeep and for us to drive across the country. I'd never driven that far, thankfully my experience with driving long distances to YSA conferences helped prepare me for such a long drive. Boy, I loaded that Jeep up full and it took a lickin' and kept on tickin'. So thankful it made it to AZ!<br />
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Bye Zebby, love ya.</div>
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Filled that Jeep FULL!</div>
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Bye PA!</div>
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I brought with me enough stuff to survive and start up an apartment when I got settled. The rest of my many many boxes will be shipped to me (like a pod) soon. I made arrangements to stay with some friends in Mesa, I'll always be so thankful for their help. </div>
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Mom and I left on Aug 14th and arrived in Mesa in the afternoon on Aug 17th. I did most of the driving and Mom did some, mostly in the mornings. It was neat to see so much of the country that I'd never seen before, and now I've added a bunch of states to the list of states I've been in!</div>
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Not going to lie, I knew this was the right thing, but still it was a big leap of faith to leave and drive across the country. There's always this small voice of doubt, what if it doesn't work out?<br />
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I was glad to have my mom with me for some moral support. We had a real nice time together and I'm thankful for the memories.<br />
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St Louis arch!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrXSuUvXzkHBJwmgXXUY0JKDkStwao785i8SwM5V2prDm9T3cfi7lwY8f_3CBQo0BhS6C-745iFOUaWZweoBnUOhs2bx4U4OyGblME4RMbkrleWnyIjiRbxk5uOjKvnI3l1rCGsfUxnZY/s1600/100_2535.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrXSuUvXzkHBJwmgXXUY0JKDkStwao785i8SwM5V2prDm9T3cfi7lwY8f_3CBQo0BhS6C-745iFOUaWZweoBnUOhs2bx4U4OyGblME4RMbkrleWnyIjiRbxk5uOjKvnI3l1rCGsfUxnZY/s320/100_2535.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Gotta love cars sticking out of buildings! </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8aB61Is-Ixk-XHlWTkD-9CQRzOuwt1Yrs-wsl58r51Jkj5noWxueLO-lwpKyNSb2YuON36R2_UyBk4kzLxPOV_oGZcJi8LxLGYZ5Nl9Aqc_IQSW54nU_C-A2hFtu8vsKahjUrO-lVI3s/s1600/100_2538.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8aB61Is-Ixk-XHlWTkD-9CQRzOuwt1Yrs-wsl58r51Jkj5noWxueLO-lwpKyNSb2YuON36R2_UyBk4kzLxPOV_oGZcJi8LxLGYZ5Nl9Aqc_IQSW54nU_C-A2hFtu8vsKahjUrO-lVI3s/s320/100_2538.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Waffle House!</div>
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Red dirt in TX</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCTHPdvNbJNvN-Gbdmt2KOPdxOO2v1XoyjontDO1JFKpP_qcE8AjYFgXt7r4uRZ5G-FIG3VKts73o8z6bsENVIkIgR3JvpUl-hXm0uiBBd_CWYNYHzo_rqDv2nzhGE40B61JO2EteWQ-g/s1600/100_2582.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCTHPdvNbJNvN-Gbdmt2KOPdxOO2v1XoyjontDO1JFKpP_qcE8AjYFgXt7r4uRZ5G-FIG3VKts73o8z6bsENVIkIgR3JvpUl-hXm0uiBBd_CWYNYHzo_rqDv2nzhGE40B61JO2EteWQ-g/s320/100_2582.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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New Mexico is beautiful!</div>
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And so is Flagstaff, AZ! </div>
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As we headed south from Flagstaff to Phoenix, it got warmer and warmer.....and boy is it warm here! Everyone complains about the humidity (it is monsoon season) but I'll take it over PA! </div>
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It's interesting to see where I ended up. I had no idea where I'd find a job. Everyone asked me where I wanted to go and I had no idea. I did feel that 1) I'd be moving quickly 2) I'd be moving far away and 3) I'd be going someplace warm. </div>
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I'm 3 for 3.</div>
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It's pretty crazy and exciting to start a whole new life, but I think I'm up for the challenge. </div>
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Stay tuned for more adventures! </div>
<br />Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11282663016612508897noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3188979402773585269.post-52856112736980256762012-07-30T04:18:00.000-04:002012-07-30T04:18:19.345-04:00YW, the SequelWell it has now been three Sundays since the Corry Branch was closed. My heart hurt for a few days after the closing but I knew it was for the best. We have now attended the Meadville ward three times and I am glad to report that things are going well. They are very happy to have my family and the others that came from Corry. They have been struggling as well. But these days the chapel is pretty full and RS is full too, it's great. It's really a miracle.<br />
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We are working on getting to know people and remember their names and they're working on that with us too. Everyone is very nice though there really aren't many women for me to be actual friends with. What else is new. We went to a ward dinner this weekend and I felt a little lonesome. I do have to say that we sure lucked out with this unit that we have been assigned to- the potluck was one of the best I'd ever been to! They had big grilled steaks for everyone and there were other wonderful sides. Yum!<br />
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That night I got interviewed by the bishop and asked if I would be the first counselor in their YW program and I gladly accepted. I love being in YW! I was bummed to be released from my duty in Corry. It was pretty funny being interviewed by a bishop wearing a Hawaiian shirt, I had to laugh. Today I was sustained and set apart and it was great to be in YW. They also put in a senior missionary as the second counselor, she's very nice and so I'm excited to work with both her and the president. I think we will work well together.<br />
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Bishop and I talked about how the branch had closed and I told him it was sad but a relief in a sense. The fact that we could go to a potluck and not have to do everything was huge.<br />
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It's nice being a part of YW without having to do everything- I made some comments during the lesson instead of having to do the entire lesson and I'll admit it's a weight taken off my shoulders to have someone else in charge. The thing is that Meadville has no active girls, except for the 2 that came from Corry. We had to import some to Meadville! So that will be our big challenge, trying to get some girls to come.<br />
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So I'm the first from the Corry group to get a calling in Meadville. I had the opportunity to attend a YSA conference in Gettysburg (it looked really fun) or to attend a huge Youth Conference (Sis Dalton was in attendance!) in Pittsburgh this weekend and I turned them both down- I didn't know why, but it just didn't feel right to attend either. And then I'd think "What is wrong with attending a church function?", as I love attending things like that. I didn't know why until this weekend. If I had attended either, I wouldn't have been at that picnic to be interviewed and my being in YW would have been delayed. And I feel that it is timely that I be there.<br />
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In other Elizabeth news, I received word that I did not get a teaching position that I had interviewed on the phone for and thought that I would probably get. That was hard, because I'm trying so hard to get a job and be independent and that was a big blow. I wanted that job and I had researched it out and it felt right. But you pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and move on. And keep filling out those job applications.<br />
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The Lord works in mysterious ways, that I know.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">Stay tuned for Birthday fun, art museum and <i><u>finally</u></i>, Girls Camp!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11282663016612508897noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3188979402773585269.post-91428253621520685502012-07-09T05:07:00.001-04:002012-07-09T05:12:16.592-04:00Changes<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<div>Today we found out that our branch that we have attended for the past five years is to be no more. As of this afternoon, the Corry Branch is no longer in existence. So as you might guess, today was not an easy day. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div><br />
We received a phone call earlier in the week saying that today's scheduled branch council meeting was canceled and also that our meetings were to be in reverse order- I'd teach YW during first hour and then we'd have the Sacrament during third hour. All of which made my family rather suspicious that something would happen. I figured we'd either be getting a real branch president (we've been without one for a few months, with a member of the stake presidency filling in) or the branch would be closed. I guess I got my answer today.<br />
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After the Sacrament, President Miller made the announcement. I'm sure it was not an easy decision or an easy statement to have to say- he used to attend the branch and loved it. He said that like seven years ago, a visiting general authority had said that our stake couldn't support so many (9 at the time) units. I guess I should be thankful that we lasted this long, and weren't disbanded years ago. Another branch was disbanded right before we moved out here, so we always knew it was a possibility. Today, the only other branch besides us was disbanded as well.<br />
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After the announcement, we were asked to raise our right hands to sustain the decision, and I tell you that that was probably one of the hardest things I've ever had to do. But I did it. After that, he answered questions and we sang "Because I Have Been Given Much" (with me leading the music) and after the meeting was over, we hugged and cried and then cleaned out personal items from the building. Tomorrow the building will be re-keyed, so it was urgent to get our things. I had added quite a lot of things to the YW room over the years, and what with Mom and my sister also being RS and Primary presidents, there was a lot of stuff to take home. It would have been easy to be dishonest and take things that didn't really belong to me, but I resisted. It was sad having to clean out the YW room. </div><div><br />
Our branch members have been divided between four wards. Everyone will have to drive quite aways to get to their new ward. We will now have to drive an hour to get to our new ward. Some of my friends, upon hearing the news, were excited that I'd now be attending a ward, but the truth is that our new place is also struggling very much, despite being a "ward." They have low attendance (not much larger than our branch), problems having enough Priesthood members and no active YW. I am sure they are excited for the handful of us now going to this ward.<br />
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The aftermath has been interesting, seeing who was surprised, and who wasn't. I've been worrying about this for like the last year and a half, so today was disappointing but not unexpected, though I didn't think it would happen this soon. I figured it would happen when the several elderly people in our branch passed away. Some people didn't understand why, others who weren't there today asked me when exactly it was going to happen, as if it was scheduled on the calendar. Some were very shocked, even though they attend fairly regularly.<br />
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Today's experiences has made me think of Christ's Second Coming- we know he is coming and we know of the signs, but we don't know when it will happen. And we will all see the same signs and some will recognize the signs and some won't. Those of us who study and pay attention will be observant to the signs and it will not be a surprise. </div><div><br />
</div><div>Life brings trials and this is no different. Being in a small branch had its challenges. Now we have different challenges. Will we still be obedient and faithful? Will we resist anger and judgement and disappointment? Will we choose to embrace our new path and be happy?<br />
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I'm reminded of an experience on my mission, many moons ago. Towards the end of my mission, we were losing sister missionaries and not getting replacements. Other sister areas had been handed over to elders as we got fewer and fewer in number. My companion and I were asked to add another companion, hers had gone home. For about two weeks, the three of us covered both her area and ours. And then we were told to leave our area and serve full time in the new area. We respectfully begged to continue to have both areas, but it was not to be. It was very hard to obey and to be cheerful about it, but we did as asked. Our area went to the elders and we stayed full time in the new area. It was a challenge, but I was glad to have met it. It was a lesson in having faith in God and in our leaders. </div><div><br />
</div><div>It's hard not to feel bad. Did I give it my all? I especially feel bad for the elderly people in our branch, they were the pioneers of the area. They used to attend church in Erie and here and there in rented spaces, and then they finally got a building in Corry and now to see this happen. </div><div><br />
Well, Corry Branch, thank you for five good years. Thank you for showing us love and kindness. Thank you for good friends. Thank you for wonderful experiences. Thank you for growth. Thank you for 4 sweet years in YW. When Dad was scouting out places to live, he wanted to attend the branch. At first I resisted, but it turned out to be a good growth opportunity for me as well as my family. </div><div><br />
</div><div>When the YW room was done being cleaned out, I shut the door and said a little prayer of thanks.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My YW room, several people told me it was their favorite room in the building. </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">No more branch dinners in the chapel?</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our sweet little building, we'll miss you. </td></tr>
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We'll see what life has in store for us in our new unit. I'm sad to be released from YW and intrigued to see what new calling I receive. I'm glad I was able to bear my testimony a week ago on Fast Sunday- I didn't know that would be my last opportunity here.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">Into each life a little rain must fall. Life goes on, I guess... </div>Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11282663016612508897noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3188979402773585269.post-86420347777310606792012-07-05T02:42:00.003-04:002012-07-06T04:16:08.400-04:00Five<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">Can you believe that I've now lived in PA for five years? Pretty crazy. In some respects I feel like I've lived here a long time and in some respects I feel like I've just gotten here. I guess it's a sign when people think I've lived here a long time and I have to correct them, that I am not a native!</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
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<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">I started this blog after the move (and lucky for you or else you'd have been subjected to a lot of whining!) and I don't think I've shared these photos, so here goes. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">Let me sum up: moving was a long, difficult process. We were actively moving from March to July. And before that I dealt with people coming up to me at church and either crying that we were leaving or going "You're still here??". That went on for a good year. No joke. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">Here's how I spent my 4th in 2007....loading an ABF trailer of leftover stuff after the movers had come and gone twice. So much fun....we were so busy that we didn't even have time to stop for sparklers. </span></div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8SjaBmm9ex7Az-vldCEaKUj9Gmhpq9tv7xb3E6EWhw_Ju8qxd9YbAjQZhc7eKjWL30zJRIl4Gh1kVFGAK1Tf0X-rJUpv2FOqYPeEkyH78LCPlXljJhQWR8npEVvzdEcxOi3B2jRGddaE/s1600/FH000015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8SjaBmm9ex7Az-vldCEaKUj9Gmhpq9tv7xb3E6EWhw_Ju8qxd9YbAjQZhc7eKjWL30zJRIl4Gh1kVFGAK1Tf0X-rJUpv2FOqYPeEkyH78LCPlXljJhQWR8npEVvzdEcxOi3B2jRGddaE/s320/FH000015.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">July 5th, Dad and I flew to PA. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Mom and Laura came a couple days later with the critters.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Hello Barbie suitcases!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxB8uuRfGwNiWg380nokXkkwXqv5qM6Hg5eCkb63jGTPSGh5d7wjsz5HyI6y8cLAc_2q6DoubfoapnjgqILi0U1p8lxiH-g6eHRFDgn5MuxmK8AC5Jl9Tr0S42UpOxhpccS_wgjodpTdg/s1600/FH000037.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxB8uuRfGwNiWg380nokXkkwXqv5qM6Hg5eCkb63jGTPSGh5d7wjsz5HyI6y8cLAc_2q6DoubfoapnjgqILi0U1p8lxiH-g6eHRFDgn5MuxmK8AC5Jl9Tr0S42UpOxhpccS_wgjodpTdg/s320/FH000037.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Last photo of me at home.</div><div style="text-align: center;">I look so happy...err.....</div><div style="text-align: center;">I really wasn't happy to leave.</div><div style="text-align: center;">I walked up my driveway and got in the car.</div><div style="text-align: center;">I still regret not taking a good last look.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">It's not the same anymore.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIpJRUHzxutg6Qa9eHa7wWSKabhyphenhyphen1dhwty0_u7gd-OzK9owu4yRzXTSLdzJdoZhbi17ZwZu6LrIpFsbIWp7-uabOIlct5-TKIRVpMqhAo2RbXZiu9ntNJtQCfU2ldJPPXql02ag9gztNk/s1600/FH000038.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIpJRUHzxutg6Qa9eHa7wWSKabhyphenhyphen1dhwty0_u7gd-OzK9owu4yRzXTSLdzJdoZhbi17ZwZu6LrIpFsbIWp7-uabOIlct5-TKIRVpMqhAo2RbXZiu9ntNJtQCfU2ldJPPXql02ag9gztNk/s320/FH000038.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Dad and I at the airport:</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEide_-84R9DuOW4hldVQoJqNc5z4mmQMH4JWSW4O-bwYUitET_XJlBhnQfqjsougT54J3FRQvS61X6x8zj7dLcd1EMJHCOrDcSAzuysfN6VvRhCfMBuiuNgagQ8FJ6-f29VHgEnvIu8J1o/s1600/FH000039.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEide_-84R9DuOW4hldVQoJqNc5z4mmQMH4JWSW4O-bwYUitET_XJlBhnQfqjsougT54J3FRQvS61X6x8zj7dLcd1EMJHCOrDcSAzuysfN6VvRhCfMBuiuNgagQ8FJ6-f29VHgEnvIu8J1o/s320/FH000039.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Keep in mind I never got to scout out PA before moving. Blind faith!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">All I could do was really hope that PA would be ok.</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">This is what awaited me:</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4efvCZZC8w0WeBMZc39SMdVrBDzCOscFBi629TlE0-6FZJWih-HNPhKjDDK6d9Io1USosjwMsidezv2nXIg0BHsqYoaoydDASAV_rRShfon6MVDH69yXnsqX5P59-DgVIa7lSm-QLgQE/s1600/FH000041.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4efvCZZC8w0WeBMZc39SMdVrBDzCOscFBi629TlE0-6FZJWih-HNPhKjDDK6d9Io1USosjwMsidezv2nXIg0BHsqYoaoydDASAV_rRShfon6MVDH69yXnsqX5P59-DgVIa7lSm-QLgQE/s320/FH000041.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Boxes and furniture randomly squished everywhere in our little house. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">My room:</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDF05EapfV_xyEf34ctEdVcPIQPMnrgwC0FopXrY477b6XNDA600iDvJh_1zCJewseAdXHcwCREm0d9ALSnaItwCWr6iG4OYRMcpkpAJw-GSonuFnGLtoLIQ5-RAfHTdBKsDCBi687qhA/s1600/FH000042.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDF05EapfV_xyEf34ctEdVcPIQPMnrgwC0FopXrY477b6XNDA600iDvJh_1zCJewseAdXHcwCREm0d9ALSnaItwCWr6iG4OYRMcpkpAJw-GSonuFnGLtoLIQ5-RAfHTdBKsDCBi687qhA/s320/FH000042.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLV3ei972w5PvCpNV_BdeuLsRw7aerdi4s6FjErdUvrcYxZJILRlocHtpYYUcmfPk9Pa2zqJdPHMbtBBQm0OHcNAxUAdYBrudezRliKE55CbprojJ19PFGXYd0G8lGVrabuN09GMmNoqE/s1600/FH000043.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLV3ei972w5PvCpNV_BdeuLsRw7aerdi4s6FjErdUvrcYxZJILRlocHtpYYUcmfPk9Pa2zqJdPHMbtBBQm0OHcNAxUAdYBrudezRliKE55CbprojJ19PFGXYd0G8lGVrabuN09GMmNoqE/s320/FH000043.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Main room:</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjcSaOTzE_yGxrNP3cYu9J-fdMJVEWyFQsfrgF-u7wZ36b17ew5sCe653iItBLtIJoMk9lMVgsWlEgbJepwDhMGUxmfiyee24wTdcie0MpImE8PLxfjcGYCqQsTJqsc6V-ySNAnaDB7RY/s1600/FH000044.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjcSaOTzE_yGxrNP3cYu9J-fdMJVEWyFQsfrgF-u7wZ36b17ew5sCe653iItBLtIJoMk9lMVgsWlEgbJepwDhMGUxmfiyee24wTdcie0MpImE8PLxfjcGYCqQsTJqsc6V-ySNAnaDB7RY/s320/FH000044.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Like the mountain of boxes?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_fd6CtJ3xQtKgDu30CzjAUAxr_sa83Tyg5IRpNbDba7Jzpf8O6bAxN5HmEab0-wQ8RfN4zhnGL0scUZN_7wUi22jMXSUXCREA7Hi3-l758XOheuJUpT8Q45QYKwcHhxfYlbEZPveJ_Bg/s1600/FH000045.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_fd6CtJ3xQtKgDu30CzjAUAxr_sa83Tyg5IRpNbDba7Jzpf8O6bAxN5HmEab0-wQ8RfN4zhnGL0scUZN_7wUi22jMXSUXCREA7Hi3-l758XOheuJUpT8Q45QYKwcHhxfYlbEZPveJ_Bg/s320/FH000045.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"> It's really hard to put anything away in the kitchen when the cupboards are covered over:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3VuJOs-uJCsxojpDn3WFuijL_oU7HlOI3cDlwEqZwshZvQ2Kcqh8StIVCgHaBjVoQT-O513UxaMgB5lfG2rVISOUdkYXxmNHku6WsaYzCW-nMemE0OWSB5oFcPN3enAoSEYQabenF2Zg/s1600/FH000047.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3VuJOs-uJCsxojpDn3WFuijL_oU7HlOI3cDlwEqZwshZvQ2Kcqh8StIVCgHaBjVoQT-O513UxaMgB5lfG2rVISOUdkYXxmNHku6WsaYzCW-nMemE0OWSB5oFcPN3enAoSEYQabenF2Zg/s320/FH000047.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">There were even more boxes than what you see!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It was like a puzzle to get things unpacked!</div><div style="text-align: center;">It took a couple months to get things livable!</div><div style="text-align: center;">Sadly it's been 5 years and I'm still dealing with boxes!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">My wall of packing paper:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIs2k9bt2sF5ZAbjNP0ZLmRIyAsd4KLvONKYY2pc-S_NYKYKb1whry2aFBCsixPp2gbdlTgsBVHsQvZmlII1mI3-_gZlmvlHyRAPu_gDcMlai79ZnnJBz3cIWBped1W2wUr0bkdhQdCeI/s1600/FH000029.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIs2k9bt2sF5ZAbjNP0ZLmRIyAsd4KLvONKYY2pc-S_NYKYKb1whry2aFBCsixPp2gbdlTgsBVHsQvZmlII1mI3-_gZlmvlHyRAPu_gDcMlai79ZnnJBz3cIWBped1W2wUr0bkdhQdCeI/s320/FH000029.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We will never run out of paper for the woodstove!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">You find new ways to entertain yourself- </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">like creating a tunnel out of a huge box for the dog!</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8XgfddKWinXazJUBC5lpzNy1P0L1o2zDZ7hoTgG6nJH57Sg7XePa_1jgIBDhRObtLORFjPVZQ1E3pWTUnHMFlJIMXh0xQtW5Dgel5SqhnC64C56kkULWeMvhsP4szCQPATQdiYBFHoNI/s1600/FH000034.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8XgfddKWinXazJUBC5lpzNy1P0L1o2zDZ7hoTgG6nJH57Sg7XePa_1jgIBDhRObtLORFjPVZQ1E3pWTUnHMFlJIMXh0xQtW5Dgel5SqhnC64C56kkULWeMvhsP4szCQPATQdiYBFHoNI/s320/FH000034.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It's weird to see your cars on a big rig like this!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">They got shipped over. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN78TAi5wceqIakUUG-Po3iGqs6jYwVc36qEgwTK7SHnZfks9LZHT0wEp_Wx5ZLo-0UNIyyt1iGvPOKi3EY6U4D8PmPra21UIaDL9LKizzyF0E-sK_QRrUCwB5zig4mNXjByFZnnG-HNw/s1600/FH000103.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN78TAi5wceqIakUUG-Po3iGqs6jYwVc36qEgwTK7SHnZfks9LZHT0wEp_Wx5ZLo-0UNIyyt1iGvPOKi3EY6U4D8PmPra21UIaDL9LKizzyF0E-sK_QRrUCwB5zig4mNXjByFZnnG-HNw/s320/FH000103.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It was all pretty overwhelming to start over in a new place. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Then right after I moved, this butterfly came and posed for me in the driveway.</div><div style="text-align: center;">In a way he was saying, "It's gonna be ok Liz". </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I never had one pose for me up close like that before.</div><div style="text-align: center;">I always listen to what butterflies tell me. </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmwOoyBuU0iq2K1VFf9wsfTvokZKB9XG4rslZr9Cfg3ZjjrBCkw8hgRR8_3eRZJoD-vrwFq2vbkf19pc-5FgR1JIhyphenhyphenPlEfukdZMY3Ylfyt-bv1rQ2OUvRHuYx41nHDaSRaA8GWDaRM554/s1600/FH000059.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmwOoyBuU0iq2K1VFf9wsfTvokZKB9XG4rslZr9Cfg3ZjjrBCkw8hgRR8_3eRZJoD-vrwFq2vbkf19pc-5FgR1JIhyphenhyphenPlEfukdZMY3Ylfyt-bv1rQ2OUvRHuYx41nHDaSRaA8GWDaRM554/s320/FH000059.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">I look back on those days and I have grown so much since moving to PA.<br />
<br />
It took a lot of strength to start all over with school and meet new people at church and YSA. </div><div style="text-align: center;">I think my family has grown as a result too.<br />
<br />
I feel a lot stronger and fulfilled these days.<br />
<br />
Thank you PA.<br />
<br />
I never thought I'd ever say that. </div>Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11282663016612508897noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3188979402773585269.post-67262004531036748242012-06-22T04:48:00.002-04:002012-06-22T04:54:51.964-04:00Sidewalk Chalk<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I'd read in the paper that our neighboring little town was giving people the opportunity to do sidewalk chalk as part of the town's festival last weekend. I thought that would be super fun since I love doing sidewalk chalk, so I signed up to do 2 sidewalk panels. There's something intriguing about art that washes away. It cost $10, I'm assuming to help pay for the chalk! I've been busy, I was looking forward to a fun distraction.</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">I didn't know what to draw, it just kinda came to me when I got there.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">First I started with a butterfly:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL_p4bZoyrkaAZd5Ki1Iuq8usYdufRmfp0-9ZRuQXpwehHEvtPX2iHnUNxYzKSrs0RAviPF6rjwg_6aOvDH4SWSnnnZAfPWmDarglDwxXOnfN2bRHoatTuqbLCZN9euLek6xK3Y3O03Lo/s1600/068.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL_p4bZoyrkaAZd5Ki1Iuq8usYdufRmfp0-9ZRuQXpwehHEvtPX2iHnUNxYzKSrs0RAviPF6rjwg_6aOvDH4SWSnnnZAfPWmDarglDwxXOnfN2bRHoatTuqbLCZN9euLek6xK3Y3O03Lo/s320/068.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Know why I did a side profile? Cause it's hard to make symmetrical butterflies when you're crouched over!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"> And then I attempted one of the lighthouses on Presque Isle:</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIO5vp_w3du2yW-oZwNozq_diE_Z1nK55J8Ef_3uDSfJE6RVqHeKxm_d64e_M8Tn_gY4RikJcBITVZ9C0mJJZfTWzzZvf4Bj77xpixtsi1QvcoXPc-V3TjaOpOp3HgEkgQOk1Mp7tOrZM/s1600/086.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIO5vp_w3du2yW-oZwNozq_diE_Z1nK55J8Ef_3uDSfJE6RVqHeKxm_d64e_M8Tn_gY4RikJcBITVZ9C0mJJZfTWzzZvf4Bj77xpixtsi1QvcoXPc-V3TjaOpOp3HgEkgQOk1Mp7tOrZM/s320/086.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I loved the bright colored chalk they provided, a good variety of colors! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3XR-X15uI7P3fieU_5f9fUUHUARXLhTOWOwCvd7TYKERxinRrKQwguir0WONbY6t1eBW1-DP-O_TfPiBbjdVrkr5A0ws2LVMhnty4qybVdL4y-ZIziDXPWacl6X_bBnbTqa4sWQMDtPE/s1600/081.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3XR-X15uI7P3fieU_5f9fUUHUARXLhTOWOwCvd7TYKERxinRrKQwguir0WONbY6t1eBW1-DP-O_TfPiBbjdVrkr5A0ws2LVMhnty4qybVdL4y-ZIziDXPWacl6X_bBnbTqa4sWQMDtPE/s320/081.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Other artists at work:</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMXyGsAA0SZ5N5xGQjTRd_n8UZNg0h9pExkClzOD7WEynFqPA0YGGmAm6W4C_vdvUnHpvfjDYxbXgGpkFXn1F6uEWZlr_9Md_4SqCz4yDSRXQhweuVGRC1EXLtUf6gkaKy5jC3nt563AE/s1600/087.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMXyGsAA0SZ5N5xGQjTRd_n8UZNg0h9pExkClzOD7WEynFqPA0YGGmAm6W4C_vdvUnHpvfjDYxbXgGpkFXn1F6uEWZlr_9Md_4SqCz4yDSRXQhweuVGRC1EXLtUf6gkaKy5jC3nt563AE/s320/087.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I worked right by Spiderman. </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip-pPkdMDO4hF4ipT-bT75Fu4fwZbgv9XEqnhphTxXrOLhOy4pVdYPeJ4XpPl4MIC_egeyOVeD4uCV5uc8NVBQ1tayICbDIJSHIsOrafL5uR-WL8woOYwbZKjr8i-7eAPyjBojfUwLYE0/s1600/088.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip-pPkdMDO4hF4ipT-bT75Fu4fwZbgv9XEqnhphTxXrOLhOy4pVdYPeJ4XpPl4MIC_egeyOVeD4uCV5uc8NVBQ1tayICbDIJSHIsOrafL5uR-WL8woOYwbZKjr8i-7eAPyjBojfUwLYE0/s320/088.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It was fun to have people from the community come up and see what I was doing and say hello. Also saw some friends who were enjoying the park. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I'd love to go back and do these again better, but it was pretty fun. I was covered in chalk dust and my hands were blue! The next day I hurt from using muscles that I don't normally use while crouching on the ground to draw!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I love the part in Mary Poppins where they look at the beautiful detailed chalk drawings on the ground. Someday I'd love to use smaller pieces of chalk to make a more detailed image!</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"> I need some sunny days and some time to do that!</div>Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11282663016612508897noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3188979402773585269.post-36933787154971349522012-06-15T04:47:00.001-04:002012-06-15T04:54:20.574-04:00I Love...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">There's some various things to love these days. Gotta stay positive. </div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">I Love...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC5jgkmK_Mw8DryajuPAVRQoNCwX5EydJDTB4aENddWQvoTV3Ua8sT4mvudPoBScZX-sn8VLixu49F2ilp_ETuIHO_2y8hHG8eG3GztzCrq543jELkKWqqWuhweiYnxDcAITXvE5tSLrw/s1600/002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC5jgkmK_Mw8DryajuPAVRQoNCwX5EydJDTB4aENddWQvoTV3Ua8sT4mvudPoBScZX-sn8VLixu49F2ilp_ETuIHO_2y8hHG8eG3GztzCrq543jELkKWqqWuhweiYnxDcAITXvE5tSLrw/s320/002.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">...matching the dresser I'm painting </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">(I'll show ya pics when it's done!)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I Love...</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib69utAvVNJCvi07Cy7seAv4qaNM1PsXN2u0cmw7nsSWfm1b8iDuPGHnD7i871G_TRIgLx6A2fb6niOZDTz5ly4_yd6hbz15JkcGqRbEuVEq34iMV3qsEZIT88DLOzdVN_JWqDXdAsX4Q/s1600/004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib69utAvVNJCvi07Cy7seAv4qaNM1PsXN2u0cmw7nsSWfm1b8iDuPGHnD7i871G_TRIgLx6A2fb6niOZDTz5ly4_yd6hbz15JkcGqRbEuVEq34iMV3qsEZIT88DLOzdVN_JWqDXdAsX4Q/s320/004.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">...helping the YCL's with their camp sign</div><div style="text-align: center;">(I did the lettering and they did the Tangled-esque lights)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I Love...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmacyS3phiREPfnSwZiE8Z0KyqN8ZXTiJdZpVn09XYTYAmj2zCtZObaMBcnMc6I4o-2q24f95uXv3DTIQGWRDnPa88IEE7Rq-7LRtuiSBKp9IMhw78kdg-cvh_KhzuvZG6EpgvnYdWlNc/s1600/025.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmacyS3phiREPfnSwZiE8Z0KyqN8ZXTiJdZpVn09XYTYAmj2zCtZObaMBcnMc6I4o-2q24f95uXv3DTIQGWRDnPa88IEE7Rq-7LRtuiSBKp9IMhw78kdg-cvh_KhzuvZG6EpgvnYdWlNc/s320/025.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">...summoning Thor's powers when hammering together a tent platform with the YSA.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I Love...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUkuBiOlaqVNRK4SUz4QICyyw4G1BTkMc1FKd3qRwxfjYLS6Hfi886gYIvHn-0JdSdr-CiKgSuOUHNcbfVm5-vXmuDNch1XetukyMYrlNmoBGMKuAOwAzV14ZqMXokLmG2w9fApDyfBFo/s1600/042.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUkuBiOlaqVNRK4SUz4QICyyw4G1BTkMc1FKd3qRwxfjYLS6Hfi886gYIvHn-0JdSdr-CiKgSuOUHNcbfVm5-vXmuDNch1XetukyMYrlNmoBGMKuAOwAzV14ZqMXokLmG2w9fApDyfBFo/s320/042.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">...wedging myself in the floor while I work </div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">I Love...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFf0yMWHdqIW6xPYneU_KhJOj0196tjjrWQlJTvWrsQH9Dz6qtIVNr8IDSYXueBp-ccmDisWGkD7N_o0Wr2Mx88HSc20aPqqhFbyxaRGcrqqYYKgPm8HLJepk3YOYnQxWg4UUnNwQ3F2I/s1600/047.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFf0yMWHdqIW6xPYneU_KhJOj0196tjjrWQlJTvWrsQH9Dz6qtIVNr8IDSYXueBp-ccmDisWGkD7N_o0Wr2Mx88HSc20aPqqhFbyxaRGcrqqYYKgPm8HLJepk3YOYnQxWg4UUnNwQ3F2I/s320/047.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">...that we finished it in about 4 hours! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">(and I love that I get bragging rights at camp..."Girls, go to sleep...on the platform that I built!")</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"> I Love...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdpZEFW4sHqK3tk52-6Lzk_2bwBtzvcmcUQpm_5deAMtU0hJsIHLo3k7viLW8PAeySTyilc8oFRnraaWsWzCLP4W1xhPqpd-oUl_Gd814EySfqEtb7H3OFZ1hKvWWm7Cfrtnz4fyl-LwA/s1600/052.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdpZEFW4sHqK3tk52-6Lzk_2bwBtzvcmcUQpm_5deAMtU0hJsIHLo3k7viLW8PAeySTyilc8oFRnraaWsWzCLP4W1xhPqpd-oUl_Gd814EySfqEtb7H3OFZ1hKvWWm7Cfrtnz4fyl-LwA/s320/052.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">...that my never opened/used mini fridge still works after winning it when I worked at the amusement park ten years ago!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Now I can sell this baby!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I Love...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwxnkTz_KsVWLVNl8svs6YBYKJmHOGH4W9jwVPLJjfRDQKAvAySJM09Kmon7cUV4kPGMNaunnaIR3wcyL04vQeImbF_LqsfoOxA6kXlVUd2lkHRfHl0owVsU-5o1czvAulCt6RK024ELI/s1600/044.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwxnkTz_KsVWLVNl8svs6YBYKJmHOGH4W9jwVPLJjfRDQKAvAySJM09Kmon7cUV4kPGMNaunnaIR3wcyL04vQeImbF_LqsfoOxA6kXlVUd2lkHRfHl0owVsU-5o1czvAulCt6RK024ELI/s320/044.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY8GDviGK4GLct1wncKfW6Kh_T8ckP3GeiWI82CexdkXnoFR4ot6QPd3YNNEoRi3281wR3j2QJdcdJiICg8H_JTRDFVW3u9B7rJnifkb35Pk8CAMkyjtBUIcEqWMtZrLLwcCoN9IXycYI/s1600/052.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY8GDviGK4GLct1wncKfW6Kh_T8ckP3GeiWI82CexdkXnoFR4ot6QPd3YNNEoRi3281wR3j2QJdcdJiICg8H_JTRDFVW3u9B7rJnifkb35Pk8CAMkyjtBUIcEqWMtZrLLwcCoN9IXycYI/s320/052.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJk6EcpngWv7UC-PvjvpqvmRiL6c11-7-onKa9njuMo6ud66-f0rBo3VxAtXSg-OZDcsVG8NhogJx-kzSsvBrHG-JD66HotWEnZuJfgkUDa6UcJiiZbi60JdjZLN5CJRXkAtCZf-myzP8/s1600/053.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJk6EcpngWv7UC-PvjvpqvmRiL6c11-7-onKa9njuMo6ud66-f0rBo3VxAtXSg-OZDcsVG8NhogJx-kzSsvBrHG-JD66HotWEnZuJfgkUDa6UcJiiZbi60JdjZLN5CJRXkAtCZf-myzP8/s320/053.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">...visiting my student teaching placements and seeing what they've been up to since I left!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I Love...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo6LhQICIkv_pP-aIlBNkEPyVOwv0xCm0qEbkxKH3a7KsbT8THWoZMHrAPCbjd3zfwKfYdyUfGOJbhM8dND1TOet2be79KY0sTnqcxEN3GQTVIV13yCcd-NI4EgeD-o3xaWmLM8QRjix0/s1600/020.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo6LhQICIkv_pP-aIlBNkEPyVOwv0xCm0qEbkxKH3a7KsbT8THWoZMHrAPCbjd3zfwKfYdyUfGOJbhM8dND1TOet2be79KY0sTnqcxEN3GQTVIV13yCcd-NI4EgeD-o3xaWmLM8QRjix0/s320/020.JPG" width="213" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">...Mom's pansies. So cute this year. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">I also love the fireflies that are out and about in the evening...but I don't have a real good way to photograph them!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"> They're magical. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11282663016612508897noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3188979402773585269.post-55539563780022045082012-06-01T04:17:00.000-04:002012-06-01T04:17:56.756-04:00Oh Hai<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">What have I been up to lately? Well, blink your eyes and it's time for another YSA conference! Wasn't I just at one? Geez, a month goes by fast!<br />
<br />
This one was called Gathering in the Grove and held in Palmyra over Memorial Day weekend. The Kirtland conference is always the same weekend and I've always gone to that one, but this year the group decided to break tradition and check out GIG. GIG was a bit cheaper and the featured guest was Alex Boye, who sings in Motab which won over Janice Kapp Perry. I really missed my fabulous catered meal that is Kirtland's tradition, but had a good time.<br />
<br />
There were some concerns about the weekend, namely:<br />
<br />
1) Tent camping.<br />
2) Smushing seven people and all our crap into a Yukon<br />
3) <i>Tent camping!!!</i><br />
<br />
You see, I've never had a great experience with tent camping in Palmyra, and I've tried it three other times!<br />
But it was cheaper than getting a hotel room, so I succumbed.<br />
<br />
I kinda have mixed feelings about this conference. I enjoyed being able to go to the temple and do a session (it doesn't happen that often with the temple being so far away) and Alex Boye was spiritual and funny to listen to (I'd recommend him if you have the opportunity) but the rest? Meh. No one terribly interesting to talk to. Got stuck watching my group in choir practice during free time. Got ate up by bugs and got no sleep. It was miserably hot and humid. And I didn't like all the raucous laughter/applause that happened in the chapel when we saw Alex Boye. It really should have been held in the gym. And I'm not really sure that having to be dressed up (temple,church) as well as trying to impress the opposite sex while <i><u>camping</u></i> in heat/humidity really meshes. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">But I survived, and it was probably better than whatever I would have been doing at home. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ4KyIWXcelMIrPDiSIG5P4weFU-KVm4BQIt2EA6RjabK62QExBJUKvmqmCJxHsTQXj2MYAhzcPM_DAMXy2ywgpEShsNReH9mB3qS_Swj5_7Hh6rAg1HLbeZ9GZtFu9lFmQJX-nJAZqIQ/s1600/032.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ4KyIWXcelMIrPDiSIG5P4weFU-KVm4BQIt2EA6RjabK62QExBJUKvmqmCJxHsTQXj2MYAhzcPM_DAMXy2ywgpEShsNReH9mB3qS_Swj5_7Hh6rAg1HLbeZ9GZtFu9lFmQJX-nJAZqIQ/s320/032.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A tangle of girls in the backseat!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp-ejNhESMQcDpvdKrQi9IWvgz4rpwzny2U6Jk9wZGo2Qbu5U5sai9Osk7u6GpSpkkvwNfdaQipJc4qGRaIjoGCJZD0pQY9F-SBxTN9GFvjHsO6Pl_M8rtqhmc1FDfEw_Bj6NHiiPNU_4/s1600/047.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp-ejNhESMQcDpvdKrQi9IWvgz4rpwzny2U6Jk9wZGo2Qbu5U5sai9Osk7u6GpSpkkvwNfdaQipJc4qGRaIjoGCJZD0pQY9F-SBxTN9GFvjHsO6Pl_M8rtqhmc1FDfEw_Bj6NHiiPNU_4/s320/047.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Raelena's comedy act during the No Talent Talent Show. We all helped her come up with groaner jokes. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYkA9HIHOc__IGAGgSv-ltMd8-71HEO9s0qYPnNyQQGnpeafqGKA0JEoxFo0lr8z-p6F91c6T5egSLF8Z923iNjn9FMF7q48ypbkEoeXavm9AoZPRrmzWq-lt41aOrryOvHlgddhanTo4/s1600/049.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYkA9HIHOc__IGAGgSv-ltMd8-71HEO9s0qYPnNyQQGnpeafqGKA0JEoxFo0lr8z-p6F91c6T5egSLF8Z923iNjn9FMF7q48ypbkEoeXavm9AoZPRrmzWq-lt41aOrryOvHlgddhanTo4/s320/049.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our leaning tower of tent.<br />
It gave way just as we were packing the car!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjul2xOLnagCrlvkJVhCe4hnlc5hDUXhB98AiKh6IISsK36b9rXWVBNBVRwlnFSuu9IoVuHKnMamFG9JjkEXx9ELnZFxOchS7YDTMDCzbl6VhkvU2cX-DPIDj22HcXoWqmts6K8bWLGDfU/s1600/050.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjul2xOLnagCrlvkJVhCe4hnlc5hDUXhB98AiKh6IISsK36b9rXWVBNBVRwlnFSuu9IoVuHKnMamFG9JjkEXx9ELnZFxOchS7YDTMDCzbl6VhkvU2cX-DPIDj22HcXoWqmts6K8bWLGDfU/s320/050.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nice hood ornament, Raelena</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVoDjCec3Hu2hovQ5L_ue-5rcgAv8SoMT6Ot-KTmSqvbGaKpRQpGt5Ugkg_2XB4KuuGs_4NmfjcgaEqMDJ4CDmiYsJ2VZgRYCnWw4DM0mrFiqrOquOBtSdvvw1lw6Zn6U8-b05iV1tGWc/s1600/052.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVoDjCec3Hu2hovQ5L_ue-5rcgAv8SoMT6Ot-KTmSqvbGaKpRQpGt5Ugkg_2XB4KuuGs_4NmfjcgaEqMDJ4CDmiYsJ2VZgRYCnWw4DM0mrFiqrOquOBtSdvvw1lw6Zn6U8-b05iV1tGWc/s320/052.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I don't know how we fit everything in!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUVcUntn-r-hH1bkRZRXQVsigkZuBHVrKRG-F-pAJzg7yMw7RrT8nl75_t4ULKvOE5ohoxpHE-VjNCQA-cyhAslO3LnjdKGNSdpw5ndkH8odrfxiSDpq9UVtMtFdN7YZ4w_V67e6LrEw0/s1600/055.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUVcUntn-r-hH1bkRZRXQVsigkZuBHVrKRG-F-pAJzg7yMw7RrT8nl75_t4ULKvOE5ohoxpHE-VjNCQA-cyhAslO3LnjdKGNSdpw5ndkH8odrfxiSDpq9UVtMtFdN7YZ4w_V67e6LrEw0/s320/055.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our Gang</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBuJqXnJSq9I_jaELhMgaEpF94kiKUHZyVGPChvPNDnuqIQ7VGtBAyu22qBgYk-nkg431YcfFNY7gD2j6gvZPgTuturzp4UDMKwW938DtMuYsOpZM6yPo-CXVsUu-zGMHGXcHNe0OkiQg/s1600/057.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBuJqXnJSq9I_jaELhMgaEpF94kiKUHZyVGPChvPNDnuqIQ7VGtBAyu22qBgYk-nkg431YcfFNY7gD2j6gvZPgTuturzp4UDMKwW938DtMuYsOpZM6yPo-CXVsUu-zGMHGXcHNe0OkiQg/s320/057.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My girlies</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"> Moving on...</div><br />
The plan for Memorial Day was for a bunch of us to meet up, go hang out at Presque Isle and have a photo shoot. It was actually my idea, but stuff happened and people couldn't find each other and the stuff that I had wanted to do (photoshoot and sandcastles) didn't happen. And we were all irritated with each other that night too. It was also real hot and humid, well into the 90's, we were miserable. Real fun, huh? Ugh.<br />
<br />
I did get a few pics with my sis and our friend Hannah, that was it.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfhvPrC15gBoIpCc4K2E1zmvHYBWjXbWSEJ42BdO_B40ynpqswfcgTNYAfjMJ4XXNdJhpoK0xvu4hakzXXsy9GlWdsHgd-w_39FxQ6rW2VzuqZ5ncqSfic7lm2rn2Hx1xlvI1ezVfuXGI/s1600/003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfhvPrC15gBoIpCc4K2E1zmvHYBWjXbWSEJ42BdO_B40ynpqswfcgTNYAfjMJ4XXNdJhpoK0xvu4hakzXXsy9GlWdsHgd-w_39FxQ6rW2VzuqZ5ncqSfic7lm2rn2Hx1xlvI1ezVfuXGI/s320/003.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjifLRBgLhwR8WylagTY4LSR7809iDEwqcU21RKcPvh6woMB_4G_qxmvU5hhpt_t3_cT8ELhGlhUCKDWp0iu13YwnlcoDs8Iqxz4f4tPeXHZYH5ZboHe8z9kVZbN1JlHI6JA_RDxggtZhI/s1600/007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjifLRBgLhwR8WylagTY4LSR7809iDEwqcU21RKcPvh6woMB_4G_qxmvU5hhpt_t3_cT8ELhGlhUCKDWp0iu13YwnlcoDs8Iqxz4f4tPeXHZYH5ZboHe8z9kVZbN1JlHI6JA_RDxggtZhI/s320/007.JPG" width="213" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7z4xX8s_WwaPq1tBvICvkAArYkiBwWvswb2KuvXWJtuGPCAqESjhZbXVo1JTxIDxbQb18f9PVlSan0nwQEa4c3N_Fszwii3G0wALp4jIR2csOFw9RVQ6eUdHXvxjEmr98ey2-l7aNQ2Q/s1600/010.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7z4xX8s_WwaPq1tBvICvkAArYkiBwWvswb2KuvXWJtuGPCAqESjhZbXVo1JTxIDxbQb18f9PVlSan0nwQEa4c3N_Fszwii3G0wALp4jIR2csOFw9RVQ6eUdHXvxjEmr98ey2-l7aNQ2Q/s320/010.JPG" width="213" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzmGX-unwwAxdg7dZHRQ_5jb7GP2gDyxZByscmINEkZyMzlfl9rRrS7qmESFnfMl3HbUyA1rbYKrnXluQAbcWZZBNEL2J2KsElO9RySmH8GHvWZGTI_YApuS-AX_sjMV-Do9zPiSL0YbE/s1600/001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzmGX-unwwAxdg7dZHRQ_5jb7GP2gDyxZByscmINEkZyMzlfl9rRrS7qmESFnfMl3HbUyA1rbYKrnXluQAbcWZZBNEL2J2KsElO9RySmH8GHvWZGTI_YApuS-AX_sjMV-Do9zPiSL0YbE/s320/001.JPG" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hannah!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirQBzoLZWJKgopqmJGz9X22IKoc37-sGe2mmQT8735tsB0OrN5KuBDF6MUPUQUkdUZlm4YzG06oEyaffd0alZs0jcQxeBfdSlEB7blOQEd5GMemhGRN7llJOHmfrVARIAyVmuWywP5MdE/s1600/064.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirQBzoLZWJKgopqmJGz9X22IKoc37-sGe2mmQT8735tsB0OrN5KuBDF6MUPUQUkdUZlm4YzG06oEyaffd0alZs0jcQxeBfdSlEB7blOQEd5GMemhGRN7llJOHmfrVARIAyVmuWywP5MdE/s320/064.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The gang at Perry's Monument</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">What else? Well, I glued scrapbook paper to about 80 big washers for camp necklaces....</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihyphenhyphentO-sxmcgUEMy3DZ9YoNCkZwMQo3yhzYv7JZf6yu_s377Y1Aak64_vDnMWKzIzPGdqCZPuRHQRaxLCVEV6HNF35ZkNyHAodnxswTHemT5ai79P8pONH_7dq3MGXJtrazTPgFR_rN6s0/s1600/067.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihyphenhyphentO-sxmcgUEMy3DZ9YoNCkZwMQo3yhzYv7JZf6yu_s377Y1Aak64_vDnMWKzIzPGdqCZPuRHQRaxLCVEV6HNF35ZkNyHAodnxswTHemT5ai79P8pONH_7dq3MGXJtrazTPgFR_rN6s0/s320/067.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">....and I survived a major hailstorm- the stones were so big that they shattered on my windshield and left dents on the hood! I had no way to get out of the storm!</div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhndbDoEI6OsZXheRLDxHry7m6KCNH9nju8XgL5gfO-rvHITktMBA2pUSNuRp8gWn8UBdlxyWIYfhJIMelAXtGHgtyfYAiUuxn-s4RzXM7Smg412cN1zi2iIwVWXhuG4a7B-vpnl-PXd2Y/s1600/070.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhndbDoEI6OsZXheRLDxHry7m6KCNH9nju8XgL5gfO-rvHITktMBA2pUSNuRp8gWn8UBdlxyWIYfhJIMelAXtGHgtyfYAiUuxn-s4RzXM7Smg412cN1zi2iIwVWXhuG4a7B-vpnl-PXd2Y/s320/070.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There's about 20 big dings, you can see some in this pic.<br />
</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Life goes on. Hope you're doing well. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Stay tuned for more fun!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11282663016612508897noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3188979402773585269.post-57157071799629466252012-05-21T04:10:00.002-04:002012-06-11T03:50:48.037-04:00Faline, Our Deer FriendRight in the middle of boring everyday life, life gives us something amazing. One morning when my sister was walking dogs, this tiny little deer appeared and came right up to her and even nosed the dogs. Mom saw this little deer too. They were able to snap a couple of photos before she disappeared. I heard about it later and we all marveled at such an unusual occurrence. You see, there are lots and lots of deer here in Pennsylvania, and we see them quite often on the property, but nothing like this had ever happened before.<br />
<br />
Well later that evening, when it was starting to get dark, little Faline (yes, we named her after Bambi's girlfriend) showed up again, just came right down the driveway. I grabbed my camera and Mom and I went outside and I got to see Faline up close and personal.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRIxNwepFUjjuT0NWTXdAcytImYhTxwv7GybGMm7A7c5-zoWxHlm7-HXtSSF0EZ-4Ut0AGDQL17JBHrDz6FMSFi-x4HRUbuGlbTyjHmGmDa9QBrTaW8lnVTSKgh1nijZ2C7lB-4GXlAgo/s1600/761A.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="203" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRIxNwepFUjjuT0NWTXdAcytImYhTxwv7GybGMm7A7c5-zoWxHlm7-HXtSSF0EZ-4Ut0AGDQL17JBHrDz6FMSFi-x4HRUbuGlbTyjHmGmDa9QBrTaW8lnVTSKgh1nijZ2C7lB-4GXlAgo/s320/761A.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Oh, hi. Can I come over?"</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmlelcQ3bwpchT_TC9sjixilSHnm1tG2pxqY30i4pEjEcbPydFDHFJ3neQuVT0cKjLX-eK58rN9hB0ns_cAxvNiZfXq9ID7Rh3GbYb0vNbRutjyJtmhxBX5Y0e3KsaXpSE8rQ4_ZkrqOc/s1600/763A.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmlelcQ3bwpchT_TC9sjixilSHnm1tG2pxqY30i4pEjEcbPydFDHFJ3neQuVT0cKjLX-eK58rN9hB0ns_cAxvNiZfXq9ID7Rh3GbYb0vNbRutjyJtmhxBX5Y0e3KsaXpSE8rQ4_ZkrqOc/s320/763A.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Om nom nom nom</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjwjKL8PSzjIZsVfNmBWwS9Tkri3-T-juZYayTerepeOdV5NCtjFUndVKnW2E1MvZTVtrNkHYCFzWf68Wvq1QZ-9QYbWXN7lyunKYNAqFs4IYRC9dR5VaP0dHCMLx_cxxd-lpQLzU2ZBU/s1600/779A.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjwjKL8PSzjIZsVfNmBWwS9Tkri3-T-juZYayTerepeOdV5NCtjFUndVKnW2E1MvZTVtrNkHYCFzWf68Wvq1QZ-9QYbWXN7lyunKYNAqFs4IYRC9dR5VaP0dHCMLx_cxxd-lpQLzU2ZBU/s320/779A.jpg" width="222" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hello there!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgapqbNols1gSDZ3uh97m7z7RRmWuLgj2HdWjaWm6ItdrvhRGb7tRld7e2YOgq-NFajZ8769LKMEImcnjCD04Umin-XqYGO-ex2yLiStW_4m6LCl88wGg95_mIxbYc8vuIEc8lqp-07Exk/s1600/780A.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgapqbNols1gSDZ3uh97m7z7RRmWuLgj2HdWjaWm6ItdrvhRGb7tRld7e2YOgq-NFajZ8769LKMEImcnjCD04Umin-XqYGO-ex2yLiStW_4m6LCl88wGg95_mIxbYc8vuIEc8lqp-07Exk/s320/780A.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6_dAFvXECWr7KwI7PaS2NSiPqmezXpdFYSorlJiV_7WA4sClV9tPI81GQnD3SctUkWtQcWiifceDszsGrOaIzFAd3AhDfcxvxOH97fRZZklaIvAgsSZHwXtRrQAxxaEos7PHgO2L2wxc/s1600/782A.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="196" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6_dAFvXECWr7KwI7PaS2NSiPqmezXpdFYSorlJiV_7WA4sClV9tPI81GQnD3SctUkWtQcWiifceDszsGrOaIzFAd3AhDfcxvxOH97fRZZklaIvAgsSZHwXtRrQAxxaEos7PHgO2L2wxc/s320/782A.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The grass is always greenest right behind the car. </td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgNPgPBqoqmJr2pjp4tJzdQx4-AjH_e6mypomd6xEjqKKkWYQjMETXFeYrUYUwtvQW97QLsI1Hrw0jRKiFlYc-YTKEOHl9kA0eVMuWdyLgyPqtjT2OV6jyWWwB3Aq-uvcUbm804OvCHOs/s1600/785A.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgNPgPBqoqmJr2pjp4tJzdQx4-AjH_e6mypomd6xEjqKKkWYQjMETXFeYrUYUwtvQW97QLsI1Hrw0jRKiFlYc-YTKEOHl9kA0eVMuWdyLgyPqtjT2OV6jyWWwB3Aq-uvcUbm804OvCHOs/s320/785A.jpg" width="209" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAAwg4x_cFoGburthvA-Fd2jXaeIBsT2nOIzq42X9t-bTRohsOcw0SG76ZIykY01rIKtUfQq88Lh4SQzyyfTx7vn2RwMbUBwCeNIr-e2Ba-E0rfRoVMC2euq5CmRRFoFcHVb1exH8qTVk/s1600/787A.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAAwg4x_cFoGburthvA-Fd2jXaeIBsT2nOIzq42X9t-bTRohsOcw0SG76ZIykY01rIKtUfQq88Lh4SQzyyfTx7vn2RwMbUBwCeNIr-e2Ba-E0rfRoVMC2euq5CmRRFoFcHVb1exH8qTVk/s320/787A.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo47JdfhUvxPR-jVir6QXRFqiZr1paPv4UVTQaVGI2rJw8PRs_n0CF14rbNyftumdHAiOY1s_j-IJTbOE3bde5YOLtbXevN3uq60-AjN1TEnZ7fVVd19Zf9BXluWFxeCkXC1qfIENNsXo/s1600/792A.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo47JdfhUvxPR-jVir6QXRFqiZr1paPv4UVTQaVGI2rJw8PRs_n0CF14rbNyftumdHAiOY1s_j-IJTbOE3bde5YOLtbXevN3uq60-AjN1TEnZ7fVVd19Zf9BXluWFxeCkXC1qfIENNsXo/s320/792A.jpg" width="232" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shh....don't tell her that the Jeep behind her has hit four deer!<br />
It's our little secret. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4UZhaU8CFDFhk1sLYDnVUS0hrfglcXRba6Ne2tKz64hDwFxxCiczEquGSnP1nfPIkZCp6sQsZeU9X08-z083h7V2JjiZdA2b9RmLHgiAve_j2O2Au0XDYGiLdyCAJBd3vV-XGfuLPNIs/s1600/801A.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4UZhaU8CFDFhk1sLYDnVUS0hrfglcXRba6Ne2tKz64hDwFxxCiczEquGSnP1nfPIkZCp6sQsZeU9X08-z083h7V2JjiZdA2b9RmLHgiAve_j2O2Au0XDYGiLdyCAJBd3vV-XGfuLPNIs/s320/801A.jpg" width="211" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">So cute!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bye Liz, it was fun hanging out!</td></tr>
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It was so amazing to have her so close, she even came and stuck her nose in my stomach and sniffed my pants. She ate grass from Mom and I too. She didn't care when Mom yelled for Laura, she wasn't afraid. She munched here and there and went back up the driveway, and didn't care that I followed her.<br />
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Eventually she mosied off into the forest and I went and ate my dinner and left her to eat hers. The next day we saw her behind our ponds with her mamma, guess she'd gotten a scolding about talking to strangers.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">Told you our place was magical.</div>Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11282663016612508897noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3188979402773585269.post-59706780135947218812012-05-11T03:45:00.002-04:002012-05-21T03:38:13.330-04:00Now What?The weeks that follow a major life event are usually kindof strange, especially when that major life event isn't so fun. The weeks that followed my grandmother's death were hard, and kinda strange. What do you do? There's no real protocol for this.<br />
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I held down the fort while my mom was gone for two weeks in CA. She went to attend the funeral with my father, and visited her own family as well. I was glad she was able to see my dad and spend some time with him. It took two tries to get Mom from the airport- she was delayed in Detroit overnight due to fog in Erie, and I spent all day in Erie for nothing trying to pick her up and having to make the drive the next day to finally get her. It felt like quite the accomplishment when the two of us were both home!<br />
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A week after my grandmother's passing, I attended the YSA conference in West Virginia. I already had things lined up to go, and there was no sense in not going. Laura wound up staying home alone over the weekend to take care of her dogs since Mom was away in CA. Not to mention, I had somehow been volunteered to be in charge of carpooling and ticket purchases and I didn't want all my hair-pulling work to be for nothing!
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We met at the church building and smushed 10 people into two cars- gas is expensive and it's a four hour drive! I succeeded in not having to drive, that was a real accomplishment! I had to fight for that. My car ride down was cramped but fine, and we ate at Outback- good thing cause I didn't want the pizza provided. Friday night was the usual horrifying get to know you games- I politely played Two Truths and a Lie with a group before ducking out. Later that evening we had a bonfire and listened to Jack Rose speak to us- it was very good. He talked about how you have to have courage to have faith. His words were very timely for me.<br />
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Saturday brought classes- I attended one about art appreciation, car maintenance, creating your own title of liberty (with fabric and sticks and everything!) and also one on dating etiquette. They were all really good, better than a lot of conference classes.<br />
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Here's the art appreciation class, held in a sweet little chapel on the camp. </div>
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We rock! </div>
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We played Ninja!</div>
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We got ready for the dance!</div>
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The dance was a lot of fun, I got asked to dance a lot (don't get your hopes up, none of that's gonna pan out!) and I even asked a guy to dance when it was Ladies Choice- can you believe it? I was proud of myself for not being a wallflower. I tried not to take it too personally when said guy didn't want to talk to me anymore after I danced with him. Sigh.</div>
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Also on Saturday we got to hear more from Jack Rose, and again he was good.<br />
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Sunday was Sacrament Meeting and it was nice to hear from the speakers and testimonies. Overall the weekend was really great and uplifting, I felt very comforted. It was hard to say bye to my friends that don't live near me. I'm really glad that I went to the conference, I really needed the pick me up.<br />
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Since the conference, I:</div>
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Played with sidewalk chalk with the YSA<br />
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Observed a foggy day at Presque Isle while unsuccessfully getting Mom from the airport</div>
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Saw this cute aqua bike decor...wish it could come home with me!</div>
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I helped clear brush at camp and figure out where stuff will go. </div>
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And I played Nerf Wars with the YSA! </div>
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We played in the dark with two teams- each side had a different color of glow necklaces to wear- really fun!</div>
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When Mom came home, she brought home a few things that belonged to my grandmother. Not really important or sentimental things, but some things that my dad and grandfather thought we could use and no one else was really gonna care about. I got a couple of long sleeve Ts, brand new. Also this skirt, still had tags on it. Mom also brought home some RS magazines from like the 60s and some plastic dust covers for clothes. </div>
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It didn't bother me a lot to see these things, but it did give me a little pang in my heart that she wasn't ever going to use these things and also that I was never going to get a care package from her again- she often sent us boxes of various goodies. Sigh.</div>
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And that's the news from Elizabeth, stay tuned for more. </div>
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<br />Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11282663016612508897noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3188979402773585269.post-34813296004143809062012-05-02T04:26:00.001-04:002012-05-21T04:17:29.551-04:00Grandmother<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-R6ejkV7vnGCJ0QDtCr4ILvG5kneiV_RDMJhjRH4JCqx-N1RCnirnBBUvMq84iKRJfO8dp0KC22MoUKn-KPHm-seS1RFVMjiLYMd1ccOYDE9mexC9VolMExFUUG2Faue3TqubRP5pY2s/s1600/gmc+and+gfc.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-R6ejkV7vnGCJ0QDtCr4ILvG5kneiV_RDMJhjRH4JCqx-N1RCnirnBBUvMq84iKRJfO8dp0KC22MoUKn-KPHm-seS1RFVMjiLYMd1ccOYDE9mexC9VolMExFUUG2Faue3TqubRP5pY2s/s320/gmc+and+gfc.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">This was taken when my grandparents met me for the first time. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>I don't know where to begin in writing this post, I've waited a bit so that I could bear to write it. My Grandmother Chaney passed away on Sunday, April 15th, at about 9:00 in the morning California time. She hadn't spent very long in her new care home, just a few days. Her health had been in steady decline since she had multiple strokes earlier this year, so we all knew this was coming, but it was still hard to realize that she's gone for now.<br />
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My grandmother Carol was born in 1933, she would have turned 79 in June. She was a middle child and she loved her family. I can only imagine her happy reunions with her parents and sister and other loved ones. She grew up in Utah and met my grandfather at a USO dance in the early 50's. Married in 1952, (thankfully they got to celebrate their 60th anniversary right before she started having strokes) they had three children- my father and his two sisters. They did a lot together as a family and took trips to Yosemite. They were and are, very family oriented. Their family set the pattern for my own happy family.<br />
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I have lots of happy memories with my grandmother. I remember her visiting when I was about 5, and she had me come over to her and close my eyes and she presented me with a pair of silver shoes for dress up, those were some magic shoes. Her favorite color was green, like an apple green. She loved vintage green things and loved receiving green depression glass to add to her collection. I collect pink, and she was going to swap me some pink depression glass for green. It's hard now when I go antiquing, since I see all these things that she would love, and I cannot buy them for her. I always liked to visit her in CA and feel special. She was a wonderful cook and we're all thankful that my dad learned from her- he cooks very well for us. I'm so glad that we were all able to get together in the summer of 2010, that was a great visit. It was so fun to all go to the zoo together. I already loved the family photos that were taken then, and now I love them even more.<br />
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Both of my grandmas are artistically inclined, it flows in my veins. Grandmother loved fabric and quilts. She and I both loved quilts from the 1930's. I loved to send her pictures of what I saw at the quilt shows I went to. She often sent me quilting books and magazines and goodies in care packages. She was always interested in what I was doing project-wise, and always encouraging. Oh, and she was a wedding planner and good with flowers and receptions- must be where I get it from.<br />
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My grandmother was one of the kindest, sweetest people I've ever known. She would send cards and call if you were the least bit sick. I hated worrying her with my various illnesses. She was always a sympathetic ear. She radiated love in word and deed to all of us. She ended every phone call with "I love you." I'm so thankful for this example in my life.<br />
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I was not able to attend her funeral in California, but I hear that it was all very nice. It took place at the cemetery, and the missionaries spoke about the plan of salvation. My aunt sent me a photo taken at the funeral- there was a large, beautiful moth on the ground. I found that was fitting since winged things like butterflies are supposed to represent the soul returning to heaven.<br />
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I have done some soul searching over the last couple of weeks as to how best honor her memory. Really, the best way is through my own actions. I want to strive to be the kind of woman my grandmother was. I want to be sweet and kind and thoughtful like her. I want people to know that they are loved. What would my grandmother want me to do? She'd want me to strive to be happy, to develop my testimony, to love my family, my friends, and those around me. She'd want me to be creative and progress in my artwork. She'd want me to use my sewing machine a lot. And if I ever have a family of my own, she'd want me to be a strong woman and love them all very much in my words and deeds. <span style="text-align: center;">If I can be half the woman she was, I'll be doing well. </span><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">And oh yeah, she'd want me to have a retro kitchen. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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<div style="text-align: left;">It's been a hard few months, watching her decline and slowly losing my grandmother. And it's been hard losing her, knowing I won't see her for what seems like a long time. When I took my mother to the airport, I watched her go through security and remark to another lady, "You wait here and then you wait there", meaning having to wait on either side of security before your flight. But that's pretty much how it is- we wait to see our deceased loved ones, and they're waiting for us too. Someday there'll be a happy reunion. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">I miss her, and the problem is that she would be the one to tell all my heartaches to. She'd know how to fix this broken heart. I'm so thankful for the Holy Ghost and the peace and healing that has taken place in my heart. </div><br />
I'm glad that she's not hurting anymore, and I know that she's in a better place. I'm so thankful for the gospel of Jesus Christ that allows us to be together as families after this life.<br />
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I now feel reawakened, all of this has been a sort of distraction the last few months. I really like this quote that I came accross:<br />
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<blockquote style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;">"When compared to eternal verities, most of the questions and concerns of daily living are really rather trivial. What should we have for dinner? What color should we paint the living room? Should we sign Johnny up for soccer? These questions and countless others like them lose their significance when times of crisis arise, when loved ones are hurt or injured, when sickness enters the house of good health, when life’s candle dims and darkness threatens. Our thoughts become focused, and we are easily able to determine what is really important and what is merely trivial."</blockquote><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 1.35em;">—President Thomas S. Monson, "<span style="color: #0068cf;"><span style="cursor: pointer;">The Race of Life</span></span>", <i style="color: #0068cf; cursor: pointer;">General Conference</i><span style="color: #0068cf;"><span style="cursor: pointer;">, Apr. 2012</span></span></div><div style="background-color: white; margin-bottom: 1.35em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 17px;">It's time to wake up and get going, all this has been a good reminder of what is really important. </span></span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijp0Tf9tMgZQWYnsD4PCOrpHWtcw-cL3Pq1yIWek0Jblm_g-fWNxOGLuuMLQFOkdgkzaaeIzBsCt2aWPXmUy5xZx085oOkBsMTn-ZtlAy9lhGtx2cveNVxBmWU4umL-l_SEorZeOi6kfE/s1600/FL000040.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijp0Tf9tMgZQWYnsD4PCOrpHWtcw-cL3Pq1yIWek0Jblm_g-fWNxOGLuuMLQFOkdgkzaaeIzBsCt2aWPXmUy5xZx085oOkBsMTn-ZtlAy9lhGtx2cveNVxBmWU4umL-l_SEorZeOi6kfE/s320/FL000040.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 17px;"><br />
</span></span></div></div><div style="background-color: white; margin-bottom: 1.35em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 17px;">Grandmother, we love you and miss you so much, more than words can describe. Thank you for being the wonderful daughter, wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, sister and friend and for touching so many lives. Thank you for working hard to have a good family- thank you for raising me a wonderful father. Thank you for your example of kindness and love. We know Christ because we knew you. Someday we'll be reunited and I hope to make you proud.<br />
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XOXO, Liz</span></span></div>Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11282663016612508897noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3188979402773585269.post-74547240495403456542012-04-09T04:42:00.001-04:002012-04-09T04:55:28.345-04:00Our Easter<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">How was your Easter? Hope it was wonderful. I had a really lovely weekend.</div><br />
Saturday night my mom and sister and I dyed Easter eggs- normally Dad is in charge of this, but he's still in CA. Mom and I had to figure out how to do the dye!<br />
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We did our traditional eggs dyed with onion skins- they turned out dark and lovely this year!<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2D0f0H2cn9w4zd8erLdsn0zh5BhBFAL8CLGqmFDJ6nFYHJVxj8VY6WQl3M09GhRnO1-PfydFLPyA9IB40-uCX2Crc_gjiYQDC7I_inSJlPi27JsJ3_lcoziNMQlbwqFIwUW_JAgPJfT0/s1600/IMG_8475.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2D0f0H2cn9w4zd8erLdsn0zh5BhBFAL8CLGqmFDJ6nFYHJVxj8VY6WQl3M09GhRnO1-PfydFLPyA9IB40-uCX2Crc_gjiYQDC7I_inSJlPi27JsJ3_lcoziNMQlbwqFIwUW_JAgPJfT0/s320/IMG_8475.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Usually we're a little more creative with the colored eggs and use crayons and stuff but they still turned out well. </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWDZ6p6uNLaqADaE9WfV4CJkZEy0f-dVWKdis_NXPA107hJxF-d01FTxHz_vE92ysGZ2T5NA6kMfLLd7tT-o2pnWCVA-ZywvBKmpAUjjcRsD0eOo5aQM0UquJOpx6YgO4_y_wmmBIRIsk/s1600/IMG_8477.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWDZ6p6uNLaqADaE9WfV4CJkZEy0f-dVWKdis_NXPA107hJxF-d01FTxHz_vE92ysGZ2T5NA6kMfLLd7tT-o2pnWCVA-ZywvBKmpAUjjcRsD0eOo5aQM0UquJOpx6YgO4_y_wmmBIRIsk/s320/IMG_8477.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Here's my three- I had fun layering dyes (I love color theory!)</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Lime green= green and then yellow</div><div style="text-align: center;">Purple= pink and then green and then blue</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Aqua=yellow and then green and then blue</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2EC74wGITinZGjKVJEcXCFxn-s8eVBxOYZA9l4Uo-ZNfbiQb912aL_K3D9NZ6AIYCeqTQLA8Scxc79rXqy8L_p-7VwyoTvQTKATRwiNqBe9zzhxA9Z6YGms8mnanMc4cq304krqgLND0/s1600/IMG_8481.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2EC74wGITinZGjKVJEcXCFxn-s8eVBxOYZA9l4Uo-ZNfbiQb912aL_K3D9NZ6AIYCeqTQLA8Scxc79rXqy8L_p-7VwyoTvQTKATRwiNqBe9zzhxA9Z6YGms8mnanMc4cq304krqgLND0/s320/IMG_8481.JPG" width="213" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The gray eggs in the basket were boiled in pickled beet juice, which turned the eggsells grayish (made me think of the goose eggs we used to get when I was a kid!) and they are pink inside!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY43G4ngyptmfAacnufOok2BkNZnMbJJdLN5I_J2E8061RaOWYxZgbvYacmcvs5CCtpbQbR_C8a_Sfolgga-Ue9NduyPAy00GE5d7iwc3E58LdQ3860C4efuHobZAMcccXmfgeU7lqJ7o/s1600/IMG_8487.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY43G4ngyptmfAacnufOok2BkNZnMbJJdLN5I_J2E8061RaOWYxZgbvYacmcvs5CCtpbQbR_C8a_Sfolgga-Ue9NduyPAy00GE5d7iwc3E58LdQ3860C4efuHobZAMcccXmfgeU7lqJ7o/s320/IMG_8487.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And the pink goes all the way through!</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwZOWkIC_Wh0jrQRQZCtNXDzTUymFRMaDMImOuVHZAIV2PLYQhRZ5pTCqvHDq-V_egU2O4TWvO12cq6sfwrB5_URDLglmjLG4S3Sc5i6yOEvLvzKCrGQsrEEfm6ozuZlMirea2mFH322g/s1600/IMG_8486.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwZOWkIC_Wh0jrQRQZCtNXDzTUymFRMaDMImOuVHZAIV2PLYQhRZ5pTCqvHDq-V_egU2O4TWvO12cq6sfwrB5_URDLglmjLG4S3Sc5i6yOEvLvzKCrGQsrEEfm6ozuZlMirea2mFH322g/s320/IMG_8486.JPG" width="213" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Mom hid the eggs in the house and my sister and I found them. I love being a big kid!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I somehow had the urge to make a cake this weekend too. </div><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;">And like all good Easter eggs, it's chocolate inside. ;)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: left;">Church today was very nice. I am our branch chorister, so it was fun to pick out some lovely Easter hymns to sing. We had a lot of people attend today- 43 is pretty good for our little branch! It was so nice to have people visit, and some of my favorite little kids showed up today and it made me very happy. We had some nice talks and the Spirit was strong. I wound up drawing an olive tree on the blackboard for the Sunday School teacher- nice to know my years of art school were good for something! I had a nice YW lesson with my girl about the priesthood.<br />
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After we got home, we had our egg hunt and munched some eggs (after playing "points and butts"!) and chocolate (the Easter bunny was good to me and brought me several Cadbury eggs!) and I got a nice nap. We had a roast with potatoes, onions and carrots, it cracked me up to be eating bunny food today! I heard that my mom's cousin is also keeping the "points and butts" tradition alive with his little kids, that's great. Did some research with Mom and found out that that game came from my great great grandparents who were German Swiss. Fierce Easter egg competition is in our genes!<br />
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The only thing that would have made today better would be for my Dad to be with us. I miss him. He sent me a really funny Easter card, it was very sweet of him to do since I know he's very busy. This Easter has had more meaning for me, what with my grandmothers and all. I'm so thankful for the gift of our Savior and what he did for us. He lives, and because He love, I can live in love with my family. Death has no sting.<br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">"Our Savior lived again. The most glorious, comforting, and reassuring of all events of human history had taken place—the victory over death. The pain and agony of Gethsemane and Calvary had been wiped away. The salvation of mankind had been secured. The Fall of Adam had been reclaimed. The empty tomb that first Easter morning was the answer to Job’s question, 'If a man die, shall he live again?' To all within the sound of my voice, I declare, If a man die, he shall live again. We know, for we have the light of revealed truth."</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">—President Thomas S. Monson</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Happy Easter. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #333333; font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><br />
</span></span></div>Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11282663016612508897noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3188979402773585269.post-76555018602134479462012-04-04T06:10:00.001-04:002012-04-04T06:12:16.172-04:00Youth Conference<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">A few days after I got home from CA it was time to get packed up again and head on up to Palmyra for Youth Conference! It was pretty funny having to unpack just to repack again. Theoretically I wouldn't have had any YW at this- Youth Conference is typically for those 14 and up and I don't have any girls that fall in that age range- but this conference was for all youth because it was taking place in Palmyra and the youth had the opportunity to do baptisms. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">So I had y 12 yr old YW with me and we survived the 3 and a half hour trip up! Friday night started with games for the Under 14 crowd and a dance for those 14+. Yep, life's not fair sometimes, I know those younger kids would have much rather been at the dance than playing silly get to know you games. I can't blame them! So there was a bit of refereeing involved to make sure that kids weren't where they didn't belong.</div><br />
My YW wasn't interested in what was going on in the gym, and when we went outside for her to get a book she was admiring the beautiful lit up Palmyra temple down the street. We decided to drive over and see it all lit up for ourselves- why not?<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We walked around the temple and enjoyed it's beauty- I've never taken photos of it at night and I usually don't see it like this. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsrSBERbEaiPQqZyBLSreFe4E3W0rxzCDUpe4JjaFcgHCCkeh1ee_I98-cNWh7zDjRLNPGKLBAOKP-lTGRLlt1JDWFUa4LBHOlOfDbQlyaMNlOj_3BcOCxQyhkjZeZzsD4r0er0_-SoSs/s1600/Palmyra+Youth+Conference+002A.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsrSBERbEaiPQqZyBLSreFe4E3W0rxzCDUpe4JjaFcgHCCkeh1ee_I98-cNWh7zDjRLNPGKLBAOKP-lTGRLlt1JDWFUa4LBHOlOfDbQlyaMNlOj_3BcOCxQyhkjZeZzsD4r0er0_-SoSs/s320/Palmyra+Youth+Conference+002A.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguvZjuSH0eYAkHRx_4Hn7jMX1SC4osd4IHKSFxtl6G4KNzc-7D55zVXKKh1vQNz3QhCC9OJnc9M2tX5hR_2Y6V6MJOGvFzY1ho6AKCHq-B5meNKheMNXFjEBJUL8NEypN0DaXgV2aFSHU/s1600/Palmyra+Youth+Conference+019A.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguvZjuSH0eYAkHRx_4Hn7jMX1SC4osd4IHKSFxtl6G4KNzc-7D55zVXKKh1vQNz3QhCC9OJnc9M2tX5hR_2Y6V6MJOGvFzY1ho6AKCHq-B5meNKheMNXFjEBJUL8NEypN0DaXgV2aFSHU/s320/Palmyra+Youth+Conference+019A.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5A-m4VaKO5Kfn0_aytDwwWKhncFlQaOy9eDRN9CtOT4XWHwT9rMhbbP4BZG8hqVX9_K9_9fcHRROcPfwsoQFhVfp6eCObV6OaUdcGV3CJkMJBB2I-3EDeuddAmbWetZfqgWLkJXy66g8/s1600/Palmyra+Youth+Conference+025A.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5A-m4VaKO5Kfn0_aytDwwWKhncFlQaOy9eDRN9CtOT4XWHwT9rMhbbP4BZG8hqVX9_K9_9fcHRROcPfwsoQFhVfp6eCObV6OaUdcGV3CJkMJBB2I-3EDeuddAmbWetZfqgWLkJXy66g8/s320/Palmyra+Youth+Conference+025A.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">The windows were lit up and glowing so beautiful. My YW really enjoyed the experience and so did I. Temples are beautiful sacred places. Later that evening we had a Q&A session with the Palmyra Temple President (they asked good questions- phew!) and we figured out rides for the next day. Late night by the time that all of that happened- none of us females got to the hotel and to sleep til 12:30 am at the earliest!</span></div><br />
<span style="text-align: left;">The next day, breakfast started at the crack of dawn- 6:30 to be exact! Yeah, basically no sleep that night! We had breakfast and went to our designated areas, I believe we were split in 3 groups to do the tours and baptisms. Our group started off at the Joseph Smith farm. It was cold out and we got snowed on, but it was neat to see the farm and the Sacred Grove in a beautiful dusting of snow. </span> <br />
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</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibIXEOG0MvGKMts_w1TQF_wU3Jon4j38Nh8zh3TYpPbgOYQsUaNnqAJeF6asus86kKdCu4aekfJlrWl0cwWGWLNZozRaJjXCjPA-95LDUrqNyeBHu36-yS1nX7lr4H37Tl8FQSkxIJE48/s1600/Palmyra+Youth+Conference+039A.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibIXEOG0MvGKMts_w1TQF_wU3Jon4j38Nh8zh3TYpPbgOYQsUaNnqAJeF6asus86kKdCu4aekfJlrWl0cwWGWLNZozRaJjXCjPA-95LDUrqNyeBHu36-yS1nX7lr4H37Tl8FQSkxIJE48/s320/Palmyra+Youth+Conference+039A.jpg" width="224" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcUFCiEHhupLVMc2BXrF5_7E_EebUzF6ce6xlHVXTt1hVWyTu_lP2D0ME5-0Fg3bJbGxjq6kGFzhFiGWeA8HfbTLwKXjKfsFxzxKrBhahoplRptx7ZvPnYxZUKhiBiWcf-aMXjtZXQ_nQ/s1600/Palmyra+Youth+Conference+040A.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="206" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcUFCiEHhupLVMc2BXrF5_7E_EebUzF6ce6xlHVXTt1hVWyTu_lP2D0ME5-0Fg3bJbGxjq6kGFzhFiGWeA8HfbTLwKXjKfsFxzxKrBhahoplRptx7ZvPnYxZUKhiBiWcf-aMXjtZXQ_nQ/s320/Palmyra+Youth+Conference+040A.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwGs3vcHTTziF_ENGyFdxnJDYOW338R3ueWvWivUKiMWyVWubqWJD3a1QRUvGi22Kzf97_qbDdvLSsuXjDDWq9AsfYOE2_qNojb_qC3UWigZxpMNoAMDia987MdQG41hyphenhyphenVSzK0hh2CW-w/s1600/Palmyra+Youth+Conference+048A.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwGs3vcHTTziF_ENGyFdxnJDYOW338R3ueWvWivUKiMWyVWubqWJD3a1QRUvGi22Kzf97_qbDdvLSsuXjDDWq9AsfYOE2_qNojb_qC3UWigZxpMNoAMDia987MdQG41hyphenhyphenVSzK0hh2CW-w/s320/Palmyra+Youth+Conference+048A.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-kmXewF2VQiaUYEB2_xXAS_y7zbMRkg5RyRm5-k-KXhOa9nBaDtWY0FRkb9aVuQ7sBWHqtVJPsRBrFwAbGKTdrZw8eD-wiPkxHiaSfaATTQEb6edkFB9cIasVLfH97LQA0GAfxLT_Os8/s1600/Palmyra+Youth+Conference+053A.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="191" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-kmXewF2VQiaUYEB2_xXAS_y7zbMRkg5RyRm5-k-KXhOa9nBaDtWY0FRkb9aVuQ7sBWHqtVJPsRBrFwAbGKTdrZw8eD-wiPkxHiaSfaATTQEb6edkFB9cIasVLfH97LQA0GAfxLT_Os8/s320/Palmyra+Youth+Conference+053A.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEY6YFeSoSp2XfxUk3W0NjYV8IJWNz9UzNSG1p319TTpUK9C9e_iBlBZzGn_OAhe7FSWXSnfS8C85lt3oB5LVcAftFohDsAIOdfOQxMTlZ1tJxtgjvS5IbTIGA9kBsKtcC_Sytb_eVFwc/s1600/Palmyra+Youth+Conference+054A.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="186" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEY6YFeSoSp2XfxUk3W0NjYV8IJWNz9UzNSG1p319TTpUK9C9e_iBlBZzGn_OAhe7FSWXSnfS8C85lt3oB5LVcAftFohDsAIOdfOQxMTlZ1tJxtgjvS5IbTIGA9kBsKtcC_Sytb_eVFwc/s320/Palmyra+Youth+Conference+054A.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">Thankfully it warmed up a bit when we headed into the Sacred Grove- if you don't like the weather out here, just wait 5 minutes!</span> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5g9dPeoB5GWs1nhRqJqQG-NpJYAKA45hRmn8QcDAFYbsHy_W2OyAc7QuZ-9E5cJmyk_b36H88bb2gWhyphenhyphenoEjAXLlxyPvHo1_G5ltqnhb-98PVIPrzOxfBej7bPtjqRQHcZA7_-DSIXw5g/s1600/Palmyra+Youth+Conference+068A.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="195" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5g9dPeoB5GWs1nhRqJqQG-NpJYAKA45hRmn8QcDAFYbsHy_W2OyAc7QuZ-9E5cJmyk_b36H88bb2gWhyphenhyphenoEjAXLlxyPvHo1_G5ltqnhb-98PVIPrzOxfBej7bPtjqRQHcZA7_-DSIXw5g/s320/Palmyra+Youth+Conference+068A.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlIL99oRU_CNm6EeUn3_IXacwJ_Yl657Sd5GJdA8iSwUQmfmPaUBBILXmzBRsbBzQvsP1mauTRyfdnuEcaFXgcZGjbuEDEEtwpzPl7QaiUdf58ytHUCwERI4YbUolashGn08OU0C4kN84/s1600/Palmyra+Youth+Conference+080A.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlIL99oRU_CNm6EeUn3_IXacwJ_Yl657Sd5GJdA8iSwUQmfmPaUBBILXmzBRsbBzQvsP1mauTRyfdnuEcaFXgcZGjbuEDEEtwpzPl7QaiUdf58ytHUCwERI4YbUolashGn08OU0C4kN84/s320/Palmyra+Youth+Conference+080A.jpg" width="205" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYRF9l0ka0MF7lkGEbf4-ReKcoXB4xy3xfVUlxAsfe83FBRAIxz83biZLvjdAnwAwujo3bAzCE0NkNZU9YDav-_yuhh6zv9hHK9MyNMUDsjeUkZMTABRYQLpNhxWbfLRjgiLVSNxrlkLk/s1600/Palmyra+Youth+Conference+087A.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYRF9l0ka0MF7lkGEbf4-ReKcoXB4xy3xfVUlxAsfe83FBRAIxz83biZLvjdAnwAwujo3bAzCE0NkNZU9YDav-_yuhh6zv9hHK9MyNMUDsjeUkZMTABRYQLpNhxWbfLRjgiLVSNxrlkLk/s320/Palmyra+Youth+Conference+087A.jpg" width="218" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPgOKSUeosGfgYxHLd189RyF17nwObLVxejFAuvk0NP48PQeckfojR24S-JN9ZfBMIwy7EBGLskHdXKWjfXrOX3KxpqB-jtoGVfxbY3Wx6ds8l5Lk4vrqKxbCOAGQOilQ-JZw39F7paZU/s1600/Palmyra+Youth+Conference+094A.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPgOKSUeosGfgYxHLd189RyF17nwObLVxejFAuvk0NP48PQeckfojR24S-JN9ZfBMIwy7EBGLskHdXKWjfXrOX3KxpqB-jtoGVfxbY3Wx6ds8l5Lk4vrqKxbCOAGQOilQ-JZw39F7paZU/s320/Palmyra+Youth+Conference+094A.jpg" width="198" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Here you can see the Smith farm barn:</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6qRmDHT3oFW7rkoI5pmmibOsCpayKheqdiwrFgv692bRYJgiVoQYhKI5cwA43Vi8mWSsBQS-5vJXQJvufcF6d3bOvpyAMmFVKLWPn-4ydnoj38utM8tATg7SJ3zMIb6bGqMlZevYkSsc/s1600/Palmyra+Youth+Conference+095A.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6qRmDHT3oFW7rkoI5pmmibOsCpayKheqdiwrFgv692bRYJgiVoQYhKI5cwA43Vi8mWSsBQS-5vJXQJvufcF6d3bOvpyAMmFVKLWPn-4ydnoj38utM8tATg7SJ3zMIb6bGqMlZevYkSsc/s320/Palmyra+Youth+Conference+095A.jpg" width="221" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">From there we went to the temple- my girl got to do baptisms inside for the first time and it was so neat. She was so excited. I handed out towels. It was so great to see the youth perform these ordinances. </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFXdJwoJAJwv11oz6Nb9B9v0z8yQ0OqzUJB20HYXTS4DgceJnmsZP0J8qwXjyJpo7x9aYU_ymBGrjnbyl7yZ20g9JFq-jFcWpA4IQgmO7jh_U3zIuwgZpOMsS8-2u2ixOqKi8d3MfyWwk/s1600/Palmyra+Youth+Conference+098A.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFXdJwoJAJwv11oz6Nb9B9v0z8yQ0OqzUJB20HYXTS4DgceJnmsZP0J8qwXjyJpo7x9aYU_ymBGrjnbyl7yZ20g9JFq-jFcWpA4IQgmO7jh_U3zIuwgZpOMsS8-2u2ixOqKi8d3MfyWwk/s320/Palmyra+Youth+Conference+098A.jpg" width="217" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: left;">From there it was our group's turn to go see the Grandin Press, where the Book of Mormon was first published. I've been there a couple of times now, and it still amazes me all the things that "just happened" so that the Book of Mormon could get published (wink wink) and all the work that was involved in making the books. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">I tried to show some different photos than I have in the past of this place- this marked the first time I photographed the Grandin Press with my DSLR so it was nice to get some better photos in the dim light. </div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim5O-H3p93xB9lyuITHzd920JtbsbGpNk5MR52TEfKV_fxHe_Jf1prFqShPXJo499RsbHHIREIFvQFgqiasneo79JtiNr-Kxw6CwF6TF74B_osO6oWC1uT46LIaZQxhjEwbFnbtjDfG2A/s1600/Palmyra+Youth+Conference+116.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim5O-H3p93xB9lyuITHzd920JtbsbGpNk5MR52TEfKV_fxHe_Jf1prFqShPXJo499RsbHHIREIFvQFgqiasneo79JtiNr-Kxw6CwF6TF74B_osO6oWC1uT46LIaZQxhjEwbFnbtjDfG2A/s320/Palmyra+Youth+Conference+116.JPG" width="213" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">What it might have looked like where the plates were buried:</div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Our Sr missionary tourguide- she was great and I loved her skirt!</div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Inside the room where the pages were sewn together:</div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We ended our trip with a drive up the Hill Cumorah and a quick look at the church bookstore. Fun stuff!</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjENDnoDLg_5RCdZG12HXhJYN1t3tAb6xIFqh0GPtE4Kd_D0627jrYvD48zYhNHp4H1hNl2qvVFhsI8yYcKgTiyQ797ext4wWlRN9EOfTPxsE9yQ2vF7z4Y-w2Mp-62X9cMJvENdPQtwqc/s1600/Palmyra+Youth+Conference+196.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjENDnoDLg_5RCdZG12HXhJYN1t3tAb6xIFqh0GPtE4Kd_D0627jrYvD48zYhNHp4H1hNl2qvVFhsI8yYcKgTiyQ797ext4wWlRN9EOfTPxsE9yQ2vF7z4Y-w2Mp-62X9cMJvENdPQtwqc/s320/Palmyra+Youth+Conference+196.JPG" width="213" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Well it was a good weekend for my YW and a good one for me as well! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It was very spiritual and very memorable for the both of us. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We had a very large turnout of youth for this conference, it was great!</div><br />
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</div>Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11282663016612508897noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3188979402773585269.post-50134882363289616722012-03-29T04:51:00.001-04:002012-03-29T04:53:54.473-04:00The California Leg<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">It was really hard to leave "home" in WA again (where did the time go?), but I was excited to be getting to CA. I really wanted to see my family. The California part of my trip proved to be rather bittersweet. As you may recall, my dad had been there helping for a long time with my grandmother who had had several strokes. It was really nice to see him and the rest of my family there, meanwhile it was heartbreaking to see that my grandmother would never really be herself again. I didn't really do any sightseeing, that wasn't the point this trip- it was to see my family and I'm so glad that I was able to. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">Anyhow, on the photos...</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Kinda random, but I got to see very old televisions in the SF Airport- kinda neat! This one was from 1947 and had a screen that popped up somehow- isn't the cabinet beautiful?</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIDSmQ75tWbeE_DhvNcFbEMVBScxYAWCqyYDDxj8TYRJ9ECDZdTHZLVWItP5VY6yW4nmPFb4asUR2L6MAX7uEGhCT1p25-FZMEVLu4rCay6mzacdHk0q_1p3TEc3RWCsEY1tDk0hdZPSw/s1600/416.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIDSmQ75tWbeE_DhvNcFbEMVBScxYAWCqyYDDxj8TYRJ9ECDZdTHZLVWItP5VY6yW4nmPFb4asUR2L6MAX7uEGhCT1p25-FZMEVLu4rCay6mzacdHk0q_1p3TEc3RWCsEY1tDk0hdZPSw/s320/416.JPG" width="320" /></a><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I am never in SF in February- I got to see the plum tree in bloom! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7-aLUs7v1Pmv3JDrntFJLqD_ewK16vcXP0eBHp8Exyli761Oz-5GbiQuPMlwOpdpy7SuIlO5gISfBMlC6ZrBhE5mWX2DK1vUvkhYEjlMjy_XySTJvsXKnP36Tcm-d9A9O00Ad55JSeRw/s1600/277.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7-aLUs7v1Pmv3JDrntFJLqD_ewK16vcXP0eBHp8Exyli761Oz-5GbiQuPMlwOpdpy7SuIlO5gISfBMlC6ZrBhE5mWX2DK1vUvkhYEjlMjy_XySTJvsXKnP36Tcm-d9A9O00Ad55JSeRw/s320/277.JPG" width="213" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Got to see the new plant shed- though it's too nice now to be called a shed!</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWAToprkTavoe7tamqlyYG928KjJxn11l61axurIpuN_hn8UqElgkKIHmAsxRwMAAwiWTSP8I1iqKMWQV9sCMiuc_ufoAsIyKaAnIuQGwu-7Wx9g4pqvSfjmv-NHyK_GKyGJ26dlzbim8/s1600/293.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWAToprkTavoe7tamqlyYG928KjJxn11l61axurIpuN_hn8UqElgkKIHmAsxRwMAAwiWTSP8I1iqKMWQV9sCMiuc_ufoAsIyKaAnIuQGwu-7Wx9g4pqvSfjmv-NHyK_GKyGJ26dlzbim8/s320/293.JPG" width="213" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">I went to the high school with my aunt who works there- it's been awhile since I've been in the schools so it was nice to dip my toe in again- and really nice to get to observe and not have to do anything!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">It was great observing the art classes.<br />
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I want a clay camera! (In progress)</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMznmQQv8mc0hiWDtlClrmc1viUj4MTcJzFc_J5RWk8WFHz1UoRdxooITpp4LPO7kbBPq-mz9Kj_jTGlvG6ZGOADDwEbbUcclt8zpT7RC3MsNAbDmJaDFTc-ZpmDl4mvnW099yXqlsxGc/s1600/440.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMznmQQv8mc0hiWDtlClrmc1viUj4MTcJzFc_J5RWk8WFHz1UoRdxooITpp4LPO7kbBPq-mz9Kj_jTGlvG6ZGOADDwEbbUcclt8zpT7RC3MsNAbDmJaDFTc-ZpmDl4mvnW099yXqlsxGc/s320/440.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I love this beat up old desk!</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJFXw8uKp4wmrN7HNutRoBspoF-YghwvbYKC8nJDsvZgVoc3PSuuvIARq402565Us-LiB6UhF_R7OkrY6amkORananxx2n1sYzuRDLaTsGyKzOXeTrQoXtVJ1zG2f2pSGTkQj1vrMwFGc/s1600/453.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJFXw8uKp4wmrN7HNutRoBspoF-YghwvbYKC8nJDsvZgVoc3PSuuvIARq402565Us-LiB6UhF_R7OkrY6amkORananxx2n1sYzuRDLaTsGyKzOXeTrQoXtVJ1zG2f2pSGTkQj1vrMwFGc/s320/453.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">How can you be sad when you have buckets of colored pencils?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB7FbMtL9PbBYMFbPHNn66vFb-AfdPXGowhBQTKUmCWGvh10ZyICxruDGWLy55jJPsTnBwNtKmGKTcjkoI5hdmiR-iB1pz5MQb0VoX8oFrLy2BwWYxbDp9N1I6KQ45vf_fSbwBkqoG_h8/s1600/452.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB7FbMtL9PbBYMFbPHNn66vFb-AfdPXGowhBQTKUmCWGvh10ZyICxruDGWLy55jJPsTnBwNtKmGKTcjkoI5hdmiR-iB1pz5MQb0VoX8oFrLy2BwWYxbDp9N1I6KQ45vf_fSbwBkqoG_h8/s320/452.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Spent a couple of days slowly getting ready for my aunt's birthday party...about the easiest party prep I've done!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX_JisQiP82KfXnRrPFIIg-4uvGZc68PkGyvJYzUOcRDWMX8Z8kTHBM6aFnjucB_LpJCd17K0S8Mr96Et0kxhXhLQs4s1ohwSgFxBVIDsRpA1hyphenhyphennJf9a_EW_uRp14ppsLnBWssXRRslTE/s1600/238.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX_JisQiP82KfXnRrPFIIg-4uvGZc68PkGyvJYzUOcRDWMX8Z8kTHBM6aFnjucB_LpJCd17K0S8Mr96Et0kxhXhLQs4s1ohwSgFxBVIDsRpA1hyphenhyphennJf9a_EW_uRp14ppsLnBWssXRRslTE/s320/238.JPG" width="213" /></a></div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">One of the kids said,"It's not an official birthday party unless there are balloons." </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Good thing we were legit!</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUtROVHEfeoBjsHIpljPbTv1xs_FegVfV7WROMB92N_86EHwweWkUgwgvCkTnQDDt80s1mN50gZnY-gZFPpk66xOHSohB_z5YVphl2BMCVJAqPyNk0FRGR8Jm-h6JBf-uRx2YBDD-gHQE/s1600/243.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUtROVHEfeoBjsHIpljPbTv1xs_FegVfV7WROMB92N_86EHwweWkUgwgvCkTnQDDt80s1mN50gZnY-gZFPpk66xOHSohB_z5YVphl2BMCVJAqPyNk0FRGR8Jm-h6JBf-uRx2YBDD-gHQE/s320/243.JPG" width="213" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Grma and her helpers did the hard part of baking the cookies! I did the brownies...from a frozen batter! And the yummy raviolis were from the caterer! Too easy!</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD5uv2a5lESDje1mm0NzSXmjwGs8Mh0KZ44875OLyM1Ls5UXfnOu0x6uW42QpTG1_Y76cr3oPyZWjh0TV_v3mRDCS5yHrq0ixJTJpWv9kKM2x9t8AWTv_DWOIqVZWja1PCwH8HrDbhrEA/s1600/252.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD5uv2a5lESDje1mm0NzSXmjwGs8Mh0KZ44875OLyM1Ls5UXfnOu0x6uW42QpTG1_Y76cr3oPyZWjh0TV_v3mRDCS5yHrq0ixJTJpWv9kKM2x9t8AWTv_DWOIqVZWja1PCwH8HrDbhrEA/s320/252.JPG" width="213" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">You know it's a good party when someone's under the table, lol.</div>It was nice to have a houseful and see family friends!<br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"> We did manage to get to our fave restaurant, Nick's!<br />
Had a nice time with Mom's side of the family and some family friends.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikqZ_xhAnkQ1Ilue3oY-KxmTBQi82lfFzig4FMTUR0BqCbHTnD4YLNqMCLauV3i6nQhb6p52SqvJmp1vM6T0xCXX1sJwMvQ716pc35KzLYdC_N1VavZxe_4n2y5weA-JEA0dSgRsZdmu0/s1600/464.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikqZ_xhAnkQ1Ilue3oY-KxmTBQi82lfFzig4FMTUR0BqCbHTnD4YLNqMCLauV3i6nQhb6p52SqvJmp1vM6T0xCXX1sJwMvQ716pc35KzLYdC_N1VavZxe_4n2y5weA-JEA0dSgRsZdmu0/s320/464.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: left;">I did not take any photos of my other grandmother in the nursing home, I thought about it and decided not to. It wouldn't give her the dignity she deserves and I don't need a photo to remember how sweet she is or how heartbreaking it is to see her in this state. And really, what would I do with the photo?</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">I made a memory of her in my heart instead. She was happy and smiling, cheerful and loving, but more childlike. She knew who I was and would ask me how Mom and Laura were doing. She remembered the mall had gotten remodeled. But she also kept thinking she was in Utah and that Dad and my grandfather had come out from CA to see her, things like that. </div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: left;">It was really touching when out of the blue she told me that she was so proud of me for graduating. And another time she told my dad that both she and he have good kids. Many sweet memories. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">It was so hard to have to leave her room when I visited on my way to the airport to go home. I knew it would be the last time I'd ever get to see her in this life. I held her hand and kissed her forehead. She told me she loved me, but I just couldn't say it back- I knew I'd start bawling. I'm probably going to regret that one day. But I know that she knows that I love her. I touched her feet on my way out and blew her a kiss. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">I'm so very thankful that I got to see her when I did- she's had more setbacks since I left and is not doing very well. My other grandma as of now is in the hospital and had to have surgery. Thankfully she's doing alright and will be coming home soon. It pains me to have my loved ones in discomfort and pain.<br />
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I'm so thankful for the gospel of Jesus Christ and for the knowledge that this life is not all there is- if it was, it'd be so unfair. We have hope of a resurrection through Christ's sacrifice for us. I always love Easter, but now it means even more. I'm so thankful that our families can be together forever. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div>Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11282663016612508897noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3188979402773585269.post-84013471423876096552012-03-19T06:46:00.003-04:002012-03-19T06:50:49.214-04:00Stefanie & David's Big Day<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Stef's Big Day was a good one. I was with her when she got her hair done and we had a lull so we went to Dairy Queen before the ceremony! When we arrived at the temple, there was a crazy sight- some half naked woman in some sort of swimsuit prancing in the fountain being photographed by another woman. I'm assuming it was a fashion photo shoot. Either way it was pretty crazy. Thankfully they left soon after we got there. Apparently they had gotten permission to take photos of the fountain, but the people at the temple didn't realize that they were going to be taking photos <i>in</i> the fountain! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The sealer said some really wonderful things (of course) before pronouncing some very special blessings on them. It was wonderful. I always love going to sealings. It was also special to be in the bride's room, helping with her mom and sister in law to help Stef get ready. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The photos you saw before were taken prior to The Big Day, here are some actual wedding photos! I wasn't her official photographer, but I snuck some shots throughout the day. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4o_3qL-yCqDXBppOut-6wJKzki-KOoCEsdF87FZ4hL522sA-6p3Dj35xStioDDvOmly0oBn0btCXot1BAdqpfepCemEDZ1PRAXji3Kq7OTy97dQoWfaksTIXlcw8PfvTPM7RCF7Og0Xw/s1600/086A.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4o_3qL-yCqDXBppOut-6wJKzki-KOoCEsdF87FZ4hL522sA-6p3Dj35xStioDDvOmly0oBn0btCXot1BAdqpfepCemEDZ1PRAXji3Kq7OTy97dQoWfaksTIXlcw8PfvTPM7RCF7Og0Xw/s320/086A.jpg" width="231" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUoe97FuI1zYgULgfXQHWqRPEEgeah5oJiL6xpVrdwIWopqrVl0LK4F-ifq4OUz4xQDOgOUShptpdtDnC7LNRu5u6CeXG89R8fSWYvygZZi_ZS4vCcWKAlfcGsv8g4nuSJOyBlGIazm0A/s1600/089A.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUoe97FuI1zYgULgfXQHWqRPEEgeah5oJiL6xpVrdwIWopqrVl0LK4F-ifq4OUz4xQDOgOUShptpdtDnC7LNRu5u6CeXG89R8fSWYvygZZi_ZS4vCcWKAlfcGsv8g4nuSJOyBlGIazm0A/s320/089A.jpg" width="225" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh94hbFaWWFiOC1HEfPe7AAHMyjZTk3ndNz2JFdxIFSGWSeQAnxiE6ZGh3aMzLnO31Ld9PtviCb5c8g24u8Hzx8e3DhlH8T-BQo0WUEjzc5qpg6Nm0sSEcWhOHUbyyQKTH0TLCcwIPfd_o/s1600/095A.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh94hbFaWWFiOC1HEfPe7AAHMyjZTk3ndNz2JFdxIFSGWSeQAnxiE6ZGh3aMzLnO31Ld9PtviCb5c8g24u8Hzx8e3DhlH8T-BQo0WUEjzc5qpg6Nm0sSEcWhOHUbyyQKTH0TLCcwIPfd_o/s320/095A.jpg" width="218" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS_ml9Md74jxjkfFdNhLTFrGFoTLaF8aeV5GggrlZTXt-q9_mStsHs0F63wS3pxXDQR8mUHVBw7Y8wIWe_oQ3Cwv5OsueUO32ALQM7PAWyk-HCdLflXjvhZsLV_VrWLI_pbAOOJ9ERfzI/s1600/102A.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS_ml9Md74jxjkfFdNhLTFrGFoTLaF8aeV5GggrlZTXt-q9_mStsHs0F63wS3pxXDQR8mUHVBw7Y8wIWe_oQ3Cwv5OsueUO32ALQM7PAWyk-HCdLflXjvhZsLV_VrWLI_pbAOOJ9ERfzI/s320/102A.jpg" width="218" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">We did group photos on the lawn and then Stef and David posed on the temple grounds. They lucked out with the weather- it was raining when they entered the temple but it had cleared for when they came out. Phew!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVdKQnj5UHgdViaUX_4SfYcSbMFuXTPJUBtMg9qisAUK3X7KpqvDqtELtKkXiA7C8rqa2IZZez2Bv2vbNOqBk-4hJXD1O_NP3yDyRKiSxa_fAwJy4Xlak-hFsaBdZobS2zbtd3WsJAf_Q/s1600/110a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVdKQnj5UHgdViaUX_4SfYcSbMFuXTPJUBtMg9qisAUK3X7KpqvDqtELtKkXiA7C8rqa2IZZez2Bv2vbNOqBk-4hJXD1O_NP3yDyRKiSxa_fAwJy4Xlak-hFsaBdZobS2zbtd3WsJAf_Q/s320/110a.jpg" width="195" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOS7sRJOU5wOyFuAiMP8UFoURGmCg9xPFWsh709qG7BnGH7uq7OcM7csFtgTQLsPg5DE11TyFziQ943OBPF1dhapud9YURouoPdG3QDIFbAV4ydloQuxvavHIR52XGLg8Eum9AFf90Cu0/s1600/111A.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOS7sRJOU5wOyFuAiMP8UFoURGmCg9xPFWsh709qG7BnGH7uq7OcM7csFtgTQLsPg5DE11TyFziQ943OBPF1dhapud9YURouoPdG3QDIFbAV4ydloQuxvavHIR52XGLg8Eum9AFf90Cu0/s320/111A.jpg" width="199" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgROBPP9PprYmcx2Q3_cFTzuSeJk70vxtQmb9XzKuuLfcrvHAHFsRoxGOLkvhH8CVBd_e0tUu4dO5JkUG_hWGwQphA8ETdCl9r4yC6EE5lRHH8qnPETt29QQ32cvzivwX7Wf16dH4rnM04/s1600/119AB.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgROBPP9PprYmcx2Q3_cFTzuSeJk70vxtQmb9XzKuuLfcrvHAHFsRoxGOLkvhH8CVBd_e0tUu4dO5JkUG_hWGwQphA8ETdCl9r4yC6EE5lRHH8qnPETt29QQ32cvzivwX7Wf16dH4rnM04/s320/119AB.jpg" width="218" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHoIH_o3LUm5aKayFggmZ9vT9EsZJKRZCV20HovKzauzNfuZv2dlkLYdE0GyNc2KfI7p5t_gyqoflbjLWqV7JTmrF8n7Hq7tFJLS54vs43IRpJoAv5GpWEpoOxdKgbL-wjV8A-lh8q1bg/s1600/124A.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHoIH_o3LUm5aKayFggmZ9vT9EsZJKRZCV20HovKzauzNfuZv2dlkLYdE0GyNc2KfI7p5t_gyqoflbjLWqV7JTmrF8n7Hq7tFJLS54vs43IRpJoAv5GpWEpoOxdKgbL-wjV8A-lh8q1bg/s320/124A.jpg" width="212" /></a></div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Here they are posing with my hand-lettered Thank You sign!</span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeXGTMlw-c_amExHVQhDUajiwxo2HkM2icwaywPuiUBqlCvbMEnXnnp5AmWw0gC71nGAgev1owxMW9Lh8LD3wwY5b7p0ULZu9-nITErV3gHyZrhh4mq6zkLv7H28bg9Q91S5wQN7_Gyys/s1600/128A.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeXGTMlw-c_amExHVQhDUajiwxo2HkM2icwaywPuiUBqlCvbMEnXnnp5AmWw0gC71nGAgev1owxMW9Lh8LD3wwY5b7p0ULZu9-nITErV3gHyZrhh4mq6zkLv7H28bg9Q91S5wQN7_Gyys/s320/128A.jpg" width="231" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The temple is a great place!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQutngDCvfX9zo5K02p5hsgXV2ALfXMK7G0U-vQzC4qQxPsk9CsleWTEGnLiGqh0KMf4K2Uk8rRflRzE_HhVoPhn3sAafI9EAXQwD1jO_xrC301MJqfNM0kvmwGmseGtnu-MZFoJowVms/s1600/131A.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQutngDCvfX9zo5K02p5hsgXV2ALfXMK7G0U-vQzC4qQxPsk9CsleWTEGnLiGqh0KMf4K2Uk8rRflRzE_HhVoPhn3sAafI9EAXQwD1jO_xrC301MJqfNM0kvmwGmseGtnu-MZFoJowVms/s320/131A.jpg" width="195" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Now on to the reception!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Her reception was held at her parents house, it was nice. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Stef opted for cakepops instead of a traditional cake- so cute and so yum!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL_nwqE7Z5mgdBPROXJXG5xYAQY5foH5AsdHuWZvH5kWXVZpJ-JxZvrwzbgtsBjchteLH1jKg9OUlVJOpzF6lvg4DzYGhJ3cffYNi5Uf4ygb8szu5nzsJjMOMezt3GTMZhJotJsvpT21c/s1600/153A.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="248" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL_nwqE7Z5mgdBPROXJXG5xYAQY5foH5AsdHuWZvH5kWXVZpJ-JxZvrwzbgtsBjchteLH1jKg9OUlVJOpzF6lvg4DzYGhJ3cffYNi5Uf4ygb8szu5nzsJjMOMezt3GTMZhJotJsvpT21c/s320/153A.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvcde35B0R8WkGW5xuSQVcFNRh_cJfO1iowMe629vlnd7jWbOmK4Al-_CD8Xs6rUXzwlAJVFUmbCL-wZzEEG24yhPotb_sxcMCQoPXruWLg4eUT8N2QQA3D38DOQpux0dnnfBsl5K75xg/s1600/155A.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvcde35B0R8WkGW5xuSQVcFNRh_cJfO1iowMe629vlnd7jWbOmK4Al-_CD8Xs6rUXzwlAJVFUmbCL-wZzEEG24yhPotb_sxcMCQoPXruWLg4eUT8N2QQA3D38DOQpux0dnnfBsl5K75xg/s320/155A.jpg" width="245" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Yummy food, too!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4vK0zmOYJGBq1aUelf5atRn2Fze6bvWMHdQscNO06h8tylfd9rNZK1IxN_70P-j7epsG2MEUhWLmG251adlvptoMDVuLU8pup0BmJoqaqM9rRr_KT1Cd6nhoIFJvuh7Y1rwGhucch17A/s1600/198A.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4vK0zmOYJGBq1aUelf5atRn2Fze6bvWMHdQscNO06h8tylfd9rNZK1IxN_70P-j7epsG2MEUhWLmG251adlvptoMDVuLU8pup0BmJoqaqM9rRr_KT1Cd6nhoIFJvuh7Y1rwGhucch17A/s320/198A.jpg" width="243" /></a></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Bride and Groom cakepops instead of the usual cakecutting...cute!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg32fe6oIfSqeFpQAzNB-13G_Ls97WrWzk-Cot-Q-MniBPRLEGxFiEcK7dDzEgmOw1dvUEjTjb61lBh2psYw-0UYWdiERhi_u94RbkkBGFhOeGMcZqLEoXm1aLTpR5ISsUTO0iDYSyfmrg/s1600/163A.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg32fe6oIfSqeFpQAzNB-13G_Ls97WrWzk-Cot-Q-MniBPRLEGxFiEcK7dDzEgmOw1dvUEjTjb61lBh2psYw-0UYWdiERhi_u94RbkkBGFhOeGMcZqLEoXm1aLTpR5ISsUTO0iDYSyfmrg/s320/163A.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Guestbook- people signed the photos in the book. Nice!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjirO86O6YnhfFMRR2mZ7Xw6WBqMmAajv6574EIVCWwgBQV0iA2-HMsMn_D-4xaNvXY3lRyL8PYr-CbJexdqvfeP6C_XukM3mkmrxAKNnx2WkabTxsDRjbSdZuBObjmdqixGSSwFL_ievI/s1600/167A.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjirO86O6YnhfFMRR2mZ7Xw6WBqMmAajv6574EIVCWwgBQV0iA2-HMsMn_D-4xaNvXY3lRyL8PYr-CbJexdqvfeP6C_XukM3mkmrxAKNnx2WkabTxsDRjbSdZuBObjmdqixGSSwFL_ievI/s320/167A.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> I hand-lettered the signs for the reception:</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdE04Rv7Pa_pzgxi1fBBWtzoIJAv6RedJ3EFbCYYcvH8Efwb3MNXbFHK3j2e66Yxxq14in7Nh1u_yQ51b1V8iPZ1B7DOfs0dOmhKzZDYmriX6-vQ4OPTLmsxJu-2kG107Fg026zijm51E/s1600/180A.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="221" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdE04Rv7Pa_pzgxi1fBBWtzoIJAv6RedJ3EFbCYYcvH8Efwb3MNXbFHK3j2e66Yxxq14in7Nh1u_yQ51b1V8iPZ1B7DOfs0dOmhKzZDYmriX6-vQ4OPTLmsxJu-2kG107Fg026zijm51E/s320/180A.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7LsMGygs8xuwM4XRD7W8ed76nbZrrqS-14Vfs6wdAzZK16tVf6qYRTPwJ_tc01xai9KZDYp8WCriDogrnweSGtOLmt5I5HGyFwchp0FgGNvuUmjrpCa485p3tu0gHN-wGCJ_DJr5AD_4/s1600/210A.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7LsMGygs8xuwM4XRD7W8ed76nbZrrqS-14Vfs6wdAzZK16tVf6qYRTPwJ_tc01xai9KZDYp8WCriDogrnweSGtOLmt5I5HGyFwchp0FgGNvuUmjrpCa485p3tu0gHN-wGCJ_DJr5AD_4/s320/210A.jpg" width="220" /></a></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Stef and David had a "Candy Bar" comprised of their favorite sweets. Guests got to fill a tiny take-out box (labeled with the bride and groom's names and the date) with candy to enjoy. Sweet!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc2nk49a5zskfYPcPU3xAh6b4kmz_kDzpEzcQq566qTybgMfTqDqDiQFH3Gen-RVc_TQcWENBWno2hxyuylu8frUZc2T0fVnRB-tUO2AqTBAhyphenhypheno4cmY45SQdOOWowbuRVrpd4HVPTLQVE/s1600/193A.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc2nk49a5zskfYPcPU3xAh6b4kmz_kDzpEzcQq566qTybgMfTqDqDiQFH3Gen-RVc_TQcWENBWno2hxyuylu8frUZc2T0fVnRB-tUO2AqTBAhyphenhypheno4cmY45SQdOOWowbuRVrpd4HVPTLQVE/s320/193A.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0eS9Hp0ITqxtze9LVrUneFNpKocX4IdCbu5MRHmUQ1msvu_lBFeLgqV7F_a6Nbr05GgB0oegBq0iW0F5x17BVi90l2d90ISmLMHGxHE3tI8lcS-psEq2JwdBjEzu4fZaYxosvZ8XfkDk/s1600/196A.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0eS9Hp0ITqxtze9LVrUneFNpKocX4IdCbu5MRHmUQ1msvu_lBFeLgqV7F_a6Nbr05GgB0oegBq0iW0F5x17BVi90l2d90ISmLMHGxHE3tI8lcS-psEq2JwdBjEzu4fZaYxosvZ8XfkDk/s320/196A.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> I made the garland out of tissue paper! </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">You can kinda see my sign there.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">And I made sure the candy jars got bows.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Life is just better with bows, ya know?</span></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> They had a nice photo display with them in the middle and family wedding photos on either side:</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgILaHoBuWlpV7j1hqpk1MpJnCVJQU5bZak3cXtaq0O4ps6Z_yXTviyJItXM219fjGyUoItSF7tkpsKEu2Y0PlNZMnzXabUsQslLjj50pCTJZp2aUSO4_EfkUaJFc3I4IAKjif3PliQ8Jg/s1600/204A.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="199" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgILaHoBuWlpV7j1hqpk1MpJnCVJQU5bZak3cXtaq0O4ps6Z_yXTviyJItXM219fjGyUoItSF7tkpsKEu2Y0PlNZMnzXabUsQslLjj50pCTJZp2aUSO4_EfkUaJFc3I4IAKjif3PliQ8Jg/s320/204A.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">During a rare lull, Stef opened my present and got her apron ;)</span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL9iUr8sZg-mCkscVQLN7uyaNjM0Op6DpyEV8gCo6tzKMHWF6F-hEgSVCzpCIowSiiuQOJBwL4dU1ph7RnIHDA5b0T4mrHwlAcZf7aNQMUDNSlLbCo8fx0brXoh-KQJB-TNU4IH8Z7eJw/s1600/214A.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL9iUr8sZg-mCkscVQLN7uyaNjM0Op6DpyEV8gCo6tzKMHWF6F-hEgSVCzpCIowSiiuQOJBwL4dU1ph7RnIHDA5b0T4mrHwlAcZf7aNQMUDNSlLbCo8fx0brXoh-KQJB-TNU4IH8Z7eJw/s320/214A.jpg" width="191" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> Closeup of Stef's bouquet:</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1efpClZRi2cP2wCR7AoZk4BbONKVLxzL7LRsioZ99hCxvvtTydiGZcWm1u0iAB46FUn2-BIv1FUyssDZNLAmx8S3iQ_QjsMtuaYLJKy9uD0lo0ZOhv4tAc-SwaxKlfrK4y8LnsD261Fg/s1600/215A.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1efpClZRi2cP2wCR7AoZk4BbONKVLxzL7LRsioZ99hCxvvtTydiGZcWm1u0iAB46FUn2-BIv1FUyssDZNLAmx8S3iQ_QjsMtuaYLJKy9uD0lo0ZOhv4tAc-SwaxKlfrK4y8LnsD261Fg/s320/215A.jpg" width="231" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">And then it was time for cake!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheNt70y7F9ScxpU1ZujB6dJi1nL1x5gcp3gNdrKoYmRqFIaYiWrgMe6g7MrRlWBBLqJf-LaXE-I63Z72W_kDnJzBSP1KohpKHhPwfvn-I6tIL_j6G_O8NaJutorUYLi703zyxQ3JxZvS8/s1600/170A.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheNt70y7F9ScxpU1ZujB6dJi1nL1x5gcp3gNdrKoYmRqFIaYiWrgMe6g7MrRlWBBLqJf-LaXE-I63Z72W_kDnJzBSP1KohpKHhPwfvn-I6tIL_j6G_O8NaJutorUYLi703zyxQ3JxZvS8/s320/170A.jpg" width="215" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">They pulled the top of the Norwegian cake...and got the top ring! More rings equals more luck...and more kids!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtec9x2FqGYuL3o1l9Qo-3MFc1lQA7ndD9HTMz1MSytE6PGXlCSF9FV1bLTRghQ1Z3LvvXbEmhTNUOx9FL4ADKYAko49ITNwURsOG_evniBOMuL0kJsfx5jSHKWTNndotIENazaCEVap8/s1600/220A.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtec9x2FqGYuL3o1l9Qo-3MFc1lQA7ndD9HTMz1MSytE6PGXlCSF9FV1bLTRghQ1Z3LvvXbEmhTNUOx9FL4ADKYAko49ITNwURsOG_evniBOMuL0kJsfx5jSHKWTNndotIENazaCEVap8/s320/220A.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> And the feeding of the cakepops commenced:</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5YBz_h5w-oaxkrt2tSL0UbcMKV5hZJxh4-2CIVkgdY_Yp6jsFK92zpjP1SWg-T1zH0eur57-78ENgSRqVPZsDt-IXDrMrPG84Bnr2Dt4SyCJHVuE4TikApfvXlhMsz5Tvx3yKYo2cDWg/s1600/233A.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5YBz_h5w-oaxkrt2tSL0UbcMKV5hZJxh4-2CIVkgdY_Yp6jsFK92zpjP1SWg-T1zH0eur57-78ENgSRqVPZsDt-IXDrMrPG84Bnr2Dt4SyCJHVuE4TikApfvXlhMsz5Tvx3yKYo2cDWg/s320/233A.jpg" width="214" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> Awww...</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGClWPFhl816BUSGopnlhWIJI4XKv12GH7Nd6Re5QkPAgVLpBTcSKX-Vh-M8ZOkFy_HDOwhVOJHuek_utX8h-P4j-U8uojslq78PPriWadTIPQGsruY_O7MbV_C2YjnOuIP87PT-ggtfo/s1600/235A.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGClWPFhl816BUSGopnlhWIJI4XKv12GH7Nd6Re5QkPAgVLpBTcSKX-Vh-M8ZOkFy_HDOwhVOJHuek_utX8h-P4j-U8uojslq78PPriWadTIPQGsruY_O7MbV_C2YjnOuIP87PT-ggtfo/s320/235A.jpg" width="206" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> And hey, Stef got a good haul!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEVYjZot_XeLEVbIrIg7LaMGhZeOjTjRa2QcloMUD4XzRxvY-4r-wwNe7_Dvk6ekmleB130iqQuKDMYLIVZtuszwX3ic7ZWagcALNBcuxKqN-o5dGjYD8hog-WWpArSq6dkE6Y-H8mtaI/s1600/191A.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEVYjZot_XeLEVbIrIg7LaMGhZeOjTjRa2QcloMUD4XzRxvY-4r-wwNe7_Dvk6ekmleB130iqQuKDMYLIVZtuszwX3ic7ZWagcALNBcuxKqN-o5dGjYD8hog-WWpArSq6dkE6Y-H8mtaI/s320/191A.jpg" width="217" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">It was a great day and evening!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">We showered the bride and groom with rose petals as they dashed off ;)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Congrats to Stef and Dave!</span></div>Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11282663016612508897noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3188979402773585269.post-75109115496028862982012-02-29T04:58:00.001-05:002012-02-29T05:02:01.386-05:00The WA CA PA tripI spent the last part of January and the beginning of February on a two week trip. My bestie, Stef, was getting hitched in WA and I was glad to be able to go. I considered this trip my graduation present and it was a nice reward for the last four years of craziness.<br />
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I wound up flying three one way flights for my trip- it was only $50 more to do that than the price it would cost to fly roundtrip from PA to WA. I'd be that far West, what's a two hour plane ride down to CA? I was thankful for the opportunity to also be able to go to CA to visit family- you can understand why from my previous post.<br />
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All the while I was very careful to keep my travel plans on the downlow on FB so that I could surprise my home ward that first Sunday. Hee hee! In preparing for the trip, I was also kneedeep in a sewing project- an apron for Stef as part of her wedding present.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibk5IAEm3oKQrW2K-YIffQBzGffMydzNtsUPyxMWMirIZDe6mQkwa7SrX2tPa8jlghSc-wtXb7Qs4b6SNOTe86TV83R73LqWVKiuX_clvcut5Qj3ANNBM4huMXnM7i77nAugxHGI-S51A/s1600/338.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibk5IAEm3oKQrW2K-YIffQBzGffMydzNtsUPyxMWMirIZDe6mQkwa7SrX2tPa8jlghSc-wtXb7Qs4b6SNOTe86TV83R73LqWVKiuX_clvcut5Qj3ANNBM4huMXnM7i77nAugxHGI-S51A/s320/338.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I need one for me!</div><br />
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The first few day of my trip were spent in preparation for the wedding; I started to lose track of how many times I went to Target and Michaels. On my first Saturday, I helped move Stef out of her parent's house and into the apartment she'd share with David. I tagged along as her fiance David and her got their hair cut/done and followed them around while they took some pre-wedding photos (so there could be "wedding photos" at the reception). I went shopping with Stef and her friends, and I went to her bachelorette party in a condo rec room that was pretty fun. Whew!<br />
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Here are my fave pre-wedding shots that I took. I couldn't believe it when it only took 10 minutes to get to the temple- for the past four years it takes me 3.5 hours one way! Amazing! They both looked great and lucky us, the rain held off.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKiYzTGDPTVstmez5WGt5OBGVOfpUPi2GXl_T7Mbqpb0-VYEjQfFLrFBwy-xXJAqlzxkIl0AQJSLvugY4iDjqMnWyM7aGC_I89wXlygNbXF_6DXOYLMdedzd_suzuKu3zdN3gpNNaOseU/s1600/009A.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKiYzTGDPTVstmez5WGt5OBGVOfpUPi2GXl_T7Mbqpb0-VYEjQfFLrFBwy-xXJAqlzxkIl0AQJSLvugY4iDjqMnWyM7aGC_I89wXlygNbXF_6DXOYLMdedzd_suzuKu3zdN3gpNNaOseU/s320/009A.jpg" width="195" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8ScQ6SgoB98CVr8L3ul519oGofu4S-AElLfARdIeP2Tm8s_7IdCMlDUxrwkQzBoDC8bxducxzQ9ZgXpmPucWC_1833IDtLlKFkFRW7JKFr8_eXhHX3eyWhd13kOs657m-P1GSGO7FGFw/s1600/015A.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8ScQ6SgoB98CVr8L3ul519oGofu4S-AElLfARdIeP2Tm8s_7IdCMlDUxrwkQzBoDC8bxducxzQ9ZgXpmPucWC_1833IDtLlKFkFRW7JKFr8_eXhHX3eyWhd13kOs657m-P1GSGO7FGFw/s320/015A.jpg" width="211" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzhsnZq-fpdOgo0b7WoOeuQsgL53za6bci8dFda7CIWGkjMi9s1Teg0jvi98HGYxmTPl98jPorTq4gM92jL6_a9OuZb1QYZ1-ykx2-YKQ0vFV5bEDf4zJ1vIe4KDMIWeJ-bUWSuyvqtg4/s1600/017A.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzhsnZq-fpdOgo0b7WoOeuQsgL53za6bci8dFda7CIWGkjMi9s1Teg0jvi98HGYxmTPl98jPorTq4gM92jL6_a9OuZb1QYZ1-ykx2-YKQ0vFV5bEDf4zJ1vIe4KDMIWeJ-bUWSuyvqtg4/s320/017A.jpg" width="212" /></a></div><br />
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Funny story: As we were in front of the temple, a car drove by and a little girl stuck her head out and yelled "Congrats! You look very beautiful!". It was the cutest. Poor kid, we deceived her- they weren't married yet!<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">Stef looked cute at her Bachelorette party! </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">I got up really early the next day and my friend Heather picked me up and was so sweet to drive me all the way to church. It was SO much fun to walk in to Sacrament meeting and surprise everyone that I went to church with for 20 years! I haven't seen them since I moved- four and a half years! It was nice to be loved and get lots of hugs. Everyone clapped for me when I was introduced in RS. And crazy to see how grown up all the kids are getting! It was a really </span>wonderful<span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"> Sunday. </span> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><br />
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</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZcwXqzymHxFZ5ZNxqjsDTzn3xT6khO1j6wopLgYHFEsWya1yEyoRJUtz_JbIszxvPpVuauAR9AgmVI7v-tDCfc47zsfrlTbiNITsTpgkniT8xtAwvN86rhpCPeOnI2Gpwvf1s9cbx2g8/s1600/346.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZcwXqzymHxFZ5ZNxqjsDTzn3xT6khO1j6wopLgYHFEsWya1yEyoRJUtz_JbIszxvPpVuauAR9AgmVI7v-tDCfc47zsfrlTbiNITsTpgkniT8xtAwvN86rhpCPeOnI2Gpwvf1s9cbx2g8/s320/346.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Laura's "favorite Mom" Kim, me and Melanie</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Funny story: It was rather amusing when a few people came up to say hi- and then the next sentence out of their mouth was "Hey, there's a new single's ward in the area later today." Um, <i>thanks</i>? </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The next few days were spent shopping and doing last minute things to get ready for the big day that Wednesday. I even helped move furniture out into the garage! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Cakepops!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgivfwojc0E0z0p5CpU82My4JAplv8xcN3En-0jYMTqcQvUycZzJrK8MY2JAkwh1eNklC7fNw_qdH4Qy95ejKu9O_7M9To2QHZ6IwMfiTPiSORAhojbNGjqckOPA02VgiE6dZNWu9MSlpI/s1600/355.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgivfwojc0E0z0p5CpU82My4JAplv8xcN3En-0jYMTqcQvUycZzJrK8MY2JAkwh1eNklC7fNw_qdH4Qy95ejKu9O_7M9To2QHZ6IwMfiTPiSORAhojbNGjqckOPA02VgiE6dZNWu9MSlpI/s320/355.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Boys helping with flowers- cute!</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMdZja5SlR_AE_zKv3Kr3jRs-anHSQOYXpiue3b7cnucdGYBxz-nGBr7ePb-ZNhcl1uxkGPhr9OyW8G-IbxvWA6gh5hKl3xEffWW2Z4-zrjbzv1CfbB4gLblGyky0ITScM7SX8mV_zeiA/s1600/357.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMdZja5SlR_AE_zKv3Kr3jRs-anHSQOYXpiue3b7cnucdGYBxz-nGBr7ePb-ZNhcl1uxkGPhr9OyW8G-IbxvWA6gh5hKl3xEffWW2Z4-zrjbzv1CfbB4gLblGyky0ITScM7SX8mV_zeiA/s320/357.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I think I'll do a whole post dedicated to the wedding- there's so many photos!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Stay tuned!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">After the wedding, I went to stay with Heather. I helped her throw a birthday party for her dad. It was nice to have a few days to relax and recuperate after the wedding. I got spoiled! Her friends were having an 80s party and I go to go too- it was so much fun to get all glammed up! We looked great. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Blue eyeshadow and pink star earrings, always a great combo!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2RDT0P8eBnVwQrS7dv6xz_jojBnuXZn4Q4DMnYtYuGmum9yhaZVPKdBi8D66irlJjHFNEmsro0i9HN9Kor4MFRT10YYxhzA514LNAfC-o9w4PVwRsUwxqXyorZ2x_WLVOu54f8tP0Oow/s1600/382A.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2RDT0P8eBnVwQrS7dv6xz_jojBnuXZn4Q4DMnYtYuGmum9yhaZVPKdBi8D66irlJjHFNEmsro0i9HN9Kor4MFRT10YYxhzA514LNAfC-o9w4PVwRsUwxqXyorZ2x_WLVOu54f8tP0Oow/s320/382A.jpg" width="221" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"> Mark went punk 80s:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVVbsXVaWBjkXGm5hdv14Lj-rGm4iqImwefnXn7j8_3AWz2eu6txqGbkZuLh_8IqppWVjDQL3hNiMihHCeRerICPnHgZ53LudpmRX5cxEghhhQ-DGC6SIQBL1LWhXaqYsKjN2vTAbujkE/s1600/DSCN2832.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVVbsXVaWBjkXGm5hdv14Lj-rGm4iqImwefnXn7j8_3AWz2eu6txqGbkZuLh_8IqppWVjDQL3hNiMihHCeRerICPnHgZ53LudpmRX5cxEghhhQ-DGC6SIQBL1LWhXaqYsKjN2vTAbujkE/s320/DSCN2832.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"> Besties!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghfNQwVndOPcTB-Q-0SMYttMyU_dTqYsHpnV62E_VHnAwa-gLny6lgxZmbFoIFdTFS0uk4vqSvhbh3nQfLq5DxWoUgq9ZxS8D2fyUx6mHIQN1Q9Kpyekj_wPM9q57CEDuwoHJiNiqS7iQ/s1600/DSCN2838.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghfNQwVndOPcTB-Q-0SMYttMyU_dTqYsHpnV62E_VHnAwa-gLny6lgxZmbFoIFdTFS0uk4vqSvhbh3nQfLq5DxWoUgq9ZxS8D2fyUx6mHIQN1Q9Kpyekj_wPM9q57CEDuwoHJiNiqS7iQ/s320/DSCN2838.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">My ensemble- I LOVED it!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyBF6gXe5eK1mmQUvQvSpQmlrINnn1aDyjJhRNWh91N8dLCAxNPbmDf6FxrIcDD85e7KLbzVmuZjyVp5DgQ_xyJPjdblmRafiEKICBgapiTKDClZjoQax5kuvHSr5QrnqQBiB1VmmSjbM/s1600/DSCN2841.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyBF6gXe5eK1mmQUvQvSpQmlrINnn1aDyjJhRNWh91N8dLCAxNPbmDf6FxrIcDD85e7KLbzVmuZjyVp5DgQ_xyJPjdblmRafiEKICBgapiTKDClZjoQax5kuvHSr5QrnqQBiB1VmmSjbM/s320/DSCN2841.JPG" width="213" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">What a lot to pack for this trip- wedding outfit, presents, 80s outfit, etc! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I was pretty pleased with my outfit- it's my <b>best </b>yet and I even had some real 80s jewelry on!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">(Colored clips hanging from my neck and my sunglasses pin!)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I loved my earrings. Can I wear them everyday?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Heather even crimped her hair- I tried, but it just looked like bad 80s perm so that was ok too!</div><br />
And the three of us fulfilled Robin Sparkles' request in her "Let's Go To The Mall" song- the three of us went to the mall dressed up like this, no joke! It was <b>awesome</b>....and <b>legen</b>..<b>wait for it</b>...<b>dary</b>!<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">My second Sunday I went to the Kent singles ward (trying to make the most of my trip out West, ha ha!) with my friend Julie. It was nice to see her and to be around young people. And super nice not to have to do a darn thing at church except show up and look good- I keep quite busy in our branch! One of my PA friends said she hoped I'd meet someone while back home- I had to remind her that this was the same fruitless area I had left!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"> Me and Julie:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGEtMRO_WJE8sQl7VD7gJp14nN-4DpfIEUS9EEnVagbRRarjAmJE8m6oDJNVPcG9pw2ZfmVwyjfS5uW0HDR0wR1PGOyoKRlSzYzP1btad4WCWVlNAvhQyPvWgW469Hz9dwA61kOH4ahqA/s1600/405.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGEtMRO_WJE8sQl7VD7gJp14nN-4DpfIEUS9EEnVagbRRarjAmJE8m6oDJNVPcG9pw2ZfmVwyjfS5uW0HDR0wR1PGOyoKRlSzYzP1btad4WCWVlNAvhQyPvWgW469Hz9dwA61kOH4ahqA/s320/405.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Jesse came by and it was nice catching up:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFE45_DniBPdc6WuPdcmh2kkCsUJlmpmEzKEHAs07_0y4i-pKDgqXbl0mvMSLEyppY46lmh5eAd6N1-4jSHk0jrCDYuJo8KHICLejyq_W4WtJmn18PW1cwGbfZ2dfrSWKF-U69sB6jPto/s1600/409.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFE45_DniBPdc6WuPdcmh2kkCsUJlmpmEzKEHAs07_0y4i-pKDgqXbl0mvMSLEyppY46lmh5eAd6N1-4jSHk0jrCDYuJo8KHICLejyq_W4WtJmn18PW1cwGbfZ2dfrSWKF-U69sB6jPto/s320/409.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I even got to go to a fun sushi place where the sushi goes around on a little conveyor belt and you pick up what you want! So fun! I also got Teriyaki to eat (really hard to come by in PA!), but sadly not Enumclaw Teriyaki...I gotta have a reason to come back ;)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I also got to have a Say Yes To The Dress marathon! I love yelling at the TV! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And I got to see Aimee, which was great. I miss her too!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Heather and Mark took me to the airport for the next leg of my journey- it was so hard to go!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Where did my week go???</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8RT-ph3YTgnHncuUJTDp6XA6VcLV5VHJIod9lUuZOPoShpdGSiCQOh9tFaoWgq4SahBzjp_77MgH1ILJPWzKpP1phI22NZqBZ8643A7CJHAKCqRdl7Zd0phtY4HktFxS_BcOfx0PkYHU/s1600/410.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8RT-ph3YTgnHncuUJTDp6XA6VcLV5VHJIod9lUuZOPoShpdGSiCQOh9tFaoWgq4SahBzjp_77MgH1ILJPWzKpP1phI22NZqBZ8643A7CJHAKCqRdl7Zd0phtY4HktFxS_BcOfx0PkYHU/s320/410.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">I LOVE this pic!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;">But don't you love my Barbie suitcases?</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Miss you, WA!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">See you soon?</div>Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11282663016612508897noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3188979402773585269.post-39220109041710001402012-02-21T04:20:00.000-05:002012-02-21T04:20:37.978-05:00New Normal<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I didn't mean to leave my rant up for so long, but it's been hard finding the motivation to write this post. When the ball dropped and it became 2012, I had this feeling in my heart that it was going to be a tough year<br />
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A few days later, I was right.<br />
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My grandmother (Dad's mother) had not one, but two strokes not long after that night. She has spent the last month and a half in hospitals and is now in a nursing home. She had a big complication when it was discovered that she was bleeding internally, they had to go up in through a blood vessel in her leg and repair the artery in her stomach. She used up a lot of units of blood and plasma. Thank goodness for the kind strangers who gave blood.<br />
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I spent two weeks out West- I went to WA for a dear friend's wedding and then I traveled down to CA to visit family. I was planning on going to CA anyhow before this happened, and then having all this happen made me anxious to get to CA. People ask me how my trip was, and it was a good trip (you'll see those pics next post) but my week in CA was hard. I usually gloss over the hard part. </span><br />
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</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">It was heartbreaking to see my dear grandmother in a hospital bed in her nursing home. This was all a total surprise, my grandmother is only 78 and very spry. She was just fine and even driving the day before her stroke. I forget how old she and my grandfather have become because they just don't act their age and haven't changed in 30 years. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I didn't know what to expect when I saw my grandmother. I was able to visit her 4 times during my week there. I didn't know if she would recognize me, but she did and was so happy to see me. She's not quite herself, but more "herself" than I thought she would be. During my visits, she called me by name, asked me what Mom and Laura were up to. Told my dad that she and him have great kids. Remembered that the local mall had been remodeled. Out of the blue, she told me that she was so proud of me for graduating. That touched my heart. But she doesn't always know what's going on- she'd talk when we were saying a prayer before leaving. She couldn't remember if she'd had therapy that day. And she thinks she's in Utah. She keeps asking my dad and grandfather when they're returning home to SF.<br />
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She looks better than she is- she's generally pretty cheerful and happy. She looks like she should come home soon. But her health is bad. Her heart and organs are bad and there's really nothing that can be done. She doesn't want to eat.<br />
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I do not know how much longer my grandmother will be around. In reality, I do not know how long any of my grandparents will be around.<br />
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It broke my heart to see my grandmother in this state. She will never come home. She is in limbo between this life and the next. It broke my heart to see my grandfather dealing with all of this. He whistles when he walks as a distraction- something he never did before. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The unfinished business breaks my heart. I think about all the letters I should have written. When did I talk to her last before this happened? I talked to her every couple of weeks but I don't remember what we talked about last. She and Grandfather celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary right before this happened. Dad had the idea for each of us to write 15 memories (60 total) of them and we'd send it- but we were too late. Laura had been making afghans for them when this happened. I think of all my grandmother's unfinished work, the plans that will never be.<br />
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It was really hard to say goodbye and leave her room at the nursing home before it was time to catch my flight. It's probably the last time I'll see her alive. I didn't take a picture, but I made a memory in my heart. She was smiling and happy, sweet as ever. She didn't seem like she was hurting. I held her hand and kissed her forehead. I couldn't tell her that I loved her without totally bawling- I'm sure I'll regret that someday- but she knows that I do love her very much. </span><br />
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</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I'm really thankful for the comfort that my family and I have received from Heavenly Father at this time. God has a plan, and we have to trust in Him.</span><br />
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</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqHXq2Y4HztpGrCZhiKbFmAQi7UadcR-4CR9N2Cu3iHkOAn-aWBM_80cRxmy1U_K32FMOSluPbUakoGIvhbtUsMZj0SOIVuHR_sSC6a5VNpTFt1R9zQwFr_PTjnThAY4qraThKUbu93vE/s1600/621.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqHXq2Y4HztpGrCZhiKbFmAQi7UadcR-4CR9N2Cu3iHkOAn-aWBM_80cRxmy1U_K32FMOSluPbUakoGIvhbtUsMZj0SOIVuHR_sSC6a5VNpTFt1R9zQwFr_PTjnThAY4qraThKUbu93vE/s320/621.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">My grandmother, with her daughters, granddaughters and great- granddaughter</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I tell all this to you as a reminder to love your family. Take every opportunity you can- for one day, God will want them back. Don't wait on the things you want to do- someday you will not have the time.<br />
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My grandmother, without fail, told me that she loved me at the end of every phone call- and I returned the sentiment- and it still wasn't enough. </span><br />
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</span>Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11282663016612508897noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3188979402773585269.post-63323994385320298892012-01-21T05:36:00.001-05:002012-01-21T05:37:32.218-05:00Soapbox: Girl World EditionSomething interesting has been happening lately in FB Land. Normally my interactions on FB include stating how cute various people's children are, "liking" engagement ring shots and shuddering at TMI. Normally nothing too argumentative or controversial- until now.<br />
<br />
In the last couple of weeks, I've had not one, not two but <u>three</u> discussions on FB that wound up becoming explosive. And get this- <i><b>things that I said totally ticked off other people</b></i>. <b><i>And they said things that made me</i></b> <i><b>angry in return</b></i>. Me, the girl who never spoke in high school and who tries oh oh so hard not to cause waves. I typically find myself being the peacemaker, bridging gaps between others- even in my own family.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6bp27BCRbOX57b23vkoAtr7nE9dnMb-nR32u-7KX6X3j3r70Skp_xI4ZvdUA86rZ3KomkuUdz8CYBA6AIeeOG96AoehuBBJCbL3xGxkXZs2Iv6XTi6udxkHnssNzKqIbbXICT4oNnNqw/s1600/393880_10150544241157247_660102246_11234712_1512204613_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="138" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6bp27BCRbOX57b23vkoAtr7nE9dnMb-nR32u-7KX6X3j3r70Skp_xI4ZvdUA86rZ3KomkuUdz8CYBA6AIeeOG96AoehuBBJCbL3xGxkXZs2Iv6XTi6udxkHnssNzKqIbbXICT4oNnNqw/s200/393880_10150544241157247_660102246_11234712_1512204613_n.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br />
I narrowed down the commonality between these three occurances:<br />
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<i>People of the male persuasion commenting on Girl World topics that they know <b>nothing</b> about. </i><br />
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<br />
<b>Case #1:</b><br />
<br />
A girl that I know made a post about modesty. Since I like to discuss this topic, I commented. She liked my comment. But uh oh, something I said upset one of her guy friends. He didn't like that I felt that us women were taught to be gatekeepers. It's a common complaint in church Girl World. Do I feel that guys are capable of controlling themselves? Yes. Is everyone responsible for their own actions? Yes. But a lot of church literature would have you believe otherwise in modesty/dating situations. When I come across items of that nature in YW manuals, I make it very clear that we're all responsible for our own actions.<br />
<br />
Well this guy went from 0 to 60 very quickly. Instead of allowing me to have my opinion and then stating his (you know, how discussions usually work), I was Wrong. Wrong Wrong Wrong. Nothing I said calmed him down (now keep in mind that I really said nothing controversial or argumentative in this whole discussion, he just chose to take offense at everything), he just got madder and madder. By the end I was being <u>yelled</u> at about how guys in YM are drilled in every lesson to respect women.<br />
<br />
Think about that last sentence for a second. I laughed too.<br />
<br />
While I believe that modesty applies to both men and women, in this instance it was us girls discussing our world and how it's taught. Something that this guy was never going to understand- but he jumped right in despite that. Instead of yelling at me about what YM are taught, it would have been better to try and explain to us what the YM program is like. I honestly would have liked to hear about things from his perspective. But please allow us to have ours. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz9uDnhKm08BwvivQ3wNFk4_Q2t8MKmt2bE9oWc9RW0M1nqOvOtDZ6GctJTV_MJvHhBPdVtaPeaPTQlMeUt0xzUh4MGFA-tkH6gJ5s2TFPJe8vKK93th7Pm4Q6WcCLSCAN7d2pyStSYMk/s1600/Oh-I-offended-you-with-my-opinion.-You-should-hear-the-ones-I-keep-to-myself.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="167" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz9uDnhKm08BwvivQ3wNFk4_Q2t8MKmt2bE9oWc9RW0M1nqOvOtDZ6GctJTV_MJvHhBPdVtaPeaPTQlMeUt0xzUh4MGFA-tkH6gJ5s2TFPJe8vKK93th7Pm4Q6WcCLSCAN7d2pyStSYMk/s200/Oh-I-offended-you-with-my-opinion.-You-should-hear-the-ones-I-keep-to-myself.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br />
<b>Case #2:</b><br />
<br />
Same friend posts video about the excessive use of Photoshop in magazines and advertisements. I made comments about it- it's getting a little scary how plastic and alien the women in our advertisements are becoming. And then I'm pretty sure the same guy -hold your shock and awe- makes comments where he makes leaps and bounds with statistics (and even he said that the logic was probably faulty). He goes on to have opinions about tanning and makeup. I chose not to say anything further for fear of setting this guy off again. But as I observed this discussion,<b><i> it comes out that he didn't know what makeup is really used for</i></b>. He thought it was to make skin darker- he had to be educated that, no, most makeup is about evening out the skin color that you already have and that its often difficult to find that foundation that matches perfectly.<br />
<br />
Yes, Photoshop is used in advertising for men and whatnot, but the majority of it's use is in women's magazines and advertising directed at women. The whole issue was about Photoshop causing unrealistic standards of beauty and women going insane trying to achieve them. I didn't care that a guy commented here, <i>but for the love of Pete if you are going to rant and rave about makeup then can you please know what it's really used for???</i><br />
<i><br />
</i><br />
Is it too much to ask that you actually know something about what you are talking about in a discussion???<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq_h4llwwqe2i8tLnTtK1sGswKK0zSc20vQNOnahHkoLG8w-3dL1-HiDb-wTw4E731V8o2bMF2BM4k_0lNI7xWL24ElamIz5SCONoYl83x-P7e2sI5-_TMxa39WGj5kX2o6KYFfh8VJe4/s1600/October-27-2011-02-45-26-tumblrltld44VNBg1qk1k7xo1500.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="264" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq_h4llwwqe2i8tLnTtK1sGswKK0zSc20vQNOnahHkoLG8w-3dL1-HiDb-wTw4E731V8o2bMF2BM4k_0lNI7xWL24ElamIz5SCONoYl83x-P7e2sI5-_TMxa39WGj5kX2o6KYFfh8VJe4/s320/October-27-2011-02-45-26-tumblrltld44VNBg1qk1k7xo1500.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><i><br />
</i><br />
<b>Case #3:</b><br />
<br />
This guy I know is engaged. He posts a photo of a lovely wedding dress as an idea for his fiance. Out of the ordinary, but hey. Then a problem arises- the dress has short sleeves and whatever will she do to get the long sleeves needed to marry in the temple? Myself and another girl lay out all the options- and really this isn't a huge problem to overcome. But no, our answers weren't good enough. Cause you know, as girls, we know nothing about girl sleeves. Or wedding dresses. Or temple ceremonies. They go on and on trying to solve a problem that wasn't real in the first place and that was just solved for them.<br />
<br />
<i>And oh yeah, it's up to this girl to solve this problem for herself. Not them. </i><br />
I kid you not, some other guy devised that long sleeves attached with Velcro would work. Velcro! On a wedding dress! And one guy found long sleeved temple jackets that were so lovely- I'm sure all the grandmas wear them these days. No! And then Velcro Boy was still devising sleeves- and the image he posted was of a long sleeved Lycra athletic shirt! Cause that's going to look good with satin and lace.<br />
<br />
Somewhere in there I said "It's so much fun discussing wedding dresses with you guys" which is what I meant. <b>I wasn't being snarky</b>. It's just that I don't find myself often having discussions about bridalwear with those possessing Y chromosomes. I guess I should have rephrased it so that you couldn't possibly mistake it for sarcasm, but oh well. Well Velcro Boy took offense at that (and probably also that I very politely poo-pooed his Velcro idea) and I found myself backpeddling and explaining that I didn't mean anything by it. I hated that I had to be the one to backpeddle, but I did it to, you know, be the peacemaker.<br />
<br />
But what incensed me is what came next- <b>"Thanks, that's more respectful."</b> And then continued to devise sleeves attached with Rube Goldberg machines.<br />
<i><b><br />
</b></i><br />
<i><b>Well now I'm the one who wants an apology! Um, excuse me? You're the ones having a conversation about wedding dresses and I'm the one who has to be respectful? What!?? </b></i><br />
<i><b><br />
</b></i><br />
I really didn't like feeling like a sub-servant girl in that conversation. It was probably a good thing that that's the point when the discussion was taken down for good. I really started to feel like yelling.<br />
<br />
So here we have guys having a conversation about topics that they know nothing about- women's fashion, the construction of sleeves and <i>oh yeah</i> <i>wedding dresses</i>. And us girls were made to feel like we didn't belong in this conversation. Um, what?<br />
<br />
Hey dudes. I have something to offer to this conversation. Here's why you should um, believe me, and stop devising sleeves that won't work:<br />
<br />
1) I've been designing clothes since my teens. I almost went to a fashion design college.<br />
<br />
2) I've been to a ton of weddings and receptions. Seen all the options and have seen what works- and what doesn't!<br />
<br />
3) I've worn formal dresses. With sleeves. I wear lots of sleeves.<br />
<br />
4) I do a lot of sewing. I know what's going to work and what's not. I know how to attach pieces of cloth to one another.<br />
<br />
5) AND OH YEAH I'M A GIRL!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtLRuKZdbGqLcPkeJh5hcOxU67aWm4whS6cp-gcOfKFzB8FiQX9qA0hv-4BcQJ8v91abnQf2HEVkvCQFmiAb9L2HdvafiWWdCmCRMBc100oJERcbuEfMon8p_oV6q383OoKUJvGGxn2NI/s1600/159526011770290935_TyKJw6Ie_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtLRuKZdbGqLcPkeJh5hcOxU67aWm4whS6cp-gcOfKFzB8FiQX9qA0hv-4BcQJ8v91abnQf2HEVkvCQFmiAb9L2HdvafiWWdCmCRMBc100oJERcbuEfMon8p_oV6q383OoKUJvGGxn2NI/s200/159526011770290935_TyKJw6Ie_c.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br />
Look, I'm all for discussions on FB but can we let people have their opinions, not get offended so easily and talk about things we actually know about? The equivalent would be me bombing in on discussions about sports and rap music and men's swimwear- things I know <b><i>nothing </i></b>about. I try really hard to offer opinions on matters that I *actually* know about- and it takes a lot for me to get mad. Is it too much to ask that in others?<br />
<br />
And it's not just me having issues with guys butting in on conversations that they don't belong in- my girlfriend had a status about going to a baby shower and the comments that followed morphed into the Jerry Springer show. Everything was great until some guy made a comment. And then all heck broke out. Namecalling ensued between commenters. My friend's honor was "defended" (it didn't need to be). This guy had no idea about the intricacies of female relationships (why do women go to baby showers when they don't want to?) or the rituals of baby showers, but felt the need to comment anyhow. I don't think he'll be making that mistake anytime soon.<br />
<br />
I'm about ready to make a "No Boys Allowed" sign for my fort. I'm tired of arguing and backpeddling.<br />
<br />
If you think I'm irritated now, you should be thankful that I took a few days to cool off before writing this post- just think what that one would have been like!<br />
<br />
Guys, we love you, but can you just leave Girl World to us girls? Or if you do come on in, please don't meddle. Thanks. I appreciate it.<br />
<br />
Sincerely,<br />
<br />
Liz<br />
<br />
<br />
I guess I should like the fact that I have opinions and stir up trouble- I've come a long way, baby.<br />
<br />
Trying not to manbash here but vent and create awareness....I'll bash on women next time to make things more fair ;)<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc6MD9aLIWGCQsxx3kiPVBQOw4HBkYSfJRa2j3mf_K9oWFpR21yE2AbbvAO_9yFKjeR6Jk5muDhCUyvdqrIQYGPLUp8EtAZHq9hxIEH-foxXzY53cQSyQdd66bQvBvV7kA96Idblj6Rqo/s1600/388058_2091295421680_1824098691_1324697_163892556_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="159" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc6MD9aLIWGCQsxx3kiPVBQOw4HBkYSfJRa2j3mf_K9oWFpR21yE2AbbvAO_9yFKjeR6Jk5muDhCUyvdqrIQYGPLUp8EtAZHq9hxIEH-foxXzY53cQSyQdd66bQvBvV7kA96Idblj6Rqo/s200/388058_2091295421680_1824098691_1324697_163892556_n.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11282663016612508897noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3188979402773585269.post-35742958799457203942012-01-05T01:59:00.004-05:002012-01-05T03:14:51.995-05:00I Love: More Christmas Love<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I Love...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-o9CObEHt4mg/TwVCrif9ymI/AAAAAAAADK8/yEo-byFUwNI/s1600/029.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-o9CObEHt4mg/TwVCrif9ymI/AAAAAAAADK8/yEo-byFUwNI/s320/029.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">...Mom using a level to make sure the strings for cards were level. In our crooked house.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">I Love...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NwOmOuxx9hI/TwVC42XM-RI/AAAAAAAADLE/cIpfDLx3CKk/s1600/030.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NwOmOuxx9hI/TwVC42XM-RI/AAAAAAAADLE/cIpfDLx3CKk/s320/030.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">...some brave critter who ran across both slushy ponds...and didn't fall in. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">We hope!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I Love...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xBULhfTTqhI/TwVFLHKK26I/AAAAAAAADLQ/YeYfwOpTjlI/s1600/091.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xBULhfTTqhI/TwVFLHKK26I/AAAAAAAADLQ/YeYfwOpTjlI/s320/091.JPG" width="213" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">...taking Christmas pics of my dad.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">I Love...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fM5PaQ-_exA/TwVFZS6NNAI/AAAAAAAADLY/mU5dp6xgpE8/s1600/106.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fM5PaQ-_exA/TwVFZS6NNAI/AAAAAAAADLY/mU5dp6xgpE8/s320/106.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> ...walking with the fam on Christmas day and leaving munchies for the critters.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">A GREEN Christmas! Can you believe it?</span></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">I Love...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-S29eiN8nNaM/TwVFi7WHjqI/AAAAAAAADLg/fbqOyFiIBMw/s1600/109.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-S29eiN8nNaM/TwVFi7WHjqI/AAAAAAAADLg/fbqOyFiIBMw/s320/109.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">...caroling with the YW and whoever else wanted to come.<br />
And the fact that I bought the perfect number of hats.</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">I Love...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IzRcRdYtlzs/TwVFqS6sCHI/AAAAAAAADLo/dQE3OD1pb_s/s1600/114.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IzRcRdYtlzs/TwVFqS6sCHI/AAAAAAAADLo/dQE3OD1pb_s/s320/114.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">...the annual family mall shopping trip. </div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">I Love...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YNI9ZsWb2ss/TwVFzdcIEmI/AAAAAAAADLw/44Kj2Ji40gM/s1600/125.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YNI9ZsWb2ss/TwVFzdcIEmI/AAAAAAAADLw/44Kj2Ji40gM/s320/125.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> ...CINNAMON ROLLS!!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">OM NOM NOM NOM</span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;">I Love...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gEzqY4jyp7o/TwVF-AATn5I/AAAAAAAADL4/4cjcW_jPKco/s1600/130.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gEzqY4jyp7o/TwVF-AATn5I/AAAAAAAADL4/4cjcW_jPKco/s320/130.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_bEgzI7j_Y0/TwVIZzItM6I/AAAAAAAADMM/_xpvdkTS578/s1600/016.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_bEgzI7j_Y0/TwVIZzItM6I/AAAAAAAADMM/_xpvdkTS578/s320/016.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> ...friends who come home for Christmas!</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">I Love...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oT_rkNyS1l0/TwVGGhSPojI/AAAAAAAADMA/ReYm3rz8MSs/s1600/137.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oT_rkNyS1l0/TwVGGhSPojI/AAAAAAAADMA/ReYm3rz8MSs/s320/137.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">...the green plastic necklace I found in a junk store for $2...two days before Christmas!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Total score. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">So many fun things about Christmas!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Hope you had a good one!</div>Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11282663016612508897noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3188979402773585269.post-74425708842811721162012-01-01T03:41:00.002-05:002012-01-01T04:03:50.583-05:00I Love: Christmas Edition<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I Love...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nczItZAJTvs/TwAgjYZhqtI/AAAAAAAADKw/ZA6ilvbrL_U/s1600/028.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nczItZAJTvs/TwAgjYZhqtI/AAAAAAAADKw/ZA6ilvbrL_U/s320/028.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">...picking out a tree as a family from the local nursery. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">No, we didn't get that one!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I Love...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eZ6YuLAFhY0/TwATykiGd6I/AAAAAAAADIk/M1ReLgWb8S4/s1600/011.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eZ6YuLAFhY0/TwATykiGd6I/AAAAAAAADIk/M1ReLgWb8S4/s320/011.JPG" width="213" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">...when the tree lights finally work (it took two days!)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I Love...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-h-RUT-8JbTQ/TwAT_7xLw_I/AAAAAAAADIs/pBNk1_gKE-8/s1600/020.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-h-RUT-8JbTQ/TwAT_7xLw_I/AAAAAAAADIs/pBNk1_gKE-8/s320/020.JPG" width="213" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> ...finding ornaments that are constructed similarly to displays that I did at BB&B:</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-33nOMljE08U/TwAWsO4nlZI/AAAAAAAADKA/L62WhL_toog/s1600/016.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-33nOMljE08U/TwAWsO4nlZI/AAAAAAAADKA/L62WhL_toog/s320/016.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">(the tree was made of washcloths and the snowman from rolled up towels)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">I Love...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1sfo3zzuKpY/TwAULuQYEZI/AAAAAAAADI0/4a0VB1-cOMA/s1600/021.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1sfo3zzuKpY/TwAULuQYEZI/AAAAAAAADI0/4a0VB1-cOMA/s320/021.JPG" width="213" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> ...being surprised that my Mommy put my "Baby's First Ornament" on the tree.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Yes I am that old.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">I Love...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mfcD2NxrQ5s/TwAUb8paLgI/AAAAAAAADI8/tSNd0yRHl0w/s1600/022.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mfcD2NxrQ5s/TwAUb8paLgI/AAAAAAAADI8/tSNd0yRHl0w/s320/022.JPG" width="213" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> ...buying new Cracker Barrel ornaments (the red ball) that coordinate with previous Cracker Barrel ornaments:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rfsqqA_JRks/TwAYcBStlBI/AAAAAAAADKM/CrBmuNmEAI4/s1600/144.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rfsqqA_JRks/TwAYcBStlBI/AAAAAAAADKM/CrBmuNmEAI4/s320/144.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">And I love my ruffle-butt birds.</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">I Love...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Dt1-Vj_LrX8/TwAUqR0e0bI/AAAAAAAADJE/M90XeQqPnnY/s1600/034.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Dt1-Vj_LrX8/TwAUqR0e0bI/AAAAAAAADJE/M90XeQqPnnY/s320/034.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> ...getting lovely cards from our friends. I love our wall of love.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">I Love...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xZNa692_HUU/TwAU5SmKHGI/AAAAAAAADJM/RaSisdrsHI0/s1600/035.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xZNa692_HUU/TwAU5SmKHGI/AAAAAAAADJM/RaSisdrsHI0/s320/035.JPG" width="213" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> ...making paper snowflakes both large and small.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UkB-3b1mJLg/TwAVGEaJcvI/AAAAAAAADJU/DhO1IY7cW-M/s1600/036.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UkB-3b1mJLg/TwAVGEaJcvI/AAAAAAAADJU/DhO1IY7cW-M/s320/036.JPG" width="213" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">I Love...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OleEovWkcGw/TwAVSF_YiKI/AAAAAAAADJc/I8iDeBnyeYc/s1600/042.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OleEovWkcGw/TwAVSF_YiKI/AAAAAAAADJc/I8iDeBnyeYc/s320/042.JPG" width="213" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> ...seeing that Santa has visited!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XJQM5-gQKiQ/TwAVfl1ENnI/AAAAAAAADJk/tLoa9K0xqo8/s1600/043.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XJQM5-gQKiQ/TwAVfl1ENnI/AAAAAAAADJk/tLoa9K0xqo8/s320/043.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">I Love...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-k4QEL389gj0/TwAVsC1MU0I/AAAAAAAADJs/2s9f9bBPh7A/s1600/045.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-k4QEL389gj0/TwAVsC1MU0I/AAAAAAAADJs/2s9f9bBPh7A/s320/045.JPG" width="213" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> ...getting nifty 'teacher' presents. Now I just need a desk!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">I Love...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-t3OqEogaT-I/TwAV4gXNT8I/AAAAAAAADJ0/In4qlci9FPs/s1600/053.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-t3OqEogaT-I/TwAV4gXNT8I/AAAAAAAADJ0/In4qlci9FPs/s320/053.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">...displaying our Nativity Sets (this isn't all of them!)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">I love Christmas. </div><div style="text-align: center;">I don't love our yellow walls.<br />
But I love Christmas.<br />
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I hope you had a loving Christmas.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nW5fI1Yfq18/TwAdLtHGgOI/AAAAAAAADKk/boDtaQ34Sw0/s1600/postcard+2011+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nW5fI1Yfq18/TwAdLtHGgOI/AAAAAAAADKk/boDtaQ34Sw0/s320/postcard+2011+copy.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">There's more I love...stay tuned!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div>Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11282663016612508897noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3188979402773585269.post-66275474285847302072011-12-23T01:12:00.002-05:002011-12-23T01:15:42.762-05:00The Girliest Christmas Ever<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Well, this Christmas season, along with being busy with school kids, YW and YSA, I helped my friend decorate her first apartment for Christmas. You may remember this scene as our awesome Halloween party, you are correct! Since she already had hot pink items in her living room, red and green would have clashed. She loved my suggestion of a pink Christmas, so we ran with that. We both love hot pink and butterflies, so we had our theme.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It was super fun for me to help out with this. I gathered up all the pink and silver things I owned, and we added some new things too. Shopping for pink Christmas things was fun- it's becoming popular, so it wasn't terribly hard to find things in the shades we wanted. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Lots of pics...so you get the full effect! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;">Overall view of the living room:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-r3FeitSRw50/TvQSAqk2dbI/AAAAAAAADHc/nEUHkntbK3g/s1600/275A.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-r3FeitSRw50/TvQSAqk2dbI/AAAAAAAADHc/nEUHkntbK3g/s320/275A.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-k0QYKDblR3s/TvQSIxK45ZI/AAAAAAAADHk/QkcIhbyY6yk/s1600/277A.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-k0QYKDblR3s/TvQSIxK45ZI/AAAAAAAADHk/QkcIhbyY6yk/s320/277A.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The girliest tree ever!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BbYWpE6MTss/TvQPBDi9EJI/AAAAAAAADGI/JmIPJm5JwMo/s1600/250A.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BbYWpE6MTss/TvQPBDi9EJI/AAAAAAAADGI/JmIPJm5JwMo/s320/250A.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">My silver trees clean up well- note the pink shoe ornaments!</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8uhrG72KQNA/TvQPMK-I2jI/AAAAAAAADGQ/6Zx2MzzcU20/s1600/251A.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8uhrG72KQNA/TvQPMK-I2jI/AAAAAAAADGQ/6Zx2MzzcU20/s320/251A.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XCSPg0OS9Go/TvQT6_6QGFI/AAAAAAAADIQ/TRyZDqjiz7M/s1600/294A.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XCSPg0OS9Go/TvQT6_6QGFI/AAAAAAAADIQ/TRyZDqjiz7M/s320/294A.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Tree close ups:</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nsdc3ChnSRg/TvQPX9pGmtI/AAAAAAAADGY/219CXRqgbeU/s1600/257A.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nsdc3ChnSRg/TvQPX9pGmtI/AAAAAAAADGY/219CXRqgbeU/s320/257A.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UFQaRQ4_DMs/TvQPkqHdl_I/AAAAAAAADGg/g7ZaPGziGf8/s1600/258A.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UFQaRQ4_DMs/TvQPkqHdl_I/AAAAAAAADGg/g7ZaPGziGf8/s320/258A.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mEnM7Bcn9pE/TvQPwMYo6FI/AAAAAAAADGo/EC05LEy7dLw/s1600/260A.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mEnM7Bcn9pE/TvQPwMYo6FI/AAAAAAAADGo/EC05LEy7dLw/s320/260A.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4kVRhE2uPv8/TvQP8btzCpI/AAAAAAAADGw/jGR4CEFnpng/s1600/262A.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4kVRhE2uPv8/TvQP8btzCpI/AAAAAAAADGw/jGR4CEFnpng/s320/262A.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We kept the mantel around- turned it from a spooky thing into a pink wonderland!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jAQ_lpLYo3s/TvQR5ONQHsI/AAAAAAAADHU/br6IDjoCqms/s1600/273A.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jAQ_lpLYo3s/TvQR5ONQHsI/AAAAAAAADHU/br6IDjoCqms/s320/273A.jpg" width="204" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I loved how the mantelscape turned out! </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qWMySnc0hOs/TvQQF6HKgyI/AAAAAAAADG4/I0daPTY9_-E/s1600/264A.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qWMySnc0hOs/TvQQF6HKgyI/AAAAAAAADG4/I0daPTY9_-E/s320/264A.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HkB6Aozn3nI/TvQRrWs86LI/AAAAAAAADHE/jA_RHGGhixc/s1600/267A.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HkB6Aozn3nI/TvQRrWs86LI/AAAAAAAADHE/jA_RHGGhixc/s320/267A.jpg" width="228" /></a></div><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"> I made this wreath- pretty simple but effective!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6EoWtsjei8o/TvQSOYAgFeI/AAAAAAAADHs/y6TAcsnfirw/s1600/281A.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="258" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6EoWtsjei8o/TvQSOYAgFeI/AAAAAAAADHs/y6TAcsnfirw/s320/281A.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I also made the pink tree on the right out of foam and crepe paper- fun!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">(See my crafty blog for the <a href="http://www.ohsocraftyness.blogspot.com/2011/12/crepe-paper-tree.html" target="_blank">how-to</a>!)</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8rZpqIiepR8/TvQSVZ2xM7I/AAAAAAAADH0/mH2qmmj3pSE/s1600/288A.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8rZpqIiepR8/TvQSVZ2xM7I/AAAAAAAADH0/mH2qmmj3pSE/s320/288A.jpg" width="220" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-M3wwDy41XH8/TvQSdOlXtAI/AAAAAAAADH8/FR7huN0ngkM/s1600/289A.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-M3wwDy41XH8/TvQSdOlXtAI/AAAAAAAADH8/FR7huN0ngkM/s320/289A.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5zErgdiRPO0/TvQSlSRj-KI/AAAAAAAADIE/249hajvSd5Q/s1600/290A.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5zErgdiRPO0/TvQSlSRj-KI/AAAAAAAADIE/249hajvSd5Q/s320/290A.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Hung this ornament in a doorway, so lovely!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NEFYYxksTvY/TvQRxzQiMDI/AAAAAAAADHM/WBDRIWX2bOc/s1600/268A.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NEFYYxksTvY/TvQRxzQiMDI/AAAAAAAADHM/WBDRIWX2bOc/s320/268A.jpg" width="233" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Well, the "customer" was a happy girl! </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4cdqvv4EGng/TvQUD_mKAII/AAAAAAAADIY/89XVCmNmDfY/s1600/296A.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4cdqvv4EGng/TvQUD_mKAII/AAAAAAAADIY/89XVCmNmDfY/s320/296A.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">You can't help but be happy in a room of pink!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Who says Christmas <i>has </i>to be red and green? It's fun to be different!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I would have SO much fun as an interior decorator! Or a set decorator for movies.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Now I just need my own place. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br />
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</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Merry Pink Christmas to you!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div>Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11282663016612508897noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3188979402773585269.post-76212702428749321382011-12-18T02:33:00.001-05:002011-12-18T02:34:32.910-05:00It's Rad to be a Grad<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I graduated from college this weekend!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Can you believe it?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Part of me can't. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It seems like I just started school...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">...and at the same time like I have been doing school forever!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Who knew the end would actually come one day?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I had a great day. My ceremony was nice and I go to see my friends. I graduated Cum Laude, hence my red sash. I liked it better than the white or gold higher Latin honor sashes! Later that evening, my family and I went out to Red Lobster and I got a great meal. Cheesy biscuits were my motivation to make it through the week!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Dad and me before the ceremony:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg13gUzqvuOZtb469HeMF-fAaBLiaMzyOfu_EzG0CjS9NXEt7LBWX7Zo-jDmFmJ-HqyJfmObmdKM8YfIor-hMi6ZyJ33jsA3d8wReQqBS-rnW7qclqwIwkHgczkeP6VIv2KsH2Ro5fiyr4/s1600/075.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg13gUzqvuOZtb469HeMF-fAaBLiaMzyOfu_EzG0CjS9NXEt7LBWX7Zo-jDmFmJ-HqyJfmObmdKM8YfIor-hMi6ZyJ33jsA3d8wReQqBS-rnW7qclqwIwkHgczkeP6VIv2KsH2Ro5fiyr4/s320/075.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Waiting for the ceremony with my friend:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ8oFLNDRh3edDjkYiH0qDjcgA2-8UPOR8e_nuLvg0fgvje5qt5hSMPNteMwSAKty2oKul4EOqIInuhDFBwRGJXBbMpm24PbYGfdx9ZiwzcE0RlsxhfSbxG58lVWTmIzRstiS5gJSDxBs/s1600/079.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ8oFLNDRh3edDjkYiH0qDjcgA2-8UPOR8e_nuLvg0fgvje5qt5hSMPNteMwSAKty2oKul4EOqIInuhDFBwRGJXBbMpm24PbYGfdx9ZiwzcE0RlsxhfSbxG58lVWTmIzRstiS5gJSDxBs/s320/079.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">The podium:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSnOd-Hi_XR22_CGKIhwb4dyDTxNLXz4thgWj8omVTEr836CVM9LYbtKGJK27b2t1CghC1bQu-m-ea6vzcT4F_xowisK1Dy6F9eNbo-cRuEX8ANY_C9WRN1kAf8DYnkYf4ZnkHe3M8hEA/s1600/081.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSnOd-Hi_XR22_CGKIhwb4dyDTxNLXz4thgWj8omVTEr836CVM9LYbtKGJK27b2t1CghC1bQu-m-ea6vzcT4F_xowisK1Dy6F9eNbo-cRuEX8ANY_C9WRN1kAf8DYnkYf4ZnkHe3M8hEA/s320/081.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">My fellow Art Ed peeps:</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFx9cVcFuAPSl3uGp6TjslL-PN-5BjlQcV5Qs56ebA5OZ61-A8OwiCszbpUq-vR8Kr_2h9s2LlH5NpZ0pETLfyVtgFkGmMYOgAtm4MUvEr9aE_ST2YLDh33Po2Jmqm54t9NiQldLAAi4M/s1600/graduation.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFx9cVcFuAPSl3uGp6TjslL-PN-5BjlQcV5Qs56ebA5OZ61-A8OwiCszbpUq-vR8Kr_2h9s2LlH5NpZ0pETLfyVtgFkGmMYOgAtm4MUvEr9aE_ST2YLDh33Po2Jmqm54t9NiQldLAAi4M/s320/graduation.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">My family:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjnxEyktb_ahgAD1ysKk7RtO_C_GVzoQz3JODHBLautCENEeAGMPCUOF0hd7M3HlJy1r-3p2sTJ-VHVi09clr_JBj0754wpslKKs7AGYEQCMNjOq7vuByHDH7xIveeh9J9-eDNbXXu8HQ/s1600/109.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjnxEyktb_ahgAD1ysKk7RtO_C_GVzoQz3JODHBLautCENEeAGMPCUOF0hd7M3HlJy1r-3p2sTJ-VHVi09clr_JBj0754wpslKKs7AGYEQCMNjOq7vuByHDH7xIveeh9J9-eDNbXXu8HQ/s320/109.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">After the ceremony:</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwPPnKH1O2b3qLEISjZXQGFp_eAISKAk3CYfDYQ-UYklr1cG91OLgSij7qvAzKiFbA-JBSfMLRzSbLWkVrj_jQoMOGQtZAKYBh5Wwq5x6Av0oZP2znEjF7s7C2kGVDYaMaqK3buvBurMA/s1600/111.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwPPnKH1O2b3qLEISjZXQGFp_eAISKAk3CYfDYQ-UYklr1cG91OLgSij7qvAzKiFbA-JBSfMLRzSbLWkVrj_jQoMOGQtZAKYBh5Wwq5x6Av0oZP2znEjF7s7C2kGVDYaMaqK3buvBurMA/s320/111.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Merry Graduation Christmas!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiypHgHr0fTCUzQ2c0C5h6AgYP-1rQpKqXNsa-Tg5NB_CM1cKcHWO8_Kn1TTdjjS7PZgugiIYjZkpgkRg4NGfJJjZ-WYmTH60aAjK81L-2YuKmemt6h5DfqfHbxjM__YH2rerxssMdAB6Q/s1600/117.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiypHgHr0fTCUzQ2c0C5h6AgYP-1rQpKqXNsa-Tg5NB_CM1cKcHWO8_Kn1TTdjjS7PZgugiIYjZkpgkRg4NGfJJjZ-WYmTH60aAjK81L-2YuKmemt6h5DfqfHbxjM__YH2rerxssMdAB6Q/s320/117.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Today represented so much more than 4 years of sitting through classes.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> No one sees the</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Late nights</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Early mornings</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Commuting every day</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Surviving blizzards</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Living in the studio classrooms</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Teaching clearances</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Finding and buying art supplies</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Presentations</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Schlepping odd things around</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Bratty 8th graders</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Critiques</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">8 am meetings on campus</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Many hoops to jump through...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">and the list goes on...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It feels good to have accomplished this. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I'm really thankful that I've gotten to go back to school and learn so much. I've really enjoyed it and I feel like I am closer to who I want to be.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I've met some great people while at school, people who inspire me. I've enjoyed the students that I've worked with. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I'm thankful for the good weather we've been having. Outside was pretty today with just a dusting of snow. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I'm thankful for my friends and family who have loved and supported me through all this.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I'm thankful to be able to breathe.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Everyone asks what my plans are now that I'm done with school....my plans are to enjoy Christmas! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11282663016612508897noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3188979402773585269.post-4045516780374638982011-12-11T02:05:00.000-05:002011-12-11T02:05:37.831-05:00I Love<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I Love...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1FLza3mwv0yn_z0g_GV8agqL1Q6MQEGyIhBXCXJiQhQ_Gxd4xZqMrEtkb8j8O81QLrDkQ3f2zUkZc9q6YLGaYvLJwKqnVWKHQF4dSJ8E42ns0S9TcDoll6ZITqMB7Kw9To6KFUneg6oU/s1600/001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1FLza3mwv0yn_z0g_GV8agqL1Q6MQEGyIhBXCXJiQhQ_Gxd4xZqMrEtkb8j8O81QLrDkQ3f2zUkZc9q6YLGaYvLJwKqnVWKHQF4dSJ8E42ns0S9TcDoll6ZITqMB7Kw9To6KFUneg6oU/s320/001.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Bug bubble wands...for a buck!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">I Love...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigtHT5KYx8wLuNrYcEuvUp-4IC8D2KhtNoX4K48SxICf628rvFwcVY4Bon1pDQwVldpPOrcCW9XaeXQByTSDw1TSPK2qrrq17y9ZjCAkEFUbE7yTJqwqE7_BqobvMk7YFzhuD5ZDaPVyw/s1600/002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigtHT5KYx8wLuNrYcEuvUp-4IC8D2KhtNoX4K48SxICf628rvFwcVY4Bon1pDQwVldpPOrcCW9XaeXQByTSDw1TSPK2qrrq17y9ZjCAkEFUbE7yTJqwqE7_BqobvMk7YFzhuD5ZDaPVyw/s320/002.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">...old school Wagoneers...and 7UP!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I Love...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj9W5E6D00oX2lUZPkN7fEJPemPVIoApZ91JfDMkJg4pmLYOsLWoyl4lzx9rlpA2Qoy4J2xE7gf_t1PtSZqtQQlUpiAgSE7Qqnus2Xdan_KPhJ0yukDYrnrRu9G6hO2-q6NofhZCMbX58/s1600/007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj9W5E6D00oX2lUZPkN7fEJPemPVIoApZ91JfDMkJg4pmLYOsLWoyl4lzx9rlpA2Qoy4J2xE7gf_t1PtSZqtQQlUpiAgSE7Qqnus2Xdan_KPhJ0yukDYrnrRu9G6hO2-q6NofhZCMbX58/s320/007.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">...making wreaths with the YSA (and making bows for everyone too!)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I Love...</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizWV4GQ1P-35FeWvPLzZbH4y-S6v1BrlwUezJlHqmIv8Yz10phYPIcR9lB9lmei-4YmKknr01odi_UcIcWX5t_86y6V7Nmm75VyGXMeQiwac3e8ux8Svwn9VzllBjcEOzrLuoXNZSbUxI/s1600/012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizWV4GQ1P-35FeWvPLzZbH4y-S6v1BrlwUezJlHqmIv8Yz10phYPIcR9lB9lmei-4YmKknr01odi_UcIcWX5t_86y6V7Nmm75VyGXMeQiwac3e8ux8Svwn9VzllBjcEOzrLuoXNZSbUxI/s320/012.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">...my crazy silly YW. They light up my life.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I Love...</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCPcJFumWWEGeKxEmZ2PgJuTaILtI1aBpAjT-QrFTRQ9SJwsT6qmnElj8YbWmy9_ctNjUdj7ajpBddcotj13733JosAIGpZVFRQeEtiAOBMU3fgPewI_ZAHAITvqJFTFBJ-DXWrjSfcmg/s1600/015.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCPcJFumWWEGeKxEmZ2PgJuTaILtI1aBpAjT-QrFTRQ9SJwsT6qmnElj8YbWmy9_ctNjUdj7ajpBddcotj13733JosAIGpZVFRQeEtiAOBMU3fgPewI_ZAHAITvqJFTFBJ-DXWrjSfcmg/s320/015.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">...making chocolate cupcakes....and totally cute liners that don't fade when baking!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I Love...</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1dCoJ1urgV93dnAQQjpiz-poKpFfBDoeIuVv9OrDndKUEhwKQTOwK-P_qxA8x5BAUL9Py8do_Hyl1LobXSZ_ixKnKz0NRKBYTshaCqUBEam8473ghBIHe_rbKsYl8e8LLmeylkfvKuyE/s1600/020.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1dCoJ1urgV93dnAQQjpiz-poKpFfBDoeIuVv9OrDndKUEhwKQTOwK-P_qxA8x5BAUL9Py8do_Hyl1LobXSZ_ixKnKz0NRKBYTshaCqUBEam8473ghBIHe_rbKsYl8e8LLmeylkfvKuyE/s320/020.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">...crazy pink flamingo lawn decor (my dad SO needs this!)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I Love...</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2PCW0uQ5SimsZYaeaDHAdmi_Nh8SBMQfal4w47_OsX6abRKrFWQ_eKGetZqYXcPtk6zGhtSiFZaAiV-S9RZYA_y8ADrY2Az_o5VLXkh22iEIAKs2MbqzcZIJPiNSgZxmh4NU35L13q2Q/s1600/025.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2PCW0uQ5SimsZYaeaDHAdmi_Nh8SBMQfal4w47_OsX6abRKrFWQ_eKGetZqYXcPtk6zGhtSiFZaAiV-S9RZYA_y8ADrY2Az_o5VLXkh22iEIAKs2MbqzcZIJPiNSgZxmh4NU35L13q2Q/s320/025.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">...the awesome snowflakes at the elementary.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I Love...</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX6wbMFgesWMCYjwZdptYXYOKJgQOIaQVaAHT1RifQLgJHzR9-hm7rMOuex4UvCvOQ9Th4Bu6sjbXnAUF4rAvmj3A2sdlXQvBAGl16UZXT_zC5dxtOYC44ry3nAcFODfbLsddyYazyW-o/s1600/041.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX6wbMFgesWMCYjwZdptYXYOKJgQOIaQVaAHT1RifQLgJHzR9-hm7rMOuex4UvCvOQ9Th4Bu6sjbXnAUF4rAvmj3A2sdlXQvBAGl16UZXT_zC5dxtOYC44ry3nAcFODfbLsddyYazyW-o/s320/041.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">...vintage sewing tables with a ruler built in the table! Sew cute.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I Love...</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2lOCmtaYOaU0fir_KM1i-F4iDAo0Std33W7C1F2YDvROwPFbvNbvFK-w88kQBIRoHKYfVrq0eTXQ_MG52mqAuziFIvLACLzL46tMcf3odUO67wPkK0F3d_ezI74yVWVJNY9JD4CvS-Zc/s1600/063.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2lOCmtaYOaU0fir_KM1i-F4iDAo0Std33W7C1F2YDvROwPFbvNbvFK-w88kQBIRoHKYfVrq0eTXQ_MG52mqAuziFIvLACLzL46tMcf3odUO67wPkK0F3d_ezI74yVWVJNY9JD4CvS-Zc/s320/063.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">...my vintage Strawberry Shortcake advent calendar! Long live the 80's!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I Love...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4vggMHyDhxvE1S7F2PMEFMZn9msJHlloDBCw4gIaUEzlPUyRPEKanB5IVolGH2ye22ME2CMA-BiHYkzkehMX68NOwkPXXhShQNFpwmFf-QAIFW2Xb5V8NyMVvrxM_AawA_ohy4Z8kgo0/s1600/103.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4vggMHyDhxvE1S7F2PMEFMZn9msJHlloDBCw4gIaUEzlPUyRPEKanB5IVolGH2ye22ME2CMA-BiHYkzkehMX68NOwkPXXhShQNFpwmFf-QAIFW2Xb5V8NyMVvrxM_AawA_ohy4Z8kgo0/s320/103.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">...abstract apple paintings from my 8th graders.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiStCg94EdMHN0BKrLAPMe3UOMeS4R8uEzth71ton6ut_bpXAUL8gwVhFcP_iekwS0U8Sv1tMpSiOosyLVQZvW3S2ktGK3RFm0nS6wOAuoYAsnIQPQD9e2mzQUpwVyTro9SrMIGnA2_jMw/s1600/109.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiStCg94EdMHN0BKrLAPMe3UOMeS4R8uEzth71ton6ut_bpXAUL8gwVhFcP_iekwS0U8Sv1tMpSiOosyLVQZvW3S2ktGK3RFm0nS6wOAuoYAsnIQPQD9e2mzQUpwVyTro9SrMIGnA2_jMw/s320/109.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">...hot pink curls! I need a wig like this for me!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy3LqVvJyMYXroHhhO4k__jJ0MlBTY9YjFvyGllEpoqHh2WL9InJt_BcEbzKeAucVLTcono0K_eT3LBIwtOIZ080d6t3qC1iIHRILoHHLS9SP1f3cm2g04iU6o_RHCZDxxD24zdiUrsgc/s1600/112.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy3LqVvJyMYXroHhhO4k__jJ0MlBTY9YjFvyGllEpoqHh2WL9InJt_BcEbzKeAucVLTcono0K_eT3LBIwtOIZ080d6t3qC1iIHRILoHHLS9SP1f3cm2g04iU6o_RHCZDxxD24zdiUrsgc/s320/112.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">...extraordinarily cute furniture at Goodwill...but I don't love not being able to give it a good home!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEd9xH3JsuG5BUuH1pR0QtmAIPNzyrVFiJ-aBDgRufV26VD0TVjxvPCCl3GKW3XUNlfPjWPpWv9aT60pixHssKu7o95eE7g4x5G_PBH14lHbGmTXhmdVACQUnC8VLojotoyQJ8klTk5oM/s1600/078.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEd9xH3JsuG5BUuH1pR0QtmAIPNzyrVFiJ-aBDgRufV26VD0TVjxvPCCl3GKW3XUNlfPjWPpWv9aT60pixHssKu7o95eE7g4x5G_PBH14lHbGmTXhmdVACQUnC8VLojotoyQJ8klTk5oM/s320/078.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">...wearing my vintage Christmas apron to make cookies with my friends!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Lots of things to love, especially this time of year.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And I really LOVE that I can still see the ground...it's unreal!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And oh, yes, I love you. ;)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">What are you loving these days?</div>Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11282663016612508897noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3188979402773585269.post-46327726815155394402011-11-28T03:24:00.000-05:002011-11-28T03:24:02.305-05:00GratefulI hope you all had a really nice Thanksgiving. I had a nice day with my family, and I've been having a nice break. It pays to live in PA- you get the first day of hunting season off from school! The weather has been nice and warm too- well, warm for November!<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">I made a chocolate pumpkin ice box <a href="http://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/pumpkin-chocolate-icebox-cake-50400000117177/" target="_blank">cake</a> for a potluck- yum!</div><div style="text-align: center;">It's layers of pumpkin mixture and chocolate graham crackers, with cocoa dusted on top.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCszwl9Ip-oICT9zn94_VP3lYtx8cRE0MUJZu6hnD7_6hUZAvCn-NwhWD9nwLgooPic8tcBIn2rloFw0x2ujkv06770pPPZI2U9lAaK8hIwlnHTNVlli-9iv0t5w0H4v2fDf5aA7yyOqo/s1600/027.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCszwl9Ip-oICT9zn94_VP3lYtx8cRE0MUJZu6hnD7_6hUZAvCn-NwhWD9nwLgooPic8tcBIn2rloFw0x2ujkv06770pPPZI2U9lAaK8hIwlnHTNVlli-9iv0t5w0H4v2fDf5aA7yyOqo/s320/027.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Finally got my Halloween stuff back from the party- told you I had a lot of stuff!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfzKTof3YLrOfJUPamPOglwpG1qUrSx4EG87gKfj-Ml7W9hdA71HXIihM6xlOoZMO4dRs3MxSa1sv8jv5oTkIKpRd0ON70CpkwrwDkrAY6ZJl4wrAPyHvX5LZbhpgbWK6RhLXswV2ToEg/s1600/034.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfzKTof3YLrOfJUPamPOglwpG1qUrSx4EG87gKfj-Ml7W9hdA71HXIihM6xlOoZMO4dRs3MxSa1sv8jv5oTkIKpRd0ON70CpkwrwDkrAY6ZJl4wrAPyHvX5LZbhpgbWK6RhLXswV2ToEg/s320/034.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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Up until now, Dad has been the one to do the icky hard part of the turkey- picking it up, washing it, etc while I helped with spices or whatnot. This year it was my turn to do the turkey and it was so gross to touch- and heavy!<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">Here we are laughing so hard we're crying:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf3L2HDZNGP9UbBriEQw-3o19tyBMJpuufdfSdf1KdjZ6ASU5Vz3w9nkJ3Y_oQowhwwiVHp5ILO2h0AEId_SSPxMHyySP97K6dMazYtD6SxcBVh8cuitUknjMsqExJH60KwIhUeod1Idk/s1600/036.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf3L2HDZNGP9UbBriEQw-3o19tyBMJpuufdfSdf1KdjZ6ASU5Vz3w9nkJ3Y_oQowhwwiVHp5ILO2h0AEId_SSPxMHyySP97K6dMazYtD6SxcBVh8cuitUknjMsqExJH60KwIhUeod1Idk/s320/036.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Ta dah!!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeISiBrFrWfw29HKA35Xp_rCGYkOMg1wskmWxteco2g0tQJUy38U7P9TJqOKYg2ihFx4C6xWXYcf1K9c-qc93lYOujtG4cK0XgeQnVKxgGmGH7P7njvrpo9mZ0pdsVB__RCrP57di6Oy0/s1600/037.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeISiBrFrWfw29HKA35Xp_rCGYkOMg1wskmWxteco2g0tQJUy38U7P9TJqOKYg2ihFx4C6xWXYcf1K9c-qc93lYOujtG4cK0XgeQnVKxgGmGH7P7njvrpo9mZ0pdsVB__RCrP57di6Oy0/s320/037.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">My grandparents sent us a Charlie Brown tree, we put it up on Thanksgiving. Closest we've become to those "Decorate the Day After Thanksgiving" families!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKcV3meA3Y69Ey-8roCpL1w8sfIMhjZ5slsZk1ewSVMy3LNCLdnYwFNiXERkNK72B4_ATLcw8ChlOcValhjDSJI3WfbOMMoTo9jZoGIOeY306ky58o65MD55G_NAQo2EpGtqpAQ46YYPs/s1600/039.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKcV3meA3Y69Ey-8roCpL1w8sfIMhjZ5slsZk1ewSVMy3LNCLdnYwFNiXERkNK72B4_ATLcw8ChlOcValhjDSJI3WfbOMMoTo9jZoGIOeY306ky58o65MD55G_NAQo2EpGtqpAQ46YYPs/s320/039.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Dinner turned out great! YUM!</div><div style="text-align: center;">Turkey, potatoes, yams, green bean casserole, stuffing done with homemade sourdough croutons, fruit salad, etc. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg62-sRrOOM8B50us-aFG-uT0BtZ7gJj_qDG4n5NMQEkXMBYK43lPyu6t7gfMxthokhRhOW0Nc7-pxZ5VjkLhwON7OQdX3sq0Wu_ZOVHdjcFSbjypPwToKpoYcMYHOUFi_AJbB_Q-A7bsg/s1600/040.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg62-sRrOOM8B50us-aFG-uT0BtZ7gJj_qDG4n5NMQEkXMBYK43lPyu6t7gfMxthokhRhOW0Nc7-pxZ5VjkLhwON7OQdX3sq0Wu_ZOVHdjcFSbjypPwToKpoYcMYHOUFi_AJbB_Q-A7bsg/s320/040.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">The fam:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtM4KMOLYB40_uMJh0g8ywRyJAE2Qn0iJFbbvzQo2TXAjgeYPn4BU1l1vE6-W-BPXKxUL-Kzfp2LG_9ThXVe63Vb4px1tnAWyxQBgSzMNfvtBIMuO1v2oFOLa_zn4FOh864tp5bcuNJ9U/s1600/042.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtM4KMOLYB40_uMJh0g8ywRyJAE2Qn0iJFbbvzQo2TXAjgeYPn4BU1l1vE6-W-BPXKxUL-Kzfp2LG_9ThXVe63Vb4px1tnAWyxQBgSzMNfvtBIMuO1v2oFOLa_zn4FOh864tp5bcuNJ9U/s320/042.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Laura made her traditional<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-weight: bold;"> </span>turkey- cute! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpHZvDbWao2BXr9-wHjD_XsugjUAtOtU6bNPKhAgkhTgarzNw0ApOpno5b84X6lnjOmLECjP6bY5irWeCQ7nknj9Cnoa3nwn0C_vmYrTjSLoMmx53fBjTGhhpQFvp3uMyaRa0H0VS8uhc/s1600/064.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpHZvDbWao2BXr9-wHjD_XsugjUAtOtU6bNPKhAgkhTgarzNw0ApOpno5b84X6lnjOmLECjP6bY5irWeCQ7nknj9Cnoa3nwn0C_vmYrTjSLoMmx53fBjTGhhpQFvp3uMyaRa0H0VS8uhc/s320/064.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">That night I went shopping with my friend- the Erie mall was open at midnight so we went and had a blast! Got to bed at 7 am!<br />
I didn't buy much, some jewelry and a hat. And stripey socks. And a new shirt...and a cute wafflemaker! I was a good personal shopper for my friend, we found everything on her list, including a galoshes, boots, skinny jeans and a $30 BluRay player!</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Loved this coat:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUcLVF4xL18GFSI8jGntTjlHbeYCU7TyCBghlTl2eFv2z4alohlsqkSC3Ne_4OIluyVpFekDmQ26Hf_Ha1T7VQwaTvPA0TbD9RKJT6GkjT1e8fasvDlXZ3itA9hmRFpglq3-MRJM4Zppk/s1600/045.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUcLVF4xL18GFSI8jGntTjlHbeYCU7TyCBghlTl2eFv2z4alohlsqkSC3Ne_4OIluyVpFekDmQ26Hf_Ha1T7VQwaTvPA0TbD9RKJT6GkjT1e8fasvDlXZ3itA9hmRFpglq3-MRJM4Zppk/s320/045.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">And this outfit:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmcw6vL4BuYbG8B8i86d0fxwiUD1nI0egq_sfjKyuQRu0WqRmGXraBmnf19NLPkFhLBqCHV4uD9YrRqblEihe66QqbZHj1QyWv5V57EEzBpr7imxR09dAjjezrIfDI2OJ40DSAraMlXgw/s1600/047.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmcw6vL4BuYbG8B8i86d0fxwiUD1nI0egq_sfjKyuQRu0WqRmGXraBmnf19NLPkFhLBqCHV4uD9YrRqblEihe66QqbZHj1QyWv5V57EEzBpr7imxR09dAjjezrIfDI2OJ40DSAraMlXgw/s320/047.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Raelena rocking that hat!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheKT9U0vc8IzRzorS7MKaSNi3BIdRt0g0sIqzgfqmZdcT_eXXaLTFOHX1VcttORsNCHg_Fmwlyul3c0ArJMaMBb9-XxOKaxqV31t_bkscDxoyeSmnFNzz97of54FG7K6AfdUwAn8bGcq4/s1600/053.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheKT9U0vc8IzRzorS7MKaSNi3BIdRt0g0sIqzgfqmZdcT_eXXaLTFOHX1VcttORsNCHg_Fmwlyul3c0ArJMaMBb9-XxOKaxqV31t_bkscDxoyeSmnFNzz97of54FG7K6AfdUwAn8bGcq4/s320/053.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
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Well break can't be all fun- on Saturday I got to help fill in dirt where my parents had uncovered the septic tank. And I moved some firewood- Dad used his chainsaw on a fallen tree on the property. He got the pickup truck stuck in the mud in the field- thankfully the neighbors heard and came and helped push it out!<br />
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Last Thanksgiving, Mom was laid up on the couch with the infection in her leg. I'm so glad she's ok now. I'm thankful that overall I'm feeling better these days. I'm thankful for good neighbors and friends. I'm thankful for my family and the love and support they give me. I'm thankful for the gospel and our little branch. I'm thankful to be in a good placement for student teaching and for my students. I'm thankful for naps on my couch. I'm thankful to get an extra day off for break- thank you hunters!<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">And I'm thankful that the snow hasn't stuck around!</div></div></div>Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11282663016612508897noreply@blogger.com0