tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-78484620755105244762024-03-05T22:56:09.798-08:00The Anderson Family StorybookUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger92125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7848462075510524476.post-66482923258048107282020-04-08T12:31:00.000-07:002020-04-09T05:00:36.914-07:00Thoughts on caring for your whole self in a global pandemic <div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: center;">
Dear ones, </div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">I do not write to you as someone who has this pandemic quarantine thing mastered. We are surviving not thriving over here, and I am riding the wave along with everyone else. However, I love studying caring for people in crisis and am professionally working in mental health as a counselor as well. I have been thinking about y’all and wanted to offer some self-care thoughts to hopefully buoy you in this time.</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">The main thing I’d like to encourage you with in this strange unprecedented season is, it’s ok to not be ok. Also, it's ok to be ok. Also, it’s ok to be both.</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">In order to stay well in times of ongoing crisis it’s important to intentionally care for all the parts that make us human:</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">Body- Basic needs or body care is the foundation for other types of care. In times of crisis, it is more important to be sure you are are eating nourishing meals (along with foods that bring you joy-both/and), drinking lots of water, getting adequate sleep, staying active/exercising, and getting outside in the sunshine. Be particularly attuned to your body’s needs; if it’s tired, rest it, if it is stiff, get out for a run, if it is anxious, deep breathe. </span>Yoga and mindfulness practices are particularly helpful with anxiety management. When you get emotionally dysregulated, which will likely happen more than usual in quarantine, practice awareness of where in your body you are feeling emotions like sadness or anxiety or anger. Once you have identified where it is located, focus on relaxing that area of the body and deep breathing until you feel calm again. For example, if there is trigger, like your child spills milk all over the floor and you have a Zoom call to be on, notice your heart beating faster and your shoulders tightening up and take a moment to attend to the body and calm the autonomic nervous system through breathing before you react or move on. Your body houses everything else, so be extra kind and attentive to it. *Deep breathing is magic. </div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">Mind- Be aware of your cognitions in times of crisis. If they are catastrophic or irrational, notice that without judgment, and replace those thoughts with what is rational. For example,“If I get Covid19, then my whole family will get it,” could be disputed with “If I get this, I will quarantine in my room, and it is likely no one else will get it”. Living in the present each day will help with the “what if” future thoughts. Instead “what if”, switch the mental channel to “what is true now”, and land there. </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">Also notice negative self cognitions and replace them with self-compassion, “Both me and my spouse should be able to work full time, be teachers to all our children, and keep up the household”, and replace that with “It is impossible to do all these roles well without help or relief, which is why we usually have childcare in place. I will be kind to myself and others when we fail, prioritize what is most important to us, and recognize that this is costing all of us.” When we fail, we can both be kind to ourselves and make a repair when needed. Being kind to ourselves doesn't mean we are no longer responsible for our choices, we can pay the consequence and be compassionate (ex. pay a fine for a speeding ticket, and not go to self-contempt for speeding). Additionally, be intentionally grateful each day, if you’re able (if you’re not, that’s ok, there is a valid reason for that). Go around the table at dinner each night or keep a gratitude journal on your own. Studies show that integrating gratitude, self-compassion, and creativity or play, help combat depression. *</span>Mindfulness is magic. </div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">Heart- How do you feel? It can be a challenging question for many. Give yourself space to name and express everything you’re feeling. All emotions are allowed for everyone. If you’re enjoying all the family time, be thankful and joyful for that *without guilt that you should be sad like people who have endured more loss. If you’re sad because you’ve lost your job, grieve that loss *without guilt that you should be enjoying time with your family (hear that shame voice?). If you are both grieving losses and enjoying a slower pace, then hold both. You are allowed to feel multiple and conflicting emotions. Don’t engage in comparative suffering, which means, minimizing your loss in comparison to someone else's (ex. I can’t feel sad about not having my dance recital because other people are suffering with the death of a loved one). There is enough room for everyone to have the space they need to grieve the losses that feel big to them. Also, a friendly reminder that kid’s worlds are a lot smaller than adults. They don’t have the perspective and experiences we have to refer to as adults. For them, not being able to perform in their play or go to their prom is a really big loss, even though maybe in a parent’s much bigger perspective, that may be a silly thing to grieve. I would encourage you to not judge anyones losses or sadness, everyone has the right to their own experiences and perspective of the world. We can be kind by allowing our family members, neighbors, and friends to carry different emotions than us, and we can be empathic and nonjudgmental. When we engage with grief first, it gives people the freedom they need to then enter into hope or gratitude. Demanding thankfulness from someone before empathizing with them will more likely lead to anger at feeling missed and not the hoped for response of thankfulness. *Empathy is magic, and there is enough to go around.</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">Social- We are social beings who need and thrive in connection. Part of feeling more human in a time of mandatory isolation will mean getting creative about connection. Call a friend or do a zoom call every day. Write a letter or text a single neighbor. Getting out of your head and engaging with other humans will do you and others good. *Connection is magic.</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">Spirit- Whether we know it or not, all our parts are spiritual in the sense that we are made in image of God and reflect him in all these ways. We are reminded now of what is always true but often hidden, that we are creatures in a created world. In times where all the earth is exposed and vulnerable, it is only natural to be more aware of one who is greater. If you believe in God, engage with Him, even in your anger or confusion. He cares, He sees, and is good and sovereign over all. Look for His hand at work in the world and for meaning in the chaos. For those who do not believe in God, that’s ok, I encourage you to wonder or even try on prayer or explore the possibility of a higher power and purpose than our vulnerable human state.</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">**Jesus is not magic.</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">He lived a real life, shed real blood on the cross on Friday, and rose again on Sunday in order to make all things new. He sits enthroned even now. </span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">God’s kindness is the reserve for all other kindnesses and His free mercy is on offer to all all all through Jesus Christ.</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">“The hard work of life is not dealing with your pain but allowing yourself to experience comfort and kindness.” -Dan Allender</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">It is surprising to me how resistant people are to self-care or recieving kindness, myself included. What is it like for you to consider? What are your barriers? Are you judging your resistance to self-kindness even now? How are shame, fear, or guilt workin for ya? Please be kind to yourself, you have never walked though a pandemic before. Let yourself laugh, and let yourself cry. Do something that brings you joy everyday, a walk in the sunshine, making homemade bread, a bubble bath, do this because you matter and your well-being matters and receiving kindness and care from yourself, others, and God will enable you to give it out and walk out of this quarantine even more whole than you could have imagined.</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">Love y’all</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">Virtual xo</span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7848462075510524476.post-9774932102363469892020-03-23T09:16:00.000-07:002020-03-23T10:12:10.670-07:00He lives to tell the tale<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span class="s1" style="font-family: inherit; font-weight: bold;">Goodbye to my virtual friends. Thank you all so much for joining us in our journey with covid19, and for your prayer and care. I hope it's been a helpful, hopeful, and honest resource to you.</span></div>
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<span class="s1" style="font-family: inherit; font-weight: bold;">I will talk with you on the blog the next time we move to a new city and get ourselves into a health crisis because that’s our secret to how we get people to feel bad for us and be our friends. </span><br />
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<span class="s1" style="font-family: inherit; font-weight: bold;">But for reals, if you’re wondering about this global pandemic thing and you’re like “this is weird, how do I make sense of this, what does it mean for me and my life," I’d like to invite you to consider that maybe you're wondering because you were made to wonder...</span></div>
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<span class="s2" style="font-family: inherit;">"Stay safe, love you"</span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Virtual xo </span><br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7848462075510524476.post-27607156188173120742020-03-20T09:04:00.001-07:002020-03-23T10:04:25.201-07:00quarantinues ..."good and horrible"Hey y'all, hope you're staying healthy and sane!<br />
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I asked the girls the other day what quarantine life was like and they said, "good and horrible". What a beautiful response! We're learning about the important life skill of holding tension in this season. I know for those families with the virus and even those doing shelter-in-place, feelings of depression, anxiety, and panic are setting in. For those dear helpless souls who have the virus and are stuck in a room all alone for weeks are experiencing the upper limits of their capacity to be isolated and feeling things they have never known. I want to encourage you, wherever you are, to hold the tension. Allow yourself and friends and family to express their sadness, what is lost? what is sad? was it this costing you? what are you fearful about? what does it feel like for you? AND what is good about this season? where is the sweetness? where do you see growth? Both together, neither elevated. None for us know what exactly it'll be like on the other side of this or all the implications, and so to say everything will be fine might not be true, but to say "I don't know, but I'll be with you" brings true comfort. This is the promise offered us in Christ, and we can reflect Him to each other when we hold space for others to feel emotions in tension and say, I'll be with you.<br />
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Here are some GOOD things about our quarantine:<br />
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1- Sleeping in. I haven't slept this much in a decade, and I love it so much!!<br />
2- The gift of unhurried time<br />
3- Getting to wear my favorite outfit everyday, sweats!<br />
4- Quarantinis<br />
5- Playing board games with the girls, which I really don't do in real life<br />
6- Waving to neighbors (from over a 10ft' distance) I've never seen before<br />
7- Time to reflect and wonder<br />
8- Everyone using their gifts to virtually give to each other, thanks to the songwriters singing from their kitchens, astronauts reading children's stories from space, artists giving drawing lessons from their studio, and Dave Barnes Quarenteenie Tiny minute of Humor on insta!:)<br />
9- All the baked goods! Especially enjoying homemade bread.<br />
10- I love you. It must be a pandemic thing, everyone is telling us they love us- even if I have never met them! In return, I have been telling random people "love you, stay safe!", I think I told the amazon delivery guy the other day. I guess it's fine.<br />
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Back to Ryan's day to day, and the hard part of the tension,<br />
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Day 8, 3/17- He had a low grade fever, and felt fatigued and chest soreness. This seems to be the time in other cases where patients tend to start to get better or pneumonia kicks in and they go to the hospital. It is hard because no one knows exactly what the normal course of this virus looks like, and it looks different for different people. A doctor (in protective gear) came to listen to him breathe and said his lungs sounded good, and that they can be inflamed and sore as they are healing. If he has difficulty breathing or his oximeter is reading low levels of oxygen, those are good indicators to be admitted to the hospital. Even then, in the hospital, it sounds like it would be mostly supportive care, help with breathing and it just needs to run its course.<br />
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Day 9, 3/18- He had a low grade fever, and no appetite. He says food has abnormal tastes and smells. He also says he has felt more nauseous. He took a nap. He felt more positive and encouraged about his lungs.<br />
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Day 10, 3/19- He is coughing more, and his chest hurts, but getting the junk out of his lungs is a good thing. He didn't have a fever. He took a nap. He says his brain hurts and he cant really read or focus for long. He says he wants to pull his hair out and cry, the isolation and the pain and duration and unknown are too much. He sat in a chair in the sun (far away from any humans) and watched the girls play with balls and bubbles and that really helped.<br />
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Day 11, 3/20- Today! He slept pretty well. No fever. His chest is still is sore. I think he really longs for someone to tell him he is doing great and this is super normal and he is recovering, but no one really knows. I think he is recovering? People ask everyday, how is he? I don't know. One moment of one day he has some energy and thinks he's turning the corner and then an hour later he feels terrible and takes a nap. I would think Day 11 is a great day to feel better, but I hear it's really up and down for couple weeks, maybe 3, before he's fully functional and 100%. I hope he is past the pneumonia part at this point, I think he is. We do have friends who got exposed the same night who continue to improve and have been fever free for a week, but no one feels great. We also know of people who have needed additional support.<br />
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My conception of it continues to change as days go by, but when you add up the physical and the emotional and the unknown and the scarcity of resources, this thing is a doozy, y'all. I think we are collectively left with accepting our place as creatures in a created world, controlling what we can control for sure, and asking the creator to intervene for his name sake. This is the order that has always been, but we see it more clearly in a pandemic. May He use this crisis for the upbuilding of His kingdom, for our good and His glory.<br />
"Love you, stay safe, I'm with you"<br />
virtual xoUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7848462075510524476.post-22968937442806199082020-03-16T20:37:00.003-07:002020-03-17T05:37:34.304-07:00Covid19 continued..Hi friends!<br />
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I didn't exactly know what to expect with our last post, and I have felt a bit overwhelmed by the exposure. But for the most part the feedback as been gratitude for the virus play by play, the insight into the household experience, and my vulnerability, and so thank y'all for receiving that with kindness, prayer, and compassion. I truly appreciate that support. Our intention is to be one helpful personal resource as we're all learning together and to alleviate crazy town panic (which I hear is going on in the outside world).<br />
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I am surprising myself in how much I am thankful for in this bizarre season. In no particular order (other than number 1, which is of utmost, make-or-break, like, maybe we should give up now, importance)<br />
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1- We don't have lice. Hallelujah! Whenever I'm stressed out, we usually get lice, but thanks to quarantine, no lice risk! Phew!<br />
2- I'm not pregnant with multiples. If you are pregnant with multiples and your husband has Covid-19, call me and I'll give you free teletherapy.<br />
3- Me and the rest of my household have no symptoms and feel great!<br />
4- Overwhelming kindness, prayers, kids activities, and meals continue to be dropped at the door.<br />
5- Family. I haven't lived near family in the past 9 years, and so it is new and unexpected to feel so supported by family even at risk to themselves.<br />
6- Fresh country air and sunshine.<br />
7- Wine and Schitts Creek- it's self care!<br />
8- Happy to be home and play kids<br />
9- The book "I need a new butt", because my kids will actually sit down read it in order to say potty words- whatever! ( thanks Uncle Adam)<br />
10- Global Solidarity- we're all in this thing together, like the whole world, when's the last time we considered that?!<br />
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Enough about me:)<br />
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Day 6, 3/15- Ryan woke up fever free but tired. He ate a small lunch. He watches TV, talks on the phone, researches Covid-19, I don't really know what else he does in there, he'll report to y'all at some point. Around 430pm he got a 100.4 degree temp and felt achey and worn out. He has increasing chest soreness and tightness. He can take a deep breath and hold it for 10 seconds, which is a good check. He ate a small dinner, but does always seem to have room for dessert...He took a long steam shower to bring moisture into his lungs, and a Motrin and slept the best he has slept in a long time.<br />
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Day 7, 3/16- Again he woke up with a 99degree fever. Did things? Felt tired, and ate a small lunch and in the afternoon spiked a 100 degree fever again. We are monitoring the chest a bit more closely now. We were able to check his oxygen level today, and it was good and were encouraged by that. He describes his chest soreness as how your lungs feels after you've been running in the cold. We do now have access to a breathing treatment, and plan to grab a humidifier tomorrow to take a couple more defensive steps. He is NOT having difficultly breathing, but if he does start to or has a fever of more like 103/104 degrees, we would consider next steps. We are not there and have no reason to believe he would get there, but that is what we are monitoring from home.<br />
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So, Day 7 still with fever and chest tightness is not awesome, and we had hoped he would be feeling better by now, BUT I don't think this is out of the norm for Covid-19 ( especially for males? from what I'm noticing). Others of our friends are also in the Day 7 boat (some are feeling better), and so we are learning that for some, it can go on into week 2, OR some can feel better for a time and then slip back into the symptoms. That is why you are not considered recovered until it has been 3 good days. Our 17 days have not started yet, but it'll be very exciting? when we can start an official countdown.<br />
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Thank y'all for your continued care and prayer. I do not have life figured out and I wrestle and struggle to, like I mentioned before. I do feel anxious and overwhelmed today about all kinds of what ifs. One more thing I am thankful for that I am learning with my clients and myself is that the God of the bible is so much more wild and out of the box in his love for us than we can even fathom, He is not sweet, southern, & conservative y'all:). I work with people in their places of deepest fear, wounds, and shame and watch Him not only meet them but bless them right there. It is so counterintuitive and miraculous. I just wanted to invite y'all to even consider a God who can handle everything you could possibly bring. He already knows and welcomes you, right where you are this very moment, even if it's oppositional, He sees you in the current chaos.<br />
virtual xoUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7848462075510524476.post-17115349751853998082020-03-14T20:29:00.001-07:002020-05-21T09:54:59.392-07:00Our personal experience of Coronavirus I haven't written on this blog in years! But a friend in the healthcare world who works closely with Covid-19 asked us to consider writing about our experience as the fear of unknown is maybe the worst part. I'll recount our personal experience of it and try to keep up with updates. I'd love to answer any questions y'all have as well because I know you'd like to hear it firsthand.<br />
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Day 0?- Contraction. Saturday night, 3/7, we were at an event with 15+ of our friends who also have confirmed cases and this seems to be the common denominator place where all us contracted the virus (I'll say, there were finger foods, passed plates, and shared pens there- but who knows how it all happened).<br />
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Day 1- Onset of symptoms. Tuesday morning 3/10, Ryan went to work and then I met him at school and we were going to read to Evangeline's class. He said he was tired but we had had a big weekend plus the time change, and he had a really early morning and so we didn't think much of it. At 1pm he called and said he was so tired he couldn't work and had to come home and sleep for an hour and then he would work from home. His temperature was 99.5ish degrees. Much later that evening, when he woke up he had 103degree temp and aches and chills. This was the moment I suspected he had Covid-19 because just a couple weeks earlier he had had the Flu and this presented a bit differently to me but both came on really fast. He said he sweated most of the night and didn't sleep well.<br />
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Day 2- 3/11. He awoke in the morning with some chest tightness and 100ish degree fever and decided to call our infectious disease doctor friend to see at what point and where he should get tested for Covid-19 (there were only 2 cases in the state at this point so it felt maybe rare but not impossible as he's in big groups alot). Our friend let him know that he was not the first person in our community to call him that morning with those symptoms and that he knew of a confirmed case with the same symptoms who had been with us Saturday night. At this point, I was positive it was Coronavirus. I canceled the rest of my clients, picked up the girls from school and self-quarantined immediately. Our friend told Ryan to go to any Vanderbilt Walk-in Clinic to get tested. They came out to his car with a mask, shield and gloves and swabbed his nose. They said it would take about 24 hours to get results, but I know other states take longer and our area is probably more like 48hours at this point. They didn't prescribe anything other than pain reliever, but I know if there are underlying conditions, more medications might be recommended or prescribed. He did have some more chest congestion and maybe coughed a bit once/hour, but not all night. He slept wellish.<br />
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Day 3- 3/12. He had energy, and didn't have a fever. We thought, "wow that wasn't so bad, not mild per se but pretty quick!" 24 hours after being tested, he got the positive results. The health department called and asked for the temperatures of everyone in the household (and they call everyday for those), and they told us no one in the house could leave until 14 days after he is recovered because of viral shedding. Also, recovery is defined as 72hours after his last symptom. Later in the evening he had a 99-100degree fever and was tired and achey.<br />
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Day 4- 3/13. He had a 99ish fever, but a bit of an appetite. We thought maybe he was improving. He didn't sleep well.<br />
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Day 5- 3/14. He slept in and then napped alot in the day. He had a 100degree fever. He ate a normal lunch. He didn't eat dinner and went to bed at 8pm with a 100.7 degree temp and shaking with chills. His chest is a bit congested and sore but he doesn't cough all that much, and hasn't said anything about a sore throat or runny nose.<br />
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We live with Ryan's dad right now and so we have Ryan quarantined in an upstairs bed and bath with a mask whenever we talk to him, I mostly talk to him on the phone. We drop food at his door at meal times. Today I feel like he hit an emotional sadness/isolation wall. I think the long-term isolation is worse than the virus, at least for our age group.<br />
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We are learning the recovery is not linear, and might continue into week 2. I would not call it mild, but on and off moderate plus? Maybe less bad than Flu, but unpredictable? I think the fever/ aches/ chest soreness seem to be the worst part. It would be helpful to know what a mild case looked like... We are trying to take it one day at a time but it is super depressing and overwhelming to think about 17+ more days like this, not to mention all the implications of taking that much time off of life. We have felt super upheld by the church, Christ's people, as they have brought groceries, meals, wine, activities for the girls, prayers, quarantine humor, creative ideas for kids, and lots of check-ins to help mitigate the isolation. I believe we'll all make it through this, and by all I mean ALL because no one remains uneffected by this virus.<br />
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I am miraculously fine. So are the girls, and papaw, praise God. I have heard that women and kids are less effected by it, but I do have several girlfriends who do have it (and I think being a mom with Coronavirus is way harder than being a dad with it, just sayin). I slept in a bed with Ryan Monday night and did normal life with him the 3 days before the results came back. I shared a bathroom and toothpaste with him day 1 and 2. Maybe I have it and am asymptomatic. Maybe I should get tested and see because that would be good information to know. Maybe I am a ninja at avoiding all the bacteria in the house?? I'll say one thing, I touch my face all the time!! Also, I haven't washed my kid's hands non-stop, it's too hard, but I try to remember before we eat. Maybe it's God's mercy? I feel more overwhelmed by the 17+ day quarantine than the virus, but I do worry about if I got it, who would take care of the kids? I guess at that point, we just surrender and everyone is getting it.<br />
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UGH....I know this is a time to run to Jesus because He is the one who ultimately reigns over this crowned virus. It has felt too much for our city between the tornados and the virus, and I feel sad and shutdown. I have found myself not wanting to take refuge in Jesus because I was in a fight with Him before all this, and I struggle with feeling like following Him makes my life more frustrating and disappointing (which I think is a combo of my attachment style, my story, my sin, good longings, brokeness of the world, and evil). I promise all of you, I am not good at all at following Him (just ask my husband, he could tell you all about it when he's better). I think me and Job's wife would have been fast wine drankin friends!<br />
BUT, I have to keep wrestling because I believe the gospel is true cognitively and experientially and so I guess Jesus is not done with me yet. Tonight, I carry the weight of my client's unfinished stories (which I hope I can get back to someday soon), my own unfinished story, the wake of tornado destruction though our city, and the continued unknown of the world's and our household's Covid-19 journey, and my only hope tonight (and any other night for that matter) is not in my affection for Jesus or how well I trust him when the world's falling apart but in His inseverable affection and covenantal faithfulness to me.<br />
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Also, #sendwine<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9_dsun-twtLaSxtHQ0EQfhOSpUge-QLhFnIR-d5oSmPXRo4bkGIey2th5BJ3TRt5BOEPtLXT2OGq7H6Fy9YZb1C8h-f2MESG-_UvboF0NPraUnv2NtlknSWz9O_9t686QCuRBQQuNEwRG/s320/image5.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="240" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">lots of crafts and beads everywhere!<br />
( I think the girls might prefer this to the canceled Grand Canyon trip as they are getting activies, toys, and books dropped at the door by thoughful friends everyday:))</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhon0Qr7LdcarisUFP7xZ-tk-b98BbON5mS8NachDFiIU3Z8zV0wOJHnDdFgrFwcyDuZrLP_-z-3YJ50SaT4yWtc1t9vDWOubuhlL7jxC2YhWlBMKF5vWtylyKL24p1LKZ0K_YURLRsbiVr/s320/image4.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="240" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">coronavibes</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">our sweet cousins have set up outdoor scavenger hunt for us everyday and they watch from the car</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">drop and run!</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqTwxxDr2wCxgsc355-bwqxLGKu3WPBQ6IRn4rzN-_jazx0VLe6f6ZhBk1UfQs91788_Bpy8DhcGGK3ky1QR-JdaAc3TO627AUztw_Ak6XFRh3fu05JJIVgJ8coQtRsK9EaeVhbbixzN5n/s1600/image0.jpeg" imageanchor="1"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhon0Qr7LdcarisUFP7xZ-tk-b98BbON5mS8NachDFiIU3Z8zV0wOJHnDdFgrFwcyDuZrLP_-z-3YJ50SaT4yWtc1t9vDWOubuhlL7jxC2YhWlBMKF5vWtylyKL24p1LKZ0K_YURLRsbiVr/s1600/image4.jpeg" imageanchor="1"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9_dsun-twtLaSxtHQ0EQfhOSpUge-QLhFnIR-d5oSmPXRo4bkGIey2th5BJ3TRt5BOEPtLXT2OGq7H6Fy9YZb1C8h-f2MESG-_UvboF0NPraUnv2NtlknSWz9O_9t686QCuRBQQuNEwRG/s1600/image5.jpeg" imageanchor="1"></a>I'll try to update this blog, and please feel free to ask questions if that helpful for you.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7848462075510524476.post-75322406028016346582016-07-10T20:27:00.002-07:002016-07-10T21:12:43.317-07:00baby iris turns one<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Our baby is one, and we had the sweetest time celebrating her with family. We have hit such a sweet spot with her lately; she is fun, funny, cuddly, and full of love for her big sisters! She loves to climb anything, jump in her crib, eat peas, pb, & bananas, laugh at her sisters, and carry baby dolls all over the house. She (finally) sleeps well, eats well, and is healthy and thriving. She has 6 teeth, no hair, blue eyes, and is 21lbs of cuteness. </div>
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The Lord has been so kind to give me the experience of a low risk pregnancy, a natural birth I had long hoped for, and a healthy infancy in baby Iris. I am so so thankful for the lives of my twins, but I had a lot of dark days with a medically complicated pregnancy/birth/infancy, and I wondered often what it was like with a healthy baby. I did not deserve a different/positive baby experience because I had such a dark one with the twins, but the Lord gave it to me out of His fatherly goodness because of Jesus, and for no other reason. I am so so grateful for the way I was able to enjoy infancy this go around. Praise God from whom all blessings flow for this sweet baby and what a gift she has been to me and our family.</div>
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A couple days before Iris's birthday, Mimi's house got "flocked" by 30+ flamingos (for some church fundraiser), and so we obviously had no choice but to put on pink party hats and eat sprinkle cones with the flamingos.<br />
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Thanks for helping us celebrate, sweet cousins!! We miss you already.</div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7848462075510524476.post-44138937544596489522016-05-03T20:35:00.001-07:002016-05-03T20:50:53.961-07:00dance and twirl if you're a birthday girlI just realized I have not done a blog post here in 10 months because…three kids. Phew. It's a hustle, all day, erryday. I have had to let alot go (ie. phone calls, thank you cards, blog posts, …showering) but what I haven't let go of is, celebrating them with a birthday party! It's a fun little hobby for me. <br />
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The big girls turned four. I have to say I don't really feel sad about it. I am so thankful to Jesus for them and very proud of them. I am really enjoying them right now too. They are smart and fun and funny and kind. They are healthy, both. Evangeline got a Tonsillectomy at the end of February because of Sleep Apnea and has already gained 2.5lbs (without the tonsils in her way all the time she can eat, sleep, and talk more easily). She had gained confidence, and I can tell she just feels better. She loves problem solving, painting, being silly, praying, Audrey, all things yellow, and Cheetos. Audrey is doing great. She is healthy and happy and sweet. She loves bike riding, Palace Pets, all things pink, gymnastics, cupcakes, and Iris. They both have loved school this year, and thrived with their new friends and teachers there. Over Christmas my mom took them to see the Degas exhibit at the St Louis Art Museum, and they got to see "The Little Dancer" (and came home with necklaces of her, of course!). This was the initial impetus behind my ballerina party idea, although their love for pink tutus played no small role. They said they wanted everything at their party to be pink, sparkly, girly & twirly, and so that's what we did, and I loved it as much as they did! Love my girly girls!<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7848462075510524476.post-16628940787982839262015-07-08T20:45:00.003-07:002015-07-09T08:23:46.318-07:00The birth story of Iris Hope<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Iris Hope is here!</div>
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June 30th 2015</div>
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8lbs 19inches</div>
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Words cannot express my gratitude to God for an uncomplicated pregnancy + delivery, and a healthy baby girl. This experience has been night and day different from my highly complicated and high risk experience with the girls (in an almost too good to be true sort of way). The Lord unloaded His kindness on us, not because we deserved anything, but just because that is His character.<br />
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Birth Story.<br />
Because so much did not go the way I had planned with my my past pregnancy experience, and it was so high intervention and medicalized (which was GOOD, life saving, and necessary for that pregnancy), I had really wanted a low intervention pregnancy and delivery this much healthier go 'round. I was a good candidate for a VBAC (vaginal birth after C section), and decided my chances for a successful VBAC were highest if done naturally. My prayers were for an uncomplicated & safe delivery for me and Iris, a natural VBAC, a chunky baby (as Evangeline & Audrey were 2lbs & 3lbs), annnnd maybe that she would have dark hair :). At 230am, on June 30th, I got out of bed and was feeling Iris move a lot. I started to feel uncomfortable and a little bit of a back ache. By 3am I was in a lot of pain and woke Ryan up. I couldn't distinguish contractions at all, but was in so much pain that I called my doula and told Ryan I thought we needed to go the hospital soon. Both my doula and Ryan kind of raised an eyebrow (as it had been an hour of labor), and suggested I get in the bath and relax, and then go back to bed. HA. I tried the bath and felt like I was gonna die. I told Ryan I needed drugs immediately. I had given up on a natural delivery 1 hour in. By 430am I told Ryan we really needed to leave, so he helped me to the car and drove as fast as he could to the hospital. I couldn't speak or move, I was in so much pain. We pulled up to L & D, and Ryan got me a wheelchair and wheeled me up to my room. Give. me. pain meds. was all I could think. My water broke in the wheelchair as soon as we got in the room, and they helped me to get up on the bed. Before we could even finish admission paper work, and before I could even lay back on the hospital bed, baby Iris made her way out in 3 pushes, 30 minutes after we had arrived. There was no time for pain meds (no time for anything). The entire process was under 3 hours. I was so very thankful that she came so quickly, that in the Lord's kindness, I was, therefore, able to do it naturally, that my C-section scar was completely intact, that there were no complications, that she didn't come out in the car :), that she was a chunky 8lbs, ….annnnd that she has dark hair:). I am overwhelmed by God's kindness; none of this was in my control. Praise God for all the prayers He chose to answer! Iris means rainbow and we chose it because of what the rainbow represents in Genesis 9: God's grace and faithfulness to His people.<br />
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Contrast between the contact I got immediately after birth with Iris (on left) and with the girls (on right).</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A few hours after I delivered- on cloud 9. I was only in the hospital for 24 hours with Iris-- quite the contrast with the 3 months (including ante-partum & NICU) I spent there with the girls. </td></tr>
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proud big sisters!</div>
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Thanks a million times over to all of you who were praying for us!</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7848462075510524476.post-37016776653974371232015-05-30T20:15:00.000-07:002015-05-30T20:32:26.055-07:00Big & Little<div style="text-align: center;">
"They aren't twins, are they?"</div>
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They are actually!</div>
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"Oh really? Fraternal?"</div>
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Identical.</div>
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"Oh, interesting, one looks bigger than the other"</div>
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Yes, they are different sizes.</div>
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"Well mama, you've got your hands full. They are precious." </div>
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Thank you :)</div>
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..Is usually how the conversation goes at least once an outing. Occasionally, someone mentions how either I need to feed Evangeline more, or they tell her that she needs to eat more, at which point I passive aggressively smile and say, "she's actually a great eater, thank you". :)</div>
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The girls hear everything and they understand way more than even I give them credit for. I just cringe walking away from these unfortunate conversations wondering what each of them gathered about themselves from these stranger's observations, and hoping that they were distracted by the bakery section or whatever. For the last 6 months, the girls have been talking a lot about their sizes. In terms of their sense of self, I dare say that it is a/the central thing they are aware of/ can verbalize about themselves, especially in relation to the other. At first it was just, "I am little" or "I am big", but now it has become, "I'm too little for X", and "I'm too big". It breaks my heart. Both Ryan and I are quick to tell them they are loved & beautiful just the way they are. </div>
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Yes it is true, one is bigger. It is a fine fact, that need not be hidden from them. BUT, it overwhelms and scares me to think of size as THE primary characteristic shaping or defining/confining their young identities. </div>
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I knew immediately that I had my work cut out for me when we were diagnosed with Twin to Twin Transfusion Syndrome at 18 weeks gestation, as we would have identical girls that were significantly different sizes. Size comparison is hard enough on women who are not related, not to mention identical twins. </div>
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..And so I have braced myself for the beginnings of this battle, and with this blog post am rolling up my mama sleeves, and inviting all the sweet people who love my girls and interact with them regularly if they would be so kind as to help us by being mindful of their words, and how they impact the identities of these developing people. I know ultimately, I cannot control people or protect my children, and I know that every parent has fears and concerns about their children. Our fears are no more significant than anyone else's, I just chose to write a blog post on them. At the end of the day, I rest in God's sovereignty and love for them as they grow, trusting him to provide us with wisdom as we continue to walk through being TTTS parents of identical girls. BUT, I thank you for taking the time to read and consider this invitation, and I am hopeful that even this small step can make some difference. </div>
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thank you and wisdom is welcome.<br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7848462075510524476.post-2692994871359339772015-04-29T20:37:00.004-07:002015-04-30T11:42:52.283-07:00A & E Turn Three~ Unicorn StyleThe girls' birthday might be my favorite day of the year. I loooove to celebrate them. They are both doing great, and we have so much to be thankful for. Audrey loves all things pink, sparkly & girly, and enjoys gymnastics, singing, and performing. Evangeline loves books, snuggling, painting, making Audrey laugh, and problem solving. They have recently made a huge transition to their big girl room upstairs and are doing great up there! Potty training on the other hand, is still in the works…<br />
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We had so much fun with our Unicorn theme this year! Our original party was rained out, but we got a beautiful sunny morning today to enjoy the park!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu-_Xt365OCS2J8cSG7uaNhpgY0HBYqq_wr01wJZjXm7y3HiUjH0Hl2yJ4ToMVXjSUJkBRStit1fCwK4rBZkjY2oM6BSf9gqc1skXCc-R6mV0RTYYEVPYX5iG3-j9QB64Qta8_geEp97Da/s1600/DSC_0927.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu-_Xt365OCS2J8cSG7uaNhpgY0HBYqq_wr01wJZjXm7y3HiUjH0Hl2yJ4ToMVXjSUJkBRStit1fCwK4rBZkjY2oM6BSf9gqc1skXCc-R6mV0RTYYEVPYX5iG3-j9QB64Qta8_geEp97Da/s1600/DSC_0927.JPG" height="375" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The girls talked about their unicorn party for months! This was taken when they arrived to their party!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We hung some clouds & unicorns from the branches</td></tr>
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We did a little picnic in the park: boxed lunches for the kids with Unicorn horn rainbow lollypops, Unicorn horn funfetti snack mix (with Bugles) served in waffle cones, & Unicorn horn coconut cake.</div>
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Our everyday hero, Mary Elizabeth, hunted down this amazzzzzzing unicorn costume for us and stole the show! She did glitter Unicorn make up, nail polish, and tattoos (check out Love and Lion's easy shop for custom tattoos!)</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBzEmjvc5IZyAtFjN0iqxB3tkCE7jdwdwrrsyniV4ZhyphenhypheneyEfSofX9RpdBjjbAP6H-9qYgLr1g0NUTvo0t80jXq3GHwlqMQ1XoWQDthr98-B3NXfr8XtDh5yAAZ__4fdBatwa_IFY4wVFv4/s1600/DSC_0958.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBzEmjvc5IZyAtFjN0iqxB3tkCE7jdwdwrrsyniV4ZhyphenhypheneyEfSofX9RpdBjjbAP6H-9qYgLr1g0NUTvo0t80jXq3GHwlqMQ1XoWQDthr98-B3NXfr8XtDh5yAAZ__4fdBatwa_IFY4wVFv4/s1600/DSC_0958.JPG" height="288" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Unicorn Horn Toss</td></tr>
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We did a magical unicorn hunt to find little neon plastic unicorns (Target dollar bin) and whoever found a gold one got a special prize!</div>
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These girly girls are so much fun. Happy Birthday to our sweet, sassy & sparkly three year olds, we love you more than words! Thanks for checkin in ;)<br />
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Check out our <a href="http://theandersonfamilystorybook.blogspot.com/2012/04/at-long-last.html">birth day</a>, <a href="http://theandersonfamilystorybook.blogspot.com/2013/04/its-sweet-to-turn-one.html">first birthday</a>, and <a href="http://theandersonfamilystorybook.blogspot.com/2014/05/noahs-ark-2x2-twin-birthday-party.html">second birthday</a> here!</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7848462075510524476.post-56389301493700592662015-03-17T12:54:00.000-07:002015-03-18T11:26:46.199-07:00What's in a name?<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZGE0bgKyQ6-yGvnl-seFcuIpCq6cEbz9mocmZM7jFobstC5ocYRFwd1UT3btrBJQxQq7DeGMu83WjbUOy-TFew5I5L5h18CphsXqfsRczwKSFb1PXyb0XvYqnK8U1-KDSTkWSyXAwyR6s/s1600/IMG_1517.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZGE0bgKyQ6-yGvnl-seFcuIpCq6cEbz9mocmZM7jFobstC5ocYRFwd1UT3btrBJQxQq7DeGMu83WjbUOy-TFew5I5L5h18CphsXqfsRczwKSFb1PXyb0XvYqnK8U1-KDSTkWSyXAwyR6s/s1600/IMG_1517.JPG" height="320" width="320" /></a> Ryan and I have found naming a human being to be no small task, and our third girl name was not the easiest to come by, but we are equally thrilled to have decided on<br />
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Iris Hope Anderson.</div>
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I love the idea of story telling through naming, because I think our family stories are so powerful, beautiful, and valuable. God loves stories. He is the ultimate story teller, the author of each of our individual stories which he perfectly weaves all together into His cosmic story of redemption and restoration. I have found, both through being a client and a therapist, that there are few experiences more powerful than finding acceptance in sharing our stories of brokenness and redemption with each other.<br />
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My story is woven into my name, Laura Hope (which is also my mom's middle name), as I was born one year after my older brother Matthew passed away, and my parents saw me as new hope after deep suffering and loss. I never knew Matthew, but his life and death impacted who I have become more than I think I'll ever know. I chose to keep my middle name as I feel that it reminds me of my story, my parents story, my family story, and therefore my children's story.<br />
<br />
We are passing the middle name, Hope, down to Iris because of what it represents to me, and also because of her story. Her story began long long ago, but in more recent years her older sisters entered the world through a very traumatic pregnancy and first year, causing me all sort of neuroses:)…no really.<br />
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Iris means rainbow, and she has been such a bright spot after a difficult season. She is a mark God's grace and faithfulness (Gen. 9) to us after a trying few years having TTTS twins in a place far from home & family. Iris is also the Tennessee state flower, a little piece of our homeland. We are so thankful to God for all the ways he has provided for us, but particularly grateful for giving us a healthy and thriving SINGLETON (thank you Jesus) baby girl, and so a name of peace, hope, and rest it is. Thank you for checking in, and thank you to all those who have and do pray for our family!<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7848462075510524476.post-69726451729314662232015-02-17T13:43:00.005-08:002015-02-17T16:26:54.891-08:00"Operation Big Girl Room"- complete. <br />
We are now on to "Operation Big Girls SLEEPING in Big Girl Room" :)- in process.<br />
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I loved working on this room, not that it's anything special, but I enjoy doing fun kid spaces much more than adult ones. I preferred this to working on the nursery too because I actually know the girls now, so I got to tailor it a bit more. This was a little tough because this room was once an attic space (I think) and it has not been updated in decades, not to mention I had a small budget (for 2 people), but overall, I am satisfied with what I was able to do with DIY, things I already had, giveaways, and clearance items from Target, Ikea, & Overstock.... Ryan may disagree ;).<br />
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In typical me fashion, this room can be described in
too many ways; modern geo with a touch of rustic..and cloud themes.. I
just looved these cloud & sleepy raindrop pillows, and had to
incorporate them (tried to tie in poms & dot sheets for "rain"-
maybe too much of a stretch:)). All to say, they were $45-$60 on ETSY,
and so I decided to make them for free using an old white pillowcase,
felt, and batting. I am no master seamstress, I only say that to
encourage you that it was not hard at all, and totally worth the DIY!</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikS6LpIGMGuuRASvxBLpBDozR2KtIDtzbKCVDvpagEAe4o2uWvhdlQcLpqkERAZOwZHX6-BSvG2L9U6Hz3IuLb2PVbUNy7KnFCnlK-d4XH6adwcvYSZgRIEr_grmFk0WCu3xeRLAoZliFi/s1600/IMG_1125.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikS6LpIGMGuuRASvxBLpBDozR2KtIDtzbKCVDvpagEAe4o2uWvhdlQcLpqkERAZOwZHX6-BSvG2L9U6Hz3IuLb2PVbUNy7KnFCnlK-d4XH6adwcvYSZgRIEr_grmFk0WCu3xeRLAoZliFi/s1600/IMG_1125.JPG" height="320" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I pulled out a bunch of these dipped terra cotta pots I did for a shower once, & I thought they kindof worked well in here. The girls love to help me water them, which we do about once every 2 weeks :)- yay succulants!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The <a href="http://theandersonfamilystorybook.blogspot.com/2015/02/mommy-me-wall-decor-pom-craft.html">Pom wall decor craft</a> that Audrey and I did together </td></tr>
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My "high shelf" with my special vintage books. I just cut up a US map for a little background paper on the shelving.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;">
A small washi tape gallery wall with the girls recent art work. I'll probably hang my, ahem I mean, <i>their</i>, favorite dresses on the ladder. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-tWQbw5-hKKp_Feai0fcrahiDyJV4olUAC_NDhQTXArTwxTZJU01rBdzKWTI6QTWnak5A2OwqTpHW_3ZFVIh6qTF4VrCuxhXu7zSpelzu7LVgwof-OsuNPcEulwIMaE3FVX8JveG74Tt0/s1600/DSC_0886.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-tWQbw5-hKKp_Feai0fcrahiDyJV4olUAC_NDhQTXArTwxTZJU01rBdzKWTI6QTWnak5A2OwqTpHW_3ZFVIh6qTF4VrCuxhXu7zSpelzu7LVgwof-OsuNPcEulwIMaE3FVX8JveG74Tt0/s1600/DSC_0886.JPG" height="261" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Thanks Uncle Troy for making these adorable doll beds that actually look like our real beds!</td></tr>
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Thanks for stoppin by, wish us luck in our next operation, & come over to play in our big girl room ;)</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7848462075510524476.post-32992523091285212732015-02-15T19:23:00.000-08:002015-02-17T11:41:17.231-08:00mommy & me wall decor pom craft<br />
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Audrey has been waking up from naps before Evangeline, and so I have gotten some special one on one time with her lately. Their big girl room has been my most recent project during nap time, and so she has been my big helper and we had so much fun working on this pom wall decor piece together! This craft is super fun for toddlers, easy, inexpensive, and (in my humble opinion) adorable for big kid rooms!<br />
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Materials:<br />
- branch <br />
- ~30 2-3" multicolor poms: I got mine from hobby lobby ($3/bag), but I looove the big wool ones online.<br />
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- white yarn & embroidery needle: I considered fishing line too, but yarn provides enough traction for the poms to stay in place.<br />
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Instructions:<br />
1) Take your little on a branch hunt outside<br />
2) Let your little choose the poms she likes, and then as you are threading the poms, let her choose the color and number of poms per sequence (if you want to give up that much control:)). Audrey loved getting to make all these decisions, it made her feel so big!<br />
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3) Tie a little knot at one end and leave about 5-6" on the other end to tie to the branch <br />
4) Space out your poms and tie each sequence to your branch. Tie one more string to each end and hang your pom decor. Your little one will be so thrilled to display their work in their big kid room!<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7848462075510524476.post-91563724824576225232015-02-15T18:36:00.001-08:002015-02-15T18:36:31.988-08:00number three, a he or a she?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Ryan jokes that we are going to change our name to AnderDAUGHTERS. We are thrilled to have had a healthy 20 week sonogram of our third daughter! While I can't help but wonder what a baby boy would have been like, this little one adds such a sweet, joyful, and different dynamic and experience to our family, and I can't wait to get to know her. We are so thankful for our girls!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7848462075510524476.post-7251388081646840352015-01-23T19:06:00.001-08:002015-01-23T19:06:37.764-08:00Big Sisters!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Wanted to let you all know we are thrilled to be expecting a singleton July 2nd! I am so thankful to God to be expecting a singleton. I am currently 17 weeks. At this point in the last pregnancy, I was seeing a specialist once a week, and at week 18 was diagnosed with TTTS. Although I was very nauseous until recently, that has been the worst of it. Baby is growing, and we will hopefully find out the gender soon. I feel so much happier and lighter this time around. I have great hopes that this pregnancy and delivery can be healthy, full term, risk free, and low intervention. Thanks for checkin in!</div>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7848462075510524476.post-25771498241182813462014-11-18T20:04:00.000-08:002014-11-18T20:04:24.833-08:00Christmas Crafting with Kiddos: snow globe jars!Baby, it is COLD outside in Texas, and so we have needed a few more indoor activities to get us through. I had seen these snow globe jars at Anthropologie and on pinterest, and thought they were too darn easy and cute to not do... and then I saw ALL the materials at The Dollar Store, which sealed the deal (wasn't going to drag 2 toddlers all over town in the cold).<br />
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Materials (The Dollar Store):<br />
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- jars (i got a few different sizes, but at least 5" tall)<br />
- mini trees, accessories (carolers, snowmen, forest critters, ice skaters, street lights)<br />
- white sand<br />
- glue gun (not from The Dollar Store)<br />
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Instructions:<br />
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1) allow your kiddos to choose what they would like to include in their winter scene<br />
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2) allow them to scoop sand into their jar (like 1/4c)<br />
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3) hot glue the bottom of your items, and allow your child to place them on the inside of the lid<br />
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4) screw on the lid, tip over the jar and enjoy your little snow scene! The girls got to use these as decorations in their room, and think that they are super cool. Particularly, the snowmen:).<br />
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I did a few little scenes around the house too. Aren't they kind of cute? Super easy, cheap, and adorable! No excuses, have fun :)</div>
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7848462075510524476.post-90511921921910022782014-10-18T20:13:00.000-07:002014-10-19T08:10:55.737-07:00Road Trippin' with toddlers. what whatWelp, we just returned from a 12 hour road trip to St. Louis where we surprise visited my family! I was TERRIFIED to confine our family in a small space for that amount of time, but it was a great success!! So glad to have that under my belt. Here are some tips that worked for our family, and I hope they work for yours as well!<br />
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1- 6 days before: If you do not have a car dvd player, buy <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Passenger-Universal-Headrest-Vibration-Extender/dp/B00GUPPGSA/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1413685647&sr=8-2&keywords=ipad+car+holder">this</a>. This <u>iPad HOLDER</u> was my lifeline. Make sure you purchase and FULLY download your movies/shows beforehand. Remember a power cord and car charger, and check to be sure the cord is long enough to reach the iPad- if not, order an extra long one. Power up!<br />
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2- 5 days before: NEW is key. Go to your public <u>LIBRARY</u> and get children's sound tracks and audio stories. I HIGHLY recommend choosing an artist who won't make you lose your mind (ie. Jack Johnson 'Curious George', Zooey Deschanel "Winnie the Pooh", definitely nothing with Elmo). Also, let them choose some board books to bring along.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIXPY9IeJMAFmFtoXaYHxZFOA10-7PAswZD0tAlgOi01j4r-YHaYuqIXGn8Bob8pOJZ-Xpfmolh82aDtwbgzirGApPY3h7hGO0sN4FnUKkwp2DLPmy_zzRsaThAOSbCz0TuKl1YT2Z6tUz/s1600/IMG_9359.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIXPY9IeJMAFmFtoXaYHxZFOA10-7PAswZD0tAlgOi01j4r-YHaYuqIXGn8Bob8pOJZ-Xpfmolh82aDtwbgzirGApPY3h7hGO0sN4FnUKkwp2DLPmy_zzRsaThAOSbCz0TuKl1YT2Z6tUz/s1600/IMG_9359.JPG" height="320" width="320" /></a>3- 4 days before: Go to <u>TARGET</u> (obviously), and get stickers, coloring books, crayons, play doughs, and fun toys from the $1 section. Get a clip board (I got mine in $1 section) to color on. Don't let them see their new goodies until the trip! Keep the target bags and put them in the car for trash and whatever. I gave the girls a little stuffed animal when we got in the car to get them excited for the trip and they snuggled with it the whole time-- I pulled out maybe one more surprise toy when we started to go down hill (that's ok on a 12hr road trip, right? ;)). Also get the car shades- I didn't find them to be super effective, but at least you feel like you tried. My fav toddler blog, <a href="http://www.loveandlion.com/2014/08/guide-to-road-tripping-with-littles.html">Love&Lion</a>, also did a post on this and reminded me to put sunscreen on them and wear sunglasses if you're traveling during the day- great tip!<br />
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4- 2 days before: get lots of <u>SNACKS</u>. We loved wholes apples (keeps 'em occupied), bananas, Squishers, Craisins, nuts, and goldfish snack packs. Remember little baggies too to hand back. And a paper towel roll!<br />
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5- Maximize on <u>SLEEP</u> times. Obviously drive during nap times (keep blankies and lovies accessible), and also try to knock out a chunk later in the night or early morning if possible. We may or may not have given them a teeny 1/2 of a Melatonin gummy to help during sleep times (per a pro-mom friend's suggestion-- ps. they are really yummy and work and I am not a doctor and don't do this in real life :) ).<br />
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6- We found it really helpful to stop for a meal and get a good <u>BREAK</u> (I feel like their little tailbones get so sore in those carseats :( ). We even stopped at a real restaurant, which was fine because by the time I changed everyone's diaper, washed hands, cleaned out sippies, and cleaned trash out of the car, the food was there :).<br />
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7- Arrive and drink red <u>WINE</u>.<br />
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That's what I got! Yay, road trippin'.<br />
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GOOD LUCK! I hope this helps you, and I'd love to know your tips and tricks. XO<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7848462075510524476.post-78130357568570301982014-09-28T19:14:00.000-07:002014-09-29T11:38:42.065-07:00Woodlands (what I've been up to)<br />
In my little bits of free time the last couple months, I have enjoyed chipping away on my most recent "project", a baby shower for one of my favorite people, little Mrs Maggie! I was one of 6 co-hosts, and since she was not finding out the gender, so we wanted to keep it natural and neutral. We decided on Woodland. Im a fan of the non-shower shower (isn't every woman?? maybe not), and so we did 8pm, cocktails (and Izze soda), no games, and open gift display-aaaaand we had a grand ole time :). I got to do my favorite part of party planing- decor! Here are some pics, enjoy!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5Z2QZ-LmCuYd_cVjFAvPFMN9QcGvAd0t_ruLzSUTRTXEZit4kw2KtVNHf_Jm28SsGYnoK9-OP4PYT7JmlF9aloIKAbiN2owEVf9PbdVPvi3PHH0StsfnNprhcJUZRHFTV3NqMpv80J7GN/s1600/DSC_0645.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5Z2QZ-LmCuYd_cVjFAvPFMN9QcGvAd0t_ruLzSUTRTXEZit4kw2KtVNHf_Jm28SsGYnoK9-OP4PYT7JmlF9aloIKAbiN2owEVf9PbdVPvi3PHH0StsfnNprhcJUZRHFTV3NqMpv80J7GN/s1600/DSC_0645.JPG" height="211" width="320" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-psBDAFFF3VKYoHCkeV_ogTCKpYGOegawK7CkcreQ9Va8aQ1vlIyQ5RZCmrZkCgxqbfZbhvCcptfFqbN-zj9ohOjATHp35E96jDgra6tsXiAf1ZVna2VWGYu3msadBrXSsQQ2e-1voJPr/s1600/DSC_0644.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-psBDAFFF3VKYoHCkeV_ogTCKpYGOegawK7CkcreQ9Va8aQ1vlIyQ5RZCmrZkCgxqbfZbhvCcptfFqbN-zj9ohOjATHp35E96jDgra6tsXiAf1ZVna2VWGYu3msadBrXSsQQ2e-1voJPr/s1600/DSC_0644.JPG" height="211" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My lions love a party ;). We didn't have any shower games, so this was kind of a fun non-game. HE got the majority vote, and so Maggie wore a mustache pin all night :)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhidDZKzloCVaKbEFlKrdknBKNYeBsZWkowII6I1VQOOy1GT8AtXv-1ivj2BAO_fH2n-wUz0r5mghnsraDJMTng-CCUawLphAPxdvYWX1VAFmc1hcMECohBTVVrxBZ3pfTpRn9_ceC7IQNz/s1600/DSC_0631.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhidDZKzloCVaKbEFlKrdknBKNYeBsZWkowII6I1VQOOy1GT8AtXv-1ivj2BAO_fH2n-wUz0r5mghnsraDJMTng-CCUawLphAPxdvYWX1VAFmc1hcMECohBTVVrxBZ3pfTpRn9_ceC7IQNz/s1600/DSC_0631.JPG" height="211" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kaye did this beautiful branch centerpiece</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO_A1tZQytDrL8omwx2W9skSIraQcCn82fLjxvlD03e5hvrgSa9n0SBeaZp1qodwJmYOvfc4JhQDwWhn9VRkJYfGdlHvE2RwMrV2n_7HzXXj8LlM1574vMv5GP1mtYr6950BlGxc9ZFh35/s1600/DSC_0668.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO_A1tZQytDrL8omwx2W9skSIraQcCn82fLjxvlD03e5hvrgSa9n0SBeaZp1qodwJmYOvfc4JhQDwWhn9VRkJYfGdlHvE2RwMrV2n_7HzXXj8LlM1574vMv5GP1mtYr6950BlGxc9ZFh35/s1600/DSC_0668.JPG" height="211" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hope tree centerpiece~ everyone wrote down their hopes for baby.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH5-pSMFFYoaSUEE7Wjfzjr5GATllffgFX-cJQmWRdmJnAA-feb2ilbYpjMdlzjpI0byf8SbMqIUpJhggXp4b0ggDPDv0RWRgAQCUV5ZGgnNe3q_cYOSrwXoWzg0xRK2KqOo4tbhS7E1rD/s1600/DSC_0636.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH5-pSMFFYoaSUEE7Wjfzjr5GATllffgFX-cJQmWRdmJnAA-feb2ilbYpjMdlzjpI0byf8SbMqIUpJhggXp4b0ggDPDv0RWRgAQCUV5ZGgnNe3q_cYOSrwXoWzg0xRK2KqOo4tbhS7E1rD/s1600/DSC_0636.JPG" height="211" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kelly did this gorgeous pinecone cheese ball</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheFLgahGNrVXkNfT_JAJYZ_yhXyPLssFUUQfKU_o8hh4pOb4Y3nqxYeY4Cs8ICYyfnuh_lusCdwXAGkzyCYrP0HGjNIEE11rlLUCriom_sd5KfxIhKArinmh8yxhUfgT2ZUz3Mw-wJhWOy/s1600/DSC_0637.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheFLgahGNrVXkNfT_JAJYZ_yhXyPLssFUUQfKU_o8hh4pOb4Y3nqxYeY4Cs8ICYyfnuh_lusCdwXAGkzyCYrP0HGjNIEE11rlLUCriom_sd5KfxIhKArinmh8yxhUfgT2ZUz3Mw-wJhWOy/s1600/DSC_0637.JPG" height="211" width="320" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL4MSKs9ftBOkWgftBA1XRO6BRgB9am_YcwHLzcZrkpumpfYce7qYuO-J-C4nDnRM0VfKHzCNq1PIHl0T2hRUzHD6ErM1hCKgJ4wjJUuBO6ugZjHUqjRL-FtUGEqqFLMmq65qmvh0XoaPr/s1600/DSC_0638.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL4MSKs9ftBOkWgftBA1XRO6BRgB9am_YcwHLzcZrkpumpfYce7qYuO-J-C4nDnRM0VfKHzCNq1PIHl0T2hRUzHD6ErM1hCKgJ4wjJUuBO6ugZjHUqjRL-FtUGEqqFLMmq65qmvh0XoaPr/s1600/DSC_0638.JPG" height="211" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Carrot Cake- that's woodlandish right? The stumps were from a friend who cut up some tree limbs :)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh45bZg8Hki19KZJuRiAtdo0ezUeeaGxKamIIhVb76ysW1SZcU0eF1c9F-brmzt6THnaSi29uAjsKWzNDp8UXX7NmTvwsZR88RTdUUnVbhV3qEcLGUqEYoHL7rBG53AnmPWbALwm4ttKKNo/s1600/DSC_0647.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh45bZg8Hki19KZJuRiAtdo0ezUeeaGxKamIIhVb76ysW1SZcU0eF1c9F-brmzt6THnaSi29uAjsKWzNDp8UXX7NmTvwsZR88RTdUUnVbhV3qEcLGUqEYoHL7rBG53AnmPWbALwm4ttKKNo/s1600/DSC_0647.JPG" height="211" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Twiggy baked apples by Diana</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVNM13hXhF_ZwmGIU7Gj9UQKakR3EInVe4FGVLtrfMOKZklN5vsbMVAyqKFtwpaaaJkCGn9dMfwuTsjAIHszFiskaQ0A4ZRFP_Atde28WGC5b6IqcsRTMsDVbO-4cDDr_hThZFhLgTjvGD/s1600/DSC_0667.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVNM13hXhF_ZwmGIU7Gj9UQKakR3EInVe4FGVLtrfMOKZklN5vsbMVAyqKFtwpaaaJkCGn9dMfwuTsjAIHszFiskaQ0A4ZRFP_Atde28WGC5b6IqcsRTMsDVbO-4cDDr_hThZFhLgTjvGD/s1600/DSC_0667.JPG" height="211" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQWvbm-MgjT6KjxpJHKUV0bE8u7OHsuA2ke1w0MBEU57g0qsfhbIR8jdJ8pt1WECr9P2Z603y4XuNzLBkHaq2lrdfr1PJspCda20tvYTeK2QgeBmSSqcuBVwThr-k3oGbRm6eoP-LKu_yz/s1600/DSC_0646.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQWvbm-MgjT6KjxpJHKUV0bE8u7OHsuA2ke1w0MBEU57g0qsfhbIR8jdJ8pt1WECr9P2Z603y4XuNzLBkHaq2lrdfr1PJspCda20tvYTeK2QgeBmSSqcuBVwThr-k3oGbRm6eoP-LKu_yz/s1600/DSC_0646.JPG" height="211" width="320" /></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitssPqkg_7JgEMzvZXFZ1q4AkttRtX2k6u-e_x7UrFIKi7w76p2xq_Xzx4FZ9T3ZpS5QY54KQcDIr7NWaU1uP6Dk1RjSAALfvr_eOfn7uD7HEGaCvqYfha2T_VUKULR3dbIh_QpiAmi68O/s1600/DSC_0662.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitssPqkg_7JgEMzvZXFZ1q4AkttRtX2k6u-e_x7UrFIKi7w76p2xq_Xzx4FZ9T3ZpS5QY54KQcDIr7NWaU1uP6Dk1RjSAALfvr_eOfn7uD7HEGaCvqYfha2T_VUKULR3dbIh_QpiAmi68O/s1600/DSC_0662.JPG" height="211" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: 13px;">Pinecones the girls and I collected on our walks. Those little mushrooms have a wire that I attached through the burlap and dotted down the runner- thought they were too cute not to find a use for. Also did little bud vases of ferns from a friends garden.</span></div>
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7848462075510524476.post-87004205667175894812014-09-21T19:48:00.001-07:002014-09-22T06:39:25.235-07:00Fall update<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
The Anderson family is doing great! RUF at TCU is so much fun. We are entering our 4th year and are settled in our house, in the city, and on campus. We know the rhythms of the school year well, and we will be seeing our freshmen graduate this year, which is unbelievable! We love working with college students, and the campus is all abuzz about our new relationship series! Check out Ryan's podcasts <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/ruf-at-tcu/id586751404#">here</a>.</div>
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The girls are almost 2.5 years old, and we are at that point now where twins really are easier than having 2 singletons because we are not juggling 2 different stages & schedules, and also, they play together. They are so much fun! Evangeline loves to sing, twirl, wear her Elsa dress, climb, dig in the dirt, read, and do crafts. Audrey loves to paint, run, jump on the bed, take all the pillows off the couch, and talk about her feelings :). We started a little homeschool curriculum this fall called <a href="http://www.abcjesuslovesme.com/">ABCJesuslovesme</a> (free online) that we do a few times a week. The girls love it, and are learning a lot. We are working on potty training, letters, numbers, shapes, colors, manners, the creation story, and saying our name.<br />
In terms of lasting TTTS effects, praise God, we do not see anything, aside from the obvious 10 pound weight difference. It is hard for me to believe, after all they went through, that the size difference is the worst of it. If it is, that is absolutely miraculous! And maybe it's not…but whatever comes down the road, we continue to believe that God is good to us and will meet us and our children. We are so grateful, regardless.</div>
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The girls obviously love Frozen, so we had a few toddler girlfriends over (Anna Zane we missed you!) for dinner, and to meet Queen Elsa! Lucky for us, Megan is one of our TCU RUF students, who doubles as Queen Elsa for local Frozen parties in her spare time :).</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8wJcxKxefEa6mmXZe9aGY48tjHBH7yyYMD52R1NtKmxvfjKrKIuLTw4PqxQQKmqlDgCDWEx2wtEskuUuVbCNNuRNbXhyVDERvPwkz6VIs8jDjeyihCJpgokKISZ4Pt-NhFaAJ8ewcjl-E/s1600/2014-09-21.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8wJcxKxefEa6mmXZe9aGY48tjHBH7yyYMD52R1NtKmxvfjKrKIuLTw4PqxQQKmqlDgCDWEx2wtEskuUuVbCNNuRNbXhyVDERvPwkz6VIs8jDjeyihCJpgokKISZ4Pt-NhFaAJ8ewcjl-E/s1600/2014-09-21.jpg" height="214" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Do you wanna build a snowman?</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We were a little unsure of Miss Elsa.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Girls! It's ELSA, not the boringest person on Earth! Seriously!</td></tr>
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movie time for princesses = cocktail time for mamas :)</div>
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Praise God for all these amazing blessings! We are so thankful for the big victories and the little joys.</div>
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Thank you for checkin in on us! XO</div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7848462075510524476.post-76672562152962845912014-05-05T13:08:00.002-07:002014-05-10T18:51:53.730-07:00Noah's Ark 2x2 Twin Birthday Party!I am SO thankful to have 2 healthy happy 2 year olds!! We all had an absolute blast at our birthday party. I loved doing it and am sad it's over!<br />
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I decided on a Noah's Ark 2x2 theme this year because our twins turned 2 and how perfect is that. Also, what two year old doesn't like animals, rainbows, and splashing! The story of Noah's ark is not a sweet nursery story by any means, but a good story of God's faithfulness to His unfaithful creation, and His refusal to give up on what he started. The rainbow is a sign of a promise he gave Noah after the flood, that He would never flood the Earth again, and He gives it to us to this day to remind us of His faithfulness. I am so grateful for His kindness and faithfulness to my family in the midst of my unfaithful heart to Him.<br />
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Tray (painted with chalk paint), napkins, cups, poms, plastic animals (spray painted gold, cut in half, hot glued on), cups, straws, all from The Dollar Store.</div>
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Rainbow cake (recipe <a href="http://www.bettycrocker.com/recipes/rainbow-layer-cake/4969fed8-141e-45f5-9a04-e03addd20fbb">here</a>), family recipe rainbow M&M cookies, gummie bear/fish/worm kabobs (for kids to make and hold on to), also had treat bags for animal crackers and goldfish (for the animal lids, I spray painted lids & animals, and hot glued on)<br />
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Noah board books are from The Dollar Store too, I watercolor painted rainbows on the tags and gave them as favors.</div>
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I had a few little activity stations for playdough, chalk, bubbles, and coloring.</div>
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My invitations were animal masks, I had 2 of each animal, and asked them to wear them to the party. As people arrived they had to find their match and get their picture taken by the rainbow. I found these invites at Target on clearance for $3.29!</div>
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I loved that my sweet college friend, Lindy Lu came in for it!!</div>
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I mean….who knew sipping could be so sweet?!</div>
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The kids LOVED sipping their "flood water" (blue juice) through these straws (after spray painting animals, I drilled holes in them and stuck them through the straws)!</div>
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The rainbow party hats are from Target (left over from last year :D). After spraying animals, i cut them with scissors, and hot glued them to hats!</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVVNMDUmd3kR8XjaiKr3e6WUV_GqlGVStxT_LDkEmuyFZbglpJFsOuO0MTWjDbXLIAgM5a7X0W8GB6UHJXBre70tVhQXiEZEUmFgiXQ8ehADiSFoj9ZdFueDyhM_3YerptVAFT6CErSIpi/s1600/IMG_5734.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVVNMDUmd3kR8XjaiKr3e6WUV_GqlGVStxT_LDkEmuyFZbglpJFsOuO0MTWjDbXLIAgM5a7X0W8GB6UHJXBre70tVhQXiEZEUmFgiXQ8ehADiSFoj9ZdFueDyhM_3YerptVAFT6CErSIpi/s1600/IMG_5734.JPG" height="320" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We love our Noah's Ark dresses that our sweet Mimi made!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">He is faithful.</td></tr>
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*I got a lot of my ideas on pinterest and from my sweet friend Leah, over at <a href="http://www.loveandlion.com/">Love and Lion</a>. Little disclaimer, I would hate if anyone felt burdened by this blog post. Party planning/crafting is a hobby that brings me life and joy and this year i was able to do it, and another year i may not be. But what is absolutely true, mommas, is that whether you do or don't chose to throw birthday parties for your children, it is in no way a reflection of your love for them as a parent.<br />
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Thanks for stopping by! To see our 1st birthday party, "It's Sweet to Turn One" click <a href="http://theandersonfamilystorybook.blogspot.com/2013/04/its-sweet-to-turn-one.html">here</a></div>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7848462075510524476.post-44678637956379391262014-02-25T20:40:00.000-08:002014-03-03T19:54:58.698-08:00blush + gold <br />
i looove party details and party planning on a budget, and feel like i have done a ton of it this year, so i thought id share some party pics from my 30th birthday dinner and a recent bridal shower. we used blush and gold for both and i just loved it!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm48OsQmnKjnxp3GCTmKx-X333YuHnSIOlr8jCOrvEjnoxPoMO8LTeOlzBV73a9I6KSCCQYmKJtgmh7RQzg2YLcjeMxzEGOE6V57TA_2JYKMmgYCZGgyG2hHlwi6rSWELWEpDvNNG055GS/s1600/IMG_4826.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm48OsQmnKjnxp3GCTmKx-X333YuHnSIOlr8jCOrvEjnoxPoMO8LTeOlzBV73a9I6KSCCQYmKJtgmh7RQzg2YLcjeMxzEGOE6V57TA_2JYKMmgYCZGgyG2hHlwi6rSWELWEpDvNNG055GS/s1600/IMG_4826.JPG" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO4CkzU_QvrQtINugnQbLFRVoM47lnwSlzmT-Bc-mZtVWQnCR2CPVhjdDx-XN9FTm64kT6-v759Z5Hpab9Ov-0H2Il8UxvTfwcWjZ6o066Jtn5IAMvNYAmFU0JMb9AFGXtae3h-VE8PWR2/s1600/IMG_4796.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO4CkzU_QvrQtINugnQbLFRVoM47lnwSlzmT-Bc-mZtVWQnCR2CPVhjdDx-XN9FTm64kT6-v759Z5Hpab9Ov-0H2Il8UxvTfwcWjZ6o066Jtn5IAMvNYAmFU0JMb9AFGXtae3h-VE8PWR2/s1600/IMG_4796.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">i adore this <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/107251540/gold-sparkling-sequin-table-runner?ref=sr_gallery_7&ga_search_query=gold+sequin+runner&ga_order=most_relevant&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_ship_to=US&ga_max=15&ga_spelling_corrected=gold+sequen+runner&ga_search_type=all">gold runner</a> from ETSY $12</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO95M9oHv0Be59Rt6RQlFgdy2qdWZjdo0zVrJ5jB9VIy-QEdM6e52DAL_IrnNOGRqIhJ27N-g19qfz4RXIsdArlkNeKYCyiR-ZsjZqot4xLIAXx0mf1THMjcWJ4ajG_i3mkl-p6D4mM4lY/s1600/IMG_4827.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO95M9oHv0Be59Rt6RQlFgdy2qdWZjdo0zVrJ5jB9VIy-QEdM6e52DAL_IrnNOGRqIhJ27N-g19qfz4RXIsdArlkNeKYCyiR-ZsjZqot4xLIAXx0mf1THMjcWJ4ajG_i3mkl-p6D4mM4lY/s1600/IMG_4827.JPG" height="320" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">found these votives in Target's clearance section, and the gold rimmed water glasses are from Dollar Tree! the gold chargers were from Goodwill for .25 cents each.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU_i6kxOi9WvGgYlaj-KIYt33LuLjg3_Lx76lM7vcuR4henMAsEFP25vT2t0W9NubHQAenB5JVfiEqydjwd_w9IzHufIkRchKKvyoK5W4k_DXbqdCgMqS93MjSwofQlmH5CuGYWkcYldoq/s1600/IMG_4861.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU_i6kxOi9WvGgYlaj-KIYt33LuLjg3_Lx76lM7vcuR4henMAsEFP25vT2t0W9NubHQAenB5JVfiEqydjwd_w9IzHufIkRchKKvyoK5W4k_DXbqdCgMqS93MjSwofQlmH5CuGYWkcYldoq/s1600/IMG_4861.JPG" height="320" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">ranunculus and garden roses- my fav! dipped in glue, then glitter (by mrs lindsey benefield)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-Qo0_g8RWSkDZaFeW7aRsc5-XuasX-yKNXa-3qCwjEV-hDFu9PYDOiXNyiqAJKWBeTJf5CuU4Z1vzY2zgD38Q9Enl5PrI0P6CuIUWq4bvrfds6DaCRjxhObDK37JbwFbuagF-jEmYr3_O/s1600/IMG_4835.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-Qo0_g8RWSkDZaFeW7aRsc5-XuasX-yKNXa-3qCwjEV-hDFu9PYDOiXNyiqAJKWBeTJf5CuU4Z1vzY2zgD38Q9Enl5PrI0P6CuIUWq4bvrfds6DaCRjxhObDK37JbwFbuagF-jEmYr3_O/s1600/IMG_4835.JPG" height="320" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">best.cake.ever. by mrs kara simonson. vanilla bean 3 layer with almond butter cream. i love how she did the gradient gold sprinkles and the "wonky" candles as she called it (kindof at an angle). the cut glass dessert plates are also from Dollar Tree! garland from ETSY.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF-27IVj_r0CqYbIHjMiDZw1ZEdPFBuF6jwlNHyFJkkJAV2ihxsIjxN0zhlVI36YFuBZjJLFBn71hIGxh9DqphbPaCbi_Lkd60pkjRTjgJ7p5bjscTVku7n7TbangLlC2kVuSCLYbXpvzI/s1600/IMG_4840.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF-27IVj_r0CqYbIHjMiDZw1ZEdPFBuF6jwlNHyFJkkJAV2ihxsIjxN0zhlVI36YFuBZjJLFBn71hIGxh9DqphbPaCbi_Lkd60pkjRTjgJ7p5bjscTVku7n7TbangLlC2kVuSCLYbXpvzI/s1600/IMG_4840.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">try this <a href="http://www.chow.com/recipes/11266-bichon-frise">bichon frise</a> recipe, it is so delicious & girly. i made the cocktail stirrers with washi tape and wood skewers</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvmMx7LHVW7rvaVq956r58MCDwu_RsuK7yRVCPmalSlmH8CZtZhO8UZMss8SMK8AmmMZ3gFWYrwXoa898cRE3nPHuAAJ1sGH63TKFRS9Z2RCtIzMjEzgFTKG5tt5StUs1Wubmr-Ch1SuO-/s1600/IMG_4859.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvmMx7LHVW7rvaVq956r58MCDwu_RsuK7yRVCPmalSlmH8CZtZhO8UZMss8SMK8AmmMZ3gFWYrwXoa898cRE3nPHuAAJ1sGH63TKFRS9Z2RCtIzMjEzgFTKG5tt5StUs1Wubmr-Ch1SuO-/s1600/IMG_4859.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">so curious what im telling them- ha!</td></tr>
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and the following weekend.... a bridal shower for our sweet former RUF intern, kelly!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk0VrCSENMH3FgP2ZYIU5-1M3a_Oao0VD5AIbaSzedadNGnpNbvS3lTqUCfWIdjFEr80Az3kmMAHy0GrSzd-XcACNtmAVyjr9jY8GBngCg9lxfLQtyE5jcXhHc4vHGCPuIVKdVmcFM4mak/s1600/IMG_4957.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk0VrCSENMH3FgP2ZYIU5-1M3a_Oao0VD5AIbaSzedadNGnpNbvS3lTqUCfWIdjFEr80Az3kmMAHy0GrSzd-XcACNtmAVyjr9jY8GBngCg9lxfLQtyE5jcXhHc4vHGCPuIVKdVmcFM4mak/s1600/IMG_4957.JPG" height="320" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">engagement ring wreath! i wrapped a cardboard wreath form with gold glitter tulle and hot glued a diamond shape out of glitter paper. it was all from Michaels (remember your 40% off coupon)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_95V-QdSZUlsG_nowYC4w6kTd3VQkM86UDhANwsXRfdc7fG0OBSvi50ujuhsSi3615M7NVMjp99EJAuq8o281ixm3M3sLngOICxubungIvW0DhTOKjuL0ZUfbg0HM7uABJ-hUjOtCpJaX/s1600/DSC_0008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_95V-QdSZUlsG_nowYC4w6kTd3VQkM86UDhANwsXRfdc7fG0OBSvi50ujuhsSi3615M7NVMjp99EJAuq8o281ixm3M3sLngOICxubungIvW0DhTOKjuL0ZUfbg0HM7uABJ-hUjOtCpJaX/s1600/DSC_0008.JPG" height="211" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">i made the pink fans by accordion folding 3 pieces of card stock and taping the sides. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<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/AVvXsEh_PhgikUlHlFCxiDUyGSgRuFqEn8PiGDjYmPUrVXeIc70KmHsd4y0v2LNysysxvLTzdxFaOHgR4iT0TJk4LIFnxx8qqeGWMa0aprkX1eXHj1JbNet3kHhyJTY2I5WWOB1IqzLAuAppSVlw/s1600/DSC_0009.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_PhgikUlHlFCxiDUyGSgRuFqEn8PiGDjYmPUrVXeIc70KmHsd4y0v2LNysysxvLTzdxFaOHgR4iT0TJk4LIFnxx8qqeGWMa0aprkX1eXHj1JbNet3kHhyJTY2I5WWOB1IqzLAuAppSVlw/s1600/DSC_0009.JPG" height="211" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">i loved my sequined runner but needed something bigger to fill out the table so just added stripped wrapping paper underneath (from target)!</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSC5xtrnFw6XolGyUs4X-DgKAEZkjhzjEtvkCaE2r7SjUNSNLMW8KqA8Q0ES7TN_zbcO3o_gpHNcWhwTDXlEnGzn_rFpj8dFAjwdakBLC7WXufJJxc8eQqIYjZrc82L0tZXIQJOCfOTUUN/s1600/IMG_4958.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSC5xtrnFw6XolGyUs4X-DgKAEZkjhzjEtvkCaE2r7SjUNSNLMW8KqA8Q0ES7TN_zbcO3o_gpHNcWhwTDXlEnGzn_rFpj8dFAjwdakBLC7WXufJJxc8eQqIYjZrc82L0tZXIQJOCfOTUUN/s1600/IMG_4958.JPG" height="320" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVfrGUnxb1MpKSVcjAxUgSuFJm0aZzFCiGn_u1FBQnXFtI87gizVYd-gqD37nMYBzXo0r7KEGKaDlLutpmBPxctiQ2gdUOLWreRi4hOWK2Pde4q3EvJOpGHAaTCHQvQBU_kBZETLmvR1_t/s1600/IMG_4926.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVfrGUnxb1MpKSVcjAxUgSuFJm0aZzFCiGn_u1FBQnXFtI87gizVYd-gqD37nMYBzXo0r7KEGKaDlLutpmBPxctiQ2gdUOLWreRi4hOWK2Pde4q3EvJOpGHAaTCHQvQBU_kBZETLmvR1_t/s1600/IMG_4926.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Blush Stock paired with pink Ranunculus for our blushing bride- i mean sooooo pretty!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeJ0lJPVGVYqNlfUktjuuT1hS1RXq1UpQxZTe_X47i9WTMmJjZ7xc_b96aeaS8s5SvKd2YclFAPa3kikkClwFmgn897Y2XoHRPgZPD3hlLAG9OocP6uEjGxTeqzhGdUFJFPRoqhVoJXSDb/s1600/IMG_5021.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeJ0lJPVGVYqNlfUktjuuT1hS1RXq1UpQxZTe_X47i9WTMmJjZ7xc_b96aeaS8s5SvKd2YclFAPa3kikkClwFmgn897Y2XoHRPgZPD3hlLAG9OocP6uEjGxTeqzhGdUFJFPRoqhVoJXSDb/s1600/IMG_5021.JPG" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
I kindof am obsessed with silhouettes and so i made this wedding couple cake topper and hot glued it to a skewer- check out how i make my silhouettes <a href="http://theandersonfamilystorybook.blogspot.com/2013/06/silhouette-art.html">here</a>! Ombre cake by THE ms amy kitchel!!</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt1y_fToyde2qgEfulgbtlH8cNO7ExztxtkQIKlLLpvR2tkqJ_I2mP-3FV5qxuqWNx0eBzSt3yxcYk51EyUUdyQOZWQ86LS3AXyVTwOQMfnXz273PwVBehA40JxBUtZwmHzQnE6j3Ce8EM/s1600/DSC_0036.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt1y_fToyde2qgEfulgbtlH8cNO7ExztxtkQIKlLLpvR2tkqJ_I2mP-3FV5qxuqWNx0eBzSt3yxcYk51EyUUdyQOZWQ86LS3AXyVTwOQMfnXz273PwVBehA40JxBUtZwmHzQnE6j3Ce8EM/s1600/DSC_0036.JPG" height="211" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">we had a pink "blushing bride" cocktail and a "perfect pear" cocktail (champagne and pear juice). i made gold cocktail skewers by simply hot gluing gold poms on wood skewers.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEvNMw-x44ZEI4fjn1hiKZEDgXBxnGwMuL0GTUMrC2LCKzqx11-fb6r6HP695YM2kEe5Xse5IIzXTRAUyP52Bm4C7Zo2nhZhNddtBwWT37YS8Y8mWh0jT5WcJciPbWl8p1OXpc8ZUEq4lM/s1600/DSC_0031.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEvNMw-x44ZEI4fjn1hiKZEDgXBxnGwMuL0GTUMrC2LCKzqx11-fb6r6HP695YM2kEe5Xse5IIzXTRAUyP52Bm4C7Zo2nhZhNddtBwWT37YS8Y8mWh0jT5WcJciPbWl8p1OXpc8ZUEq4lM/s1600/DSC_0031.JPG" height="320" width="277" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">$17 for <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/165389201/on-sale-chalkboard-bannerbunting?ref=sr_gallery_18&ga_search_query=chalkboard+banner&ga_order=most_relevant&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_ship_to=US&ga_max=20&ga_page=3&ga_search_type=all">this</a> ETSY chalkboard banner! make sure you get a wood one, fabric and paper aren't so great... i actually leave this up and write different things on it week to week.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMLRT-ytALoUWDshaDW_7oH2XJgQnRJUHhYEWPtOkONV_zHT9V6YJO0zI2-LZ6QSP4HQ9FulGR-iG72aDPg0eDdwpw0s2SJWBA8q8a32kwNVQPx3vuw5DGxIFtYLNI1zI8fSG9kRTxU7oG/s1600/DSC_0050.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMLRT-ytALoUWDshaDW_7oH2XJgQnRJUHhYEWPtOkONV_zHT9V6YJO0zI2-LZ6QSP4HQ9FulGR-iG72aDPg0eDdwpw0s2SJWBA8q8a32kwNVQPx3vuw5DGxIFtYLNI1zI8fSG9kRTxU7oG/s1600/DSC_0050.JPG" height="211" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">we had so much fun with our photo booth! we made sure all of our guests got a pic taken and we are going to make a book of them for kelly. i made some of our props out of paper and some were from a target kit. our blushing bride is a red head and so we had a red wig and a veil to dress as her, and a mustache and bow tie to dress as the groom. pictured is here is the groom's mom and grandmother- too cute!!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7p9SGWm1CyPOVeRXP3PzZPB33LMjtZ-xBcs7mv0fI9okPtZz6T5XyvGLN6Iek9_GAjPMJXK16h0STTC4FQRMznfdjDJchwE35q_ZDdNYgqLZAT0FletvgaXKqOx-7X5aY297L0P-3B2bg/s1600/DSC_0068.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7p9SGWm1CyPOVeRXP3PzZPB33LMjtZ-xBcs7mv0fI9okPtZz6T5XyvGLN6Iek9_GAjPMJXK16h0STTC4FQRMznfdjDJchwE35q_ZDdNYgqLZAT0FletvgaXKqOx-7X5aY297L0P-3B2bg/s1600/DSC_0068.jpg" height="320" width="210" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">cute couple dressing as each other!</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7qAwYVeXCXVJ5HIxTP4SoDJTwvGF1AlTjGNMHuAuGLJAlMk0-Ry8vFFPBpJxUqLEJpO7yio-CdKWXiqNu1ef3j-V5z-qk7atTUnBu2CMWEQkahTSrfOe6b1LOUQkiMbi6IPhqTmt7gH1d/s1600/DSC_0033.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7qAwYVeXCXVJ5HIxTP4SoDJTwvGF1AlTjGNMHuAuGLJAlMk0-Ry8vFFPBpJxUqLEJpO7yio-CdKWXiqNu1ef3j-V5z-qk7atTUnBu2CMWEQkahTSrfOe6b1LOUQkiMbi6IPhqTmt7gH1d/s1600/DSC_0033.JPG" height="211" width="320" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSDa7IfVjlZ0Vtm1wR5GYzao3XpFlIJQFuLQ4cBiCif18M0oQdY3v72EUIJtgSDbIWaijtpZ6uzPVzVYIszUch4sLlAVinGz1aEhHl4ygyBWeSZLNg1tSBTWI4ucsid4lCTOlvhgaW-hpR/s1600/DSC_0047.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSDa7IfVjlZ0Vtm1wR5GYzao3XpFlIJQFuLQ4cBiCif18M0oQdY3v72EUIJtgSDbIWaijtpZ6uzPVzVYIszUch4sLlAVinGz1aEhHl4ygyBWeSZLNg1tSBTWI4ucsid4lCTOlvhgaW-hpR/s1600/DSC_0047.JPG" height="211" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">blushing bride, sweet kelly, we loved putting together this shower for you!!</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOmVM3JxfGDvJkXydz8syn1kmyEQ-95G3jw6amRZL7dQbXzsSSK26WPeOoak0pLfchcOQLeC7GiPkeJAas64PhImsL7wTtqcMLrKIkFCyrx-tcro2yN1PJXh1UXO21FToLTm28Qfsmcmzq/s1600/DSC_0059.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOmVM3JxfGDvJkXydz8syn1kmyEQ-95G3jw6amRZL7dQbXzsSSK26WPeOoak0pLfchcOQLeC7GiPkeJAas64PhImsL7wTtqcMLrKIkFCyrx-tcro2yN1PJXh1UXO21FToLTm28Qfsmcmzq/s1600/DSC_0059.JPG" height="211" width="320" /></a></div>
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Next up is our noahs ark 2x2 second birthday party details- get excited! thanks for checkin in, and i hope you leave inspired with some budget friendly crafts and tips! xo.</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7848462075510524476.post-336313453137829812014-02-18T18:31:00.002-08:002014-02-18T18:34:07.121-08:00what to get a 2 year oldour second birthday is coming up, and I have been having so much fun planning our "noahs ark 2x2" party! here are some thing on my wish list, and also some things the girls have just enjoyed having! hope that helps you if you're on the hunt for a fun gift for the littles in your life ;)<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://img2.wfrcdn.com/lf/49/hash/621/656861/1/Large+Lion+Stuffed+Animal+Plush+Toy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://img2.wfrcdn.com/lf/49/hash/621/656861/1/Large+Lion+Stuffed+Animal+Plush+Toy.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Melissa-Doug-Huggable-Plush-Stuffed/dp/B000AXMK32/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1392774868&sr=8-1-fkmr0&keywords=melissa+and+doup+stuffed+lion" style="font-size: medium; text-align: -webkit-auto;">ginormous lion</a></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://knockoffdecor.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/simply-white-retro-play-kitchen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://knockoffdecor.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/simply-white-retro-play-kitchen.jpg" height="292" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.potterybarnkids.com/products/all-in-1-retro-kitchen-simply-white/?pkey=dplayroom-kitchens&">retro kitchen</a></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><br />
<a href="http://www.hapllp.com/dwellstudio/products/HAP%20-%20DwellStudios%20for%20Blue%20Apple%20Books.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.hapllp.com/dwellstudio/products/HAP%20-%20DwellStudios%20for%20Blue%20Apple%20Books.jpg" height="221" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Go-DwellStudio/dp/1609050002/ref=sr_1_20?ie=UTF8&qid=1392775606&sr=8-20&keywords=dwell+studio+books">dwell studio books</a></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://scmedia.thenest.com/~/media/1772A14FF0024DD5A2693B76637AF891.ashx" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://scmedia.thenest.com/~/media/1772A14FF0024DD5A2693B76637AF891.ashx" height="246" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Potty-Leslie-Patricelli-board-books/dp/0763644765/ref=zg_bs_3247_1">potty</a></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://assets.babycenter.com/ims/2012/03mar/best-potty-training-books-everyone-poops.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://assets.babycenter.com/ims/2012/03mar/best-potty-training-books-everyone-poops.jpg" height="320" width="225" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Everyone-Poops-Body-Science-Series/dp/192913214X/ref=zg_bs_3247_13">everybody poops</a></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://mediacdn.shopatron.com/media/mfg/677/product_image/eb379fe395820ee9416852a23a4f481f.jpg%3f1392477058" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://mediacdn.shopatron.com/media/mfg/677/product_image/eb379fe395820ee9416852a23a4f481f.jpg%3f1392477058" height="320" width="278" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.melissaanddoug.com/make-a-face-sticker-pad">face sticker pad</a><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://itsgravybaby.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/Melissa-doug-_-1024x1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://itsgravybaby.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/Melissa-doug-_-1024x1024.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Melissa-Doug-Easel-Accessory-Set/dp/B000JVJ8KS/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1392776633&sr=8-1&keywords=melissa+and+doug+art+set">craft supplies</a></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://couponconnections.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/41XoRXItqUL._SL500_AA300_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://couponconnections.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/41XoRXItqUL._SL500_AA300_.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Melissa-Doug-4071-Shopping-Cart/dp/B000VO3GPG/ref=pd_sim_t_8?ie=UTF8&refRID=1N75P7F6V65YD4R2THAD" style="font-size: medium;">must have cart</a></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51Fk4xbFEDL._SY300_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51Fk4xbFEDL._SY300_.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Melissa-Doug-Stamp-Sort-Mailbox/dp/B002IPGXVA/ref=sr_1_fkmr1_1?s=toys-and-games&ie=UTF8&qid=1392776428&sr=1-1-fkmr1&keywords=melissa+and+doug+cleaning+set+for+toddlers">play mail</a></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7848462075510524476.post-68689047061941340392014-01-13T08:12:00.001-08:002014-01-14T06:54:31.850-08:002014 resolutions! HAPPY NEW YEAR!I have kept my theology Q & A post up for months now because I have SO enjoyed your questions coming in! Thank you! You're welcome to keep them coming, but Im ready for a change of scenery around here!<br />
<br />
Here are my new year resolutions!<br />
<br />
1- look my girls in the eye more<br />
2- get off my gadgets when they are awake and play with them<br />
3- do one educational lesson each morning with them<br />
4- ask my husband how he is doing every evening and listen to his answer<br />
5- spend a few minutes of nap time praying for others<br />
6- continue to pursue people when it feels hard<br />
7- allow myself to sit down and eat a meal for 10 solid minutes during nap time without multitasking<br />
8- work on patience!<br />
9- be messier<br />
10- remind myself everyday to stop striving and rest (I think Im going to make a print of that in my house). Because of the work of Jesus, I have nothing to prove.<br />
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Winter update on my girls:<br />
We are doing SO great! having so much fun! we are healthy and happy, learning new words every hour and becoming best friends! Audrey likes to say "i want" before every word she learns. Evangeline likes to bite and kiss, and thinks that they are interchangeable. We love to color, play with stickers, and eat cookies. We LOVE big kids. We LOVE jewelry, lip gloss, purses, and anything shiny. Thank you for continuing to check in on us! XO<br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7848462075510524476.post-52233439708650904172013-09-19T10:59:00.000-07:002013-09-19T11:14:55.268-07:00My response to your questions..Thank you all so much for your honest and thoughtful theological questions, I hope it has been helpful. You are always welcome to ask more- I love it! I just want to encourage you all to not take my word for it. Please continue to read scripture, pray for understanding, listen to sermons, go to church, talk to friends, and talk to your pastor to come to your own understanding. If you do not have a pastor and are not a Christian, that is so totally fine, keep asking your good questions and go to church, just to see...even go to a pastor- he would loooove with talk with you.<br />
<br />
Also, I want to remind us that answers are not the point, they are a means to an end of loving and trusting Jesus more. Theology is good and we should seek it. But we cannot know everything, and this is where we trust in the goodness of God that we know is true because he sacrificed his one and only son for us. When we get lost in our questions, let's go back to what we do know, the good news:<br />
<br />
<span class="text Titus-3-5" id="en-ESV-29912" style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><sup class="versenum" style="font-size: 0.75em; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;">5 </sup>he saved us, NOT because of works done by US in righteousness, but <sup class="crossreference" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-ESV-29912C" title="See cross-reference C">C</a>)"></sup>according to HIS OWN MERCY, by <sup class="crossreference" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-ESV-29912D" title="See cross-reference D">D</a>)"></sup>the washing of regeneration and <sup class="crossreference" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-ESV-29912E" title="See cross-reference E">E</a>)"></sup>renewal of the Holy Spirit,</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> </span><span class="text Titus-3-6" id="en-ESV-29913" style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><sup class="versenum" style="font-size: 0.75em; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;">6 </sup>whom he <sup class="crossreference" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-ESV-29913F" title="See cross-reference F">F</a>)"></sup>poured out on us richly through JESUS CHRIST our Savior,</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> </span><span class="text Titus-3-7" id="en-ESV-29914" style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><sup class="versenum" style="font-size: 0.75em; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;">7 </sup>so that <sup class="crossreference" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-ESV-29914G" title="See cross-reference G">G</a>)"></sup>being justified BY HIS GRACE we might become <sup class="crossreference" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-ESV-29914H" title="See cross-reference H">H</a>)"></sup>heirs <sup class="crossreference" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-ESV-29914I" title="See cross-reference I">I</a>)"></sup>according to the hope of eternal life. Titus 3: 5-7</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com67