tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-74113267962639898652023-11-16T05:06:01.519-06:00This Life~MoM~MoMMy~MaMMa~http://www.blogger.com/profile/16887008880915422939noreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7411326796263989865.post-57053207260957832992008-06-08T21:12:00.002-05:002008-06-08T21:19:04.063-05:00<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU7rGGkjk7XWGrpm3vfCxtWBPmgnxRt4iWIMnhnRhh8zbJifl8rcn7PBD89WNDz1CUeB6k_8qHRFSSFNQdU5yGWhUJBy57NG7y6jBNe-FR3uOrt0ToCZU6GxrYoNQvoTCTRI9CwFK-2iFX/s1600-h/amber+popart.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU7rGGkjk7XWGrpm3vfCxtWBPmgnxRt4iWIMnhnRhh8zbJifl8rcn7PBD89WNDz1CUeB6k_8qHRFSSFNQdU5yGWhUJBy57NG7y6jBNe-FR3uOrt0ToCZU6GxrYoNQvoTCTRI9CwFK-2iFX/s400/amber+popart.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209699845259871090" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">I Photoshop'd this picture of one of my daughters.</span><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">I'm just learning but pleased with the way it came out.</span><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimfmERA5jlRN_oAkGsDyy9aXuyRwLbaT1_r1JDcUs9EFBnRuTb_soaElWDzlblXtbsSjwRkgfEeDgSCVzHm-1a3bP1xlpoGbBDjl684ehIaje0D31agZx68cs_ClXa9Y_D7Dt0RKJ4D54t/s1600-h/amber-popart.jpg"><br /></a>~MoM~MoMMy~MaMMa~http://www.blogger.com/profile/16887008880915422939noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7411326796263989865.post-87866616112022094662008-05-19T14:34:00.003-05:002008-05-19T14:58:32.387-05:00Spring SunburnWe went to the beach yesterday and it was beautiful. Although sunny, the wind was pretty strong and so we never felt hot. In fact, once out of the water everyone was pretty cold. My youngest took a break on the blanket while wrapped in a couple towels because he was so chilly. The older three were in the water the whole time. And, since it was so cool, I didn't even think about putting sunblock on everyone. The sunblock just sat in the car while we baked in the sun. It wasn't bad until we got home last night, and then we all had a hard time sleeping. And, of course, this morning we all looked like a bunch of lobsters.<br /><br />I spent the morning looking up natural helps for sunburn and tried a few, none of which actually worked.<br /><br />Vinegar-I found a lot of sites suggesting that vinegar, either straight or mixed with water, would take away the burn. I tried it on myself and it did not work at all.<br /><br />Then there was the cucumber remedy--we all stood around rubbing and holding cucumber slices on our faces, which cooled the skin for a moment, but didn't really help once you removed it.<br /><br />Then I tried a baking soda paste made with baking soda and water. I initially tried this on myself and at first it seemed to cool my burn so I put it on the kids too. Our faces, shoulders, backs, and arms were coated in a white pastey mask. We were supposed to leave it on until it dried then rinse it off, which we did, but the kids didn't enjoy the rinsing part since it tastes horrible if it gets into your mouth and stings a little if it gets into your eye. Well, afterward, the sunburn pain was still there and the redness didn't seem to fade in the least bit.<br /><br />I know that the most important thing to do with a burn is to keep it cool so it doesn't continue to burn. And also, I've heard from firemen, never put any cream or oil on any burn since it blocks the heat from escaping as it coats your skin. <br /><br />So far, I haven't found anything that would actually help draw the heat out so I am going with drinking a lot of water and spritzing with water to keep our skin cool for now. After it cools down we can apply moisturizers to keep it from drying out.<br /><br />Regarding baking soda; I have used it succesfully as a toothpaste, mixing it with peroxide. And, although it really does taste pretty awful, it does an excellent job and my mouth feels very clean when done. I have also recently starting using it in place of shampoo along with apple cider vinegar as a rinse. This has been the best thing for my hair, not stripping it of all its natural oils, but gently cleansing it and leaving it very shiny and full of body.<br /><br />I know there are a lot of great uses for baking soda and vinegar, but I think treating sunburn is not one of them.~MoM~MoMMy~MaMMa~http://www.blogger.com/profile/16887008880915422939noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7411326796263989865.post-1149461643080344932008-05-16T17:30:00.001-05:002008-05-16T17:32:49.582-05:00My New Mantra"Let go of things, hold onto people."~MoM~MoMMy~MaMMa~http://www.blogger.com/profile/16887008880915422939noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7411326796263989865.post-5078513487045605982008-05-14T17:31:00.004-05:002008-05-14T18:09:16.378-05:00A Full Belly<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">I have just realized that one of the most peaceful and satisfying parts of the day for me is in the morning just after everyone has been fed.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">I've never felt this before.</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">I'm new to living in the country.</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">We have cats, and dogs, a horse, 75 hens, 3 roosters, and a handful of kids. </span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">We've been here for less than a year and I am still adapting.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Upon waking, there is a lot of hustle and bustle and scurrying about within our modest little shack. </span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Once I get the coffee going, the kids start bumping into one another as they dress, wash, comb their hair, and make their beds. Then its time to feed the animals.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">We didn't plan on assigning animals to each of us but it just kind of worked out that way. I greet and feed the horse, my 11yr. old daughter waters and feeds the hens, my 10yr. old girl takes care of the dogs, my 7yr. old son feeds the cats, and my youngest boy rotates, helping wherever he's needed most. After that, we all get into the kitchen to get our breakfast going. When breakfast is finished and everything is all cleaned up, I feel so good. There's a sense of accomplishment and peace knowing that everyone has a full belly and is ready for the rest of the day. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">More and more I am loving this part of the day. Which is interesting because I am ordinarily not a morning person. But these chores can be done with minimal talking and this time of conversation-less activity gives me that little bit of waking time which I need before I have to start answering a million questions and giving instructions.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">These morning have been good to me.</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Thank God for the full belly.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">My heart goes out to all of those individuals who are homeless, or penniless, or orphaned and in such great need and don't have the luxury of starting their day with a full belly. They are in my heart and mind and prayers. May those who suffer in this life experience great joy, peace, and happiness in the next life to come.</span></span>~MoM~MoMMy~MaMMa~http://www.blogger.com/profile/16887008880915422939noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7411326796263989865.post-46359474051930724162008-05-09T20:01:00.003-05:002008-05-09T20:04:23.123-05:00There is a Night So Darkthere is a night so dark<br />that there are never shadows<br /><br />there is a night so dark<br />it blocks out all the sun<br /><br />there is a night so dark<br />that grey appears as white<br /><br />there is a night so dark<br />that morning never comes<br /><br /><br /><br />there is a night so dark<br />the music heard is crying<br /><br />there is a night so dark<br />there's talking but no words<br /><br />there is a night so dark<br />the whispers are all screaming<br /><br />there is a night so dark<br />your voice is never heard<br /><br /><br /><br />there is a night so dark<br />that no one ever sees you<br /><br />there is a night so dark<br />you never see again<br /><br />there is a night so dark<br />the blind become the sighted<br /><br />there is a night so dark<br />it's comfort is it's pain<br /><br /><br /><br />there is a night so dark<br />you drink it 'til you're drowning<br /><br />there is a night so dark<br />death is your welcome guest<br /><br />there is a night so dark<br />it kills you as it holds you<br /><br />there is a night so dark<br />it's solitude--your rest<br /><br /><br /><br />there is a night so dark<br />life is a distant memory<br /><br />there is a night so dark<br />that black is the new light<br /><br />there is a night so dark<br />it's chills now soothe and warm you<br /><br />there is a night so dark<br />so dark there is a night~MoM~MoMMy~MaMMa~http://www.blogger.com/profile/16887008880915422939noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7411326796263989865.post-12072150939641081652007-04-01T18:26:00.000-05:002007-04-01T19:33:41.778-05:00I Have My Own Moon<span style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-family: arial; color: rgb(153, 153, 255);">It's true. I have my own moon.</span><br /><span style="font-family: arial; color: rgb(153, 153, 255);">I'll admit, there have been times in the distant past when I thought I was an island, but never, ever did I consider myself to be a planet.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial; color: rgb(153, 153, 255);">Even if I'm not really a planet, I've just discovered that I have my own moon. It's one of my daughters. My 14yr. old.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial; color: rgb(153, 153, 255);">I was recently reflecting on some scripture and statements by Oswald Chambers from his devotional book "My Utmost For His Highest". One of the things he had been writing about was our response to God when He "tells" us something, whether by Spirit, or by scripture, or through someone else. He says, "When He tells you something and you begin to debate, it is because you have a misunderstanding of what honors Him and what doesn't."</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial; color: rgb(153, 153, 255);">While meditating on this my attention was brought to a recent disagreement I had with my daughter. She asked for something, I said "No", she said, "Why not?" and the debate began. Now in reflecting on this particular instance, I realized how she always has to know "why" in everything. She wants all the details, wants to analyze it, see if it makes sense to her, see if she agrees with it, and so on. And on one hand I don't want to discourage her from asking questions and searching for understanding, but there are times when you just have to have faith. Sometimes you just have to trust the person you're with, whether parent, teacher, friend, sibling, spouse, boss, and ultimately God.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial; color: rgb(153, 153, 255);">Well, this daughter of mine seems to love to debate. Whatever you say she seems to have a hard time just accepting it and she has to "see for herself".</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial; color: rgb(153, 153, 255);">Here's a typical conversation with her:</span><br /><span style="font-family: arial; color: rgb(153, 153, 255);">"Mom, we need to buy shampoo."</span><br /><span style="font-family: arial; color: rgb(153, 153, 255);">"No we don't, we still have several bottles."</span><br /><span style="font-family: arial; color: rgb(153, 153, 255);">"No, Mom, I used up the last bottle yesterday."</span><br /><span style="font-family: arial; color: rgb(153, 153, 255);">"You used up the last bottle in the bathroom, but there's more in the attic pantry."</span><br /><span style="font-family: arial; color: rgb(153, 153, 255);">"No, Mom, I know there's none left, we need to put it on our list."</span><br /><span style="font-family: arial; color: rgb(153, 153, 255);">"Darlin', trust me, there is shampoo on the shelf. Dad just bought a bunch and I put it there myself."</span><br /><span style="font-family: arial; color: rgb(153, 153, 255);">"Mom."</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial; color: rgb(153, 153, 255);">(we both just stand there looking at each other)</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial; color: rgb(153, 153, 255);">"Honey, go look if you don't believe me."</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial; color: rgb(153, 153, 255);">The words "if you don't believe me" catch in my throat a little because I can't understand why she won't just trust me on this, or on any other topic of discussion, for that matter. There's a temptation there to start to feel like I'm an awful mother if my daughter doesn't feel like she can trust me, especially with small things like this. But, I use the word "temptation" because when I put my emotions aside, I know it has little to do with my mothering skills, and more to do the person that she is.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial; color: rgb(153, 153, 255);">She walks to the attic pantry to check it out for herself and comes back wearing a funny grin.</span><br /><span style="font-family: arial; color: rgb(153, 153, 255);">I don't say anything. I just look at her, head tilted, eyebrows raised in a question.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial; color: rgb(153, 153, 255);">With a weak laugh she says, "Yeah, there's some there. It's just that I thought...", and her voice trails off as she walks past me.</span><br /><span style="font-family: arial; color: rgb(153, 153, 255);">I sigh and think to myself, when will she ever learn?</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial; color: rgb(153, 153, 255);">Okay, here's the interesting part.</span><br /><span style="font-family: arial; color: rgb(153, 153, 255);">This daughter of mine...well, she's just a miniature me. A mini-me. She is just a reflection of who I am, and how I respond, not only to many circumstances in my life but also to God. I've always analyzed everything, especially my own thoughts and actions and to be honest it often wears me out. So, the truth is...</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial; color: rgb(153, 153, 255);">She's my </span><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; font-family: arial; color: rgb(153, 153, 255);">Moon</span><span style="font-family: arial; color: rgb(153, 153, 255);">.</span><br /><span style="font-family: arial; color: rgb(153, 153, 255);">She's </span><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; font-family: arial; color: rgb(153, 153, 255);">my </span><span style="font-family: arial; color: rgb(153, 153, 255);">Moon!</span><br /><span style="font-family: arial; color: rgb(153, 153, 255);">She's </span><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; font-family: arial; color: rgb(153, 153, 255);">My Moon</span><span style="font-family: arial; color: rgb(153, 153, 255);">!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial; color: rgb(153, 153, 255);">God must have given her to me just so I can have a better understanding of who I am, to others and to Him. I have always loved her. But, I'll admit, there have been times when I've gotten frustrated with her need to "see for herself". And sometimes I've even gotten just downright annoyed.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial; color: rgb(153, 153, 255);">Well, not anymore. When I have these encounters with her from now on I'll be thankful that God has blessed me with her and that He's using her to teach me about myself, and about Him.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial; color: rgb(153, 153, 255);">I have a Moon.</span><br /><span style="font-family: arial; color: rgb(153, 153, 255);">My very own Moon. :)</span><br /></span>~MoM~MoMMy~MaMMa~http://www.blogger.com/profile/16887008880915422939noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7411326796263989865.post-79944694422049375122007-03-24T15:15:00.000-05:002007-03-24T16:14:45.073-05:00"Of all the Things I've lost, I miss my mind the most."<span style="font-family: trebuchet ms; color: rgb(204, 102, 204);">Oh yeah, it's been happening for awhile.</span><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms; color: rgb(204, 102, 204);">The fog is moving in alright and it's moving in way up North...</span><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms; color: rgb(204, 102, 204);">into my cerebral hemisphere.</span><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms; color: rgb(204, 102, 204);">Which is nowhere near the equator, by the way.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms; color: rgb(204, 102, 204);">I have not been able to get into my account for this blog.</span><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms; color: rgb(204, 102, 204);">Couldn't remember my username or password.</span><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms; color: rgb(204, 102, 204);">Couldn't use the "forgot username/password" feature either.</span><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms; color: rgb(204, 102, 204);">Yep, I had forgotten which email was associated with this account.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms; color: rgb(204, 102, 204);">I have several email accounts.</span><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms; color: rgb(204, 102, 204);">One I consider my family account, which I have with my husband.</span><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms; color: rgb(204, 102, 204);">One for all my homeschooling stuff.</span><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms; color: rgb(204, 102, 204);">One for the many different online "groups" to which I belong.</span><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms; color: rgb(204, 102, 204);">An sbc account which came with our ISP, which we typically don't use but have to keep as long as we have our dsl.</span><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms; color: rgb(204, 102, 204);">A couple yahoo accounts which came with yahoo ID's I created ages ago.</span><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms; color: rgb(204, 102, 204);">An Opera email, which I set up when I started using their browser, just to see if I liked it.</span><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms; color: rgb(204, 102, 204);">An aol account which opened itself when I created an AIM screen name so I could instant message my college girls.</span><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms; color: rgb(204, 102, 204);">And actually, I thought I created a whole new gmail account just for this blog.</span><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms; color: rgb(204, 102, 204);">Don't ask why, just go with it.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms; color: rgb(204, 102, 204);">Okay, do you really want to know?</span><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms; color: rgb(204, 102, 204);">My guess is because I tend to be compartmentalized in my approach to things.</span><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms; color: rgb(204, 102, 204);">This is probably why I find myself feeling very fragmented much of the time.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms; color: rgb(204, 102, 204);">I need things to be clear cut.</span><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms; color: rgb(204, 102, 204);">Separated and lined up nicely in a row.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms; color: rgb(204, 102, 204);">I never mixed my food together on my plate as a kid, nor do I now.</span><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms; color: rgb(204, 102, 204);">My husband likes to lump all his stuff together into one big food mountain.</span><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms; color: rgb(204, 102, 204);">Meat, veggies, potatoes or rice...then top it off with a nice big glop of gravy or some gravy-like substance.</span><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms; color: rgb(204, 102, 204);">I suppose it's a more efficient way of eating. And it's all going to the same place anyway, right?</span><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms; color: rgb(204, 102, 204);">(at least that's what they have been telling me)</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms; color: rgb(204, 102, 204);">I, on the other hand, usually eat all my veggies first, then my carbs, then my proteins.</span><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms; color: rgb(204, 102, 204);">I don't do this on purpose, it just kind of goes that way.</span><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms; color: rgb(204, 102, 204);">And now that I'm thinking about it, I realize that I don't even make casseroles.</span><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms; color: rgb(204, 102, 204);">I think I've made a total of 2 in the 19yrs. we've been married.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms; color: rgb(204, 102, 204);">Wow, that was a big detour.</span><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms; color: rgb(204, 102, 204);">I need to find the ramp that get's me back onto the main highway.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms; color: rgb(204, 102, 204);">Email Exit. 2 lines ahead. Keep left.</span><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms; color: rgb(204, 102, 204);">Back to my email accounts.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms; color: rgb(204, 102, 204);">After wracking my brain for the past couple of weeks, and searching my hard drive for files which might contain this information. It came to me. It just suddenly popped into my head.</span><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms; color: rgb(204, 102, 204);">My email and password.</span><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms; color: rgb(204, 102, 204);">I never realized that there were such good hiding places in this gray matter of mine.</span><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms; color: rgb(204, 102, 204);">I know that there is a lot more information stealing away into all those nooks and crannies.</span><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms; color: rgb(204, 102, 204);">Wouldn't it be weird if they all popped out and presented themselves at the same time?</span><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms; color: rgb(204, 102, 204);">Whoa! Talk about your screen freezing up.</span><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms; color: rgb(204, 102, 204);">I'm sure I don't have enough RAM to handle that scenario.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms; color: rgb(204, 102, 204);">I'm happy with just being able to retrieve my email and password for now.</span><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms; color: rgb(204, 102, 204);">My brain is exhausted.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms; color: rgb(204, 102, 204);">Time to save and publish.</span><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms; color: rgb(204, 102, 204);">"click"</span>~MoM~MoMMy~MaMMa~http://www.blogger.com/profile/16887008880915422939noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7411326796263989865.post-44240773157873538522007-02-20T13:14:00.000-06:002007-02-20T13:58:40.834-06:00<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: rgb(204, 102, 204);font-size:100%;" ><span style="color: rgb(102, 204, 204);font-family:trebuchet ms;" >My dad thought that living in a spotless, "immaculate", organized, and orderly home was really important.</span></span><br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 102, 204);font-size:100%;" ><span style="color: rgb(102, 204, 204);font-family:trebuchet ms;" >"A place for everything and everything in its place."</span></span><br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 102, 204);font-size:100%;" ><span style="color: rgb(102, 204, 204);font-family:trebuchet ms;" >That was one of his mantras.</span></span><br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 102, 204);font-size:100%;" ><span style="color: rgb(102, 204, 204);font-family:trebuchet ms;" >Another was,</span></span><br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 102, 204);font-size:100%;" ><span style="color: rgb(102, 204, 204);font-family:trebuchet ms;" >"Cleanliness is next to godliness."</span></span><br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 102, 204);font-size:100%;" ><span style="color: rgb(102, 204, 204);font-family:trebuchet ms;" >I was an older teenager before I realized that this ideology was not actually scripture.</span></span><br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 102, 204);font-size:100%;" ><span style="color: rgb(102, 204, 204);font-family:trebuchet ms;" >But I've found that as an adult my dad's all important creeds haven't helped me at all.</span></span><br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 102, 204);font-size:100%;" ><span style="color: rgb(102, 204, 204);font-family:trebuchet ms;" >I am neither "immaculate" nor orderly.</span></span><br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 102, 204);font-size:100%;" ><span style="color: rgb(102, 204, 204);font-family:trebuchet ms;" >Not spotless or organized.</span></span><br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 102, 204);font-size:100%;" ><span style="color: rgb(102, 204, 204);font-family:trebuchet ms;" >But, I have this innate desire, almost an obsessive need to be those things and more.</span></span><br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 102, 204);font-size:100%;" ><span style="color: rgb(102, 204, 204);font-family:trebuchet ms;" >My daily emotional balance and intellectual capabilities hinge on it.</span></span><br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 102, 204);font-size:100%;" ><span style="color: rgb(102, 204, 204);font-family:trebuchet ms;" >If things in "my world" are not organized, orderly, or spotless then I suddenly go into a fog and I can't think clearly, my mood starts to change and I feel very confused and unable to function at a descent level.</span></span><br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 102, 204);font-size:100%;" ><span style="color: rgb(102, 204, 204);font-family:trebuchet ms;" >So, living in the organized, spotless home with the very strict schedule and home life didn't seem to benefit me at all. In fact, in many ways it seems to have hindered me.</span></span><br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 102, 204);font-size:100%;" ><span style="color: rgb(102, 204, 204);font-family:trebuchet ms;" >Not only do I find myself unable to be fully functional without my surroundings being next to perfect, I am also incapable of creating and keeping that state of being in my life and home with my husband and children.</span></span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 102, 204);font-size:100%;" ><span style="color: rgb(102, 204, 204);font-family:trebuchet ms;" >So, for some reason, my father thought those things were very important and he assumed that they would be beneficial to us, his children, then and in the future. He spent a lot of his time, his emotional and physical energy making sure that he instilled those things into us, into our lives.<br /><br /></span></span><span style="color: rgb(204, 102, 204);font-size:100%;" ><span style="color: rgb(102, 204, 204);font-family:trebuchet ms;" >And yet, the outcome hasn't been what he expected.</span></span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 102, 204);font-size:100%;" ><span style="color: rgb(102, 204, 204);font-family:trebuchet ms;" >I don't want to cause a repeat of this in my children.</span></span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 102, 204);font-size:100%;" ><span style="color: rgb(102, 204, 204);font-family:trebuchet ms;" >It makes daily life more of a struggle than it should be.</span></span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 102, 204);font-size:100%;" ><span style="color: rgb(102, 204, 204);font-family:trebuchet ms;" >So, again I ask..."What's really important?"</span></span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 102, 204);font-size:100%;" ><span style="color: rgb(102, 204, 204);font-family:trebuchet ms;" >Maybe I'll ask my children and see what they say.</span></span><br /></div>~MoM~MoMMy~MaMMa~http://www.blogger.com/profile/16887008880915422939noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7411326796263989865.post-35390533041841654352007-02-16T12:01:00.000-06:002007-02-17T12:27:05.691-06:00Flashbacks<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0mv6tAfl3f6bvR0PaepbKaCu8ILj9j-X_PJkUYBMB3rG_VITt8gn4wCfq-HRUDgFCT2LV_5rUVG2DVundcIavdawNnmWF3FmxC2-_gDNgWba19-roy4eabzYKHVyergrKLHpic5hTdBnV/s1600-h/ken.2yr.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0mv6tAfl3f6bvR0PaepbKaCu8ILj9j-X_PJkUYBMB3rG_VITt8gn4wCfq-HRUDgFCT2LV_5rUVG2DVundcIavdawNnmWF3FmxC2-_gDNgWba19-roy4eabzYKHVyergrKLHpic5hTdBnV/s320/ken.2yr.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5032193864439635170" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 102, 204);font-family:trebuchet ms;" >My hubby at 2yrs.</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 102, 204);font-family:trebuchet ms;" >Back in the day when</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(102, 204, 204);font-family:trebuchet ms;" ><span style="color: rgb(204, 102, 204);">it was considered "cute"</span></span><span style="color: rgb(102, 204, 204);font-family:trebuchet ms;" ><span style="color: rgb(204, 102, 204);"><br />when a child played</span></span><span style="color: rgb(102, 204, 204);font-family:trebuchet ms;" ><span style="color: rgb(204, 102, 204);"> wit</span></span><span style="color: rgb(102, 204, 204);font-family:trebuchet ms;" ><span style="color: rgb(204, 102, 204);">h gu</span></span><span style="color: rgb(102, 204, 204);font-family:trebuchet ms;" ><span style="color: rgb(204, 102, 204);">ns.<br /><br /><br /><br /></span></span><br /><span style="color: rgb(102, 204, 204);font-family:trebuchet ms;" ><span style="color: rgb(204, 102, 204);"><br /><br /></span></span><br /><span style="color: rgb(102, 204, 204);font-family:trebuchet ms;" ><span style="color: rgb(204, 102, 204);"><br /></span></span><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfm9OGAfhyphenhyphen3vqxQj7nsuk5nN6BCQrpHbg91D4tfoINJTYz1zXMvf9o1A2HnEZKImETCnH6lXLiCcyNIR-UsM4BU3V1jUMYoXWGxy7Og5O5rDfjKYsmDMKBP7RiHmb5oLHXwyAs3zyfLGqs/s1600-h/jd.ktchn2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfm9OGAfhyphenhyphen3vqxQj7nsuk5nN6BCQrpHbg91D4tfoINJTYz1zXMvf9o1A2HnEZKImETCnH6lXLiCcyNIR-UsM4BU3V1jUMYoXWGxy7Og5O5rDfjKYsmDMKBP7RiHmb5oLHXwyAs3zyfLGqs/s200/jd.ktchn2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5032567951796149554" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 51);font-family:trebuchet ms;" >My oldest daughter</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 51);font-family:trebuchet ms;" >when she was 7yrs.</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 51);font-family:trebuchet ms;" >She's now 21.</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 51);font-family:trebuchet ms;" >Beautiful both outside and inside,</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 51);font-family:trebuchet ms;" >and boy can she make me laugh.</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 51);font-family:trebuchet ms;" >I love her dearly...</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 51);font-family:trebuchet ms;" >I'm very blessed.</span><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: rgb(204, 204, 255);font-family:trebuchet ms;" >My two oldest when we only had 2 and not 7.</span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUMF2-BjQN9w4ll3jp1FNZVI8DTHm6ny3gh57nECnhoYiGIRSLIhknAKSmwFRzTNfkSWLdyfh3Cc3YCMlxzgu4Kvk5fZ1yhvYlSMshOINkoaCKEu0oGPOiZKuOuifte79lgeY_dvA0DZ80/s1600-h/jd.amb2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUMF2-BjQN9w4ll3jp1FNZVI8DTHm6ny3gh57nECnhoYiGIRSLIhknAKSmwFRzTNfkSWLdyfh3Cc3YCMlxzgu4Kvk5fZ1yhvYlSMshOINkoaCKEu0oGPOiZKuOuifte79lgeY_dvA0DZ80/s200/jd.amb2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5032570189474110802" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(204, 204, 255);font-family:trebuchet ms;" > Now the younger one is taller than her older sister. :)</span><br /></div>~MoM~MoMMy~MaMMa~http://www.blogger.com/profile/16887008880915422939noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7411326796263989865.post-31585652278610467552007-02-15T22:57:00.000-06:002007-02-15T23:02:37.583-06:00<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAkVl71Ey7iIVWlgcOaEMG9_srpaLVdUXdVWKveYFQK3Jc85FCuIqf-mPlpUF8e_omf2QUW-t8jbwSW8BgNSu_bYQDKVEVIcgmQWH3W6O9XXij1SsZbpMKw001dOCJOrFfBqt30gYSb9FN/s1600-h/hlry.coral.prfle2.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAkVl71Ey7iIVWlgcOaEMG9_srpaLVdUXdVWKveYFQK3Jc85FCuIqf-mPlpUF8e_omf2QUW-t8jbwSW8BgNSu_bYQDKVEVIcgmQWH3W6O9XXij1SsZbpMKw001dOCJOrFfBqt30gYSb9FN/s320/hlry.coral.prfle2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5031992679581555874" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 102);font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;" >Hillary at 12yrs.<br />~~~~~~~~~<br /></span></div>~MoM~MoMMy~MaMMa~http://www.blogger.com/profile/16887008880915422939noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7411326796263989865.post-57775570782358164432007-02-15T22:34:00.000-06:002007-02-15T23:03:50.230-06:00<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtPZMEQpjQ3cbdlpvF6CnR3Enr46WEM-ABzUjG7owaW9in_PydbSqvP1WmcOG-SNSiKHSLAs9iwIK4rCE3STiMcOEW2AsuDb8MzlI4yvTkoQGoQCaOWXbn8HAb1G4a5j_BQXN5mkwi1dX7/s1600-h/emily.slptble.bw.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtPZMEQpjQ3cbdlpvF6CnR3Enr46WEM-ABzUjG7owaW9in_PydbSqvP1WmcOG-SNSiKHSLAs9iwIK4rCE3STiMcOEW2AsuDb8MzlI4yvTkoQGoQCaOWXbn8HAb1G4a5j_BQXN5mkwi1dX7/s320/emily.slptble.bw.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5031986997339823218" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 102);font-size:85%;" >Emily at 2yrs.</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 153);">~~~~~</span><br /><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGUMOeLnzKm4_6z3XvGyyqMbMyau6FuFuq5zn_3hCcsFVx6AVR3yqRghh0CJ___0vZSJHcpXzHtQZoeABEHETXsEvoKjFL5e1HfcJdNeZ4Qn7JhHAagaeXO1IGFAaZUjoQVeykwxoHH6Qb/s1600-h/lily.ladderbw.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGUMOeLnzKm4_6z3XvGyyqMbMyau6FuFuq5zn_3hCcsFVx6AVR3yqRghh0CJ___0vZSJHcpXzHtQZoeABEHETXsEvoKjFL5e1HfcJdNeZ4Qn7JhHAagaeXO1IGFAaZUjoQVeykwxoHH6Qb/s320/lily.ladderbw.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5031985906418130002" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 102);font-size:85%;" >Lily at 3yrs.</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 153);">~~~~~</span><br /></div>~MoM~MoMMy~MaMMa~http://www.blogger.com/profile/16887008880915422939noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7411326796263989865.post-42667603472340752122007-02-15T22:16:00.000-06:002007-04-24T09:19:36.535-05:00The Comics Section<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 255);font-family:trebuchet ms;" >A favorite website of a few of my children is </span><a style="font-family: trebuchet ms; color: rgb(255, 204, 51);" href="http://www.neopets.com/">Neopets</a><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 255);font-family:trebuchet ms;" ><span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 51);">.</span> </span><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 255);font-family:trebuchet ms;" >Here's an original comic my daughter created and submitted to the site.</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 255);font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;" >(click on the comic for a close-up view)</span><br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhchJ3oWFIXLS8LyfpdGkyqQub45yaGw7gxqo2ig8x7EK09YaWtpweZ5rgMmrQhh-UEIpwRIGRnCZPISZEbcOrGsRHg8QlkBQLk0m6ZYhICpWaPChd-YhOTxdIbLDWg0HUGB-f3be-idcDe/s1600-h/meepits2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhchJ3oWFIXLS8LyfpdGkyqQub45yaGw7gxqo2ig8x7EK09YaWtpweZ5rgMmrQhh-UEIpwRIGRnCZPISZEbcOrGsRHg8QlkBQLk0m6ZYhICpWaPChd-YhOTxdIbLDWg0HUGB-f3be-idcDe/s320/meepits2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5031982028062661682" border="0" /></a>~MoM~MoMMy~MaMMa~http://www.blogger.com/profile/16887008880915422939noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7411326796263989865.post-71907354709359752342007-02-15T14:39:00.000-06:002007-02-15T14:43:18.323-06:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1b4R3eBQ936A0IbVFHqM6Ui9Nrkc3AxhccjVCGLy96u1R6gXGUe2MS82fY5_5tIh6wFGjNsAYCpKzshFdx0nVkv97_IDP7P4L2rIQ38Dm5VO5A7GTaexUVhwU6ZEVxYpNdiobZAZqYOEo/s1600-h/hlry.shadows.orng.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1b4R3eBQ936A0IbVFHqM6Ui9Nrkc3AxhccjVCGLy96u1R6gXGUe2MS82fY5_5tIh6wFGjNsAYCpKzshFdx0nVkv97_IDP7P4L2rIQ38Dm5VO5A7GTaexUVhwU6ZEVxYpNdiobZAZqYOEo/s200/hlry.shadows.orng.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5031863465490455586" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms; color: rgb(255, 102, 0);"><br />This is one of my other beauties.</span><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms; color: rgb(255, 102, 0);">Hillary took this one of herself.</span><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms; color: rgb(255, 102, 0);">She loves to play with the camera like I do.</span><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms; color: rgb(255, 102, 0);">I love this photo.</span>~MoM~MoMMy~MaMMa~http://www.blogger.com/profile/16887008880915422939noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7411326796263989865.post-10132786115396537552007-02-15T14:28:00.000-06:002007-02-15T14:36:12.414-06:00<div style="text-align: right;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTdLmCIXj-G2DZSmwrba80IoYEChG_5Z2QNyIyfrNB7fFYwNNmqrJUeXH81fyL0n2171VfjFwtujTXnivAMgFqrqhLu11fbie51PUUoGOxo75o1bN-Imv4ANjDFMq39_0ffze_CfyA1sm4/s1600-h/Isaac.grnhr.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_" style="clear: both; float: right;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTdLmCIXj-G2DZSmwrba80IoYEChG_5Z2QNyIyfrNB7fFYwNNmqrJUeXH81fyL0n2171VfjFwtujTXnivAMgFqrqhLu11fbie51PUUoGOxo75o1bN-Imv4ANjDFMq39_0ffze_CfyA1sm4/s160/Isaac.grnhr.JPG" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(51, 255, 51);font-family:trebuchet ms;" ><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 0);">This is Isaac as "Grass Boy"~~> </span><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 0);">one of his Halloween identities. </span></span><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 255, 51);font-family:trebuchet ms;" ><span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 0);">He's not in full costume here, </span><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 0);">we had only just finished </span><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 0);"> his "grassy" doo. </span><br /></span></div><div style="clear: both; text-align: right;"><a href="http://picasa.google.com/blogger/" target="ext"><img src="http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif" alt="Posted by Picasa" style="border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;" align="middle" border="0" /></a></div>~MoM~MoMMy~MaMMa~http://www.blogger.com/profile/16887008880915422939noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7411326796263989865.post-34316261648203791982007-02-15T13:52:00.000-06:002007-02-15T23:52:47.420-06:00<div style="text-align: justify;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisiFfn5Ssb8NWs7bBvxdYbOf2Hm4itVnpa9RZZLWQUfc9NzPmvzHhRuo9ge2EuScmICFfF6UoJ7HsllIv-zxAzGoKMkyRMzyyfqwe-xDR3feaXgWI_CKQrXgfNuG6JfJUUXOEMXJ363GR2/s1600-h/isaac.msers.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisiFfn5Ssb8NWs7bBvxdYbOf2Hm4itVnpa9RZZLWQUfc9NzPmvzHhRuo9ge2EuScmICFfF6UoJ7HsllIv-zxAzGoKMkyRMzyyfqwe-xDR3feaXgWI_CKQrXgfNuG6JfJUUXOEMXJ363GR2/s200/isaac.msers.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5031851735934770098" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 0);font-family:trebuchet ms;" ><br /></span><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 0);font-family:trebuchet ms;" ><~~ Here's my 6yr old again. Although this was taken a couple yrs ago. The kids had all made mouse ears an</span><span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 0);font-family:trebuchet ms;" >d they were all playing together. One of my daughters was the mouse princess. Isaac was just a plain old mouse. :)</span> </div><div style="text-align: right;"><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 102);font-family:trebuchet ms;" >Here are the rest of the mice...</span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5y6a-Uq-CMY_9Nvf_Q2vO_gn2N5gpeF5pKdRR4cplKrURWYuHpgso2w2kjTbjeYV1q3HGDHb1YcfZmi-v9kcplraYTUXtyVu-DsWxr6Mwu95wQYoft1FdxASHJOnIL0u0HrcFVMpYuMX2/s1600-h/3mice.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5y6a-Uq-CMY_9Nvf_Q2vO_gn2N5gpeF5pKdRR4cplKrURWYuHpgso2w2kjTbjeYV1q3HGDHb1YcfZmi-v9kcplraYTUXtyVu-DsWxr6Mwu95wQYoft1FdxASHJOnIL0u0HrcFVMpYuMX2/s320/3mice.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5031996575116893362" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 102);font-family:trebuchet ms;" >Can you tell who the princess is?<br /><br /></span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_YqTQGONY-DHHWfHtf9sTK0JEmQE5FOa3_A2wLtrJzh0z9dM7j3fmuRsAlvqdCkBhZ4HLlm9-x-BBosWONel2RyvYdji0xE0CvywLh4XXBzKrJ9p11m1APb0ayUfwy6k7aZ5utCZpMqdd/s1600-h/3mice2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_YqTQGONY-DHHWfHtf9sTK0JEmQE5FOa3_A2wLtrJzh0z9dM7j3fmuRsAlvqdCkBhZ4HLlm9-x-BBosWONel2RyvYdji0xE0CvywLh4XXBzKrJ9p11m1APb0ayUfwy6k7aZ5utCZpMqdd/s320/3mice2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5031998108420218066" border="0" /></a><br /></div>~MoM~MoMMy~MaMMa~http://www.blogger.com/profile/16887008880915422939noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7411326796263989865.post-87439252422333380032007-02-14T13:05:00.000-06:002007-02-14T17:26:05.771-06:00What's In a Valentine?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f153/AggieGr/000_10061.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 121px; height: 143px;" src="http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f153/AggieGr/000_10061.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />My 6yr old son made and gave me a few valentines today. Two of them were bright red cut-out hearts with messages written in purple crayon. The first one says:<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 102, 204);">XOXO XOXO</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 102, 204); font-weight: bold;"> </span><span style="color: rgb(204, 102, 204);"> Dear Mom </span><span style="color: rgb(204, 102, 204);"><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(255, 102, 102);"></span></span><br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 102, 204);">i L♥VE YOU SO </span><span style="color: rgb(204, 102, 204);">-</span><span style="color: rgb(204, 102, 204);"><span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 102);"> </span><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(255, 102, 102);"></span></span><span style="color: rgb(204, 102, 204);"><span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 102); font-style: italic;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" >there are hearts</span></span><br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 102, 204);"> MUCH AND<span style="color: rgb(255, 153, 102); font-style: italic;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-style: italic;"> </span></span></span><span style="color: rgb(204, 102, 204);">-</span><span style="color: rgb(204, 102, 204);"><span style="color: rgb(255, 153, 102); font-style: italic;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-style: italic;"> </span><span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 102);font-size:100%;" > drawn inside the "O" in YOU and the "U" in MUCH.</span></span></span><br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 102, 204);"> YOU LOOK </span><br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 102, 204);"> PrETTY - <span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 102); font-style: italic;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" >The front of the valentine has XOXO XOXO on it</span></span><br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 102, 204);"> HAPPY VA </span><span style="color: rgb(204, 102, 204);">-</span><span style="color: rgb(204, 102, 204);"> </span><span style="color: rgb(204, 102, 204);"><span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 102); font-style: italic;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" >then a picture </span></span><span style="color: rgb(204, 102, 204);"><span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 102); font-style: italic;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" >of my son and myself </span></span><br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 102, 204);"> LiTiNE </span><span style="color: rgb(204, 102, 204);">- </span><span style="color: rgb(204, 102, 204);"><span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 102); font-style: italic;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" >with a big heart inbetween our faces</span></span><span style="color: rgb(204, 102, 204);"> </span><br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 102, 204);"> SDAY </span><span style="color: rgb(204, 102, 204);"><span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 102); font-style: italic;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" >and more XOXO's on the bottom.</span></span><br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 102, 204);"> XO <span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 102);"><br /><br /></span></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: rgb(204, 102, 204);"><span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 102);"> <span style="font-style: italic;font-family:trebuchet ms;" > <span style="color: rgb(192, 192, 192);"></span></span></span>It's awesome and I love it SO MUCH!</span><br /></div><br /> The other heart says:<br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 102, 204);font-family:georgia;" > </span><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 102); font-style: italic;font-family:georgia;font-size:85%;" > on the front</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 102, 204);">♥♥♥♥♥♥</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 102, 204);font-family:georgia;" > LOVE YOU</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 102, 204);">♥♥♥♥♥♥</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 102, 204);font-family:georgia;" > XOXO</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 102, 204);font-family:georgia;" > XOXO</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 102, 204);font-family:georgia;" > XO</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 102); font-style: italic;font-family:georgia;font-size:85%;" > inside</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 51, 204);font-family:georgia;" > YOU LOOK</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 51, 204);font-family:georgia;" > LIKE A BUTTE</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 51, 204);font-family:georgia;" > R FLY HAPPY V</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 51, 204);font-family:georgia;" > ALiTines D <span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 102); font-style: italic;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;" > -<span style="font-size:100%;"> the "i"s are dotted with little hearts</span></span></span><br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 51, 204);font-family:georgia;" > AY XOXOX</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 51, 204);font-family:georgia;" > OXOXO</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> These homemade cards from the</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> heart of a child ROCK!</span><br /> <br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> Kids are such a blessing. I love my kids. :)</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);font-size:180%;" ><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 102); font-weight: bold;font-size:180%;" ><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> ~ HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY WORLD ~ !</span></span><br /></div>~MoM~MoMMy~MaMMa~http://www.blogger.com/profile/16887008880915422939noreply@blogger.com0