tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-72976571802544993192024-03-12T20:48:52.173-04:00Micah Six EightJuliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04814524050417570766noreply@blogger.comBlogger1793125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7297657180254499319.post-71386483778112628382024-02-20T06:42:00.000-05:002024-02-20T06:42:30.313-05:00On The Road - Oh My!<p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;">I remember learning to drive.</p><p style="text-align: center;">I was the third in our family and so the novelty of a new driver had worn off by the time it was my turn to sit behind the wheel.</p><p style="text-align: center;">My driver training consisted of a few excursions around the block in my dad's stick shift. I mastered the skill in our neighborhood after a few times practicing and was deemed ready to take the behind the wheel class.</p><p style="text-align: center;">The instructor was an older, impatient lady with little compassion for new drivers!</p><p style="text-align: center;">I got in that car for the first time and reached for the stick shift with my right hand and my left foot searching for the clutch.</p><p style="text-align: center;">Neither was part of the car.</p><p style="text-align: center;">I was completely lost.</p><p style="text-align: center;"> I didn't even know how to put it in gear!<br /><br />I will pull the curtain over the verbal abuse I got from my instructor.</p><p style="text-align: center;">With harsh words and angry glares, she had to impatiently walk me through driving an automatic step by step.</p><p style="text-align: center;">After a few lessons with her where I soon learned to drive her car, she reluctantly passed me but wrote a note for my parents to PLEASE give me a bit more training before taking me to get my license.</p><p style="text-align: center;">Neither parent read the note which sat unopened on my dad's dresser.</p><p style="text-align: center;">The day I turned 16, I got my license.</p><p style="text-align: center;">I was driving alone within a few days.</p><p style="text-align: center;">It was a different world back then.</p><p style="text-align: center;">When our first two did the license route 10+ years ago, we were strict and careful and made sure they were well prepared. We made them practice, practice, practice and refused to let them drive alone even when they had the piece of plastic that gave them license to drive.</p><p style="text-align: center;">It was a long time before we felt at peace with them out navigating the roads on their own.</p><p style="text-align: center;">It was even longer when we let anyone ride in the car with them.</p><p style="text-align: center;">When John and Aaron reached the time when they could start the process, we looked at each other and wondered how in the world we would ever get them behind the wheel.</p><p style="text-align: center;">We had no idea what was involved for two boys who are handicapped to get their license.</p><p style="text-align: center;">So we just defaulted to doing nothing.</p><p style="text-align: center;">That lasted for a few years or so until they both started asking, wondering, longing.</p><p style="text-align: center;">So we started the process without the foggiest what was involved.</p><p style="text-align: center;">They took the classes, they needed, they studied for their learner's permit and we went in to take it.</p><p style="text-align: center;">They both failed.</p><p style="text-align: center;">Ouch.</p><p style="text-align: center;">It was okay. A large portion fail so it was fine.</p><p style="text-align: center;">But while there they made us check a box indicating that they would need adaptive material on their cars in order to drive. They sent us home with a ream of paperwork and a medical that the doctor needed to fill out.</p><p style="text-align: center;">Little did we know that that checked box was going to set us back a long long time and the hoops they would have to go through to drive would make breaking into Fort Knox look like a piece of cake.</p><p style="text-align: center;">We filled out the forms, got the medical and six weeks later went back to try again for their learner's permit.</p><p style="text-align: center;">I stood at the DMV desk with both boys helping them navigate the process.</p><p style="text-align: center;">John got the green light to go ahead, and he went to take the test.</p><p style="text-align: center;">Aaron hit a wall.</p><p style="text-align: center;">His file had a rejection on it. He could not proceed unless we had a certified driving instructor overseeing his driving.</p><p style="text-align: center;">What?? </p><p style="text-align: center;">Why Aaron and not John?</p><p style="text-align: center;">I was a bit shocked, frustrated and definitely angry.</p><p style="text-align: center;">They refused to let him take the test with that rejection on it and no amount of reasonable pleading would change their minds.</p><p style="text-align: center;">John passed his test, but Aaron wasn't allowed to take it.</p><p style="text-align: center;">Over the next weeks I made phone calls, banged my head into the walls and researched until I realized that Aaron's medical had made it to the DMV which immediately put a red light on his file and John's paperwork had gotten lost.</p><p style="text-align: center;">So one boy was able to get through because of lost paperwork and the other was shuttled to the side.</p><p style="text-align: center;">We had to pay 250.00 to a company that did driver training to get Aaron out of the red light jail so he could get his learner's permit. That took months and months.</p><p style="text-align: center;">Getting a learner's permit was honestly the easy part.</p><p style="text-align: center;">With the checked box on their application, we couldn't just proceed to the next normal step.</p><p style="text-align: center;">They had to be in a program to get their licenses.</p><p style="text-align: center;">We couldn't afford to go the driving training route that we used to get Aaron his learner's. Two boys and the costs for that program were outrageous.</p><p style="text-align: center;">Thankfully, we found Plan B.</p><p style="text-align: center;">A year and a half ago the boys enrolled in a program in Virginia that gives driver training, vocational training, job help and a little bit of a lot of other things. Wilson Workforce and Rehabilitation Center.</p><p style="text-align: center;">The people there have been fantastic.</p><p style="text-align: center;">Both boys were evaluated for adaptive devices.</p><p style="text-align: center;">John's were fairly straightforward and easy (although it still took 6 months).</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCA0VZT9ke02oRQV5z52jdEvuVD06v-GD4-Xa4zuz8I5zj0g1sVxQ28htefJeoDj0TwaXdzVwCYyUW_JwwxOfhyphenhyphen7M6XLr-4Vic6cR4guz96myCbua1XhUizWGPEdx5t6TYJ4qxZDvZdGtq3dUJjOuBH0Pxq7BMDsn5rPmO2ZB-lQEhVmjajlBhRFU4Qy0/s640/IMG_6847.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCA0VZT9ke02oRQV5z52jdEvuVD06v-GD4-Xa4zuz8I5zj0g1sVxQ28htefJeoDj0TwaXdzVwCYyUW_JwwxOfhyphenhyphen7M6XLr-4Vic6cR4guz96myCbua1XhUizWGPEdx5t6TYJ4qxZDvZdGtq3dUJjOuBH0Pxq7BMDsn5rPmO2ZB-lQEhVmjajlBhRFU4Qy0/w480-h640/IMG_6847.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;">They picked what he needed, he spent 6 weeks last fall training on the equipment and passed his driving test.</p><p style="text-align: center;">He now had a license.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWsiqWyRo9HzZ8j74NRnS7ApIHxIFGK6kAVhEQ9UpWcK6VPWLNsse3vg2b_2FIbUpC2q8l8Uk_XCHLnK_eQ-pGmCUSBYY9xaOyphDdOx4Bdb0Nb9fcyrhmD2KolMTNfzgQTtQpAAoantnBmS_KTEgLier85KYYthCJ-PyAjgIzPE7q7ibEAVkI_2PYOr4/s2016/IMG_8769.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWsiqWyRo9HzZ8j74NRnS7ApIHxIFGK6kAVhEQ9UpWcK6VPWLNsse3vg2b_2FIbUpC2q8l8Uk_XCHLnK_eQ-pGmCUSBYY9xaOyphDdOx4Bdb0Nb9fcyrhmD2KolMTNfzgQTtQpAAoantnBmS_KTEgLier85KYYthCJ-PyAjgIzPE7q7ibEAVkI_2PYOr4/w480-h640/IMG_8769.jpg" width="480" /></a></p><p style="text-align: center;">Aaron hit another wall.</p><p style="text-align: center;">The adaptive equipment they had at the training center was awkward but the best they had to offer.</p><p style="text-align: center;">He spent 5 weeks at different times in the year learning that equipment until they cried uncle and wanted him to try something else with an entirely different training program.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTYBKrDhV9l_dfuG8b4yV6EHfp17xAN8-SlZ8pH2ogUShyRzZg8WWSX9BeEemXTy8bhnJoVmhONFma4X9OMTU-yJ4EFKaBmubf02Na6HNYjN1mP6tBEhIRFnsP3aPnmI7-RxiO0R7T8IiXC50MQV0GlaHUnaW6nb4wx-Ahlb7loRGSTT7HoxDvCc0s8j4/s640/IMG_7348.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTYBKrDhV9l_dfuG8b4yV6EHfp17xAN8-SlZ8pH2ogUShyRzZg8WWSX9BeEemXTy8bhnJoVmhONFma4X9OMTU-yJ4EFKaBmubf02Na6HNYjN1mP6tBEhIRFnsP3aPnmI7-RxiO0R7T8IiXC50MQV0GlaHUnaW6nb4wx-Ahlb7loRGSTT7HoxDvCc0s8j4/w480-h640/IMG_7348.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;">The new equipment worked like a charm, so he spent 5 solid days learning that equipment and then passed his test.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigI4N0-mA98hEeyme4yh7kwEf2ZzCQUiIPDWOaPn5Z1P2XyO9To7smZSbdA86g2CBAyg5_2K1oRVTnjMxliqymrKSheb4Kk3C2q_nhyphenhyphen8jG92YoKGiRrNrX2rFCZa19Tl7P2WmWvH3g0CE5J7f2TIedgl0RQD84KVwW017tRPhyphenhyphenbv3oK8nU_ENRGiaGT8E/s2016/IMG_8776.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigI4N0-mA98hEeyme4yh7kwEf2ZzCQUiIPDWOaPn5Z1P2XyO9To7smZSbdA86g2CBAyg5_2K1oRVTnjMxliqymrKSheb4Kk3C2q_nhyphenhyphen8jG92YoKGiRrNrX2rFCZa19Tl7P2WmWvH3g0CE5J7f2TIedgl0RQD84KVwW017tRPhyphenhyphenbv3oK8nU_ENRGiaGT8E/w480-h640/IMG_8776.jpg" width="480" /></a></p><p style="text-align: center;">Both boys have their licenses.</p><p style="text-align: center;">And then we waited. And waited.</p><p style="text-align: center;">Part of the waiting involved the financial part of getting them behind the wheel.</p><p style="text-align: center;">Virginia has a program that helps cover the cost of their adaptive equipment after we pay a deductible.</p><p style="text-align: center;">This involves bids and then approval and then putting the equipment in.</p><p style="text-align: center;">This past week - John's car was adapted and he has been driving under the watchful eyes of the instructors at Wilson Workforce.</p><p style="text-align: center;">On Friday he will be released and able to drive independently.</p><p style="text-align: center;">Of course - he will have to pass the Dad and Mom driving school which involves many hours of practice before he is fully released to venture out on his own.</p><p style="text-align: center;">But despite that minor setback - he's so excited and we are so proud!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXj3zwyzUkIzQQMPBA7-SfIZP3vqkWY7f9hIAEf16hLfAjauoVPD6WbaRbtJrbW9q-KvAoq_bh90ahB4t3uIHqU4HoZVPE2d6kfewZsQ_4PttVOsDFqho8-5uT8jfSF2Mzomd43-6uclLWx3-8IUT72b3-RIZmevgbBVgCdcM8f-00M9sVtKUd0Ob8oBQ/s4032/418576614_1069725937476878_2963110935927208706_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXj3zwyzUkIzQQMPBA7-SfIZP3vqkWY7f9hIAEf16hLfAjauoVPD6WbaRbtJrbW9q-KvAoq_bh90ahB4t3uIHqU4HoZVPE2d6kfewZsQ_4PttVOsDFqho8-5uT8jfSF2Mzomd43-6uclLWx3-8IUT72b3-RIZmevgbBVgCdcM8f-00M9sVtKUd0Ob8oBQ/w480-h640/418576614_1069725937476878_2963110935927208706_n.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: center;">That just leaves one more to get through the process.</p><p style="text-align: center;">For Aaron - it's anybody's guess how long it will be. His adaptations are more intense and require financial approval way up the food chain. </p><p style="text-align: center;">So he's "patiently" waiting and hoping that soon he too will be sitting behind the wheel of his own car.</p><p style="text-align: center;">I've got mixed feelings about my boys out on the roads.</p><p style="text-align: center;">I had those same mixed feelings with my first two.</p><p style="text-align: center;">It's hard to let go.</p><p style="text-align: center;">But I will be glad when the cars are finally finished, and we can put this crazy, hard process behind us!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh_cOo-5z75xxZ1YyGXKqZIx3OeO6EBi-r__xYHDY_bCpasyuKX7LQsVOQRmLmpzTnMpUqOqq2_7tYnLpqbKnQVHiC0Q1qyBLrEHHYr3TKXLhzXHRo4kmlscVDq1yCrfOxocHC0q6LSWECwU0Lj5lLudf0DLM1W21dpFTyA75BFZ5CySH6e9nFbu1tapk/s2016/IMG_8760.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh_cOo-5z75xxZ1YyGXKqZIx3OeO6EBi-r__xYHDY_bCpasyuKX7LQsVOQRmLmpzTnMpUqOqq2_7tYnLpqbKnQVHiC0Q1qyBLrEHHYr3TKXLhzXHRo4kmlscVDq1yCrfOxocHC0q6LSWECwU0Lj5lLudf0DLM1W21dpFTyA75BFZ5CySH6e9nFbu1tapk/w640-h480/IMG_8760.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">As for Little Girl - driving is not ever in her future but she will definitely enjoy being chauffeured around by her big brothers!</div><br /><p></p>Juliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04814524050417570766noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7297657180254499319.post-16359656609780870202023-05-22T14:56:00.001-04:002023-05-22T16:42:36.117-04:00The Challenge<p style="text-align: center;"> This weekend was a watershed moment for us.</p><p style="text-align: center;">Our two boys graduated from high school.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAGw8pYc6c3Rs-tjubE5_MSmhkB13sQyeUc4zKYnlP3qMGKF1bY9pJeS5Hxyyx92AUBliEocazudPk6rVcaqFBO8QzQFlukjNEqqwjqVS73pjhsESWaMeInb4U-Qa-5kxcIjH9Ur0Z3A4WkZnPt9ySNcO-R3nJR05xymflsrBMmEIrKY34__BxPfmf/s640/IMG_7393.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAGw8pYc6c3Rs-tjubE5_MSmhkB13sQyeUc4zKYnlP3qMGKF1bY9pJeS5Hxyyx92AUBliEocazudPk6rVcaqFBO8QzQFlukjNEqqwjqVS73pjhsESWaMeInb4U-Qa-5kxcIjH9Ur0Z3A4WkZnPt9ySNcO-R3nJR05xymflsrBMmEIrKY34__BxPfmf/w480-h640/IMG_7393.jpg" width="480" /></a></p><p></p><p style="text-align: center;">That may not seem like an amazing feat since hundreds of thousands and more will be graduating from high school this year just like hundreds of thousands and more have graduated and will graduate in the years to come.</p><p style="text-align: center;"> It's just a right of passage. One of those milestones. An expected part of growing up.</p><p style="text-align: center;">A yawn. A get through the ceremony. A look to the future.</p><p style="text-align: center;">But for my boys - my boys - it is so much more.</p><p style="text-align: center;">For this one all I can do is weep realizing that but for the Grace of God he would still be sitting in a shed with his mind crippled from years of disuse.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPPOQ_x7x9BCPMEXMEsgUjEk5Wnm8UNJGLN0kVBB-Wy109L8wbVStKr8tp_DikQ2dkQio-0U8w74M3sq3kv1OnfFOsIbQ5VYO0Lt3YvTzLQ5ooWhhuU7uFovfhF2wPLeF4pI7Ur_fiSYMUQJZDdno3N_vZUR_cOhezPEzWuGu4ExIA-4ZtzYBI_bD8/s1343/DSC_0069-1.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="893" data-original-width="1343" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPPOQ_x7x9BCPMEXMEsgUjEk5Wnm8UNJGLN0kVBB-Wy109L8wbVStKr8tp_DikQ2dkQio-0U8w74M3sq3kv1OnfFOsIbQ5VYO0Lt3YvTzLQ5ooWhhuU7uFovfhF2wPLeF4pI7Ur_fiSYMUQJZDdno3N_vZUR_cOhezPEzWuGu4ExIA-4ZtzYBI_bD8/w640-h426/DSC_0069-1.JPG" width="640" /></a></p><p style="text-align: center;">He was thrown away - deemed severely physically and mentally disabled.</p><p style="text-align: center;">Uneducable. Useless. Not fit to live out in society. A child to be hidden away behind the walls of an institute that was closed and still is closed to the outside world. </p><p style="text-align: center;">But for the Grace of God he would still be there. Instead he has graduated from high school. </p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgINbYrHxcreOlA5oX7xvXdmNkYJ1mZrb2I0aQNBufXRUF6axtOd-2LGjQUr58QwccwtLtbBTwxJSPcykEi4Oyqb8qsMK2F7qkfa2h9gltSDfIHXu3btkdZQCH828aiMUHbVjry1uksPMRN3Q6oJ-AMt70BH0HycXdZ02MC6uLlNakljpq6TbQUeCKL/s640/IMG_7416.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgINbYrHxcreOlA5oX7xvXdmNkYJ1mZrb2I0aQNBufXRUF6axtOd-2LGjQUr58QwccwtLtbBTwxJSPcykEi4Oyqb8qsMK2F7qkfa2h9gltSDfIHXu3btkdZQCH828aiMUHbVjry1uksPMRN3Q6oJ-AMt70BH0HycXdZ02MC6uLlNakljpq6TbQUeCKL/w480-h640/IMG_7416.jpg" width="480" /></a></p><p style="text-align: center;">And this one - eleven years in an orphanage. Not quite in such a horrific place but he would never have been given a ticket out. His disability disqualifying him for life. </p><p style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhKIaxXN88XN3XHa2DqZO0iZk9e5Eztdq8spROsxzMkuvZQFCgnuezpGjAg5Z9-UuBCnveyinKT0AuM8fw_KAMARM5SPam8H-sF3WivgCC_NC0whQVWZ1OAEWz2AbirrEHKFLua-P9JIndTi_9CJoa8Vwl1ySvfdhsHdYuvMdOvcPnoU_NeAZJfbSVA" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-height="893" data-original-width="1338" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhKIaxXN88XN3XHa2DqZO0iZk9e5Eztdq8spROsxzMkuvZQFCgnuezpGjAg5Z9-UuBCnveyinKT0AuM8fw_KAMARM5SPam8H-sF3WivgCC_NC0whQVWZ1OAEWz2AbirrEHKFLua-P9JIndTi_9CJoa8Vwl1ySvfdhsHdYuvMdOvcPnoU_NeAZJfbSVA=w640-h428" width="640" /></a></p><p style="text-align: center;">Another Grace of God story. How he even came to be part of our family. A blessing we weren't looking for.</p><p style="text-align: center;">He came out at 11 years old barely reading, emotionally a baby, screaming for attention.</p><p style="text-align: center;">But God.... </p><p style="text-align: center;">He has come so far - matured into an amazing young man!</p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhooPLFmFVIek38YFY5UR2Zkezj75C5FPJPuUcHqsXkrJXIFi0hg8hKSo3prACwgunW1rM3bS80MWXBLR4VBALX8TR7PHTv7Wqa7clLniOLRorcozhd3a_goaMKveMkUU2yK_PJIWO1PxAljljHxscAu6ypkAIYSXoafYHCsHiMVu-DFDgE-zcIcLW-/s640/IMG_7423.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhooPLFmFVIek38YFY5UR2Zkezj75C5FPJPuUcHqsXkrJXIFi0hg8hKSo3prACwgunW1rM3bS80MWXBLR4VBALX8TR7PHTv7Wqa7clLniOLRorcozhd3a_goaMKveMkUU2yK_PJIWO1PxAljljHxscAu6ypkAIYSXoafYHCsHiMVu-DFDgE-zcIcLW-/w480-h640/IMG_7423.jpg" width="480" /></a></p><p style="text-align: center;">Both lost so much in their early lives.</p><p style="text-align: center;">Both had huge mountains to climb.</p><p style="text-align: center;">Both so far behind academically. </p><p style="text-align: center;">We had to place them in school where they belonged instead of what their age dictated. Thankfully, their school allowed us to do that.</p><p style="text-align: center;">It gave them time to breath and catch up.</p><p style="text-align: center;">It gave them time to mature.</p><p style="text-align: center;">But, by the time they hit 8th grade they were three years behind their peers and graduating from high school looked far far away.</p><p style="text-align: center;">Staying in school until they were 21 was just not going to be in their best interest.</p><p></p><div style="text-align: center;">So we made a decision.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">We moved them up to 10th grade in one fell swoop and set them on a course to graduate in 3 years.</div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;">Three years for two boys who came from such hard places.</p><p style="text-align: center;">It meant they had to take extra classes in the mornings. All three years.</p><p style="text-align: center;">They took the challenge!</p><p style="text-align: center;">They got up early early every single school day for three years and studied at home before going to school. </p><p style="text-align: center;">They went to school all day and then spent many many many afternoons and into the evening doing school work. It was not unusual for them to be working on the weekends.</p><p style="text-align: center;">They had to study harder than the average to get by and they did.</p><p style="text-align: center;">They rarely complained and they kept their eye on the prize. Graduating. </p><p style="text-align: center;">Their learning styles and needs were so vastly different. We had to constantly adjust, adapt, work to meet their individual needs. </p><p style="text-align: center;">They were so blessed to go to a school where they were well cared for.</p><p style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjliTkvLc5c7mTBu9mHzjEvdLkXTKpWYh7zmfAV1a47Ty66PVrzVx7pveOFy4Q36HcuOafqoVz_9wyh7TeLoqTUY1mEDAu6JRH9JXLnZbFGgqD6G7w2H7Mj7WYqgo9dIkBtXi38BVclUhnTBqyjgk4N2yOdRaT_ovMChpyidKj6_GkccYeBz46tkBrT/s640/IMG_7461.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjliTkvLc5c7mTBu9mHzjEvdLkXTKpWYh7zmfAV1a47Ty66PVrzVx7pveOFy4Q36HcuOafqoVz_9wyh7TeLoqTUY1mEDAu6JRH9JXLnZbFGgqD6G7w2H7Mj7WYqgo9dIkBtXi38BVclUhnTBqyjgk4N2yOdRaT_ovMChpyidKj6_GkccYeBz46tkBrT/w640-h480/IMG_7461.jpg" width="640" /></a></p><p style="text-align: center;">They had wonderful teachers - wonderful staff.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh42aGi-RvQ9GsyiQl-bTtno6Bo3Na010JOGnSkmrLcLS2CI_532CYEC8_qZ8HzToQo62ggud67N-OSQcR_qF21CvktSy8EsriaU1BRvMS3gq1bpBXlyH_G6DCZ84-7Xx-6gsijZkYrh7l4JfYr1tdSOQCRUF-SgZ_6i83dmB5A8Mok_leEq9B6K6_0/s640/IMG_7458.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh42aGi-RvQ9GsyiQl-bTtno6Bo3Na010JOGnSkmrLcLS2CI_532CYEC8_qZ8HzToQo62ggud67N-OSQcR_qF21CvktSy8EsriaU1BRvMS3gq1bpBXlyH_G6DCZ84-7Xx-6gsijZkYrh7l4JfYr1tdSOQCRUF-SgZ_6i83dmB5A8Mok_leEq9B6K6_0/w640-h480/IMG_7458.jpg" width="640" /></a></p><p style="text-align: center;">They had a wonderful aide for the last two years who came alongside them coaching them through. We would not have done it without our Bri!! </p><p style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCPM14D0gZ27q4eSU7MBm-IEPeeoMWoJosSg8wzc__NSeVG9R05v7KqN3Bhq9ECsQQfjqkBKaP_i9XUHkm7sFSlMT9UkAHls-QhWEeUk9OCfX1e3tSPZqh7sqmjo1gOpL8QSZS5uGPBzS1T3EK-tFPHgRTjnElc1ItlKqPXTIjZd8mbEIOglBAPuSy/s640/IMG_7446.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCPM14D0gZ27q4eSU7MBm-IEPeeoMWoJosSg8wzc__NSeVG9R05v7KqN3Bhq9ECsQQfjqkBKaP_i9XUHkm7sFSlMT9UkAHls-QhWEeUk9OCfX1e3tSPZqh7sqmjo1gOpL8QSZS5uGPBzS1T3EK-tFPHgRTjnElc1ItlKqPXTIjZd8mbEIOglBAPuSy/w640-h480/IMG_7446.jpg" width="640" /></a></p><p style="text-align: center;">Their granddad has been one of their biggest cheerleaders! He has picked them up from school each day, tutored them, listened to them and loved them! I don't know what we would have done without him!</p><p style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR1Asko9uJ1k_Z49-yS2GZLl0HbqpQ17dVm5PyNuVKKE_p4LtKSHAkp7ejo3lBfCOFV-jHTSsE_nWsPilssCGt9ylBG-zbbwACJdd3ECtpFwX1h0yBkj3tOnwCVA5FYtiB4wYx8zs1nTMzkqQG3PPWFI341GK-VYYPpoqJVnAKPNBc6Qpk9j19xV35/s640/IMG_7440.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR1Asko9uJ1k_Z49-yS2GZLl0HbqpQ17dVm5PyNuVKKE_p4LtKSHAkp7ejo3lBfCOFV-jHTSsE_nWsPilssCGt9ylBG-zbbwACJdd3ECtpFwX1h0yBkj3tOnwCVA5FYtiB4wYx8zs1nTMzkqQG3PPWFI341GK-VYYPpoqJVnAKPNBc6Qpk9j19xV35/w640-h480/IMG_7440.jpg" width="640" /></a></p><p style="text-align: center;">Their campus pastor has stood by them all their years at school - encouraging them and teaching them what is the most important of all! </p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigpUxAXFX-NKTgaon76M3toAKx1ipIQm7D-3Hgnyfqr-WzY8I7dPwrtzl1sXZ-fIHOeD5yqJrW6ICjbjdiJfPaf4dgS64YNe6-f6FzorCgsY8iueFskXPpySLdAmlqJobCdCQowTQHOiX17YUwGXjS0DYSN95_x_pq8-ysB0OKj1EA-nn26htfokGX/s640/IMG_7414.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigpUxAXFX-NKTgaon76M3toAKx1ipIQm7D-3Hgnyfqr-WzY8I7dPwrtzl1sXZ-fIHOeD5yqJrW6ICjbjdiJfPaf4dgS64YNe6-f6FzorCgsY8iueFskXPpySLdAmlqJobCdCQowTQHOiX17YUwGXjS0DYSN95_x_pq8-ysB0OKj1EA-nn26htfokGX/w480-h640/IMG_7414.jpg" width="480" /></a></p><p style="text-align: center;">We love you, Pastor Gary!!</p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1Ao5n9KQ4wU1QUiTETFnXxPd4GPbuJS_D-wr5ae2hMHyYjR2J0OI-RHUO4NZR_zyml4nXapxyqpdz2DUXacOwZmy5XsPu_DQGcPx6cDO7JFi_mnq0lUkgUdzyhHlu8rNuDBldKVA0WztdfgdKmwtpF2Fj1JUp9Nf0HWXAxmsJE3mC2n6z_FaAHq_a/s640/IMG_7411.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1Ao5n9KQ4wU1QUiTETFnXxPd4GPbuJS_D-wr5ae2hMHyYjR2J0OI-RHUO4NZR_zyml4nXapxyqpdz2DUXacOwZmy5XsPu_DQGcPx6cDO7JFi_mnq0lUkgUdzyhHlu8rNuDBldKVA0WztdfgdKmwtpF2Fj1JUp9Nf0HWXAxmsJE3mC2n6z_FaAHq_a/w480-h640/IMG_7411.jpg" width="480" /></a></p><p style="text-align: center;">It's a been a tough three years and a wonderful three years.</p><p style="text-align: center;">They are not academically gifted or intellectually advanced. They are average students who took the challenge and worked hard to reach their goal.</p><p style="text-align: center;">And we are their proud parents!</p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxKw09IE0_NUJDbdWcHVt6oEwHofIDuAW2mohALSaYrcFfge0uANQ6tb_4MchQfw4K3FSiMjRS0d8fYJjwtcKwfXf-U9GN34NAbpig6aZpTKZy_aW9UFL9235Lb6t_OnSvw0hYUd4JKDY2mwHDvul7hsiiNLyeWmSJ9nIU69tT7fjZCcF15ky5UeEY/s640/IMG_7427.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxKw09IE0_NUJDbdWcHVt6oEwHofIDuAW2mohALSaYrcFfge0uANQ6tb_4MchQfw4K3FSiMjRS0d8fYJjwtcKwfXf-U9GN34NAbpig6aZpTKZy_aW9UFL9235Lb6t_OnSvw0hYUd4JKDY2mwHDvul7hsiiNLyeWmSJ9nIU69tT7fjZCcF15ky5UeEY/w640-h480/IMG_7427.jpg" width="640" /></a></p><p style="text-align: center;">Go John! Go Aaron!!</p><p style="text-align: center;">They are not done. </p><p style="text-align: center;">They have great plans for the future... but that's for another blogpost!!</p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p>Juliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04814524050417570766noreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7297657180254499319.post-87994334430641698822022-11-10T06:56:00.000-05:002022-11-10T06:56:41.690-05:00Dusting off my Blog<p style="text-align: center;"> It's been a while old friend.</p><p style="text-align: center;">I've not written since July on here.</p><p style="text-align: center;">Not that I haven't had words because they spin in my head all the time.</p><p style="text-align: center;">Not that I haven't had the desire because it's always there.</p><p style="text-align: center;">But sadness has prevailed. And circumstances. And time.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://reecesrainbow.org/macc" target="_blank">MACC/Angel Tree</a> is here again.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4UR6Sw2gcdmwN9SoP-EDDI7TX-N5UCGp1lgiuH5lfF4UAzKvpwKBwIZaDEW02TTo9NlU7o_lkFLuRTBdKuw77Os3Sn5fPWPASLtmMYXTDKxbwMNETeeGOcTF9a9pQpH_me3Dd4INyIFiRL8FfhgTfZSYKuDIvhmj0uk-HeJ1Bp-k6Woq_uHyxNz6r/s2048/Beth-1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1552" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4UR6Sw2gcdmwN9SoP-EDDI7TX-N5UCGp1lgiuH5lfF4UAzKvpwKBwIZaDEW02TTo9NlU7o_lkFLuRTBdKuw77Os3Sn5fPWPASLtmMYXTDKxbwMNETeeGOcTF9a9pQpH_me3Dd4INyIFiRL8FfhgTfZSYKuDIvhmj0uk-HeJ1Bp-k6Woq_uHyxNz6r/s320/Beth-1.png" width="243" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;">Our hearts are heavy this year. Heavy with thoughts of war and loss and little ones who are displaced all across Europe. The orphanages in Ukraine moved all those available for adoption out of harm's way. </p><p style="text-align: center;">My sweet MACC babe from last year, <a href="https://reecesrainbow.org/childgrant/preslley" target="_blank">Presley</a>, is still waiting for a family yet out of reach. I cannot advocate for him and that breaks my heart.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgceESg4PXPpvw95o77L9wiw7k_EQ_iWJKHonFU7gk8z9VZvIU5MpbDG0IFuQTdvBJoDk17RYWzdx88r9U_de_hA-_2pW1ghzQ8SoL74wLULx-KnVNS67_YKYSL63VKDj10opJ8ueEo5KQhPbH3-hMDimENECydsiShNYUu7R9c2XttwGN7sPxDtCRx/s494/Preslley-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="494" data-original-width="350" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgceESg4PXPpvw95o77L9wiw7k_EQ_iWJKHonFU7gk8z9VZvIU5MpbDG0IFuQTdvBJoDk17RYWzdx88r9U_de_hA-_2pW1ghzQ8SoL74wLULx-KnVNS67_YKYSL63VKDj10opJ8ueEo5KQhPbH3-hMDimENECydsiShNYUu7R9c2XttwGN7sPxDtCRx/s320/Preslley-1.jpg" width="227" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;">Just about every year our Angel Tree children have been from Ukraine. I don't think any of them have been from anywhere else.</p><p style="text-align: center;">How could they not when we our three precious treasures came from there?</p><p style="text-align: center;">But this year the door is closed. Adoptions are on hold.</p><p style="text-align: center;">Our two little Angel Tree girls are from other lands.</p><p style="text-align: center;">They are so worthy and so needy.</p><p style="text-align: center;">So I am dusting off my blog, setting aside my sorrow and sharing two little girls.</p><p style="text-align: center;">Two brown eyed little girls - <a href="https://reecesrainbow.org/childgrant/abby-2" target="_blank">Abby </a>and <a href="https://reecesrainbow.org/childgrant/victoria" target="_blank">Victoria</a>.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDexTK1D_oWFkP9ujCxwuYs_imyNW9cBVnR2dI7sF9oseOI5zzXCDjge0ON0fmRiYiMwg6ii_nOrq1PsS9fImNHc67C3XM5KLrw6EJfs8a6O_PAPtbaDQwyMp0hjIpAQiCkfpCC1k6HZiLxpSw_xm6QA1nuRjGxvjvuPorTEfkjmHS-FsrTeUVjuy8/s350/Abby-w-heart.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="338" data-original-width="350" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDexTK1D_oWFkP9ujCxwuYs_imyNW9cBVnR2dI7sF9oseOI5zzXCDjge0ON0fmRiYiMwg6ii_nOrq1PsS9fImNHc67C3XM5KLrw6EJfs8a6O_PAPtbaDQwyMp0hjIpAQiCkfpCC1k6HZiLxpSw_xm6QA1nuRjGxvjvuPorTEfkjmHS-FsrTeUVjuy8/w200-h193/Abby-w-heart.jpg" width="200" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguk-XkFg39ItMFSnzA78PP0PdNTZTIC2Q_bs07wJ7JBbzta3zeoZ-ccinqWU4wmEtNwnNqIDS69fmq3K78BIdGpQxy-Vuxc2C6e3dDur6VBmhERnt8-lLv2w_pAl7oIIllabvNwtweZvLq0lKIOi7AegaazYnmVlXzorzyI_dylj-MMKJVLCZ4DlOm/s424/rr-victoria.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="424" data-original-width="404" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguk-XkFg39ItMFSnzA78PP0PdNTZTIC2Q_bs07wJ7JBbzta3zeoZ-ccinqWU4wmEtNwnNqIDS69fmq3K78BIdGpQxy-Vuxc2C6e3dDur6VBmhERnt8-lLv2w_pAl7oIIllabvNwtweZvLq0lKIOi7AegaazYnmVlXzorzyI_dylj-MMKJVLCZ4DlOm/w191-h200/rr-victoria.jpg" width="191" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We can't see Abby's face because of the rules in her country. Bummer. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Abby is six. She has epilepsy. Now you know why I picked her! She's somewhere in Eastern Europe.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Victoria is the brown eyed beauty who finds herself for the 2nd year on the row on the tree with no family in the wings. She's 10 and her chances of adoption are diminishing. She's somewhere in Latin America.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I am trying to raise 1,000 for each girl. Right now they have $15.00 each. I'm </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">working on adding more but could really use help!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">To find out more about each girl and to donate click below.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://reecesrainbow.org/childgrant/victoria" target="_blank">DONATE TO VICTORIA HERE</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://reecesrainbow.org/childgrant/abby-2" target="_blank">DONATE TO ABBY HERE</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This year the graphics on <a href="https://reecesrainbow.org/macc" target="_blank">MACC </a>are in honor of Ukraine. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I absolutely love them. My dear friend Lu who does all the graphics outdid herself!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhKotwlqUPEDljNnEp--xOiqj9sVWT2SZuOpb6Iy3esAC-7m5H5jFdTibU4qcVVNs7aKzi6dLHOdAooXCqo1wfaz5VRWXWtN6x0DAlRJ4Kh4_dwhked7mUip_lYEgqKXXvhBBXixnd-41vRD2_qA_JahDlucBfl1_dX2_pg1SL8uTKwMHi04GLG8yi/s388/2022-MACC-matroyoshka-logo.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="388" data-original-width="300" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhKotwlqUPEDljNnEp--xOiqj9sVWT2SZuOpb6Iy3esAC-7m5H5jFdTibU4qcVVNs7aKzi6dLHOdAooXCqo1wfaz5VRWXWtN6x0DAlRJ4Kh4_dwhked7mUip_lYEgqKXXvhBBXixnd-41vRD2_qA_JahDlucBfl1_dX2_pg1SL8uTKwMHi04GLG8yi/s320/2022-MACC-matroyoshka-logo.png" width="247" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLY1HYbkZG44bTyvwNMZ6rLTY28vMO_Zr9CJhJg3n7f1yEvZ9NFfA1hxrIpeyFq7lQ1REu2z-8X9Ug_1eficw0xnuZNDLLNK0v65ZPQRrJB1Fi0T5b4Nmpkc3nfFaEB_euOSaYz5p-zfjHfMU7eEBFFbpctihMnamp8QffYWFSJtpgt_gMGYu8RYwE/s2048/Michelle-1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1583" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLY1HYbkZG44bTyvwNMZ6rLTY28vMO_Zr9CJhJg3n7f1yEvZ9NFfA1hxrIpeyFq7lQ1REu2z-8X9Ug_1eficw0xnuZNDLLNK0v65ZPQRrJB1Fi0T5b4Nmpkc3nfFaEB_euOSaYz5p-zfjHfMU7eEBFFbpctihMnamp8QffYWFSJtpgt_gMGYu8RYwE/s320/Michelle-1.png" width="247" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://reecesrainbow.org/macc" target="_blank">CLICK HERE TO GET TO MACC AND SEE ALL THE WORTHY CHILDREN</a><br /><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p><br /></p>Juliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04814524050417570766noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7297657180254499319.post-20793507911912956562022-07-25T16:09:00.000-04:002022-07-25T16:09:19.576-04:00To Ukraine, With Love<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Last week I traveled with our three "Littles" to the annual <a href="https://reecesrainbow.org/" target="_blank">Reece's Rainbow</a> reunion.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi2EgYnaiRNBMSM1-4h7Rz-mtywYPPvkgKdwkZ-LRI7MdKtOqGbXK0EEld7ETF0pgVYG2h-xyOHHdsrG4wx9Vh_F38uNMHWX66MZpLjDIenAuSyCYmY1vJYXYZfhPYqW657uwkoa0lmiU4GygmRojH05J2hPCzat6rPAFklCOLSSwZWny2J4eqrsbz/s640/IMG_5996.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi2EgYnaiRNBMSM1-4h7Rz-mtywYPPvkgKdwkZ-LRI7MdKtOqGbXK0EEld7ETF0pgVYG2h-xyOHHdsrG4wx9Vh_F38uNMHWX66MZpLjDIenAuSyCYmY1vJYXYZfhPYqW657uwkoa0lmiU4GygmRojH05J2hPCzat6rPAFklCOLSSwZWny2J4eqrsbz/w640-h480/IMG_5996.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">For those who are new to this little blog of mine - It's the ministry where we found our kiddos.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This year our families filled up the campground. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">There used to be a time when I knew everyone who was there and was able to name all the children.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Not anymore. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">That's a really good thing even though it feels kind of strange. </div></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYheBQ95WoDra_OxsG7NNuuMxEDJHBhh7j7NsdS9cO7jOzgwu5TK2fVdDjcFwLgiQ2laDqm6yXWxIu0gZt8uetzJKOnr0KkQRgjvv22SXk0AhqBFiCJpaaqWEG5FxMvE1huIYdP8iGQGCEutc83HFFHhFXZD__JlAjD84pzOiAxtrEjrwFb8Ye8nVG/s577/IMG_6025.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="179" data-original-width="577" height="198" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYheBQ95WoDra_OxsG7NNuuMxEDJHBhh7j7NsdS9cO7jOzgwu5TK2fVdDjcFwLgiQ2laDqm6yXWxIu0gZt8uetzJKOnr0KkQRgjvv22SXk0AhqBFiCJpaaqWEG5FxMvE1huIYdP8iGQGCEutc83HFFHhFXZD__JlAjD84pzOiAxtrEjrwFb8Ye8nVG/w640-h198/IMG_6025.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">As the undesignated organizer of the yearly picture - I did a lousy job this year of getting all the RR kids in one single frame with my phone camera. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> I was too busy making sure they didn't all run away before the real photographer took the picture.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbqjoOgM8mh6Jt_1gWSOzzFvcirCb7Fz42WkaSzaGs2OU6KFREWqnhJ_6GS7-Db5sbm7zhqsGnIOgPBOMUjLSGs_07GkWU0tvOyUMplx3aWl5i0qJl7CZpEMMCC4r3iQ3NptU8CK0aPAVRGpj5dFRSay9-iGFgRPo1yg9PJJNJ6Qah5orPWik3ibCS/s597/IMG_6026.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="191" data-original-width="597" height="204" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbqjoOgM8mh6Jt_1gWSOzzFvcirCb7Fz42WkaSzaGs2OU6KFREWqnhJ_6GS7-Db5sbm7zhqsGnIOgPBOMUjLSGs_07GkWU0tvOyUMplx3aWl5i0qJl7CZpEMMCC4r3iQ3NptU8CK0aPAVRGpj5dFRSay9-iGFgRPo1yg9PJJNJ6Qah5orPWik3ibCS/w640-h204/IMG_6026.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">So you kind of have to piece it together to see all the kiddos. Of course we are missing a lot in the picture. Some hadn't arrive yet, some had already left and some just didn't get up in time to get there! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">You can see my little shoeless girl right smack in the middle with her helmet on! </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Later on in the week we gathered the Ukraine children together. Again - not even close to all of them but I was happy to get these.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPeY6yaJO7JddS2A2cpZfsBeQzAZNKZi8naGhwQ94EQCGtrJFQyqM91i6Vn2cK88DAPSYIMH0HlMCysObI_ZkS-oSicHY7Tc46YhywdOu1e_sYeTCu0UDnxGClsJsE-e8sbIoO5gaSfIdSmk410oXx3H2foVmBSjKJL7labHkvg27zChlHOIdMbxmA/s1920/IMG_6074_Moment.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1920" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPeY6yaJO7JddS2A2cpZfsBeQzAZNKZi8naGhwQ94EQCGtrJFQyqM91i6Vn2cK88DAPSYIMH0HlMCysObI_ZkS-oSicHY7Tc46YhywdOu1e_sYeTCu0UDnxGClsJsE-e8sbIoO5gaSfIdSmk410oXx3H2foVmBSjKJL7labHkvg27zChlHOIdMbxmA/w640-h360/IMG_6074_Moment.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It's our "To Ukraine, With Love" picture..</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEkNcwDBrMv33QtG6qVAYLIEkl_foO_KNpR5D3It7UQjYRCoVKSXj80FWbwIEu7wbPte35lii6OrQt3thFoK1EEHg6O2FtCksb9A007ePHi3kKAsnnoKXGCVvaedoS2OfZC-I7cQrR4H_Rhm7XcxrKQzBF69eSbq4VXd6TwDoTNHUOJbBVLEfke3Nq/s1920/IMG_6073_Moment.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1920" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEkNcwDBrMv33QtG6qVAYLIEkl_foO_KNpR5D3It7UQjYRCoVKSXj80FWbwIEu7wbPte35lii6OrQt3thFoK1EEHg6O2FtCksb9A007ePHi3kKAsnnoKXGCVvaedoS2OfZC-I7cQrR4H_Rhm7XcxrKQzBF69eSbq4VXd6TwDoTNHUOJbBVLEfke3Nq/w640-h360/IMG_6073_Moment.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It was a fun week although definitely exhausting. Ten hours there and back make for two long days of travel. Every year I say this will be the last time.... </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">But it's hard to not go when my two boys talk about it all year long and count the days when they can go back! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We didn't get any souvenirs this year, but we did bring back head colds, fevers and some stomach ailments. Little girl landed in the ER on Sunday morning after a dreadful night of high fevers and seizures. She has an ear infection.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Not a great way to end a special week but you can't have it all.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p>Juliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04814524050417570766noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7297657180254499319.post-56822391506888419482022-07-12T19:00:00.000-04:002022-07-12T19:00:31.551-04:0018 Looks Good!<p style="text-align: center;">This boy. The oldest of my "littles" is no longer a little.</p><p style="text-align: center;">18 years old. A man.</p><p style="text-align: center;">I missed his birthday on Saturday. I was in Texas and didn't get to hug him! I was stuck doing the "I love you" over the phone. </p><p style="text-align: center;">Oh, how I wish he had been my boy for ALL 18 of those years.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8zqEdPJMWUdScJD1Z7slquTTGnoRBeXUuXozohVMEIo-LYof0F-2H29JKwR27EkXKp5rjRohcpT8fnQ_U5tyBqMXkCvOZk9k7hKse_D9WXL87dPlVkiW6tXAAxfycwTI5wXx4aETyy8rg2WUQZhY9zgSX1QT8eGT9tkIdWxosd0Ssq5_3uOFXp-4P/s640/IMG_5977.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8zqEdPJMWUdScJD1Z7slquTTGnoRBeXUuXozohVMEIo-LYof0F-2H29JKwR27EkXKp5rjRohcpT8fnQ_U5tyBqMXkCvOZk9k7hKse_D9WXL87dPlVkiW6tXAAxfycwTI5wXx4aETyy8rg2WUQZhY9zgSX1QT8eGT9tkIdWxosd0Ssq5_3uOFXp-4P/w480-h640/IMG_5977.jpg" width="480" /></a></p><p style="text-align: center;">I've had him for seven precious years.</p><p style="text-align: center;">It's not been picture perfect. Adoption never is. We've shed many tears over our John John.</p><p style="text-align: center;">There were many many days in those seven years when love was a choice and not a feeling.</p><p style="text-align: center;">There were many many times when the mountain seemed high, and I never thought we would get over it.</p><p style="text-align: center;">There were many many times when I despaired. </p><p style="text-align: center;">But I can say with no hesitation that he has been one of the best gift God has given us in our lives.</p><p style="text-align: center;">The transformation in his heart over these last seven years astounds me. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu0IdCtfvg2-zJm_NvxGHjN4juiHhjNqfkc1apaT_Qr5bzlnq5xg38v8Z1An3BWvwPtFsmg2WghI0GIMVRU40S3UM1SxSvaVNOxFop1aA971Pv-dcnmLzY9xs-FiooETflt2EY-xUF5-EzGwIMff6wQXhIfNdtbBehgGocZy1DlxJ87XxT0H_XkHBS/s484/IMG_5976.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="484" data-original-width="218" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu0IdCtfvg2-zJm_NvxGHjN4juiHhjNqfkc1apaT_Qr5bzlnq5xg38v8Z1An3BWvwPtFsmg2WghI0GIMVRU40S3UM1SxSvaVNOxFop1aA971Pv-dcnmLzY9xs-FiooETflt2EY-xUF5-EzGwIMff6wQXhIfNdtbBehgGocZy1DlxJ87XxT0H_XkHBS/w288-h640/IMG_5976.jpg" width="288" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">He has grown, changed, matured. He has blossomed - especially in the last two years.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">He has become a kind, compassionate, tender young man who loves Jesus with all his heart and it shows.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I love this boy/man so much.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I love his smile and his sense of humor. I love the way he tenderly cares for Mary. I love his inquisitiveness. I love his passion for music. I love his hit or miss OCD where he can fold the clothes with exact precision, but his desk looks like a bomb blew up.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I love our John and I wouldn't trade him for the world!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">God knew what He was doing when he placed him in our family.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Happy Late Birthday, John!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Juliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04814524050417570766noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7297657180254499319.post-89691659317282986882022-05-30T11:56:00.000-04:002022-05-30T11:56:25.406-04:0030 Years on the 30th!<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Thirty years today.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlnaVyXoAViqtVw676nsdlyCmtuqg-C4cbGsT_SGv6YUk9wale1FW1jX83KCzYVLmppjFoR3i1dUPN-DCoCidCzjz9O6g8Ls8bs-d7tIX2QSXeO2YGk3HroFYiYkDRaJR7ZOsL4VPKJ0qFGkqImgAVy-SbJo93jvduJGWeQf6aaSSEKiAEBD2Vg7_H/s1509/IMG_5716%20(2).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1306" data-original-width="1509" height="554" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlnaVyXoAViqtVw676nsdlyCmtuqg-C4cbGsT_SGv6YUk9wale1FW1jX83KCzYVLmppjFoR3i1dUPN-DCoCidCzjz9O6g8Ls8bs-d7tIX2QSXeO2YGk3HroFYiYkDRaJR7ZOsL4VPKJ0qFGkqImgAVy-SbJo93jvduJGWeQf6aaSSEKiAEBD2Vg7_H/w640-h554/IMG_5716%20(2).jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">If I could give one piece of advice to a girl looking for that perfect someone, I'd tell them to pick one who is humble enough to say to you before you are married that he'd rather God lead your marriage than him.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I'd tell you to pick someone who says: Walk beside me and we will do this thing called marriage side by side.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Mutually submitted.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Mutually loving.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Pick that one, girls.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Pick one who is gentle in spirit but fierce in protection.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />Pick one who is not afraid of work.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Pick one who cries at all the sad parts of movies.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Pick one who drinks water and tea.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Pick one who guards his words in an argument.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Pick one who loves the helpless and is willing to give up everything for the hurting.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Pick one who is generous and kind.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Pick one who doesn't mind dishwater hands and dirty diapers.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Pick one who is a beast at cleaning the floors and knows how to run a vacuum cleaner.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Pick one who loves Jesus, loves music and loves his peoples.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Pick one who loves to laugh and who laughs at all your dumb jokes!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I've spent thirty years with that kind of man.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We've walked side by side on this roller coaster of life - through the hard times, the funny times, the crazy times and the impossible times.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Humbly submitted.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Humbly loving.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Happily married.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I can't wait for the next thirty!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p></p>Juliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04814524050417570766noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7297657180254499319.post-54810045328885568722022-04-21T04:37:00.000-04:002022-04-21T04:37:04.639-04:0060<p style="text-align: center;"> I'm 60 today.</p><p style="text-align: center;">Sixty years old and leaving for Ohio for a homeschool convention. </p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYjDqFtOB7kcF3tWjHWTplUtLWdNAlZE28iUr5dT4axiCROmijQcTDlQ9QvAbt9dSaN9SgXU86FIspEl0Ni0lO9icCcZG8C_ncaWYU5E6BQzN0Ops7xELuM3gAJQyImeXEs6o6MuLcxqWWwuB7Xgir6xUdcRA2DsNPVC-aj07kgy4CrFqqUs5q5f9j/s640/IMG_5455.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYjDqFtOB7kcF3tWjHWTplUtLWdNAlZE28iUr5dT4axiCROmijQcTDlQ9QvAbt9dSaN9SgXU86FIspEl0Ni0lO9icCcZG8C_ncaWYU5E6BQzN0Ops7xELuM3gAJQyImeXEs6o6MuLcxqWWwuB7Xgir6xUdcRA2DsNPVC-aj07kgy4CrFqqUs5q5f9j/w640-h480/IMG_5455.jpg" width="640" /></a></p><p style="text-align: center;">Last night Little Girl saw my computer bag in the kitchen.</p><p style="text-align: center;">She saw me packing it for the trip.</p><p style="text-align: center;">When I turned away, she took the bag and carried it back in the office. </p><p style="text-align: center;">Mama stay.</p><p style="text-align: center;">Break my heart.</p><p style="text-align: center;">Yesterday I took the day off and went to the zoo with my kiddos</p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdOaobw7LrDA0x3g2uJP10iOwMhURObGhOUqBVbzQwo_xgay9PICH57Oa0RNv8tooxx-gd1V9h_thPaG5VWoPc5iE7OaesN4MsO_Ra5ZLjBcH7_SJAr3i6WmS-sQLX7Fodls3bGven8PbO0bw2nXUuP-ssNcUPhZ-WccSFG5pZInRKnF3OrJPPr84X/s640/IMG_5480.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdOaobw7LrDA0x3g2uJP10iOwMhURObGhOUqBVbzQwo_xgay9PICH57Oa0RNv8tooxx-gd1V9h_thPaG5VWoPc5iE7OaesN4MsO_Ra5ZLjBcH7_SJAr3i6WmS-sQLX7Fodls3bGven8PbO0bw2nXUuP-ssNcUPhZ-WccSFG5pZInRKnF3OrJPPr84X/w480-h640/IMG_5480.jpg" width="480" /></a></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">That was the best birthday present.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM-4AxeW2zXE7Qn6KtHrcHK1Z3MxZ51JKrXpL2htycwXAtZutTHoKxLGiLtspvi9WYE_eMYZ6_AztLmM0MZAYmSZxUrMzRFkv-Vx4ZaRfv-r65zXMUbuqdEFVsb5pwKlIV8x_8gvd_VjDSrEkt7ppWYeGKNN8MZTyIMEzuvaARJ7fRoDgHt3fRLzWA/s640/IMG_5466.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM-4AxeW2zXE7Qn6KtHrcHK1Z3MxZ51JKrXpL2htycwXAtZutTHoKxLGiLtspvi9WYE_eMYZ6_AztLmM0MZAYmSZxUrMzRFkv-Vx4ZaRfv-r65zXMUbuqdEFVsb5pwKlIV8x_8gvd_VjDSrEkt7ppWYeGKNN8MZTyIMEzuvaARJ7fRoDgHt3fRLzWA/w640-h480/IMG_5466.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Enjoying a beautiful day with my three youngest.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg62YNUJSS6B5T2lHFwlNzBfJMOAzOSXl0BB1g3x3fD39y3xa71vgDcKG3spG28ibeV8IlS5Lmpcd9KxMmXtGSp8bQEq8bDfKRCWDbrckZfV2xthk05MnEhqYNcJ6RFJX2mBkIGNxkfIZnKAYRWedKNALn1knfF2ZilqHyi507z08r-_OHRXcG4dDQm/s640/IMG_5463.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg62YNUJSS6B5T2lHFwlNzBfJMOAzOSXl0BB1g3x3fD39y3xa71vgDcKG3spG28ibeV8IlS5Lmpcd9KxMmXtGSp8bQEq8bDfKRCWDbrckZfV2xthk05MnEhqYNcJ6RFJX2mBkIGNxkfIZnKAYRWedKNALn1knfF2ZilqHyi507z08r-_OHRXcG4dDQm/w640-h480/IMG_5463.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Watching them enjoy life.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjm5Wa9gSjIcwnPpRtEtmwxudRvQPv8U099LnRL7RksDhHbSs4zziQ3YZxaTKGRXk1goDcJfho-uiFdq1iEqJKpAgVPdET9NBFSdIh-Eu_OobcNdYUVzE5bFb9GSMGg0wcsAvK6Jrryl4RP0qbzYTjCz5Uk-TTtK_hbQGfpFdqVfZ_Y1NVpEcRl3P0/s640/IMG_5462.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjm5Wa9gSjIcwnPpRtEtmwxudRvQPv8U099LnRL7RksDhHbSs4zziQ3YZxaTKGRXk1goDcJfho-uiFdq1iEqJKpAgVPdET9NBFSdIh-Eu_OobcNdYUVzE5bFb9GSMGg0wcsAvK6Jrryl4RP0qbzYTjCz5Uk-TTtK_hbQGfpFdqVfZ_Y1NVpEcRl3P0/w640-h480/IMG_5462.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Seeing their laughter.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3afOy-ogM_pqOhCs2eAbbvnnYhhz6JU4yIx2duXJt7_OmSl1Rtp4zrOCyTSVuwwOtwdGRbHy3Q2iJasuYELHjK0-GA0KnG2BogcS65PIvkyK2xs8o44J4tjdvhfLYAGBjO7zSUR1T2NNx5QI3EKGahhwKk4Cm_E-iYku5_VzsEbLqGvKplNAwrgAg/s640/IMG_5460.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3afOy-ogM_pqOhCs2eAbbvnnYhhz6JU4yIx2duXJt7_OmSl1Rtp4zrOCyTSVuwwOtwdGRbHy3Q2iJasuYELHjK0-GA0KnG2BogcS65PIvkyK2xs8o44J4tjdvhfLYAGBjO7zSUR1T2NNx5QI3EKGahhwKk4Cm_E-iYku5_VzsEbLqGvKplNAwrgAg/w640-h480/IMG_5460.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I don't have words on my 60th birthday.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I'm grateful for 60 years.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I'm grateful for my family.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I am grateful for a loving husband and a God who loves me.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">My birthday request - pray for Ukraine.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqW1_Fq8dBCrBWTWMWmbw1NeyZtYfGTFhoeQcs-ZzvXTDYhJ1Ctjr7JIpoDM7ngO3JNQbawu5RDB1B_JjIMuGSxKoxXtW9DJQn1VWoBj9QtRXsKsNLpqXSR3FF1-QqUsGsEyVz6zAXK7HrnfP1TLWH6rQmtdd_eCZxN0BsMquUZzHpyuFNsa4EEUYQ/s1283/278693214_537234627832855_1870789882740754021_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1123" data-original-width="1283" height="560" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqW1_Fq8dBCrBWTWMWmbw1NeyZtYfGTFhoeQcs-ZzvXTDYhJ1Ctjr7JIpoDM7ngO3JNQbawu5RDB1B_JjIMuGSxKoxXtW9DJQn1VWoBj9QtRXsKsNLpqXSR3FF1-QqUsGsEyVz6zAXK7HrnfP1TLWH6rQmtdd_eCZxN0BsMquUZzHpyuFNsa4EEUYQ/w640-h560/278693214_537234627832855_1870789882740754021_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Pray for peace!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><p><br /></p>Juliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04814524050417570766noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7297657180254499319.post-31181012784365154882022-04-03T16:13:00.000-04:002022-04-03T16:13:16.139-04:00Unleased Evil<p style="text-align: center;">I've been following this war from day one. Every single day pouring through the articles, pictures, posts from friends, news sites and more to stay as educated and on top of what is going on.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid2hArJhochpbvhKN8LVR3VrpyO8ZbTtefs5d3XbDmWpvc844DVgqhv-A4g-xOGIIDwAL4Cud-PoMmlbIGPLEzhbxLXvNswum-gw0whxIbBbAPRFZw113vnXCrf65C9fmFmcI8MoPkzGwa4UW4qXkjVRAIt_PjjTmOBn_zpbQLabYJj5G7nQSWw7Ea/s1800/277677878_1921485501368576_7137900118654561459_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1201" data-original-width="1800" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid2hArJhochpbvhKN8LVR3VrpyO8ZbTtefs5d3XbDmWpvc844DVgqhv-A4g-xOGIIDwAL4Cud-PoMmlbIGPLEzhbxLXvNswum-gw0whxIbBbAPRFZw113vnXCrf65C9fmFmcI8MoPkzGwa4UW4qXkjVRAIt_PjjTmOBn_zpbQLabYJj5G7nQSWw7Ea/w640-h428/277677878_1921485501368576_7137900118654561459_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></p><p style="text-align: center;">I've shed tears. I've grieved. I've raged. I've posted on here and on my Facebook wall.</p><p style="text-align: center;">I've tried to keep people informed. I've tried to be a voice. I've tried to share what I know to raise awareness, support and prayers.</p><p style="text-align: center;">I've seen terrible pictures over the last 30+ days. I've read about horrible atrocities. I've watched shocking videos. </p><p style="text-align: center;">But yesterday.</p><p style="text-align: center;">Yesterday.</p><p style="text-align: center;">Yesterday the cacophony of stories and pictures and video came from so many different directions I could not sift through it all.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLIPk3LIzfLHJgrh2MunsdxJzcccDa6ojqvSnCsu_h0W_iMefCLyqjnlhDxzjBTgx07eglFe3o1qq3t90ZGt3Oi53t9s-knLRiIBBiaTAF5eXW3v5WM6HE_m4vWEvrGLpF5aGAFFOCyHqGGKWaPkP9EbHf7CQ00STOr9_2YZXa3eN4l85QO9oBQq_n/s1024/277730294_144510244729359_1557083587379177810_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="697" data-original-width="1024" height="436" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLIPk3LIzfLHJgrh2MunsdxJzcccDa6ojqvSnCsu_h0W_iMefCLyqjnlhDxzjBTgx07eglFe3o1qq3t90ZGt3Oi53t9s-knLRiIBBiaTAF5eXW3v5WM6HE_m4vWEvrGLpF5aGAFFOCyHqGGKWaPkP9EbHf7CQ00STOr9_2YZXa3eN4l85QO9oBQq_n/w640-h436/277730294_144510244729359_1557083587379177810_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;">The whole region of Kyiv was liberated from the Russians over the last few days.</p><p style="text-align: center;">That should be cause for great rejoicing.</p><p style="text-align: center;">My friends who were forced out of their homes can go back.</p><p style="text-align: center;">The Russians did not make it into Kyiv.</p><p style="text-align: center;">The Ukrainians "won."</p><p style="text-align: center;">Yet I weep.</p><p style="text-align: center;">I am at a loss for words.</p><p style="text-align: center;">What they left behind is unspeakable.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4iraBRpOkB_h6cMRrvQOWmT2lhYT-vqZpx1sLhFL17OvjBVn-4tIthvE9zmX9KyCgKkRCGv2dz9s_RdNJc-fEGwZzNawSiTxoC5NWRW38afZyovu9us_eH21Cz5j60dVdpp_LoG2IIDT7ss3bQ2us3liWADYp352ThKj_V4nieMiN4GvjpZuX3Utw/s1800/277666721_1921486114701848_8579687718727054102_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1201" data-original-width="1800" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4iraBRpOkB_h6cMRrvQOWmT2lhYT-vqZpx1sLhFL17OvjBVn-4tIthvE9zmX9KyCgKkRCGv2dz9s_RdNJc-fEGwZzNawSiTxoC5NWRW38afZyovu9us_eH21Cz5j60dVdpp_LoG2IIDT7ss3bQ2us3liWADYp352ThKj_V4nieMiN4GvjpZuX3Utw/w640-h428/277666721_1921486114701848_8579687718727054102_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p style="text-align: center;">Bodies are everywhere. Not just one or two. Hundreds. People in civilian clothes. Men. Women. Children. Whole families in cars trying to flee. People shot trying to get away on their bikes. All dead.</p><p style="text-align: center;">This is not some history story from the past.</p><p style="text-align: center;">These people were killed a few days ago. A week ago. In the last 5 weeks.</p><p style="text-align: center;">Bodies in the basements. Unable to get out for food - they starved to death.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFYJqfjYWiuqnqjhacjcqj7gCspnTe1m2094LyXXZzMGWweUbDQBuHL65ICNEvxey7LdEj0Uzd8nEGZrazaRGyANAideTMRAkR0TKbUxmOpNCH0o0CoSin3NnBsj4lIKKxqxvMZO4sJ8-iDSVmZ73_MiXE5ULEo8H4TOydZQkhWNbz2QMq-hYaU5X2/s1800/277764892_1921486181368508_7848987948840599109_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1201" data-original-width="1800" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFYJqfjYWiuqnqjhacjcqj7gCspnTe1m2094LyXXZzMGWweUbDQBuHL65ICNEvxey7LdEj0Uzd8nEGZrazaRGyANAideTMRAkR0TKbUxmOpNCH0o0CoSin3NnBsj4lIKKxqxvMZO4sJ8-iDSVmZ73_MiXE5ULEo8H4TOydZQkhWNbz2QMq-hYaU5X2/w640-h428/277764892_1921486181368508_7848987948840599109_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></p><p style="text-align: center;">What they did to those living is just as horrific.</p><p style="text-align: center;">As the living emerge from the basements and hiding places, the stories pour forth.</p><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOa-K6eP595mvSSG8IhTGHIwWM8Awgr40_mo6PLYyNB9WaW8VCP0aZwGeYtGcPzOYhyUqt2IDWPRiEblFb-KjqSCj3tdNW0hFxF5SUj_ddfP2Cvfleu13GNCE7zlEbGIkg8WQLVRNnZd9eZe5aB5690_a2kgY2UahZwC074kFUebVQCN9Ch5r8A_1A/s1800/277676473_1921486484701811_1681023479294287264_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1800" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOa-K6eP595mvSSG8IhTGHIwWM8Awgr40_mo6PLYyNB9WaW8VCP0aZwGeYtGcPzOYhyUqt2IDWPRiEblFb-KjqSCj3tdNW0hFxF5SUj_ddfP2Cvfleu13GNCE7zlEbGIkg8WQLVRNnZd9eZe5aB5690_a2kgY2UahZwC074kFUebVQCN9Ch5r8A_1A/w640-h426/277676473_1921486484701811_1681023479294287264_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p style="text-align: center;">The rapes. Children being forced to watch. </p><p style="text-align: center;">Men taken, tied up, tortured and then killed. I've seen pictures. I want to vomit.</p><p style="text-align: center;">They treated the civilians of these cities like a sick video game - shooting to maim. Shooting to kill. </p><p style="text-align: center;">Mass graves.</p><p style="text-align: center;">City after city.</p><p style="text-align: center;">They left Kyiv but left behind sick "presents."</p><p style="text-align: center;">They left piles of their bodily functions everywhere.</p><p style="text-align: center;">They booby trapped toys. Dead bodies. anything. Everything.</p><p style="text-align: center;">They mined the roads. </p><p style="text-align: center;">They destroyed countless homes.</p><p style="text-align: center;">Schools. Churches. Hospitals. Businesses.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsipvUjP87z_vps9M5bebdMBS0cpP0OrCRt784eKajH__Cg5_NEDnSnszTdBwyZd1N57G671ejZ7oSzO3xxXB9yB1VU25D17T1Oi7309CZ2O10LM5ezLFoDWfqvs7UR7BBzq8LbA75j4fUNC6xH-dwxifs91moTy0ILPoN8-YWchC5MStflICi5dCz/s2000/277784825_144497394730644_3049865261965927850_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1334" data-original-width="2000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsipvUjP87z_vps9M5bebdMBS0cpP0OrCRt784eKajH__Cg5_NEDnSnszTdBwyZd1N57G671ejZ7oSzO3xxXB9yB1VU25D17T1Oi7309CZ2O10LM5ezLFoDWfqvs7UR7BBzq8LbA75j4fUNC6xH-dwxifs91moTy0ILPoN8-YWchC5MStflICi5dCz/w640-h426/277784825_144497394730644_3049865261965927850_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;">They took everything they didn't blow up. Everything. From refrigerators to TV's to pots and pans to clothes and jewelry and everything. </p><p style="text-align: center;">I could go on and on and on.</p><p style="text-align: center;">Kyiv region is freed but the Russians are not gone.</p><p style="text-align: center;">They have only moved.</p><p style="text-align: center;">They are centering their forces along the eastern part of Ukraine.</p><p style="text-align: center;">Their desire is to capture those areas and then move in from that direction.</p><p style="text-align: center;">But just to keep it lively for them - they continue to bomb. Here, there everywhere.</p><p style="text-align: center;">To scare. To destroy. To break the will of the people.</p><p style="text-align: center;">To keep the Ukrainians from taking their full force to the east too.</p><p style="text-align: center;">It's not over.</p><p style="text-align: center;">It's far from over.</p><p style="text-align: center;">It's unleashed evil. </p><p style="text-align: center;">And we sit here in America watching and grieving and shouting and crying and praying and wanting it to end but feel so helpless.</p><p style="text-align: center;">I say I am sorry to my friends over and over and over again.</p><p style="text-align: center;">They are too.</p><p style="text-align: center;">There are just no words for this.</p><p style="text-align: center;">They left Kyiv region but are still in countless other cities and villages across Ukraine. Maiming. Killing. Raping. Stealing. Torturing.</p><p style="text-align: center;">When will it end?</p><p style="text-align: center;">Who will come to the rescue of the Ukrainian people?</p><p style="text-align: center;">When is enough enough? When do we acknowledge as a nation, as a people, that evil must not be allowed to run rampant?</p><p style="text-align: center;">Please keep praying for Ukraine.</p><p style="text-align: center;">Pray that God will hear the cries of the people. That He will give comfort in their distress. </p><p style="text-align: center;">Pray for an end to this evil.</p><p style="text-align: center;">Pray that our leaders and the leaders of Europe will do the right thing. </p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p>Juliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04814524050417570766noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7297657180254499319.post-73893864493666861242022-03-16T08:12:00.001-04:002022-03-16T08:12:35.430-04:00Brave<p style="text-align: center;"> I am not a brave person.</p><p style="text-align: center;">I have always run from danger.</p><p style="text-align: center;">I've never jumped in and stopped a fight.</p><p style="text-align: center;">I've always had the motto to keep a low profile, keep my head down and stay out of conflict.</p><p style="text-align: center;">I let others fight my battles. I let others protest. I let others take on the bullies of this world.</p><p style="text-align: center;">I'm ashamed to share that.</p><p style="text-align: center;">I'm not brave.</p><p style="text-align: center;">But I know what brave looks like.</p><p style="text-align: center;">Brave is leaving everything behind and becoming a refugee in a foreign land.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjVqYdKpZn1OWp_B2CT8RBf03S7orkn4Iu9XECe3gmhKyAsmQPATL6yUrABlguh_dW9Xzye7lLIpQfZv5HTkqNPE9SQlwOrHiE84XHrQqQNqSMfXi947kc4wTAcIe5IsQ30aasUrBg1nU8H0dD5QkeyLpF66zYtzfpM9LB3YB4SCPaBdshnLBNLM4nf=s1200" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjVqYdKpZn1OWp_B2CT8RBf03S7orkn4Iu9XECe3gmhKyAsmQPATL6yUrABlguh_dW9Xzye7lLIpQfZv5HTkqNPE9SQlwOrHiE84XHrQqQNqSMfXi947kc4wTAcIe5IsQ30aasUrBg1nU8H0dD5QkeyLpF66zYtzfpM9LB3YB4SCPaBdshnLBNLM4nf=w640-h640" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Brave is saying goodbye.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhleCFRVFFfoSYSEkXh9jkXX7mLSTlVwePZsR9dHKtNVniqC-RZCWYXT9_z5MGbMiu47ISw9YZr9HaW-56pQHyc_lTbf5sdDJNl3SbyvOZY63uo7BoZ5Q6qt8MtXZpzDOMUkrNuxtPG_ZcYE9cCz2L8L8Fioy0eHp1W-3Dth2FonFDWh3xfkIX0VjaN=s1125" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="1125" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhleCFRVFFfoSYSEkXh9jkXX7mLSTlVwePZsR9dHKtNVniqC-RZCWYXT9_z5MGbMiu47ISw9YZr9HaW-56pQHyc_lTbf5sdDJNl3SbyvOZY63uo7BoZ5Q6qt8MtXZpzDOMUkrNuxtPG_ZcYE9cCz2L8L8Fioy0eHp1W-3Dth2FonFDWh3xfkIX0VjaN=w640-h426" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Brave is tenderly rescuing an elderly woman and her cat.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhTHyHmConPBN3QgqEH4b66d4k4MWYHSFjTYi_EvEEIcHnNJKY5YwC5uWRudeKFKFaR1o_HSKqRigck7qzpsf-ivBSHs2Ly_CexTu5x3I2YSNn96oOjYbWfNUkpzG6p9IKRZmRJKT79ZVG03LFttmXfd4sGQCvB2oRmNTEc7AhWmIJ1VqPCXHOBF00Z=s960" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="960" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhTHyHmConPBN3QgqEH4b66d4k4MWYHSFjTYi_EvEEIcHnNJKY5YwC5uWRudeKFKFaR1o_HSKqRigck7qzpsf-ivBSHs2Ly_CexTu5x3I2YSNn96oOjYbWfNUkpzG6p9IKRZmRJKT79ZVG03LFttmXfd4sGQCvB2oRmNTEc7AhWmIJ1VqPCXHOBF00Z=w640-h640" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Brave is honoring those who have fallen.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhE6M_A6qALu3e4-k8dD3o_iuqO6rzfxR02YW4iknDdJmYGEwqMCDaguvNurzpKsX6kqc_y_kzQx5LKepILRefSzqCBav2Ts0SzelFk7bQd5G0yQ3qSTnEHgnXwxN4BDNVWOonoAZK_WBYvLu6wFyiFQtQzqLvF-fnI1EoZUZ0RqOC-su1osq7aP7EC=s1280" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="853" data-original-width="1280" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhE6M_A6qALu3e4-k8dD3o_iuqO6rzfxR02YW4iknDdJmYGEwqMCDaguvNurzpKsX6kqc_y_kzQx5LKepILRefSzqCBav2Ts0SzelFk7bQd5G0yQ3qSTnEHgnXwxN4BDNVWOonoAZK_WBYvLu6wFyiFQtQzqLvF-fnI1EoZUZ0RqOC-su1osq7aP7EC=w640-h426" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Brave is comforting.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgVmrxsjXYxGxda_AolEoEtk4Nh1gL4rCZ5BVjM7zU23G_Z0UlZq3N94nrmhrxEkfVwb1yEsZBa6QLhYSJp0V0oUnoNSVO92l-YX22ygQMGytFsnLyLB1yAgbR2I8k7U-5ntCsuANhyRpF6-LjUkFM_FZHY35UAHLKCahQHbNZ-qGl6p3da3mlkRYg-=s1280" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="855" data-original-width="1280" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgVmrxsjXYxGxda_AolEoEtk4Nh1gL4rCZ5BVjM7zU23G_Z0UlZq3N94nrmhrxEkfVwb1yEsZBa6QLhYSJp0V0oUnoNSVO92l-YX22ygQMGytFsnLyLB1yAgbR2I8k7U-5ntCsuANhyRpF6-LjUkFM_FZHY35UAHLKCahQHbNZ-qGl6p3da3mlkRYg-=w640-h428" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Brave is knowing that taking a stand will end your life as you know it.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjTqSACRvX3vXHI7PVHqURahrnVvyDgXse63Yvqd1ZYqutMiQgSxk1xmeWX0xKi4pAGQIWPQtJOrqzfig6_QkrNly-vDWz1RbRF-R5C5RtPMlncNwVDKsgd4_cjw9pwOkdrvuQayyWXcCz5Pl3umt8W3nbi-e_rgoGMRm6CAOkQa4MnWWbCkjhzpG7F=s2048" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjTqSACRvX3vXHI7PVHqURahrnVvyDgXse63Yvqd1ZYqutMiQgSxk1xmeWX0xKi4pAGQIWPQtJOrqzfig6_QkrNly-vDWz1RbRF-R5C5RtPMlncNwVDKsgd4_cjw9pwOkdrvuQayyWXcCz5Pl3umt8W3nbi-e_rgoGMRm6CAOkQa4MnWWbCkjhzpG7F=w640-h360" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Brave is protesting against what your country is doing in Ukraine.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjzl09UuJkhwnN7SvNycUnDKCjLLM6wEy-4nFM5uQriUdvBmbYmpjSMUaXzUPoKCo5JX7wOJzbLClKPV_k4a5yB73NZBwK3XDjdHsc5bAN5azcV6EO8jNv94qH_EP6t1Zbbx-rQ5b6BlM08XAbZbskfFQ4h63S31LWO0BLGKYLdQErN0v8cgWbf0HGo=s825" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="551" data-original-width="825" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjzl09UuJkhwnN7SvNycUnDKCjLLM6wEy-4nFM5uQriUdvBmbYmpjSMUaXzUPoKCo5JX7wOJzbLClKPV_k4a5yB73NZBwK3XDjdHsc5bAN5azcV6EO8jNv94qH_EP6t1Zbbx-rQ5b6BlM08XAbZbskfFQ4h63S31LWO0BLGKYLdQErN0v8cgWbf0HGo=w640-h428" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Brave is volunteering even though you've never held a gun. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhRA6Yru8VX6ppqKBlthjQ07I_Y8kFN0dMC91Yy9cp1VsUhSu6229VjGg7KYfw_Fejc5VvHi0Q4J3XJ-k8srbkOixRzPA9psgo_ksdvC_4-RZMUgT4ENWu0UDEbWRAxsubVdU51MEMbaybHVXyPkTbPBL7y5MlVCNzT7sODN-4IcUHzyuXWIvp0yenG=s862" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="485" data-original-width="862" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhRA6Yru8VX6ppqKBlthjQ07I_Y8kFN0dMC91Yy9cp1VsUhSu6229VjGg7KYfw_Fejc5VvHi0Q4J3XJ-k8srbkOixRzPA9psgo_ksdvC_4-RZMUgT4ENWu0UDEbWRAxsubVdU51MEMbaybHVXyPkTbPBL7y5MlVCNzT7sODN-4IcUHzyuXWIvp0yenG=w640-h360" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Brave is fighting for your country.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhAOVezrmsQ_vdy2mtOa-pwpy-CEZi0C-En29UJcGU87-xGcaQ6-NyshgMflkznaAXnHPHzquCsmaD1tr2C8kjP6UDLKs-LJ3HnPMWgjLN6QtokUhPCvx-BTf0h1caCa19qO8Ye2Me0ZjnXKPVuOlHsCe55PPcLXGEX3H-I-QYaYHoOYab-r3dNm7IT=s1862" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1048" data-original-width="1862" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhAOVezrmsQ_vdy2mtOa-pwpy-CEZi0C-En29UJcGU87-xGcaQ6-NyshgMflkznaAXnHPHzquCsmaD1tr2C8kjP6UDLKs-LJ3HnPMWgjLN6QtokUhPCvx-BTf0h1caCa19qO8Ye2Me0ZjnXKPVuOlHsCe55PPcLXGEX3H-I-QYaYHoOYab-r3dNm7IT=w640-h360" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Brave is refusing to leave your country and choosing to lead from the front.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhSU9nK81QiLgwo8anAwWwI58jB7-aJ2VMMPd2thUGkkLl9oXE9dX7efd_KJdEv20QyFzxd3c6CjJ5qDWHL4w9ECGX_wkONt9AqGVTr2mjSgWQFOPMVuoPrqP0kC7OFplzcB7GjyjD4N_gNS5QKOnCC5mB5d4MLdCONHuOjGPjDjKV4Sx72Y5MKJIty=s750" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="750" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhSU9nK81QiLgwo8anAwWwI58jB7-aJ2VMMPd2thUGkkLl9oXE9dX7efd_KJdEv20QyFzxd3c6CjJ5qDWHL4w9ECGX_wkONt9AqGVTr2mjSgWQFOPMVuoPrqP0kC7OFplzcB7GjyjD4N_gNS5QKOnCC5mB5d4MLdCONHuOjGPjDjKV4Sx72Y5MKJIty=w640-h426" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Brave is rescuing the orphans.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Brave is carrying food into war torn areas.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Brave is searching among the rubble for the living.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I could go on and on.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I sit here day in and day out and watch the bravest people struggling against the greatest odds.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">They fight and beg - close the skies. Please close the skies.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjw1JeLgwPUq1nwCAht1VZmIJlJD3tdBG4D2bOkXPAcNns6T5XlWt4gC7WxJrceXOgWPqzb19A9o7PSKt0LckkiFUKl3vsLa4zDRfIsJQG2K7qRj8FiWRzwaXNUwejs6L3M8ld_kuspRsaSh4r0eSOl16a6BnMBYPPadtby6aTA-c1uZjAhKd63CKZQ=s960" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="662" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjw1JeLgwPUq1nwCAht1VZmIJlJD3tdBG4D2bOkXPAcNns6T5XlWt4gC7WxJrceXOgWPqzb19A9o7PSKt0LckkiFUKl3vsLa4zDRfIsJQG2K7qRj8FiWRzwaXNUwejs6L3M8ld_kuspRsaSh4r0eSOl16a6BnMBYPPadtby6aTA-c1uZjAhKd63CKZQ=w442-h640" width="442" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I hear our reasons why that's impossible.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We want to keep a low profile. Keep our heads down. Stay out of the conflict.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We need to protect our own.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And all the while... brave men and women and children are dying.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Little boys are saying goodbye to their Papas.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEipjEr3D_nrycjeCIRHoUX5woqnA7pAEuatG-twvr-4Ydq1PRsNtRog8w1sxTnl5bCR_xqdtFe4__TxQZ3aE6tzjHz3noP913tfEsZBuKkjr79LP4SmnOwd0ivm5HpkMcubx07ViF_jVJS45baEJlCr-QVTveLrWYlwrJcplRL23HGPcmL_O0u4lELB=s1280" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1280" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEipjEr3D_nrycjeCIRHoUX5woqnA7pAEuatG-twvr-4Ydq1PRsNtRog8w1sxTnl5bCR_xqdtFe4__TxQZ3aE6tzjHz3noP913tfEsZBuKkjr79LP4SmnOwd0ivm5HpkMcubx07ViF_jVJS45baEJlCr-QVTveLrWYlwrJcplRL23HGPcmL_O0u4lELB=w640-h640" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">They are dying while we cower. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Please.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We need to be brave!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We need to honor the agreement we made to Ukraine back in 1994. They gave up their nuclear weapons (the third largest in the world) and we promised to protect their borders. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">They signed in good faith.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We have broken that faith.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">First in 2014.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Now in 2022</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">WE NEED TO BE BRAVE!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Juliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04814524050417570766noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7297657180254499319.post-14848636494630270432022-03-11T15:40:00.000-05:002022-03-11T15:40:54.740-05:00Unspeakable Horror<p style="text-align: center;">For two weeks now I've been numb.</p><p style="text-align: center;">Tears have leaked out of my eyes without my even realizing.</p><p style="text-align: center;">I grieve at every picture coming out of Ukraine. Every video.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Children have been killed. Residential buildings have been destroyed. Hospitals. Schools.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">My heart is so grieved. I have few words and can only cry out to God.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">When we talk about Ukraine, Rob and I use the pronouns we, us and ours - not they, them and their. Their country is ours. That's how personal this is. We don't do it intentionally. We catch ourselves doing it. It's a natural part of having three Ukrainian-born faces to wake up to each morning. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEixUy4HHnxCckAM3QhGovpiUOryeDjpIRD-cpVDsys2q379heZnPKOp43jE3A4bjH8Em2OxJ-AsfDPNSSez0chsOGDVGa_q48icrNt43V2fbbd21AYS3vSiHausiFdWoP2e4yi1m9IAMSn7vANNmRvUh6AoOeVXYqsU3EVKoUAfMQbsCdUEn1qn34HV=s640" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEixUy4HHnxCckAM3QhGovpiUOryeDjpIRD-cpVDsys2q379heZnPKOp43jE3A4bjH8Em2OxJ-AsfDPNSSez0chsOGDVGa_q48icrNt43V2fbbd21AYS3vSiHausiFdWoP2e4yi1m9IAMSn7vANNmRvUh6AoOeVXYqsU3EVKoUAfMQbsCdUEn1qn34HV=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It's personal because we are in first hand conversation with dear friends over there. They are the ones having the bombs dropped around them. They are the ones begging for the skies to be closed over them. They are the ones making Molotov cocktails day in and out.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj6jUl9Qtp2agN9FzHZomUYaxp_dIeJx6LUPFiNzcu5_lICTJuNSga6gueog_nNJnn320LRLUAMwXGgOjXk96l_O0D8LDIz0YeXcKqDJuRmTobg8yYCUZi6HbC3NQUchii9Y9ANpQTJ8-np0uv_vUGld8kdHDRdn3gQexTZ2UWpGpGBgdgKH6Htpklm=s1000" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="1000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj6jUl9Qtp2agN9FzHZomUYaxp_dIeJx6LUPFiNzcu5_lICTJuNSga6gueog_nNJnn320LRLUAMwXGgOjXk96l_O0D8LDIz0YeXcKqDJuRmTobg8yYCUZi6HbC3NQUchii9Y9ANpQTJ8-np0uv_vUGld8kdHDRdn3gQexTZ2UWpGpGBgdgKH6Htpklm=w640-h426" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">They are the ones hiding out, clutching their children beside them.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgCBM1K9-kpC8Kx2SNJgr29HKBnw6gXGQ3nw6Mym-9IZCOVwq2Z_QdV1QUD0Cl_Ea9i5ZGvJr3uChkwskbw0Y2duZbLPGEXWj7ZDC-8TCMov_bwJhPCh-O_NRPiizRQ2xB4cl1tCJ4pfSCK0hoEsvxVBp8enRPadbeWmvTzjh-SQ_56TgfDjWLzC24j=s930" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="558" data-original-width="930" height="384" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgCBM1K9-kpC8Kx2SNJgr29HKBnw6gXGQ3nw6Mym-9IZCOVwq2Z_QdV1QUD0Cl_Ea9i5ZGvJr3uChkwskbw0Y2duZbLPGEXWj7ZDC-8TCMov_bwJhPCh-O_NRPiizRQ2xB4cl1tCJ4pfSCK0hoEsvxVBp8enRPadbeWmvTzjh-SQ_56TgfDjWLzC24j=w640-h384" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">They are the ones who are fleeing with just the clothes on their backs.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">They are the ones in the 'safer' areas who are emptying their pantries, their closets, their bank accounts for their fellow Ukrainians.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjlRI6KYwt0x_tWBlW9_KDTwwTRjV3PZNN9we1q-MREUC0H-4W7JP-MT69PeJzUXUfct_M7u5pIWAJhmKf3BUDyclsXv_JFHJc7zbDYpwSmW3_WDUo5vq1NcYNGfuzYeKXB6WoLCUdF6_nfgo_LGEExUlsbr5DgDg_lwiiFPjjnR92ougZX6iGMm1Km=s960" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="960" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjlRI6KYwt0x_tWBlW9_KDTwwTRjV3PZNN9we1q-MREUC0H-4W7JP-MT69PeJzUXUfct_M7u5pIWAJhmKf3BUDyclsXv_JFHJc7zbDYpwSmW3_WDUo5vq1NcYNGfuzYeKXB6WoLCUdF6_nfgo_LGEExUlsbr5DgDg_lwiiFPjjnR92ougZX6iGMm1Km=w640-h640" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">They are the ones distributing food to the desperately needy.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgXj_rV53FBTiakGJQf_vvThVmwflA5EfV3JyzfWPIgzDCkxf5QwqOkCscn-LdXkh9wSIK7QjO3Go0OPnWgslP1gHugkVP_DH0S0rs7djBK95AkCEf8KSxjmEpDn2O-CusKzsOhpyIy0Ae_lv-DzDRQW78cndbVEp1q3kkdyr9nHejMW_5F3uYFP9J_=s2048" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgXj_rV53FBTiakGJQf_vvThVmwflA5EfV3JyzfWPIgzDCkxf5QwqOkCscn-LdXkh9wSIK7QjO3Go0OPnWgslP1gHugkVP_DH0S0rs7djBK95AkCEf8KSxjmEpDn2O-CusKzsOhpyIy0Ae_lv-DzDRQW78cndbVEp1q3kkdyr9nHejMW_5F3uYFP9J_=w480-h640" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We KNOW these people. We GRIEVE with these people.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It's personal and its real.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">If I could go over and be the hands and feet of Jesus over there I would be on a plane in a heartbeat. We are here and we can give, and we can pray and I realize those are two worthy callings. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiWyuulY1WaBq1km_AhQIMlNl4Zdtp5gmM1p11b2EeU7v-4bmmkxvDNsg1Bu8i5-WF_JZzU2jVhuepEeiWCn4EgxLxXFBLCJm3U_Byh9tjFnv8GgYwuqa6dWQLhwNK8H7Pikh1plEIcGJrTgjewMzLOyisFRFNw4I-noa_Mz-ZNuLK5-xHhi2uA4LRq=s1280" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="852" data-original-width="1280" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiWyuulY1WaBq1km_AhQIMlNl4Zdtp5gmM1p11b2EeU7v-4bmmkxvDNsg1Bu8i5-WF_JZzU2jVhuepEeiWCn4EgxLxXFBLCJm3U_Byh9tjFnv8GgYwuqa6dWQLhwNK8H7Pikh1plEIcGJrTgjewMzLOyisFRFNw4I-noa_Mz-ZNuLK5-xHhi2uA4LRq=w640-h426" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And I can be a voice for my friends. I can be a voice for 'our' country across the sea. I can speak up for the voiceless right now. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Two million and counting have fled Ukraine. They are shell shocked, scared, longing for a home they don't have anymore and dependent upon others for help. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgJNe_9QedarGjOtyIBAM6ly9_8lCmOmEg4AFByPJzVnGl8190DIrqtS1WTw-XTUkF3LMZ6YEThjSTsmFBqcn8X9Yq4ykNCGwJWXWHoqw-ANxnocWXv17sTRy2NQh8-Uu4RgyMaM8a_nGxeanAsAb0ABELi4LU6rhKpfYd6pmKk5Fv2MgHAFb0iW-IZ=s1200" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgJNe_9QedarGjOtyIBAM6ly9_8lCmOmEg4AFByPJzVnGl8190DIrqtS1WTw-XTUkF3LMZ6YEThjSTsmFBqcn8X9Yq4ykNCGwJWXWHoqw-ANxnocWXv17sTRy2NQh8-Uu4RgyMaM8a_nGxeanAsAb0ABELi4LU6rhKpfYd6pmKk5Fv2MgHAFb0iW-IZ=w640-h640" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">That leaves 39 million people in a country gone mad. Some are in "safe places" but as a dear friend stated yesterday, there are really no safe places. Bombs could drop just as easily on those safe places as the rest. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Our prayers matter.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">They FEEL them over there. They SEE God at work. In little ways. In big ways. His presence is in their midst. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">My friends tell me over and over - please pray. Please please pray. It is their number one plea.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">One of our dear facilitators over there wrote me yesterday: "I believe the prayers of our families saved my life the last two weeks."</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Please don't get weary of praying and caring. We are a short-term memory people. We watch with horror for a while, but when the horror doesn't let up we move on to the next big thing. Gas prices are our next big thing. It's all over my feed.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Sorry to be blunt but gas prices do not compare to bombs blowing up hospitals.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjsu-P9q3IbkaVq2ns9xMm1UTVLHe_47HKkTgblGrqDaFK-Yos1zJ54SozLVHNfA409g9vpzB7JojGncXoMzmQvRUhT4kvQ2U3qu1Ny3eSJQMxvppcyW6xjT7_-ccYyN9lksy-IGOGsmz1ZCvQVAg-S7L0OdbDf7IyHt8xt4ZIpTb4uOI0_e5XhICxR=s2000" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="2000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjsu-P9q3IbkaVq2ns9xMm1UTVLHe_47HKkTgblGrqDaFK-Yos1zJ54SozLVHNfA409g9vpzB7JojGncXoMzmQvRUhT4kvQ2U3qu1Ny3eSJQMxvppcyW6xjT7_-ccYyN9lksy-IGOGsmz1ZCvQVAg-S7L0OdbDf7IyHt8xt4ZIpTb4uOI0_e5XhICxR=w640-h426" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It just doesn't.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The situation in Ukraine is dire. People in some areas are starving to death with no way to get food, water and because Russia keeps breaking their promise for safe corridors, they cannot get out to safety.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This is a scary map. All those red spider webs are roads and areas where the Russians have control. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgkdzMg2MaZxg7iiiq7qmwbkuRX-udVzJPbenq_anXOaqmXxJ3qwpMOjG9QjdukImMwSsTrnuqor2P0gBevmypmuFbqQPEgO40aurUTGf3huBhw6A74EgEmtlKn4REQ0ThLbTbWATeYAFxj0B40Cx19O4QR7GgxN3QTnUa_BHo2qT0PCZo9Uejo5Lvn=s1000" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="728" data-original-width="1000" height="466" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgkdzMg2MaZxg7iiiq7qmwbkuRX-udVzJPbenq_anXOaqmXxJ3qwpMOjG9QjdukImMwSsTrnuqor2P0gBevmypmuFbqQPEgO40aurUTGf3huBhw6A74EgEmtlKn4REQ0ThLbTbWATeYAFxj0B40Cx19O4QR7GgxN3QTnUa_BHo2qT0PCZo9Uejo5Lvn=w640-h466" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The people in the villages in those areas are being terrorized. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjCw24mIdY1q3iLT2gmeZVq_SfCALhE56lQKZBTTMVzNKPvli2kI8emcxAZJsDiosUaFqzy1RQXiNZEis4WH_M7D4fuwWhT0nQuJfJcuddrZ4xscvFmszPXSESLeNR92X9hrGyC6yxJRIW7iixuKpiFbRjSHCyV-XGvqDwk-ZIXBZkfpSc_7bWnpFsL=s1200" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1200" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjCw24mIdY1q3iLT2gmeZVq_SfCALhE56lQKZBTTMVzNKPvli2kI8emcxAZJsDiosUaFqzy1RQXiNZEis4WH_M7D4fuwWhT0nQuJfJcuddrZ4xscvFmszPXSESLeNR92X9hrGyC6yxJRIW7iixuKpiFbRjSHCyV-XGvqDwk-ZIXBZkfpSc_7bWnpFsL=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The cities are being bombed down to rubble.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgjWgnln4QytYU-5oMWhm9ytklTKdnXpEWqq9M4npzkAY8QdTdFccJ3HK7aMFP7sgfQP0vUVZvPFltCqQFNM5QXS86ZbKh5uYx8kTairzfckZWDRILmXiMfdEFthcGdqlR15xu3Gyl-4pAuh3xwvEwPQ86NRtp634vEqPEOG8szE_93dc4qj3TXNMMh=s853" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="568" data-original-width="853" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgjWgnln4QytYU-5oMWhm9ytklTKdnXpEWqq9M4npzkAY8QdTdFccJ3HK7aMFP7sgfQP0vUVZvPFltCqQFNM5QXS86ZbKh5uYx8kTairzfckZWDRILmXiMfdEFthcGdqlR15xu3Gyl-4pAuh3xwvEwPQ86NRtp634vEqPEOG8szE_93dc4qj3TXNMMh=w640-h426" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>It is unspeakable horror. Children caught in the crossfire.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh-sEtFsyW7_Zp3GlXU_slhAOu8WT6HieaaR_sHmXc__MbdYv_RJNFqdZTVt14WpFklYF8c5jMclQNf4mrF3RbjjJawWgl2fhQbsc_-Pr8a0rQ9T-NIEut-tL4xHJFYgRTVbkmq7V1ZSw5TUT2YbWGOSJiD3bhZwGdsJDgiDrctAhsTXXX0a5ZRKuhH=s615" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="345" data-original-width="615" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh-sEtFsyW7_Zp3GlXU_slhAOu8WT6HieaaR_sHmXc__MbdYv_RJNFqdZTVt14WpFklYF8c5jMclQNf4mrF3RbjjJawWgl2fhQbsc_-Pr8a0rQ9T-NIEut-tL4xHJFYgRTVbkmq7V1ZSw5TUT2YbWGOSJiD3bhZwGdsJDgiDrctAhsTXXX0a5ZRKuhH=w640-h360" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Please don't stop praying. Please don't get weary of hearing about Ukraine. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Please don't stop doing all you can to help!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">For those looking to give:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="http://heritageua.org/" target="_blank">Heritage Ukraine</a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://www.jeremiahshope.org/" target="_blank">Jeremiah's Hope</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://wideawakeinternational.org/" target="_blank">Wide Awake International</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="http://mayashope.org/" target="_blank">Maya's Hope</a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><br />Juliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04814524050417570766noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7297657180254499319.post-40750784228592129302022-03-07T08:47:00.001-05:002022-03-07T08:53:06.273-05:00The 38<p> <span style="text-align: center;">As you go about your Monday morning - feeding your wee ones, pouring milk into their bowls.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;">As you comb out tangles, look for lost socks, fuss over the mess on the floor.</p><p style="text-align: center;">As you struggle arms into coats and hustle your children out the door. For school. Or appointments. </p><p style="text-align: center;">As you go about your Monday feeling harried and worried over all the things on your to do list.</p><p style="text-align: center;">As you go about your day.</p><p style="text-align: center;">Think of the 38.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgNYVNIq94ZUJRVsL-gZrtkqknOJOvZnxSc1ciKWU1Km5UET4zttZILh7z0--9jBJLAuszjssFviNTDnDR22Eew0IL29NDebrAXsTnqSpcHqRdy_FewFRJdrDIQvlSd4ebAJQyFiLJq5MIb8JwdXMmzOqe2NpgrVWHa-nfGHUJYBqt1E0scGH1zJ96A=s638" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="638" data-original-width="574" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgNYVNIq94ZUJRVsL-gZrtkqknOJOvZnxSc1ciKWU1Km5UET4zttZILh7z0--9jBJLAuszjssFviNTDnDR22Eew0IL29NDebrAXsTnqSpcHqRdy_FewFRJdrDIQvlSd4ebAJQyFiLJq5MIb8JwdXMmzOqe2NpgrVWHa-nfGHUJYBqt1E0scGH1zJ96A=w360-h400" width="360" /></a></p><p style="text-align: center;">38 lost wee ones. In a senseless war.</p><p style="text-align: center;">Think of their moms.</p><p style="text-align: center;">Think of their dads.</p><p style="text-align: center;">Think of the days where they will never again.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjS3YNS9HSw_ZqqRXrRHDWdtj3DP5hgGZhosgmtuvqKyW-E_hnPrFr50SAR-MRU9DpQQoCqtpEYa7AYOgKcqov4MhSQW6N6XnVo4keaaVLfOQtVDx-HXecKobz1JMaAdNfCxSciM56MUm3FedYdFvtoQg3cWbU-zPC-JLoAxXIL2_y6AfOTdxo1SQ7C=s1618" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1618" data-original-width="1080" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjS3YNS9HSw_ZqqRXrRHDWdtj3DP5hgGZhosgmtuvqKyW-E_hnPrFr50SAR-MRU9DpQQoCqtpEYa7AYOgKcqov4MhSQW6N6XnVo4keaaVLfOQtVDx-HXecKobz1JMaAdNfCxSciM56MUm3FedYdFvtoQg3cWbU-zPC-JLoAxXIL2_y6AfOTdxo1SQ7C=w428-h640" width="428" /></a></p><p style="text-align: center;">And never again.</p><p style="text-align: center;">And never again.</p><p style="text-align: center;">Because a man who has determined that their piece of real estate belongs to him....</p><p style="text-align: center;">Has robbed them of their ever again.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgCjHD8bFIZkzYPmkX1u5OnC4jGJXtwQmiEfi_uzfyMEEK-H-9Fqo4uSGOmuGwh8IJOzLzlqE4lXUXe34-nWcltQiX1VEFBS9RzbNrlrZuwensfg1Z-77jIQhZAjBEt-eZ8uXygSKn7Hxht-rjVUKql_sRDg15XoIdBAYsm7zY798FyvwVkmEMqoBm9=s1439" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1439" data-original-width="1080" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgCjHD8bFIZkzYPmkX1u5OnC4jGJXtwQmiEfi_uzfyMEEK-H-9Fqo4uSGOmuGwh8IJOzLzlqE4lXUXe34-nWcltQiX1VEFBS9RzbNrlrZuwensfg1Z-77jIQhZAjBEt-eZ8uXygSKn7Hxht-rjVUKql_sRDg15XoIdBAYsm7zY798FyvwVkmEMqoBm9=w300-h400" width="300" /></a></p><p style="text-align: center;">As you go about your day pray for those moms. </p><p style="text-align: center;">Pray for those dads.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgoEg7aT3q1Gy3-YO-jYbqPhx8ylBG-SpPW1P9p3lYNn3HDciDzdPJixvZeciAWk1JTodP5yf_TpHy7z7lvz3zDZa_IlYaOSI1Ts56H1INBiG7vVGTGz8kc6pPWtDzkIgEekXZjiq95iS3Z_hIW09HtIrnYyJNVV93VW69B_5YrOqoLYa9ZLoj4nYHp=s782" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="771" data-original-width="782" height="630" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgoEg7aT3q1Gy3-YO-jYbqPhx8ylBG-SpPW1P9p3lYNn3HDciDzdPJixvZeciAWk1JTodP5yf_TpHy7z7lvz3zDZa_IlYaOSI1Ts56H1INBiG7vVGTGz8kc6pPWtDzkIgEekXZjiq95iS3Z_hIW09HtIrnYyJNVV93VW69B_5YrOqoLYa9ZLoj4nYHp=w640-h630" width="640" /></a></p><p style="text-align: center;">Because they are weeping in shock and anguish that in a mere 12 days, their entire world has crashed around them. </p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEie2dXxwgl4sGoE9-E5JPHZdOtYyWB-wiaBtO2I0aqHJEvK9XVIli8Juofy40xy2WfrwdujnazJHvB0c0AkJTCoBKDsFpWn_Hl0TraTn6SSwPfov1WRdCatXW6xHh-QietPRyFlT1JcenIGTnBKd1eS6DsyAwBiIl0B6Mbmb4R4NEvtherLceOOGPpj=s641" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="522" data-original-width="641" height="522" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEie2dXxwgl4sGoE9-E5JPHZdOtYyWB-wiaBtO2I0aqHJEvK9XVIli8Juofy40xy2WfrwdujnazJHvB0c0AkJTCoBKDsFpWn_Hl0TraTn6SSwPfov1WRdCatXW6xHh-QietPRyFlT1JcenIGTnBKd1eS6DsyAwBiIl0B6Mbmb4R4NEvtherLceOOGPpj=w640-h522" width="640" /></a></p><p style="text-align: center;">The devastation is real. The pictures do not begin to capture the horror of what is happening.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiFcP-WwxUNqwUkMc4c8EhDvhPid8SUzMEPvhMVOEFyQZfI9zc2ULF7X0y_tJwVcCASzNcsys4tJvU7iPLDDUvcyjw_wCy-FGtZo6hBjmhQjT2Njy8G2aqUJ6H98dSGod-Hg-oksZTIzYsmm0__kjc1mvf6ZhGj11PE6plgbEKPraObAo3uwqDmV5yq=s1198" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1198" data-original-width="957" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiFcP-WwxUNqwUkMc4c8EhDvhPid8SUzMEPvhMVOEFyQZfI9zc2ULF7X0y_tJwVcCASzNcsys4tJvU7iPLDDUvcyjw_wCy-FGtZo6hBjmhQjT2Njy8G2aqUJ6H98dSGod-Hg-oksZTIzYsmm0__kjc1mvf6ZhGj11PE6plgbEKPraObAo3uwqDmV5yq=w512-h640" width="512" /></a></p><p style="text-align: center;">Millions are homeless in a foreign land. </p><p style="text-align: center;">Many more tens of millions are waiting for the bombs to drop.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjsGnFOyyo2-LU3gUFxjJNyTjRpRgTcCY0sXrp-yQrNEsAj1uSzSjNQwKf17MBKvjSP2K6BHnyLTw4bom4Eyj3yfJNpHRxelf2XkOcm1IEEY3V3XV2-CAsqrltMocvzB5slr87dpK2hgl7ygfoxslVRTQDE8JWxPkD5azTDzImJ7ZXJCiesWrRv8Fst=s900" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="900" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjsGnFOyyo2-LU3gUFxjJNyTjRpRgTcCY0sXrp-yQrNEsAj1uSzSjNQwKf17MBKvjSP2K6BHnyLTw4bom4Eyj3yfJNpHRxelf2XkOcm1IEEY3V3XV2-CAsqrltMocvzB5slr87dpK2hgl7ygfoxslVRTQDE8JWxPkD5azTDzImJ7ZXJCiesWrRv8Fst=w640-h426" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">In just 12 days.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Life as they knew it is over.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">With no end in sight.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">As you go about your day.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />On this Monday morning - think of them.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Think of the tens of millions of them.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Afraid. Confused. Shocked. Angry. Clinging to their faith. Finding faith. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Think of the wanderers.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Think of the soldiers.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Think of the elderly.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Think of the newly orphaned.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Think of the newly widowed.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Think of the disabled.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Think of the loss. Think of the devastation.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Think of the 38.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">38 who will never again.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Never again. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">PLEASE PRAY FOR UKRAINE!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">------------------------------</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">For those looking to give:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://heritageua.org/" target="_blank">Heritage Ukraine</a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.jeremiahshope.org/" target="_blank">Jeremiah's Hope</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://wideawakeinternational.org/" target="_blank">Wide Awake International</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://mayashope.org/" target="_blank">Maya's Hope</a></div>Juliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04814524050417570766noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7297657180254499319.post-74270547127129015002022-02-27T06:52:00.000-05:002022-02-27T06:52:11.253-05:00Our Beloved Serge<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I write this with tears streaming.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Our beloved Serge has given his life for his country.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">He didn't have to. He had his American citizenship. He could have left and sat safely on this side of the ocean.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">But he loved Ukraine.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">So he entered the trenches with all the other volunteers, and he is gone.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We loved him. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Without him we would not have Aaron. Pure and simple. He fought like a grisly bear and got our boy out, and I will be eternally grateful to him.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgXakwja47qdNJCrkJJ0gR3W53YRLYpl97g0M35HeIEMikBy8KCBdyDr6s5R0ZSoP-q9XRFy3nNqVWAn22btO-NiFrygnLPMIVLBFRagch6VZX46iB0wG0QLnB6A8TKCxZEnYy8kJaYsztOHmY03OvUrr2j7UkHtcbtF20CRQ_hL3Sf5QWKEPFldUcl=s640" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="587" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgXakwja47qdNJCrkJJ0gR3W53YRLYpl97g0M35HeIEMikBy8KCBdyDr6s5R0ZSoP-q9XRFy3nNqVWAn22btO-NiFrygnLPMIVLBFRagch6VZX46iB0wG0QLnB6A8TKCxZEnYy8kJaYsztOHmY03OvUrr2j7UkHtcbtF20CRQ_hL3Sf5QWKEPFldUcl=w588-h640" width="588" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">He oversaw all three of our crazy adoptions.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">When our second one almost derailed, he sat in a coffee shop with us for hours while we grieved.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjznU5rjNCdsbnf6k_qyjAPB0JdqiMIWVSXPpJW-XjFGIlrMYkJqBOIe49ekIGdMbANowmXa11MO-iyjN9kYZ-L8irNZ4bMw7abyd5U9IGrhDg_x4vMhxM7A02PwbFIhOY7RNN6CV4F5dnSqHUquCM-J4j8uaIW5LLjOuZtIvvpnpHZbcbNo_COjkI7=s682" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="682" data-original-width="529" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjznU5rjNCdsbnf6k_qyjAPB0JdqiMIWVSXPpJW-XjFGIlrMYkJqBOIe49ekIGdMbANowmXa11MO-iyjN9kYZ-L8irNZ4bMw7abyd5U9IGrhDg_x4vMhxM7A02PwbFIhOY7RNN6CV4F5dnSqHUquCM-J4j8uaIW5LLjOuZtIvvpnpHZbcbNo_COjkI7=w496-h640" width="496" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">He was gruff and had his detractors, but he helped facilitate thousands upon thousands of adoptions.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">He went to bat when no one else would.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Just weeks ago, when a family was turned away at the airport - he marched in with lawyers and got them safely home.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEieqOY4brqTyQREwcaZYl1-D_NvBif6SEAwmmDztblJ2fWcyV-VpJMzgCuFB13Hd4Y4RBz2PjMRBA6SdlYhE59FMFnltrTC-VvpgqHP43Qne9vFsj9H3Pu4UHP7NIRSZCGloONvfmkyadRIEJLq7S2iWbEIPsflOmTywlUWldoMNlTS38KYyxCtm-jX=s459" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="459" data-original-width="418" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEieqOY4brqTyQREwcaZYl1-D_NvBif6SEAwmmDztblJ2fWcyV-VpJMzgCuFB13Hd4Y4RBz2PjMRBA6SdlYhE59FMFnltrTC-VvpgqHP43Qne9vFsj9H3Pu4UHP7NIRSZCGloONvfmkyadRIEJLq7S2iWbEIPsflOmTywlUWldoMNlTS38KYyxCtm-jX=w582-h640" width="582" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">He was a fighter.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">In every way.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We loved him.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The first American citizen to die for Ukraine.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">A pointless, cruel, unprovoked war.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Please pray. We know so many others throwing Molotov cocktails at Russian tanks.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">My heart bleeds this morning.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p></p>Juliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04814524050417570766noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7297657180254499319.post-52216951464720862152022-02-26T12:10:00.000-05:002022-02-26T12:10:47.464-05:00Our People<p style="text-align: center;"> My heart has been so broken the last few days.</p><p style="text-align: center;">I scour the news. Every 10 minutes. I keep tabs on my 'peoples' over there.</p><p style="text-align: center;">I have shed a lot of tears.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEitFHtLg4GKHId9TuSJJaIHbPLXpDaBFb4Z_DsIgAU9FR4OKUSXdYF5NaE3VyTFwuZPnKzFL3WglrZEv08NNXcAVVnsQVBL2HvuGM9ctnHMLVdDg_-9k45gCSBFvy7oOMy4MQj53gl0kTrAiLnWhM-CFuZIuohnqvbVrhTDKrXPN7onY0389f3pKPCl=s600" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEitFHtLg4GKHId9TuSJJaIHbPLXpDaBFb4Z_DsIgAU9FR4OKUSXdYF5NaE3VyTFwuZPnKzFL3WglrZEv08NNXcAVVnsQVBL2HvuGM9ctnHMLVdDg_-9k45gCSBFvy7oOMy4MQj53gl0kTrAiLnWhM-CFuZIuohnqvbVrhTDKrXPN7onY0389f3pKPCl=s320" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This is a bit of what we know about some of "Our People" over there. People who matter to us and to God. Precious souls caught in a war that was totally unprovoked. </div><p style="text-align: center;">A group of precious souls in a ministry we support - Bible Orphan Ministry - is in the capital with a large group of children and youth - hiding out in a church facility. The terror they face is real. They are forced to comfort the small ones, holding their ears against the sounds outside. They wanted to get out yesterday, but they were unable to move as they couldn't find a driver. I'm praying they can find a way today. The bridge to the west has been blown up making escape more difficult.</p><p style="text-align: center;">Another ministry - Jeremiah's Hope - has lost contact with a group of 10 children and 3 staff members. That same blown-up bridge has made it impossible to get to them. The village is surrounded on all sides. </p><p style="text-align: center;">Other dear dear friends - Wide Awake International -are in their homestead two hours from the capital. Their place bursting at the seams as they open the doors for those in need and care for the ones inside. They have so many lives in their care, and they are praying for wisdom in this time.</p><p style="text-align: center;">Two of our powerhouse adoption facilitators are in a village that is not far from the capital. They are making Molotov cocktails and standing ready to defend their land. I love those fierce women so deeply!</p><p style="text-align: center;">Another facilitator posted video yesterday of an empty city square. His was the only car on the road. That area is NEVER free of cars. EVER. It's a place we have walked hundreds of times - it's like home to us. I watched the video and wept. I cannot stand the thought of bombs being dropped there.</p><p style="text-align: center;">Down in the south are more of those we love - Heritage Ukraine. It is quiet there for now after the first day of bombing. Eerily quiet. They are watching and waiting and praying. Their area is dangerous. A place long coveted by Russia. They too have many people in their care. </p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiMPSIDYGEZBDhhnD7ik5l1KupMPYy-2ug9opTPjrsWPXSZndHe7xUOTs8I9BiM2rOc8Mf_Dfw96-giFRHXV2vJTxW7dGZizElaiVc5K0qcaD_0oWn59ze3hfFfTvtRa883EYwj3uyTKPOiBKG1HToNINJvWFjEADz9OLLcisCPM-gspVkvd2_VU695=s639" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="380" data-original-width="639" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiMPSIDYGEZBDhhnD7ik5l1KupMPYy-2ug9opTPjrsWPXSZndHe7xUOTs8I9BiM2rOc8Mf_Dfw96-giFRHXV2vJTxW7dGZizElaiVc5K0qcaD_0oWn59ze3hfFfTvtRa883EYwj3uyTKPOiBKG1HToNINJvWFjEADz9OLLcisCPM-gspVkvd2_VU695=w400-h238" width="400" /></a></p><p style="text-align: center;">One missionary family from John's area got over the border this morning after a stressful 24 hours with small children in tow. The line of those wanting out of the country stretching for miles and miles. Those in the villages along the route who are choosing to stay are carrying bits of food and drink to those waiting in their cars. No money. No thank you. God speed.</p><p style="text-align: center;">I've sent messages to anyone and everyone. </p><p style="text-align: center;">To John's birth family. Letting them know they are not alone. We are praying for them here.</p><p style="text-align: center;">I could go on and on. We know so many. We love deeply this adopted country of ours.</p><p style="text-align: center;">I am not alone in my obsession. I go on my Facebook feed and see all my friends waving the blue and yellow flag and grieving alongside of me.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhztsAgYEjl34A1GOS5-I5CHZnxv1qa3U885n_XngLUMG-ejGy91eyAi-bxL0JfQWPlxGus-EGeqgGzUqf889YKIA6TSJ_T67KF8fMO3B5LZkw-zOh4Et7AOW0vK47B7ZiDfcQ3lVLfHzWN2iavtPLRex3IeYCfIUpsyr1XUOzwUsYvZxvE0dgjHhBS=s843" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="843" data-original-width="843" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhztsAgYEjl34A1GOS5-I5CHZnxv1qa3U885n_XngLUMG-ejGy91eyAi-bxL0JfQWPlxGus-EGeqgGzUqf889YKIA6TSJ_T67KF8fMO3B5LZkw-zOh4Et7AOW0vK47B7ZiDfcQ3lVLfHzWN2iavtPLRex3IeYCfIUpsyr1XUOzwUsYvZxvE0dgjHhBS=w400-h400" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;">We share the same story. This is our children's heritage - their birth home. There are thousands of us who are standing for Ukraine along with their children.</p><p style="text-align: center;">My boys are in shock. This is their people. Which has made them Our People. It's hard to process. It doesn't seem real.</p><p style="text-align: center;">Their birth country is being taken over and there is nothing we can do to stop it.</p><p style="text-align: center;">All we can do is watch and pray.</p><p style="text-align: center;">We can send out words of encouragement. Let 'Our People' know they are not alone. </p><p style="text-align: center;">Watch and pray some more.</p><p style="text-align: center;">And pray some more.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh6gsxLw25cXoS-Gx5FSEuHuvJVZuiEEnp6jLdiGuqj6Dig0Jh2W4QkYOTFBk-GldTNjpSl-nrY5QDDODVXX1yuYoMfjUNOfWiHKKRD-bmRJtqc_jlilN7bG-67Mbqa9cpM1jmUtRmVGdyY14NswFbMXovMnXn7dEEO7GPHYoiqEA6ZU5qhpEHSHBQx=s834" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="834" data-original-width="828" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh6gsxLw25cXoS-Gx5FSEuHuvJVZuiEEnp6jLdiGuqj6Dig0Jh2W4QkYOTFBk-GldTNjpSl-nrY5QDDODVXX1yuYoMfjUNOfWiHKKRD-bmRJtqc_jlilN7bG-67Mbqa9cpM1jmUtRmVGdyY14NswFbMXovMnXn7dEEO7GPHYoiqEA6ZU5qhpEHSHBQx=s320" width="318" /></a></p><p><br /></p>Juliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04814524050417570766noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7297657180254499319.post-11388829826806993782022-02-24T08:17:00.002-05:002022-02-24T08:55:58.020-05:00My Heart Bleeds<p> <span style="text-align: center;">When war happens across the ocean in countries where I have little knowledge, I feel sorrow for the people, but it's not soul crushing. This morning as I hear reports of bombs going off in cities where I have traveled and where three of my children were born, it's like a blow to my gut. </span></p><p style="text-align: center;">I had to go back in my files to find a sweet picture of my three in their native dress. </p><p style="text-align: center;">This is their home country that is being bombed.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiyH2oOXi4VK97qWtE6wsiq72825QzoKf8TnmII29uC6LAYtyzjMQ9oA7xzngEbKyAFzScU7iA_1NWyLT8Ut0zyvL485a93RpmLPiFmuJi_F4Cde0oxWE54zbPI5ji8PYW0aDbS1zplAPxBTOKBu1RzoA0nSWMqrmATfO2WWGDipFhc9Ozvep_m20bX=s1354" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="903" data-original-width="1354" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiyH2oOXi4VK97qWtE6wsiq72825QzoKf8TnmII29uC6LAYtyzjMQ9oA7xzngEbKyAFzScU7iA_1NWyLT8Ut0zyvL485a93RpmLPiFmuJi_F4Cde0oxWE54zbPI5ji8PYW0aDbS1zplAPxBTOKBu1RzoA0nSWMqrmATfO2WWGDipFhc9Ozvep_m20bX=w640-h426" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Numerous cities.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgx1AuE6AXYqdxbQi5--RahC--JoNddMd_R0UGdiowyPC17ihsHSrPh1JYSprfrVVTir66wLEROxXgH4gdK3ebeg1B398nQn9isbF_FC4p7RpKj4bON_s3e8tFHlX015pUjbpTgT-meOW-yLm7MD1Bjn6zG57U90Qpt2nxotXW0xbT2ZXmoZoHUMckj=s952" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="749" data-original-width="952" height="504" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgx1AuE6AXYqdxbQi5--RahC--JoNddMd_R0UGdiowyPC17ihsHSrPh1JYSprfrVVTir66wLEROxXgH4gdK3ebeg1B398nQn9isbF_FC4p7RpKj4bON_s3e8tFHlX015pUjbpTgT-meOW-yLm7MD1Bjn6zG57U90Qpt2nxotXW0xbT2ZXmoZoHUMckj=w640-h504" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This is not just a small operation. Do you see the map? </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I've been to a number of those cities. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Aaron's institute - filled with precious helpless boys sits right near where bombs dropped this morning. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Mary's institute was near another. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">John's orphanage a few hours from bombs in several directions.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">There are faces to my prayers. People we dearly love. Ministries that we support. Orphanages. Institutes. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">There are families in the process of adopting who are there now. Despite the warnings they went because NOTHING keeps a Mama away from her child. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">There are adoptive families grieving here as they are now cut off and unable to go back. They are in the middle of the process. The children waiting for them. Dear Lord!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">One family starting the process was leaving tomorrow. Can you even imagine? Their bags packed. The call of their boy screaming in their ears. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">So far, from e-mails we've received and watching Facebook, those we love over there are safe. Some woke this morning to their homes shaking from the bombs, but they are safe. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">But many have already lost their lives. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgCTaOBVrvFvDooFQ9LIuDFH1lEuSueKs5CfH3aznE8NR6Vk6hJp1HN_7ybcv3EhopPpW7sysIRDj41TMZo9rzWtAUEJaNTuY066WmWy1dgFeC7Gvoa3HLnuNP2ma_MOcB8hHsWE2p8GMY3_ZOPtpqDIYAUZ2oVOv3OU0Hs1q4vPU8DinLvT1sLwXYk=s1597" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1065" data-original-width="1597" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgCTaOBVrvFvDooFQ9LIuDFH1lEuSueKs5CfH3aznE8NR6Vk6hJp1HN_7ybcv3EhopPpW7sysIRDj41TMZo9rzWtAUEJaNTuY066WmWy1dgFeC7Gvoa3HLnuNP2ma_MOcB8hHsWE2p8GMY3_ZOPtpqDIYAUZ2oVOv3OU0Hs1q4vPU8DinLvT1sLwXYk=w640-h426" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">And more will be lost in the coming days.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">It's beyond real. My heart bleeds for a country that has been struggling for so long to get its bearing. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgSijVUKdtxcEw8H_ges6WPcQrnbu_g9CzD77JdRTS71jCiOAUfwyqTvTuXNUWmt9KLUkugjqAD4fmaIJhABIaS3EDR57V2S4AICLBWfNe1YtrJ4iMZGRQeThcRI5aU49a5QfXsnyN-cM8YufasjEo5WAwyzulGXoikBHmb7Xao4tabOKVyWVNr5MiG=s720" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="405" data-original-width="720" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgSijVUKdtxcEw8H_ges6WPcQrnbu_g9CzD77JdRTS71jCiOAUfwyqTvTuXNUWmt9KLUkugjqAD4fmaIJhABIaS3EDR57V2S4AICLBWfNe1YtrJ4iMZGRQeThcRI5aU49a5QfXsnyN-cM8YufasjEo5WAwyzulGXoikBHmb7Xao4tabOKVyWVNr5MiG=w640-h360" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div>I was there during the Maiden Revolution. I saw the fierce desire of the people to live in a country that is free. Free inside and out.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">No matter what you hear in the news - they don't want this. Most of them may speak the language of the invaders but that doesn't mean they want to be invaded.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">They are proud. They are fierce. I am praying with all my heart that they are not overcome.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div></div>Juliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04814524050417570766noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7297657180254499319.post-92215021279173251922022-01-28T09:07:00.002-05:002022-01-28T11:18:09.759-05:00Predators in Our Midst<p style="text-align: center;">She came up to me at the end of one of my sessions last year.</p><p style="text-align: center;">Something I said had struck a chord and she wanted to talk.</p><p style="text-align: center;">In private.</p><p style="text-align: center;">At first, we chit chatted. Small talk. About homeschooling and our children.</p><p style="text-align: center;">And then the floodgates came.</p><p style="text-align: center;">Her daughter.</p><p style="text-align: center;">Her 13-year-old daughter had been groomed by a predator. </p><p style="text-align: center;">Her 13-year-old homeschooled daughter whom they tucked into bed each night had been carefully and meticulously manipulated by a man in their neighborhood. </p><p style="text-align: center;">She was a quiet girl, insecure. She struggled with self-esteem issues. He posed as an older boy on social media. He craftily developed a relationship with her. He lavished praise and words of love on her. He made her feel valued and important. </p><p style="text-align: center;">She agreed to meet him.</p><p style="text-align: center;">But before the meeting, her parents found out. </p><p style="text-align: center;">They called the police.</p><p style="text-align: center;">The man was caught. The girl was safe.</p><p style="text-align: center;">But not really.</p><p style="text-align: center;">Since nothing happened, he was released.</p><p style="text-align: center;">And still in her neighborhood.</p><p style="text-align: center;">The girl was angry. Not at the man, but at her parents. She was thoroughly and completely convinced that the boy/man loved her. She didn't care that he was older. He loved her.</p><p style="text-align: center;">The police talked to her. Counselors.</p><p style="text-align: center;">She wouldn't listen. He loved her.</p><p style="text-align: center;">The family was caught in a nightmare that wasn't going away.</p><p style="text-align: center;">They had to watch her all.the.time. </p><p style="text-align: center;">They never thought it would happen to them.</p><p style="text-align: center;">-----------------------------------</p><p style="text-align: center;">Trafficking, predators - not in our neighborhoods, right? We think we are safe. We live in the suburbs. We live in the country. We homeschool. We do all the right things, right?</p><p style="text-align: center;">Adoption has forced me to confront the ugly world of trafficking. Predators.</p><p style="text-align: center;">My children came from a system where many of the young girls and boys are groomed even in the orphanages. So that when they are given their suitcases at age 16, they go right from the orphanage and into the pit of hell.</p><p style="text-align: center;">Of course they think they are going into a better life. With promises of a good job and all the bells and whistles that go with that.</p><p style="text-align: center;">Other girls are taken before they even leave the orphanage. Men pay directors money and take their pleasures with them. It happens to the boys too. </p><p style="text-align: center;">They are the least of the least and when they disappear into the underworld - no one goes looking for them. They are lost to a system that will chew them up and spit them out when they are done with them.</p><p style="text-align: center;">I started reading books about it.</p><p style="text-align: center;">And my eyes were opened.</p><p style="text-align: center;">Trafficking isn't just about sex although it is a huge part of the industry. It's also about labor. Exploiting the poorest of the poor with promises of a job. Instead, they become slaves in a home or a farm or a factory. Forced to work inhuman hours under horrible circumstances with no chance of freedom.</p><p style="text-align: center;">But not in our country, right?</p><p style="text-align: center;">Not in our neighborhoods.</p><p style="text-align: center;">The more I read - the more I know that it is everywhere. A hidden world of modern-day slavery. Men and women preying upon the weak, the outcast, the one that no one is going to go looking for.</p><p style="text-align: center;">And I have asked myself. What can I do? </p><p style="text-align: center;">How can I help?</p><p style="text-align: center;">How can I take part in a human tragedy that grieves God's heart deeply?</p><p style="text-align: center;">------------------------------</p><p style="text-align: center;">Last winter my son Ben met a sweet girl and the two fell promptly in love.</p><p style="text-align: center;"> We have a wedding happening this year.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgxumneDtt33oHjNzaT3c-68ioyv221nSNCEDkeDCBvUaJWrO1fs9ezaDvwrv9yG45s4G93CBqxz9PId13ZaYAvu4rBuprADd8iIQRpJORGP3J5loKwjxOo4sKnVfSv7lKEjRIxeeEDmHIZTwhflZ--5wrfPzKRcV1Kx4AuS5oEnZTmK8dQDFzF8bq3=s2048" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgxumneDtt33oHjNzaT3c-68ioyv221nSNCEDkeDCBvUaJWrO1fs9ezaDvwrv9yG45s4G93CBqxz9PId13ZaYAvu4rBuprADd8iIQRpJORGP3J5loKwjxOo4sKnVfSv7lKEjRIxeeEDmHIZTwhflZ--5wrfPzKRcV1Kx4AuS5oEnZTmK8dQDFzF8bq3=w400-h400" width="400" /></a></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">That just doesn't seem real.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We are thrilled - don't get me wrong. But it's hard to wrap my brain around the fact that my firstborn is getting married.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">He's got great taste though.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">She's a keeper!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj7BdvL4Wg18jNohMxS05QDOEu6w0AUpVgKoKzrIxItda3BBsQcyi9wKnAM6XPyeLbBDYZlG51OP8Aw32SAfNAlXbLZVm60G4ezDLqZzRnExcUzs3ob_4uLRvZ1i3tgmFrVd5lD7GMy0jyAbQWQ8BFI7YKdTgTMFDoZjyqAyny0ydmdhgdw8P5MzYkt=s619" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="619" data-original-width="558" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj7BdvL4Wg18jNohMxS05QDOEu6w0AUpVgKoKzrIxItda3BBsQcyi9wKnAM6XPyeLbBDYZlG51OP8Aw32SAfNAlXbLZVm60G4ezDLqZzRnExcUzs3ob_4uLRvZ1i3tgmFrVd5lD7GMy0jyAbQWQ8BFI7YKdTgTMFDoZjyqAyny0ydmdhgdw8P5MzYkt=s320" width="288" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We love her.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We also love that she has a heart for the vulnerable.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Anna has a ministry called <a href="https://transformationfreedom.org/" target="_blank">Transformation Freedom Initiative</a>.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Rather big words.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">In simple English - It's a ministry to raise awareness about human trafficking.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Did you read that?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />I sure did a double take when I found out what she did.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Here I am - reading books and praying and trying to figure out how I can get involved and the Lord just kindly drops Anna right in our laps.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Anna's ministry is designed to stop trafficking before it starts.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">To educate.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">To teach the kids and the parents about how a predator operates.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Predators operate in the neighborhoods, malls, schools and on-line. On social media. In chat rooms. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Here's an important fact - Sex trafficking rarely begins with a violent abduction (although this does happen too). It begins with someone the victim knows and usually trusts or loves.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And if you think that it ONLY happens on social media, and by keeping your children away from electronics that you will keep them safe, think again.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Traffickers/Predators can be found everywhere. Anywhere. Even in church. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Anna's ministry is a community effort. The goal is to bring awareness, prevention, detection, rescue and restoration. Anna speaks all over the area - to children, adults and to whomever will listen. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It's a humble ministry.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">By a humble lady with a big heart and a lot of passion.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Why am I sharing this?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Because I love her, and I love her heart.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And also, because TFI (her ministry) is having a <a href="https://transformationfreedom.org/trek-to-prevent-trafficking/" target="_blank">5K run</a> in our area, and I want all my local peeps who love to run or are willing to walk - to come out and join in.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">February 18, 2022 - 9:00 am - Newcomb Course - Charlottesville, Virginia</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It only costs $35.00 to enter.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">John and Aaron and I will be there as volunteers.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I am so hoping that some of you will come join us.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">To run. To walk. To volunteer.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Come on out. For a great reason!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">If you aren't in my area or are not into the run/walk thing -then you can donate to the cause!!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Win. Win.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Raising awareness to keep even one vulnerable child safe is so worth the time and effort.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://transformationfreedom.org/trek-to-prevent-trafficking/" target="_blank">CLICK HERE</a> to run or walk!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://app.easytithe.com/App/Form/3dfc9761-20cc-4eea-bd4d-c1b84c8885e0" target="_blank">CLICK HERE</a> to donate! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj6FOMhZwF5RJLa4-bNi9O2N0p9rpQ8G05gBGwov9gVTg3U8hNWfA5L8SesIxmm_OkAZwTzpFGIoB5hKQ5kAdPl22lkUmJV8lrHdLf86V0N6Er_uiwOUYLRJk5ca7QixKFNHFZBNlF5G3ymv3CDw7VZE2bnpaF5iNgQi5g5_S7oDupkYZmRX-EYPE0k=s500" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="500" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj6FOMhZwF5RJLa4-bNi9O2N0p9rpQ8G05gBGwov9gVTg3U8hNWfA5L8SesIxmm_OkAZwTzpFGIoB5hKQ5kAdPl22lkUmJV8lrHdLf86V0N6Er_uiwOUYLRJk5ca7QixKFNHFZBNlF5G3ymv3CDw7VZE2bnpaF5iNgQi5g5_S7oDupkYZmRX-EYPE0k=w200-h200" width="200" /></a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi1oHSNrAofsN1M1Rn839bxw2JAmmyB5yFEM6fVrp6qR5wUtl-WiRG77q1SiXG15ulJww-SoT0k3aIgunFqx3fvXUJcDm4Ysc6xjPAqJMK5IMapVCrWM_10laVvM2EfS0ut9Swqtk7gpwkqfcezuZemkjqPLZ66I-K6y3WQSHGZTawr5PaCDGU5NDCJ=s2048" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi1oHSNrAofsN1M1Rn839bxw2JAmmyB5yFEM6fVrp6qR5wUtl-WiRG77q1SiXG15ulJww-SoT0k3aIgunFqx3fvXUJcDm4Ysc6xjPAqJMK5IMapVCrWM_10laVvM2EfS0ut9Swqtk7gpwkqfcezuZemkjqPLZ66I-K6y3WQSHGZTawr5PaCDGU5NDCJ=w300-h400" width="300" /></a><br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Juliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04814524050417570766noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7297657180254499319.post-84035305311357384302022-01-26T08:03:00.001-05:002022-01-26T08:03:33.792-05:00COVID. Snow. ZOOM. BiblioPlan.<p style="text-align: center;"> Wow this blog has been quiet for a while!</p><p style="text-align: center;">Not that it's been quiet in our little house on the hill.</p><p style="text-align: center;">On the contrary.</p><p style="text-align: center;">Between a very MILD COVID assault over Christmas... that confined us to quarters for 10 solid, very noisy days....</p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg_k5QhjqBM8xjnIQgV_Tdvh5NTNjiWCeKgSo7dJw_W8TNO__fRgv-vZeyAI5-Ss6u9QYmQsh2Urvq3M42YfgrOZ8I0aF1JEqeu1r55hrL61H5W66oO287fhjFEk86wZIKXw7n1rBfAtnCR6v-9lZDh86HCAJkYUzQ1jP_1dxUSvatIwwFUIgpKFW7b=s4608" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3072" data-original-width="4608" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg_k5QhjqBM8xjnIQgV_Tdvh5NTNjiWCeKgSo7dJw_W8TNO__fRgv-vZeyAI5-Ss6u9QYmQsh2Urvq3M42YfgrOZ8I0aF1JEqeu1r55hrL61H5W66oO287fhjFEk86wZIKXw7n1rBfAtnCR6v-9lZDh86HCAJkYUzQ1jP_1dxUSvatIwwFUIgpKFW7b=w640-h426" width="640" /></a></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And a snow blizzard that kept us off the roads...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi2GkNorhE2cyd3X0rC66Ly8O42IkL-PJwn84kDcaGJ_D6IhMPm4n3xywmriK6uPfAuMQSMNh-D_BncZsKWEM3hQzjPpThD6_5N6oTS1xfF4upy0LNMXWyTbFuLSJUI94Eg_yH-wR4pWt4dynNxpSOoR3dXitS75eTTIIsYKZR59Gc4AleTkle6rK2L=s640" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi2GkNorhE2cyd3X0rC66Ly8O42IkL-PJwn84kDcaGJ_D6IhMPm4n3xywmriK6uPfAuMQSMNh-D_BncZsKWEM3hQzjPpThD6_5N6oTS1xfF4upy0LNMXWyTbFuLSJUI94Eg_yH-wR4pWt4dynNxpSOoR3dXitS75eTTIIsYKZR59Gc4AleTkle6rK2L=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p style="text-align: center;">Followed by another snowy mess a week later that again confined us inside....</p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj7xiWu3MK467-PbSkkXi4QvKQE-Wo81n7PS-_Zm2Rm_AKnKoYgCyApKmOqbYTAM07vig4w6ZBCPLC5rywJcb5x_fUs04gyXDKZc1NqOq2uzn9ORgqSOjrtJg9u810WztAQhKc3DxYosfsxk8T386IYB-2Ecri7Q9qtlubZpRyPuR0gLPODqR2X-Cir=s640" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj7xiWu3MK467-PbSkkXi4QvKQE-Wo81n7PS-_Zm2Rm_AKnKoYgCyApKmOqbYTAM07vig4w6ZBCPLC5rywJcb5x_fUs04gyXDKZc1NqOq2uzn9ORgqSOjrtJg9u810WztAQhKc3DxYosfsxk8T386IYB-2Ecri7Q9qtlubZpRyPuR0gLPODqR2X-Cir=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></p><p style="text-align: center;">We have been bouncing off the walls and driving a certain mom a bit crazy!</p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiYNDDeU1u89-Ej7llFKl3T8faZr1ZNqGEgskQqKbZg4p1HtdOEmijgHdoe_5fCyrnPwJXAaJpzxMRg4YfVV6tFos6z2jSUZbIq_Fm0lvM1aBGEfGFkJHriZ6QI-bboYy9kU4Kx7Xrdk6njMC0kDe3_0Vh-9P_oaj86maih8Tfgd6I5U_gw4dcs2nm6=s640" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiYNDDeU1u89-Ej7llFKl3T8faZr1ZNqGEgskQqKbZg4p1HtdOEmijgHdoe_5fCyrnPwJXAaJpzxMRg4YfVV6tFos6z2jSUZbIq_Fm0lvM1aBGEfGFkJHriZ6QI-bboYy9kU4Kx7Xrdk6njMC0kDe3_0Vh-9P_oaj86maih8Tfgd6I5U_gw4dcs2nm6=w480-h640" width="480" /></a></p><p style="text-align: center;">I'm beyond glad for no snow days this week!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgACGXEKd9QQtTnLVc0-7NPWUYAbqzfzKFE3nGbd61G7dOSoPZvpjzloVHwHUThCITqJEJ0jrChRSe8XVkjUTmgfmV-_v_18Jw6Z43lNfN9IDslyt3WCgHZEf1hAXQtC_mZsUu0pkSdZSrDLZkENOAzS1AyY1kbeTwp9H7YIopnLhKquwEVZJEUfX0P=s640" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgACGXEKd9QQtTnLVc0-7NPWUYAbqzfzKFE3nGbd61G7dOSoPZvpjzloVHwHUThCITqJEJ0jrChRSe8XVkjUTmgfmV-_v_18Jw6Z43lNfN9IDslyt3WCgHZEf1hAXQtC_mZsUu0pkSdZSrDLZkENOAzS1AyY1kbeTwp9H7YIopnLhKquwEVZJEUfX0P=w480-h640" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">So that the noise in our house can go outside for a bit.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgCs4O_BjAYCjGIMh6i_pB5bmAxoO_rnxOLcAY_4i9GQr1RZLyEbAl97MY7uHHKXQgQM9y0eVwiskJx_3vGK98NU38sEAe3YvPoF7jkt-xV2ick_vwdOS_kpnXQaz_ztxtuBctzt5RsRzdMt2Y30kaNQk8Fh0VYftne14nWDl0CkoI_xS7fC_Xsh28q=s640" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgCs4O_BjAYCjGIMh6i_pB5bmAxoO_rnxOLcAY_4i9GQr1RZLyEbAl97MY7uHHKXQgQM9y0eVwiskJx_3vGK98NU38sEAe3YvPoF7jkt-xV2ick_vwdOS_kpnXQaz_ztxtuBctzt5RsRzdMt2Y30kaNQk8Fh0VYftne14nWDl0CkoI_xS7fC_Xsh28q=w480-h640" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Last year at this time I was drowning in teaching ZOOM classes through our local homeschool co-op. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I was teaching five different classes (history and writing) and was going crazy writing lessons to keep all my students engaged.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I vowed I would never ever ever in a million years do that again as long as I so lived.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Okay - Maybe I didn't vow quite that much but I did say quite a few times (with tears rolling) that I would never do ZOOM again if I could help it.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And here I am.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">A year later.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Team teaching five <a href="https://biblioplan.net/bponline/" target="_blank">ZOOM </a>classes (history) through our <a href="http://www.biblioplan.net/" target="_blank">business </a>with Ben as my fun side-kick.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiULxv1eb5nKrTE77yCSDL8VObF3KM4WR0JQn6LJRVP6FL7SVHXXHq1twQCraw9ZF2UTYIMcuJIiH7wo75cb36h3psl3Yf33sjOQw2F8uMH1pqDXfJrBndqsYsNH59p6q1ZzSJ1JtKzKjK8V2EHza-nh6dZBz8_viR9-PI5k5e40S_v7rxtCD6VHplz=s640" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiULxv1eb5nKrTE77yCSDL8VObF3KM4WR0JQn6LJRVP6FL7SVHXXHq1twQCraw9ZF2UTYIMcuJIiH7wo75cb36h3psl3Yf33sjOQw2F8uMH1pqDXfJrBndqsYsNH59p6q1ZzSJ1JtKzKjK8V2EHza-nh6dZBz8_viR9-PI5k5e40S_v7rxtCD6VHplz=w480-h640" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I'm drowning in writing lesson plans. And wondering how in the world I could ever have been so crazy to do this again!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Don't get me wrong. I LOVE my students.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We have the BEST group of kids imaginable. Every single class has been a blast. We could not have been more blessed with the students the Lord gave us this year. They are enthusiastic and fun to teach and from all over the United States! We even have some sweet girls from Britain in one of the classes!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">But writing the lessons... that's another whole ball game.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Last year, I taught two of the three time periods we are now doing. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Since I taught two of them - I figured... it can't be that hard. Just write one more time period this year and we are good to go!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Except that we also decided to put all the lessons in a more professional Power Point format.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And my first 25 weeks from last year were ROUGH and needed MAJOR revisions. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Mainly because I didn't decide to do ZOOM through our business until I was on week 25ish which meant that all the earlier lessons were written with NO THOUGHT of tomorrow.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">So yeah - they were a bit rough. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">So that means I am basically writing all three lessons again each week.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Each lesson takes me one to two days ... even more when there are bouncing kids who are confined in the house.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And to top off the insanity... Rob was working on his own intense project and needed my input. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj_OUN8T_4YmpV4QD5vUosfPvFeF_Zr0rvZOBF_HVxOAghHaaCK15cXh9DuAveyxjTJApdbvG5YjnaLIWAs8WwWjyRYbrRMqJO7G2JGWjGF1S1ivBR34LBTjt-BteK3Xzb2uyKt4Pcg09BXX1tX4b6CehWTTQjPgqyI_mKaH3_r5PiQ_hZJNFfOasCx=s1200" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="927" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj_OUN8T_4YmpV4QD5vUosfPvFeF_Zr0rvZOBF_HVxOAghHaaCK15cXh9DuAveyxjTJApdbvG5YjnaLIWAs8WwWjyRYbrRMqJO7G2JGWjGF1S1ivBR34LBTjt-BteK3Xzb2uyKt4Pcg09BXX1tX4b6CehWTTQjPgqyI_mKaH3_r5PiQ_hZJNFfOasCx=w309-h400" width="309" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I willingly jumped in thinking it would take me a week. I spent two solid months drowning in his project. We finished it during our COVID Christmas with a definite, "We have been run over by a train" look in our eyes.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">After peeling myself off the train track, I went right back to writing my <a href="https://biblioplan.net/bponline/" target="_blank">ZOOM </a>lessons and mumbling under my breath about why I ever thought this was a bright idea.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">My only consolation is that next year... I have NOTHING to write for ANY of the current three time periods.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">They will be done.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Fully finalized. Team teaching allows me to test the lesson and refine it.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">So done is done!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">But we have FOUR time periods.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">So I have one more to write.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Modern History</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I can do ONE next year.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Right??</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Easy Peasy.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Right??</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Except we may add high school classes next year.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">On Zoom.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Lord help me!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And that is a bit of why this little blog has been a bit quiet.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">COVID. Snow. <a href="https://biblioplan.net/bponline/" target="_blank">ZOOM</a>. <a href="http://www.biblioplan.net/" target="_blank">BiblioPlan</a>.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The end!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">P.S. We start enrolling for our fall ZOOM classes in April. Come join us!</div><br /><p><br /></p>Juliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04814524050417570766noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7297657180254499319.post-38124783314051935602021-12-06T06:07:00.001-05:002021-12-06T06:07:36.029-05:00Look In His Eyes!!<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">DID YOU SEE????</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We are smiling over here in Virginia...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://reecesrainbow.org/childgrant/preslley">Presley </a>has 5,000 in his grant account!!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcthjCdNE2bEGuEapx1ZYwjoWM2qokpuyyDMI_D-zsiL5QvEcrKF2doLhwn3Q3o9j1Z9XZ92dhRYOjIFzr16dn6UV1w_DNtTmFBeqKlSnxnQFkvUDqq9BaemkvU5JD52klzHMTSV8OQbM/s2048/DSC_0810.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcthjCdNE2bEGuEapx1ZYwjoWM2qokpuyyDMI_D-zsiL5QvEcrKF2doLhwn3Q3o9j1Z9XZ92dhRYOjIFzr16dn6UV1w_DNtTmFBeqKlSnxnQFkvUDqq9BaemkvU5JD52klzHMTSV8OQbM/w640-h426/DSC_0810.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Oh yes he does!!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And if you were one of those who gave - thank you so very much!! (If you didn't give yet - please do - the more he has - the better it will be for his future family!!)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Even though we reached our goal, the work is not done.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Because Preslley needs a family.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Please someone SEE that little boy.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">He's LITTLE.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">He's got SO MUCH POTENTIAL.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Please don't see his diagnoses and get scared off.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg572fDJNHhsmcZaz_0NAfAV8enKxaWrduazxT6SyH2Uhr_fUgByRVK8GqeEg87PqD8zUBXXTn8DCeLBao1eaNCKgC_I8U_YmO-GEWnv89XoO_Ef-1Kn-5uoaUxQ8FLDY2HlShjWMZHLDs/s2048/DSC_0804.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg572fDJNHhsmcZaz_0NAfAV8enKxaWrduazxT6SyH2Uhr_fUgByRVK8GqeEg87PqD8zUBXXTn8DCeLBao1eaNCKgC_I8U_YmO-GEWnv89XoO_Ef-1Kn-5uoaUxQ8FLDY2HlShjWMZHLDs/w640-h426/DSC_0804.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We would have missed so much had we based our decisions on words on a piece of paper.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">YES the unknown is scary!!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">But Please...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Look in his eyes... </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixAO88BvRUM4QMH8WYeu3OT_yp3SeSKWDAkf9GhztzAhujUJ_biwVEwbO_L-t7prYiaFXmxqKamenlXJxsIs0rl7yZFD7HNarx1V-WFyZkYruGigsgdh3YJvqkbNp_FhDsowJ1HeqoDbk/s494/Preslley-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="494" data-original-width="350" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixAO88BvRUM4QMH8WYeu3OT_yp3SeSKWDAkf9GhztzAhujUJ_biwVEwbO_L-t7prYiaFXmxqKamenlXJxsIs0rl7yZFD7HNarx1V-WFyZkYruGigsgdh3YJvqkbNp_FhDsowJ1HeqoDbk/s320/Preslley-1.jpg" width="227" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpF8QvKPI-Ngk2Sstp2DJ5xYlp1MrC73sJ5NVSEb5jJ09o3Vm0pE8Qf-glLN5XerdP_9AErQm0wTlhI3KVmVRr0Dlxdop6JgW1jUN04eJzYQzLf2xMKIOZFveMtTecq7hqGmO_4TlaWI8/s467/Preslley-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="467" data-original-width="350" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpF8QvKPI-Ngk2Sstp2DJ5xYlp1MrC73sJ5NVSEb5jJ09o3Vm0pE8Qf-glLN5XerdP_9AErQm0wTlhI3KVmVRr0Dlxdop6JgW1jUN04eJzYQzLf2xMKIOZFveMtTecq7hqGmO_4TlaWI8/s320/Preslley-2.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">He is worthy of someone taking the risk, jumping the cliff and saying YES.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://reecesrainbow.org/childgrant/preslley" target="_blank">PRESLLEY</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">He has 5,000 in his grant account. That's a HUGE start to what is needed to adopt him.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p></p>Juliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04814524050417570766noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7297657180254499319.post-5261019158573622692021-11-17T06:51:00.000-05:002021-11-17T06:51:56.378-05:00He Cannot Talk<p style="text-align: center;"> He cannot talk.</p><p style="text-align: center;">Three simple words on my little <a href="https://reecesrainbow.org/childgrant/preslley" target="_blank">Preslley's</a> profile.</p><p style="text-align: center;">It sounds so final.</p><p style="text-align: center;">The end.</p><p style="text-align: center;">A non-verbal child.</p><p style="text-align: center;">Mute.</p><p style="text-align: center;">And maybe he is.</p><p style="text-align: center;">Maybe they are right.</p><p style="text-align: center;">But even non-verbal children have a whole lot to say.</p><p style="text-align: center;">Aaron came to us virtually non-verbal.</p><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA9VqG8Nf9Xurk65Pn3bUXqzYtcBrhhFBHd61G4khriGXKc_F0vfaqogTAs4KHn_Tbr3IcNR6R0w1fV2Vvk07Wmf9qqfxt1hyphenhyphenseWAbUepjMYQqNFevJPmVQB0BoPhxjggC8eDQmLGjEKY/s800/DSC_0896.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="413" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA9VqG8Nf9Xurk65Pn3bUXqzYtcBrhhFBHd61G4khriGXKc_F0vfaqogTAs4KHn_Tbr3IcNR6R0w1fV2Vvk07Wmf9qqfxt1hyphenhyphenseWAbUepjMYQqNFevJPmVQB0BoPhxjggC8eDQmLGjEKY/w330-h640/DSC_0896.JPG" width="330" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;">Yet, I've never seen a child who was able to convince you to give him whatever he wanted without uttering a word.</p><p style="text-align: center;">His eyes spoke paragraphs.</p><p style="text-align: center;">He used his non-verbal mouth to point with his lips at whatever it was he wanted.</p><p style="text-align: center;">He'd focus his eyes on the desired item.</p><p style="text-align: center;">He'd look at us with those pleading eyes and adorable dimples.</p><p style="text-align: center;">Non-verbal my foot.</p><p style="text-align: center;">He could get a piece of candy without saying one word.</p><p style="text-align: center;">He could get anything without saying a word.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWuqTd47_NL5vs-6ynCRrRPrbqNfy6elRHmG-gwNhqstKTS42xprY7qN_OZwyKj0Oms-8Z3r4VGpH901plWtYnK8ZNSOUnktjUBRAV1Z6kwQIgwpWtjzAOB28ffr7rpoZlF78VMl72GQU/s1358/DSC_0094.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="903" data-original-width="1358" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWuqTd47_NL5vs-6ynCRrRPrbqNfy6elRHmG-gwNhqstKTS42xprY7qN_OZwyKj0Oms-8Z3r4VGpH901plWtYnK8ZNSOUnktjUBRAV1Z6kwQIgwpWtjzAOB28ffr7rpoZlF78VMl72GQU/w640-h426/DSC_0094.JPG" width="640" /></a></p><p style="text-align: center;">Mary came to us virtually non-verbal.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO-tHQhNmOHFLFEu4skR-TRqAYRUwXb3sYTD7WdfOUfujdu-_D38P9ezRTfwrGZ7VD9Tgfz37ecTG_saPMRHKioKr7MfX0GF9aIe9LGgi2roDbVWj_2e_xAOkgKmMytdfCkfWos5hvDKI/s1354/DSC_1846.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="903" data-original-width="1354" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO-tHQhNmOHFLFEu4skR-TRqAYRUwXb3sYTD7WdfOUfujdu-_D38P9ezRTfwrGZ7VD9Tgfz37ecTG_saPMRHKioKr7MfX0GF9aIe9LGgi2roDbVWj_2e_xAOkgKmMytdfCkfWos5hvDKI/w640-h426/DSC_1846.JPG" width="640" /></a></p><p style="text-align: center;">The words she did speak would have made a sailor blush.</p><p style="text-align: center;">Yet she had us so twisted around her little finger without uttering a word that we never knew what hit us.</p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo1aXi2gUrUw3j8dEnFetyfqD23ERUK48SBTM_nph2n7ZGoWAPCerQR7wwlSEnyNM1h0qHZXvWNX7YNiSuFVPuN1JspWCpHCyU9VOHqYeiE1ExWbxh4gjzascg0eYzkSbmY76JqAJNNag/s1354/DSC_1385.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="903" data-original-width="1354" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo1aXi2gUrUw3j8dEnFetyfqD23ERUK48SBTM_nph2n7ZGoWAPCerQR7wwlSEnyNM1h0qHZXvWNX7YNiSuFVPuN1JspWCpHCyU9VOHqYeiE1ExWbxh4gjzascg0eYzkSbmY76JqAJNNag/w640-h426/DSC_1385.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p style="text-align: center;">Non-verbal children can speak volumes.</p><p style="text-align: center;">Non-verbal children notice things. They watch. They see what the rest of us miss. They are patient. They know how to wait. </p><p style="text-align: center;">They get what they want.</p><p style="text-align: center;">I don't know how.</p><p style="text-align: center;">But I know I have been manipulated more times than I can count by the two most proficient non-verbal children in the world.</p><p style="text-align: center;">My two non-verbals talk up a storm now.</p><p style="text-align: center;">They were non-verbal because of physical reasons. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIxrISX7s4dk6XwdOGJhYWFADPHNjWEY9yPFPSdQme-dJcBW1HM5_nE_e75T-YFy_xSRsUd2yZThqKXkw22l_hyVa_wh4zvyqt4zEDZwI5wL66ENlzrNK-uP531b00PeBk3iVp9bQH-Sw/s2048/DSC_0797.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIxrISX7s4dk6XwdOGJhYWFADPHNjWEY9yPFPSdQme-dJcBW1HM5_nE_e75T-YFy_xSRsUd2yZThqKXkw22l_hyVa_wh4zvyqt4zEDZwI5wL66ENlzrNK-uP531b00PeBk3iVp9bQH-Sw/w640-h426/DSC_0797.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;">There were non-verbal because of developmental reasons.</p><p style="text-align: center;">They were non-verbal because of trauma.</p><p style="text-align: center;">They were non-verbal because no one took the time to talk to them. Ever.</p><p style="text-align: center;">They were non-verbal because no one took the time to listen to them.</p><p style="text-align: center;">They were non-verbal because they were diagnosed non-verbal.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRTAf3SqU5BTJyAXnHoyehYFGnrlOWlxaw9_XvZg7ei9aztPixHKCbcr7fmDoRLLCCC-HJv_McpGCK5H8eLPF47VkT6cZU-pzhext5vaqBBGYDQ7TYVsy7ugGBDJEcQ2EnsqPdnFBfbQw/s2048/DSC_0802.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRTAf3SqU5BTJyAXnHoyehYFGnrlOWlxaw9_XvZg7ei9aztPixHKCbcr7fmDoRLLCCC-HJv_McpGCK5H8eLPF47VkT6cZU-pzhext5vaqBBGYDQ7TYVsy7ugGBDJEcQ2EnsqPdnFBfbQw/w426-h640/DSC_0802.JPG" width="426" /></a></p><p style="text-align: center;">They were non-verbal because it was the one thing they could control.</p><p style="text-align: center;">We never treated them as non-verbal.</p><p style="text-align: center;">We talked to them from day one as if they would one day talk back.</p><p style="text-align: center;">We cherished the simple words they began to speak. </p><p style="text-align: center;">We gave them time to speak.</p><p style="text-align: center;">We expected them to speak.</p><p style="text-align: center;">We required them to speak.</p><p style="text-align: center;">Simple words.</p><p style="text-align: center;">Good morning.</p><p style="text-align: center;">Hello.</p><p style="text-align: center;">Goodbye.</p><p style="text-align: center;">Baby words.</p><p style="text-align: center;">For one year.</p><p style="text-align: center;">Two years.</p><p style="text-align: center;">Three years.</p><p style="text-align: center;">Neither spoke in more than one to two word sentences for three years.</p><p style="text-align: center;">We of course wondered if they ever would.</p><p style="text-align: center;">We of course worried that they never would.</p><p style="text-align: center;">We of coursed longed for language to blossom out of their lips.</p><p style="text-align: center;">It's still a work in progress.</p><p style="text-align: center;">Little girl has been home four years. </p><p style="text-align: center;">She never shuts up.</p><p style="text-align: center;">She is now speaking in short sentences. Some of the time. </p><p style="text-align: center;">She struggles to pronounce words so that we can understand.</p><p style="text-align: center;">But she talks. And talks. And talks.</p><p style="text-align: center;">At night after we tuck her in bed she lays there and talks and talks and talks.</p><p style="text-align: center;">"Go to sleep, Mary!!"</p><p style="text-align: center;">Non-verbal my foot.</p><p style="text-align: center;">Aaron is eleven years home.</p><p style="text-align: center;">He never shuts up.</p><p style="text-align: center;">He still struggles to pronounce two and three syllable words.</p><p style="text-align: center;">Remembering nouns is difficult.</p><p style="text-align: center;">His sentence structure is rough.</p><p style="text-align: center;">But he talks. And talks. And talks.</p><p style="text-align: center;">He loves to chat away with anyone who will listen.</p><p style="text-align: center;">He loves when you listen.</p><p style="text-align: center;">He talks because he now has someone to listen.</p><p style="text-align: center;">He has so much going on inside his head. </p><p style="text-align: center;">His words don't come close to portraying the intelligence he carries inside of him.</p><p style="text-align: center;">He's a smart young man.</p><p style="text-align: center;">With oh so much to say!</p><p style="text-align: center;">"<a href="https://reecesrainbow.org/childgrant/preslley" target="_blank">Preslley</a> cannot talk," say the powers that be.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuBXZIvNPH7BLnbsKk14bfBuaPtUXn4JKRcwvteeGS037zORrkxuCM6EGbfsQt5SAHOBxmtg0NM5YRpm2mf2_tTZe-8dtzk_vnmTPk7Of4s0ueZdmW_oVruxaiCtCB48VcCzcUWO7ptR8/s467/Preslley-2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="467" data-original-width="350" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuBXZIvNPH7BLnbsKk14bfBuaPtUXn4JKRcwvteeGS037zORrkxuCM6EGbfsQt5SAHOBxmtg0NM5YRpm2mf2_tTZe-8dtzk_vnmTPk7Of4s0ueZdmW_oVruxaiCtCB48VcCzcUWO7ptR8/s320/Preslley-2.jpg" width="240" /></a></p><p style="text-align: center;">I doubt it.</p><p style="text-align: center;">I really do.</p><p style="text-align: center;">He possibly is non-verbal because epilepsy has damaged his language centers.</p><p style="text-align: center;">He possibly is non-verbal because trauma has stolen his words.</p><p style="text-align: center;">He possibly is non-verbal because no one has ever talked to him.</p><p style="text-align: center;">He possibly is non-verbal because no one has ever listened to him.</p><p style="text-align: center;">He possibly is non-verbal because he has been diagnosed non-verbal.</p><p style="text-align: center;">He may truly be non-verbal.</p><p style="text-align: center;">But even so... I guarantee he has a whole lot to say.</p><p style="text-align: center;">If you would give him the chance.</p><p style="text-align: center;">Listen to him.</p><p style="text-align: center;">Find the little boy inside the silent eyes.</p><p style="text-align: center;">Please - someone HEAR <a href="http://Preslley.">Preslley.</a></p><p style="text-align: center;">He may not be able to talk but I guarantee, he has a whole lot to say!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga9uzzOmEv1e2bqayuNm8p-UEYwZug0piRQp-v3XmV0iSoOl0HrkkSpPoGfM4wkSOM3O3MGyqfLCaFG59ay8tHpgcnd3PaeB_0byumKxb_wY6lP6rlGUo3uOZm0aHp8v1iriVcO9E7uHE/s494/Preslley-1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="494" data-original-width="350" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga9uzzOmEv1e2bqayuNm8p-UEYwZug0piRQp-v3XmV0iSoOl0HrkkSpPoGfM4wkSOM3O3MGyqfLCaFG59ay8tHpgcnd3PaeB_0byumKxb_wY6lP6rlGUo3uOZm0aHp8v1iriVcO9E7uHE/s320/Preslley-1.jpg" width="227" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p style="text-align: center;">To all those who have given to his grant account. Thank you.</p><p style="text-align: center;">You have kindly given $510.00!!</p><p style="text-align: center;">We are $990.00 from reaching our MATCHING goal.</p><p style="text-align: center;">Please help me.</p><p style="text-align: center;">Share him.</p><p style="text-align: center;">Give to him.</p><p style="text-align: center;">Let's make it easy for his Mama and Papa to HEAR him!</p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://reecesrainbow.org/childgrant/preslley" target="_blank">CLICK HERE TO DONATE TO PRESLLEY!!</a></p>Juliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04814524050417570766noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7297657180254499319.post-76410996345400344292021-11-01T09:25:00.001-04:002021-11-01T09:25:18.686-04:00A Year Gone By<p> </p><p style="text-align: center;">There's something about looking back.</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoNgawN9VM50VYsYCGfv_RPjeWBRJvHiNsoVW0FwPKB_BCEOciju1zaJydpQHBNct9eBah10Qjk6x7OB26kQRQCT-H1p_otH4uRJzwvLgBeVWfq0mUxlsjGZy2ibQru97g4d-OVq-Vcn8/s1347/DSC_1759.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="898" data-original-width="1347" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoNgawN9VM50VYsYCGfv_RPjeWBRJvHiNsoVW0FwPKB_BCEOciju1zaJydpQHBNct9eBah10Qjk6x7OB26kQRQCT-H1p_otH4uRJzwvLgBeVWfq0mUxlsjGZy2ibQru97g4d-OVq-Vcn8/w640-h426/DSC_1759.JPG" width="640" /></a></p><p style="text-align: center;">Looking through pictures. Sharing stories.</p><p style="text-align: center;">Laughing. Crying.</p><p style="text-align: center;">It's a gift to look back. It's a gift to remember the stories - the events - the people.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWtseFFuzgU5sHFwJQUdbMi8tP97CdS-XjMiCpcgC8mIxskIhuZ2eHbZYK2_w0K2tEzFFcQ5jP5mCwK1KEf4rEW9c4FAjEujcrWUSRfPHYtWKf7gLBKAqV_2HOKDXXwjHRJuXzq_kykeE/s800/DSC_0697.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="534" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWtseFFuzgU5sHFwJQUdbMi8tP97CdS-XjMiCpcgC8mIxskIhuZ2eHbZYK2_w0K2tEzFFcQ5jP5mCwK1KEf4rEW9c4FAjEujcrWUSRfPHYtWKf7gLBKAqV_2HOKDXXwjHRJuXzq_kykeE/w428-h640/DSC_0697.JPG" width="428" /></a></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">It's a gift to walk through those moments.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">They represent the life we have lived.</span></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghBNZqgarNMnSjiFoe38Ttg5qnw_rO6a4iJlDWSYg-UFFxfQtPAq61tAKlZeCu7-iZbRiriWBxr23558C48I03IFXNwJRH88DvMb78ZUHrUrbodhZvV2l-67i29qi7rZ041pFlJt8-5yU/s1354/ben+and+elijah.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="904" data-original-width="1354" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghBNZqgarNMnSjiFoe38Ttg5qnw_rO6a4iJlDWSYg-UFFxfQtPAq61tAKlZeCu7-iZbRiriWBxr23558C48I03IFXNwJRH88DvMb78ZUHrUrbodhZvV2l-67i29qi7rZ041pFlJt8-5yU/w640-h428/ben+and+elijah.jpg" width="640" /></a></p><p style="text-align: center;">The good. The bad. The sad.</p><p style="text-align: center;">It's our story. Our life. Rich. Full. Challenging.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGTW6D78B9iaXgi8A_gkhSKxc4UVBnJulMwpbpwhXADreWjCo_rTJx_8UMVRM0y9L9AasWqh2RimFHqFFZWhEoPCIU05tgeLvkVkCeGZPOtCa7OeVuJy6SIkfN60N7Cuv-KiOVD9HJVBU/s2048/DSC_0797.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGTW6D78B9iaXgi8A_gkhSKxc4UVBnJulMwpbpwhXADreWjCo_rTJx_8UMVRM0y9L9AasWqh2RimFHqFFZWhEoPCIU05tgeLvkVkCeGZPOtCa7OeVuJy6SIkfN60N7Cuv-KiOVD9HJVBU/w426-h640/DSC_0797.JPG" width="426" /></a><span style="text-align: left;"> </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">We can sit surrounded by pictures and memories and remember.</span></p><p><br /></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilNOdEdapoFiAWgDMQqS7mg0OQsDTkKHxRCdUDVeyf6PsBOYRvcNwaQGHfAX-r0tU-ILagkW4r8-ANu00yKrCe4HFUhYSgcrD7LWx9pz0c9CRFJ3gMx5wCTxzvuxYIfge_BaHzmMqzNwQ/s2048/DSC_0695.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1366" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilNOdEdapoFiAWgDMQqS7mg0OQsDTkKHxRCdUDVeyf6PsBOYRvcNwaQGHfAX-r0tU-ILagkW4r8-ANu00yKrCe4HFUhYSgcrD7LWx9pz0c9CRFJ3gMx5wCTxzvuxYIfge_BaHzmMqzNwQ/w640-h426/DSC_0695.JPG" width="640" /></a></p><p style="text-align: center;">Our cups overflow with those memories - the sights, the sounds. All of it.</p><p style="text-align: center;">"Do you remember when?" </p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZktAuK7e_BU-tIJUV7QiGJf6t8Y8ZUZVsWRQ4CsLxKUG8Lryv3Z038x-nWEC3lS9qZfabPsTwxISFH844ltiPeZ6ndZUrJrqJQvdnQeFuDFaA2WDlXSAR-zSZawG81IvvjcAv0JzMF6Y/s1068/DSC_0340.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="873" data-original-width="1068" height="524" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZktAuK7e_BU-tIJUV7QiGJf6t8Y8ZUZVsWRQ4CsLxKUG8Lryv3Z038x-nWEC3lS9qZfabPsTwxISFH844ltiPeZ6ndZUrJrqJQvdnQeFuDFaA2WDlXSAR-zSZawG81IvvjcAv0JzMF6Y/w640-h524/DSC_0340.jpg" width="640" /></a></p><p style="text-align: center;">We have shelves filled with albums. My phone overflows with pictures and videos. All around the house are mementos that speak of stories of the past. </p><p style="text-align: center;">I love looking back. I love seeing pictures of my babes when they were younger. I love chuckling and remembering. I cherish the rips in my heart over those who are gone. </p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDYkmk6jW4PLEI7Hz4O_b4NgZBTVtp-iStnVz4e39O1VzHes7foVtknetAxvBRgmsVa3jmDMDx1llm8fYD2RrgGfU6W9o328WiiSKtbTOIGJYIuAov4U8mrCbKR8NBOT5fYkh-uJnTA7A/s2048/IMG_1487.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDYkmk6jW4PLEI7Hz4O_b4NgZBTVtp-iStnVz4e39O1VzHes7foVtknetAxvBRgmsVa3jmDMDx1llm8fYD2RrgGfU6W9o328WiiSKtbTOIGJYIuAov4U8mrCbKR8NBOT5fYkh-uJnTA7A/w640-h480/IMG_1487.JPG" width="640" /></a></p><p style="text-align: center;">They signify life. Love. Relationships. </p><p style="text-align: center;">And then there's <a href="https://reecesrainbow.org/childgrant/preslley" target="_blank">Preslley</a>.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgojFwQavGrNXWV_pB28az3whvpWzQEqQ2f_BBeDk1cmLZPNCOKlwDz1Rt7D20189__0tm7FiG_nWt70LLXrZfbeHpaYrhAW02ATCc2B_gOX_O12veB1XlkSLBnit_j3_iWPBNXJWA1ko/s494/Preslley-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="494" data-original-width="350" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgojFwQavGrNXWV_pB28az3whvpWzQEqQ2f_BBeDk1cmLZPNCOKlwDz1Rt7D20189__0tm7FiG_nWt70LLXrZfbeHpaYrhAW02ATCc2B_gOX_O12veB1XlkSLBnit_j3_iWPBNXJWA1ko/s320/Preslley-1.jpg" width="227" /></a></p><p style="text-align: center;">A year has gone by.</p><p style="text-align: center;">His album is empty.</p><p style="text-align: center;">He has no new pictures.</p><p style="text-align: center;">Just the same two pictures from a year ago.</p><p style="text-align: center;">He has no memories apart from the dreary day by day life in an orphanage where sameness is the rule.</p><p style="text-align: center;">He has no mementos hanging around his bed.</p><p style="text-align: center;">What is his belongs to everyone. Nothing to call his own.</p><p style="text-align: center;">And saddest of all.</p><p style="text-align: center;">He has no family chasing across the ocean to get him.</p><p style="text-align: center;">I yelled for him a year ago.</p><p style="text-align: center;">I am yelling again this year.</p><p style="text-align: center;">I am a broken record for a little boy living in a broken system.</p><p style="text-align: center;">I am again raising money for his grant account.</p><p style="text-align: center;">I know. Broken record.</p><p style="text-align: center;">I am again trying to raise awareness for him to find a family.</p><p style="text-align: center;">Another broken record.</p><p style="text-align: center;">It's easy to get bored by the sameness of it all.</p><p style="text-align: center;">Julia's yearly cry for the orphans across the ocean.</p><p style="text-align: center;">Julia's yearly plea for donations.</p><p style="text-align: center;">And life goes on.</p><p style="text-align: center;">And it has.</p><p style="text-align: center;">For a little boy lost in a system that doesn't care.</p><p style="text-align: center;">A year gone by.</p><p style="text-align: center;">An empty photo album.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://reecesrainbow.org/childgrant/preslley" target="_blank">Preslley.</a></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIoH4UmZp1LC3VGNk-AJt9Gt2kpYJ_m5_jlT-NlEjKABKM6f9R0_zJzJLkWGladkztU_RVJspmdDk16uCst-Vopi9wMlKPMvbQhW_4MJbMcmcdt0OgFMGKQngrps9eRtCn2VqYagjupm8/s467/Preslley-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="467" data-original-width="350" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIoH4UmZp1LC3VGNk-AJt9Gt2kpYJ_m5_jlT-NlEjKABKM6f9R0_zJzJLkWGladkztU_RVJspmdDk16uCst-Vopi9wMlKPMvbQhW_4MJbMcmcdt0OgFMGKQngrps9eRtCn2VqYagjupm8/s320/Preslley-2.jpg" width="240" /></a></p><p style="text-align: center;">He has a matching grant of 1,500.00.</p><p style="text-align: center;">That's 500 more than what we try to raise each year.</p><p style="text-align: center;">He's worth every penny.</p><p style="text-align: center;">His grant account needs to reach 3378.00 and another 1,622.00 will be added.</p><p style="text-align: center;">The goal is to get his account to 5,000.00.</p><p style="text-align: center;">Help me.</p><p style="text-align: center;">Not just raise money but get him seen.</p><p style="text-align: center;">He has two little pictures in his album.</p><p style="text-align: center;">They are over a year old but it is all we have.</p><p style="text-align: center;">Share them with your neighbors and friends.</p><p style="text-align: center;">Share them with your spouse.</p><p style="text-align: center;">Share them with your heart.</p><p style="text-align: center;">Share them.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://reecesrainbow.org/childgrant/preslley" target="_blank">PRESLLEY</a></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p>Juliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04814524050417570766noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7297657180254499319.post-48778236859195215402021-10-23T11:59:00.000-04:002021-10-23T11:59:08.341-04:00Mary's Make A Wish<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Make a Wish...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">A dream come true organization.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">You make a wish and BOOM - you get your wish.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">How cool is that?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I have several boys who wish they could Make a Wish.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">But there's a catch.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It's not for everyone.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It's a program for children who are considered terminal. Children who are fighting for their lives.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Children who face a grim future.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It's a program to bring a smile to their faces.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Give them laughter in the midst.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Give them hope.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Make a Wish in the midst of their hard...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Let that Wish bring a bit of Joy.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I didn't ever consider one of my children would make the list.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I didn't ever want one of my children to make that list.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Mary did.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">When we were told she qualified I felt like my breath had been knocked out of me.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">NOOOO....</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Not my girl.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">She's too tough.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">She's too resilient.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuIFETPNkNAfdVy8t2OS752pVhm1tVPbvnyQPe8abTv1y8nCwitSsERLrG07Idl6x5SevY_R6orbVIlec9K5mgpptXw3Z67nqN-SWtMwNARQGSPYdHqdr1HZ4_NzU_CRSl4TTAZaM_QzY/s640/IMG_4554.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuIFETPNkNAfdVy8t2OS752pVhm1tVPbvnyQPe8abTv1y8nCwitSsERLrG07Idl6x5SevY_R6orbVIlec9K5mgpptXw3Z67nqN-SWtMwNARQGSPYdHqdr1HZ4_NzU_CRSl4TTAZaM_QzY/w640-h480/IMG_4554.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">She's oh so fragile.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Her roller coaster of seizures keep us constantly on edge.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Just when we think we have them figured out - they change.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Just when we think we have beaten the beast back in one area - it pops up in another area. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">When things are going well, we count our days by how many have passed without status.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">When she is tanking, we count our days by how many hours without status.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Up and down.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The seizures have damaged her language centers. They make learning difficult. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We have had to come to terms with the reality that she's not going to advance in school like our other children.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">She has the official 'intellectually disabled' diagnosis.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS_TxHOKVJsWadS5o9xiWKLnL4TdTE0WeDxSlzyu0VLqiDOM_dSYasZChFa5dpfiETUtDIdprroJQxvvwybBnOWBYw3wcJL5_SZ-G5WN5SpF16wSljyPtbZEUaBLHG6MQ2e7cV4fQEnUQ/s640/IMG_4553.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS_TxHOKVJsWadS5o9xiWKLnL4TdTE0WeDxSlzyu0VLqiDOM_dSYasZChFa5dpfiETUtDIdprroJQxvvwybBnOWBYw3wcJL5_SZ-G5WN5SpF16wSljyPtbZEUaBLHG6MQ2e7cV4fQEnUQ/w640-h480/IMG_4553.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">She is untamed and wild. Parking lots add gray to my hair. She flits here and there - we can never rest when she is out and about.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">She is quick to love and quick to rage in anger when she doesn't get her way.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We call her impstress and tyrant and crazy girl.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">She says what she thinks and bosses like she owns the world.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">She wins hearts with her impish grin. She hugs big and loves her peoples with passion.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We count our blessings over her. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">She doesn't suffer with the 50+ body slamming drops she did a year or so ago. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Some days the little seizures that plague her all day disappear.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Other days - like yesterday - she begins and ends her day in status. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We rescued her last night in the parking lot at UVA after watching the men play soccer. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It's a never ending never ending.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">She's a Make a Wish child.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">She couldn't tell us what she wanted so we wished for a playground for little girl...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">A place of adventure and imagination.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">A safe place to climb and play without fear of falling.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRqik0660vAK5mzgf0y7e4DzdwzXKL2dLoykP1taBBnlaflQZyup7EXwTMJAS_xuoPVvoIanDWt3UVcNRFgdtmcxV6cWbg9H_7Sg6TZpXjHPH0oEK08r2VjPYIh0tlbAEA4q1WjDW1zSg/s640/IMG_4555.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRqik0660vAK5mzgf0y7e4DzdwzXKL2dLoykP1taBBnlaflQZyup7EXwTMJAS_xuoPVvoIanDWt3UVcNRFgdtmcxV6cWbg9H_7Sg6TZpXjHPH0oEK08r2VjPYIh0tlbAEA4q1WjDW1zSg/w640-h480/IMG_4555.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">A place where she can make some fun memories.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWanUjjKslRCyXwTie3iiosild-L_3n7zVW12TzWrA4hmb66B4hWHAkBEUl2wloTT7p2R35wHeTHyZAsp4lf2lAzivP-Bc9Wku1w9n0ir9aQEOFr3CZbKTZ5Pu9Y2OHwLmtEEx9Nr9U_k/s640/IMG_4565.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWanUjjKslRCyXwTie3iiosild-L_3n7zVW12TzWrA4hmb66B4hWHAkBEUl2wloTT7p2R35wHeTHyZAsp4lf2lAzivP-Bc9Wku1w9n0ir9aQEOFr3CZbKTZ5Pu9Y2OHwLmtEEx9Nr9U_k/w640-h480/IMG_4565.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We made a Wish for a Little Girl.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And her wish was granted.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQRLKbnfIy4tGEAillH_EeDKANVkAS-UHF-K54UqZe_ySEmbdj6eaH35VGGYtCLXB2eo6zAM5Coi-L1x_lhF8owW-gxH7egvLPBSqsdaJzdo96BLNA_lQCsf5_jhBClRi0fvZfhF4IH8o/s640/IMG_4572.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQRLKbnfIy4tGEAillH_EeDKANVkAS-UHF-K54UqZe_ySEmbdj6eaH35VGGYtCLXB2eo6zAM5Coi-L1x_lhF8owW-gxH7egvLPBSqsdaJzdo96BLNA_lQCsf5_jhBClRi0fvZfhF4IH8o/w640-h480/IMG_4572.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Thank you MAKE A WISH!!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p>Juliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04814524050417570766noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7297657180254499319.post-61627783920042701392021-08-02T15:02:00.000-04:002021-08-02T15:02:45.541-04:00A Comedy of Errors<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I am an awesome mom. I went to Alaska and bought my kiddos COOL Alaskan shirts!!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2h5AKzdKknQqdX5IzsfaKQFLjoAB1Yk_icihr_p91KEPIFpC-KrehW87jRxvNBXVRx0BxiFADhaFCkMGQeFTo8_qV5fmVcCDjVLJffs1l00npJCo3qTEDLLHZhzvyKH-wWts7koKr07w/s640/IMG_4514.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2h5AKzdKknQqdX5IzsfaKQFLjoAB1Yk_icihr_p91KEPIFpC-KrehW87jRxvNBXVRx0BxiFADhaFCkMGQeFTo8_qV5fmVcCDjVLJffs1l00npJCo3qTEDLLHZhzvyKH-wWts7koKr07w/w480-h640/IMG_4514.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Points for me!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Did you know that an airplane uses a pogo stick in the back to keep its balance when it is sitting in dock?</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;">Okay - I am probably not writing that correctly but the captain did say to us that the 'pogo stick' was missing.</p><p style="text-align: center;">Yep.</p><p style="text-align: center;">On my flight to Georgia after a wonderful experience in Alaska I learned all about pogo sticks. </p><p style="text-align: center;">I was in ROW EIGHT. Like - the BEST seat behind first class seating. </p><p style="text-align: center;">I did something on this plane I never ever do - I paid a bit extra so I could get OFF that plane quickly! </p><p style="text-align: center;">And after being on that plane for an hour and a half LONGER than was originally promised... due to 'A Comedy of Errors' (the captain's words for why we were so late leaving/arriving)... I REALLY wanted to get off that plane.</p><p style="text-align: center;">But they lost the pogo stick. Or couldn't find it. Or something.</p><p style="text-align: center;">So we could not get off in the normal, orderly, first class seating leaves first and then my row eight a few rows behind them gets to leave. Nope. </p><p style="text-align: center;">Without that important pogo stick holding down the plane in the back - we had to disembark from the back of the plane to the front. So that the plane wouldn't flip up like a seesaw.</p><p style="text-align: center;">You learn something new every day.</p><p style="text-align: center;">I learned about pogo sticks, and I learned a LOT of patience as I watched the 10,000 people behind me S.L.O.W.L.Y. make their way to the front of the plane... looking for their luggage that had been stashed here and there when they first got on because by the time they boarded, all the overheads above their seats were full. </p><p style="text-align: center;">So one by one they walked up and down the aisles searching in all the different overhead bins for their lost luggage. I really wish there was such a thing as a GPS tracker on luggage. We could have used it on that plane for all those poor people.</p><p style="text-align: center;">Here is something I noticed... just about everyone in the back of the plane owned black luggage. And none of them had added any special tape or tags to differentiate their luggage from anyone else's luggage. And just about every other piece of luggage in the overhead bins is black. Finding their luggage was a bit like finding a needle in a haystack. Some poor souls had to give up hope until the plane emptied!</p><p style="text-align: center;">It took 45 minutes to finally leave that plane because of a missing pogo stick. 45 very very long minutes.</p><p style="text-align: center;">I wanted off because a certain husband of mine and three of my littlest were meeting me at a restaurant for dinner.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhmKMktxILNT-R3rFK7PkOqURGMz42XLIGACco-7KQhUAI9AMqZoLoRuLNTsmzCydI73maa-CiL0TBDTS05-e6ylwXVI2hbVhO5o_kB9-SsondWwQAigm-quic6s6H6a_ZHoEl4NpkVpE/s640/IMG_4515.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhmKMktxILNT-R3rFK7PkOqURGMz42XLIGACco-7KQhUAI9AMqZoLoRuLNTsmzCydI73maa-CiL0TBDTS05-e6ylwXVI2hbVhO5o_kB9-SsondWwQAigm-quic6s6H6a_ZHoEl4NpkVpE/w480-h640/IMG_4515.jpg" width="480" /></a></p><p style="text-align: center;">That certain husband had not counted on having to drive his three littles all the way to Georgia from Virginia. He had not counted on setting up for a convention. He was in the middle of FINISHING an 800 page book. He didn't have time for 9 hour van rides!</p><p style="text-align: center;">But my poor helper was sick (NOT COVID) and could not make the trip and so from Alaska I was organizing the troops to get everything packed up, food made for Mary etc. etc. so Rob could bring the materials down so we could sell at the convention.</p><p style="text-align: center;">The greatest part of the week (and Alaska was pretty great) was when I came walking into the restaurant (exceedingly late) to find my family. The cutest part was when Mary saw me. She was shocked, surprised and beyond happy. How her Mama got to that restaurant was beyond her comprehension but her world was righted when I walked in. </p><p style="text-align: center;">On the plus side of having Rob there, I got to be with my bestest friend in the world at a convention. On the down side, we barely saw each other. I worked hard at talking to customers, speaking and keeping Mary contained so Rob could FINISH the book. The boys helped me with such great attitudes!! I don't know what we would have done without them! Mary did amazingly well until Saturday afternoon and by that time Rob had finished the lion's share of the work and could take her with him.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpJ1m6-LmQ8Cnedus-hVXF_2HVw53reXkcdZspGV3gmfmOmupDYLlaYDkWLqX6N3iFK_pnJkLTiyh9s2iS7IXN5tPD-n1o__13TvK4QQx8ZSOMw_uVTT3mzJenbuga1tUGpuPWDxLq2_I/s640/IMG_4517.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpJ1m6-LmQ8Cnedus-hVXF_2HVw53reXkcdZspGV3gmfmOmupDYLlaYDkWLqX6N3iFK_pnJkLTiyh9s2iS7IXN5tPD-n1o__13TvK4QQx8ZSOMw_uVTT3mzJenbuga1tUGpuPWDxLq2_I/w480-h640/IMG_4517.jpg" width="480" /></a></p><p style="text-align: center;">Sadly, seizure-wise - Mary had a rough rough time. Driving home was a bit of a nightmare. She kept tanking - seizures and status stacking up on top of her all day. </p><p style="text-align: center;">By Sunday night we had rescued her six times over a 24 hour period.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVu_rgOFllC3_LZzA9nR2TkeQ4X-megRXxt5T7o37C6Jx7GwT1ASa6uzGOy5VcXRQvUIC2XsZzLeqhF0yswdQVBMf8sJZ6lMXmlhyphenhyphenoIsMPurtHvEHNxDTKcQf07ggygAC5J-Jgwyok-D0/s640/IMG_4519.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVu_rgOFllC3_LZzA9nR2TkeQ4X-megRXxt5T7o37C6Jx7GwT1ASa6uzGOy5VcXRQvUIC2XsZzLeqhF0yswdQVBMf8sJZ6lMXmlhyphenhyphenoIsMPurtHvEHNxDTKcQf07ggygAC5J-Jgwyok-D0/w480-h640/IMG_4519.jpg" width="480" /></a></p><p style="text-align: center;">We have a call into the neurologist's office as we need to sort out what is going on with her. </p><p style="text-align: center;">But the book is done in spite of the utter crazy last week.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMZMU59SCYoB-g0VvwC53ei8bX1f6CapAq8iTow_AxWJDWUYyRYO_dbw8KsRRv8ewkA5QXAmGp0ax-g9hQff8MNDid5aCe8I-3kA8VfuChstn_uZOURd1UeXXbzm_dZN31NY3e5v9SnZI/s877/Front+Cover.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="877" data-original-width="653" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMZMU59SCYoB-g0VvwC53ei8bX1f6CapAq8iTow_AxWJDWUYyRYO_dbw8KsRRv8ewkA5QXAmGp0ax-g9hQff8MNDid5aCe8I-3kA8VfuChstn_uZOURd1UeXXbzm_dZN31NY3e5v9SnZI/w476-h640/Front+Cover.jpg" width="476" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It is heading to the printers today and the e-book is now available on the website!!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Praise the Lord!</div><p style="text-align: center;">Now we just need to write all the supplements that go with it!</p><p style="text-align: center;">Sigh.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://biblioplan.net/companion/" target="_blank">BIBLIOPLAN</a></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc7FmyjYkgUpghKJiCdtu6BpaNyMtHtQQqXQw-0Deuevr3iEQSgGj6b6IsOmx8F87bwlV2u6NKr6Mdiu0DEVgEZHdJ1WNXkMC6xJUWhCVIuu2YIN-tIh83R5oAi10VEwTTfKURlFkyPuo/s1278/2439818372.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1278" data-original-width="1000" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc7FmyjYkgUpghKJiCdtu6BpaNyMtHtQQqXQw-0Deuevr3iEQSgGj6b6IsOmx8F87bwlV2u6NKr6Mdiu0DEVgEZHdJ1WNXkMC6xJUWhCVIuu2YIN-tIh83R5oAi10VEwTTfKURlFkyPuo/w500-h640/2439818372.jpg" width="500" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p>Juliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04814524050417570766noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7297657180254499319.post-46072556052934514052021-07-25T14:03:00.002-04:002021-07-25T14:14:23.317-04:00Consider the Years<p style="text-align: center;"> Alaska isn't a state where we have had a huge following.</p><p style="text-align: center;">An order here or there through the years is about all we have ever mustered. </p><p style="text-align: center;">But word of mouth is powerful and when one mom in that far away state stumbled upon our curriculum and used it she couldn't keep it to herself.</p><p style="text-align: center;">She shared it with a friend who happened to be head of a homeschool co-op. That group had just left a popular homeschool program and was looking for another option.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipBRvKq34M5c6BAbNhyEpyVFdx7CdHC8DhsJSbfD-hIeE4_gSlaHZ1U8BpGQTcj9CmMUIDTvfKgQEXi6nQD0O0fAUNLvjuumuOvx9_A3zam8JOUySVezf19FTmH7AGv0jbXRq8FWAQHys/s1200/DSC_0477-003.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipBRvKq34M5c6BAbNhyEpyVFdx7CdHC8DhsJSbfD-hIeE4_gSlaHZ1U8BpGQTcj9CmMUIDTvfKgQEXi6nQD0O0fAUNLvjuumuOvx9_A3zam8JOUySVezf19FTmH7AGv0jbXRq8FWAQHys/w640-h426/DSC_0477-003.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Two and two makes for crazy.</div><p style="text-align: center;">I got a call one day in early May asking me if I would be willing to come out to Alaska and share about <a href="http://biblioplan.net/" target="_blank">BiblioPlan</a>. They wanted to put together a convention and fly me out and have me speak.</p><p style="text-align: center;">I laughed out loud.</p><p style="text-align: center;">Next year, right?? Sure - next year when we aren't in the middle of finishing a massive re-write of our Ancients high school book. Next year when we aren't writing around the clock trying to get that book and all its supplements on the market by August 1st. Next year when my traveling schedule is not a mishmash of nutty because of all the Covid changes. Next year when we can breathe again.</p><p style="text-align: center;">They weren't laughing.</p><p style="text-align: center;">Will you come? </p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBrMks-k_ITE_yppOjVq64ivCAdeId6qNsv-d4ecFff5OhAIAUqqK1asn9voFQ9u0MtfcsW9XChDZkwmC9Z-DmfU9DZZ1SG30ZnnG9MPSi1EKfVHKv_fNbnXCy5kEXEbutXcnpaSFOHwI/s2048/DSC_0480-002.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1396" data-original-width="2048" height="436" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBrMks-k_ITE_yppOjVq64ivCAdeId6qNsv-d4ecFff5OhAIAUqqK1asn9voFQ9u0MtfcsW9XChDZkwmC9Z-DmfU9DZZ1SG30ZnnG9MPSi1EKfVHKv_fNbnXCy5kEXEbutXcnpaSFOHwI/w640-h436/DSC_0480-002.JPG" width="640" /></a></p><p style="text-align: center;">I gave a tentative maybe. I mean - what are the chances of them pulling together a convention in that short of time anyway? There was no way it was going to happen.</p><p style="text-align: center;">Oh me. Oh my.</p><p style="text-align: center;">I leave tomorrow for Alaska.</p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinOV8kucZxuos-lqFEDCSJDMUcaGBEPEfIvX2OrCL4nIzMKfJVimfPlovoO5mgyagLbvSibPvHejDQ_8gB0BeLluyu9MlPDUilounM0Rjezktt40mEsdUqgJKc_yAlbnVEYykIaHDemRM/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1684" data-original-width="1899" height="354" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinOV8kucZxuos-lqFEDCSJDMUcaGBEPEfIvX2OrCL4nIzMKfJVimfPlovoO5mgyagLbvSibPvHejDQ_8gB0BeLluyu9MlPDUilounM0Rjezktt40mEsdUqgJKc_yAlbnVEYykIaHDemRM/w400-h354/image.png" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p style="text-align: center;">They pulled it together. I am crossing the country to go speak to a group of excited homeschooling families and other school choice families in Anchorage, Alaska. I will be meeting privately with the co-op about <a href="http://biblioplan.net/" target="_blank">BiblioPlan </a>on Monday night at a picnic and for two days to the greater Alaskan community, sharing about homeschooling and special needs and other sundry stuff. They have pulled together an assortment of speakers and it should be a great two days.</p><p style="text-align: center;">They put me in a hotel that has room views over the lake where I can watch the planes land on the water. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5k1WAvP3Dlqq9jaZ9fDCqMJAtu8pI2wVVsC4s10MaDGauxOr1-4XqL5HsHX7A7oiwwgpZwTRwMXY5GFGNuIJrHbLA0PH97B2l8Akb0wcnwCafvlhIJVicUgVLmVdyhKzjDmntPzLNDsM/s1024/Exterior_2_R.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="682" data-original-width="1024" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5k1WAvP3Dlqq9jaZ9fDCqMJAtu8pI2wVVsC4s10MaDGauxOr1-4XqL5HsHX7A7oiwwgpZwTRwMXY5GFGNuIJrHbLA0PH97B2l8Akb0wcnwCafvlhIJVicUgVLmVdyhKzjDmntPzLNDsM/w640-h426/Exterior_2_R.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;">After I leave that unbelievable experience, I will fly straight to Georgia for another convention.</p><p style="text-align: center;">Then home.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikLLT7mrOrZ3AoawCzfEq_EWhyphenhyphen_kMxdwGTdK_U0SHN-w_OxWCspzNGsMMUlH3iaOTIHv4OE6fLyR5BPloybRtz7SrdXZeZpAIg4ZxXPWWdbCcJxp9k-cwnr75giPnIi3RyvTBqx-TVH4I/s1436/223447487_736428707384814_4617445092740231649_n.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1436" data-original-width="1028" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikLLT7mrOrZ3AoawCzfEq_EWhyphenhyphen_kMxdwGTdK_U0SHN-w_OxWCspzNGsMMUlH3iaOTIHv4OE6fLyR5BPloybRtz7SrdXZeZpAIg4ZxXPWWdbCcJxp9k-cwnr75giPnIi3RyvTBqx-TVH4I/w458-h640/223447487_736428707384814_4617445092740231649_n.png" width="458" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;">We are one week from putting our newest book out.</p><p style="text-align: center;">It's a rewrite of the first full book we wrote and it is unbelievable. I can say that because Rob did the majority of the rewrite. I am so proud of him and this newest book.</p><p style="text-align: center;">It's a re-write with a brand new series title.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><i>Consider the Years; History for High Schoolers</i>.</p><p style="text-align: center;">Our younger series title is <i>Remember the Days</i>.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #ffd966;">"Remember the Days of old, Consider the years of many generations. Ask your father, and he will show you; Your elders, and they will tell you."</span></p><p style="text-align: center;">We have one week to get it out in e-book format. The print version will come out at the end of September.</p><p style="text-align: center;">It's been crazy hard and we are weary. Losing Rob's mom this past week added a layer of grief on top of the stress.</p><p style="text-align: center;">And leaving is never ever easy with little girl.</p><p style="text-align: center;">She had a ROUGH night last night. As we rescued her twice in an hour, I questioned for the umpteenth time how I could leave when she is such a crazy roller coaster.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfydipZ3Qi00081la4PS6qMmsp9d2T9eo4RJH4njEE7gedrcmOGpcDsr7_V-b67nZkqIZHLiwGuBOboeOV_wuEMfZrY_emvGy5jKNf5_C4bJoGtxzCYy4jbiKK_dZlhh_1u_yX7yztEyA/s2048/IMG_4281.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1607" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfydipZ3Qi00081la4PS6qMmsp9d2T9eo4RJH4njEE7gedrcmOGpcDsr7_V-b67nZkqIZHLiwGuBOboeOV_wuEMfZrY_emvGy5jKNf5_C4bJoGtxzCYy4jbiKK_dZlhh_1u_yX7yztEyA/w502-h640/IMG_4281.jpg" width="502" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It's the hardest part.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I'm her Mama and I struggle the entire time I'm gone. I spend my days whispering prayers of protection. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">So please, prayer Warriors, pray for my girlie as I cross the country. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Pray too for John and Aaron as they are doing the long drive to Georgia to meet me there (with my trusty helper, Adrienne, and her son). They have become amazing <a href="http://biblioplan.net/" target="_blank">BiblioPlan </a>convention workers. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Thankfully, they love traveling, they love working the conventions and I love having them beside me.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7nP5cwtX8uuSxg1CNNNUmaTISktIwjq4Z9Zy9XDW1hyCHCORu5ZypINq4SVVAaTQybTBFa9vtX1gVBJBRcFu1e0jIMvLcPfidfex2fd9WrotL_F1Dn7-6AjWjqoPe_ghkSgPIlJcwV8o/s640/IMG_4466.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7nP5cwtX8uuSxg1CNNNUmaTISktIwjq4Z9Zy9XDW1hyCHCORu5ZypINq4SVVAaTQybTBFa9vtX1gVBJBRcFu1e0jIMvLcPfidfex2fd9WrotL_F1Dn7-6AjWjqoPe_ghkSgPIlJcwV8o/w480-h640/IMG_4466.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Win. Win. Win.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It's a crazy week. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Thank you for praying!</div>Juliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04814524050417570766noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7297657180254499319.post-27947012697133524212021-07-18T10:41:00.001-04:002021-07-18T10:41:41.474-04:00Farewell, Gran!<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This morning Rob's mom went to be with the Lord.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUIAwwC5R3gs9HS3ptjOwAQL0dwb-X8CBTg8PEv7vw9wnHDPGD9VU_P2viV0wcpvQxdnfuPvEAI1oF_9xt8WUo-zzvCt5pZufLSIXobIT_s81rHnz06ee9MVSUy8R_fMsFQ0SjLv_164g/s2048/IMG_2614.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUIAwwC5R3gs9HS3ptjOwAQL0dwb-X8CBTg8PEv7vw9wnHDPGD9VU_P2viV0wcpvQxdnfuPvEAI1oF_9xt8WUo-zzvCt5pZufLSIXobIT_s81rHnz06ee9MVSUy8R_fMsFQ0SjLv_164g/w480-h640/IMG_2614.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">All my kids loved her dearly.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">She was a precious part of our family. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFYwMbiJhrGTGSPqzTI1aSp0eSofI3jP34-Fkkh8GeGO_bQ-nzg9DLYZVETLbA26yPdYQkH1d3LDCVpL4ABiLt7NqtSmpbiH1VE1JSJBNn3hal6aXq9UwcNOebaezG_e1XKPVqTZ9bNS0/s2048/IMG_0460.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFYwMbiJhrGTGSPqzTI1aSp0eSofI3jP34-Fkkh8GeGO_bQ-nzg9DLYZVETLbA26yPdYQkH1d3LDCVpL4ABiLt7NqtSmpbiH1VE1JSJBNn3hal6aXq9UwcNOebaezG_e1XKPVqTZ9bNS0/w640-h480/IMG_0460.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We haven't seen her much in the last year and a half which has left a huge hole in our daily lives and a whole lot of sadness.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3AXolbEmxNM0tbQRKyPoPmvLD9NyQVqeddzq4oiMQ3u3HLh9zBSIk98Gd0Ed6N8G9-AkoznFsJvb8tf6KjoqBImZO2O55aCNPHMct8ENa-R-GM2641atypsue-SOYGc0HdjWPLSFnqag/s2048/IMG_1489.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3AXolbEmxNM0tbQRKyPoPmvLD9NyQVqeddzq4oiMQ3u3HLh9zBSIk98Gd0Ed6N8G9-AkoznFsJvb8tf6KjoqBImZO2O55aCNPHMct8ENa-R-GM2641atypsue-SOYGc0HdjWPLSFnqag/w640-h480/IMG_1489.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Sadly, Rob didn't get to say goodbye in person. The kids and I were traveling and he waited until we returned home before he set off this morning. She passed away before he could give her one last kiss and sing to her. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLHJ6_tM0LJ7embfsL4uiCq0BB3SaYRDLgXfXIpQuW-ZTOmCVTSOJdOTrtslr0WohhclgbaAlcj5A5v8_2k-z968Qr6CfrdCYnswxC2ZxXB1ZqmPoahrHtrSDQwtqYXfzdvo_Xy-LQjKM/s2048/IMG_0452.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1806" data-original-width="2048" height="564" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLHJ6_tM0LJ7embfsL4uiCq0BB3SaYRDLgXfXIpQuW-ZTOmCVTSOJdOTrtslr0WohhclgbaAlcj5A5v8_2k-z968Qr6CfrdCYnswxC2ZxXB1ZqmPoahrHtrSDQwtqYXfzdvo_Xy-LQjKM/w640-h564/IMG_0452.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Thankfully, we grieve knowing that her story is not over.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">For that we cling.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We love you, Mom! You were a class act!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p></p>Juliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04814524050417570766noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7297657180254499319.post-31776406550329944382021-06-15T07:38:00.001-04:002021-06-15T07:44:47.241-04:00An Audience of One<p style="text-align: center;">It was one of those moments when crumbling to the floor was not the appropriate response but it was truly what I wanted to do.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiot-PqsPRLlpaSHdX2r-EXss8Ek-KJy2y0Mt9TRy9HFMQFt4UPNcSv7xcpuz5GzDXRfmq0WxC8jdeQmWJhrhF0V3p-DyOc2G-YgwheWWUauKKSIByyIBNYlsWcOqpOMLC_XOEytnmXFQw/s1517/0610211648b+%25282%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1029" data-original-width="1517" height="434" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiot-PqsPRLlpaSHdX2r-EXss8Ek-KJy2y0Mt9TRy9HFMQFt4UPNcSv7xcpuz5GzDXRfmq0WxC8jdeQmWJhrhF0V3p-DyOc2G-YgwheWWUauKKSIByyIBNYlsWcOqpOMLC_XOEytnmXFQw/w640-h434/0610211648b+%25282%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;">I had spent hours and hours preparing my speeches and creating the PowerPoints to go with them. I had prayed over them and worked through them and finalized them and was ready to go. </p><p style="text-align: center;">Yes, I was nervous. I had never given a speech with cameras everywhere and multiple faces staring at me from 8 different computer monitors. I was speaking live to thousands of moms and dads all over the country who were watching from their living rooms. The stage was impressive, the entire set up was awe inspiring. I was humbled and excited.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQDtphWoU0plaZ_cPai9wmaiWmC8XeVKMjiWKIgfqcYIqNQwaR03gZaq2voort94Ci9V14ZYSn0QhhQtn7EhiUB-2CQ-SLmstCpR0xjJBUGh19W7xz8AQrWaApYyWjXv10ceA4WqmoRMA/s640/IMG_4263.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQDtphWoU0plaZ_cPai9wmaiWmC8XeVKMjiWKIgfqcYIqNQwaR03gZaq2voort94Ci9V14ZYSn0QhhQtn7EhiUB-2CQ-SLmstCpR0xjJBUGh19W7xz8AQrWaApYyWjXv10ceA4WqmoRMA/w640-h480/IMG_4263.jpg" width="640" /></a></p><p style="text-align: center;">A few hours before I was to go on for my first speech, I was waiting in our hotel room with John and Mary and our aide, watching one of the speakers who was ahead of me. It was raining outside but we were cozy and happy and it was peaceful in our room. </p><p style="text-align: center;">Until the lightning struck and our room went dark. </p><p style="text-align: center;">Our room went dark.</p><p style="text-align: center;">I was scheduled to speak in a little over an hour and the hotel just lost electricity.</p><p style="text-align: center;">I grabbed my computer and my phone and John and I ran. </p><p style="text-align: center;">Backup lighting lit our way through the halls. The hotel generators were working, and when we arrived in the studio they reassured me that all would be well. </p><p style="text-align: center;">The computers needed to reboot, but once they did everything would be fine.</p><p style="text-align: center;">So we sat and prayed along with others who were sitting and praying.</p><p style="text-align: center;">And when the computers came on-line, the speaker ahead of me began.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5e-1tchqJZfNM24jUaw-sK1CvISw5x7i9-nitquJb0046zNKNi4o9bbcpTE0QPI0yuNXpfCsWyFZiV5UxBdUrgpra4Oe3cqYhpVac72gZlvqbV897NPeYTJYHY0GxLo5rBNsK4NkYGpo/s640/IMG_4259.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5e-1tchqJZfNM24jUaw-sK1CvISw5x7i9-nitquJb0046zNKNi4o9bbcpTE0QPI0yuNXpfCsWyFZiV5UxBdUrgpra4Oe3cqYhpVac72gZlvqbV897NPeYTJYHY0GxLo5rBNsK4NkYGpo/w640-h480/IMG_4259.jpg" width="640" /></a></p><p style="text-align: center;">All was well. The schedule was a bit off but we could adjust.</p><p style="text-align: center;">I listened to her and felt peaceful. </p><p style="text-align: center;">Until everything crashed just as I was to go on. The generators, the internet.</p><p style="text-align: center;">It was a disaster.</p><p style="text-align: center;">I sat there. Shocked. Watching the men as they brainstormed and discussed what to do.</p><p style="text-align: center;">The leaders approached me. Would I be willing to do my speech without an audience. They would tape it. </p><p style="text-align: center;">I wanted to crumble to the floor. All the hours. All the time. All the work. Talking to empty monitors is not the same as talking to a live audience. My speech was written for a live audience. </p><p style="text-align: center;">Yes. I was willing. If that was the only option. I was willing. But. If I could have an audience of only one it would be better. I only asked for one. One live person.</p><p style="text-align: center;">It was stupid of me to say that. How ridiculous a request. </p><p style="text-align: center;">Either you have no audience or a full audience. Right?</p><p style="text-align: center;">Asking for one was absurd. </p><p style="text-align: center;">But in the moment - at that time - it's what I requested and it was what I prayed. Lord - let me speak to at least one.</p><p style="text-align: center;">We waited. We prayed. We prayed some more. The electricity came back on. The internet was restored.</p><p style="text-align: center;">They set up my computer and turned on my PowerPoint. Those 9 monitors in front of me - they each had to re-boot. </p><p style="text-align: center;">We waited. And waited.</p><p style="text-align: center;">Finally one booted. One monitor.</p><p style="text-align: center;">It came on. Crippled. A screenful of names but every face blanked out except one.</p><p style="text-align: center;">One person in the top left corner was live.</p><p style="text-align: center;">She was looking at me in anticipation and I gave my speech to her. The one. She was the perfect audience. She nodded and responded. She laughed at my jokes and reacted to my stories. For 27 minutes I shared my heart with her. </p><p style="text-align: center;">When I broke for a break they told me I actually had a decent sized audience. I just hadn't been able to see them. They brought another monitor up and it was filled with faces. Smiling faces of people who had been listening. People who had heard. People who appreciated what I had to say.</p><p style="text-align: center;">I cried when it was over.</p><p style="text-align: center;">Not a crumbling to the floor in despair cry but one of grateful praise. I made a ridiculous request and asked for an audience of one and God answered. He gave me one person in the top left screen of a crippled monitor who received what I had to share with joy and enthusiasm.</p><p style="text-align: center;">He's that kind of God.</p><p style="text-align: center;">A God who hears and responds.</p><p style="text-align: center;">It was a surreal experience and one I will never ever forget.</p><p style="text-align: center;">An absurd request heard by a Loving God.</p><p style="text-align: center;">----------------------------</p><p style="text-align: center;">What a difference a year makes.</p><p style="text-align: center;">Last year we were home, home home.</p><p style="text-align: center;">This year is one of travel.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4flcw9gwuPc8MFam7_6hCWE15Ou-P_jNUWzNkljGh7Hv6P7OVhgDdchLj80R_czFFQ7rs_rOiRBUR_pui83jhCUh6I9huIPq3PuyMp6kgj0SfxnkBP4M2L297OhxgdiM-Xw9RZuVPsI0/s1040/132036556_484213475996988_2549957056793250612_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1040" data-original-width="780" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4flcw9gwuPc8MFam7_6hCWE15Ou-P_jNUWzNkljGh7Hv6P7OVhgDdchLj80R_czFFQ7rs_rOiRBUR_pui83jhCUh6I9huIPq3PuyMp6kgj0SfxnkBP4M2L297OhxgdiM-Xw9RZuVPsI0/w480-h640/132036556_484213475996988_2549957056793250612_n.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p style="text-align: center;">In the last few months I have traveled to South Carolina, Missouri, Florida, Pennsylvania (Aaron to Shriners), Norfolk, Virginia (where I spoke to an audience of one) and this morning I fly to Texas and then Colorado.</p><p style="text-align: center;">Between July and August I am going more than I am coming...</p><p style="text-align: center;">Thankfully, the kids have been able to go on a few of the trips and will go on more in the coming months. It's harder with them tagging along in so many ways, but I like having them with me. </p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0ARPyxD4LeYHjQh5h-ccWQ2gQvFht3YyGJKERz_FEZ4TVK6Yv0e-R_X38x38rTdMf8IbF2pp_2pLQh1kBe3ON8iIU2bTENQJ4GR5UMTKEsO8nfIDNdueaOhWSbrS5eIzCfXff3wJjLnw/s1040/199351463_2581092552196622_3256648433263065212_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1040" data-original-width="780" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0ARPyxD4LeYHjQh5h-ccWQ2gQvFht3YyGJKERz_FEZ4TVK6Yv0e-R_X38x38rTdMf8IbF2pp_2pLQh1kBe3ON8iIU2bTENQJ4GR5UMTKEsO8nfIDNdueaOhWSbrS5eIzCfXff3wJjLnw/w480-h640/199351463_2581092552196622_3256648433263065212_n.jpg" width="480" /></a></p><p style="text-align: center;">Poor Rob is stuck at home writing and writing and writing. He's barely able to come up for air.</p><p style="text-align: center;">We are SO CLOSE to finishing a total upgrade of our Ancient book for high schoolers. It's going from 350 pages to 800 pages. It is going to be stupendous. We just need to drag through the next few months and then we are going to celebrate with some restful quiet.</p><p style="text-align: center;">Mary continues to ride the seizure roller coaster. She has amazing days and then she tanks. </p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgybxdAJFfyIPfcrYzy5TiIaRgNULEZE-C9XNRA_AQwWwWRLONOdzz0dUFUVnY93BYJ1c8omtrC0WAfw9luLs8vBDgCre_nm6ILxcBkjvwuwl9nOS2UUpFkPWNxNNsCxKyYW_SNknGp5AY/s640/IMG_4244.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgybxdAJFfyIPfcrYzy5TiIaRgNULEZE-C9XNRA_AQwWwWRLONOdzz0dUFUVnY93BYJ1c8omtrC0WAfw9luLs8vBDgCre_nm6ILxcBkjvwuwl9nOS2UUpFkPWNxNNsCxKyYW_SNknGp5AY/w480-h640/IMG_4244.jpg" width="480" /></a></p><p style="text-align: center;">In Norfolk she tanked three times. It would be easy to despair when it happens but we just remind ourselves that she is so much better now than a year ago or two years ago. Her body slamming to the floor seizures are rare and she has many days at home when she can run carefree without the helmet.</p><p style="text-align: center;">Leaving her is the hardest part.</p><p style="text-align: center;">Each night Rob tucks her in beside me around 11 pm. I know her breathing. I understand her movements. I can react when she starts to tank. </p><p style="text-align: center;">We have monitors and she wears a seizure watch but for me - having her tucked in beside me is the most peaceful.</p><p style="text-align: center;">I feel lost when she is not breathing keto-breath next to me. </p><p style="text-align: center;">All I can do when I am gone is whisper prayers to a God who knows my girl. </p><p style="text-align: center;">And rest in the knowledge that the same God who answers absurd prayers for an audience of one will watch over and keep my girl while I am gone.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj27YN87rRdxypE_fE0GVm_TpSbVD3ZACy8oBsn38QjrWixSw6mPbwuIQxX7qDdI-EX3_BSw_WM5nvYWF4x5tirBFe-93T7FpSiV7pKUzc-RwqGb2LYuW8d_xeXLJMs4jzeTZKqZlhv9dM/s640/IMG_4243.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj27YN87rRdxypE_fE0GVm_TpSbVD3ZACy8oBsn38QjrWixSw6mPbwuIQxX7qDdI-EX3_BSw_WM5nvYWF4x5tirBFe-93T7FpSiV7pKUzc-RwqGb2LYuW8d_xeXLJMs4jzeTZKqZlhv9dM/w480-h640/IMG_4243.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p>Juliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04814524050417570766noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7297657180254499319.post-16132684711354420022021-05-15T08:24:00.000-04:002021-05-15T08:24:01.367-04:00To Lyla With Love<div class="separator"><p style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><br /></p></div><p style="text-align: center;">Ten years ago they tried to cross the ocean to adopt her, but they were turned away.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwdaRMP3DmQV1N7OeScFHV_8jsS6VGavmKpKIYqxKScZb8bG-OxrUr1T2u-7lEr0hpSqSR-4ZV7elSahWEZ5VfJVAVx7N16OGkxIUy4dZ1iYZD_7cJ0NCGz3Un72K9yyKynhNnAiwLwI0/s320/385862_10150401784786653_519801652_8794117_1118992391_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="319" data-original-width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwdaRMP3DmQV1N7OeScFHV_8jsS6VGavmKpKIYqxKScZb8bG-OxrUr1T2u-7lEr0hpSqSR-4ZV7elSahWEZ5VfJVAVx7N16OGkxIUy4dZ1iYZD_7cJ0NCGz3Un72K9yyKynhNnAiwLwI0/s0/385862_10150401784786653_519801652_8794117_1118992391_n.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p style="text-align: center;">She was too sick. Too fragile. She was expected to die.</p><p style="text-align: center;">So they adopted another. And then another.</p><p style="text-align: center;">But in a crazy, God-story turn of events, they discovered that she had survived.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmegCfjzuKeUruy_MIy1eEnJ8aRjx1Yg3zq3-FIg91s4ePWAreE6N9f2zNSDpIsCSNugAmaw1Q51ktmygAON3cd3qaDlj6v0R9I4dbiShi1-cJYOPG9hVcEx2G58ummf0dR-q8XSZNoyk/s300/liliannadec20111-262x300.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="262" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmegCfjzuKeUruy_MIy1eEnJ8aRjx1Yg3zq3-FIg91s4ePWAreE6N9f2zNSDpIsCSNugAmaw1Q51ktmygAON3cd3qaDlj6v0R9I4dbiShi1-cJYOPG9hVcEx2G58ummf0dR-q8XSZNoyk/s0/liliannadec20111-262x300.jpg" /></a></p><p style="text-align: center;">So when the way opened they ran.</p><p style="text-align: center;">To get a little one who had everything going against her except she had a determined desire to live.</p><p style="text-align: center;">And she lived.</p><p style="text-align: center;">Though her heart was fragile.</p><p style="text-align: center;">Though she suffered and struggled to breath so many times.</p><p style="text-align: center;">She lived.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIZKlljRynjZXftf9sGudGy_D7eRnSPcykqrIFkHF2jhlKtE_ks8vqlu_qO5-x7-fYhLaO7INBzyR7JW0nYv9IFy7kY5z582vPSeyWTqH-XtociEAYX76dyexwriVUh-Mcyg0z70ZQr80/s960/1502523_10203364793547096_46824847_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="716" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIZKlljRynjZXftf9sGudGy_D7eRnSPcykqrIFkHF2jhlKtE_ks8vqlu_qO5-x7-fYhLaO7INBzyR7JW0nYv9IFy7kY5z582vPSeyWTqH-XtociEAYX76dyexwriVUh-Mcyg0z70ZQr80/w478-h640/1502523_10203364793547096_46824847_n.jpg" width="478" /></a></p><p style="text-align: center;">Though doctors shook their heads and said no way.</p><p style="text-align: center;">Though sickness took her down over and over.</p><p style="text-align: center;">Though breathing hurt.</p><p style="text-align: center;">She lived.</p><p style="text-align: center;">She tore through life in her sassy, bossy way.</p><p style="text-align: center;">She was one of a kind. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGW5MuJFN-ImNXAgKU8Rxa1PaO85RRuy0ZSY7yNOxnbfloTIluovtgZhaIG64gUM6-yK55F-rl7Njm_ZFBHFMJKzSjTcUwk57WnjD6Y6p8pe4CNZXb15pXzbPyGlr-RKAHG4zuA-tCcPI/s640/DSC_0331.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="426" data-original-width="640" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGW5MuJFN-ImNXAgKU8Rxa1PaO85RRuy0ZSY7yNOxnbfloTIluovtgZhaIG64gUM6-yK55F-rl7Njm_ZFBHFMJKzSjTcUwk57WnjD6Y6p8pe4CNZXb15pXzbPyGlr-RKAHG4zuA-tCcPI/w640-h426/DSC_0331.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;">So loved by every single person who met her.</p><p style="text-align: center;">One of a kind was Lyla.</p><p style="text-align: center;">Thrown away at birth. Deemed unadoptable. Of little value.</p><p style="text-align: center;">She had Down Syndrome. Physical deformities. Heart defects.</p><p style="text-align: center;">Tossed aside to lay out her days in a crib.</p><p style="text-align: center;">But she fought. She refused to die when death knocked.</p><p style="text-align: center;">And when they brought her home - to this country - to a family who loved her beyond words - she ruled the roost.</p><p style="text-align: center;">They beat to her drum.</p><p style="text-align: center;">They followed in her wake.</p><p style="text-align: center;">They bowed to her whims.</p><p style="text-align: center;">Queen Lyla.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRRd3DrC5reJjJsDNnH4ysbhigKdaEhrdxxHBoFZNNKCsxhfqGwRJ4JPxWg8vNl0sSAfORJEbdmA8v1kdvJeM0I2yfH1pUKY6FsbLJnpQ9fQ6fONCuhJQ9tJmi2eb6mZ3DLvKa92_LuzU/s482/DSC_0395.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="482" data-original-width="351" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRRd3DrC5reJjJsDNnH4ysbhigKdaEhrdxxHBoFZNNKCsxhfqGwRJ4JPxWg8vNl0sSAfORJEbdmA8v1kdvJeM0I2yfH1pUKY6FsbLJnpQ9fQ6fONCuhJQ9tJmi2eb6mZ3DLvKa92_LuzU/w466-h640/DSC_0395.JPG" width="466" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;">Her heart was defective but it is now their hearts that are broken.</p><p style="text-align: center;">Her body could fight no more.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhALO4tJLO7wDXV23iReRIBjufRsv-yozpi7plecnWxLeyfpS35rRJoKK-89rW5e7nB8nlE2tbcrU_JF5gGwD-l46V934zozzdaVRC5nP0NOmstykJB9fIFhfuK2RvY3fE33__XoT-HbOU/s960/184235873_10228250887083881_7551465380642159245_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhALO4tJLO7wDXV23iReRIBjufRsv-yozpi7plecnWxLeyfpS35rRJoKK-89rW5e7nB8nlE2tbcrU_JF5gGwD-l46V934zozzdaVRC5nP0NOmstykJB9fIFhfuK2RvY3fE33__XoT-HbOU/w480-h640/184235873_10228250887083881_7551465380642159245_n.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;">She is now in the presence of the Lord. Her pain gone and for that they rejoice. But their pain has begun. </p><p style="text-align: center;">To Summer and Dave and all the kids - I grieve with you.</p><p style="text-align: center;">I have spent the last 9 years loving your fighter. I cheered and championed for you as you broke down mountains to get her home. I have laughed at all her antics. I have prayed over every hospitalization. I have cherished every post. She lit up my life in my little house on a hill.</p><p style="text-align: center;">I am so sorry she is no longer dancing in your kitchen. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFkFRmdrXHjMscvJMydN6hHWb0wQPA6fo0XbFKXECuf-UhbWLFpxVOU1Om-durBFhwkDKNmOdMgxlIel2NhLizq15ziqda729Lb26GX-5QkzSqM5h6rUfhoAUdYdhww1bcCdjlaBPrjTs/s600/185731565_10228284389641424_4609204958904937626_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFkFRmdrXHjMscvJMydN6hHWb0wQPA6fo0XbFKXECuf-UhbWLFpxVOU1Om-durBFhwkDKNmOdMgxlIel2NhLizq15ziqda729Lb26GX-5QkzSqM5h6rUfhoAUdYdhww1bcCdjlaBPrjTs/s320/185731565_10228284389641424_4609204958904937626_n.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><p style="text-align: center;">May the God of Peace fill your hearts as you navigate a world with her no longer in it!</p><p><br /></p>Juliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04814524050417570766noreply@blogger.com4