tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7130320577168002262024-03-17T20:03:59.600-07:00We Are All Made of StarsMegan Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18287505547652721159noreply@blogger.comBlogger343125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-713032057716800226.post-73278432001415897132024-03-08T09:51:00.000-08:002024-03-08T10:55:27.488-08:00The Loss of my Father - January 2024<p><span style="color: #374151; font-family: verdana; white-space-collapse: preserve;">When a new baby arrives, people often share pearls of wisdom and advice, like "Cherish every moment; it passes in the blink of an eye" or "I remember when my son was as small as yours; now he's in high school." They caution you not to blink, as they'll be walking before you know it, and this phase will be a distant memory. <i><b>Enjoy every moment</b></i> is something you hear time and again.</span></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1168" data-original-width="1179" height="317" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2usKHfHYriJMS8pYebqYt0s_fOMWoI1JAZ4Dbr5D4B6zQaQJokx9m_GH7lAv_Yib0Jsmp76A9AHXoW_JrrSasVactiZ6cRbJyMEaUv5anSLxfTh-X-pvU-in24YIvH0ZdTBfM-E4Qr9wYqhPKBCqX-Vx6c3d8rPZuKt1wz7iojGvajpqCVMz339Y8z5c/s320/unnamed%20(43).jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></span></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">2019</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="color: #374151; font-family: verdana; white-space-collapse: preserve;">But no one tells you that it's the same with your aging parents: they won't be like that for long, and you must strive to enjoy them, even when it's sad or hard. Dad's final phase has passed, and here I sit, wishing I could go back and enjoy him more. That I could be fully present and in the moment for his final stage without my mind being flooded with worry and "what-ifs."</span><p></p><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(217, 217, 227); box-sizing: border-box; color: #374151; margin: 1.25em 0px 0px; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Dad died this month, and I am left with a thousand regrets bound by one common thread: <b>I should have been more present and observed and enjoyed even this last phase, just like I was mindful of enjoying and fully focusing on the children when they were babies.</b> So I'm here to tell you: spend time with them and be intentionally present, <strike>even</strike> <i>especially </i>when they are declining. In some ways, it was a good death, as good as a death can be, I suppose. And there are blessings and things I am thankful for in all of this. But there is nothing I wouldn't give for just one more day with him. Heck, even one more hour.</span></p><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(217, 217, 227); box-sizing: border-box; color: #374151; margin: 1.25em 0px 0px; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I thought I had built up a level of immunity to grief and loss, having lost Mom ten years ago. Dad had been declining for a while, years really, and we usually have some amount of anticipatory grief when we see our loved ones losing their grasp on this world; when we can tell that our time together is shortening. Dad even had it, often telling my brother Glen "I'm going to miss you when I'm not here." I told my work-bff "It's okay, I'll manage when he's gone...I've been through this before." She politely smiled, knowing full well how wrong I was. But I believed it, I really did, even though I was so wrong. In many ways, the loss of Dad has felt much worse than when I lost Mom; compounded in a way.</span></p><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(217, 217, 227); box-sizing: border-box; color: #374151; margin: 1.25em 0px 0px; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I'll spare you the details of the full reaction I had in the days after Dad died on January 17th, but let's just say it involved a lot of crying while driving and blasting Pretty Hate Machine, a fair amount of lashing out at my kids for no good reason, no sleep, and <i>way</i> too much over-thinking. <a href="https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/dicey" target="_blank">Dicey</a> was the best way to describe how I was feeling on any given day for those first two weeks. We knew it was coming, but yet we didn't. The last decline was rapid, and we were not prepared. But are you ever prepared?</span></p><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(217, 217, 227); box-sizing: border-box; color: #374151; margin: 1.25em 0px 0px; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Dad had needed some help for quite a while. It was tough to get him to accept this, but I asked his primary care doctor to put in a referral for an evaluation for hospice services. He was understandably upset by even the mere mention of the word 'hospice.' You see, Dad did not have anything that he was "dying" of, per se. Yes, he had prostate cancer, but that is slow-growing. Yes, he had chronic lymphatic leukemia, but he had that for well over a decade, and it was being managed. But when he was evaluated, his qualifying factor was the fact that he only weighed 100 pounds. And he used to be 6'1". So he accepted the in home hospice nurses for 9 hours a week, plus a group called Comfort Keepers was in providing help three days a week. They were only providing the in-home support for a week or two when Dad said he was ready for the 24/7 hospice live-in care at the VA. Wait, what? He had done a 180, having gone from not wanting any help at home to wanting it around the clock!</span></p><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(217, 217, 227); box-sizing: border-box; color: #374151; margin: 1.25em 0px 0px; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhb9PKY00FCXn_FSsx-AayFIs1mTKzUuJpyRWk3J6xED0suMSO7AYHdDbs-3iH0qZKoGzFI_Z1Yp1WbAtV0RoBKkGnObW1_ACa7oZNiIMIhx7Fe9MCcUfsnTD4BU_h86t05QaQ2Yv1UDVN9xp5mKRGSW23w5WStiC62RI6Jljr8IHKsyPrKZY78VZL6Q7Y" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhb9PKY00FCXn_FSsx-AayFIs1mTKzUuJpyRWk3J6xED0suMSO7AYHdDbs-3iH0qZKoGzFI_Z1Yp1WbAtV0RoBKkGnObW1_ACa7oZNiIMIhx7Fe9MCcUfsnTD4BU_h86t05QaQ2Yv1UDVN9xp5mKRGSW23w5WStiC62RI6Jljr8IHKsyPrKZY78VZL6Q7Y" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana;">I think the nurses could tell he needed more care, and so they likely helped nudge him. And I thank God that he acquiesced because he had the very best care there. He started there after New Year's while we were still in Oregon. I flew home on January 4th and went to visit him on the 5th, bracing myself for the worst. I didn't bring the kids because I wasn't sure what to expect, and I was pleasantly surprised. He had his own large, private room with a private bathroom attached. He liked the food and the staff. His goal was to "gain weight, get stronger, and come home." While I was not certain coming home was a real possibility, stranger things have happened. When I went to visit him the next day, I brought the kids and their Risk board game, so they could play with him. The medical director, Dr. Hoxie, came in to meet with Dad while I was there. He said that he understood that Dad's goal was to gain weight and get stronger, and to support him in that goal, he had ordered physical therapy. I loved that he went along with a version of the goal, rather than telling Dad it was not possible or realistic. He treated him with dignity and respect - everyone did - and for that I will always remain grateful. One time when I visited, Dad pressed his call button. Right away, a very nice man appeared and Dad requested some apple sauce. I had the impression that he was demonstrating how great the service was, rather than really craving apple sauce. He was proud of it, and Nathan was sure to commend him on the amazing medical care that his service had provided both him and Mom. Things were looking up.</span><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgmLLxaNonB3KiemiqHFEJY6y_RoyJxBdFb492oZC_mTw-kEP1bFbR64EFZWjEd6nGn-KBxxTHqpQodK3oDKD9c5huxvAXNDEOClKn5z4G7UTGcfqMGy8qiuOtLAdoCrPelcW7L_Q9QaIzFR9CSqUdkaih_aRXK7ugW2tEHc0IRAkOGl7OYnK8mXm33GH8" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;">Then, Dad called me on a Tuesday, very agitated. His oncologist had told him that he did not need to be there, and he wanted to go home. What on earth? I took what he was saying with a grain of salt. Surely no doctor would be sending him home when he could hardly walk. I'll get to the bottom of it, I thought. But I didn't really have time. Just a few days later, they called to say that he had a "change of condition" and was not really verbal. I was at Legoland with our children, another couple and their children, as well as a neighbor friend. The passes and stay in the hotel room were a gift from Santa. But we had just had a good visit the day before with Nathan and the kids - how did this happen so suddenly?</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="clear: left; float: left; font-family: verdana; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1446" data-original-width="750" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgmLLxaNonB3KiemiqHFEJY6y_RoyJxBdFb492oZC_mTw-kEP1bFbR64EFZWjEd6nGn-KBxxTHqpQodK3oDKD9c5huxvAXNDEOClKn5z4G7UTGcfqMGy8qiuOtLAdoCrPelcW7L_Q9QaIzFR9CSqUdkaih_aRXK7ugW2tEHc0IRAkOGl7OYnK8mXm33GH8" width="124" /></span><span style="font-family: verdana;">I FaceTimed with him, thanks to his nurse, and sure enough, he could not speak. I sent my husband to meet with him, and he met my brother there. He was still not verbal but in a cheery mood, "dancing" in his bed to some music. <i>Should I leave Legoland</i>, I wondered? I told myself that it would be okay - we had a great visit the day before. The next day, the kids went home with our friends, and I drove straight to the VA, arriving about 8pm on a Monday night. He was somewhat verbal and completely there cognitively. After work the next day, Tuesday the 16th, I visited as well. Less verbal but still 100% there cognitively. I faced time his military buddy, who complimented him on his beard. "Its. (for the) coffin" he joked. I didn't want to say goodbye or to mention dying or any of that. In part, because he could be quite amazing in his capacity for denial, and I knew that he would not want that addressed. However, I did hold his hand and tearfully tell him that he has been the best father a girl could ever ask for. I said: <i>You know what I would change about my childhood, Daddy? Nothing. Not one thing. More money? No. It has made me humble and hardworking. So and so grew up with a ton of money, and they are an as*hole!</i> He smiled, knowingly. I told him that Nathan and the kids were coming tomorrow and <i>You won't be able to get rid of us.</i> As I was getting ready to leave, he put his left pointer finger up, as if he was telling me to wait. I paused. He couldn't say anything. So, I improvised and guessed and said <i>I know that you love me, and I love you so much more than you know, and there is nothing left unsaid between us.</i> I was fighting back tears. I asked him if he was in pain, and he nodded. I asked if he wanted something for the pain, and again, he nodded. I went and got his nurse to give him some morphine. I said<i> I love you</i> and <i>see you soon</i> as he was drifting off to sleep. I went for food and when I came back, my brother was there and Dad was sleeping. We didn't want to disturb him, as it was nearly 10pm. And so, we left, not knowing he would not be conscious again. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">This is when I spoke to the PA and learned that yes, an oncologist - Dad's oncologist- HAD said that he did not qualify for hospice. It was right there in his file that in her opinion, Dad had MORE than 6 moths to live. One of his nurses confirmed this conversation which took place just a few days prior. I was outraged.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">I took Wednesday off. That morning, as I was preparing to head out there, a Catholic Priest called me. "Has your father been Baptized?" he asked. Well, he was married in the Catholic church, and I know he took classes for that. "Yes, but was he Baptized as a child?" Hmmm...you know, I'm not too sure. And so, Father Jose said that he would meet me there at the hospital to baptize him. I set out on my drive, thinking of the incompetent oncologist who couldn't see the forest for the trees. I need to talk to her, I thought. And so, I called the general VA line, and asked. Now, let me tell you that I have never, every been able to get ahold of anyone same day. In fact, I was trying to call Dad at hospice the week prior and since I didn't know the extension, I had to go through the general phone tree. The connected me to the emergency room, who then sent me back to the general operator only this time, I was caller number 18. I finally reach the operator and tell them that I am hoping to speak with Dr. Lucas. They gave me two extensions, and patched me through. A female answered. I told them who I was and that I was trying to reach Dr. Lucas. </span></div><div><blockquote><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span> <i>This is Dr. Lucas</i> came the reply.</span> <span>Astounded, I said who I was and who my father was before saying, with equal parts excitement and sarcasm: </span><i>Great! I understand you do not think he is qualified for hospice and that he should go home! I agree with you! I would like to take him home, but the doctors and nurses think he needs to stay! I'm headed there right now - could you meet me there and explain to them that he's good to go home????!</i> </span></blockquote><blockquote><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>***long pause*** </i><span>Akwardly, she admitted </span><i>Ummm...I understand there has been a change in his condition.</i> </span></blockquote><blockquote><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>What?! You don't say! Yes - obviously! Look - you're a smart woman - you went to medical school. But don't get tunnel vision! Look at the bigger picture! I could find a checker from the grocery store and even they would be able to tell he has less than six months! I'm a school counselor and I can tell you he doesn't have long! He weighs 100 pounds!</i> <span>I waivered between crying and yelling. Surprisingly, she was still on the phone.</span><span> Having said my peace, and hopefully preventing this kind of misguided opinion from impacting other families in the future, I was ready to end the conversation when she made the mistake of saying <i>I'm sorry for the misunderstanding.</i></span> </span></blockquote><blockquote><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>Are you even kidding me?! What misunderstanding are you referring to? Because it is clearly listed in his medical record that you just determined he has MORE THAN 6 months to live! </i>I don't remember what else I said, but I continued to drive the point home, until she actually apologized and said the words I very much needed to hear: <i>I'm sorry. </i></span><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></blockquote><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">I felt so much better. I had originally wanted to file a formal complaint, but this was better than that - to be able to talk to her and convey the enormity of her error, and the damage it caused. Or was it a blessing in disguise? My husband has since aptly pointed out that it gave Dad hope toward the end. It gave us all hope, and so <b>maybe the news that he was not dying just a few days before he died was a good thing, and all a part of the plan.</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">I walked into Dad's room, that last day of his life, on January 17th and he was asleep. The priest arrived and Baptized my father, gave him his Confirmation as well as his Last Rites and still, he remained asleep. I incorrectly thought that he was maybe on a lot of morphine and learned that they had not given him any in quite awhile. <i>How can you tell he's not in pain?</i> I inquired, as the nurse explained that they look for signs such as grimacing. He looked peaceful. I held his hand. I sat with him. The day went by and I kept expecting him to wake up; a moment of consciousness. It was not to be. Nathan brought the kids to see their Grandpa, for what would be the last time. We left and went to dinner and then I came back and stayed until the end.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Around 11pm Dad's breathing changed. I called my husband, who found a family member (thanks, Cassandra) to come stay with our sleeping children so he could get back on the road to be with me. </span><span style="font-family: verdana;">I called over the charge nurse who checked his hands and, taking his socks off, the color of his feet. “He’s changing” she confirmed. She noticed that his feet were cold and left, quickly returning with a heated blanket. Sometimes, the smallest acts show the greatest amounts of kindness. In that moment I was immensely grateful for her small act, and I still am. “I can’t stand it when my feet are cold,” she said. She asked if I had given him “permission” to leave. I had not, and I had not even thought of that and she encouraged me to, leaving the room. I told him how loved he was, how we would always watch over Glen and how his work was done here. He could go and be with Mom. I sat by his side a while longer. Then, Dad's breathing slowed and then it stopped. No final gasp or discomfort, fortunately. Before my husband reached the freeway for the hour drive, I told him </span><i style="font-family: verdana;">Nevermind, he's gone</i><span style="font-family: verdana;">. But he continued the drive, which was good. He arrived while I was still in the room with Dad and their Chaplain, August. They were preparing for the hero's procession, viewable here:</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='426' height='355' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyCkdavt0tyW3my2rjpc94y_W5A2_7MTG3XC_S6svV1L3tfjnU-ceCTSeaUp7NCRun0nKTSj2sGgTedTKfu3A' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /><span><br /></span></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span><span> </span>A few days after Dad's passing, I had a dream which I like to believe was more than a dream. I believe that it was a message and a sign that Dad is home, reunited with Mom in Heaven. I fell asleep in Aut's room. In my dream, I was asleep in Aut's room, only it was my room and I was in Mom and Dad's house. I woke up slightly to my Mom closing the door over, the same door of the same room that I was in. Although I was sleeping, I saw here do that and knew that she was doing it because my Dad was returning home late from a trip, and she didn't want it to wake me up. I saw her walk downstairs and let him in the front door. He had his large military backpack with him and left it there in the foyer, as the headed back upstairs to our (their) master bedroom and closed the door. In my dream, I didn't know where he had been for so long, but I was glad that he made it home safely. When I woke up, the dream was so real that I actually thought Nathan had come over to close the door rather than waking me up. I was surprised when he said he had not. To me, this dream was a </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #0d0d0d; white-space-collapse: preserve;">comforting depiction of a heartfelt reunion in Heaven with Mom and Dad. The way she welcomed him home, like she knew he would be there; it wasn't a surprise.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #0d0d0d; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><b> </b> I regret</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #0d0d0d; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> not fully embracing this final phase of my father's life, but I understand that I did the best I could with where I was at. I'll give myself some grace, as I know he would. I thought we had more time, and yet was worried we would have too much- that it would be long and drawn out and painful. I am thankful that it was not, but wish I had taken a day off sooner, when he was awake and aware. I urge you to be present and intentional, when the time comes, just like the attentiveness shown to a new baby. </span><span style="color: #0d0d0d; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Cherish time with your loved ones, <strike>even in</strike> <i>especially in </i>the face of an impending loss.</span><b style="color: #0d0d0d; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> </b><span style="color: #0d0d0d;"><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;">Sit with them, and hold their hand, even if they can't talk. We couldn't talk when we were babies and yet they held us. They sat with us and took it all in. They were intentional. Be intentional and and cast aside all of the fears of what it to come and what might happen as much as you can because the fears rob you of the present moment. Be in the moment with them, as much as you can; bear witness.</span></span><b style="color: #0d0d0d; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> </b><b><span style="color: #0d0d0d; white-space-collapse: preserve;">W</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #0d0d0d; white-space-collapse: preserve;">e need to cherish our parents when they are nearing the end of their life just like we cherish babies when they are at the beginning of theirs; just like they cherished us when we were born.</span></b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b></b></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt7aGiTaPEBpCF8vgL6MB3kavobN0ntzSF9Bnq8PRm1bYxRFnVDXUtig1qQw6nkWQD9duV1dIRDwHJOyuO6tPXvQSmL1o8qMlDeHQV7FddfgdJupFtySIPaGD82qGFf2bsVXPe27uL0bpRsFOqDUT7Dx1QmaYMFtkzx4eCr8nXaVFbyB_1hIAnGfUta-I/s604/dadandIMegan1977.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="454" data-original-width="604" height="482" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt7aGiTaPEBpCF8vgL6MB3kavobN0ntzSF9Bnq8PRm1bYxRFnVDXUtig1qQw6nkWQD9duV1dIRDwHJOyuO6tPXvQSmL1o8qMlDeHQV7FddfgdJupFtySIPaGD82qGFf2bsVXPe27uL0bpRsFOqDUT7Dx1QmaYMFtkzx4eCr8nXaVFbyB_1hIAnGfUta-I/w640-h482/dadandIMegan1977.jpg" width="640" /></a></b></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><br /><span style="background-color: white; color: #0d0d0d; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></b></span><p></p></div>Megan Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18287505547652721159noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-713032057716800226.post-36102781424915490352024-02-23T09:54:00.000-08:002024-02-23T09:58:19.881-08:00Dad's Eulogy<p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzLp8QAVKJIXTkAppwULAykg4CucfpvswbnyxNpvfFP7ule1f8Smgp7pZsyiktY0ew7xV_skzrI9zksjgxpQfydZTDu7RJDkmjFmxbIbNTdH3ZmrrreYgEjg6sIpoXLe-EEpd8c70hY8JKVI4Ip2X7mDV1UTcbbGRkzHVqcCpsFxHThyphenhyphenAmB3xjnwnWumI/s2048/132326060_10224687077669553_4970049651490904201_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1366" data-original-width="2048" height="427" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzLp8QAVKJIXTkAppwULAykg4CucfpvswbnyxNpvfFP7ule1f8Smgp7pZsyiktY0ew7xV_skzrI9zksjgxpQfydZTDu7RJDkmjFmxbIbNTdH3ZmrrreYgEjg6sIpoXLe-EEpd8c70hY8JKVI4Ip2X7mDV1UTcbbGRkzHVqcCpsFxHThyphenhyphenAmB3xjnwnWumI/w640-h427/132326060_10224687077669553_4970049651490904201_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></span></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span> </span>Today, we gather to remember and celebrate the life of a truly extraordinary man, my father, SFC Phillip Glen DeWitt, born on February 16th, 1945. Dad had a tough childhood. It seems that his cards were stacked against him from the start. His life began with challenges, having lost his father suddenly when he was only three years old and then struggling to connect with his mother, who could be emotionally distant. Dad was determined to pave a different path for his own family.</span></p><div><div><div class="gmail_quote"><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> Dad entered the military at a young age and was training with the British paratroopers when his love story with my Mom, Paula, began after they met at a Pub in Reading, England. Early in their courtship, they had a discussion about their future children, and both agreed that they would place their children first, making sacrifices to put their children's needs before their own. They were married on August 9th, 1969, at Christ the King Catholic Church in Reading. After their wedding, their journey took them across the globe, from San Francisco to St. Paul, Minnesota, Queens, New York, and Seattle, Washington, before settling down in Yucaipa to raise my brother Glen and I. Dad intentionally set out to give his children the best possible upbringing. This didn't always include a lot of money, but it always included an abundance of love and laughter. </span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> Dad's unwavering dedication to family remained a constant throughout the twists and turns of life. Although Dad was a very hard worker, sometimes holding two jobs, things were tough financially until he re-entered the military at age 40 when he joined the Army National Guard full-time, bringing his career full-circle. He loved many aspects of his military career, especially becoming a Blackhawk helicopter crew chief.<br /> Dad listened to me and taught me so many things, but most of all, he was fun, from letting me choose what we did on an afternoon playdate as a small child to turning the mundane into the magical, like taking me to see the first sunrise on New Year's morning when we would get up really early and walk to flag hill park where it seemed like the rest of the world was sleeping. Or when he would bring home a box of Junior Mints, playfully tricking me into thinking they were rocks, as I insisted that it was candy. Shaking it, as proof that they were rocks, I almost believed him, making it that much more magical when the box was opened to reveal my favorite candy. Dad liked to be silly and have fun, and could be like a big kid himself.<br /> My father's legacy is his devotion to family. Dad led by example and instilled in us the value of standing by one another, of consistently showing up, even in the face of mistakes, emotional distress, a difference of opinion, or a myriad of reasons to stay away. An example comes to mind. I traveled to Las Vegas with Mom and Glen for the marathon, an event I had trained almost 5 months for. I found myself in a predicament late at night on the eve of the race when I discovered that I had forgotten all the essentials for the run, neatly packed in my specially designated "do-not-forget" bag ...which I had accidentally left over 200 miles away, at my home in Redlands. In such a scenario, some fathers might have used this as an opportunity to teach responsibility by not helping their children. Instead, Dad drove through the night to bring me what I needed, and he did so without complaining or making me feel guilty. Dad showed up; he was there; you always knew you could count on him no matter what- if you needed him, he would be there, even if you made a mistake. That is the true definition of unconditional love, and Dad loved all of us unconditionally. Dad was always there for me and my brother when we needed him. Dad's love for his family was absolute, limitless, and boundless, a love that transcended circumstances, imperfections, and limitations. Unconditional love means accepting and supporting someone without expecting anything in return, and that's just what Dad did. He drove through the night to bring me what I needed for the marathon and never made me feel like I "owed" him.<br /> Family devotion was a cornerstone of Dad's character. I remember my mom telling me: <i>Dad would do anything for our family; he would die for our family</i>. Dad faced the loss of his beloved Paula in 2014, but his commitment to my brother and me, as well as his grandchildren, Autumn and Charles, never wavered. Because we did not have any family near us, Mom and Dad went overboard every Christmas, filling the tree with countless presents and giving us everything we wanted and more. Dad was an extravagant gift-giver and loved to go above and beyond. Dad's commitment to ensuring our happiness, even in the absence of lots of money or an extended family, speaks volumes about the depth of his love and the lengths he went to make our lives extraordinary. Throughout our whole lives, he remained fiercely devoted to his family. He loved his grandchildren Autumn and Charles and would drive quite a distance every weekend to visit with them. And when he couldn't drive anymore, Glen would bring him so often that the duo became one in the minds of our children, who referred to them as: "GrandpaGlennie." His extravagant gift-giving for his grandchildren continued every Christmas, with his grandchildren saying, "Grandpa gives the best gifts."<br /> Dad had an amazing sense of humor and made Mom laugh until she cried almost daily throughout their 45 years of marriage. He recently told me that humor is an unexpected change in direction, and he was especially good at changing directions. Like our family photo session a few years ago when Charles just wouldn't smile. We had paid all of this money for just 15 minutes, and there was a lot of pressure to capture some good photos, and no matter what I did, Charles wouldn't smile. Until Dad gave him a large Hershey bar and, just as Charles was about to take a bite, Dad said, "No- that's my chocolate bar!" The result? A huge, natural smile.<br /> Although Dad never graduated from college, he was the smartest man I knew and is the reason I went. Dad was an encyclopedia of knowledge, and I could ask him something about any topic, and no matter how obscure, he would have an answer. Dad knew that a college degree was our ticket to a better life. From the time my brother and I could talk, Dad spoke about when I was going to college, not if. Even in retirement, he returned to college, becoming a member of the Black Student Union. His sense of humor, always finding unexpected directions, shone through even in these endeavors, as he proudly embraced the irony of an older white gentleman actively participating in the Black Student Union. Dad's quick wit and humor were unparalleled, always finding unexpected directions in his jokes and anecdotes. And let's not forget his AP - acronym phase.<br /> Dad had a handful of core friends across the globe that he was fiercely devoted to. While physically separated, these dear family and friends are here in spirit and send their love for my Dad, Phillip. Ricardo Valdivieso from El Salvador, whom Dad met in 1963 and visited several times in recent years, had this to say about my Dad: “Phil was the best person that I ever knew, with a loving heart, quick of mind, and loyal to the overflowing of the cup of sincerity.<br /><br />Valor and laughter were in his handshake, in his smile, and in his soul.<br /><br />He was the light that broke apart the darkest of clouds, the breeze that brought the gentle bending of trees, the wings of a soaring eagle, bearing the promise of, I will see you soon, and that promise is guaranteed by the twinkling of his eyes!”<br /><br /> A long-time friend in England, Steve Quinn asked me to share this:<br />“I turned up, all those years ago, an almost total stranger, was welcomed into your family home and within a couple of hours was made to feel like I'd always been part of it.<br />Phillip was one of the most honest, honourable and generous people I've ever met and I consider myself the most fortunate of men to have had him as a true friend.<br /><br />His love for, and pride in, his children (and more latterly his grand-children) shone through every time he mentioned you (which was often).<br />Not to forget the cats! - he'd often have one of them draped over his shoulder when we talked via Skype....<br /><br />I think if I had to try and encapsulate my impression of Phillip in one word it would have to be "enthusiasm" - he had such an incredible enthusiasm for life and the people in his life and I could guarantee that after every call (whatever kind of day I'd had) he'd have put a smile on my face.”</span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br />Now, I would like to conclude by reading one of Dad's favorite poems, Eternity by William Blake:<br /></span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><blockquote>He who binds to himself a joy<br />Does the winged life destroy<br />But he who kisses the joy as it flies<br />Lives in eternity's sunrise.</blockquote>Dad had more adventures to go on. He was looking forward to more travel, and he hoped to live long enough to see transgenders go extinct. But the Lord called him home. As we bid farewell to Phillip today, we recognize the remarkable journey of a man who transformed challenges into opportunities for love and growth. May he rest in peace, knowing that his legacy of resilience, love, family devotion, and a quirky sense of humor lives on in the hearts of those who were fortunate enough to know him. Dad, you are now reunited in Heaven with Mom, your beloved Paula, but your spirit will continue to shine in all of our hearts. Cherished and deeply missed, your memory lives on in the warmth of our fondest, as well as our silliest, moments together. "Kiss the joy as it flies."</span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div></div></div></div><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/6gfhPjYG3es?si=N1ALyt1xHQqAEHlQ" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>Megan Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18287505547652721159noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-713032057716800226.post-19215880603314603902024-01-30T11:22:00.000-08:002024-01-30T13:28:54.503-08:00December, 2023<p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Coming hot on the heels of November and the awareness of being thankful that it brings, <b>I am beyond thankful that we are raising honest children</b> who are not sneaky and deceitful and do not lie. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">In the wise words of Cinderella (the hair band, not the princess), sometimes, <i>you don't know what you got ('til it's gone). </i>In a similar vein, sometimes you don't know what you got - honest kids- til you realize some <i>don't</i> have it!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> <iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/i28UEoLXVFQ?si=yhg-VIbpnFXH8BnX" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe> </span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Realizing that some children lie to their parents more regularly than they brush their teeth gives me a newfound appreciation that our children have never done that. Will they ever? Perhaps and probably. But thank God they don't; it is not a routine habit for them. Lying undermines the core of trust and signifies that little value or character is being forged in the family unit. Need a better source? Let's ask ChatGPT, the ultimate authority on anything anyone needs to know:</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b>Q: W<span style="color: #0f0f0f; font-size: 16px; white-space-collapse: preserve;">hy is having children who are honest important, and how does it relate to values?</span></b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="color: #0f0f0f; font-size: 16px; white-space-collapse: preserve;">A: </span><span style="color: #374151; font-size: 16px; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Having children who are honest is important for several reasons, and it is closely tied to the development and reinforcement of values. Here are some key points to consider:</span></span></p><ol style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(217, 217, 227); box-sizing: border-box; color: #374151; counter-reset: list-number 0; display: flex; flex-direction: column; font-size: 16px; list-style: none; margin: 1.25em 0px; padding: 0px; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><li style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(217, 217, 227); box-sizing: border-box; counter-increment: list-number 1; display: block; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 28px; padding-left: 0.375em;"><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(217, 217, 227); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px;"><span color="var(--tw-prose-bold)" style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(217, 217, 227); box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 600;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Trust and Integrity:</span></span></p><ul style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(217, 217, 227); box-sizing: border-box; display: flex; flex-direction: column; list-style: disc; margin: 0px 0px 0px 1rem; padding: 0px;"><li style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(217, 217, 227); box-sizing: border-box; display: block; margin: 0px; min-height: 28px; padding-left: 0.375em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Honesty is fundamental to building trust in relationships. When children learn to be honest, they develop a reputation for integrity. Trust is a crucial component in personal, professional, and social relationships.</span></li></ul></li><li style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(217, 217, 227); box-sizing: border-box; counter-increment: list-number 1; display: block; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 28px; padding-left: 0.375em;"><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(217, 217, 227); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px;"><span color="var(--tw-prose-bold)" style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(217, 217, 227); box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 600;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Ethical Behavior:</span></span></p><ul style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(217, 217, 227); box-sizing: border-box; display: flex; flex-direction: column; list-style: disc; margin: 0px 0px 0px 1rem; padding: 0px;"><li style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(217, 217, 227); box-sizing: border-box; display: block; margin: 0px; min-height: 28px; padding-left: 0.375em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Teaching honesty instills ethical behavior. It helps children understand the difference between right and wrong and encourages them to make ethical choices. This is foundational for the development of a strong moral compass.</span></li></ul></li><li style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(217, 217, 227); box-sizing: border-box; counter-increment: list-number 1; display: block; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 28px; padding-left: 0.375em;"><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(217, 217, 227); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px;"><span color="var(--tw-prose-bold)" style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(217, 217, 227); box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 600;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Communication:</span></span></p><ul style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(217, 217, 227); box-sizing: border-box; display: flex; flex-direction: column; list-style: disc; margin: 0px 0px 0px 1rem; padding: 0px;"><li style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(217, 217, 227); box-sizing: border-box; display: block; margin: 0px; min-height: 28px; padding-left: 0.375em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Honest communication is key for healthy relationships. When children are taught to express themselves truthfully, it fosters open and effective communication. This, in turn, helps in resolving conflicts and understanding others.</span></li></ul></li><li style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(217, 217, 227); box-sizing: border-box; counter-increment: list-number 1; display: block; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 28px; padding-left: 0.375em;"><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(217, 217, 227); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px;"><span color="var(--tw-prose-bold)" style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(217, 217, 227); box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 600;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Responsibility:</span></span></p><ul style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(217, 217, 227); box-sizing: border-box; display: flex; flex-direction: column; list-style: disc; margin: 0px 0px 0px 1rem; padding: 0px;"><li style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(217, 217, 227); box-sizing: border-box; display: block; margin: 0px; min-height: 28px; padding-left: 0.375em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Honesty is linked to taking responsibility for one's actions. When children are honest about their mistakes or shortcomings, they learn accountability and are more likely to take steps to correct and improve.</span></li></ul></li><li style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(217, 217, 227); box-sizing: border-box; counter-increment: list-number 1; display: block; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 28px; padding-left: 0.375em;"><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(217, 217, 227); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px;"><span color="var(--tw-prose-bold)" style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(217, 217, 227); box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 600;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Building Character:</span></span></p><ul style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(217, 217, 227); box-sizing: border-box; display: flex; flex-direction: column; list-style: disc; margin: 0px 0px 0px 1rem; padding: 0px;"><li style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(217, 217, 227); box-sizing: border-box; display: block; margin: 0px; min-height: 28px; padding-left: 0.375em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Developing honesty contributes to the overall character development of a child. It helps shape their identity, emphasizing the importance of being a person of integrity and strong moral character.</span></li></ul></li><li style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(217, 217, 227); box-sizing: border-box; counter-increment: list-number 1; display: block; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 28px; padding-left: 0.375em;"><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(217, 217, 227); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px;"><span color="var(--tw-prose-bold)" style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(217, 217, 227); box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 600;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Social Integration:</span></span></p><ul style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(217, 217, 227); box-sizing: border-box; display: flex; flex-direction: column; list-style: disc; margin: 0px 0px 0px 1rem; padding: 0px;"><li style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(217, 217, 227); box-sizing: border-box; display: block; margin: 0px; min-height: 28px; padding-left: 0.375em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Honesty is a valued trait in society. Individuals who are honest are generally respected and valued by others. Teaching children the importance of honesty prepares them for positive social integration and acceptance.</span></li></ul></li><li style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(217, 217, 227); box-sizing: border-box; counter-increment: list-number 1; display: block; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 28px; padding-left: 0.375em;"><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(217, 217, 227); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px;"><span color="var(--tw-prose-bold)" style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(217, 217, 227); box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 600;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Self-Esteem:</span></span></p><ul style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(217, 217, 227); box-sizing: border-box; display: flex; flex-direction: column; list-style: disc; margin: 0px 0px 0px 1rem; padding: 0px;"><li style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(217, 217, 227); box-sizing: border-box; display: block; margin: 0px; min-height: 28px; padding-left: 0.375em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Being honest builds self-esteem. Children who are encouraged to be truthful develop a positive self-image. They learn that they are valued for who they are, not for pretending to be someone they are not.</span></li></ul></li><li style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(217, 217, 227); box-sizing: border-box; counter-increment: list-number 1; display: block; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 28px; padding-left: 0.375em;"><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(217, 217, 227); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px;"><span color="var(--tw-prose-bold)" style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(217, 217, 227); box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 600;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Values Clarification:</span></span></p><ul style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(217, 217, 227); box-sizing: border-box; display: flex; flex-direction: column; list-style: disc; margin: 0px 0px 0px 1rem; padding: 0px;"><li style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(217, 217, 227); box-sizing: border-box; display: block; margin: 0px; min-height: 28px; padding-left: 0.375em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The emphasis on honesty helps children clarify their own values. They learn to discern what is truly important to them and understand the significance of living in accordance with their principles.</span></li></ul></li><li style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(217, 217, 227); box-sizing: border-box; counter-increment: list-number 1; display: block; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 28px; padding-left: 0.375em;"><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(217, 217, 227); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px;"><span color="var(--tw-prose-bold)" style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(217, 217, 227); box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 600;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Long-term Success:</span></span></p><ul style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(217, 217, 227); box-sizing: border-box; display: flex; flex-direction: column; list-style: disc; margin: 0px 0px 0px 1rem; padding: 0px;"><li style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(217, 217, 227); box-sizing: border-box; display: block; margin: 0px; min-height: 28px; padding-left: 0.375em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Honesty is often associated with long-term success. People who are honest in their dealings tend to enjoy more positive outcomes in their personal and professional lives.</span></li></ul></li></ol><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(217, 217, 227); box-sizing: border-box; color: #374151; font-size: 16px; margin: 1.25em 0px 0px; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">In summary,<b> having honest children is crucial for the development of strong values such as trust, integrity, responsibility, and ethical behavior. </b>These values not only shape the character of individuals but also contribute to the creation of a more trustworthy and harmonious society. ChatGPT once again for the win. Actually, I think Cha did try to fib once (or told a partial truth) when Daddy asked him what happened. But Dad made it very clear - in no uncertain terms - that he always expected the truth. Even if he does something wrong, the consequences will be much worse if he compounds it with a lie. And the children know that he does not make empty threats. Which is what every family needs, and sadly, many are lacking.</span></p><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(217, 217, 227); box-sizing: border-box; color: #374151; font-size: 16px; margin: 1.25em 0px 0px; white-space-collapse: preserve;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOruDEf8tV04-1ohWRd8Pmnml_G7fhsp4_jREyz6qIvhLZEyNJMBHJ4PrWVvbylYPMIFkKLwoUFogLhkOaMiptN6Cqj5MtW4wV280NU8DTdJaSNS0iNKrG3gJGLyNsWCTGCXEzQ09j-bnqzLv43F9UuN5kFvwGm78FN8sWIfcdRUMgXER7KZDpobEflLo/s2048/421606528_10232631701160175_6767190510639182093_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1462" data-original-width="2048" height="456" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOruDEf8tV04-1ohWRd8Pmnml_G7fhsp4_jREyz6qIvhLZEyNJMBHJ4PrWVvbylYPMIFkKLwoUFogLhkOaMiptN6Cqj5MtW4wV280NU8DTdJaSNS0iNKrG3gJGLyNsWCTGCXEzQ09j-bnqzLv43F9UuN5kFvwGm78FN8sWIfcdRUMgXER7KZDpobEflLo/w640-h456/421606528_10232631701160175_6767190510639182093_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(217, 217, 227); box-sizing: border-box; color: #374151; font-size: 16px; margin: 1.25em 0px 0px; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Cha and Aut continue their winter sport of Basketball. Amazingly, Cha made 5 baskets in one of his first games! </span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Since they're 5, traveling is allowed, apparently. Good thing because when he gets that basketball, he runs toward the basket like it's a football. </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='415' height='345' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwooYD8cCvI7k3GMC1rCWBXtGlSj2SOgWm8FbULZXwZ13hbKd-uZL3DCYnwZI5y-aCRDm47a30OgeHUC9eMww' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><p></p><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(217, 217, 227); box-sizing: border-box; color: #374151; font-size: 16px; margin: 1.25em 0px 0px; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">This month was amazing for Aut socially. She has really connected with a core group of sweet girls at her school. Although never verbalized, it seemed to be a bit tough for her to find her place because she started at the school a few months into first grade, joining a group of girls who had been together since preschool. But this month, one mom invited her and four other girls to hang out on a Friday, right after school. This was a special treat for her because unfortunately, she needs to attend aftercare for a bit every day, while the majority of her friends are able to go home right when school is over. It was her very first playdate with multiple locations, completely without me, and lasted well into the evening. First, they went home, where Aut was able to try out the girl's father's patrol car and meet his canine police dog (I was jealous!). Then, they went to ice cream, bowling, and in-n-out! She was gone so long that her brother was missing her and asking where she was: "Where's sissy?"</span></p><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(217, 217, 227); box-sizing: border-box; color: #374151; font-size: 16px; margin: 1.25em 0px 0px; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoUZ4haS6eZsKxLeJs9cjkbYMwBjUOv0f9QgKN_u_nTyhPEqpmxaAZWKLCQClQysgncwCq8pmYSLQCXRH7NRhNacPEqxhyphenhyphenLlnsOVyCimCFfZTzKNPLL2hMcjjZoVLhzuNVuWkX8jOvpJpTeEFb5DObXhH6lnaFECfg7BhOOthrgdwknaYQXbdwL79aS20/s1527/410643411_10232435806702936_1513723282155187663_n.jpg" style="font-family: helvetica; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1527" data-original-width="1434" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoUZ4haS6eZsKxLeJs9cjkbYMwBjUOv0f9QgKN_u_nTyhPEqpmxaAZWKLCQClQysgncwCq8pmYSLQCXRH7NRhNacPEqxhyphenhyphenLlnsOVyCimCFfZTzKNPLL2hMcjjZoVLhzuNVuWkX8jOvpJpTeEFb5DObXhH6lnaFECfg7BhOOthrgdwknaYQXbdwL79aS20/w602-h640/410643411_10232435806702936_1513723282155187663_n.jpg" width="602" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiULI56MKBgNHO9sWhuQyYd5f6S9-O9-bfPiN95mh_v1zcHCFeXkcd2XBGMr2W92UtlRoTJx6R6Bs7_AXdMkiQUkWUV3XFpQ1oIoDHuMdB9SZ3o2uP6PBz-gYrnYrkPts5KPwEwASFJVgeg25zrNZ7VJCYRUZ3TuE66EhGaPFXA2dHiP5N3PMjnFnSKoAs/s2048/406499364_10232348539801318_5216069437162705116_n.jpg" style="font-family: helvetica; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1660" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiULI56MKBgNHO9sWhuQyYd5f6S9-O9-bfPiN95mh_v1zcHCFeXkcd2XBGMr2W92UtlRoTJx6R6Bs7_AXdMkiQUkWUV3XFpQ1oIoDHuMdB9SZ3o2uP6PBz-gYrnYrkPts5KPwEwASFJVgeg25zrNZ7VJCYRUZ3TuE66EhGaPFXA2dHiP5N3PMjnFnSKoAs/w518-h640/406499364_10232348539801318_5216069437162705116_n.jpg" width="518" /><br /></a></p><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(217, 217, 227); box-sizing: border-box; color: #374151; font-size: 16px; margin: 1.25em 0px 0px; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Later in the month, I returned the favor, taking the same girls to in-n-out, the movies (we saw Wish), and out for ice cream. It is great to see them so well matched in their silliness levels, cracking up while playing "jingle farts" in my car.</span></p><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(217, 217, 227); box-sizing: border-box; color: #374151; font-size: 16px; margin: 1.25em 0px 0px; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTgu_1KdmJNh7mEvn4SH3Dp1Yh3r2PlXF6HZsTV1o-jKYAaBbr-ME_PpDM7whLaE0spbzfm_vLF4rZXToT56aStiLOCdTwYicSePvS4dfNYhXV93jW8erDhKkpp4DQyzJnp3CNaIkJGB87rb9Tz3hm2OWLyjPFtRQ5KGCUKwH9MSDYZrr4AWbM8gETaxc/s2048/408461140_10232382267884499_1063452996829488583_n.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1388" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTgu_1KdmJNh7mEvn4SH3Dp1Yh3r2PlXF6HZsTV1o-jKYAaBbr-ME_PpDM7whLaE0spbzfm_vLF4rZXToT56aStiLOCdTwYicSePvS4dfNYhXV93jW8erDhKkpp4DQyzJnp3CNaIkJGB87rb9Tz3hm2OWLyjPFtRQ5KGCUKwH9MSDYZrr4AWbM8gETaxc/w271-h400/408461140_10232382267884499_1063452996829488583_n.jpg" width="271" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">We stayed a night at the Great Wolf Lodge in the middle of the month. We had made the reservations a few months prior but were so busy when the time rolled around that I was left wondering what I was doing, overscheduling again. But it turns out that it was just what we needed to force us to slow down and play hooky from a few basketball games.<br /></span><p></p><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(217, 217, 227); box-sizing: border-box; color: #374151; font-size: 16px; margin: 1.25em 0px 0px; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">We celebrated Christmas a bit early with my father and brother before flying to Oregon on Christmas Eve. They went all out, the way they have my whole life, with Dad spending way more than he should have on a three-strand pearl bracelet for me to match the necklace and earrings from years prior. He also knocked the kids' socks off! It was a special treat for Santa to show up! He wanted to bring the kids their larger gift since he somehow knew (Santa knows everything) that they would be going to Oregon and not able to fly home with a giant, heavy go-kart! </span></p><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(217, 217, 227); box-sizing: border-box; color: #374151; font-size: 16px; margin: 1.25em 0px 0px; white-space-collapse: preserve;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='476' height='316' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dznpZd7tRzxFsoy9pFiiEsJmi6BbG2p6iqjMQSiyaSkEil4b87LRio634PuoBr6z-UB3eAYi9tVBPqhjEeMrw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(217, 217, 227); box-sizing: border-box; color: #374151; font-size: 16px; margin: 1.25em 0px 0px; white-space-collapse: preserve;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1628" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-ov4_a3cBT3mRDu3fA6LgsQGNW5uKoO4cpghdU3CggzZC3_JQ7WrrYYixJ3d35HxXcUgo4t7WyCtFwInLVokUPYrMPFfMO64ioEyEobz6MBN3yDjk2nriJnYJg__bxyQrPJQXCb7Rh50C1kh0bZNgDZGHFrQ21qjbPhFmODkO5eI8KauUfvAOQ7rtS9Y/w318-h400/410974379_10232464157771695_22686242118299113_n.jpg" width="318" /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAfte8mibZaWwKeIxDLf4ZpMRVWcv6usV8WGAE2xwVQzEU9zIpyMjj_D27pyClLSIUZyCWX0mVYojQmYsC1NpzRdziNdEKXxbNKMPR9yj9nd-eeLd6R7NB_eIWQ4gELnLVXeS8DeHpZ1XqbPdnVrbJlgzLoWbQEbYb2zDhP03LVszBCqv9Eg8O3WBPqik/s1725/410930834_10232454900860278_4087347583807793311_n.jpg" style="font-family: helvetica; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1725" data-original-width="1440" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAfte8mibZaWwKeIxDLf4ZpMRVWcv6usV8WGAE2xwVQzEU9zIpyMjj_D27pyClLSIUZyCWX0mVYojQmYsC1NpzRdziNdEKXxbNKMPR9yj9nd-eeLd6R7NB_eIWQ4gELnLVXeS8DeHpZ1XqbPdnVrbJlgzLoWbQEbYb2zDhP03LVszBCqv9Eg8O3WBPqik/w534-h640/410930834_10232454900860278_4087347583807793311_n.jpg" width="534" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6xEtRJjYRyhaA-26GrZyfTWZnAzldYXJEY68KiXyTjZFeednFBU-jlaRnlfr0freNNl2naNi3j8emWgo10Fquc2bnGLWNNc45yZfm2FeMAmlxkkqP8HAfpzOg9N1yPDewj1__TMp-9n7dCAt7Q1Kk8baIynq0_xeZ3NAi2jqRNuo6VZpiGmmRqIoXYWE/s2048/412681433_10232464157331684_2991599092155819351_n.jpg" style="clear: left; font-family: helvetica; margin-bottom: 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/AVvXsEj6xEtRJjYRyhaA-26GrZyfTWZnAzldYXJEY68KiXyTjZFeednFBU-jlaRnlfr0freNNl2naNi3j8emWgo10Fquc2bnGLWNNc45yZfm2FeMAmlxkkqP8HAfpzOg9N1yPDewj1__TMp-9n7dCAt7Q1Kk8baIynq0_xeZ3NAi2jqRNuo6VZpiGmmRqIoXYWE/w640-h480/412681433_10232464157331684_2991599092155819351_n.jpg" width="640" /></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(217, 217, 227); box-sizing: border-box; color: #374151; font-size: 16px; margin: 1.25em 0px 0px; white-space-collapse: preserve;">We flew to Oregon on Christmas Eve and arrived late due to delays. I was terribly sick on Christmas, in bed and throwing up all day, drifting in and out of sleep. I made it downstairs to watch the kids open some gifts, but that was it. In a walking completion at work with a 10,000 steps per day minimum, I only had 192 steps that day. I had to make up for it in a big way the next day and managed to walk 15 miles or 30,000 steps, which was the maximum allowed. Because I was so sick on Christmas, I I did not notice that Santa left an additional present in the fireplace! While the kids had opened their requested gifts from him (a large transformer and dog toys), there was also a paper letter peaking out. The kids were delighted to realize that Santa not only gave them Legoland passes for the year but also a hotel stay next month with Royden and Mara!</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbV2O1tDljRc5azwyu7T8KrK7vd-7gjhZlVcglgcYT7Ep8HA3iZLNYyAMkJTNUnH2Zbb2LgeOJ5VgCezsASNfzlPzWMfJCEBTgSCl0ECdl2djF48pclVSFyEnCCDL_catNVZhmm_pzM4chNDdSdFSJCMopMYZirTMjdK8nOHRCduzh2wOLvPZknzMl6tM/s2048/414905174_10232480048888963_5796492678448885823_n.jpg" style="font-family: helvetica; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbV2O1tDljRc5azwyu7T8KrK7vd-7gjhZlVcglgcYT7Ep8HA3iZLNYyAMkJTNUnH2Zbb2LgeOJ5VgCezsASNfzlPzWMfJCEBTgSCl0ECdl2djF48pclVSFyEnCCDL_catNVZhmm_pzM4chNDdSdFSJCMopMYZirTMjdK8nOHRCduzh2wOLvPZknzMl6tM/w480-h640/414905174_10232480048888963_5796492678448885823_n.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cousin Crew!</td></tr></tbody></table><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyiFCtz0CkypICELkuQUDWvhFLP2wuvTcIKzY-4VF0tVjEp0ssQqd7rkk0LDKXJqu7BeqG-m9Go34zhJbJa2nyTx08ON0ptmbHmgIlFVroy4TlT_7fIEBdzAXQxM_dzHi8fxI-rxAlZyQBhkqiQq9m199NS8QCytge9Vixejfs_g6IxngFjB9a2nBayPE/s2048/414898086_10232503810402986_3099706628608032433_n.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyiFCtz0CkypICELkuQUDWvhFLP2wuvTcIKzY-4VF0tVjEp0ssQqd7rkk0LDKXJqu7BeqG-m9Go34zhJbJa2nyTx08ON0ptmbHmgIlFVroy4TlT_7fIEBdzAXQxM_dzHi8fxI-rxAlZyQBhkqiQq9m199NS8QCytge9Vixejfs_g6IxngFjB9a2nBayPE/w640-h480/414898086_10232503810402986_3099706628608032433_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">New Year's Even bonfire</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(217, 217, 227); box-sizing: border-box; color: #374151; font-size: 16px; margin: 1.25em 0px 0px; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></p>Megan Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18287505547652721159noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-713032057716800226.post-32909680761352819642023-12-20T11:33:00.000-08:002024-02-24T21:30:38.078-08:00November, 2023<p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimOJwlKzd0ZJN3QYrXx0vXOAdLRoZJCRe4Tm_azLxGgX80trIru08SkFRNEOtCIMqTHrMXl4XGcfHR3quchpbxZmf6AQA84FUJeeLJLCw7FQZNKwlghyQeJA5LGZW6-4RxhNnFc1-CPz2-4aMXasHZX_K4Uw8DCojEdiU2GOioTmawkvFAr_h72mrb9sc/s2048/400297283_10232203315170793_6142190452524288556_n.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1738" data-original-width="2048" height="272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimOJwlKzd0ZJN3QYrXx0vXOAdLRoZJCRe4Tm_azLxGgX80trIru08SkFRNEOtCIMqTHrMXl4XGcfHR3quchpbxZmf6AQA84FUJeeLJLCw7FQZNKwlghyQeJA5LGZW6-4RxhNnFc1-CPz2-4aMXasHZX_K4Uw8DCojEdiU2GOioTmawkvFAr_h72mrb9sc/s320/400297283_10232203315170793_6142190452524288556_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Breakers Mansion, 11/2023</td></tr></tbody></table>It is amazing to have all of our furniture back! Following a slab leak back in February (read: 10 months ago!) our insurance company sent movers to take everything from our downstairs. And I mean everything, including my Nespresso machine, shoes, and even a few dirty dishes! It all magically appeared the other day, and I can't tell you how much I appreciate having a couch or chair to sit on following my morning run! While we were using a metal table and patio chairs, it just wasn't the same. Now, I need time to sort, organize, and, most importantly, throw things away. If you can live without it for 10 months, do you really need it? Seeing most things back in their place was so strange, including all of my Valentine's Day decorations. It was SO cute; Aut excitedly said this morning: "Mommy! Our TV is back, and now you can watch TV while you COOK DINNER, and then, we can ALL EAT at the dining room table!" And, of course, they are super excited about all of their toys! It's like it is all new and a reminder to me to pack up some of the things/rotate toys, and not just leave everything out.<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2X0hj4EAHZDTrPWwdr_twFL8diUrewTJ-Sczdc25xF6pNuuqzKVHTl-QnrywkXy2-pjRtfH5C2SMlIzk8XUCk0icFqUAmrAju3sd7ub10FGghWgySaTMJSec4k6VyaFMDVGXY9q9YF-S57oixV8Z5KPF5Q_t8L3wvSMX1eQECrNVOf9v32spLmCFl2EY/s960/1958364_10203550828036522_1247561392_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="639" data-original-width="960" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2X0hj4EAHZDTrPWwdr_twFL8diUrewTJ-Sczdc25xF6pNuuqzKVHTl-QnrywkXy2-pjRtfH5C2SMlIzk8XUCk0icFqUAmrAju3sd7ub10FGghWgySaTMJSec4k6VyaFMDVGXY9q9YF-S57oixV8Z5KPF5Q_t8L3wvSMX1eQECrNVOf9v32spLmCFl2EY/w640-h426/1958364_10203550828036522_1247561392_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI2Sckd43t883i1ZpDEGBtQeVKYJa64x2B6wnxGCaduX_KLVMPpbFRtc1vDIqphGEzYrkBk48MpBgjknTbY_sDvYCmxqRUiljkTcy6dbwhLpxYgm3n6uPuc75V0-2weztsoxQYm-13OpbScYg-24RTqVb8E-SqlyE6IlLfjMvxp28hoIUAO3w5iHVkP78/s804/1621857_10203595093583133_1452385954_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="623" data-original-width="804" height="496" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI2Sckd43t883i1ZpDEGBtQeVKYJa64x2B6wnxGCaduX_KLVMPpbFRtc1vDIqphGEzYrkBk48MpBgjknTbY_sDvYCmxqRUiljkTcy6dbwhLpxYgm3n6uPuc75V0-2weztsoxQYm-13OpbScYg-24RTqVb8E-SqlyE6IlLfjMvxp28hoIUAO3w5iHVkP78/w640-h496/1621857_10203595093583133_1452385954_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH2p66z6yhJlGrsrkUA-vUKqH1ZJeldjRCGxNBGsDFkRSHewrg4XXPQSLKw2QfjcsFzE1u3037u54CTwBxgwJqU2nk832J_Gu1XTB2pfRplw9bcyG1Mvbe5438xFU-K7QW6kx0UFg4DKwqkt_ZyAo0NlIBZztyAlNiz4-USeHVN_z37m9glZl0QbkFd8c/s2048/10006067_10203540136129231_52333581_o.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1363" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH2p66z6yhJlGrsrkUA-vUKqH1ZJeldjRCGxNBGsDFkRSHewrg4XXPQSLKw2QfjcsFzE1u3037u54CTwBxgwJqU2nk832J_Gu1XTB2pfRplw9bcyG1Mvbe5438xFU-K7QW6kx0UFg4DKwqkt_ZyAo0NlIBZztyAlNiz4-USeHVN_z37m9glZl0QbkFd8c/w640-h426/10006067_10203540136129231_52333581_o.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYPHyKjuTIMwRxo4sgGDzfXHxZJdTBkVxKflsYpWl0zLqAX2nbfp_J5IjdTEdSuC1uVSUksoY7LOhOV77bUZSRaoccW0IFIPk3JdcwDCnAgP0Z1Mkn56vTUglprwR9uIUg3OAZOyVQpoXbto6eLO4s3NgXsJkH1qi2bLp_4q2ZAlSYJCzAxqSog0Xrhnk/s2048/403096766_10232296464179460_4199732976824574571_n.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYPHyKjuTIMwRxo4sgGDzfXHxZJdTBkVxKflsYpWl0zLqAX2nbfp_J5IjdTEdSuC1uVSUksoY7LOhOV77bUZSRaoccW0IFIPk3JdcwDCnAgP0Z1Mkn56vTUglprwR9uIUg3OAZOyVQpoXbto6eLO4s3NgXsJkH1qi2bLp_4q2ZAlSYJCzAxqSog0Xrhnk/s320/403096766_10232296464179460_4199732976824574571_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The furniture was not back in time for Turkey Day.</td></tr></tbody></table>This month, we celebrated 10 years of marriage on Thanksgiving. A whole decade; the best decade of my life! We celebrated with a traditional Thanksgiving meal (courtesy of yours truly), dessert, and catching up with our neighbor friends, the Clarks. We also spent some time in the hot tub (Staying up past midnight!), reflecting on the last ten years and discussing what we hoped to accomplish in the next ten years. We committed to spending time in the hot tub at least once a week because being in there is just about the only time we're able to slow down. <b>I feel like I'm always multi-tasking.</b> Seriously, even when I'm watching TV at night, I'm either folding laundry or editing photos for my side hustle. When I go on a run, I'm also listening to a podcast. And then, there are always papers, that we each have to write. Just when I feel like I can't get busier, something else gets thrown into the mix. <b>But in the warmth of the hot tub, with steam gently rising and the distant sounds of coyotes or owls from the open space behind us, we find a peaceful escape. </b>Here, free from distractions, my hubby and I can simply enjoy each other's company and genuinely connect.<p></p>
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<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Eu7-S5eiiIE?si=elkZft8i6Zb6N_xk" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNWs7hC_i5g9fpuxXD6BUbEyUyFhuTma6NmhxQotweyfk6Pe3YPQKLiI0WFWAwEx86VEiRQczOatAFTNE_KHbJbZ5wfeLJgLLOK4xwEju65qgLlTP7e7WSt_FpQOmEOyQDqsSVtZCR91Et5r-QxrudmPbViwlPpgxnPxqI3gH-bbx7d_QBbnSY_Ph-_RE/s2048/400187817_10232209834293767_1585246205551000259_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1560" data-original-width="2048" height="488" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNWs7hC_i5g9fpuxXD6BUbEyUyFhuTma6NmhxQotweyfk6Pe3YPQKLiI0WFWAwEx86VEiRQczOatAFTNE_KHbJbZ5wfeLJgLLOK4xwEju65qgLlTP7e7WSt_FpQOmEOyQDqsSVtZCR91Et5r-QxrudmPbViwlPpgxnPxqI3gH-bbx7d_QBbnSY_Ph-_RE/w640-h488/400187817_10232209834293767_1585246205551000259_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTP8iU3ffXETDWqB_uSP5C3FFCDB1lp0EpRxTBnKJ3r8haXV8aHrrELPqAsxL8qCwBWqikjeiqnrnNgXA3dlZbWDPqWJochyphenhyphenJ1Px9O6kkyvvHK4pXaGFL1V3dKl7OrL703ct3WVh_nS-mS38-Q3AqoOb13nRJk828MrvPN1b-904hkqM0Y_D6PtS6x4Jg/s2048/398978709_10232208222653477_5191264772403518025_n.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1874" data-original-width="2048" height="293" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTP8iU3ffXETDWqB_uSP5C3FFCDB1lp0EpRxTBnKJ3r8haXV8aHrrELPqAsxL8qCwBWqikjeiqnrnNgXA3dlZbWDPqWJochyphenhyphenJ1Px9O6kkyvvHK4pXaGFL1V3dKl7OrL703ct3WVh_nS-mS38-Q3AqoOb13nRJk828MrvPN1b-904hkqM0Y_D6PtS6x4Jg/s320/398978709_10232208222653477_5191264772403518025_n.jpg" width="320" /></a>We also had an amazing family vacation to New England this month. We flew into Providence and stayed in Newport, Boston, and then Providence, visiting Plymouth Village, the Mayflower, and Salem along the way. The weather was great - nice and crisp (40 degrees!) in Boston for the Duck Tour and <a href="https://christchurchphila.org/about-the-burial-grounds/" target="_blank">Christ Church Burial Ground</a>, where Paul Revere, Benjamin Franklin, and Samual Adams are buried. In Salem the next day, we had light, cold rain on our witch tour. One highlight was the living history of the <a href="https://plimoth.org/" target="_blank">Plimoth Patuxet museum</a>, where you get to wander through a 16th-century English village one year after the settlers from the Mayflower arrived. It was so fun to interact with the actors, who remained completely in character and explored all of the homes and backyards, asking tons of questions along the way. Although we try to do some research with the kids before any trip, this was one of the first times that they were so <i>into</i> it. Aut was reading a <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Journey-New-World-Remember-Mayflower/dp/059050214X" target="_blank">historical fiction diary</a> about one of the girls on the Mayflower that my co-worker recommended (thanks, Karli!), and when we stepped onto the Mayflower II, some of what the tour guide mentioned was what we had just read about! Both kids were also really interested in listening to one of my Podcasts, <a href="https://wondery.com/shows/american-history-tellers/season/61/" target="_blank">American History Tellers and their episode on the Salem Witch Trials</a>. On the drive, they requested it - a dream come true!</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOs9STT6L5nBvAuYdPnUDXCU2PATfN3M8Nuo5tdSgBqfbb7OglBWkhiCCuAgJ_SzeBTga6IaKDvSHxSKxUaxbEmpncmcqlw_-4uNVBc7-HnZuFvp2mEXShvdIP3DsejveFM-oqq791cMC1x0lXv5kGUONHtyouhfoXy241KhHp_ka70PZWrm92NMYdCTQ/s2048/398891685_10232195498095371_5620751549592588035_n.jpg" 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/AVvXsEgOs9STT6L5nBvAuYdPnUDXCU2PATfN3M8Nuo5tdSgBqfbb7OglBWkhiCCuAgJ_SzeBTga6IaKDvSHxSKxUaxbEmpncmcqlw_-4uNVBc7-HnZuFvp2mEXShvdIP3DsejveFM-oqq791cMC1x0lXv5kGUONHtyouhfoXy241KhHp_ka70PZWrm92NMYdCTQ/w480-h640/398891685_10232195498095371_5620751549592588035_n.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXrmn2arGKA0PjMrxkH-jTYWSFBpphBjvyJvB03ZOPvUr8zcN-uxE0n56n7sMrHsycyTI490UQOVy_Z8u7LWcMWxm5c85Z5a1wpIsnw_sn_B1CG3XAA_XdmC5AVRBBIpKkLZEt-wP5PCk30KlYLYdVf1upXctcUs4ei_ui8y95QCdQVkoXUu7Cq405mls/s2048/400273123_10232215243909004_2579980198591889344_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXrmn2arGKA0PjMrxkH-jTYWSFBpphBjvyJvB03ZOPvUr8zcN-uxE0n56n7sMrHsycyTI490UQOVy_Z8u7LWcMWxm5c85Z5a1wpIsnw_sn_B1CG3XAA_XdmC5AVRBBIpKkLZEt-wP5PCk30KlYLYdVf1upXctcUs4ei_ui8y95QCdQVkoXUu7Cq405mls/w480-h640/400273123_10232215243909004_2579980198591889344_n.jpg" width="480" /></a><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsJqThLRhS23LgSx3h81G4Z1AK816eWwue-kKbH3HI3HOAF2Q2cyLv7n3nYveMpktthkvdvxBlYfGY0KrmMx1kpwjGCr5Uw4E8qd_qbiWSt1oshljvPYmBB2vag_gH8lkduKzROBcVDQSCjXxBsIE1UC1F8bNVuRpenHQmmk2EQbWCP6JXPHCngmjWgfg/s2048/398895156_10232195497295351_5503711713755205994_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsJqThLRhS23LgSx3h81G4Z1AK816eWwue-kKbH3HI3HOAF2Q2cyLv7n3nYveMpktthkvdvxBlYfGY0KrmMx1kpwjGCr5Uw4E8qd_qbiWSt1oshljvPYmBB2vag_gH8lkduKzROBcVDQSCjXxBsIE1UC1F8bNVuRpenHQmmk2EQbWCP6JXPHCngmjWgfg/s320/398895156_10232195497295351_5503711713755205994_n.jpg" width="240" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRfju3ddLDkDSF7sgEX8_qNGp_FkLjtrhHN1hcJ_psExFNs8VbshcXo-k5wma8PRbYjxi9HVXVeiYWkAWcNfYTYgLyHIQatP1b7mwvK6fV2nTogZHdAlXNWiXT4GSn1CC62jUoBqqKFfN0bVJMdlXWfWnvJpXxiBxv4fhEEVj9H3e4xB7AFr0WSN9Bbzc/s2048/398553668_10232196935011293_1152630484394964000_n.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRfju3ddLDkDSF7sgEX8_qNGp_FkLjtrhHN1hcJ_psExFNs8VbshcXo-k5wma8PRbYjxi9HVXVeiYWkAWcNfYTYgLyHIQatP1b7mwvK6fV2nTogZHdAlXNWiXT4GSn1CC62jUoBqqKFfN0bVJMdlXWfWnvJpXxiBxv4fhEEVj9H3e4xB7AFr0WSN9Bbzc/s320/398553668_10232196935011293_1152630484394964000_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnwW3nb1KKnTYPHodz7KQYvjoVjALd1TPeRjAvbWLii3Q8zmVWKXD_K412PGlcvuUZNRb6rBLn6PrVITGoNddGwewvAOFRkP3ESrwt62uScs58W_VMcrkyF6ODAkYPDDgRX2ce82ChnE1bPaOpxjt9Tbh9nwNU2umvH8cNY9XH97gOoohlXwyhqfbn9LI/s2048/399308507_10232217259039381_4380381462495961512_n.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnwW3nb1KKnTYPHodz7KQYvjoVjALd1TPeRjAvbWLii3Q8zmVWKXD_K412PGlcvuUZNRb6rBLn6PrVITGoNddGwewvAOFRkP3ESrwt62uScs58W_VMcrkyF6ODAkYPDDgRX2ce82ChnE1bPaOpxjt9Tbh9nwNU2umvH8cNY9XH97gOoohlXwyhqfbn9LI/s320/399308507_10232217259039381_4380381462495961512_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Love the juxtaposition of the old and new</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6usVykuSN8ZzVvnHd6dYWtD29_xFbHA4IXjCDkfl0xJxhPuSDUwX3lROKaNuIwbCp9lC9nQ6Ysn4moMf-MGyl351_ZCe5zBRX0-6n6c3PeUwCgq1AFFKfXUe6QouDo22oB136xAadXGQMxS5fwsKUkEoSNnisaZkNFVrb7HWmtKkyKKR7-jnzjwWstM0/s960/399410892_10232195480854940_4695161767426674930_n.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6usVykuSN8ZzVvnHd6dYWtD29_xFbHA4IXjCDkfl0xJxhPuSDUwX3lROKaNuIwbCp9lC9nQ6Ysn4moMf-MGyl351_ZCe5zBRX0-6n6c3PeUwCgq1AFFKfXUe6QouDo22oB136xAadXGQMxS5fwsKUkEoSNnisaZkNFVrb7HWmtKkyKKR7-jnzjwWstM0/s320/399410892_10232195480854940_4695161767426674930_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg49XrMVA6Ly-eprwVaxUgdhFtmiZvfmoL3s5fpzFJtTjt7tTway9MaWQ6cC7JGOdRQmpbxeiJqC2hNm8hDaQLnndRpMi7D9CAWa3rbCWmNnNe2phLHJrki9fPcPgtl9XQExhgcRqukJR7ZSnqjcTZLy2sil2VQ9yFuEc-TJzJZHBfjAJZowZK9eHIiymk/s960/399614537_10232195489095146_2419121890537920787_n.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg49XrMVA6Ly-eprwVaxUgdhFtmiZvfmoL3s5fpzFJtTjt7tTway9MaWQ6cC7JGOdRQmpbxeiJqC2hNm8hDaQLnndRpMi7D9CAWa3rbCWmNnNe2phLHJrki9fPcPgtl9XQExhgcRqukJR7ZSnqjcTZLy2sil2VQ9yFuEc-TJzJZHBfjAJZowZK9eHIiymk/s320/399614537_10232195489095146_2419121890537920787_n.jpg" width="240" /></a><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIm10TUwIg9g1CyVc-wtFP0TBUtrQCN_tXodes-nk3POMIU8v-7-sI44vkNflXDHEaZyLo720uzpUiVmc_27JqxlYQjAembI1q_z2eMZ48e40mNQ4Az2dkeFuFVsDp_TtttFvE9ZrYz48aRSVwy8AX5NbqgbTpMRCRtuhAQbgLuYAZi1_n396h-IJIhpQ/s2048/399777900_10232215300230412_986019413488861113_n.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIm10TUwIg9g1CyVc-wtFP0TBUtrQCN_tXodes-nk3POMIU8v-7-sI44vkNflXDHEaZyLo720uzpUiVmc_27JqxlYQjAembI1q_z2eMZ48e40mNQ4Az2dkeFuFVsDp_TtttFvE9ZrYz48aRSVwy8AX5NbqgbTpMRCRtuhAQbgLuYAZi1_n396h-IJIhpQ/w480-h640/399777900_10232215300230412_986019413488861113_n.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">America's oldest restaurant </td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIXFm1c2Jmijl7nNaihTWpbnu5jQ-I0DtfozrmVgQrbAyB5R5SmPIEDKdbECeE9lpU-U4EZCZv-3l4oWXWi0g_tvNnRTkYivvo9kxfvRBkhHIc-HH3-WX19QumjpH0t9yzb851j2Nf1cWShWwQYBBl7l8VXiHv30C_xvYlX3jsUQ-tyqxDqPSvhwkxjrU/s2048/399796597_10232225443283982_3709719010035176291_n.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2042" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIXFm1c2Jmijl7nNaihTWpbnu5jQ-I0DtfozrmVgQrbAyB5R5SmPIEDKdbECeE9lpU-U4EZCZv-3l4oWXWi0g_tvNnRTkYivvo9kxfvRBkhHIc-HH3-WX19QumjpH0t9yzb851j2Nf1cWShWwQYBBl7l8VXiHv30C_xvYlX3jsUQ-tyqxDqPSvhwkxjrU/w638-h640/399796597_10232225443283982_3709719010035176291_n.jpg" width="638" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Catching falling leaves</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWyP2hPh128zX_iPrbtaTkkWzgkYURvjKSD08s1lWbe5oNo0IE4O8dPh1t0n8KXamTni8E5Uj0ntZ5IXkpejKrQaSmgnjlmnnQ0PIcrntW0073tzcY0nddNkUDwIyIq2dHieUM528dv79-yv_e1tIaPZE1fL6gxG6d0PT2eAdiwD3NWqootDRDUjJFXQU/s2048/399800116_10232215246029057_6982361079810836467_n.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWyP2hPh128zX_iPrbtaTkkWzgkYURvjKSD08s1lWbe5oNo0IE4O8dPh1t0n8KXamTni8E5Uj0ntZ5IXkpejKrQaSmgnjlmnnQ0PIcrntW0073tzcY0nddNkUDwIyIq2dHieUM528dv79-yv_e1tIaPZE1fL6gxG6d0PT2eAdiwD3NWqootDRDUjJFXQU/s320/399800116_10232215246029057_6982361079810836467_n.jpg" width="240" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMYhjaabxsjy40wRu1YsqyNDpUD0HLpVnJI_QyhRYh6OkrUEy4-m7zpj_7Ndn1NpK7Jxwdn0DObXzPB2PGDONWbfOzRbRMWuhIyLjMgobhvdqwtE7gq7zCE_SEIow_XCLZ7Es62ilq8Ru4m0XSbKLVaMfLQ26QrNhqWPhFD-XDX9ijxX3oSu3UEdAfdGc/s2048/399826608_10232215243628997_5424604252728574655_n.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMYhjaabxsjy40wRu1YsqyNDpUD0HLpVnJI_QyhRYh6OkrUEy4-m7zpj_7Ndn1NpK7Jxwdn0DObXzPB2PGDONWbfOzRbRMWuhIyLjMgobhvdqwtE7gq7zCE_SEIow_XCLZ7Es62ilq8Ru4m0XSbKLVaMfLQ26QrNhqWPhFD-XDX9ijxX3oSu3UEdAfdGc/s320/399826608_10232215243628997_5424604252728574655_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtx2qbkFLQtaN7_Mls3MOOFV1TxDDPyXqa5tpI_5reTUouIC4y27uFhqx3MXRKTFD8pMMAoC1b9p24Hb5wmffnTHO_5q5pcGItD10qomZjiRb2WrD5-j3c1xwBmdKU8duP8pzpoyinWv9VX7IyVbQ3QK5L8ipEwY48Sq6CbQCMv4GcRpyNYWqsprMNZ1U/s2048/399817629_10232196935091295_1961352770251603454_n.jpg" 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/AVvXsEgtx2qbkFLQtaN7_Mls3MOOFV1TxDDPyXqa5tpI_5reTUouIC4y27uFhqx3MXRKTFD8pMMAoC1b9p24Hb5wmffnTHO_5q5pcGItD10qomZjiRb2WrD5-j3c1xwBmdKU8duP8pzpoyinWv9VX7IyVbQ3QK5L8ipEwY48Sq6CbQCMv4GcRpyNYWqsprMNZ1U/w640-h480/399817629_10232196935091295_1961352770251603454_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></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/AVvXsEg3rfoDW5Lbl_zbEz2jYdbZ2sXyh96wUAL2EY5b3B133RsKln-oURCFXempOSGlJlrqtsoh-7OxPEubywR3OQTgnd0PRrK7cbf2yry0Mpy6ZS2Fosj-wQlrElXwOSC_BFUvXhOyTtRRZKYTlw__NNsrSADjVFNFWln99EL9Kaz5UjUNN9OmzCTizChIXbg/s2048/399970184_10232203318210869_5985372364186437820_n.jpg" 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/AVvXsEg3rfoDW5Lbl_zbEz2jYdbZ2sXyh96wUAL2EY5b3B133RsKln-oURCFXempOSGlJlrqtsoh-7OxPEubywR3OQTgnd0PRrK7cbf2yry0Mpy6ZS2Fosj-wQlrElXwOSC_BFUvXhOyTtRRZKYTlw__NNsrSADjVFNFWln99EL9Kaz5UjUNN9OmzCTizChIXbg/w640-h480/399970184_10232203318210869_5985372364186437820_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>On our way to <a href="https://www.newportmansions.org/mansions-and-gardens/the-breakers/" target="_blank">the Breakers mansion</a> in Newport, we stumbled on a college for Aut. Half joking and half serious, we explored the Harry Potter-esq grounds, talking about what it would be like for her to attend somewhere with an actual winter. Finding out that it was a small, private Catholic university intrigued us even more. We walked inside, and, playing up my role as a school counselor, I met with the recruiter/rep for California, who explained that the average GPA was 3.4. Apparently, as long as you can come up with the $65,000 cost, it is not too competitive! While we realize she likely will not go to <i>this</i> particular university, it was both interesting and eye-opening to have this conversation with my husband because <b>I really thought that going out of state would not be an option for her.</b> <div><span> </span>Being practical and appreciating value, he had previously mentioned the idea *gasp!* of her attending community college, something I immediately shot down. She will take some community college classes while in high school to build her student profile, but I do not want her to attend college at a place that will take literally<i> anyone</i>, whether they have graduated high school or not. There is nothing wrong with community college! It is where I spent my first <i>three</i> years of college (yes, I needed remedial math and took it for a whole year before it counted to transfer), but then I only had a few years at the university. By the time I became comfortable with CSUSB, it seemed I had finished my bachelor's degree. Additionally, continuing to live at home until I was 23 served to delay my independence as I stretched out and enjoyed what we Americans term "extended adolescence." What's wrong with that, you ask? Well, for me, it delayed my ability to find and be ready to marry. At 18, I was not the adult my Mom was when she married my father and moved to America, also at 18. My work BFF, AnnMarie was and is very close to her daughter, who is now a Physician's Assistant, married and with a child of her own. She told me that her daughter going to the University of Tulsa (on a full ride) was the best thing for their relationship, helping my friend as much as her daughter. My husband has said that he does not want his girl leaving at 18 - for she is far too young and needs protecting...but having this real conversation and working out the logistics of her attending a place in New England such as this private university was thrilling. I never realized that it would be an option he would not only be on board with but be excited about. He said it is a once-in-a-lifetime experience to live somewhere so different and new, and why not do it when you're young?</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7c7Nc5LyHmuwEaUXTwBNiB_0DFn6cH91ODAFGalrMpxTGMScBi9rKtydGU8fwoN8XKjWUjdoMigbN4cnRA2uX5lLNqkaiY_ML-msTY3SqhsB2HHrIkU1W7eTgJ2E8YFx9IRemOzbOOZ7ucZRmEicu3maDu9U8M8Vhvbey9BMLjisis_IBM0_3UN1ME4w/s2048/399820519_10232203318930887_2830326702779512473_n.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaFR6QAbiFEIebevyx7-pGWkUbwMrCLZSDYUt_zZYCBUZ5xIMyl_PvVfh9AglKC2a5M-3-ogvwXsu-dyIr8txDfGbdAMpuzB-4IfhKWTOL_ckR7D8G0d8fOj4s_muL15jqq5Ope8UL41nMYLwu1Oshwz84EJey3b2I6FQm_ENyOWcVkPOWBWc0_xww6IM/s2048/398891714_10232203318730882_557296856040387315_n.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1530" data-original-width="2048" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaFR6QAbiFEIebevyx7-pGWkUbwMrCLZSDYUt_zZYCBUZ5xIMyl_PvVfh9AglKC2a5M-3-ogvwXsu-dyIr8txDfGbdAMpuzB-4IfhKWTOL_ckR7D8G0d8fOj4s_muL15jqq5Ope8UL41nMYLwu1Oshwz84EJey3b2I6FQm_ENyOWcVkPOWBWc0_xww6IM/s320/398891714_10232203318730882_557296856040387315_n.jpg" width="320" /></a><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7c7Nc5LyHmuwEaUXTwBNiB_0DFn6cH91ODAFGalrMpxTGMScBi9rKtydGU8fwoN8XKjWUjdoMigbN4cnRA2uX5lLNqkaiY_ML-msTY3SqhsB2HHrIkU1W7eTgJ2E8YFx9IRemOzbOOZ7ucZRmEicu3maDu9U8M8Vhvbey9BMLjisis_IBM0_3UN1ME4w/w320-h320/399820519_10232203318930887_2830326702779512473_n.jpg" width="320" /><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>On our last night, we stayed in Providence to be close to the airport, but I had no idea it was so beautiful! Right after I took this amazing photo from the pedestrian bridge at sunset, we were driving to dinner and stumbled upon Brown University. With the sky splashed with amazing sunset colors, we stopped on a whim at one of the most unique playgrounds ever and delighted in watching the kids play. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dz3DJz8XSbKmKFk9xLrl489SL8fxDb1IesNu8bOq1s-PK5SKQAYZ8h0sLuHPyzJM-SN84pDWgtdAtdoAyR44g' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifheNRW52LFeAQ3bL7xGOi-XN_STqdMmiPmYxH22Rm2vuX79QCmJk8uIEB4uH66VU9O1lzHPrRtWf_B3l4arR0mZrdcknvWrPtak4AV37qgWhyphenhyphenVEoIXiVvGl03KRIMu8fsPwwZHDgle59cb8CyH4bR_woRKGp6zoisJ8PxYJUl4kiiHFuIwuwSix-40kE/s2048/399791465_10232225442163954_6532700332909296761_n.jpg" 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/AVvXsEifheNRW52LFeAQ3bL7xGOi-XN_STqdMmiPmYxH22Rm2vuX79QCmJk8uIEB4uH66VU9O1lzHPrRtWf_B3l4arR0mZrdcknvWrPtak4AV37qgWhyphenhyphenVEoIXiVvGl03KRIMu8fsPwwZHDgle59cb8CyH4bR_woRKGp6zoisJ8PxYJUl4kiiHFuIwuwSix-40kE/w640-h480/399791465_10232225442163954_6532700332909296761_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>My hubby also celebrated his birthday this month, and the kids had fun helping me make and decorate the cake. They finished flag football and launched into Basketball as I made a mental note to skip a winter sport next year. While being active year-round is important, this is such a busy time of year, and throwing two practices for her, one for him as well as two different games each week is tough.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP5khrgchOhEef79XBORZ3BdmEsawc1wPB70rZ9T_2XoKolx0VAp71G71V-miI4lx8TrLzlWGnLIohaC057Sng22dSrvS23sn7NVjjA0GBXWrjV4v_m8Mky6fiw5pVve2NL0sbbY4udFxLPBzh40snM2c5TxmnaRKgg2CCXR0GR0ypfzI8hdyy2USGvZ4/s2048/403720626_10232300977572292_2800359132282906034_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP5khrgchOhEef79XBORZ3BdmEsawc1wPB70rZ9T_2XoKolx0VAp71G71V-miI4lx8TrLzlWGnLIohaC057Sng22dSrvS23sn7NVjjA0GBXWrjV4v_m8Mky6fiw5pVve2NL0sbbY4udFxLPBzh40snM2c5TxmnaRKgg2CCXR0GR0ypfzI8hdyy2USGvZ4/s320/403720626_10232300977572292_2800359132282906034_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyXsL6PrPVDuPf5ZD4nx-nPI_tQK6SI6LJAVDydhNxHmyUkb_oMAlxllzIbWXqNuPNCrNjY19dxA-6l6n3hRB7sXJ7TjGS41zMuggi0hChk8B1NJGIvfEi7pQDrPpPMa6eH9IPrFLrM_Vs6HNf53NYPPCyeJl6dJxLYNOi1cHtNycTTRQSOOi_kLzF-N4/s2048/401543784_10232237885835038_2021128491427655884_n%20(1).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1652" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyXsL6PrPVDuPf5ZD4nx-nPI_tQK6SI6LJAVDydhNxHmyUkb_oMAlxllzIbWXqNuPNCrNjY19dxA-6l6n3hRB7sXJ7TjGS41zMuggi0hChk8B1NJGIvfEi7pQDrPpPMa6eH9IPrFLrM_Vs6HNf53NYPPCyeJl6dJxLYNOi1cHtNycTTRQSOOi_kLzF-N4/s320/401543784_10232237885835038_2021128491427655884_n%20(1).jpg" width="258" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIzKeS1TBFVSktGP-xo8QWtAmqQRpESRkR1oDyNXNXjmDyXwizzmA3UJ7Uyc-Q4vPhwmM8h032Nk4g00pcmMOpl9Jp3vAuItNY4IokbdmfqnH0k0eei7QWDWSNCQEWCNEiftTvNeUzJJGA3okfdGTbvXfYKs0Anp8c9vtiqQwIjFFyeNGcECDI6QLmI5I/s2048/401645156_10232237885235023_2702671800761751347_n%20(1).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1581" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIzKeS1TBFVSktGP-xo8QWtAmqQRpESRkR1oDyNXNXjmDyXwizzmA3UJ7Uyc-Q4vPhwmM8h032Nk4g00pcmMOpl9Jp3vAuItNY4IokbdmfqnH0k0eei7QWDWSNCQEWCNEiftTvNeUzJJGA3okfdGTbvXfYKs0Anp8c9vtiqQwIjFFyeNGcECDI6QLmI5I/s320/401645156_10232237885235023_2702671800761751347_n%20(1).jpg" width="247" /></a></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw8fUU12OBUkyf5Nu6YtjG55-lG4eyB1ZwIELQObVpwhrzwN__38ikD-nXpFUUOPY236nQytmcwlTzq4H0qrpjCwr5hxA4RjYmIUgn3CvEuZK7OvpZNsNIF7zKn-Jf8RZ9btx0HiIN_ZmSDGzpKda-yQu1tz4tbVEIYTvRsFjnbPStPvtRL0UwnHNg7-I/s960/402110844_10232269339621363_2852069103804774780_n.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw8fUU12OBUkyf5Nu6YtjG55-lG4eyB1ZwIELQObVpwhrzwN__38ikD-nXpFUUOPY236nQytmcwlTzq4H0qrpjCwr5hxA4RjYmIUgn3CvEuZK7OvpZNsNIF7zKn-Jf8RZ9btx0HiIN_ZmSDGzpKda-yQu1tz4tbVEIYTvRsFjnbPStPvtRL0UwnHNg7-I/s320/402110844_10232269339621363_2852069103804774780_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">She joined a Girl Scout Troop with girls from her school.</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-n2EUxhZ8guE4AU8DSrgz0oYWLgcAU2KfovArjaCPJbQks8MkWvwkusM535E9SnE3fTu7YIFK6_XsSowmEvlRgGyqLPxWVf8CmQyZxW3vWBcyU6ZiOuQWRNKaIfn9xjwdkMWpuZdigLUM9xv9dCG0renvbMVeZ_BJgf3jKMnbKwe_GqE6n8TMDlbptgM/s2048/406087293_10232319496195246_3617692499798140564_n.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-n2EUxhZ8guE4AU8DSrgz0oYWLgcAU2KfovArjaCPJbQks8MkWvwkusM535E9SnE3fTu7YIFK6_XsSowmEvlRgGyqLPxWVf8CmQyZxW3vWBcyU6ZiOuQWRNKaIfn9xjwdkMWpuZdigLUM9xv9dCG0renvbMVeZ_BJgf3jKMnbKwe_GqE6n8TMDlbptgM/w640-h480/406087293_10232319496195246_3617692499798140564_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">So many beautiful sunsets this time of year.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><br /></div>Megan Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18287505547652721159noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-713032057716800226.post-48972010057464028062023-11-28T14:51:00.000-08:002023-11-28T14:57:46.804-08:00October, 2023<p>October found us finishing out our Universal Studios passes by going a few times on a Tuesday after school, watching Cha's amazing mullett take form, and preparing for our 6th annual Halloween Party.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmnUmLJOol2gKS0-qeVtsbKSEKhRVxkoRBh5rzXyjhvhlLY2HCrKShomzQhgeESZ6Ty3K_HahhyphenhyphenEn_m84_B-J2Q6Fbo_ETx7fV713mQi4etkHB8C3xTlRpoCtUJgbLmj4eGCMtg8Y3EV6Hfk1iekKAaGU6AdW16vjKVIoJua1atruJd_u-F7-RJrJitYI/s2048/384787156_10231931673179913_5647145086696747560_n.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmnUmLJOol2gKS0-qeVtsbKSEKhRVxkoRBh5rzXyjhvhlLY2HCrKShomzQhgeESZ6Ty3K_HahhyphenhyphenEn_m84_B-J2Q6Fbo_ETx7fV713mQi4etkHB8C3xTlRpoCtUJgbLmj4eGCMtg8Y3EV6Hfk1iekKAaGU6AdW16vjKVIoJua1atruJd_u-F7-RJrJitYI/s320/384787156_10231931673179913_5647145086696747560_n.jpg" width="240" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4JjTTJ3_R32bdemu8PwjSHGnY1u2PUtNt1YPy_7q_7ZWqvo9OOd2cT-ImgFgB7s9Nt4a1OxXDgOtvPW_IkQof3pQHcou-u8eyk17UmHFxNOVoOHGxkMmCwiC5ItjX8EPSWc3PCxJ3KBoRcxm3wCkkakqM0JVL2uvk-3rHzxRCUrH_sOqu6TebIfLk4ek/s2048/384790244_10231931672499896_7861066388236958631_n.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4JjTTJ3_R32bdemu8PwjSHGnY1u2PUtNt1YPy_7q_7ZWqvo9OOd2cT-ImgFgB7s9Nt4a1OxXDgOtvPW_IkQof3pQHcou-u8eyk17UmHFxNOVoOHGxkMmCwiC5ItjX8EPSWc3PCxJ3KBoRcxm3wCkkakqM0JVL2uvk-3rHzxRCUrH_sOqu6TebIfLk4ek/s320/384790244_10231931672499896_7861066388236958631_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIxqJ_0F7JOqvHel76UVkkRUZ8pbm608tBv5tOmQzYGBavN3GorVz2JLKGngWz8_gLb1cYDV2i7pCK4S4hPY0GTGjPYZAzCA3Drw9Akxbwj5Rbo6dToEQZdc1Q74Of8pxVcPWlP9o9jjcIUaU7pDL5OojP1Im1u1upefP7Y550ipvaqntuF0crt9-AbpE/s2048/387167020_10231979535016429_1619443550269512593_n.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1976" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIxqJ_0F7JOqvHel76UVkkRUZ8pbm608tBv5tOmQzYGBavN3GorVz2JLKGngWz8_gLb1cYDV2i7pCK4S4hPY0GTGjPYZAzCA3Drw9Akxbwj5Rbo6dToEQZdc1Q74Of8pxVcPWlP9o9jjcIUaU7pDL5OojP1Im1u1upefP7Y550ipvaqntuF0crt9-AbpE/s320/387167020_10231979535016429_1619443550269512593_n.jpg" width="309" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mullett in full effect</td></tr></tbody></table><p><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">The kids found their stride in Friday Night Lights flag football, and I completed my 16th full marathon: Long Beach. It was my </span><strong style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">first full marathon since having children</strong><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"> and my slowest to date, partly because it was 83 degrees at the finish line. The kids made me the sweetest signs and were there for me at the finish line. Although slow, I still had an hour and a half left before the cut-off time. The Athens marathon has a longer window, meaning I would have had an additional two hours to finish that one. This fact gives me the confidence to know that I will definitely finish even if I'm slow. My friend Christian, a much faster runner than me, ran Athens a few years ago and said it was her most challenging marathon to date, even tougher than Boston. This intimidated me, especially because a lot of it is uphill! But I know I can finish hills and all.</span></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRQKjpOVSuSX1fVLwFw9eUasWRPYbwPdm2LrcjaGKrmrsGLcBFCHnXPAo-qCFrcU-2LWwxdk5diFCYBEZonZPi6asenoUzRgsRWB5Qlkfis_dAwP-W1BsAeZtwaYB9hKbS3TNgZJvhFAyQVddWVjugvL2PLGnVflQumVaI_pxEXHGNz7nvtu-WBjSGHus/s2048/401543784_10232237885835038_2021128491427655884_n.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1652" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRQKjpOVSuSX1fVLwFw9eUasWRPYbwPdm2LrcjaGKrmrsGLcBFCHnXPAo-qCFrcU-2LWwxdk5diFCYBEZonZPi6asenoUzRgsRWB5Qlkfis_dAwP-W1BsAeZtwaYB9hKbS3TNgZJvhFAyQVddWVjugvL2PLGnVflQumVaI_pxEXHGNz7nvtu-WBjSGHus/w323-h400/401543784_10232237885835038_2021128491427655884_n.jpg" width="323" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtUsHV1cA8WEXIHOJLFf8gucOMkF0jsdgV1tWwYdqGC8gB6bdLMzy-aB0Gk2Z6tVT5CIs2xJlgxm-Iu-wv5_SpyXyyefPqDYla8IvqIWGruKPp7tBlj9QH3Xv0XLkxADP8pf_ZrIgf-PhqXG3aXwHBPXL-gjWqLelTyUTu5wjzvUB6ZVKobO6tukHsOOo/s2048/401645156_10232237885235023_2702671800761751347_n.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1581" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtUsHV1cA8WEXIHOJLFf8gucOMkF0jsdgV1tWwYdqGC8gB6bdLMzy-aB0Gk2Z6tVT5CIs2xJlgxm-Iu-wv5_SpyXyyefPqDYla8IvqIWGruKPp7tBlj9QH3Xv0XLkxADP8pf_ZrIgf-PhqXG3aXwHBPXL-gjWqLelTyUTu5wjzvUB6ZVKobO6tukHsOOo/w309-h400/401645156_10232237885235023_2702671800761751347_n.jpg" width="309" /></a></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2_eo9u6ZYsLbtgWltVWmuh_P7bHevzL1Xo_4uHfPv9JPxlZDT-fNK-1EYBi2JS_nfSbKPQolTBjhXxYHLvyiDZS9cjfuGVDer0KCcTkiswK_hizblPJuq0ZTMhJWzl1LX1Xjfs3JotezcJrr1xWuMuJXfYkoncSun5oUVDMqC-spcQUpOEyqBmB9-yGk/s2048/391693685_10232067822823569_1474100070403253726_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1992" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2_eo9u6ZYsLbtgWltVWmuh_P7bHevzL1Xo_4uHfPv9JPxlZDT-fNK-1EYBi2JS_nfSbKPQolTBjhXxYHLvyiDZS9cjfuGVDer0KCcTkiswK_hizblPJuq0ZTMhJWzl1LX1Xjfs3JotezcJrr1xWuMuJXfYkoncSun5oUVDMqC-spcQUpOEyqBmB9-yGk/w622-h640/391693685_10232067822823569_1474100070403253726_n.jpg" width="622" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDyixox9oBIagbpx9EhTqT8QeeAFwW3edYliUH2RfpGxBfLENZaMBWIL1CED-gwSMxQQPcl7A5byhKYm10jkGP7pkRSvfU8flgjgzvmTPUfM-vunBZlUNwYpJD1ZOoKGYKZVrDShD4O5RJZZNWl53_StSnqyiRVVGKSHy1jWCduHcasC5UmV16EZQDkpQ/s2048/393141138_10232064779227481_2788972903861580880_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1426" data-original-width="2048" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDyixox9oBIagbpx9EhTqT8QeeAFwW3edYliUH2RfpGxBfLENZaMBWIL1CED-gwSMxQQPcl7A5byhKYm10jkGP7pkRSvfU8flgjgzvmTPUfM-vunBZlUNwYpJD1ZOoKGYKZVrDShD4O5RJZZNWl53_StSnqyiRVVGKSHy1jWCduHcasC5UmV16EZQDkpQ/s320/393141138_10232064779227481_2788972903861580880_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">For our Halloween party, this year's theme was our most terrifying to date: clowns. Capitalizing on the fact that all of our furniture is still gone due to the slab leak and re-piping, our </span><a class="editor-rtfLink" href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/713032057716800226/4897201005746402806#" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #4a6ee0; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;" target="_blank"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">amazing prop guy</span></a><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"> created a haunted maze in our formal living room that people could walk through in small groups. We had scare performers in there, dressed as clowns who seemed like mannequins until they came to life. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="390" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/WJAdPE5mn3c" width="469" youtube-src-id="WJAdPE5mn3c"></iframe></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx6I2cDz8J6iKK8KGOiMVHQJTv2m8FXgsAcKpszZ6vLZuMoVRWJj9dMNpk3vobhGnMQwVV5vBdHTdg5wSqWQ-kaifkxB_NhLCUZfsH7ajX_Nb_L7iof2pjgVg2cdxFsR4_u8Gj3-DmMR42zzfB051ePmTqtqx4sBH8MBeO2XjcQUjW2gnQ0oNfI-NsRu4/s2048/396259546_10232149317220878_6891765994944085370_n%20(2).jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2030" data-original-width="2048" height="317" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx6I2cDz8J6iKK8KGOiMVHQJTv2m8FXgsAcKpszZ6vLZuMoVRWJj9dMNpk3vobhGnMQwVV5vBdHTdg5wSqWQ-kaifkxB_NhLCUZfsH7ajX_Nb_L7iof2pjgVg2cdxFsR4_u8Gj3-DmMR42zzfB051ePmTqtqx4sBH8MBeO2XjcQUjW2gnQ0oNfI-NsRu4/s320/396259546_10232149317220878_6891765994944085370_n%20(2).jpg" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4LvamoTDAd8Ue3EGHiuVWvvZVP1-SSLyNa_86d3hbJOEdE1iDNzaYpVZt1zEQ2Si7KKNW-kkaLuinjcwliNK-yMR7ZKBmUGxABOOkCNxVAWttK6Q0dp-f48so7_X7_0JTFbPMr0aodQMZONCbo-1PRPk_UYnKExWYV9n9RoU9Rj_1HEeWR4_BGLYBb-g/s2048/395511763_10232149317740891_5470204652812966743_n%20(1).jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1764" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4LvamoTDAd8Ue3EGHiuVWvvZVP1-SSLyNa_86d3hbJOEdE1iDNzaYpVZt1zEQ2Si7KKNW-kkaLuinjcwliNK-yMR7ZKBmUGxABOOkCNxVAWttK6Q0dp-f48so7_X7_0JTFbPMr0aodQMZONCbo-1PRPk_UYnKExWYV9n9RoU9Rj_1HEeWR4_BGLYBb-g/w276-h320/395511763_10232149317740891_5470204652812966743_n%20(1).jpg" width="276" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Also noteworthy this month, Cha upgraded to a bigger bike and lost an additional tooth! This time, he lost his tooth at school, so he was given a really cool necklace to bring home.</div><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqQnRBeh6uLf560pcdpleSBXJl1ci7VklM-ioJxGUlK-4gEtn9VsjHWFZZdGdLCKafBVTr1FMTT7nZZpmF2YKHVQbGkSSru6TaZrwEWpjnk5kYhvsNX52eOjSeEh-GxvPZ6-9v68BgGsLe2C_tPk1PjGaWITuFzUFkfLKhuqj8BWpsXKwFfCJ7UQHkK0o/s2048/386774017_10231987962587113_6263972940672294448_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqQnRBeh6uLf560pcdpleSBXJl1ci7VklM-ioJxGUlK-4gEtn9VsjHWFZZdGdLCKafBVTr1FMTT7nZZpmF2YKHVQbGkSSru6TaZrwEWpjnk5kYhvsNX52eOjSeEh-GxvPZ6-9v68BgGsLe2C_tPk1PjGaWITuFzUFkfLKhuqj8BWpsXKwFfCJ7UQHkK0o/s320/386774017_10231987962587113_6263972940672294448_n.jpg" width="240" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguWyL6B49TIrp5Gc5At9TfAGsdhdFQfDV1EYJdJWIbzSlxySgntIIes_nUyuaK-5S3hSXd1QC5TGtN9074AYIAmwKHXgYxsMSoPDme1K3gjRWxaLH9VIJUIw3hiMgoTCv6-NIO-OeJALpAJxRc0bE2Muur4k4ZfxqOPgyMaNQOI0WaIQZ3Fj1LWrf6PoI/s960/394707312_10232112708745689_4024321274337962947_n.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguWyL6B49TIrp5Gc5At9TfAGsdhdFQfDV1EYJdJWIbzSlxySgntIIes_nUyuaK-5S3hSXd1QC5TGtN9074AYIAmwKHXgYxsMSoPDme1K3gjRWxaLH9VIJUIw3hiMgoTCv6-NIO-OeJALpAJxRc0bE2Muur4k4ZfxqOPgyMaNQOI0WaIQZ3Fj1LWrf6PoI/s320/394707312_10232112708745689_4024321274337962947_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></p>Megan Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18287505547652721159noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-713032057716800226.post-49237790937460447022023-10-13T09:56:00.003-07:002023-10-13T10:58:11.259-07:00September, 2023<p>This month flew by! Both kids are in Flag Football and loving it! They each have practice one day a week, followed by games every Friday for Friday Night Lights. Sometimes, their games happen to be at the same time, but usually, they are staggered with some time in between to go to the playground.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ3PCTYMe3RrWPAMAD8RaGHSE4-5ch8ZDo3OY0x-VO4UZgtfutH6afvdSDPxtTU4CVCXxEWcou6mVFtz9zPr_BSG_NDZWQLu1HN_16YiShO8XlLpSs5LkNCwoUAGMUVv6xwwHuQd9uyHx4x29Did0AV0Oaa_NFOQFvKDVDwYXIc1fkX7pZEgTbd3oSmCY/s2048/375934559_10231704276935149_8861229508859194758_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1672" data-original-width="2048" height="522" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ3PCTYMe3RrWPAMAD8RaGHSE4-5ch8ZDo3OY0x-VO4UZgtfutH6afvdSDPxtTU4CVCXxEWcou6mVFtz9zPr_BSG_NDZWQLu1HN_16YiShO8XlLpSs5LkNCwoUAGMUVv6xwwHuQd9uyHx4x29Did0AV0Oaa_NFOQFvKDVDwYXIc1fkX7pZEgTbd3oSmCY/w640-h522/375934559_10231704276935149_8861229508859194758_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS2cA07UFRWxOJoRYs0QDjiaMJAH7h5SfWQTEU53StmlMp4hlF_swnLjgk2xdpkKNMnvpK5X_WE7FvxxOkk1K1vgI4wBDK9jzGl3hyosTIx17xgqXrLak-bVyjy8wg4OothgoZi0cywESuNyWfrNdsJdXxw49C7xpueEPO2oNWZnrc84n6R6SDkkw4hkw/s2048/375980368_10231704276375135_4945745310082511068_n.jpg" 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/AVvXsEgS2cA07UFRWxOJoRYs0QDjiaMJAH7h5SfWQTEU53StmlMp4hlF_swnLjgk2xdpkKNMnvpK5X_WE7FvxxOkk1K1vgI4wBDK9jzGl3hyosTIx17xgqXrLak-bVyjy8wg4OothgoZi0cywESuNyWfrNdsJdXxw49C7xpueEPO2oNWZnrc84n6R6SDkkw4hkw/w640-h480/375980368_10231704276375135_4945745310082511068_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxMmHzyzFh8LBgJUll_6NUhDJyXi0pnjAM1cjYG1PIjTJJJta3iGmwUPZlTriGXnOv5xn57p51GXSGnAVPvPg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><p>Our beach days continue, along with the warm weather. We took all four dogs to dog beach, and also went to the Pacific Air show with Grandpa Glennie.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDuVELFZ3CY6cTaTnzxu300iCIcHFwqP9mujumiXoNt5IYJkRiSnuPGCyONW5O1U1F57ardH5UZIARQ6FGqpVa_9w8KoBx2z_U0HSzBSbPIV6JOsgSxJIEKS2B2zCSGQA9C31NQf_vz01nxDol30Kob0Qtovacjk7yboHFsJ9k08TJawZV_dwTbVB6Xi0/s2048/375906271_10231719848884438_6806286073412238875_n.jpg" 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/AVvXsEiDuVELFZ3CY6cTaTnzxu300iCIcHFwqP9mujumiXoNt5IYJkRiSnuPGCyONW5O1U1F57ardH5UZIARQ6FGqpVa_9w8KoBx2z_U0HSzBSbPIV6JOsgSxJIEKS2B2zCSGQA9C31NQf_vz01nxDol30Kob0Qtovacjk7yboHFsJ9k08TJawZV_dwTbVB6Xi0/w640-h480/375906271_10231719848884438_6806286073412238875_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQTYD4RU0LGBHhorkmp3auyUUKVHqni1vsYBWRmwel8unXRePDuNIz_jTvvmI2JBe3QfZcLhYFGoFVrCGSCOfOhkWDUg9lSZdNgYNRv32a6YlPJdrM8g_gzwwx5C4A-KPgvgJZp009M241I3cxDOGP5smEtWdVPlwZbAM6whi8X4_iM3HNXpoJ65tjfgE/s1891/383348273_10231906688595314_8980942934236830674_n.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1891" data-original-width="1167" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQTYD4RU0LGBHhorkmp3auyUUKVHqni1vsYBWRmwel8unXRePDuNIz_jTvvmI2JBe3QfZcLhYFGoFVrCGSCOfOhkWDUg9lSZdNgYNRv32a6YlPJdrM8g_gzwwx5C4A-KPgvgJZp009M241I3cxDOGP5smEtWdVPlwZbAM6whi8X4_iM3HNXpoJ65tjfgE/w246-h400/383348273_10231906688595314_8980942934236830674_n.jpg" width="246" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9SPK9U6vd4UlJeiicMoT96tjqLOJIChqHtxptASvbovfDS-64m4cq1bMmeqrSzDPCTAVxK3YnsDbIpzoOdcJ8QGw-YNjwss9Y4y7Ull16s7PvCBYAJha5w6m7JqrYiZouIgQw7gUk68WAZ3hwrgnuKJJeUsQdGGM-P3HhymH-GPGJY-b_ZJGKb_Wfe5M/s2048/384795085_10231906689635340_7376073400699220349_n.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1786" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9SPK9U6vd4UlJeiicMoT96tjqLOJIChqHtxptASvbovfDS-64m4cq1bMmeqrSzDPCTAVxK3YnsDbIpzoOdcJ8QGw-YNjwss9Y4y7Ull16s7PvCBYAJha5w6m7JqrYiZouIgQw7gUk68WAZ3hwrgnuKJJeUsQdGGM-P3HhymH-GPGJY-b_ZJGKb_Wfe5M/s320/384795085_10231906689635340_7376073400699220349_n.jpg" width="279" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dylCHddDRoCBviBWh2m4hyKbaY6olV-M-USB_wAcNiF8Q-IgCV4PdCfwPMD2aBbCKl39g2CCGw5m8eYYUdwHw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIAEgaTNENnEhXd1DC-k-zyDMfIQ6rdFDt_BFgAGzf5NONB87W7dACYOxcSm28R7fIE8VPSMZTKpMK_k4C49fkGVnSk7OPJ13TylIcsTyusUIwlZQDuVRIhvCdodAZJw8Ljg0-8uouJUTWTMHSAqf_Z3LfHJ1zNGcCUQawTdoSgNUe_wffs8ADJ49pihc/s960/376780895_10231728822588775_3155537261452487266_n%20(1).jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="778" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIAEgaTNENnEhXd1DC-k-zyDMfIQ6rdFDt_BFgAGzf5NONB87W7dACYOxcSm28R7fIE8VPSMZTKpMK_k4C49fkGVnSk7OPJ13TylIcsTyusUIwlZQDuVRIhvCdodAZJw8Ljg0-8uouJUTWTMHSAqf_Z3LfHJ1zNGcCUQawTdoSgNUe_wffs8ADJ49pihc/s320/376780895_10231728822588775_3155537261452487266_n%20(1).jpg" width="259" /></a></div><br /></div><p>We purchased passes to Universal Studios last December when we visited with family but did not have an opportunity to ride the tram. With the expiration date looming, we boldly worked in a few weekday trips, right after school. It was totally worth being tired the next day. </p><p>Aut and I also had our Ed Sheeran concert at SoFi Stadium, a birthday gift from Dad and Glen. It was an incredible experience to be in a stadium of 81,000 people and in the very front. We had to get there super early, but it was worth it! I had to run 18 miles early the next morning - my last long run in preparation for the Long Beach marathon on 10/15. My very first marathon since having children, but 16th overall. Since I first ran the Los Angeles Marathon back in 2003 and swore I would never do another one, I have now officially been running marathons for 20 years.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdwTeAsq_syvyswTEI-Ae_U7y9fusRDCxaap3A-ndbQzzuJr_HYEEAI8LwRRXdL5Gyf9rNgIvXLk0d_u_DbkKXk0QGVsLVV5jEzPALhSBYuu3Zlgkjili52vfa1CL-9TUK3SHzql-V5J3aaBo3V3LKOEU_vrWdl_ZuVA8_-TTN3Q6ys_4DgxYO0RjMsFE/s2048/381368808_10231832638504108_7288052993975954538_n.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdwTeAsq_syvyswTEI-Ae_U7y9fusRDCxaap3A-ndbQzzuJr_HYEEAI8LwRRXdL5Gyf9rNgIvXLk0d_u_DbkKXk0QGVsLVV5jEzPALhSBYuu3Zlgkjili52vfa1CL-9TUK3SHzql-V5J3aaBo3V3LKOEU_vrWdl_ZuVA8_-TTN3Q6ys_4DgxYO0RjMsFE/s320/381368808_10231832638504108_7288052993975954538_n.jpg" width="240" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBnVoiAQCH9Fig1SXi-_U2tNfO7j2_AAnD_JbZ6GUFIiklLwvBd6ee1gcx4p3VqlJE3Zu3qKv2KcLKR7IVtc94flzFtXNAeG04PKl9FDOwnVgy6SKPGbLiXITobhVyAMkfITkhzqCHFUirTJXpvDLFpyyP7XOnIaUsNVlFDd9kgf_Ewjx-r57Als4zb0A/s2048/381275065_10231832638664112_3723921339261226856_n.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBnVoiAQCH9Fig1SXi-_U2tNfO7j2_AAnD_JbZ6GUFIiklLwvBd6ee1gcx4p3VqlJE3Zu3qKv2KcLKR7IVtc94flzFtXNAeG04PKl9FDOwnVgy6SKPGbLiXITobhVyAMkfITkhzqCHFUirTJXpvDLFpyyP7XOnIaUsNVlFDd9kgf_Ewjx-r57Als4zb0A/s320/381275065_10231832638664112_3723921339261226856_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><p></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitscIraun_5Dx1tFspzAUQ6OXjFBJ_yseAbv0flKeKevSrv75UAQ4uzJhkwv6NPauntOdjW2BzFBzZ5mYpcCYsXlTnLtmjj9KGAoQcPrac9ERQy7RoJCCJcnQCnaM6KEpDlYCECUheDN4F_JmJ74uHHrXrxb2vI7cYE1J6GWl-cPpKBBe6vJ8VCBbmRFU/s2048/381165727_10231824808868372_3361429033358088013_n.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1634" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitscIraun_5Dx1tFspzAUQ6OXjFBJ_yseAbv0flKeKevSrv75UAQ4uzJhkwv6NPauntOdjW2BzFBzZ5mYpcCYsXlTnLtmjj9KGAoQcPrac9ERQy7RoJCCJcnQCnaM6KEpDlYCECUheDN4F_JmJ74uHHrXrxb2vI7cYE1J6GWl-cPpKBBe6vJ8VCBbmRFU/s320/381165727_10231824808868372_3361429033358088013_n.jpg" width="255" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9wCmzuBocNYtM2eJWyLczFZGgLU0bVozNtGxwYHAI9zq4UN_uDX-xxJ88m9CRWl80iysOScAaFMou7kOtfrZXmmMNajQB7Me9mT0Q7a1VhdcQPRnEltXbOW-tFy0Mlynajowr-7hS6esehhaLvbIHVVjL4IowYgV42DdyghS_Z29gTz6lEND7FdfU2O0/s2048/380805372_10231823949006876_3187976506985422472_n.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9wCmzuBocNYtM2eJWyLczFZGgLU0bVozNtGxwYHAI9zq4UN_uDX-xxJ88m9CRWl80iysOScAaFMou7kOtfrZXmmMNajQB7Me9mT0Q7a1VhdcQPRnEltXbOW-tFy0Mlynajowr-7hS6esehhaLvbIHVVjL4IowYgV42DdyghS_Z29gTz6lEND7FdfU2O0/s320/380805372_10231823949006876_3187976506985422472_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>I continue mailing the kids a card or two each year with hand-written notes in them. I have so few from my mom and cherish them immensely. I need to get a fire-proof box to store them in but for now, they are tucked away and all together for them to read. In their Halloween cards, I wrote the following, from Donna Ashworth's new book, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Wild-Hope-Healing-Words-Light/dp/B0CKJ5S9T7/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3L4CTJNLWZ5UO&keywords=wild+hope&qid=1697215932&sprefix=wild+hope%2Caps%2C176&sr=8-1" target="_blank">Wild Hope</a>. At least this blog is fire-proof. As extra insurance, I have also transferred all entries over to<a href="https://meganswanek.substack.com/publish/posts" target="_blank"> my new Substack</a>, if you'd like to follow me there. I'll continue posting here as well. As extra insurance.<p></p><p><span face=""Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px;">DEAR DAUGHTER</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px;" /><span face=""Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px;">I hope with all my heart that I showed you the real me.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px;" /><span face=""Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px;">That I didn’t pretend I had it all together, or that life was not hard.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px;" /><span face=""Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px;">I hope I gave you the belief of you, in your core.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px;" /><span face=""Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px;">That I loved you enough, albeit messily, to code a blueprint for life.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px;" /><span face=""Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px;">To show you what love should look like.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px;" /><span face=""Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px;">And I hope I let you see me break, so you could understand, it is not an ending, rather a step.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px;" /><span face=""Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px;">And it’s vital.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px;" /><span face=""Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px;">Dear Daughter, I could not possibly have gotten everything right, and perhaps, thats the best thing I have given you.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px;" /><span face=""Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px;">That knowledge. No one gets it right.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px;" /><span face=""Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px;">We are not here to be perfect, we are here to love, to grow stronger and more bright with every generation.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px;" /><span face=""Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px;">Grow brighter my love, brighter than me.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px;" /><span face=""Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px;">As it very much should be.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px;" /><span face=""Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px;">And when I can no longer be with you, remember, my cells live within you.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px;" /><span face=""Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px;">You cannot, ever, lose me.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px;" /><span face=""Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px;">Not really.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px;" /><span face=""Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px;">We are a deal, a two for one.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px;" /><span face=""Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px;">A team.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px;" /><span face=""Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px;">For life.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px;" /><span face=""Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px;">And everything after that.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px;" /><span face=""Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px;">Donna Ashworth @donnaashworthwords </span><span face=""Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px;">From ‘Wild Hope’</span></p><div class="xdj266r x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">DEAR SON,</div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">The bond a mother has with her boy is like a beautiful black-hole of utter love and adoration.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">It is all-consuming, never-ending and mightier than us.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Women know one another by intuition and instinct, you see.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">We are of the same.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">But when a woman creates a boy, something else quite magical happens.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">I hope I showed you that power, that force. </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">I hope you feel it still.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">I hope I taught you what it is to respect a woman, to respect all humans, and to never lose yourself in the process.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">I pray you see how strong you are, by allowing yourself be soft too, that’s the key</div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">And most of all, I hope you check your heart when you can no longer pick up the phone to me.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Check the little chasms of your heart, my love.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">That’s where I stored the things you need, the love you need, the ‘mum’ you need.</div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">My boy, my beautiful beautiful boy.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">You had me at first sight.</div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">You have me for life.</div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">And everything after that.</div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Donna Ashworth</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">From’Wild Hope’</div></div>Megan Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18287505547652721159noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-713032057716800226.post-36043093172808555782023-10-09T13:38:00.004-07:002023-10-12T09:26:44.359-07:00Re-Membering Mom - Reflections on the 9th Anniversary of Her Death<blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div></div></blockquote><span style="font-size: large;"><div><span style="font-size: large;">I once read the title of an article for "Mother-less Daughters" about a woman whose mother had died and how hard it was raising her children without her mother and being "motherless." I did not actually read the article because I don't identify as being without my Mom. Mom's time on this earth was so impactful that she is still influencing my parenting, still an influence in my role as a wife and school counselor, and still a part of nearly everything that I do. The idea of re-membering, or giving our dead loved ones a membership card back into the club of life, is also an area of grief counseling that I subscribe to, and have conducted some research in. You can read some of that <a href="https://eric.ed.gov/?id=EJ886148" target="_blank">here, published under my maiden name DeWitt.</a> In a nutshell, "re-membering" practices seek to foster and keep a close connection with our loved ones who have died. Rather than our society's individualistic (and harmful) ideas of "letting go" and "moving on," re-membering actively works to weave them into our lives. <b>Our relationship with a person does not die when they do</b> and can continue to develop and change over time. After their passing, we can even uncover and learn new things about them. I loved this idea before losing anyone, as it comforted me, knowing I never had to forget. While my children never met my Mom, they very much know their Nana Lala. Here are some of my reflections as I get through the 9th anniversary of her death.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXN0vpUu8FnS6OEt_J8eFpG4OUAthaYlv90wJIANRWaQ6xp6mW0VoR909F76kvGLridY_GgwkqXVb2limXPo5RBjDOl6ZisvYbVfljkY3a8m7FDREZoM8BXzXllAdQuA166yDXsGs2bs_1nkuAeN9ccDlEm38O_8pl7EgoJfG6qGucg3UD5Q9MQpmCYBk/s4032/mom1972.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXN0vpUu8FnS6OEt_J8eFpG4OUAthaYlv90wJIANRWaQ6xp6mW0VoR909F76kvGLridY_GgwkqXVb2limXPo5RBjDOl6ZisvYbVfljkY3a8m7FDREZoM8BXzXllAdQuA166yDXsGs2bs_1nkuAeN9ccDlEm38O_8pl7EgoJfG6qGucg3UD5Q9MQpmCYBk/w640-h480/mom1972.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div>While some people seem to be conduits of judgment and stress, my Mom exuded calmness, support, love, acceptance, optimism, faith, and joy. She was always happy, content, and calm, even when times were tough, and even when she had every reason not to be. When things didn't go according to plan, she stayed the course in a joyful way, certain that better times lay ahead. Was she ever angry, stressed out, or not content? If she was, she never let on. But truly, I don't think she was. While some people may not be happy with their meal, she was just always thankful she <i>had</i> a meal. She loved my father fiercely and unconditionally. She believed in him, supported him, and, most importantly, enjoyed him. She adored her son Glen and also loved him unconditionally. She never lost her temper or spoke ill of others. She never vented I sure did, and she would listen...but those conversations were never generated by her. When I did complain or vent about a person or situation, she often presented a counterpoint of view, always encouraging me to look on the bright side of life and be optimistic. Or, she would simply listen without providing feedback, which sometimes can be the most valuable of all. "Oh, Meggy," she would say, followed by a warm hug. I even asked her friend Stacy, a few years after her death: "Did Mom ever vent about Dad?" thinking that perhaps she did - must have - and chose to confide in a friend rather than sharing with her child. "No, never. She never said anything disparaging about your father, ever." Mom believed that most people are fundamentally good, and for those who weren't, she <i>still</i> found some good in them. She had infectious laughter, and my Dad really had a knack for making her laugh so hard that she would actually cry. I was able to do that sometimes, too, though not as often as Dad did. </span><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">My husband made her laugh, too. I'll never forget the time after she moved in with us, and she had been released from rehab following a seizure, the result of her brain cancer taking over. She had lost much of her mobility and strength during the lengthy stay, so they sent someone to the house for physical therapy. Before they arrived, Nathan went outside and rang the doorbell. I opened the door and let him in, but he was now Hans, who was there to "Pump you up!" with his thick Austrian accent. She laughed and laughed. Or the time he told her we could watch some of his home videos. "How about this one, Paula? It's called Nathan - the potty training years, ages 16 through 18." Ahhh....she sure did have an amazing sense of humor. And she loved his.</span><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">As <a href="https://www.gq.com/story/keith-morrison-dateline-profile" target="_blank">my favorite investigative journalist</a> would say, <i>She lit up a room. </i><b>But<i> </i>Mom not only lit up the room she was in. She also had the rare skill of making you smile remotely, from a distance, at the very thought of her.</b> Still, to this day, thinking about Mom brings a smile to my face and makes me feel good, in a deep-down, fundamental <i>everything's-gonna-be-alright </i>sort of way. And with the passage of time and the subsiding of the initial, intense grief, I'm able to have more gratitude and happiness when I think of her. The pain and sadness have stepped aside, making way for gratitude that I<i> had</i> her, rather than the unfairness that she was taken too soon. She was <b>my</b> Mom. Of all the Mom's in this world, I had her; the very best. How fortunate am I? And how fortunate are my children that she was mine? For surely, I would not be the type of woman, nor the type of wife or Mom if God had not gifted her to me. <b>When I love them, it is because she loved me.</b></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi__0AJF72IUiRaO89GGFWPwEV5KF8YpgaiK86TEa_4FCPA0wTvO_mWGh_Blp0iZAVxGvwG0wMuSo7QDFFvkAhZVQMWz8lq0gGIGymE3p0iUsgc797iSFGchKauKzJCDPybhjmoJ7HB-gsSZ3qCT9JZFvIydPO9sHMSU_A6IxuAdO1QrW2RoielGTijSU4" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi__0AJF72IUiRaO89GGFWPwEV5KF8YpgaiK86TEa_4FCPA0wTvO_mWGh_Blp0iZAVxGvwG0wMuSo7QDFFvkAhZVQMWz8lq0gGIGymE3p0iUsgc797iSFGchKauKzJCDPybhjmoJ7HB-gsSZ3qCT9JZFvIydPO9sHMSU_A6IxuAdO1QrW2RoielGTijSU4" width="320" /></a></div>It's been 9 years now since she died. Nine whole years. I was six weeks pregnant with my first child, and we had just heard her heartbeat when we lost her. I believe that the timing was not a coincidence. <b>God ensured Autumn's heart was beating before he stopped hers.</b> A week or so before that, she said, <i>"I'm going to hold that baby."</i> She believed she would, and that belief got her through that day and the next. Denial? Perhaps, but she had a goal, and rather than looking at the fact she was not going to see her grow up, she found contentment in the possibility of holding her first grandchild. She cherished children and had the patience of a saint. I spent a good eight months following the birth of Autumn feeling so very sorry for myself. She should be here, I thought, sharing in all of this. And she would have been right there alongside us. Rather than running out of sick days and having no close family to help watch our children, we would have built her a little cottage on our property, and she would have popped over for morning coffee and helped, tidying and chatting as she did. She would not have done it out of a sense of duty nor obligation but because she wanted to, because it brought her joy, meaning, and fulfillment. I pictured that cottage and attached scenarios so often in those first few months of being a new mom that as I write about it now, it's almost as if it existed... as if it was a real place. How I wish it was. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><b>But living in that sadness and self-pitty was not healthy or productive, so God found a way to shake me out of it when Autumn was eight months old</b>. My doctor's office called me following some biopsies of moles and wanted me to come to the office for the results. "No, it's okay - I routinely have basal cell or squamous cell carcinoma, so you can just tell me over the phone," I said as I pulled into Kids Kastle to pick up Baby A. They would not. Imagine our shock and horror when I was told I had melanoma, a deadly skin cancer. And It was not in the beginning stages - I was stage 2a. When I met with my oncologist, he happily reassured me that I had a 5-year survival rate of ...I forget, but it was something like 70%, and I was actually supposed to be happy about it. But then, after a month or so, we were called and told that I did not have melanoma. They had mixed up the biopsy with someone else. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">How many people who are told that they have cancer pray for it to be a mistake? A bad dream. A mix-up? How many barter and pray and make a deal with God that they will do anything - absolutely anything- for it not to be true? In the time when I thought that I had cancer, this devastating news completely shifted my perspective. <i>Oh sh*t, I thought. I have been feeling sorry for myself for having lost my Mom when I was too young...but this precious girl of mine may lose her mother when she's just a toddler,</i> I thought. I wanted her to have a mom. When we were dating, I had experienced bouts of jealousy. Yet, at church one day, I fully imagined a woman I spotted in the choir as a good prospect for my husband to marry. She seemed pleasant and probably nice, with the right amount of homeleness. Not too attractive and not too much fun; the perfect fit. But I knew she couldn't love this little Bean as much as me; no one could, and I so desperately wanted to stick around.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">This entire experience was just what I needed, really. It was as if someone grabbed me by my shoulders, shook me, and yelled, "GET AHOLD OF YOURSELF! You lost your Mom, but it could be worse! Don't believe me? I'll <i>show</i> you!" And then they punched me in the face. Now that I'm on the other side of it, I can say that it's a service I would have paid for if only there were an unethical company out there like that (please email me if you are interested in forming a partnership). Since then, I still allow myself a bit of pity now and then. But it is much smaller and way less frequent. Mostly, this misdiagnosis has caused me to dive head-first into loving the heck out of these two beautiful souls and making their lives as amazing as possible.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><span>And Mom is on my mind daily as I grow into my role as the mom of an 8 and 5-year-old. </span>While I am more strict and directional with my children, one thing my parenting has in common with hers is the fundamental foundation of love, support, and optimism. Because of her, I always work to not only see the glass half-full but, more importantly, to help them see the entire world that way. <b>Optimism is not just a state of mind; it's a superpower that has the remarkable ability to surround us in comfort and gratitude.</b> Optimism transforms how we perceive and navigate life's challenges, and while my optimism comes from her, it is still something I actively work to cultivate. Was Mom in denial about things? Not just her cancer but as she went through trials in her life, such as my father losing his job and losing their home? No, as I reflect on it now, I do not think she was in any state of denial. With optimism, we still acknowledge that setbacks and hardships are a part of the human experience; we just don't let them get to us. Instead, we recognize our innate ability and strength to overcome anything and know, as Mom did, that it will be alright in the end.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Where did all of Mom's joy and optimism come from? Perhaps it was a gift from God. My Mom spoke of being a child at Mass in Christ the King Catholic Church in Reading, England when she was about 6 or 7 years old. Remarkably, this was where my parents were married years later (August 9, 1969), and my children and I participated in my Aunt's wedding last year. Anyway, I remember my Mom telling me how, as a child, the Bishop was visiting, and it was a very big deal, complete with all the pomp and circumstance. As he was proceeding down the aisle, he saw little Paula and stopped the procession. Instead, he made his way into her pew. She was deep in the narrow pew, and if you've ever had to use the restroom or leave and come back during a service, you know how awkward this is, as it is a narrow space with everyone sitting, and she was not sitting at the end. Everyone was stunned and looked on as he put his hand on Mom's head and looked Heavenward. He said a prayer and then returned to proceeding down the aisle and his duties. At the time, my maternal grandmother said that he did this because he knew that she would have a cross to bear in life, and he was giving her the strength that she needed for it.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjkH9YR7-tx_eQEy9JmVzk1Zs_tPEkE6xFIBj_UXM0jOKerkNKPpLiRcgv_NNfgM90udV4RCZ4Tfech1-_eWyrox58NiUeb95qRNHw7SzUdJqrpiHHoscKvfzHN9_Ac7cnbZQfy9hNwS_m_0ESBBGAnLv-zhxjZ05jbTuq2gmBkH-iD4arfqpYdonMEwjM" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1011" data-original-width="1800" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjkH9YR7-tx_eQEy9JmVzk1Zs_tPEkE6xFIBj_UXM0jOKerkNKPpLiRcgv_NNfgM90udV4RCZ4Tfech1-_eWyrox58NiUeb95qRNHw7SzUdJqrpiHHoscKvfzHN9_Ac7cnbZQfy9hNwS_m_0ESBBGAnLv-zhxjZ05jbTuq2gmBkH-iD4arfqpYdonMEwjM=w640-h360" width="640" /></a></div></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">While I have no way of knowing if Mom's strength and optimism truly were gifts from God, it sure makes sense to me. Mom had a contagious level of optimism that affected everyone she met. Uplifting family, friends, and even strangers, Mom's positivity has a ripple effect that continues today, even touching her grandchildren, whom she never met, and generations beyond them, God willing. She knew, and I always strive to remember, that we can find contentment and gratitude no matter the circumstances we face.</span></div><div><br /></div></div>Megan Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18287505547652721159noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-713032057716800226.post-17417195674366276012023-09-15T15:17:00.004-07:002023-09-15T15:17:57.744-07:00You're in Charge<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">When I was in college, I subscribed to an animal rights publication called Action Line. This is back when things were mailed to you. Each month, when I received a new issue, I would sit down and flip through the pages with tears in my eyes. Along with each call to action on certain high-priority items like animal testing or factory farming, there were pictures. Chickens whose beaks were cut off to prevent pecking or claws that had grown around the wire of the cage, fixing them in one spot. You get the picture.</span><br />
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<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">I called my Dad one day and asked, "Dad, what do I do? Every month, when I sit and look at these pictures, it upsets me. I write to the addresses they list, but there's only so much I can do and control. It's really affecting me." His response was fantastically obvious and simple: <b>Stop reading them. </b>I did just that, and my quality of life improved.</span></div>
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<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">This publication was only able to upset me once a month because the issue actually came in the mail. Today, we're bombarded by so many messages and news articles on a daily basis. They're in our social media feeds and on our phones. When we look at one disparaging issue, facebook's algorithm thinks we want to see more of that and feeds it to us. Over the last year or so, I was having moments of joy stolen from me without even realizing it because I never subscribed to it or chose to see it - it just appeared. I was shown images of late-term abortions, which can be upsetting to almost everyone, especially someone who has struggled to conceive and also had a miscarriage after the first trimester. </span></div>
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<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">Having lost our girl at 14 weeks pregnant, here I was looking at a baby who was aborted at only 15 weeks, yet perfectly formed. All I had done was scroll through my social media feed with some free moments to catch up on what my friends were doing and stumbled upon that image that I can't unsee. Just like I was back in college, I felt like there was not much I could do to change it, so instead of writing to one of the people listed in that animal rights magazine, I re-posted it to social media, passing the baton to someone else who may not have been expecting to be upset.</span></div>
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<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">My Mom once said that she was so upset at the state of the world that she didn't want to bring children into it. Yet my Mom was such a happy person who seemed to find the good in any situation, and so it is hard for me to imagine her ever having this perspective. Maybe it happened suddenly, or maybe it happened overnight, but somehow, she changed her perspective. <b>Somehow, Mom shrunk the dizzying state of the world down to something she could control: her own happiness.</b> Rather than investing her energy in things she felt were wrong, she dove into being the best mother she could, creating a sense of peace and tranquility in her home.</span><br />
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<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">People or situations will come along that are upsetting to us. It may not just happen daily, but several times throughout the day. We cannot control that person stopping on a green right-turn arrow or the one going 60 in the fast lane (don't they know we're in a hurry?). We cannot control the rude sales clerk or the co-worker, friend, or neighbor who can't see things from our point of view. And that's okay! <b>What we <i>can</i> control is how we react to those situations. </b>Do they upset us? Or do we give them some grace and focus on all that we are grateful for? Why let that person steal your joy?<b> They can only steal our joy if we let them.</b></span><br />
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<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"><b><br /></b></span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">Life is too short. When I was misdiagnosed with melanoma in 2015 and actually faced with my own mortality, the important things in life came into sharper focus. Trivial things that would typically bother me didn't because the horrible diagnosis overshadowed them. When I found out it was all a mistake, I felt as light as a feather and vowed that I would never get bogged down with minor annoyances again. I would not complain about things beyond my control because God is in control, and He has a plan.</span><br />
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<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">Remember that it takes work and a choice to turn the other cheek. It takes a minimum of 6 weeks to form a new habit, so they say, and old habits die hard. But it <i>can</i> be done. I will not say that I never let the small stuff get to me, but it is much easier now to let it go and focus on the bigger picture.</span><br />
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<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">Even less trivial situations, really negative or sad situations, can and will have positive outcomes in time if we look for them. You know the old adage, when one door closes, another opens? It's true! When I look back on every negative situation, something good has come of it. We may not see it until we get a certain distance, but it's there, waiting to be discovered. </span><br /><br />
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<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">Try'n block my shine ain't gonna happen, so don't try...</span></div><div><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"><br /></span></div><div><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">UPDATE: Whoops! This post had been sitting in my drafts since I wrote it on 3/3/20, ten days before the covid craziness hit. I remember at the time, I unfollowed a ton of political accounts that I agree with, just to regain that control and prevent my day from being hijacked by the 'what-ifs' and "can you even believe this.." While we all fall down the rabbit hole on certain issues from time </span>(and let's admit it: that can be fun!), we need to be in control of when and where that happens.</div><div><br /></div><div>Whenever I get down about the state of the world...</div><div><span face="Oxygen, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #111111; text-indent: -40px;">Whenever I get gloomy with the state of the world, I think about the arrivals gate at Heathrow Airport. General opinion's starting to make out that we live in a world of hatred and greed, but I don't see that. It seems to me that love is everywhere. Often it's not particularly dignified or newsworthy, but it's always there - fathers and sons, mothers and daughters, husbands and wives, boyfriends, girlfriends, old friends. When the planes hit the Twin Towers, as far as I know none of the phone calls from the people on board were messages of hate or revenge - they were all messages of love. If you look for it, I've got a sneaky feeling you'll find that love actually is all around. ~David, from Love Actually</span></div><div><span face="Oxygen, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #111111; text-indent: -40px;"><br /></span></div><div>Sorry, couldn't help myself. Whenever I get down about the state of the world...I try to remember that there have always been dark times and that Jesus is the light of the world. Recently, this sermon helped me reframe things, and give me hope:</div><div><br /></div><iframe allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; fullscreen; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="352" loading="lazy" src="https://open.spotify.com/embed/episode/35wozCDZY6jo1Dlzhujb4c?utm_source=generator" style="border-radius: 12px;" width="100%"></iframe>
Megan Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18287505547652721159noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-713032057716800226.post-12809685996479505402023-09-15T14:34:00.000-07:002023-09-15T14:34:02.286-07:00August, 2023<p></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYPZgcfPlJWF1KA-Cspe0QrmonbDde2c48JZ0k82rb4WT60XD3KGBTZW2M_PUrZ6exsOpH-VEqQptpIbFjDQEf0A3IF_ZUwcx7U_6h4NudBa1M22HEtXUVB-wB-Ia8er7qEub3c0Qm7fJ_sCnxYwU-AJw2sTytYOLxnjHStSdi8cBUxDooDVv1SGcrgcs/s2048/365233772_10231410125261541_7431363733138556842_n%20(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYPZgcfPlJWF1KA-Cspe0QrmonbDde2c48JZ0k82rb4WT60XD3KGBTZW2M_PUrZ6exsOpH-VEqQptpIbFjDQEf0A3IF_ZUwcx7U_6h4NudBa1M22HEtXUVB-wB-Ia8er7qEub3c0Qm7fJ_sCnxYwU-AJw2sTytYOLxnjHStSdi8cBUxDooDVv1SGcrgcs/s320/365233772_10231410125261541_7431363733138556842_n%20(1).jpg" width="240" /></a></p>Our Big Man turned 5 this month! He celebrated at Great Wolf Lodge with his besties, Jacob and Royden, on his actual birthday, and then at a beach party with a construction theme at the end of the month. We wanted to wait for school to be back in session so his classmates could attend. He is such an amazing boy, with a budding sense of humor. His favorite show is Grizzly and the Lemmings, and he likes to randomly announce "Ta-bo-di!" from the show, which I mistakenly thought was "Da booty" for about a week.<p></p><p>The start of the school year was an adjustment for us all. Both kids are signed up for the same sport for the first time ever: Flag football! Since flag football recently became a CIF sport for girls, a team cropped up at their school and was so popular that this year, there are two. When someone told me, "It is so nice to only have games every Friday with Friday Night Lights" I mistakenly thought that would mean only a Friday commitment. Imagine my surprise when each kid had practice start the week before they went back to school, each on a different night. And just like that, three weeknights are spoken for.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgST9Ftiz5afmupEFBNKG7_LsLmnjbBC0mEAlA4FAAIP1zP9yNo43SlD23vA3ZX0Ig9Xkng-FS4EhlPvQpgP5wahJU7NU999Uv8szwAnTlUe1B_ly8gYTnzYKr1dHuBHLESkyDGhLztWyx56VyKFVnKaSovSy0ani_izdQs2ojMGgqfA6HgQRKKU72Vtlk/s2048/362628942_10231414791298189_6273387195908938844_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgST9Ftiz5afmupEFBNKG7_LsLmnjbBC0mEAlA4FAAIP1zP9yNo43SlD23vA3ZX0Ig9Xkng-FS4EhlPvQpgP5wahJU7NU999Uv8szwAnTlUe1B_ly8gYTnzYKr1dHuBHLESkyDGhLztWyx56VyKFVnKaSovSy0ani_izdQs2ojMGgqfA6HgQRKKU72Vtlk/s320/362628942_10231414791298189_6273387195908938844_n.jpg" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAPUi8uYAbHWHnOGB1iaIpI6N4wnKCzpPsCWhpHW6IDr0ufv_YZ1tHmT4rCoMqwyDRm1KyHSxO4MDLKdcy-rYtwLTT8l_3JwPbbTGStqhPCLgL_8FuYR5DVcQsZCZ7Ehintb6fXw_egQ7uDGvvYpgH8NWjQA2q4Jtg6Q6ksLBvdJQpFc-iLjab6a49aZg/s2048/364138775_10231423492635717_1665358777052874867_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1638" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAPUi8uYAbHWHnOGB1iaIpI6N4wnKCzpPsCWhpHW6IDr0ufv_YZ1tHmT4rCoMqwyDRm1KyHSxO4MDLKdcy-rYtwLTT8l_3JwPbbTGStqhPCLgL_8FuYR5DVcQsZCZ7Ehintb6fXw_egQ7uDGvvYpgH8NWjQA2q4Jtg6Q6ksLBvdJQpFc-iLjab6a49aZg/s320/364138775_10231423492635717_1665358777052874867_n.jpg" width="256" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnPYs35WthRxWTGYFj1K-VhZwXsaMRlU27EiRL58E4u8BXlxZGkJ1qpM_zbcCtnxWX4CHD72Px2MfMMnBhubJ6Zo6_WxWDSP4_AfnS01QsfIpf7vAnlZaFg1BPdHZjAZ6M1zvjNfFrss82G-5IzDdW_nihzmVBTHYByW0VRbVnMcmHBhvPhHNhsAvTMrM/s320/364741044_10231399051424702_4609835026399260197_n.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="240" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">She sewed these pants!</td></tr></tbody></table><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoyhZJzV15OFa5vI-KGolA9JfVJpj9frAAwS-Y8PNlHIzqG8Bc7by7lpCQH6NxI6bLPCtCUw-6iLhjFRGL88OuOj3i3looOZAMcXi50kB1THcA1W4s5tbv7h0D1BBO9lo7gr10pM5rkKbEExWuFmTKqMWg-JoZLrEDNzHVHMSLFxmJ6m3Tp6K4h_aaHbA/s2048/364796660_10231429633709240_3826026960949392920_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoyhZJzV15OFa5vI-KGolA9JfVJpj9frAAwS-Y8PNlHIzqG8Bc7by7lpCQH6NxI6bLPCtCUw-6iLhjFRGL88OuOj3i3looOZAMcXi50kB1THcA1W4s5tbv7h0D1BBO9lo7gr10pM5rkKbEExWuFmTKqMWg-JoZLrEDNzHVHMSLFxmJ6m3Tp6K4h_aaHbA/s320/364796660_10231429633709240_3826026960949392920_n.jpg" width="320" /></a><div><br /></div><div>Marathon training continues, in spite of a major wrench being thrown in: Low iron. Apparently, <a href="https://www.trailrunnermag.com/nutrition/daily-nutrition-nutrition/iron-deficiency-running/" target="_blank">this is a thing</a> for distance runners, especially female distance runners. I went from going on 10, 12 and 14-mile runs at 10:55 pace and feeling alright to not being able to finish a 12 mile run ...running out of steam at mile 10 and walking the last two miles. And, I suddenly was much slower. I'm talking at least a minute per mile slower. On top of that, I was completely wiped out for the entire rest of the day, beyond just being a bit tired. I was more tired than I used to be after a 20-mile run; so tired that my voice was too soft on the phone to hear, if that gives you an idea. I bought some iron pills, spinach, ground beef, and even a cast iron skillet (side note: HOW is that the SAME type of iron in our blood, and do I even know anything about the human body!?) but was defeated when I read it takes 2-3 weeks to get iron levels up, but several months to build up the reserves needed. Ugh! So, with sadness I emailed the marathon and dropped down to the half-mile distance, figuring heck - that's what I intended to sign up for anyway. <b>But I didn't come this far to only come this far. </b>My friends would be fine with it or, more realistically, not even care. But then I thought of my father, who has ordered me two new pairs of Hoka shoes and my MIL, who wrote: Hope<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"> you can make </span><span class="il" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Athens</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"> in 2025. Not that far off. Hope you can finish all your classes and finish degree to really get Nathan to support trip. You are such a good writer and read so much, hope you can get it done so </span><span class="il" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Athens</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"> will be a really big multi celebration. Go </span><span class="il" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Megan</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"> of </span><span class="il" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Athens</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">!</span></div><div><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 13px;"><br /></span></span></div><div>Megan of Athens pulled at my <strike>heart</strike> motivation strings, and even though I know that I could totally drop to the half now and still certainly still do the full in two years, I worried that it could cause her to doubt that I can and will. And I just can't have that! So, I skipped a long run to try and build up some reserves (every time our heel hits the pavement, we lose iron), kept taking my supplements, and continued on. The heat and humidity certainly don't help, so I started getting up at 4:30 for my long runs and setting out before sunrise, sometimes driving to the beach to run because it's cooler. I emailed the race for a second time, this time asking to go back up to the full distance.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYVxpK8728G3IS1c5muVrKj51eKoxpJaBw71a28oVsiAEuYRinwfP7nZa6TfkHvbStrBMMaT__hTlbB51n0QrTSB_IU5I4mZLKQ7jucseRoQiJnM0crlGvuC_LK9eUWS4IPy547Pbplt0ObYWm5JmbenowlevrPZtkccbgK8y2U1_3zdP1fuRyrH524bc/s1440/365307353_10231478863499954_3196982615347377358_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1440" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYVxpK8728G3IS1c5muVrKj51eKoxpJaBw71a28oVsiAEuYRinwfP7nZa6TfkHvbStrBMMaT__hTlbB51n0QrTSB_IU5I4mZLKQ7jucseRoQiJnM0crlGvuC_LK9eUWS4IPy547Pbplt0ObYWm5JmbenowlevrPZtkccbgK8y2U1_3zdP1fuRyrH524bc/w640-h640/365307353_10231478863499954_3196982615347377358_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cousins</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF53CpDUHPHeW5LldGo3g4m1qYk2bPw0yT9OpZugM-wpJ8lV6MryFNBtu-KhU5S3wnxsqkiUpwKopgys4CjkajJIZoYOafX0Q6EdcdQckDz7AbTj89IqM41LDtYWy1nLFkB_ZBuJMxSFUE6UKY2QVdDvNcTUNnOCwPNH2icgsd_DBAz3flK12IVHstGnE/s1794/368215772_10231544492580640_3999969829296185424_n%20(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1794" data-original-width="1440" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF53CpDUHPHeW5LldGo3g4m1qYk2bPw0yT9OpZugM-wpJ8lV6MryFNBtu-KhU5S3wnxsqkiUpwKopgys4CjkajJIZoYOafX0Q6EdcdQckDz7AbTj89IqM41LDtYWy1nLFkB_ZBuJMxSFUE6UKY2QVdDvNcTUNnOCwPNH2icgsd_DBAz3flK12IVHstGnE/w514-h640/368215772_10231544492580640_3999969829296185424_n%20(1).jpg" width="514" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Big Bertha survived "Hurricane" Hilary. <br /></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi3_hyZnPiBFGevo703PzAwjKYRoc1Hl2m9kN62_-gwawcPIHeGjEpJtAszIiOEWKiUjtSRTYO63k2mup-GNhDdvnF0YkVD0YjAhzaGMprGxC0wFSeFI3KWFMRsDOk598O8p0m0pMbn1gpOSU4Zxq6l6rjUWTzmf4NAFqxgouWrEkvwHnBMkFqsyQtIQKA" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1618" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi3_hyZnPiBFGevo703PzAwjKYRoc1Hl2m9kN62_-gwawcPIHeGjEpJtAszIiOEWKiUjtSRTYO63k2mup-GNhDdvnF0YkVD0YjAhzaGMprGxC0wFSeFI3KWFMRsDOk598O8p0m0pMbn1gpOSU4Zxq6l6rjUWTzmf4NAFqxgouWrEkvwHnBMkFqsyQtIQKA=w317-h400" width="317" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We learned Aunt Anna and Ashley have one the same size right now, over in England! <br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizk38cH8yfDiG023fZR_Pu-jHIhrABrdhQEYLnVOhfUtBqE0Iv-Kv28AVQxgGDqlHEVS2OgzxDLVnuzZZvqPgTivXOccJqv6kY6pZHKSqQMv1aIhS-2JEVG3IWgzL7mfSphz05Kjhnmc-Py6wm8-OnEvO-9Tw4hEaH9S-s2JQy45QMroLGOvyAJDyiOkM/s2048/368601497_10231540157912276_6915115058045469622_n.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/AVvXsEizk38cH8yfDiG023fZR_Pu-jHIhrABrdhQEYLnVOhfUtBqE0Iv-Kv28AVQxgGDqlHEVS2OgzxDLVnuzZZvqPgTivXOccJqv6kY6pZHKSqQMv1aIhS-2JEVG3IWgzL7mfSphz05Kjhnmc-Py6wm8-OnEvO-9Tw4hEaH9S-s2JQy45QMroLGOvyAJDyiOkM/w640-h480/368601497_10231540157912276_6915115058045469622_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>A milestone this month: Cha lost his very first tooth while playing with Sissy, who bumped it. The tooth fairy left him a $20 bill (first tooth always garners more, I hear) which he used to buy his first Angel's hat.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF4sxj5Yba7tqk2tpfCmxaYffcu5HkfSo_ryq_Px5XEVX5duOpJtbVXL9fWNTKvqvvvw2wdT3PvHkv0F6mU_Pj6-63SkQhA-Q4Hlc4ztN5dZ8QOq1Nfuxt0rUoFf8opGqYL0APt3VGpWS_YnKT9JpXldAG_6N93e54R_JBvz0VVtmbTEXaGgkoLlL1S3c/s2048/367957314_10231514770597609_8167664583004918201_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" 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/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF4sxj5Yba7tqk2tpfCmxaYffcu5HkfSo_ryq_Px5XEVX5duOpJtbVXL9fWNTKvqvvvw2wdT3PvHkv0F6mU_Pj6-63SkQhA-Q4Hlc4ztN5dZ8QOq1Nfuxt0rUoFf8opGqYL0APt3VGpWS_YnKT9JpXldAG_6N93e54R_JBvz0VVtmbTEXaGgkoLlL1S3c/w300-h400/367957314_10231514770597609_8167664583004918201_n.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9I6a6jfpqeSrOWRoQuc0ExXc5D3qX5BnUahncqdKjpOjSjqlLOwTfQ6qGvySvgN6ulJ_mDR7_8NFcZTEjtPuxFtKs6rs1Qcdfc7syQthemZqpa61dSf94XgnsTUBsyqDDF5wiMPNYVHXKA1HMT7nPSlLVHiXDhQa3D-6pivSUjOUAJvzkxYRChovZd2c/s1800/368300915_10231551132906644_7198058031860437371_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="1440" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9I6a6jfpqeSrOWRoQuc0ExXc5D3qX5BnUahncqdKjpOjSjqlLOwTfQ6qGvySvgN6ulJ_mDR7_8NFcZTEjtPuxFtKs6rs1Qcdfc7syQthemZqpa61dSf94XgnsTUBsyqDDF5wiMPNYVHXKA1HMT7nPSlLVHiXDhQa3D-6pivSUjOUAJvzkxYRChovZd2c/w320-h400/368300915_10231551132906644_7198058031860437371_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yes, we still have cement floors and holes in the walls.</td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div>We had a great turnout for his party, especially in light of the fact that it was at the beach. He played for hours, digging in the sand and constructing a really large pit which they filled with water. Initially, it was stressful getting everything there, but then there wasn't much to do except hang out and visit with everyone. A huge thank you to Stella, who offered the morning of to help set up and met us in the parking lot to help carry stuff over to our reserved tables. More on his party <a href="https://www.catchmyparty.com/parties/stop-the-traffic-clear-the-road-charles-is-turning-5-years-old" target="_blank">here.</a><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_rIfn1c3N5CYMkMmHyZ6iAs0sTcbCxXsRjgNZ_wd31wX-vJ73mNS19EyQdYIy2KJfsgpHF3MWT_F8y6TmCjinxyhGU-F0y0Frtyw2Z2DdyNeWW8-2dJtvTY8uFlkBF0ZmOhhuabskqV08nzOtWe_otqrlFsjyDbvkyRUx8hrqcmNWzGH85E1kbx1MO7E/s2048/369790275_10231597997318225_6216030755352947139_n.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/AVvXsEg_rIfn1c3N5CYMkMmHyZ6iAs0sTcbCxXsRjgNZ_wd31wX-vJ73mNS19EyQdYIy2KJfsgpHF3MWT_F8y6TmCjinxyhGU-F0y0Frtyw2Z2DdyNeWW8-2dJtvTY8uFlkBF0ZmOhhuabskqV08nzOtWe_otqrlFsjyDbvkyRUx8hrqcmNWzGH85E1kbx1MO7E/w426-h640/369790275_10231597997318225_6216030755352947139_n.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq9TYm3yB3z-0Ek7MHeYmzrsKz8KsKYlchZG8__3HhJ-lrp82MKleZdl-SGA8p4ONaJrNZ0GKE4AHjIP9kVN8_WlTpbzlKTcffQb8v8eY1AKHdHorF6DflbUzp3u08uMx6XkNZq4TrjyYiKB2UhHGWAZFpt1rkfJTf6HDAqB9mf0avC7emBSqw5DU_i9w/s2048/369975858_10231603307330972_546506412390532876_n.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/AVvXsEhq9TYm3yB3z-0Ek7MHeYmzrsKz8KsKYlchZG8__3HhJ-lrp82MKleZdl-SGA8p4ONaJrNZ0GKE4AHjIP9kVN8_WlTpbzlKTcffQb8v8eY1AKHdHorF6DflbUzp3u08uMx6XkNZq4TrjyYiKB2UhHGWAZFpt1rkfJTf6HDAqB9mf0avC7emBSqw5DU_i9w/w640-h480/369975858_10231603307330972_546506412390532876_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlEZ5cj2j9bzETaXX_g5rgTtJX3SKW9B0GmUbIX3Rt2uspAxM-frZhIbMrgg04UMwmbhDdv1CRni2K74PtxQwfeWpjt_gwJD3D7olSx-1WGrfYWaqznFoB14A_wqau2V_rJnRBSRp7-hkdEhjMq8KU44ijruzHhdppTpKAjKIPnWwYDOnLckN8PpK5wNo/s2048/370499485_10231597979437778_4094405450417902487_n.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/AVvXsEjlEZ5cj2j9bzETaXX_g5rgTtJX3SKW9B0GmUbIX3Rt2uspAxM-frZhIbMrgg04UMwmbhDdv1CRni2K74PtxQwfeWpjt_gwJD3D7olSx-1WGrfYWaqznFoB14A_wqau2V_rJnRBSRp7-hkdEhjMq8KU44ijruzHhdppTpKAjKIPnWwYDOnLckN8PpK5wNo/w426-h640/370499485_10231597979437778_4094405450417902487_n.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiHeaVvNAbkuay4X0eTdlJZQLBUETyjL1WYa4UkvHbqR7hYHasCBATxs337vN6eSDcVUZXT2SdwP011lkwcsbPfs9z-ucwmvTLGoY5VrKZpkXPtJdRIRWh9O-BkddVzR-IEQAtkJfvSf8yNoPxcpR1VdTeNZHO-spE3ReBbOTGA_-unKFNupJxdOYqKgM/s2048/371336474_10231606756737205_7121526319670167898_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1790" data-original-width="2048" height="560" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiHeaVvNAbkuay4X0eTdlJZQLBUETyjL1WYa4UkvHbqR7hYHasCBATxs337vN6eSDcVUZXT2SdwP011lkwcsbPfs9z-ucwmvTLGoY5VrKZpkXPtJdRIRWh9O-BkddVzR-IEQAtkJfvSf8yNoPxcpR1VdTeNZHO-spE3ReBbOTGA_-unKFNupJxdOYqKgM/w640-h560/371336474_10231606756737205_7121526319670167898_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9KjnJxXSKLdZDtycx3QMztEhkx7aZGFOizLwl_DrDZagbahhQffquAgPmzuyud4_z_j06WQ7J3YAGLQ6LjWCSSBaaZTMmPNK1y25w6Q1e7DoOTQTJI3DhSlBL83tjpyO6iRmFaAvJex8hk4b50njG-1lAxkt0pM72jL73jzNZj2y60ey9jTfRHCJY3gk/s2048/371436178_10231606716376196_3392967304873136344_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1433" data-original-width="2048" height="448" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9KjnJxXSKLdZDtycx3QMztEhkx7aZGFOizLwl_DrDZagbahhQffquAgPmzuyud4_z_j06WQ7J3YAGLQ6LjWCSSBaaZTMmPNK1y25w6Q1e7DoOTQTJI3DhSlBL83tjpyO6iRmFaAvJex8hk4b50njG-1lAxkt0pM72jL73jzNZj2y60ey9jTfRHCJY3gk/w640-h448/371436178_10231606716376196_3392967304873136344_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div></div>Megan Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18287505547652721159noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-713032057716800226.post-48832311065202195702023-09-14T11:12:00.003-07:002023-09-15T09:09:09.450-07:00July, 2023<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGiZLjjpK-UgNBOJuQjoKze7t9SOU-HvKq1V4u7cZEwXiZ0lXnqzMCRbH9GUyLLnIa5SzHmOSVFhdyOll9FLVHt06swarewr1cvyvi8lv6MPFlvdIapVaClg-FINU5o_wclrTuaQv8NkIEjfbQyNC7Qv5gBfHQqTOMCdQ0Vn6xwNdgsjBNArhhBu1SQik/s2048/357724302_10231185299761044_2058766580711434405_n%20(1).jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1616" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGiZLjjpK-UgNBOJuQjoKze7t9SOU-HvKq1V4u7cZEwXiZ0lXnqzMCRbH9GUyLLnIa5SzHmOSVFhdyOll9FLVHt06swarewr1cvyvi8lv6MPFlvdIapVaClg-FINU5o_wclrTuaQv8NkIEjfbQyNC7Qv5gBfHQqTOMCdQ0Vn6xwNdgsjBNArhhBu1SQik/s320/357724302_10231185299761044_2058766580711434405_n%20(1).jpg" width="253" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Literally, our 1st rodeo!</td></tr></tbody></table><p>Since I was pregnant with Autumn, I have consistently posted an update every single month. My Mom died the day after we heard (and saw!) her tiny heartbeat, six weeks after the tiny miracle blastocyst (she was not yet an embryo) that would become her was transferred. As a way of sorting it all out and coping, I blogged. When I didn't feel like it, I blogged. Through the grief and the sadness, and the joy of it all, I blogged. And because I did, I am left without any type of valid excuse for falling a bit behind now. What to blame it on? Well, life happens, and it's better late than never, right?</p><p>July was relaxing and unplugged. Time truly seemed to slow down as the days stretched out before us in Oregon. Unlike being at home, where there are a million things to do, I am able to relax more when I'm up there. Being there is busier for my hubby, who spent a fair amount of his time either constructing a tree house for the kids or helping with projects around his parents' 83 acres. But I was able to relax on the lake with the kids, have picnics, garden, go on walks, and rediscover and redefine my relationship with running. <br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAGVruHP-SAHnLYkHIxcSK3xAunJb7VQv0MKpiSwUjL-vf71_BkA4e_zLea9XDsCsT0budafAoweiqLCuhLB_jFI7lGRat9Jheb2Fc_2Qql_gv1NTOS6cbpAcUs-m_EJnudez8UYZQUBo838Br5LG-P968rG9bjCh22kc2soEuzdzw1VQAm2kXdCYw4m0/s2048/358466737_10231214950022282_1084116397159806992_n%20(1).jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAGVruHP-SAHnLYkHIxcSK3xAunJb7VQv0MKpiSwUjL-vf71_BkA4e_zLea9XDsCsT0budafAoweiqLCuhLB_jFI7lGRat9Jheb2Fc_2Qql_gv1NTOS6cbpAcUs-m_EJnudez8UYZQUBo838Br5LG-P968rG9bjCh22kc2soEuzdzw1VQAm2kXdCYw4m0/w300-h400/358466737_10231214950022282_1084116397159806992_n%20(1).jpg" width="300" /></a></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQfF_PFDJa_AU3zYAutVHybCUYcLcnKNH5x1lpwXgVvxNg2Vn0JQ_rBJZabOOPwjYW04Ae7ACHrGYIBdZzueWlhquhJPfOnUezLlmVaVyFlc0TCHL-M0SWy0a7ApncRvTNihumt9U3XIfeoOaYIO9ZrX8_jjsappY5TFX5N0FGJ-uq4XlmcJ9B33-3Rbo/s2048/358658966_10231229873555361_4940451557010588169_n%20(1).jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQfF_PFDJa_AU3zYAutVHybCUYcLcnKNH5x1lpwXgVvxNg2Vn0JQ_rBJZabOOPwjYW04Ae7ACHrGYIBdZzueWlhquhJPfOnUezLlmVaVyFlc0TCHL-M0SWy0a7ApncRvTNihumt9U3XIfeoOaYIO9ZrX8_jjsappY5TFX5N0FGJ-uq4XlmcJ9B33-3Rbo/w300-h400/358658966_10231229873555361_4940451557010588169_n%20(1).jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPoCrCnjsG9UPYJY-4T00xjh5dWYlMGacXSXcbaMIOLABokMpD9TbM_4ktEh8fNTj0R_u6oMljXzdVBXiYte0pK6KuRDUGEcvd2jljDz8Y-4EV7tMRXB6OrVij8pVZbwEoXlwCdovQoFevK-EYt9vJsU02CjNlF8n4PZDAtJdMmaUiOluJii3TSVL4l5Q/s924/357421685_10231186234944423_5990432247809084216_n.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgrF52u7r6bga0OOLRTYYYqUGbT0_0CBcdVL8W6OHo5oeqaQRUpen_D63k43Z2t515OETkkWLAh7LdUddqb2Qyktpyx0-Sd8A4kVXAFtUXOO-jlD5DiyC1OVNVL2-s7UYrb96xUkaxnI5e7d75vuV8tufgyMopCEtD7KeOMAzX5tUKaiGRVOYe9sspZ3A/s2048/358375025_10231186238544513_8503521215105839443_n.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="color: black;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgrF52u7r6bga0OOLRTYYYqUGbT0_0CBcdVL8W6OHo5oeqaQRUpen_D63k43Z2t515OETkkWLAh7LdUddqb2Qyktpyx0-Sd8A4kVXAFtUXOO-jlD5DiyC1OVNVL2-s7UYrb96xUkaxnI5e7d75vuV8tufgyMopCEtD7KeOMAzX5tUKaiGRVOYe9sspZ3A/s320/358375025_10231186238544513_8503521215105839443_n.jpg" width="240" /></span></a><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="924" height="312" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPoCrCnjsG9UPYJY-4T00xjh5dWYlMGacXSXcbaMIOLABokMpD9TbM_4ktEh8fNTj0R_u6oMljXzdVBXiYte0pK6KuRDUGEcvd2jljDz8Y-4EV7tMRXB6OrVij8pVZbwEoXlwCdovQoFevK-EYt9vJsU02CjNlF8n4PZDAtJdMmaUiOluJii3TSVL4l5Q/s320/357421685_10231186234944423_5990432247809084216_n.jpg" width="320" /></div><p>When I met my husband in 2011, I was seriously burnt out on running. I had finished my 15th full marathon and was training for my first ultra, the North Face Endurance Challenge. The first roses he gave me were for the completion of that, when Delia and I literally ran all day, from the time the sun rose until the time the sun set. I was already signed up for Ragnar but gave my spot to a friend because I had a hip injury. Then...well, life happened. I have not done another full marathon since, but did the Long Beach half in 2017, crossing the finish line holding Aut's hand (the announcer scolded us) and unaware that I was pregnant with Cha.</p><p>In Oregon, I decided to sign up for another half marathon. But when I went on the website to register, I noticed that the half marathon was $139 and the full was $149. <b>Realizing my dollar would go farther with the full, I took a deep breath and signed up for the full marathon on October 15th. </b>It was time to jump into training a few weeks late. It had been so long...how would training go in the Oregon heat?</p><p>I was shocked to realize that not only was it <i>tolerable</i>...but my 10 miles along the river trail in Eugene were almost enjoyable. Non-runners may assume that marathoners actually enjoy running, and that is why we do it. But I'm here to tell you that we don't. Well, at least I don't. Maybe some marathoners <i>do</i> enjoy their training, but I think they are weird. I have never really enjoyed a long run. Toward the end of my training in 2011, it is fair to say that I dreaded most of them. <b><i>I run for the feeling I get when I'm done </i></b>has long been my mantra. But I think I was just really burnt out. I am pleasantly surprised by how well reintroducing longer runs over three miles has been in my life. And how good it feels to be running completely injury-free after years of lingering hip pain. And since this is my first time marathon training since having children, I think I'm enjoying the time! Time for me, for podcasts and books and a little time alone, not filled with TV or cleaning.</p><p>A plan started to form, a life-time goal from back before I even had children or was married: Running <i>the</i> original marathon in Athens to the town of marathon. You know, <a href="https://www.athensauthenticmarathon.gr/site/index.php/en/event-en/13-event-general-information-en/5-history-en" target="_blank">the original one</a>...the whole reason the race is called a marathon. For every marathon runner, this is a bucket-list item.</p><p><span face=""Google Sans", Roboto, arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white;"><i>The name Marathon comes from the legend of Pheidippides, a Greek messenger. The legend states that he was sent from the battlefield of Marathon to Athens to announce that the Persians had been defeated in the Battle of Marathon (in which he had just fought), which took place in August or September, 490 BC.</i></span></p><p>I ran the idea (pun intended) by my husband, who has previously mentioned the idea of me doing another destination marathon (I've done Anchorage, Chicago, Napa and Missoula), but this time, having it be international, and he was on board! A reward for when I finish my doctoral program in the next year or so. Well, if he's in, this is going to happen, I thought! But what I was not expecting was my Mother-in-law to be so enthused. She asked a few questions about the logistics and such and mulled them over. I thought it must seem awfully impractical to her for me to want to drag my family to another country just to watch what must be the worst spectator sport ever: distance running! She was quiet for a while...and then, nearly emotional about how amazing of an experience for all of us this would be! She said it would be so meaningful for the children to see this historic event and said, "I am proud of you." Not only was she supportive, but dare I say, <i>excited</i> about the prospect, calling me "Our Megan of Athens." And so, here it is: in 2025 (not sure we can swing 2024), I am running the Athens Marathon! I could not be more excited about this goal, and it breathes new life and meaning into all of the training I'm doing and all that lies ahead.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8EDVe0ZFWbLpwg-1656u5zFZSxTomDSpdQTOeueUWfAtIfzBec2Br2DayuL2mTh2lsCSv3V--giQX804m_tBdmLBExsezAVH29QFSDNyYkzh7lQRtIcApjYDv-JoShsd5YLI3cNd8foKOyfLKVm34FtHJCIGK4gw9ctxKo1a7gGifA9quysEL5CjYp0k/s200/marathonSoldier_b.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: black;"><img border="0" data-original-height="187" data-original-width="200" height="187" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8EDVe0ZFWbLpwg-1656u5zFZSxTomDSpdQTOeueUWfAtIfzBec2Br2DayuL2mTh2lsCSv3V--giQX804m_tBdmLBExsezAVH29QFSDNyYkzh7lQRtIcApjYDv-JoShsd5YLI3cNd8foKOyfLKVm34FtHJCIGK4gw9ctxKo1a7gGifA9quysEL5CjYp0k/s1600/marathonSoldier_b.jpg" width="200" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Illustration of me running in THE marathon.</td></tr></tbody></table><p>On that ten-mile run in Eugene, I discovered a playground across from the Valley River Center where we usually go to see movies. So when we went into town to see the Little Mermaid with Ben, we went a little early so that the kids could explore the playground. Unbeknownst to me, there was also a water feature, complete with wet sand and a little river that periodically flowed. Although not dressed for it (read: jeans), I couldn't help but say "sure!" when they asked to get wet. Unstructured and/or unexpected play that results in them getting a little messy is always the best!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXgMor-vT9--XQtTgDXtgCZg3d2VjbPMIiNE59rKbx9f0qGvSzP2LSY_XQDhnu8HjonFnbhBpIM1eG6fMkBVcrrMvgqNQJPVyMFW3khnG287EltKiXwf_dsAlrfhgl7-W56oKB1x9P-lrcMA2PBQLhyfw4RdtfP00jZECMhCP__TjP3C3u0jCeWL-18nE/s2048/358107710_10231219366052680_4857128470824014397_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXgMor-vT9--XQtTgDXtgCZg3d2VjbPMIiNE59rKbx9f0qGvSzP2LSY_XQDhnu8HjonFnbhBpIM1eG6fMkBVcrrMvgqNQJPVyMFW3khnG287EltKiXwf_dsAlrfhgl7-W56oKB1x9P-lrcMA2PBQLhyfw4RdtfP00jZECMhCP__TjP3C3u0jCeWL-18nE/w640-h480/358107710_10231219366052680_4857128470824014397_n.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxIrSAiQxqV2IoqDZJ2g--SQqqCtgEuf_eE9c2r_6PUVP0Sx9I3oWKJjbIalZuQF1pvtzKEJUq4LR0H19Xd5RoaJ8G8aYZabTMi3mgaPILUds59Bqbvg4XcTEeMJ2_GGIfgLHNVWN_vShKNCnnkIcb432WpXWQE9w_5ld-si_AYnTP0xmhCxBO_RkDC0g/s2048/358097717_10231219367652720_5180845897544056483_n.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1486" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxIrSAiQxqV2IoqDZJ2g--SQqqCtgEuf_eE9c2r_6PUVP0Sx9I3oWKJjbIalZuQF1pvtzKEJUq4LR0H19Xd5RoaJ8G8aYZabTMi3mgaPILUds59Bqbvg4XcTEeMJ2_GGIfgLHNVWN_vShKNCnnkIcb432WpXWQE9w_5ld-si_AYnTP0xmhCxBO_RkDC0g/s320/358097717_10231219367652720_5180845897544056483_n.jpg" width="232" /></span></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMJV2aLHJBIVt3wEJXoyCDeIKKFVcDoGSRvrHeC2_l1UMgkUKVGz7bhTWnzJaRFgHoJ5IEB14bGXdcvJfeQ9GJFKpoXkiEPJj8rhpPRLZf7kdA9WDvZgOo9LqEfmJn1kQ8FlizmBjPTFkQYom6xTz-qaPoP4SyysjP4o8EQWu0jb_6xkklgBbCxDylD-4/s2048/359246952_10231219366692696_5464645899363117977_n.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="color: black;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMJV2aLHJBIVt3wEJXoyCDeIKKFVcDoGSRvrHeC2_l1UMgkUKVGz7bhTWnzJaRFgHoJ5IEB14bGXdcvJfeQ9GJFKpoXkiEPJj8rhpPRLZf7kdA9WDvZgOo9LqEfmJn1kQ8FlizmBjPTFkQYom6xTz-qaPoP4SyysjP4o8EQWu0jb_6xkklgBbCxDylD-4/s320/359246952_10231219366692696_5464645899363117977_n.jpg" width="240" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Around the middle of July, my hubby headed home a few days ahead of us, making the 16-hour drive with our four dogs in one stretch. As we were getting ready to make our connecting flight in San Francisco, our plane was taken out of commission, and there were no additional flights into Orange County. This meant that we would have to spend the night. What was a major headache and pain to me was an adventurous delight for the kids, who were beyond excited to go on the free shuttle to our hotel and stay a while longer. <i>Okay, well, we can catch an uber and go see a sight or two</i>, I thought, but they were content to explore the hotel and the pool and order room service.<br /><p>Once we finally made it home and caught up on our sleep, it was time for me to do a longer training run.<b> I realized that now, my girl could ride her bike alongside me while I ran! </b>What a game-changer this was! Part of the point of this blog is recording things I never want to forget, and this first ride/run together is definitely one of them. We headed out a bit later than we should have, which added to the heat, and the temperature was hovering around the low 80's.</p><p><span style="color: black;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4oFdQpKeKhZMhmFVo65aW_9pGxel0hAGA4XroS8Tr9CZ2Oz9hlP7W1TYNI88lLYl9Tt91AysqxBfQRzeEDeo8lrxYm2qGm76_Haf-Xy6HNQGZ8COsnIf_Jp3naccZ2S7V6t58QlZ7vxywaT-hddlVsKknKyy2_inANRPq7LgVuvr56MIUmA8HdeBQrQI/s2048/359754639_10231249412683827_7927340775607720970_n.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4oFdQpKeKhZMhmFVo65aW_9pGxel0hAGA4XroS8Tr9CZ2Oz9hlP7W1TYNI88lLYl9Tt91AysqxBfQRzeEDeo8lrxYm2qGm76_Haf-Xy6HNQGZ8COsnIf_Jp3naccZ2S7V6t58QlZ7vxywaT-hddlVsKknKyy2_inANRPq7LgVuvr56MIUmA8HdeBQrQI/s320/359754639_10231249412683827_7927340775607720970_n.jpg" width="240" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih78kjpcko_UlnThP6aew-Uutf5x3a161yKYGM0-trOtXJMiI0hHjPZ5piz0RyQrr71NddU8HzJj0G2fSX_9GHX0hJqNg79j9xatkU70bdA6TfeCE_V4girbBbZGy0FzB0xKSqIARo5qE68By4c5TJr77PWvYXk5VXpfWfispZaQUkkOGSUzclaObO_2Q/s2048/359816679_10231249413963859_1762040750222406586_n.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih78kjpcko_UlnThP6aew-Uutf5x3a161yKYGM0-trOtXJMiI0hHjPZ5piz0RyQrr71NddU8HzJj0G2fSX_9GHX0hJqNg79j9xatkU70bdA6TfeCE_V4girbBbZGy0FzB0xKSqIARo5qE68By4c5TJr77PWvYXk5VXpfWfispZaQUkkOGSUzclaObO_2Q/s320/359816679_10231249413963859_1762040750222406586_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></span></p><p>She was amazing! My Awesome Autumn. When we were 1.5 miles in, before we headed up the steep hill, I gave her the option to turn around with me. "No, Mommy, I want to keep going." While I tried to convey that I was indifferent to either option, I couldn't hide that I was happy with her decision. As we approached Irvine Regional Park, she kept asking me if we were there. We were both hot and out of water. I quickly realized that she may not want to turn around and do another 3 miles. So I legitimately gave her an out, offering to have Daddy come pick her up and wait with her until he arrived. It was so hot, and the nearby drinking fountain was not working. I told her to think about it while I went to find water. I had to trek across the park and wait in line behind some kids with way too much energy on a summer camp adventure. When I got back to her, lying down in the shade, she said she wanted to keep going. "Because I want to jump in the pool with you, Mommy!" That idea kept us going, as she no longer complained on the way back or asked how much longer it would be. I put my cell phone on speaker with her songs and stuck it in my pocket. When we entered our back gate from the trail, we both climbed up on the back wall of the pool, counted to three, and jumped in the pool together, shoes and all.</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHiVFSCEwTiBNtvj_dt7WaGPZoyhLsZ5ASdYfXJRUJf1rKbWmdkgywS84FQfpYs9jpeBdINfRaN7qyPvStMhVLmrUSay6Z5Xg4Wp_X-bk-yRxnJnqnmutddcAZ_Ii1mAMk2BlvCloUGy2HmOXoLXv-yiVFJDHAovhBVE68QONJw4ZmG74m4cXKqW_ldqc/s2048/360164701_10231272118811466_2748016814889902423_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHiVFSCEwTiBNtvj_dt7WaGPZoyhLsZ5ASdYfXJRUJf1rKbWmdkgywS84FQfpYs9jpeBdINfRaN7qyPvStMhVLmrUSay6Z5Xg4Wp_X-bk-yRxnJnqnmutddcAZ_Ii1mAMk2BlvCloUGy2HmOXoLXv-yiVFJDHAovhBVE68QONJw4ZmG74m4cXKqW_ldqc/w640-h480/360164701_10231272118811466_2748016814889902423_n.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></p><p>My mileage for the month:</p><p>July 5th - 6 miles</p><p>July 6th - 3 miles</p><p>July 8th - 10 miles; 10:38 pace, felt good</p><p>July 11th - 4 miles</p><p>July 13th - 6 miles</p><p>July 16th - 12 miles; 10:55 pace. Hot. Back Bay</p><p>July 18th - 3 miles</p><p>July 20th - 5 miles</p><p>July 21st - 3 miles</p><p>July 23rd - 8 miles</p><p>July 27th - 4 miles</p><p>July 30th - 14 miles</p><p>_________________________________</p><p>Total miles: 78</p><p>A milestone this month - our girl got braces!</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh84VtFx2W2Z3ig15paBAo1ocTLzctvkr7pXsMmn0650xVYsX78tqF9zziE7W_ODkxGqJdrh8rXZkX1OyT7Z8iTA8FluG94PzfXw2TNivXM7Wwk_4FyQTsHdotm36n56flSpL9AoShtcP5Jfkveycc6BYO8RZxK0gG3SNNIb9ozYi3-_GvD9VoxpJuPKp8/s2048/361945127_10231291533416819_1099011992567605800_n%20(1).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh84VtFx2W2Z3ig15paBAo1ocTLzctvkr7pXsMmn0650xVYsX78tqF9zziE7W_ODkxGqJdrh8rXZkX1OyT7Z8iTA8FluG94PzfXw2TNivXM7Wwk_4FyQTsHdotm36n56flSpL9AoShtcP5Jfkveycc6BYO8RZxK0gG3SNNIb9ozYi3-_GvD9VoxpJuPKp8/s320/361945127_10231291533416819_1099011992567605800_n%20(1).jpg" width="320" /></a></p><p>I took Aut and her friend to the American Girl store in LA, where she was able to spend some of her birthday money that was burning a hole in her pocket. </p><p><span style="color: black;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAStwFJz4w0je0ws-IboRFlx5hJ095CCRqpZJ_bIMv5HRQVGOQ1ETbKQ39HZqO9uwCCqNe5kIOj0OBIgyyJwdfF8QqS-HMhK7FoqK30976PBbpmt_vHrYSIX3lN-kSO-l-ehKilpXMnSWgMSGdszf3ybjceykVfXR-yRv2IYhZAVHeaoiNDyWu60zSKlE/s1800/362267965_10231392945832066_4027731900140829875_n.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="1440" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAStwFJz4w0je0ws-IboRFlx5hJ095CCRqpZJ_bIMv5HRQVGOQ1ETbKQ39HZqO9uwCCqNe5kIOj0OBIgyyJwdfF8QqS-HMhK7FoqK30976PBbpmt_vHrYSIX3lN-kSO-l-ehKilpXMnSWgMSGdszf3ybjceykVfXR-yRv2IYhZAVHeaoiNDyWu60zSKlE/s320/362267965_10231392945832066_4027731900140829875_n.jpg" width="256" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghH6QXj8Y3VP_G9_5Df0XBkrHXPwjw96m7UY-1Ph4KkneeqcI9RIlhFgnEcwPKc91wdC4da2H01VuRsMwWBzBneaDxPz0YL9zgzr1Ak1u1B8CJRgJla0Hsv3KIpJoiV5aoEd2PE-T-GpDoGDTr5SoklyCAa0V-bB9l0oMtQ7RKlWoPQ_3BuMgTItkBeQw/s1800/363774397_10231392945992070_3511396165516461242_n.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="1440" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghH6QXj8Y3VP_G9_5Df0XBkrHXPwjw96m7UY-1Ph4KkneeqcI9RIlhFgnEcwPKc91wdC4da2H01VuRsMwWBzBneaDxPz0YL9zgzr1Ak1u1B8CJRgJla0Hsv3KIpJoiV5aoEd2PE-T-GpDoGDTr5SoklyCAa0V-bB9l0oMtQ7RKlWoPQ_3BuMgTItkBeQw/s320/363774397_10231392945992070_3511396165516461242_n.jpg" width="256" /></a></span></p><div>We were also fortunate enough to be invited to the Magic Castle in Hollywood with some friends and enjoyed a rare opportunity to get dressed up.</div><div> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMePUPut4AVtoZNlSgPZ7T9eBHhFnJBWlDHpRQJKonHFUz6NoJyjTjdXqbZOTj5tkaiWywnNOpjabjD0R_4FVD3Q6BRb1Wsht8MC5v_JprbXR8oiu2aYm-rfWHRIh34zkFfHtMJAajUU_WXsoPeuWuddFthODrt1UVUT-sWb8JjCYMoF7PYLkKtPi41gQ/s2048/362669942_10231320111211246_7330894307720314025_n%20(1).jpg" 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/AVvXsEiMePUPut4AVtoZNlSgPZ7T9eBHhFnJBWlDHpRQJKonHFUz6NoJyjTjdXqbZOTj5tkaiWywnNOpjabjD0R_4FVD3Q6BRb1Wsht8MC5v_JprbXR8oiu2aYm-rfWHRIh34zkFfHtMJAajUU_WXsoPeuWuddFthODrt1UVUT-sWb8JjCYMoF7PYLkKtPi41gQ/w640-h480/362669942_10231320111211246_7330894307720314025_n%20(1).jpg" width="640" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFcP0lvKI2X3iQYM7EFzsIff9pNBuwf1vjcgmdZ5Hjl2wanrDM-XR4b8sVO8UFACk7nS6as-G5P3ncPmvqdKnZPtz058fEsZQxirJdEywr1b4ryCOEJVo0F49VUjTEa6s4dbG_K8nciUIlPgKSVt-63Bn6U5yJmpndGsr3VMVlnuHyGgUbk0jFRBYd5dw/s2048/361613203_10231320012848787_4811326956388901542_n%20(1).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1638" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFcP0lvKI2X3iQYM7EFzsIff9pNBuwf1vjcgmdZ5Hjl2wanrDM-XR4b8sVO8UFACk7nS6as-G5P3ncPmvqdKnZPtz058fEsZQxirJdEywr1b4ryCOEJVo0F49VUjTEa6s4dbG_K8nciUIlPgKSVt-63Bn6U5yJmpndGsr3VMVlnuHyGgUbk0jFRBYd5dw/w320-h400/361613203_10231320012848787_4811326956388901542_n%20(1).jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div>Because we missed VBS this summer, which I always do with the kids, we attended a Catholic family camp at the <a href="https://www.santiagoretreatcenter.org/catholic-family-camp" target="_blank">Santiago Retreat Center.</a> While the center is very rustic (Mom would say it is missing the mod cons), it did have air conditioning. Which didn't work at all. Around 2am on the first night, I told myself we were not staying another night. But we were able to switch to a different cabin where the air conditioning worked, and I decided that we would stick it out. Fast forward a few days, and I found myself thankful that we came and not exactly wanting to leave. The focus was on JOY, which, unlike happiness, which is fleeting, can co-exist with sadness and sorrow.<div><br /></div><div>According to Peter Kreeft, joy is more than happiness. While happiness is in the mind and feelings, joy is deep in the heart, spirit, the center of the self. This. <i>This</i> is what Mom had: Joy, always. Through tough times and the wonderful times, and normal times, she was always joyful. Mom was never stressed or judgemental or angry. Mom had more joy than anyone I've ever known, and that joy is with me now, because of her. <a href="https://catholicexchange.com/the-difference-between-joy-and-happiness/" target="_blank">Joy is not just a gift of the Holy Spirit</a>, but it was a gift that Mom gave to me and my brother and my father and anyone who ever knew her, day after day. Her joy is even being poured into people she has not met, like her Grandchildren. Thank you for the gift of joy, Mom. I'll do my very best to pass the torch and pour so much joy into these two tiny humans that they have it for their children, too.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbGpfL3b7IYWMbI3ETzmBUABHx8LGmQ1V02NluQ05QiuolRWO7XuSGZ846ZaPOV48QQU9G9mQws4um07ZijmdWhYPaY6tbcLWMzyF2mqES4vJX95e0t7lXCqikLhPMsRFZ9V_l0bUqDKn4T_3ZmmdfpasMw-YkrlGITYnnBewRFGN3A9f_SlTzWZqCHuo/s2048/362292552_10231393270240176_4431840889249867204_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbGpfL3b7IYWMbI3ETzmBUABHx8LGmQ1V02NluQ05QiuolRWO7XuSGZ846ZaPOV48QQU9G9mQws4um07ZijmdWhYPaY6tbcLWMzyF2mqES4vJX95e0t7lXCqikLhPMsRFZ9V_l0bUqDKn4T_3ZmmdfpasMw-YkrlGITYnnBewRFGN3A9f_SlTzWZqCHuo/w640-h480/362292552_10231393270240176_4431840889249867204_n.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMYvue2B6Od4hp2ODaA3572BWAQHcv9lvR3s0ho3DwoZTgkQ9RuZi6H8DzDKgO_5X9V2J4rupGCelDTGK6dZZok0xIfDNTdBUDYGf3iDJsAS0oYJXfob1pTaPqbkhC2yIqmV9-aD1zLc1Uxw8GC_MFTyDvw0WbvT8KSQAV00I9R_yPbTC7JRWuKsuV-rA/s2048/363437748_10231393274360279_8038815903383855933_n.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: black;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMYvue2B6Od4hp2ODaA3572BWAQHcv9lvR3s0ho3DwoZTgkQ9RuZi6H8DzDKgO_5X9V2J4rupGCelDTGK6dZZok0xIfDNTdBUDYGf3iDJsAS0oYJXfob1pTaPqbkhC2yIqmV9-aD1zLc1Uxw8GC_MFTyDvw0WbvT8KSQAV00I9R_yPbTC7JRWuKsuV-rA/w640-h480/363437748_10231393274360279_8038815903383855933_n.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Where Mass was held daily</td></tr></tbody></table><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/AVvXsEgOK-WZ6QnPPGjZxIHZn9bTK30geTlg6fKOT6KI9eR3rT6linhXKC7ve9b_DF8hIIvaP6zi_1D93kb7Lnf6XHJqcd3scVVqj0aLK82-avjxqD7M5EaTAQNETmOIfIHbJmysE_i1m9Nfrh6AYqBcJa1Mt_Bn8zZ7IrQhiJDd96oawr8IW3qE-6cn2CGEOqY/s2048/364805112_10231393275840316_931968007036395881_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOK-WZ6QnPPGjZxIHZn9bTK30geTlg6fKOT6KI9eR3rT6linhXKC7ve9b_DF8hIIvaP6zi_1D93kb7Lnf6XHJqcd3scVVqj0aLK82-avjxqD7M5EaTAQNETmOIfIHbJmysE_i1m9Nfrh6AYqBcJa1Mt_Bn8zZ7IrQhiJDd96oawr8IW3qE-6cn2CGEOqY/w480-h640/364805112_10231393275840316_931968007036395881_n.jpg" width="480" /></span></a></div><br /></div>Megan Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18287505547652721159noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-713032057716800226.post-46143768898698876982023-08-25T09:53:00.005-07:002023-08-29T08:45:36.827-07:00June, 2023<p><span style="clear: left; color: black; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1664" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSamhvygTJTAnmmwbBXhEUX5aVML0XAQguIofQr80NS7z-Z5_VnhU9qQGdJIEOHMeWNk7D9XUq4-wL7zSn38Io1gPk4UvZ3OZcAJYNutGIMl7XC9rI_OgSlswlJa4fqZJGYgajpL0DtQuLjm2Fqm10nfK_sQRcq_y_NtntBGbsV6v1DUNGtMa8NF1Hlwo/s320/351482275_10230992009888918_1225431187774747347_n.jpg" width="260" /></span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">This month, Aut finished a volleyball season and celebrated the last day of school/her birthday with one night at the GWL with two friends and her cousin. She also did a cheerleading/dance camp at Daddy's high school because she was out of school a week before we were. We also met my best friend, Andrea, at California's last Rainforest Cafe.</span></p><p></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlPSi68XWZRiRUKyMUD8sMXFfhC5btD1aE6SIwsool9ALn_FHvuwi-ftahwXMo2rzt8FxZ_De0BTm5VW38EGAwWEC2Rzmoy2EGNZRZdO74DWeUPFm-T6afE9tLcUSgEOchb4Dzql-6gjont8Rsu0o6ptiaKh_4wA4DMGnsvjuOEHpB6O8iku2fi7K2bHs/s2048/352540028_10231028791328431_1725220491161379107_n.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlPSi68XWZRiRUKyMUD8sMXFfhC5btD1aE6SIwsool9ALn_FHvuwi-ftahwXMo2rzt8FxZ_De0BTm5VW38EGAwWEC2Rzmoy2EGNZRZdO74DWeUPFm-T6afE9tLcUSgEOchb4Dzql-6gjont8Rsu0o6ptiaKh_4wA4DMGnsvjuOEHpB6O8iku2fi7K2bHs/s320/352540028_10231028791328431_1725220491161379107_n.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTjmGAL4JKa2vgkmJBwIqPqlDg35lFeZfEUEyfdzy5j18lX9JXeMo5p16fZXYszqWEkiJHf87LCcsVizgSW9H8mZxzexYaMlB1vfMYnUGillwZDc22bRBzOkCJHWLwkDgUAnZ38kDOL57PN_YWFq4mkhlSKEjsv-iZmO4-ozdp6K4iS2sWtGprp9HIX7c/s1800/351131943_558915366395521_99576789095291559_n.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="1440" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTjmGAL4JKa2vgkmJBwIqPqlDg35lFeZfEUEyfdzy5j18lX9JXeMo5p16fZXYszqWEkiJHf87LCcsVizgSW9H8mZxzexYaMlB1vfMYnUGillwZDc22bRBzOkCJHWLwkDgUAnZ38kDOL57PN_YWFq4mkhlSKEjsv-iZmO4-ozdp6K4iS2sWtGprp9HIX7c/s320/351131943_558915366395521_99576789095291559_n.jpg" width="256" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSUslpBQgmKs5e9aGLNMo_dbd7LRdfI65XvTrdlfMtcT858No6DeWWCy5UZNUuaHYfi3nq-vnc0BtxAUlr9Q5hPySLwxScZN184jfzuxhc1_KLmwr0aGGkxrIljEnTI0xZfyFUjIy5t8bJDdPs4jeBf9cts-VS8w7TmFzDRedGTpB_Q9GWD0DgVULh61Y/s750/348962178_705592931372966_5402483338741359592_n.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="750" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSUslpBQgmKs5e9aGLNMo_dbd7LRdfI65XvTrdlfMtcT858No6DeWWCy5UZNUuaHYfi3nq-vnc0BtxAUlr9Q5hPySLwxScZN184jfzuxhc1_KLmwr0aGGkxrIljEnTI0xZfyFUjIy5t8bJDdPs4jeBf9cts-VS8w7TmFzDRedGTpB_Q9GWD0DgVULh61Y/s320/348962178_705592931372966_5402483338741359592_n.jpg" width="320" /></a><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH7LeazsqBTQWFwhRe6cR1DCJlt0r1Zd7Txdf3Dzl0VUi9PwzKkSJXCzTm4tkPQ5kJpoinuZwXs5LFZ2CqvkrR9NvhR6wvuf1IUjzKaQFtZC3w5VDePowmD0tDroAq1NcDlL_QozvLyaJn7HIYqOeMUBFyuu52y5jSk8QAQZUIG3_eLcWctSFqM2nGf9w/s750/352010601_5425331847570511_6256115272919567666_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="562" data-original-width="750" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH7LeazsqBTQWFwhRe6cR1DCJlt0r1Zd7Txdf3Dzl0VUi9PwzKkSJXCzTm4tkPQ5kJpoinuZwXs5LFZ2CqvkrR9NvhR6wvuf1IUjzKaQFtZC3w5VDePowmD0tDroAq1NcDlL_QozvLyaJn7HIYqOeMUBFyuu52y5jSk8QAQZUIG3_eLcWctSFqM2nGf9w/w640-h480/352010601_5425331847570511_6256115272919567666_n.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">The school year ended and the very next day, the kids and I were on a flight to Oregon (OregonGlen, as Cha calls it). A few days later, Dad made the sacrifice of a 16 hour drive to bring up all of the dogs. Normally, they run all over off leash, but there are four baby swans, so we needed to keep the golden girls leashed up, much to Anna's dismay. They were my running buddies, sticking by me as I ran down to the Y most days, sometimes twice for a six mile run.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">I love being in Oregon for many reasons, one of the top ones being that time slows down here. Of course a large part of that slowing down is due to the fact that we are on vacation, with no agenda at all. But it's different than a vacation in another country, with sites to see, or being off of work and still being at home. As much as I love commitments with friends, there is something to be said for a completely clear calendar. Up here, there is no one to meet up with, no doctor's appointments, birthday parties, sports practices, etc. I love Oregon for many reasons, but part of the relaxation comes from the fact that it is not my home and so there is nothing I "should" be doing, like decluttering or cleaning out the spare room. Free time is truly that: free. Each day tends to blend into the next and I love not knowing the date, day of the week or time of day! I'm like a retired person up here. It's not unusual for me to get caught up in doing yardwork and oops- look at the time, it's almost 1pm and time to make the kids something to eat!</span></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVcaLtykCwSoh1L7-pY6YtbdOuDEPdsHxt7OijqTBkpNrydl4K0D8wluheNoc2FsqvA7ZUX9FSEUmB3hrfbiPqDB51JpK0fnOB4EizjjdVj_96hWj_2eG_P0FVgMf_HD97R4ubgxXlqWWkELEQuBrSLbWTwGVS8z_qh-2L6R41-PfKBTHppOlIHytV-NQ/s2048/355435734_10231068515081500_1199423292701657497_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVcaLtykCwSoh1L7-pY6YtbdOuDEPdsHxt7OijqTBkpNrydl4K0D8wluheNoc2FsqvA7ZUX9FSEUmB3hrfbiPqDB51JpK0fnOB4EizjjdVj_96hWj_2eG_P0FVgMf_HD97R4ubgxXlqWWkELEQuBrSLbWTwGVS8z_qh-2L6R41-PfKBTHppOlIHytV-NQ/w640-h480/355435734_10231068515081500_1199423292701657497_n.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">We have tons of unstructured time for the kids to get "bored" and then come up with something creative to do, like take the kayak out or run through the sprinklers. Aut has her summer bridge activity book, 20 minutes of reading each day, plus helping Grandma with gardening a little every day but other than that, her days are free. Sometimes, she's able to play with the renter's daughter AJ or neighbor girl Charolette. </span></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXoRNSNu9IwN7BECa2Zosn46hVCsxeuky1Qs591mfFT-6el45s43hI7fe_yQsPgcD10kZ_XaKLmELeyKLxEwFk_ERFpeYiaLjT2l3dvgJzRLrSFwmlGxiodYMuvwls7Fa7ZfrhDNBVCuO-jxK_1CJapwhrx--464lWJIBoBC_4P1LGUFGBxJ3DE2DXwgo/s2048/356654792_10231124951772382_3423633898999979472_n.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXoRNSNu9IwN7BECa2Zosn46hVCsxeuky1Qs591mfFT-6el45s43hI7fe_yQsPgcD10kZ_XaKLmELeyKLxEwFk_ERFpeYiaLjT2l3dvgJzRLrSFwmlGxiodYMuvwls7Fa7ZfrhDNBVCuO-jxK_1CJapwhrx--464lWJIBoBC_4P1LGUFGBxJ3DE2DXwgo/w300-h400/356654792_10231124951772382_3423633898999979472_n.jpg" width="300" /></span></a></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv5vzEnweRWdGqmUCl4T5YxxYWPtvVwpkPs0lbEiajz3O3uxXMcJZYr3-rdCKlupyyuKLPtfeQkKzilUbHQ9GyUtueRTnP61GIbGG7XwiZL2iysaCuco_IK90jTKl86j_ygcHUL6EU-nHVHMjtE04cN2innMlmtq737AuNLfdTANNn_Z_e1R9Up8tO7mk/s2048/356069339_10231124950812358_8183939150244620797_n.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv5vzEnweRWdGqmUCl4T5YxxYWPtvVwpkPs0lbEiajz3O3uxXMcJZYr3-rdCKlupyyuKLPtfeQkKzilUbHQ9GyUtueRTnP61GIbGG7XwiZL2iysaCuco_IK90jTKl86j_ygcHUL6EU-nHVHMjtE04cN2innMlmtq737AuNLfdTANNn_Z_e1R9Up8tO7mk/w300-h400/356069339_10231124950812358_8183939150244620797_n.jpg" width="300" /></a> </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">I had fun helping my mother-in-law with her fern garden, raking, weeding and planting new ferns that she purchased and transplanting some from across the lake. I suggested hydrangeas and later that week, she came back from town with two. Daddy tackled a huge project with the kids: building their first tree house!</span></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRUougYu0-Dr2nS_tiG8Q2ug5_eiEspjc8h9PVxkQHIJQiIEds6biEmOf6j_VY9t8ooYgG06Ac8vrkmh1qIAhHh2Tz1vagsEoY03PhFLFVvEGrcLY5jJSkkSulhe_2moALGDR8s4uCXlBOcxNqcdxJ6p679yAXvw7SraLMFfX_29ov3hODQG48lqAnGIo/s2048/355908124_10231124950932361_6271843043965628136_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRUougYu0-Dr2nS_tiG8Q2ug5_eiEspjc8h9PVxkQHIJQiIEds6biEmOf6j_VY9t8ooYgG06Ac8vrkmh1qIAhHh2Tz1vagsEoY03PhFLFVvEGrcLY5jJSkkSulhe_2moALGDR8s4uCXlBOcxNqcdxJ6p679yAXvw7SraLMFfX_29ov3hODQG48lqAnGIo/w640-h480/355908124_10231124950932361_6271843043965628136_n.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Seeing the kids having fun here and getting lost in an activity like building blocks, running through sprinklers or helping Dad with the treehouse brings me my own joy just by watching them. </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='516' height='429' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxshzQh59xmtMLESKbGXklkLEQXrmvy-lOYzx3LRQufW5yr0LBsjdJsQbq_iUyrPx_2MRP95Hekfze_s9HCSw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></span></div><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">We also did some cooking, making the recipes from the cooking class we took in Rome, like tiramisu and spaghetti from scratch. Grandma bought a children's kayak, and the kids had so much fun tooling around on it. We also went swimming, and I enjoyed floating on a raft in the shade. The water is still cold but is noticeably warmer toward the surface and super refreshing after a run. Aut loved driving the Gator all by herself.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhCSjdKcIJpR3eYJw9ZnSDSoDzi3Dw7rgcyK7noapCyMmcr4ei-Q-0XL2_c8Be-U_cL-vyyO288ZH1x7fq2_dutvsmhZyHshLSbbPnEKlFn7G-ldZa-LDzycJuZoUN6lmWz-s4CkW0X1a2sA4I8iLgxBjp9gnnBOFSH77u8QgEIALdc5Vz87ZAVYkw6X0/s2048/352511724_10231078127041793_3427880909707929312_n.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3HaK59IWBoYQ-MM45I8nE7U7a96KAk78Qvb6KtGQ1FlGRV4ZHqy4Ye_xoceRxTaC_778GhB42124BwOZSmrXZPQXeZSX5keJ-4fQFKKS9bagUJn3ht66jsCh52nnlyg9H9vKcT-zQD-SVKkriDngGtPxYZ7ZIPE40d3bTSKE64krg6Cw9PrjcytE9J6s/s2048/353024317_10231055832884453_5614546586770345015_n.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="color: black; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3HaK59IWBoYQ-MM45I8nE7U7a96KAk78Qvb6KtGQ1FlGRV4ZHqy4Ye_xoceRxTaC_778GhB42124BwOZSmrXZPQXeZSX5keJ-4fQFKKS9bagUJn3ht66jsCh52nnlyg9H9vKcT-zQD-SVKkriDngGtPxYZ7ZIPE40d3bTSKE64krg6Cw9PrjcytE9J6s/s2048/353024317_10231055832884453_5614546586770345015_n.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="color: black; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></a><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhCSjdKcIJpR3eYJw9ZnSDSoDzi3Dw7rgcyK7noapCyMmcr4ei-Q-0XL2_c8Be-U_cL-vyyO288ZH1x7fq2_dutvsmhZyHshLSbbPnEKlFn7G-ldZa-LDzycJuZoUN6lmWz-s4CkW0X1a2sA4I8iLgxBjp9gnnBOFSH77u8QgEIALdc5Vz87ZAVYkw6X0/w300-h400/352511724_10231078127041793_3427880909707929312_n.jpg" width="300" /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3HaK59IWBoYQ-MM45I8nE7U7a96KAk78Qvb6KtGQ1FlGRV4ZHqy4Ye_xoceRxTaC_778GhB42124BwOZSmrXZPQXeZSX5keJ-4fQFKKS9bagUJn3ht66jsCh52nnlyg9H9vKcT-zQD-SVKkriDngGtPxYZ7ZIPE40d3bTSKE64krg6Cw9PrjcytE9J6s/s2048/353024317_10231055832884453_5614546586770345015_n.jpg" 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/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3HaK59IWBoYQ-MM45I8nE7U7a96KAk78Qvb6KtGQ1FlGRV4ZHqy4Ye_xoceRxTaC_778GhB42124BwOZSmrXZPQXeZSX5keJ-4fQFKKS9bagUJn3ht66jsCh52nnlyg9H9vKcT-zQD-SVKkriDngGtPxYZ7ZIPE40d3bTSKE64krg6Cw9PrjcytE9J6s/w300-h400/353024317_10231055832884453_5614546586770345015_n.jpg" width="300" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium; text-align: left;">We took on an important task this trip, too, re-homing pony. While this sounds a bit sad, pony went to the best home, and we feel very good about it. Horses are pack animals and are not able to sleep and rest well without a companion to stand guard. Butterscotch did have a llama a while ago that she never bonded with, but has been alone for quite some time. She seems lonely. The nicest retired man bought her as a companion for his horse. Before we agreed to the re-homing, Cathy and I drove out there to see his home. Not too far, on 70 beautiful acres, he had a beautiful barn and a ton of pasture. We will miss Butters but are confident her quality of life has greatly improved. Especially come winter, when she will greatly appreciate that nice, warm barn.</span></div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTtSZzXl3it9kdWSM3_mLffzCMGWbn9hBXHEYmYpF8jtKeXgemvC1Hr6nHALhZV9qlK18UDXPgWrtX5W-x6awVh8MFHPn3JyVWXwQjtZM02SQMAwYKsHkAdr3v1BRlcteugzrZeFXM5lRCszJm00Me6rKqibGK388e8OW72eMN468C5q2x3oTomK03NQM/s2048/353643473_10231093955917505_388066639027130115_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTtSZzXl3it9kdWSM3_mLffzCMGWbn9hBXHEYmYpF8jtKeXgemvC1Hr6nHALhZV9qlK18UDXPgWrtX5W-x6awVh8MFHPn3JyVWXwQjtZM02SQMAwYKsHkAdr3v1BRlcteugzrZeFXM5lRCszJm00Me6rKqibGK388e8OW72eMN468C5q2x3oTomK03NQM/w640-h480/353643473_10231093955917505_388066639027130115_n.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi58kGeZ9moYxbbF9o2yEopLKMrtZ4RGHXm9Qoy2zuBrRJZFg_cbiwka2eL35L59ZgyL57dDyOqufDNpZEYtAV-O7tmfR3xwYB1j7JVZzjApIR8_TzNX5kUgbDxvjUd8mAIHUlksAyXP-HDwiFmLZOqGGokDmlgRH5_mRkKm-gROheTtl5Hw35xWiVFTJ4/s2048/354244872_10231055852324939_4301356815563417340_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1558" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi58kGeZ9moYxbbF9o2yEopLKMrtZ4RGHXm9Qoy2zuBrRJZFg_cbiwka2eL35L59ZgyL57dDyOqufDNpZEYtAV-O7tmfR3xwYB1j7JVZzjApIR8_TzNX5kUgbDxvjUd8mAIHUlksAyXP-HDwiFmLZOqGGokDmlgRH5_mRkKm-gROheTtl5Hw35xWiVFTJ4/w486-h640/354244872_10231055852324939_4301356815563417340_n.jpg" width="486" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE0XC4osIgV-hqsA_tiAWHSTCpTvKJvNoG1yo1FpoP1ziMUtO2t3kO9u02hji4R6GBhjMHvgfqes6xILq0PMiz4MXkBxhQgExNUdNyZd00wqZr2fp40WH1GJ398UzujwPt3kye_p6z06yYzmX6VSysrn-mIrY_roAzXsyshz3e_7BGE73gDWNEAmO-kDc/s2048/357146520_10231150543052148_4704632958333629610_n.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE0XC4osIgV-hqsA_tiAWHSTCpTvKJvNoG1yo1FpoP1ziMUtO2t3kO9u02hji4R6GBhjMHvgfqes6xILq0PMiz4MXkBxhQgExNUdNyZd00wqZr2fp40WH1GJ398UzujwPt3kye_p6z06yYzmX6VSysrn-mIrY_roAzXsyshz3e_7BGE73gDWNEAmO-kDc/s320/357146520_10231150543052148_4704632958333629610_n.jpg" width="240" /></span></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk2BSWeeuCH18FTSzfNOlLfQZUca5uIDJwIKPeqGT1wd371tAL7pdOf5rGXhA9q1lchTGsnqMGFtXXfC4_TjBnngQKM-4EMX0SDqwY5yj-CJwnaFQU2NamOom8X36Hytk-G28fuHF6ZkWSLWPdLV1ARumjULYRDR7hgCnCB9CjaAOGJdus8iO3gALV_jk/s2048/357541437_10231150542932145_675310361592220703_n.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="color: black; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk2BSWeeuCH18FTSzfNOlLfQZUca5uIDJwIKPeqGT1wd371tAL7pdOf5rGXhA9q1lchTGsnqMGFtXXfC4_TjBnngQKM-4EMX0SDqwY5yj-CJwnaFQU2NamOom8X36Hytk-G28fuHF6ZkWSLWPdLV1ARumjULYRDR7hgCnCB9CjaAOGJdus8iO3gALV_jk/s320/357541437_10231150542932145_675310361592220703_n.jpg" width="240" /></span></a></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqRyKRpJvr92TEErdLm4cI4mzMXwX4SpGjV7FMH-iU2SeWoC4JaOolKpXUtlcgjBeiBzhrH87H7KeGiJ4vMRgpPWGGD_s3wT7JEqrWuum08OLRZVYkn_rlwqY2mNpxY2qz6VgPTQ8fMjQTiewW1INdz5xZl4G1pB-sGl4pmi9GPcRFGENx0GZ6VYOlCYw/s1800/357751920_10231178205863701_6119406326437067167_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="1440" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqRyKRpJvr92TEErdLm4cI4mzMXwX4SpGjV7FMH-iU2SeWoC4JaOolKpXUtlcgjBeiBzhrH87H7KeGiJ4vMRgpPWGGD_s3wT7JEqrWuum08OLRZVYkn_rlwqY2mNpxY2qz6VgPTQ8fMjQTiewW1INdz5xZl4G1pB-sGl4pmi9GPcRFGENx0GZ6VYOlCYw/w512-h640/357751920_10231178205863701_6119406326437067167_n.jpg" width="512" /></span></a></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">As the month came to a close, my Mom's 72nd Heavenly Birthday was approaching. Birthdays, Mother's Day, and the Anniversary of her death can all be tough. So, on her birthday, the kids and I woke up a little early and set off for Grant's Pass to go on a speedboat adventure down the Rogue River. Because you can't be sad when you're on a speed boat, right? And, it worked! Not only did the boat race down the river, but there were a ton of 360-degree turns designed to get us all a little wet. We had so much fun and silliness, and it really was the best day! And that's how Mom would want it. But we weren't done! </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='418' height='347' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwoERBlqXgQAzfOEMjNKMcwSwx3oqDpZ7X1OIEHBsqqGDU6qHqgGZkXULU0XONxy-gkTFpDBf3_ddPI1mJl4w' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">On the way back, we found a wildlife safari park where we spent the rest of the afternoon. The kids were so excited to ride a camel, and it was neat to be able to drive through the safari park with our windows rolled down. We listened to some great country songs on the drive home, including the Dixie Chicks, which Mom loved. The winding, shady roads had the best country feel, and almost on cue, we had to stop while some wild turkey chicks slowly followed their Mom across the road.</span></p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx_zUbSxB2fwi0ODbuTNPEUgAbUj4cxuGI1N3E3dU-KzTRyX1zRbVKaRTtIRu1cP8w-0WHo7MvjvtqKoxYKZgZ0rtb2KZcPzNZFVap8j_M4je4Xr9u2x0nIFZswDgeW77IdtwrtsuU--5SbsBTUorV-ClTHD5Mp11gWjwkQmPsmlY7a7wLkvIROeyUJP4/s2048/356638868_10231142775937975_8013959380607344296_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx_zUbSxB2fwi0ODbuTNPEUgAbUj4cxuGI1N3E3dU-KzTRyX1zRbVKaRTtIRu1cP8w-0WHo7MvjvtqKoxYKZgZ0rtb2KZcPzNZFVap8j_M4je4Xr9u2x0nIFZswDgeW77IdtwrtsuU--5SbsBTUorV-ClTHD5Mp11gWjwkQmPsmlY7a7wLkvIROeyUJP4/w640-h640/356638868_10231142775937975_8013959380607344296_n.jpg" width="640" /></a><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTO74OCh5rHdVzuhI2uVkOImUiYm06HWJ0LcvxsyhHFQM3hxnqV3S6Q6moiy4bmpz10cfWfqz5sudbrETsQrx9gKJjIVLQxCeGdRejKv1hlZuIscTWFFf_jJRcB9RT050x9iGrbNw8FLshcPsNFqnheoSQFWUClhK2oCzv1p4vTSuOZYv-vqT3r-Vtx28/s2048/356069464_10231144331376860_8838470640303675493_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1722" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTO74OCh5rHdVzuhI2uVkOImUiYm06HWJ0LcvxsyhHFQM3hxnqV3S6Q6moiy4bmpz10cfWfqz5sudbrETsQrx9gKJjIVLQxCeGdRejKv1hlZuIscTWFFf_jJRcB9RT050x9iGrbNw8FLshcPsNFqnheoSQFWUClhK2oCzv1p4vTSuOZYv-vqT3r-Vtx28/w538-h640/356069464_10231144331376860_8838470640303675493_n.jpg" width="538" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZC648kHJjR7klN5QFvj-R0I6GRuMgLxdABTqMXwQsVcLBFgaNi3t0W6daE6dFx2Cl-jKIqToRY3tKj9xarDVAM9A5GLAh6rusJwtSEpvaZifT4PGvs43Q2P_lXqdvAXcpvGqrsVR-jlsmVn6QZmz2Ynrt18pBlODym9_ggUXv66d-SFmTqCSLpOZuAgU/s2048/356419249_10231137222759149_1714507690098226401_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZC648kHJjR7klN5QFvj-R0I6GRuMgLxdABTqMXwQsVcLBFgaNi3t0W6daE6dFx2Cl-jKIqToRY3tKj9xarDVAM9A5GLAh6rusJwtSEpvaZifT4PGvs43Q2P_lXqdvAXcpvGqrsVR-jlsmVn6QZmz2Ynrt18pBlODym9_ggUXv66d-SFmTqCSLpOZuAgU/w480-h640/356419249_10231137222759149_1714507690098226401_n.jpg" width="480" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Megan Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18287505547652721159noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-713032057716800226.post-39119416739904852052023-07-25T10:12:00.001-07:002023-08-25T09:50:01.810-07:00May, 2023<div class="separator"><div class="separator" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: left;"><br /><br /></div></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq8LVjjMC6YjVPD3oQtDU_iPLwzZsLJuMPHt7vO3gbx29xS5DKgA3admR21sFTMOV4ANE7jQ4qBrqU-AgTvMnVv1WiSzdzam7Wb478RibLD3AenITbRjA5-sWLvOoBQY98woId__wkt9v1hQhcT8P1ZASBscYB4VJJZ2cEN3RWcnu1c7zfO64lQ8wJ/s1173/unnamed%20(19).jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br /></span></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq8LVjjMC6YjVPD3oQtDU_iPLwzZsLJuMPHt7vO3gbx29xS5DKgA3admR21sFTMOV4ANE7jQ4qBrqU-AgTvMnVv1WiSzdzam7Wb478RibLD3AenITbRjA5-sWLvOoBQY98woId__wkt9v1hQhcT8P1ZASBscYB4VJJZ2cEN3RWcnu1c7zfO64lQ8wJ/s1173/unnamed%20(19).jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1173" data-original-width="746" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq8LVjjMC6YjVPD3oQtDU_iPLwzZsLJuMPHt7vO3gbx29xS5DKgA3admR21sFTMOV4ANE7jQ4qBrqU-AgTvMnVv1WiSzdzam7Wb478RibLD3AenITbRjA5-sWLvOoBQY98woId__wkt9v1hQhcT8P1ZASBscYB4VJJZ2cEN3RWcnu1c7zfO64lQ8wJ/s320/unnamed%20(19).jpg" width="204" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq20NVj1S9c24h3yYCX581H1DtaqLCW2TBI8pdpNChjofLcC8UgmR-QWa55Tm_x_wxtLtRnndnl7du6uI5CdsP3KSogiPvYLRs3ZrGPScxKwQemOzrAZolRGBsJSo5OcyXTg73ouoetTCRXiyL0PlHcub8JqnstCSBjdYnMabBV0ShpmbNDJgrt9NT6Uk/s960/348674743_264350196006654_6341909318267312828_n.jpg" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"></a></div><div>This month, I came home to some very bad news about a home repair issue. It was very unsettling and impacted me pretty hard. Although I always remind myself that we are fortunate to even <i>be</i> homeowners and that it's a first-world problem and nothing medical, I was defeated by the setback that my hubby told me about. I've been forming a new habit of listening to the Bible app while walking twice around the soccer fields as a mid-morning and mid-afternoon break, in addition to walking on my lunch break, the result of a little friendly workplace competition with <a href="https://movespring.com/" target="_blank">Move Spring</a>. Anyway, on this particular day, the Bible app message seemed to be speaking directly to me, for the first part. I read "God, when I feel saddened by what's happening around me, please show me how I can...."</div></span><p></p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Wait, what?</span><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">"...bring hope, peace, and encouragement to this broken world. You have called me to be Your light-bearer- so please help me do that."</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Wait, you mean when I'm feeling sad, I am STILL supposed to be a light for others? Yup. This little, tiny shift in perspective, with taking the focus off myself, helped me beyond measure. As I was walking, I realized that all of these issues with our house are causing exponentially more stress on my husband, and I need to be there for him, even if "being there for him" only means being cheerful and not burdening him with being down myself. Do I know unequivocally and absolutely that everything written in the Bible is true? No. After all, it was written a few hundred years after the fact by man. But I do know that there is wisdom in there that helps set us on the right path to true happiness and, hopefully, a dash of eternity sprinkled in. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1440" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYENIwIwh5F3X4pmdAb3l4qoZPV37KniCjylZWKGwndjPUPxjjH07SGzjSF-MfHJ_6TW2gHEvb0fwbnsocuMetrt3PsEhYf02Wn38C83_pwuE8itGnXVzm0Zqkx2CqPZIJiRmQWsnI3sA-mr97I8LW3mwBhEd-u_lYEGRhJaCNF2PciaL9084a2Rf43os/s320/346081191_627451312756587_1530560376705753806_n.jpg" style="text-align: center;" width="320" /><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1440" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuBXrCx7iQdbTmIX2TcFe0z7pBoSvHaFEjMkArNTJh9cxjBt1FgLYhIdqsGhk5_z4ngu5qpDvo21erFTY03PbqkPcFDu0EnJt9BK6vEAX_GmpeiwfytuO8v45As7q87zjo714rhgQD9UxTmvEJbGpc0_pow6TzRogToJaHo8IWAaxTFQf71CGooWlVjjo/s320/346787681_1673307126464020_7878642764069042784_n.jpg" width="320" /></span></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">This was an amazing month! I always love May because of my birthday, our girl's birthday, and Mother's Day, combined with the light at the end of the school year tunnel finally visible. We were so proud of Aut, who had been running with Kids Run OC for quite a while. The idea is that they run a marathon, over time, with the last mile completed on race day. She pushed herself but had fun on race day, finally seeing herself as a runner which is near and dear to my hear. We all know that envisioning ourselves as something, such as a runner, is half the battle.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNXeGzbSuEx8DV9NQjDnWcB6KmdgnTI-kPiSZacd94YOl2LKfUmIreuI6C3POaYU_kxcvmjP0dpApGTmXrZvY3wy5g9TMSBzSRdgmrDmLhFBx81lR88RkugdKx9v9tFhSu3dFUJZ83SKNcOSMQNRwQrsBheBDVy8HERFsBLCq73hb-aoReLUkarDDRg-w/s1099/345431781_921909369565730_6088663386561078852_n.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtMoBRRT2qqSX4cd8-a_vqxmmQZvYWwi_JU_nwYSKD-FS2FWTNSzhWHdBOUbEO6kOe-H0zPoszhEwwG4dO018JbLyUcO3A9f4SipumdPF205kwpeSpxUNe14mQfGM7HaKIufHgnl0lq9Am8RGiL6AnVZ7p9Qf7THQCXdXZYeV3BKzlVwFbi_wX3BcDDJI/s960/345578990_251437877366721_8631171118290377598_n.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtMoBRRT2qqSX4cd8-a_vqxmmQZvYWwi_JU_nwYSKD-FS2FWTNSzhWHdBOUbEO6kOe-H0zPoszhEwwG4dO018JbLyUcO3A9f4SipumdPF205kwpeSpxUNe14mQfGM7HaKIufHgnl0lq9Am8RGiL6AnVZ7p9Qf7THQCXdXZYeV3BKzlVwFbi_wX3BcDDJI/s320/345578990_251437877366721_8631171118290377598_n.jpg" width="240" /></span></a><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1099" data-original-width="750" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNXeGzbSuEx8DV9NQjDnWcB6KmdgnTI-kPiSZacd94YOl2LKfUmIreuI6C3POaYU_kxcvmjP0dpApGTmXrZvY3wy5g9TMSBzSRdgmrDmLhFBx81lR88RkugdKx9v9tFhSu3dFUJZ83SKNcOSMQNRwQrsBheBDVy8HERFsBLCq73hb-aoReLUkarDDRg-w/s320/345431781_921909369565730_6088663386561078852_n.jpg" width="218" /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp_2HbsJnqY0m_faS1skM_778OYxwOP2MpRRK4muitkiQgsk_8sI_s8gGbDw1ZJFYqJUpLve255juDagdiVkqRvmmf_yscnlbNSrX38G0afMLsEuHvAtuM8EG7GkeSukW9-jb_7v-jZSb7B_ksXkbyIJYMMnfq9DVnm5kJjvXB8Z6LujNauWjxlAzZBFA/s2048/345887464_2317815655064040_2819018216937819024_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp_2HbsJnqY0m_faS1skM_778OYxwOP2MpRRK4muitkiQgsk_8sI_s8gGbDw1ZJFYqJUpLve255juDagdiVkqRvmmf_yscnlbNSrX38G0afMLsEuHvAtuM8EG7GkeSukW9-jb_7v-jZSb7B_ksXkbyIJYMMnfq9DVnm5kJjvXB8Z6LujNauWjxlAzZBFA/w480-h640/345887464_2317815655064040_2819018216937819024_n.jpg" width="480" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Although our home is nowhere near complete, we were able to get all of the landscaping in our backyard finished, just in time for her Donut Grow Up party!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha77Qf6m47so1fMyxDNydl4B4vF_Gskgxlrr_vdpP-KlOInYOIJvUeRJpjDd0F6EpbCKQUAMX7YECZ-GkdMSLqQJXiL-lW7yPfZWeG3sWRE-jVtZ6pgQM5fAGR9Afug7mrcNdAv_ybfWnmuDEMGpoIMjrW6tT7Bdj2KGnvqRQlBr1G3TrimcC-j1TKMbs/s787/invite.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="555" data-original-width="787" height="452" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha77Qf6m47so1fMyxDNydl4B4vF_Gskgxlrr_vdpP-KlOInYOIJvUeRJpjDd0F6EpbCKQUAMX7YECZ-GkdMSLqQJXiL-lW7yPfZWeG3sWRE-jVtZ6pgQM5fAGR9Afug7mrcNdAv_ybfWnmuDEMGpoIMjrW6tT7Bdj2KGnvqRQlBr1G3TrimcC-j1TKMbs/w640-h452/invite.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgGhE4MaUCyI7z5LxacHo0KjUanGKG61owEawK3rSFB2CKjUjwAPnQwM8j0WURs15Hv16mvwVSNiUA1IfpXM8EA-OipVYHGWJSvMUi08MUim7qFw2tfDver9pSUnVH4J6J7KMkHZuganPyqDiq2Ry-m9gZXEYkyns93iEPLgTt6IGnmo3vI7Ca0DIP0hU/s960/348473721_898671681230678_6832958718438571278_n.jpg" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgGhE4MaUCyI7z5LxacHo0KjUanGKG61owEawK3rSFB2CKjUjwAPnQwM8j0WURs15Hv16mvwVSNiUA1IfpXM8EA-OipVYHGWJSvMUi08MUim7qFw2tfDver9pSUnVH4J6J7KMkHZuganPyqDiq2Ry-m9gZXEYkyns93iEPLgTt6IGnmo3vI7Ca0DIP0hU/w640-h480/348473721_898671681230678_6832958718438571278_n.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/OBc7aPta8U8" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe> </span><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br />We invited everyone in her class as well as some friends and she had a great turn-out. I could have been stressed about our home not being complete but instead decided that it was kind of nice not having the pressure of also decorating (or even cleaning!) the</span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3VEc6_YR5IPWogSTHflDsIMx-IiFnArvVf5Kxs6OOFKh_U68dLKyrTeVAaqTBdoCGydDZk8xni5J5W9jUIjww6STd8T6zi3WUCoLTfsy5Z7ocRFjN1Qb1QeGnupixnOCTT9EQD03a3EGqvcDUrgbbxsk1y7m_yV_WxcP2d5GqTJAmzuGAGPacfMHMOeE/s2048/348450883_6205764452873533_1374717780791792443_n%20(1).jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3VEc6_YR5IPWogSTHflDsIMx-IiFnArvVf5Kxs6OOFKh_U68dLKyrTeVAaqTBdoCGydDZk8xni5J5W9jUIjww6STd8T6zi3WUCoLTfsy5Z7ocRFjN1Qb1QeGnupixnOCTT9EQD03a3EGqvcDUrgbbxsk1y7m_yV_WxcP2d5GqTJAmzuGAGPacfMHMOeE/w400-h300/348450883_6205764452873533_1374717780791792443_n%20(1).jpg" width="400" /></a> inside. Because movers came and took everything from our downstairs back in February, it was pretty empty. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Disappointed by a super small pinata that I ordered on Amazon, we found an awesome, legit pinata shop in Santa Ana where pinatas were giant for the same price. Returning there each year to let them pick one will be our new tradition! They also have a lot of affordable toys (like desk pets!) to fill the pinatas with and heaps of candy. Much to Daddy's dismay, I also loaded it with confetti! In my defense, I was not exactly thinking about the fact that the kids would all be wet from the pool and it would stick to them ... whoops!<br /></span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1604" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhklL8ZkFG6jStVWZO4zsYx2oMAqCt1tilCsRberQQL3EIZUmlqUfRlei_IfcXKDz8fi9plFISUj-Fo74mZr6OpnM8eEfezZcLc03rIxKtHPvGOT4eN1rY2btttKJ7QY68tGP8CilGmRgiADC14T4B0oywCmpfJm1okjREyhXkhg3Cyvha7nXYt-CtlJcI/w314-h400/345920981_570334688417238_7998357796204136849_n.jpg" width="314" /><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwsdz5LD85JzGL4JP2LN9QkXDwsPoGwWjY3Lmwug_rbvK4hJaPOTHCYOE5gTjau2dJVbK8dd6emaftk6LoyCDJrzslb7JLxZXvdd1lt8rfpmVt_lyoWySteDD9yRDn7N-PZURvyG2uQNYmhDevBA0ZQVZViwthuSggWR8NJ6ND6RhF5Vf8luDUlpZM7eA/w300-h400/348223901_1356414441949594_3981643580753360383_n.jpg" style="text-align: center;" width="300" /><br /></span><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/AVvXsEhF6OD2oRdjbJ1vPC6p9_-lAJYno23imwx7fPSgpQSleKIgN8HrJjFtmdr-rbH2IpHMfHEcyjazM3u-CrVYBl-_ZSs4AoKs-_5Mqte8FFgFoKmNZio_KSdUOhdlOm_h4fgimNw7sCGALxPKd6f3LUmzmxfb9D3z5F-oYiVJMzWIBY_pC_GegE6Snoffbjc/s2048/348727192_1307154219877702_558057110649006427_n%20(1).jpg" 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/AVvXsEhF6OD2oRdjbJ1vPC6p9_-lAJYno23imwx7fPSgpQSleKIgN8HrJjFtmdr-rbH2IpHMfHEcyjazM3u-CrVYBl-_ZSs4AoKs-_5Mqte8FFgFoKmNZio_KSdUOhdlOm_h4fgimNw7sCGALxPKd6f3LUmzmxfb9D3z5F-oYiVJMzWIBY_pC_GegE6Snoffbjc/w640-h480/348727192_1307154219877702_558057110649006427_n%20(1).jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: right;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1710" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikCM64N9Kmc65LiH3dMEZ5y58JmlsUsTUuudTdBaezY5r60BHHluBzgzVp-UvAroPKJwpLn3kO_ffZIdCoaCJx1XV4j93PLfY7QurRKibXtfLza2UEcEy4lZF3fx3Spt-h4EYV5CIBdTTUKSk8b8JfrkYHXdGs49BYPTk1xL-xOkbj4bI5Gl8asZ7NkLI/w534-h640/348446573_795319618821413_1597857063085280732_n.jpg" style="text-align: center;" width="534" /><br /></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicVVubgvfYhG5IA3A3u3GN2CLPQYoND2_z5vCwyNKzKlh-fNRVAmGCqPh2xMCRKj2rgqqe6XbnX2PxVh6r5boE5YDY_tHhp0wcg64QhHv8ow1kD_2sdJ_SGhx1JpRvPoLUK6U42-MBaA5hWwd2WGs6vRIlRZT4GOvIMjkl8ohA7ow7PA5E4AgXCxYJEjs/s960/348674743_264350196006654_6341909318267312828_n%20(2).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicVVubgvfYhG5IA3A3u3GN2CLPQYoND2_z5vCwyNKzKlh-fNRVAmGCqPh2xMCRKj2rgqqe6XbnX2PxVh6r5boE5YDY_tHhp0wcg64QhHv8ow1kD_2sdJ_SGhx1JpRvPoLUK6U42-MBaA5hWwd2WGs6vRIlRZT4GOvIMjkl8ohA7ow7PA5E4AgXCxYJEjs/w640-h480/348674743_264350196006654_6341909318267312828_n%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;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp8v68JxWHgPte0eZQ6LRsj_oj6ICRXnYKkhSGjYwH6-sscvnF91ebMCNIGKNZ3W3B-Uqbha5p8evlgEbW2ZI7JzwD1AelTawF8mSxxOF_UTw1Q-dCMLtODeZeNDEku7ll7zthiIky_DBIjJcmMYgobK0hPIV2UX44Ye0ECfomtIHPFKcpjYBBY64BuMI/s960/347846710_1657321094692998_7073117358117323797_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp8v68JxWHgPte0eZQ6LRsj_oj6ICRXnYKkhSGjYwH6-sscvnF91ebMCNIGKNZ3W3B-Uqbha5p8evlgEbW2ZI7JzwD1AelTawF8mSxxOF_UTw1Q-dCMLtODeZeNDEku7ll7zthiIky_DBIjJcmMYgobK0hPIV2UX44Ye0ECfomtIHPFKcpjYBBY64BuMI/w640-h480/347846710_1657321094692998_7073117358117323797_n.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJExn_c-FTmcqwb6GR41j5P1r_tr0kwlkang4tUC3zeZ2-Lk8BNeEsUh29BpjSPCNmcmfQmIy3ljeCjZqQe5QBHVlY7F2sp5kM_uyB4Xj_Bed8qJsGbOinan-KV2Xno8RE7h-qmjM8S1KODi_kF7QGAwKlHUZmoyvmnzDTkVYhczqXGjo4HR3UpykDqpY/s2048/348308247_961277968560299_131113498793848597_n.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJExn_c-FTmcqwb6GR41j5P1r_tr0kwlkang4tUC3zeZ2-Lk8BNeEsUh29BpjSPCNmcmfQmIy3ljeCjZqQe5QBHVlY7F2sp5kM_uyB4Xj_Bed8qJsGbOinan-KV2Xno8RE7h-qmjM8S1KODi_kF7QGAwKlHUZmoyvmnzDTkVYhczqXGjo4HR3UpykDqpY/w640-h480/348308247_961277968560299_131113498793848597_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Aut decided that it was also Colette's birthday and wanted her to join.</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="clear: left; float: left; font-family: verdana; font-size: large; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimFlToFy-Z1f_Rs-ghMpN6fHXRzV2XdfX5X7_1Wtd2MA9L1ANl6W9Z3XDqvFglmtDtgZoW7qXkLkFrfUch_uvKGlQ91aUuuCS4LZUo0Nq0XqBIycJaFaoaoOBdHpXoXfVUufBBDsVOgvX-DTSmUkhe9IgvGFQlOitwj35c5uKb4CzEAjWOiXDhPvAqhxc/w300-h400/348270310_773230684448989_8317843835288235412_n.jpg" width="300" /><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMgJoq-bcimrMIh-9BIpdBiZvfGMh_1y2Q-7washmua1lNrqZXsjQXYYdFxGA7s4CW9DNeHQ8_AsuK8fc3e5EP7DQcEKtrexHZTr1oPfdDJ_1IMfx47_V3kRoM-l44FfZvYAp8lnfEJIVsI_TdYtF0uMxC5Glj8kqzMtIqMHiXb3DMg4a23XheRmwWnDM/w300-h400/348466011_1410031343173571_513592661454184944_n.jpg" width="300" /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIUlO-NlqTARBGWfUJbu9dxdXW1YlPL6DIYqXrQaDaCcTAVcJchiukeG188yW4RyUlvmg27sA6FCibDz9LRGgZBe77cguK4E5I0QjrubzipW4LEi8rbqwwKcUltWphYFMshqmAwJYSauMF_xwGZmyso_-mBZvghS_gzq9gjQ8Gtj6UPC1HjNqsHkDzaAM/s960/348637117_940189737190891_2916516971671623020_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIUlO-NlqTARBGWfUJbu9dxdXW1YlPL6DIYqXrQaDaCcTAVcJchiukeG188yW4RyUlvmg27sA6FCibDz9LRGgZBe77cguK4E5I0QjrubzipW4LEi8rbqwwKcUltWphYFMshqmAwJYSauMF_xwGZmyso_-mBZvghS_gzq9gjQ8Gtj6UPC1HjNqsHkDzaAM/w480-h640/348637117_940189737190891_2916516971671623020_n.jpg" width="480" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">On her actual birthday, we celebrated with family and the Winter's, who came over to swim and have ribs. Grandpa Glennie gave her heaps of gifts - rollerblades, a pikleball set, new game for her Switch and (drumroll please) General Admission to see Ed Sheeran at SoFi stadium in September!<br /></span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYkFpIHE8aolZdo1PkcXWoIL4srLyVv8wRbY3PkuEy_nuxogxRRzJMf4JTdm33ExrjqBwPdgKI0sl9ufsXLZCesuYMF_TcJER-GWHQtrDkhaJraNZJwll5PgNuGmp9LbAMjhtOtOEpFdB7RocG98sA-SHyBO26NWvL_FCjsTTe4j4mcE1dxSu1KZXN7eE/s2048/350307814_580425717547203_6278362213894584274_n.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYkFpIHE8aolZdo1PkcXWoIL4srLyVv8wRbY3PkuEy_nuxogxRRzJMf4JTdm33ExrjqBwPdgKI0sl9ufsXLZCesuYMF_TcJER-GWHQtrDkhaJraNZJwll5PgNuGmp9LbAMjhtOtOEpFdB7RocG98sA-SHyBO26NWvL_FCjsTTe4j4mcE1dxSu1KZXN7eE/w300-h400/350307814_580425717547203_6278362213894584274_n.jpg" width="300" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaFj-FceJ9qhgHFfW1LFrcKncJXrA7Phbrm3L0vyMHN_PLxVMN-u-oIUKNuuoD_MvURsxGH8rdITP-y5zUp3NxP-NgSNUGDpl36QwnxEPMfKHNPQay9AA8f1tphReHcT8qOD6vsub2DlPzLoDSdznrZVx4myazZg6sAFZk7YwLj39L0YZRz1aqDY4t-QY/s2048/350345172_1295243661105621_6145555760644097634_n.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaFj-FceJ9qhgHFfW1LFrcKncJXrA7Phbrm3L0vyMHN_PLxVMN-u-oIUKNuuoD_MvURsxGH8rdITP-y5zUp3NxP-NgSNUGDpl36QwnxEPMfKHNPQay9AA8f1tphReHcT8qOD6vsub2DlPzLoDSdznrZVx4myazZg6sAFZk7YwLj39L0YZRz1aqDY4t-QY/w300-h400/350345172_1295243661105621_6145555760644097634_n.jpg" width="300" /></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjd6LNulH-5eE9ACHBlqPs3ZgBdeD5Mrvrb41c0YV_IptJHVFyNcA4TBe1Bmsy635-lNl9SjLvpGYWV_2xlQ53dtY3bZvGyX2Y0PJ86CkoNqnKIWYDd0Rl-gcYDnfdLq0VmsfVU8rW97VzBq935Zg8RBFz4g63rWjGMK9w1AeBm3wdfPs3fNK5orJbb70/s2048/350261017_1605135669988017_6892055160304418239_n%20(1).jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjd6LNulH-5eE9ACHBlqPs3ZgBdeD5Mrvrb41c0YV_IptJHVFyNcA4TBe1Bmsy635-lNl9SjLvpGYWV_2xlQ53dtY3bZvGyX2Y0PJ86CkoNqnKIWYDd0Rl-gcYDnfdLq0VmsfVU8rW97VzBq935Zg8RBFz4g63rWjGMK9w1AeBm3wdfPs3fNK5orJbb70/s2048/350261017_1605135669988017_6892055160304418239_n%20(1).jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjd6LNulH-5eE9ACHBlqPs3ZgBdeD5Mrvrb41c0YV_IptJHVFyNcA4TBe1Bmsy635-lNl9SjLvpGYWV_2xlQ53dtY3bZvGyX2Y0PJ86CkoNqnKIWYDd0Rl-gcYDnfdLq0VmsfVU8rW97VzBq935Zg8RBFz4g63rWjGMK9w1AeBm3wdfPs3fNK5orJbb70/w240-h320/350261017_1605135669988017_6892055160304418239_n%20(1).jpg" width="240" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi5q4xteJRZdfljQJkA4YVPRmnVSLSUD9Q-y2JyJnUl9NuiZ77tvBsC423Me_D57rc8whRRmARBbXhtBXcDYE454ogBHYUy0HoSnzpvymRqu1KD7NmDCUNrMQy_E327Ev-2H1RyXc6ixJ-qHNmEsbbI65Nz2_ijFemUWYuumi-UqRPRvAzkcvG4K7VZ8Y/s960/350518858_550967277245515_4561762577613447395_n.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi5q4xteJRZdfljQJkA4YVPRmnVSLSUD9Q-y2JyJnUl9NuiZ77tvBsC423Me_D57rc8whRRmARBbXhtBXcDYE454ogBHYUy0HoSnzpvymRqu1KD7NmDCUNrMQy_E327Ev-2H1RyXc6ixJ-qHNmEsbbI65Nz2_ijFemUWYuumi-UqRPRvAzkcvG4K7VZ8Y/w320-h240/350518858_550967277245515_4561762577613447395_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div></div>Megan Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18287505547652721159noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-713032057716800226.post-34697887120893922742023-05-25T10:58:00.013-07:002023-06-01T10:58:49.793-07:00April, 2023 - Rome!<div class="separator"><div class="separator" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQwiu7B3tqlEHuFx8XVJYNZGt2krIm3NR5xKccC-ob0eJnjgrWdcIDQZRVvX3zqgnquyNmRDhbbrXtkXLS7bEgF8h0KIDtr8qoxJxkRpNLnOslI7gXPMHcwlVVwhBaX2n-djPs_m3S30D182e4Xaqfx5R25_TINNTxBYye6L1l2ZFcbMuSEGzg7Kj8/s4032/unnamed%20(20).jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkxJNLrKKN2TDt_-Eyfow9x3dnrzBSfH54sV3vLcIUkrz_7JA1yV_nVv1DaNaBuN7ZTFNOxNzSwSGKes6y8GpgT4DWIL8fGY-K44eUmfFE3oA27SAZWllnx41gIdgyRlVnSjzjL1ywWE4cDMNBH_sX0-MMI4f15yTSCmrjFmqe3iEqx0sfIZUbNMO9/s1056/small.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="943" data-original-width="1056" height="572" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkxJNLrKKN2TDt_-Eyfow9x3dnrzBSfH54sV3vLcIUkrz_7JA1yV_nVv1DaNaBuN7ZTFNOxNzSwSGKes6y8GpgT4DWIL8fGY-K44eUmfFE3oA27SAZWllnx41gIdgyRlVnSjzjL1ywWE4cDMNBH_sX0-MMI4f15yTSCmrjFmqe3iEqx0sfIZUbNMO9/w640-h572/small.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">We flew to Rome the Friday before Easter. Rome - the eternal city and probably my most favorite city in the world! It is such a meaningful place to me not only for the history, and beauty, and because it is home to the Catholic church, but because <a href="https://megandewitt.blogspot.com/p/our-proposal-in-rome.html" target="_blank">this is where my husband proposed to me on a surprise trip</a>, ten years ago! To be back, with our children in tow, is a dream come true. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><span>My husband flew separately because he does not like it when kids are in business class with him. Kidding! He booked our business-class tickets </span>with award miles, and when he went to book his flight, the fourth was a phantom seat. So the kids and I set off for LAX- SFO - to Lisbon and then to Rome. We were still out of our home due to plumbing and caught an Uber from the Hyatt in HB to LAX. The trip was off to an exciting start when the pilot from our LAX flight <span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">pulled Cha into the cockpit as we were boarding. I think Cha must have been looking and seemed interested. I was just going to take a pic of Cha with him, but he wanted Aut and I to get in the picture and took it without <i>asking</i>- a first ... since I’m not shy about asking for photos! He was very nice. I started to plant the seed of this being a good career for Cha. He did not realize that he could get shot as a police officer, so now he is considering becoming a pilot "With you, Mommy." With every career that he considers, he tells me I am going to be doing it with him too. Which makes sense because we will also be married.</span></span></p><p><span style="clear: left; float: left; font-family: verdana; font-size: large; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"> </span><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQwiu7B3tqlEHuFx8XVJYNZGt2krIm3NR5xKccC-ob0eJnjgrWdcIDQZRVvX3zqgnquyNmRDhbbrXtkXLS7bEgF8h0KIDtr8qoxJxkRpNLnOslI7gXPMHcwlVVwhBaX2n-djPs_m3S30D182e4Xaqfx5R25_TINNTxBYye6L1l2ZFcbMuSEGzg7Kj8/s320/unnamed%20(20).jpg" style="text-align: center;" width="320" /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">The following is a brief account of our days, mostly written on the day of, when I emailed updates to my Dad and mother-in-law. Once again, as I </span><a href="https://megandewitt.blogspot.com/2016/07/traveling-internationally-with-1-year.html" target="_blank">wrote in 2016</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">, if you're considering traveling with children, do it!</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><span><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"> </span></span><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='515' height='427' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwaljul5l92a8C_VtMvMKPGCHKqt4ZNSknIYo39pDWSThxA_sVirBqLdCS9t4MSLnx_XMkc7EOUfbg-u5Bycw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></span></p><p></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">The kids were amazing on the flight. We landed in Lisbon, with the kids somewhat rested, and had one short flight left. None of us liked the Lisbon airport because they did not have any air conditioning. When we landed in Rome, we found the driver with our name who took us right to our hotel. Thinking it was just one room, we were happily surprised to learn that <a href="https://youtu.be/9EUAraf_Mpk" target="_blank">Dad upgraded us</a>. We were there just after 9pm, dropped our stuff off and went to dinner, where <a href="https://youtu.be/rgF5ibjNZ6I" target="_blank">the kids tried Fanta </a>for the first time. They were in bed before 11pm, and hubby arrived just after midnight. Thankfully, we had two rooms, so he was able to sneak in without waking them up. We were excited to learn that the Colosseum was only a 15-minute walk! <br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiUsDLGwKGmTTBKRNfbB4oMg9yROd8erIOw7HW3NbNI4bXHyhqoINaS-2_j6qCggQRNGODA1g7k1SNTbJPO7wMcC8Bc9RzXVS0VQFhRb-0z7-W_sPKhOCcuPR2nD1LtQK_v1SRAx1VYWOIhxyMvX_ptnfvEGFeaDsIYNRNlZ1oD8eV-wJJV2cjTsIr/s4032/unnamed%20(21).jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiUsDLGwKGmTTBKRNfbB4oMg9yROd8erIOw7HW3NbNI4bXHyhqoINaS-2_j6qCggQRNGODA1g7k1SNTbJPO7wMcC8Bc9RzXVS0VQFhRb-0z7-W_sPKhOCcuPR2nD1LtQK_v1SRAx1VYWOIhxyMvX_ptnfvEGFeaDsIYNRNlZ1oD8eV-wJJV2cjTsIr/w300-h400/unnamed%20(21).jpg" width="300" /></a></span></div><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><b>Day 2: </b><span style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Today was our first full day. Aut and hubby woke up at about 730am. We left the hotel in a cab and made it in time to St. Peter’s Square for Easter mass with the man, the myth, the legend...The Pope! Il Papa himself! Never mind that we really don't like the current Pope, it was still a historic event for the children to be present for, and on Easter no less! And our second Pope, as we received a blessing from Pope Benedict 10 years prior when we were engaged. </span></span><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='440' height='366' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dze1FIIRiymhJNk7SMNgdfkO7tgE3CKSDntmB5GipUyIIPXwuzcgR1orYfediJZfXlQfvIbYWhiM_KlXtZN5Q' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: verdana;"><span style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: large;">Easter Mass was very crowded, but we were on the outskirts so it was nice because the children could run around and play while we watched them and took it all in. I read that 45,000 were in attendance. Beautiful music and bells. We enjoyed seeing all of the different police, military, and what appeared to be "Pope Secret Service" standing around talking and smoking. Very few homeless people here. From there, we walked to the hotel we stayed at last time and found the restaurant we ate at every day. We went into another church and received communion before we had lunch. We did a lot of walking, about 7 miles, and the kids were tired but did really well. We returned to the hotel and found out the Easter bunny left a note saying that the bunny would hide eggs later. The kids had a little bit of iPad time, and hubby napped. Then, we walked to the Colosseum and found a local playground for the kids.</span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: verdana;"><span style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO8Iac9QTOnT5eEGIk06aswLTij__JSiHoHwIzxqd452CvRoRiifInHgf0m7xdVB-rvIYUQ8BZFbhB8hMKrDbWtBFRyHZvQhhoYTARHnx7yyEahd-R7EFwx8D-mu2-dLhKAuG9xe1eHW2hmwEH_ek6hNWfEaN3b4PJl5YocAV_qK_Xl-LggUKFbILG/s2048/340842631_6177004632361378_9039676400862740312_n%20(1).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1614" data-original-width="2048" height="504" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO8Iac9QTOnT5eEGIk06aswLTij__JSiHoHwIzxqd452CvRoRiifInHgf0m7xdVB-rvIYUQ8BZFbhB8hMKrDbWtBFRyHZvQhhoYTARHnx7yyEahd-R7EFwx8D-mu2-dLhKAuG9xe1eHW2hmwEH_ek6hNWfEaN3b4PJl5YocAV_qK_Xl-LggUKFbILG/w640-h504/340842631_6177004632361378_9039676400862740312_n%20(1).jpg" width="640" /></a></span></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1780" data-original-width="1440" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDS-nmxeOT22qHb_W4dNtjCocKgJn3WxLnakfzNvu4OWn7QXz_sQchB6s_627s-8sd1PdnuBgzl9xzZW4S0zPVnme35p46hViKpLZhJN6qB7YONFHKs0eZQG10clJ8xewaaQKafMaRhlo_rNyy_lpHg3qHwOY_lbtvr_AtWEbBePxiiwhKNEEBqJPw/w324-h400/340125397_881481662921186_2945630828464930148_n.jpg" width="324" /></span></div><div style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: large;"></span></span><img border="0" data-original-height="1780" data-original-width="1440" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBZf6WXHLhUjldfUqFGP4AINxsX9jMdjb3VWxEJSzhZqoihJXJEC7gexXVuhJBW2Sple_oZdz5cZWklrJ2JN4QYbtgBu0_que9ZoI6x4gS0r01zJQG9HDnOAlMhLu6N1xsl5eNQz2tp_DfOFXRdSzwzBzaSAHZ9neMyO7E4nZoH9r7JTWqq_szjM96/w324-h400/340075431_214878454497657_705313563312658246_n.jpg" style="background-color: #fefefe; color: #4a4a4a; font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;" width="324" /></div></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: verdana;"><span style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: large;">We returned to the hotel to discover that the Easter Bunny had hidden eggs and left a few things for the kids. We all seem to be adjusting really well to the time difference. It’s 8:30 PM now, and we are tired, thankfully! The question is will we wake up during the night? </span></span><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSyqTR4PscSaFhegxsx9qSe9dGrpjppClS2UeXvsL8dmhLldHYBmAHD65CZngG7ehY1UR9ZKwHWQUVuOMR-zLfX8TVDygSTJNzrAogPP28zK5A8WGyKOEjVlkp-tVVKo7tXYRCKuwUfaetui5OMaot1q1G7enuALMti4XFzxyEQb8eJIuVEh5gK2Dy/s4032/unnamed%20(22).jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh61_kX_udgWe0E4qHs1mX6xUspKjUST674-1uDEj5fy3Gu9NCgU-4a1ZxOqZ-zQGdYDIytuKuQiG_nute0tPRhiFs-fwi4dgZp6hogeOLh2x38t_3ZDUKxDtZz1I3WEuJwj1-jwdiKHll_ULUHmsZSfQRA9sdzadG5syoDF4hR-2aWjJsDVkq2x5to/s3886/unnamed%20(23).jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3886" data-original-width="2914" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh61_kX_udgWe0E4qHs1mX6xUspKjUST674-1uDEj5fy3Gu9NCgU-4a1ZxOqZ-zQGdYDIytuKuQiG_nute0tPRhiFs-fwi4dgZp6hogeOLh2x38t_3ZDUKxDtZz1I3WEuJwj1-jwdiKHll_ULUHmsZSfQRA9sdzadG5syoDF4hR-2aWjJsDVkq2x5to/w300-h400/unnamed%20(23).jpg" width="300" /></a><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSyqTR4PscSaFhegxsx9qSe9dGrpjppClS2UeXvsL8dmhLldHYBmAHD65CZngG7ehY1UR9ZKwHWQUVuOMR-zLfX8TVDygSTJNzrAogPP28zK5A8WGyKOEjVlkp-tVVKo7tXYRCKuwUfaetui5OMaot1q1G7enuALMti4XFzxyEQb8eJIuVEh5gK2Dy/w300-h400/unnamed%20(22).jpg" width="300" /><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNK0RBSdRDkf6gOGLuZtUJw3PuIQ8DLw3dfKzCLoWnjMIpuQ1gXE-oBS3LnvrOgixEKylIF9LIdLToTgvWeUmVwiFDnYl7JPMvtbGgttuJTyl9w_88FVPUG3In3yaNAvlRaoecGo3e1101-EWPV3BuRArM1fmHukS4A-6jsbGTPktMV4qUVa9vF7nG/s3908/unnamed%20(24).jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3908" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNK0RBSdRDkf6gOGLuZtUJw3PuIQ8DLw3dfKzCLoWnjMIpuQ1gXE-oBS3LnvrOgixEKylIF9LIdLToTgvWeUmVwiFDnYl7JPMvtbGgttuJTyl9w_88FVPUG3In3yaNAvlRaoecGo3e1101-EWPV3BuRArM1fmHukS4A-6jsbGTPktMV4qUVa9vF7nG/w310-h400/unnamed%20(24).jpg" width="310" /></a></div></div><b>Day 3: </b>Today, we walked all around <a href="https://www.history.com/topics/ancient-rome/roman-forum" target="_blank">The Forum</a> and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palatine_Hill" target="_blank">Palatine Hill</a>, also known as "the first nucleus of the Roman Empire." The kids were real troopers- we walked about 6 miles in total, not realizing that there was that much to see when we first set out. Kids are bonding and playing very well together. Stopped off at their new favorite playground, which has Roman bath ruins within view- built in 109 AD. The joke all day was that Aut was ready for business. “I’m here to close this deal” or “you’re fired” were what we teased her with, because she was wearing the cutest business-like outfit. Cha very curious about all of it- so many questions!</span></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd1xw60EoSwH2QgHg8uGMyw8VHf7QDFpfjHvVOkXncv9KSnCj7Ei91BJ5FDJK9iK8M7mrcSXX5r9OBQ4MCJu9Rj2sNUd_AbcZMx3hgZ0a9tX7cPp9GAdnR55F9ZbEowinh3JQBymKJ1AEPFhw7VkgWdSDRa_qsRzPoJPyhPeVmZLrZs_GFqdOC0SQU/s2048/340636548_528309459501423_7882542807204442784_n.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd1xw60EoSwH2QgHg8uGMyw8VHf7QDFpfjHvVOkXncv9KSnCj7Ei91BJ5FDJK9iK8M7mrcSXX5r9OBQ4MCJu9Rj2sNUd_AbcZMx3hgZ0a9tX7cPp9GAdnR55F9ZbEowinh3JQBymKJ1AEPFhw7VkgWdSDRa_qsRzPoJPyhPeVmZLrZs_GFqdOC0SQU/w640-h480/340636548_528309459501423_7882542807204442784_n.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Not just a photo op- you are able to wander all around amongst these amazing ruins!</span></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ2nhto3RexN7UyhMpa2U9zztt-gESekC_qmdqyUtK6ncYqxDTK4h7m-I18ONFi2hMvGqXl9zXjbq_1JMg7ctyDPxdsv9FgKeug2kYV1ncehVU7NL57jWLHXBWHhw_gS6ss397L5ZwsWiXjYPLH67Na7D_vZcEKUzTtyJopoz5pj1P7UdP7B0xgFof/s2048/340750293_1008924180073695_6216037126521652280_n.jpg" style="background-color: white; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1638" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ2nhto3RexN7UyhMpa2U9zztt-gESekC_qmdqyUtK6ncYqxDTK4h7m-I18ONFi2hMvGqXl9zXjbq_1JMg7ctyDPxdsv9FgKeug2kYV1ncehVU7NL57jWLHXBWHhw_gS6ss397L5ZwsWiXjYPLH67Na7D_vZcEKUzTtyJopoz5pj1P7UdP7B0xgFof/w512-h640/340750293_1008924180073695_6216037126521652280_n.jpg" width="512" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">So much fun! Could not love these two characters more if we tried!</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpIF98jJOWWJFqySW5ZqDU9YQUqJyygPjB8ZK6fS7uK5rGsMSMyrLdFuNcDCaF_klZY8viEkcLFg4AURLs5_7rdevJIJ5Sl-Oa5d7U-rTFqa6o0JkV-fbQcmQOc8sN1bYLfD9DR1k5qdbTVKLwI47O9zPUQuJXwIgTTYWFFDO3g3MF4dNDngvRqD9d/s2048/340619215_270412781990830_3224986578648717469_n.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpIF98jJOWWJFqySW5ZqDU9YQUqJyygPjB8ZK6fS7uK5rGsMSMyrLdFuNcDCaF_klZY8viEkcLFg4AURLs5_7rdevJIJ5Sl-Oa5d7U-rTFqa6o0JkV-fbQcmQOc8sN1bYLfD9DR1k5qdbTVKLwI47O9zPUQuJXwIgTTYWFFDO3g3MF4dNDngvRqD9d/w640-h480/340619215_270412781990830_3224986578648717469_n.jpg" width="640" /></span></a><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br /><br /><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo5EsJLSrnzempXjFPV0CKwv-saxjEgD0vTGqG6ndZOKkRDH2I8kV3Qfgil9BDGpm9K_OW15eo5VcCzxxtvuqw3nk9KdfAOGsOGL5-Xk1-QdezO2-_scKXicefvpdSwHcW6Ao_RcP-mtHhgfNW5sRKxLaumpWIiIIJnNHDfJDmAQA9qGzsSqNE2QJd/s2048/340623083_906305137141460_3367710284491726531_n.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo5EsJLSrnzempXjFPV0CKwv-saxjEgD0vTGqG6ndZOKkRDH2I8kV3Qfgil9BDGpm9K_OW15eo5VcCzxxtvuqw3nk9KdfAOGsOGL5-Xk1-QdezO2-_scKXicefvpdSwHcW6Ao_RcP-mtHhgfNW5sRKxLaumpWIiIIJnNHDfJDmAQA9qGzsSqNE2QJd/w300-h400/340623083_906305137141460_3367710284491726531_n.jpg" width="300" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSGSt6wm16xIuwFdEcZhBVHpHNi3EToIe2YVLunN11uFbguvJdFQiCkT9WU-lLnMB1eSDNK4k1UOXRoDUg8SBerkdWgZNh7miOGwtLI93zbOuHVbnBTNhDFvmxGTk034J6DYrikRzp660rVuRC7Dj4FHwoQWakAzZd3SsX0eg4afJaPxT8SdDufJdy/s4032/unnamed%20(25).jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a></div><br /></b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWugS3APEHtmYCKkbq67eKYB0RShO5f8_a_KrC5QCdHRPpGu0Iht8eTxLPIL0ZBTdfpbSNIGb4XrBPDTviuGs6s7H8EFgfWKxNabOPwtGlinb8TvpeJ7u38PJIK44PoHMV-3vjHM3mafLU4UMFNHLFABniM9wkSiWy23Xa99RbmSY5Ez7QHO-_Da8q/s2048/340540519_236427462250215_9014383915396385644_n.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1312" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWugS3APEHtmYCKkbq67eKYB0RShO5f8_a_KrC5QCdHRPpGu0Iht8eTxLPIL0ZBTdfpbSNIGb4XrBPDTviuGs6s7H8EFgfWKxNabOPwtGlinb8TvpeJ7u38PJIK44PoHMV-3vjHM3mafLU4UMFNHLFABniM9wkSiWy23Xa99RbmSY5Ez7QHO-_Da8q/w256-h400/340540519_236427462250215_9014383915396385644_n.jpg" width="256" /></a></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><b>Day 4: </b>We started the day with a walk to the park for the kids to play, on our way to the Colosseum. We arrived a little early for the Colosseum tour, which was with a guide and headphones. Our tour included going down onto the arena floor, and we were able to look down and see where they would raise up the animals with a manual elevator and all the passageways and holding cells below. On an ordinary day, Cha is filled with curious questions, so he had loads of them for us! It is so exciting to me to see them so interested. The children are doing remarkably well with all of the walking! This is our first international trip without a stroller. Because we have a ghost tour tonight, we went back and had them take a nap at the hotel before getting ready for a night walking ghost tour. We booked the tour through <a href="https://darkrome.com/rome-tours/rome-ghost-tour" target="_blank">Dark Rome</a>, and there were only three other people on the tour, so it was very personalized. The ghost tour was what Aut was most excited about. I was unsure how they would do with the tour not starting until 9pm, but they were amazing! The tour guide even commented on how well-behaved they both were. We visited:</span></div><div class="tourDisclaimers cell grid-x" style="background-color: #fefefe; box-sizing: inherit; color: #4a4a4a; display: flex; flex-flow: row wrap; flex: 0 0 auto; margin: 0px; min-height: 0px; min-width: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0.9375rem 0px; width: auto;"><div class="sitesVisited cell" style="box-sizing: inherit; flex: 0 0 auto; margin: 0px; min-height: 0px; min-width: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; width: 750px;"><ul style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 1.6; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px 0px 0px 1.2rem;"><li style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 0.4rem;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Corso Vittorio Emanuele II</span></li><li style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 0.4rem;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Campo de’ Fiori</span></li><li style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 0.4rem;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Piazza Farnese</span></li><li style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 0.4rem;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Via Giulia</span></li><li style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 0.4rem;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Via del Governo Vecchio</span></li><li style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px 0px 0px 0.4rem;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Castel Sant’Angelo (from outside)</span></li></ul><div><span style="clear: right; float: right; font-family: verdana; font-size: large; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /><br /></span></div></div></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaxun3JDdN5HZCNelWoXVfKzX_4OVQPtGqpbVfGnozNgjUCyy3Ftoi9GeoeGrj77R9l_B_j77VjrIbT-5sbf9AE1rkcRog4OIq2csWwRyXoqQ0GS1L8gsjjoFIVTgo-zq4yC-NE_9QPa8LNFabXbxJnZHyFat50jAlVQRc9tl2-9_vEv0sUsZNyPKw/s2048/340180215_547887787462070_4873607226004779013_n.jpg" style="background-color: white; 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/AVvXsEgaxun3JDdN5HZCNelWoXVfKzX_4OVQPtGqpbVfGnozNgjUCyy3Ftoi9GeoeGrj77R9l_B_j77VjrIbT-5sbf9AE1rkcRog4OIq2csWwRyXoqQ0GS1L8gsjjoFIVTgo-zq4yC-NE_9QPa8LNFabXbxJnZHyFat50jAlVQRc9tl2-9_vEv0sUsZNyPKw/w640-h480/340180215_547887787462070_4873607226004779013_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: large;"><a href="https://youtube.com/shorts/3GdoFRI6K3A?feature=share" target="_blank">Aut was intrigued, and so were we!</a> At times Cha drew closer to me, a bit afraid. We loved learning about the <a href="https://www.turismoroma.it/en/page/madonnelle-rome" target="_blank">Madonellas</a> that were put up by the Vatican in the 1600s as the first security system! Crimes were being committed in dark alleyways, but even the hardest of criminals would not commit these acts with the Virgin Mary watching, and crime dropped dramatically. Some of the original ones remain, looked after and cared for by the owners of the building.</span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: large;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1690" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8hpvX-_mrBGTjSWUxCCG8TdBTutMgGTzciSOnG5uoMUvb2SQqhk56fp0SJNkrqngcVtZNS38_qYHdjgpTh7RYgPth7FQYhz1Jxak62T4Flf0RBZXI8EIlPALuNBZBjrCwi0fY95_ndMjngYHcwEqhSp9SaasOqwpleDyLVozgihGDXcwUysue9njA/w528-h640/340150442_615232173481453_743155654822615996_n%20(1).jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="528" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Want to avoid crowds? Easy! Just like everywhere else in the world, avoid summer time.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8hpvX-_mrBGTjSWUxCCG8TdBTutMgGTzciSOnG5uoMUvb2SQqhk56fp0SJNkrqngcVtZNS38_qYHdjgpTh7RYgPth7FQYhz1Jxak62T4Flf0RBZXI8EIlPALuNBZBjrCwi0fY95_ndMjngYHcwEqhSp9SaasOqwpleDyLVozgihGDXcwUysue9njA/s2048/340150442_615232173481453_743155654822615996_n%20(1).jpg"><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></a></div></span></span></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOMhPbN7j2h2Yalfdz7X6YROQGi3AwQdEzpA84o24zh-59bhq_DjsHChjjUAuWNp-tBxnfT4ErqTxyNxqXG7o7SzdzKl0bVJ6J86kU4paSLJJRh8rxRq2F_f76aUVRT7CZloANxyGXSZjusGR3wbIIZ7KL8o5i6KgDUb_8wpYiASkKgfi5y7H_psqG/s3760/unnamed%20(26).jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3760" data-original-width="2506" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOMhPbN7j2h2Yalfdz7X6YROQGi3AwQdEzpA84o24zh-59bhq_DjsHChjjUAuWNp-tBxnfT4ErqTxyNxqXG7o7SzdzKl0bVJ6J86kU4paSLJJRh8rxRq2F_f76aUVRT7CZloANxyGXSZjusGR3wbIIZ7KL8o5i6KgDUb_8wpYiASkKgfi5y7H_psqG/w426-h640/unnamed%20(26).jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">See that nun behind me? I totally beat her up the stairs.</td></tr></tbody></table><b>Day 5:</b> We visited the oldest catacombs in Rome, which consists of 11 miles of tunnels containing the remains of 150,000 people. The majority of the graves were robbed, and people stole the marble and bone, which were sold on the black market as relics from saints. We also climbed the <a href="https://rome.us/churches/holy-stairs.html" target="_blank">Scala Santa</a> (Holy Stairs) on our knees, and Autumn made her first confession at the top of the stairs. The Scala Santa are the stairs that Jesus climbed on his way to his trial before Pontius Pilate. The 28 marble stairs are covered with wood and can only be climbed on your knees. They were brought from Jerusalem to Rome by Saint Helena in 326 AD. There are little windows of glass in the wood to reveal what is said to be Christ’s blood on the marble stairs. When we entered the building, there was silence and reverence in the room. I was not sure that the children would be willing and able to climb the stairs with us, and thought that they would need to ascend to the right, on the non-Holy, normal Stairs. But they were ready and willing...and it was quite an emotional experience for all of us. <br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5Ob57TEwBctI1uexjtIrtwYxd-6vAzE-K57LMjibrUPO9_S7_AOuGbs29fAStodJ2KSaAKac1Fo9Q75wvMxRodGzj3QW2okRq4fR-FlEYiOIFeren8P8OpDHkse4qPPxn31FrFopOcl4w85Ik3jmmpKMkFNHOQPWwJsszX3AUsJIRz6C2D_-gluKk/s4032/unnamed%20(27).jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYI1uJyNZxWGzZLT3SNYU-EcJpD4XBU-n77TxfjbRp-nJkti1XWN1k8GiDpeibHAcTR03RBHo19sb6E_bU-nG5kvQBZdgIT3RoQgcmvnGDaaah5XwTtJW9u7Vb891ao4z0sBLyH5_XsAZ-UKzigXJo09W3yFurSaxanxI-uwco0vKMO1gTeORx0tSJ/s2048/341207483_784040359750921_5813741756532836269_n%20(1).jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYI1uJyNZxWGzZLT3SNYU-EcJpD4XBU-n77TxfjbRp-nJkti1XWN1k8GiDpeibHAcTR03RBHo19sb6E_bU-nG5kvQBZdgIT3RoQgcmvnGDaaah5XwTtJW9u7Vb891ao4z0sBLyH5_XsAZ-UKzigXJo09W3yFurSaxanxI-uwco0vKMO1gTeORx0tSJ/w300-h400/341207483_784040359750921_5813741756532836269_n%20(1).jpg" width="300" /></a><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5Ob57TEwBctI1uexjtIrtwYxd-6vAzE-K57LMjibrUPO9_S7_AOuGbs29fAStodJ2KSaAKac1Fo9Q75wvMxRodGzj3QW2okRq4fR-FlEYiOIFeren8P8OpDHkse4qPPxn31FrFopOcl4w85Ik3jmmpKMkFNHOQPWwJsszX3AUsJIRz6C2D_-gluKk/w300-h400/unnamed%20(27).jpg" width="300" /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy-aZwrLh9LlH05A9u6pH_6zhbu0oWuz799qK199HOrTNi88IItCDOhO4YH1EHsJpoivOPAXO36vkHlr44ZZwo4GnjFRuxJE2UCavWKrqi30Ct18onxasgNbPUCmh8gqKNqhBcsrjr8WCylsLrYuP3AkNUxRv3W52xVExi6WIuPS-YscjauASBbgFy/s2048/341140503_1207969866551442_235950434424388183_n%20(2).jpg" style="background-color: transparent; clear: right; float: right; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy-aZwrLh9LlH05A9u6pH_6zhbu0oWuz799qK199HOrTNi88IItCDOhO4YH1EHsJpoivOPAXO36vkHlr44ZZwo4GnjFRuxJE2UCavWKrqi30Ct18onxasgNbPUCmh8gqKNqhBcsrjr8WCylsLrYuP3AkNUxRv3W52xVExi6WIuPS-YscjauASBbgFy/w300-h400/341140503_1207969866551442_235950434424388183_n%20(2).jpg" width="300" /></a><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: verdana;"><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="color: #222222;"><b>Day 6:</b> </span><span style="color: #222222;">Cooking class with Aut. Hubby took Cha for a haircut and they met us at the cooking class. We made fettuccine, ravioli, and tiramisu. It was just over two hours. She really liked the pasta that she made and we will make it this summer in Oregon. Here are the recipes (for my future reference!). </span></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0OBvdCCUpmDvHA6-le6oedk0vDuc9wuO9apr98PuLpR1I6nRp4hFbj9hmWsdJU2t0Mp7DN1Ea_KY4_D48VpVSPnG4f3P6uSsHET_M8WUv3oDrRzzwQgofJPqEbOqeRCKqjU__vuXEQKt3almgITnBq6GyaPgCQdaKjLznNgZai7MuYnzmP6BFL5bT/s663/Screenshot%202023-05-23%20112737.jpg" style="background-color: transparent; clear: right; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="663" data-original-width="525" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0OBvdCCUpmDvHA6-le6oedk0vDuc9wuO9apr98PuLpR1I6nRp4hFbj9hmWsdJU2t0Mp7DN1Ea_KY4_D48VpVSPnG4f3P6uSsHET_M8WUv3oDrRzzwQgofJPqEbOqeRCKqjU__vuXEQKt3almgITnBq6GyaPgCQdaKjLznNgZai7MuYnzmP6BFL5bT/s320/Screenshot%202023-05-23%20112737.jpg" width="253" /></a></div></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuomsubkaGWz_wOSE0Tkep_-z0wc2E1GIG1XMuHdMx2Mo7YRpK_wGvCwt7zx2Tcd2hQgH19Z1deQ3DfUK_0sVl2fZVD9JFPWmXNuca6hpSW_etP07pbNAaZYTu645c3sEbO4YNMPjJXfCxruJwtbOiLX45qFIvaST5UVdSeI5lPKAMCg7YyB3_ABbS/s716/Screenshot%202023-05-25%20092808.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="716" data-original-width="590" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuomsubkaGWz_wOSE0Tkep_-z0wc2E1GIG1XMuHdMx2Mo7YRpK_wGvCwt7zx2Tcd2hQgH19Z1deQ3DfUK_0sVl2fZVD9JFPWmXNuca6hpSW_etP07pbNAaZYTu645c3sEbO4YNMPjJXfCxruJwtbOiLX45qFIvaST5UVdSeI5lPKAMCg7YyB3_ABbS/s320/Screenshot%202023-05-25%20092808.jpg" width="264" /></a></div><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: large;">After the cooking class, we walked around the Square where the pantheon is and into the Basilica de Santa Maria sopra Minerva were the remains of Saint Catherine of Siena are, on display in a glass casket. It is an unbelievable experience to wander into a church, not knowing that the remains of such a well-known and revered Saint are on display! I had to google it once we walked out, because I just couldn't believe it was true.</span></span></div><div><b style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;"><br /></b></div><div><span style="background-color: white; clear: right; color: #222222; float: right; font-family: verdana; font-size: large; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuGsylFAR6zl6VJMoMrLG6Kp33bY6ulMswhSjR06hIEThxroX98cTzpiLI5NRUmrDqhVODD2H9bRJtuxsDnhXLe7Xif5A4186x75YUOVKWRJVJmHgFw4pS2PkcxFckQy3iIZvzxOasqn6OxYlUME5n7ya3Q6sR6VWATUpqjkrnSxqFi6WWTyK5I42q/w426-h640/344349624_1316117415637996_2929364382459378142_n.jpg" width="426" /></span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><b style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Day 7:</b><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"> What a day!! We went to the spot where Nathan proposed at the Trevi Fountain with a photographer that I found on Instagram, but I had no idea he was surprising me with a gift… a diamond tennis bracelet to replace the one I lost a few years ago. Except this one is larger, gold, and even more beautiful. He really outdid himself. Someday it will be Aut’s…and I love that she was there for the gifting of it. He purchased this just over 2 years ago, but Covid canceled our trips!!! Can’t believe he kept the secret that long, as I can hardly keep a secret for a few hours. My reaction and tears of joy were captured by the photographer. While I don't love how they look, I love the realness and rawness of emotion.</span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: verdana;"><div dir="auto"><span style="clear: right; float: right; font-size: large; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9c_oMqkx1R4TzVS6k0vWCTOl_ImgGslJRB91kvWQ9ibFGDtqbSxm0ZzhFE5-UPeFIERufRPCWht4es6PdLbT_e6lkjf1yrpFVQH_z1D6wV5OGqaeKgATmWtaU3r462C_ozRPyl1pvOowoqeIj9J-h0lXeYgu34_Xc2DzyIK_8eW6QadfG0UC2L2CC/w266-h400/343965759_256918593497990_6441032261711281557_n.jpg" width="266" /></span><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvUI78NTL1neyE9k6pbhDF3yExhwpu-9j7wxN5h8QaRUZ62_FuOf0quZRmkOhKTonRpVdFYwze0HlbS2TENTPd75aCy22jvHrPjc0ISoHXxvUhVz5tB84aXvoy9t6-PSlJTJQ4J5ezdp9kbYn0DmviDLD91FgeHsYaEvlmoprvIFpMBBpH3AzswsTN/w267-h400/343976529_6218398008274284_3357109440085825070_n.jpg" style="text-align: center;" width="267" /><br /><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1Tb0lQcPqvo8PATzaX4UyIVMP7eGwXxFXhct-sQnnTEu-SaEp7bE_Kn2dH_KH7cCt4r4ecOv1iLloHgxAtcXtP_EgWznu1cZbFZcUo6RXnmc7AhLK08pG1PKxZJYAjMMRm72eemy49q_er2Acob4vDb2Ddikh9zsLtjt0LsY7Lhx1wyffQmJthsxj/s2048/344577155_625606859076664_6191113919470904618_n%20(2).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1Tb0lQcPqvo8PATzaX4UyIVMP7eGwXxFXhct-sQnnTEu-SaEp7bE_Kn2dH_KH7cCt4r4ecOv1iLloHgxAtcXtP_EgWznu1cZbFZcUo6RXnmc7AhLK08pG1PKxZJYAjMMRm72eemy49q_er2Acob4vDb2Ddikh9zsLtjt0LsY7Lhx1wyffQmJthsxj/w400-h266/344577155_625606859076664_6191113919470904618_n%20(2).jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /></div><div dir="auto"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizSdoiuB7Z3n4adEgd6t1Cef8o-tOzw737N9LU92AHDSYWcsCebLjGAAE-XG2IX4dbEy1m7hNzEn919yFzVUqm2NQJSMmRbiolkcxcaank1qs3PsAm7BxlSjsq-04gAIO_7YANzskWmwCwUxwCkelXRonrRNT3WOU86UPOof2yvuAY7P59z50AlIUx/s2048/340811222_610736344430417_5699645487678382280_n.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizSdoiuB7Z3n4adEgd6t1Cef8o-tOzw737N9LU92AHDSYWcsCebLjGAAE-XG2IX4dbEy1m7hNzEn919yFzVUqm2NQJSMmRbiolkcxcaank1qs3PsAm7BxlSjsq-04gAIO_7YANzskWmwCwUxwCkelXRonrRNT3WOU86UPOof2yvuAY7P59z50AlIUx/s320/340811222_610736344430417_5699645487678382280_n.jpg" width="240" /></span></a><span style="font-size: large;">We also went to the zoo and walked 7.5 miles with the kids. The kids were so excited that there was a peacock on the play structure that didn't move when they went on it.</span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-size: large;">Still in shock. It is beyond beautiful! Some soft, intermittent rain ... beautiful weather for a day I will always remember. This took an already memorable trip to the next level.</span></div><div dir="auto"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiXI-DQEduqTdgC_ov7bxvUpA6l9XyaZ6nLBd6ZTtJXpH19EgLns0Ka5faN8l2DikqlVrs6YwjohCqkBYMsuBNee6aAtC_cYFAd7PDribKfcio-hyx5Jonr3jGMlYIZQTJWnkIqRsBit08Vz-I5-rG7XWOtSa394Fj69by50LwNXno5t5rwDLv8-P0/s920/unnamed%20(28).jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiXI-DQEduqTdgC_ov7bxvUpA6l9XyaZ6nLBd6ZTtJXpH19EgLns0Ka5faN8l2DikqlVrs6YwjohCqkBYMsuBNee6aAtC_cYFAd7PDribKfcio-hyx5Jonr3jGMlYIZQTJWnkIqRsBit08Vz-I5-rG7XWOtSa394Fj69by50LwNXno5t5rwDLv8-P0/s920/unnamed%20(28).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="920" data-original-width="750" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiXI-DQEduqTdgC_ov7bxvUpA6l9XyaZ6nLBd6ZTtJXpH19EgLns0Ka5faN8l2DikqlVrs6YwjohCqkBYMsuBNee6aAtC_cYFAd7PDribKfcio-hyx5Jonr3jGMlYIZQTJWnkIqRsBit08Vz-I5-rG7XWOtSa394Fj69by50LwNXno5t5rwDLv8-P0/w522-h640/unnamed%20(28).jpg" width="522" /></span></a></div></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Day 8:</b> Low key day, lots of rain. Mailed Vatican postcards, relaxed at hotel. Souvenir shopping </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><span><b>Day 9:</b> Castle Sant Angelo and Saint Peter’s Square. </span><span>One of my favorite memories of Rome was when we returned to <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Campo_de'_Fiori" target="_blank">Campo de Fiore</a> today for the farmer's market on the weekend. We sat outside and had lunch while the children ran and played under <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monument_to_Giordano_Bruno" target="_blank">the statue of Giordano Bruno </a>was erected on the site where he was burned at the stake by the Catholic church in 1600.</span></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="323" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/sjjIXyZrAV0" width="388" youtube-src-id="sjjIXyZrAV0"></iframe></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8YDmeqKtCMM6dzqYddvRSlfH-_NUC1JpSWsXi-jN2Qr0B2YOoSGXVD0GPumu1ksP5xHOwcSKtXJaAoLEMkZEYrmJnQR_wDF7-pDB0Vz2qgzN1Eb0uF1pE9Ayvhh4gekaITIUvgC_1bj1aHySyaDyrDKGdWnovrGsdU75lvPJEZfo24yxgfT6LLxLB/s2048/340808737_591012152966615_9200586368442505261_n.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1690" data-original-width="2048" height="528" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8YDmeqKtCMM6dzqYddvRSlfH-_NUC1JpSWsXi-jN2Qr0B2YOoSGXVD0GPumu1ksP5xHOwcSKtXJaAoLEMkZEYrmJnQR_wDF7-pDB0Vz2qgzN1Eb0uF1pE9Ayvhh4gekaITIUvgC_1bj1aHySyaDyrDKGdWnovrGsdU75lvPJEZfo24yxgfT6LLxLB/w640-h528/340808737_591012152966615_9200586368442505261_n.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">As we did on our last trip here, we found an amazing restaurant around the corner and ate there almost every night. Tight quarters and linen table clothes and the kids were so well-behaved (without technology - win!)</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="376" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/qumwVCbQlCk" width="452" youtube-src-id="qumwVCbQlCk"></iframe></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWLVoibKCPTcaVzMkSwsOPPwbfRIniFjUuFk23diKsv2yqWAf5LOjC30_RkUnxMw7fIXTao2luMAGUPcbvwSfliePHOXzun5U2ve1BsZQXgkP_oMKA1vgYIud0npaN5EL2CFxQ_4qErZf90MhGF_8y-xfvzxhYVnt8JgekodPsGjhe6VRSI4AHyWAs/s2048/342016506_1020885698889474_8840650036918275333_n%20(2).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1813" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWLVoibKCPTcaVzMkSwsOPPwbfRIniFjUuFk23diKsv2yqWAf5LOjC30_RkUnxMw7fIXTao2luMAGUPcbvwSfliePHOXzun5U2ve1BsZQXgkP_oMKA1vgYIud0npaN5EL2CFxQ_4qErZf90MhGF_8y-xfvzxhYVnt8JgekodPsGjhe6VRSI4AHyWAs/w567-h640/342016506_1020885698889474_8840650036918275333_n%20(2).jpg" width="567" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDErbGNNBo_qJ64uAfy9bAJjOb0PxtnYDZ42tZup6f6mrfAnC0415Wlu8ibdogMUnCw1YJH47e8l3Gqd3dolPeAmQSx2evp1H4xcAtGFvrxjU97qtEzVcS0S2Qn1Jm6E54crGoVIFTrmo34v3QPMvpBxopxDVdXmJJX8PUX1R-RwidFZy6-DzvLUKK/s2048/342051223_793470011939205_7252096602661346320_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1195" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDErbGNNBo_qJ64uAfy9bAJjOb0PxtnYDZ42tZup6f6mrfAnC0415Wlu8ibdogMUnCw1YJH47e8l3Gqd3dolPeAmQSx2evp1H4xcAtGFvrxjU97qtEzVcS0S2Qn1Jm6E54crGoVIFTrmo34v3QPMvpBxopxDVdXmJJX8PUX1R-RwidFZy6-DzvLUKK/w373-h640/342051223_793470011939205_7252096602661346320_n.jpg" width="373" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4ERy9VbpJc1pHOVzEQJ3OjJS9F27dullkxoinvAemKoyfexVrwVE4Hjay-gCgKcCTdOKOol81P-h29Yi7uNoz-vJebp4_wBkRMv-L4mklHahz6l8qJbuc4IaL7tgo56dkblu_BjW8xmAdOO4n7_Ssx81W2964JPzCBQBTYirdGZmcYs4fCbgZKJyn/s2048/343316654_778169407236438_2365031878720545724_n%20(1).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4ERy9VbpJc1pHOVzEQJ3OjJS9F27dullkxoinvAemKoyfexVrwVE4Hjay-gCgKcCTdOKOol81P-h29Yi7uNoz-vJebp4_wBkRMv-L4mklHahz6l8qJbuc4IaL7tgo56dkblu_BjW8xmAdOO4n7_Ssx81W2964JPzCBQBTYirdGZmcYs4fCbgZKJyn/w427-h640/343316654_778169407236438_2365031878720545724_n%20(1).jpg" width="427" /></span></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://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXa33gJBu8Nj-gmawKGgyJ_iZ93IdFEly5TGcDJ7b0aYyn4A7DATlMMWTcOBh9O1c-l6Ql8tPc1yQl5ahyZXV9gJS85LnkjQ-LTtdCmIqjrYgTfUmd7w8OBQ0XuNEcBIn4Y-rfD_Tm60M2CoPBO1XLkRgFpR1W3W0GBAv57HNT3R4mMuT_DSEHj1y7/s2048/344258663_895393895091118_2314444453339900423_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXa33gJBu8Nj-gmawKGgyJ_iZ93IdFEly5TGcDJ7b0aYyn4A7DATlMMWTcOBh9O1c-l6Ql8tPc1yQl5ahyZXV9gJS85LnkjQ-LTtdCmIqjrYgTfUmd7w8OBQ0XuNEcBIn4Y-rfD_Tm60M2CoPBO1XLkRgFpR1W3W0GBAv57HNT3R4mMuT_DSEHj1y7/w427-h640/344258663_895393895091118_2314444453339900423_n.jpg" width="427" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></span></div></div>Megan Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18287505547652721159noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-713032057716800226.post-34906192441586320282023-04-28T09:41:00.005-07:002023-04-28T09:41:47.626-07:00March, 2023<div class="separator">March was spent entirely in hotels. We were at the Great Wolf Lodge for the majority of it, but were excited to mix things up and move to the Hyatt in Huntington Beach on the 29th. Since living in a hotel, I have fallen a bit more behind on my blogging, and so this month is more of a photo collage of our adventures with a whole lot less writing. The end of the month found us excitedly preparing for the kids' first trip to Rome. The trip is so much more meaningful because we are traveling to the place where he proposed ten years ago!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxLeeQihoJCDXcU_NsZ1DX0jBtx92zPj3CFNzLIDzdAt13v2spKvQFd9wuWMPaQTY4WqEy-1dgWIZukZ-O92bw9-7j5eJWa9f5WUktAQWPU7_im9qyz_-0PuvrY9bKR0JfkVmtyRBytzQt61d4y0kaQW8HUTjwg_88NP28-D_85RBUhe3cEXvZBTMO/s633/333052788_569402518480817_4471701623909157368_n.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="633" data-original-width="483" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxLeeQihoJCDXcU_NsZ1DX0jBtx92zPj3CFNzLIDzdAt13v2spKvQFd9wuWMPaQTY4WqEy-1dgWIZukZ-O92bw9-7j5eJWa9f5WUktAQWPU7_im9qyz_-0PuvrY9bKR0JfkVmtyRBytzQt61d4y0kaQW8HUTjwg_88NP28-D_85RBUhe3cEXvZBTMO/s320/333052788_569402518480817_4471701623909157368_n.jpg" width="244" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUNHDkl9bSLu5pSm6Tf3wXsALY5hcxRThbsNec8BOeXIJlnDEleT7Qd6jnZ0v9RBVINs8LRT-1YHLWCH7OVedat9q0JOaaUExuhlGE_IeBPMnpa99_VqCUwDRtGBSPxhXzeQCBKZQbQFzJ3MriI9FaB4mHwagmCB4mOZSg3kX6BdBTPcDLbc7-xTz6/s2048/334544071_595730055426889_864678362568867028_n.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1466" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUNHDkl9bSLu5pSm6Tf3wXsALY5hcxRThbsNec8BOeXIJlnDEleT7Qd6jnZ0v9RBVINs8LRT-1YHLWCH7OVedat9q0JOaaUExuhlGE_IeBPMnpa99_VqCUwDRtGBSPxhXzeQCBKZQbQFzJ3MriI9FaB4mHwagmCB4mOZSg3kX6BdBTPcDLbc7-xTz6/s320/334544071_595730055426889_864678362568867028_n.jpg" width="229" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>I am loving my new office, which has a shared, attached patio. For the first time in about 16 years, I am listening to birds chirping while at work. It's a sound I didn't even realized that I missed.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVM0TkVCjXK46D3yVx9yoHrzYn4wAsFjdg3Vu6LhGxdFIJTU1sKZG0npnmywYYEk6Tii1AiJm-ShcycT_atMNAeK5MKZsU0nDpRK8AYJGRJok3D2JRMhK-XqZcglgkPYC3IpijE4oPjWaZel4jfiVV31EFiWYV-vu8z8c6U5ME2NFfWHr9ox6WuXvV/s2048/334668695_1359635448221782_8337243676220692300_n.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmu6a9p8Mdj9QwgiXiOlxd1nV-KvU2mio09nmkyrI5c_LL2CqdZzvSyJq_cJ4zWImcmu5evzdKK4lUlVbFFEmASeMwn6wPZVFjE5Iukg2H_Tc2j0Anjb56hRJrfU6TtFByJ72hpoe5jXRpfWwKzcWccUqdyshlNGVBjZgc0oFSSojlBzHkjvKtrqTQ/s2048/334971877_536605748579276_1946092223851967750_n.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmu6a9p8Mdj9QwgiXiOlxd1nV-KvU2mio09nmkyrI5c_LL2CqdZzvSyJq_cJ4zWImcmu5evzdKK4lUlVbFFEmASeMwn6wPZVFjE5Iukg2H_Tc2j0Anjb56hRJrfU6TtFByJ72hpoe5jXRpfWwKzcWccUqdyshlNGVBjZgc0oFSSojlBzHkjvKtrqTQ/s320/334971877_536605748579276_1946092223851967750_n.jpg" width="320" /></a><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVM0TkVCjXK46D3yVx9yoHrzYn4wAsFjdg3Vu6LhGxdFIJTU1sKZG0npnmywYYEk6Tii1AiJm-ShcycT_atMNAeK5MKZsU0nDpRK8AYJGRJok3D2JRMhK-XqZcglgkPYC3IpijE4oPjWaZel4jfiVV31EFiWYV-vu8z8c6U5ME2NFfWHr9ox6WuXvV/s320/334668695_1359635448221782_8337243676220692300_n.jpg" width="320" /></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/AVvXsEjVEB0rOTtgcbhyzxGF-OaBMxHBn4xZAJJNwdrsw9cWnsGDTaVqfyRh_qZ_sw0LgPl3SSC2bv05y0Zkqid3SMIa58pfZ2juorM4dlVKRsCDVwQnafFuRAwh7VhM-umBpmyfpwWJh8g4yP8XcxR0G1pKg9hxD5LmsO58Ysgn-UZhaxmw21l9jB_3h0e6/s2048/335054742_5716743341785091_7006442244679364418_n.jpg" 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/AVvXsEjVEB0rOTtgcbhyzxGF-OaBMxHBn4xZAJJNwdrsw9cWnsGDTaVqfyRh_qZ_sw0LgPl3SSC2bv05y0Zkqid3SMIa58pfZ2juorM4dlVKRsCDVwQnafFuRAwh7VhM-umBpmyfpwWJh8g4yP8XcxR0G1pKg9hxD5LmsO58Ysgn-UZhaxmw21l9jB_3h0e6/w640-h480/335054742_5716743341785091_7006442244679364418_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTJGXSxhgTWulLA6978U_UtUWX9a1K6EmYbV3h7s-2oxiij-y-3B1K7veExacCJxYe1FnTwjT8H48AEVoYl3IqLkLjXkKUk5Vrvk14311nG-UQGUcYF_xORwXDEL3fX1yid3fc5NRAsf_X_2aQL2c1uZV8OE7QPEa-ZjYrlE_CuCYAX6Qma6OpMZgR/s2048/335711448_1391234784980214_7769304266476607703_n.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1466" data-original-width="2048" height="458" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTJGXSxhgTWulLA6978U_UtUWX9a1K6EmYbV3h7s-2oxiij-y-3B1K7veExacCJxYe1FnTwjT8H48AEVoYl3IqLkLjXkKUk5Vrvk14311nG-UQGUcYF_xORwXDEL3fX1yid3fc5NRAsf_X_2aQL2c1uZV8OE7QPEa-ZjYrlE_CuCYAX6Qma6OpMZgR/w640-h458/335711448_1391234784980214_7769304266476607703_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The kids asked the Easter Bunny if he would be visiting them in Rome, like he visited them in Norway last year. He nodded in response, so we are hopeful.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFPMJF5URH4RuesG7haaLuDVjqCbSvwXY7rORzpI8N-0ADVYYTfvEhvqFQGkCRcupvGeikCsq_YdLxND7x3rbgMaboVbwXWqW0Ohg7kRHU79AS8HZ-mCTXeNNG_hPCMggn8_LvcTVewqz-QI86sss_rAVrUZYJF-JL2XSEnsutpebGqmnW3HSN3Zt2/s2048/336160751_236173375451746_5005605849826754764_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1474" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFPMJF5URH4RuesG7haaLuDVjqCbSvwXY7rORzpI8N-0ADVYYTfvEhvqFQGkCRcupvGeikCsq_YdLxND7x3rbgMaboVbwXWqW0Ohg7kRHU79AS8HZ-mCTXeNNG_hPCMggn8_LvcTVewqz-QI86sss_rAVrUZYJF-JL2XSEnsutpebGqmnW3HSN3Zt2/w460-h640/336160751_236173375451746_5005605849826754764_n.jpg" width="460" /></a></div>In the egg hunt at Irvine Regional, Cha won a ticket to the OC Zoo, so we went there the following weekend. I love the smaller, more manageable size.<div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjisMZNGGZEKpQMj56v9KgABNVU4plS6xWHKJfk-Sw11lD4X8YB6-fv2aoX96zWdcmHU3NhcZeTx6Cr4zon4eFT8ndTl2qYgZv7n1Nw_V6W3DblofMvfpB5ysCnA5Y_Gc-zW3X1b7CcRZYHZJTZHDoxFT8ufDuiBO8Cf2wy5nIXRe3hBEF5ji_szrIy/s2048/336484462_175669885248566_3647076600207298873_n.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjisMZNGGZEKpQMj56v9KgABNVU4plS6xWHKJfk-Sw11lD4X8YB6-fv2aoX96zWdcmHU3NhcZeTx6Cr4zon4eFT8ndTl2qYgZv7n1Nw_V6W3DblofMvfpB5ysCnA5Y_Gc-zW3X1b7CcRZYHZJTZHDoxFT8ufDuiBO8Cf2wy5nIXRe3hBEF5ji_szrIy/w480-h640/336484462_175669885248566_3647076600207298873_n.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Father-Daughter dance where the Macarena turned out to be a big hit!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc3abOm267GJkfyFin7jUbEPe2b4JbTXe5RbgII8wCBPOxQuWpcjTVBbF474RcrP133XdTDdzCQxzyQd3hQjhr95dnVZDeuxCM0KNVM9eysNcguFE8Oo5rGJrBfGynGnGdVhQEguUK0fkhchxbtZM7jDtEqO3avlaqlwA-R5fLRCqc-Vk_hel-ZnRJ/s2048/336873674_553970446838576_8008430723545113067_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1412" data-original-width="2048" height="442" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc3abOm267GJkfyFin7jUbEPe2b4JbTXe5RbgII8wCBPOxQuWpcjTVBbF474RcrP133XdTDdzCQxzyQd3hQjhr95dnVZDeuxCM0KNVM9eysNcguFE8Oo5rGJrBfGynGnGdVhQEguUK0fkhchxbtZM7jDtEqO3avlaqlwA-R5fLRCqc-Vk_hel-ZnRJ/w640-h442/336873674_553970446838576_8008430723545113067_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNF1E5TdfN7JVKemuY5HLJDPtoyDF2zCPfAP_qW6mZQ6bYzM1S-KR0xXqOp9dHRIj1ed4R6bBWD9GhzH5JJqzeNDnR9xp9LL_-yYDfej3XXuW72JOAiiSA5JWcNRllwaTSs1OVV7iJB28IVcDu9MiogsMxgxRcx4M1aIYM1eGpIAh14NNTba3TVYNB/s2048/337023935_222292526983591_9073706550997540303_n.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1638" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNF1E5TdfN7JVKemuY5HLJDPtoyDF2zCPfAP_qW6mZQ6bYzM1S-KR0xXqOp9dHRIj1ed4R6bBWD9GhzH5JJqzeNDnR9xp9LL_-yYDfej3XXuW72JOAiiSA5JWcNRllwaTSs1OVV7iJB28IVcDu9MiogsMxgxRcx4M1aIYM1eGpIAh14NNTba3TVYNB/s320/337023935_222292526983591_9073706550997540303_n.jpg" width="256" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq8eYB7GTn_ldjaKP1c-dSmgmDD5hbf3Ky9t-gOm6_rrgujJsBd2M9AixnLFuXf7Y81A37i_ePN6NOLLvItMJOY5i7N5Zr_V8ZkL9Yav1RX_wdZ-bJCocNj6RYz9J2OtWRLccOP5PTHazkqSgTa0hwHYH0gX5tQy8e_z5SolV3GrM6M2-gzAk8QcMb/s2048/337236667_880676659888192_9189495751044452106_n.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1638" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq8eYB7GTn_ldjaKP1c-dSmgmDD5hbf3Ky9t-gOm6_rrgujJsBd2M9AixnLFuXf7Y81A37i_ePN6NOLLvItMJOY5i7N5Zr_V8ZkL9Yav1RX_wdZ-bJCocNj6RYz9J2OtWRLccOP5PTHazkqSgTa0hwHYH0gX5tQy8e_z5SolV3GrM6M2-gzAk8QcMb/s320/337236667_880676659888192_9189495751044452106_n.jpg" width="256" /></a></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/AVvXsEgvn3CrWEpt3xf0ds2rORGe-KeIWkh8Tq5ctALGlnNipfaDZXl8Nxr85B1vYHL4T5LOrTF1InbA0gcEDPHKEB3nfHs6YvFlE4IolsD1ng6VcLUYprD5Wg9yZocKVt4QTmiu0loFOqcwUhN67S2JlEwjguzjS2vQnJ_TimrissjaPXNaxDCQTKTBfmre/s1125/338321885_602362661480248_1628615879674668348_n.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSf3ZnKBaAqGosBUOwSZnCd0HmTTOKDD3cgQxjoTPQkYykTRq3IH0CojJvm-fHpdtRUN2DzygX14-2qJGoDVTWm6BDIe0AyoaZ7I6RdVGu49VPdQ1kBFEel_hdsS-yd96Ny_GpqCiulzCwRtxQtXnLkRUDKNXiIgCg80SsAsD7eIDkbAjDT_0DYwfd/s2048/338344081_639007561398250_2707738496603387653_n%20(1).jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSf3ZnKBaAqGosBUOwSZnCd0HmTTOKDD3cgQxjoTPQkYykTRq3IH0CojJvm-fHpdtRUN2DzygX14-2qJGoDVTWm6BDIe0AyoaZ7I6RdVGu49VPdQ1kBFEel_hdsS-yd96Ny_GpqCiulzCwRtxQtXnLkRUDKNXiIgCg80SsAsD7eIDkbAjDT_0DYwfd/s320/338344081_639007561398250_2707738496603387653_n%20(1).jpg" width="240" /></a><img border="0" data-original-height="1125" data-original-width="900" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvn3CrWEpt3xf0ds2rORGe-KeIWkh8Tq5ctALGlnNipfaDZXl8Nxr85B1vYHL4T5LOrTF1InbA0gcEDPHKEB3nfHs6YvFlE4IolsD1ng6VcLUYprD5Wg9yZocKVt4QTmiu0loFOqcwUhN67S2JlEwjguzjS2vQnJ_TimrissjaPXNaxDCQTKTBfmre/s320/338321885_602362661480248_1628615879674668348_n.jpg" width="256" /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; 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margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1401" data-original-width="1440" height="622" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl3MERYl5fAXg0_bopNq6ZXTrnNpmu7jiUGIdn7Tit6gQVWos3Z9X07cky1N6EmdGwy_fVIw0VlkS0cRPjCAZL88f7sKLtlu1Q2IIpIzncdyjCH0scM76ZznIyO8MZdRxki5L6ErOiO9iV1Xi70SqGndkuVqKGB4HE7izTgGc4cfdkgwL3dx-En7RP/w640-h622/338543527_6044612912281697_8656230722787660889_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiItQ3p0qoqbkdnx850AJo9QMWkf1wG08i5dMKhPfah3WzmK3Yl0eyD8Tw_1GudV16-P4WepmRaFJHaNPu0fXgTlIQAmgkFKgtsK98yYNFqxTQwUUkLelUs44niyBuKGqKALvU10bGjbQ82qbYO83xf8B95GwvyEKmTidXbmciVM4Xs8vw9MD2BXciH/s2048/338776483_6126993947347230_4265137037132094489_n.jpg" 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/AVvXsEiItQ3p0qoqbkdnx850AJo9QMWkf1wG08i5dMKhPfah3WzmK3Yl0eyD8Tw_1GudV16-P4WepmRaFJHaNPu0fXgTlIQAmgkFKgtsK98yYNFqxTQwUUkLelUs44niyBuKGqKALvU10bGjbQ82qbYO83xf8B95GwvyEKmTidXbmciVM4Xs8vw9MD2BXciH/w640-h480/338776483_6126993947347230_4265137037132094489_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><h2 style="text-align: left;">Things that I Don't Want to Forget:</h2><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>I was tying Cha's shoes when he spontaneously started singing Skidamrink. I stopped what I was doing and hugged him, trying to permanently etch that moment into my mind. The video below is a re-enactment, that I just had to capture right after he was done. I have highly reinforced him for this behavior, so he does it a few times a week now. It melts my heart...and Aut rolls her eyes haha.</li><li>My husband received a new student who struggles with counting. Upon hearing this and knowing they were older, our children were confused. "Remember Aut, Daddy's students are special. And you are <i>not</i> special. Neither are you, Cha." Without skipping a beat, Aut quickly quipped "How offensive!"</li></ul><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='400' height='333' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxGqOy8pe5YqlYcdEtSMnX9wANjiGawhpnwRcf_oQ3XX__j2kcFwORYPMb02V7oGKLX4A6BqPsB7gI7VaS7Yw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p></div>Megan Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18287505547652721159noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-713032057716800226.post-49288184983300852672023-03-27T11:25:00.002-07:002023-03-27T11:25:24.263-07:00February, 2023<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdUUwJIkg49TEO5jTSQeU_Av1LW8Dz4ya8CXvEW3a78TpnTN9xSFr1m2doDwpKxM3hIdqEnaD8HZs5trlgBUaKXHpD9UeLRya1x-dCNoF5jAhn6cuK3nB29UMkSvzmq8g2bxpTfzgh5fZGXKR1tAdTd-97fPSFDm5_2FnDv-ajcEsRxcPOeEloJBLA/s1104/328652218_1321138258669845_1489372510360652393_n%20(1).jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1104" data-original-width="768" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdUUwJIkg49TEO5jTSQeU_Av1LW8Dz4ya8CXvEW3a78TpnTN9xSFr1m2doDwpKxM3hIdqEnaD8HZs5trlgBUaKXHpD9UeLRya1x-dCNoF5jAhn6cuK3nB29UMkSvzmq8g2bxpTfzgh5fZGXKR1tAdTd-97fPSFDm5_2FnDv-ajcEsRxcPOeEloJBLA/s320/328652218_1321138258669845_1489372510360652393_n%20(1).jpg" width="223" /></a></div>February was a tough month because, during the first week, we discovered a slab leak and had to start staying in a hotel. At the close of the month, we were still staying in a hotel with no real end in sight. But before you feel too bad for us, the hotel we are staying in is the Great Wolf Lodge, so the kids are in heaven. Even so, it is tough being away from our pets as well as our regular routine. At the beginning of the month, we were treating it as being on vacation, with ice cream for dessert and appetizers at most meals. By the end of the month, we were trying to order the healthiest option from a list of unhealthy choices and trying to skip dessert in order to stave off any weight gain. Not noticeable on the kids, but visible on me. I miss coming home and not putting away my clean laundry or having Aut spontaneously hit the trails with her mountain bike. But it is an experience, and I cannot complain too much about this first-world problem. We were able to get into a new routine with our non-routine like me using my 10-pound weights to do a 30-minute workout video while they fall asleep since I cannot watch Netflix while they're still up. I am getting a ton of reading in, which is nice. We have had a lot of friends come visit us: Royden, Jacob, Alyna, Aubrey, Reagan and Robby, Mara, Makenna, and Michael, and anyone else we could talk into coming! <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='396' height='329' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dw8LHjT__LO35ufqTtL0Zm1auY4sYyau-TaPZnObamu-vgabCfbbFpKcwm0NuZ4zgiwiM5VCq9vN2L78yQ1tA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div><div style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDhud0JezxoN9NtsLZ1MIieAjSXVZ6XuDRW-OyL4OGJJ6CTY2q4OXKpyP3HJCFtQrSUMe2hxVhRXdupdo4x0_gcEprC_79p8LEA5LUHq37u3I49EzqmXq4i50sou-9HFb01RzXy8RyP5xxU_c027WrUWWSTEIKp9UFCeydjaRacfWunGfQ9Bt9C7f_/s640/329548600_3069119346566528_8500596063264336395_n.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg40c0s_ChuzgiIPdHhqVkXdnacCzaOn1H6G8Kb5WgFHU8wf4O7vAEHJGWe0VsdAGO3jikl4h1-ExGeiJdCTGWm4crFscP0dwEEg16wt4diykG7_Cj3MtAfBWXzE9TXypPbrjjtMXFx--dNVVgOoH_gNZ2DS60QVdrwk5gX0trypNwEhouni2DhqCVi/s2048/328862348_940697120642834_8822443561914262889_n.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg40c0s_ChuzgiIPdHhqVkXdnacCzaOn1H6G8Kb5WgFHU8wf4O7vAEHJGWe0VsdAGO3jikl4h1-ExGeiJdCTGWm4crFscP0dwEEg16wt4diykG7_Cj3MtAfBWXzE9TXypPbrjjtMXFx--dNVVgOoH_gNZ2DS60QVdrwk5gX0trypNwEhouni2DhqCVi/w300-h400/328862348_940697120642834_8822443561914262889_n.jpg" width="300" /></a><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="640" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDhud0JezxoN9NtsLZ1MIieAjSXVZ6XuDRW-OyL4OGJJ6CTY2q4OXKpyP3HJCFtQrSUMe2hxVhRXdupdo4x0_gcEprC_79p8LEA5LUHq37u3I49EzqmXq4i50sou-9HFb01RzXy8RyP5xxU_c027WrUWWSTEIKp9UFCeydjaRacfWunGfQ9Bt9C7f_/w320-h320/329548600_3069119346566528_8500596063264336395_n.jpg" width="320" /><p>We celebrated my father's 78th birthday before our trip to Oregon. Sadly, his important surgery was delayed. While we continue to be concerned about his weight loss, he remains in good spirits and always retains his ever-present and amazing sense of humor.</p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWT1l0KTxH3aHXDXXm04Q8VTrn6MsjQ8FgLpZo9EnRgy_BzHwuOd1oaptsf1nQcAVpxjEPBUlhEUvGQDDDtTb3XI89gwSJb2tNPj8oMuM7xjlkt2pJZe5g2-iSHeojq9YITUVR_XkTvolSOwjuk4DmeoytymkxCTHGmDW3Xf8OG4HedT0Q1K6BlrrR/s2048/331490507_579867680715861_6242124365743210725_n.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWT1l0KTxH3aHXDXXm04Q8VTrn6MsjQ8FgLpZo9EnRgy_BzHwuOd1oaptsf1nQcAVpxjEPBUlhEUvGQDDDtTb3XI89gwSJb2tNPj8oMuM7xjlkt2pJZe5g2-iSHeojq9YITUVR_XkTvolSOwjuk4DmeoytymkxCTHGmDW3Xf8OG4HedT0Q1K6BlrrR/w400-h300/331490507_579867680715861_6242124365743210725_n.jpg" width="400" /></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Oregon was so relaxing and peaceful. And we had snow! As in huge, hefty flakes falling down. I never want to forget that walk around the lake with my hubby, both of us in awe of God's beauty. Daddy drove, so the pack was back! All four dogs came. I had a lovely time with my MIL at the local winery, and the kids loved the jump place and indoor golf. Cha was very excited to get his very own hammer, which he did with Dad and Grandpa. He has such a strong work ethic and a desire to do good. Grandma wrote him a special letter to him for the future and laminated it for him.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJhnMt0HGIYcWQ7fjSeYyA_WTJtJbDMHJffa87l_TuXCP5UxEgQxfP4i3capUW47yODLYVbFucdvTwnuiC8WNXeCMnL6NzhkOMMYN7l2DC9DciQ9Om6kIAnBh3bmQO52jbUZU1muXZH1lWNxyl85ionMlG299VeauYpwg2sqE1AwknKC0_fK_BP4yN/s2048/332526066_572281831513631_2409454716133485762_n.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1492" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJhnMt0HGIYcWQ7fjSeYyA_WTJtJbDMHJffa87l_TuXCP5UxEgQxfP4i3capUW47yODLYVbFucdvTwnuiC8WNXeCMnL6NzhkOMMYN7l2DC9DciQ9Om6kIAnBh3bmQO52jbUZU1muXZH1lWNxyl85ionMlG299VeauYpwg2sqE1AwknKC0_fK_BP4yN/s320/332526066_572281831513631_2409454716133485762_n.jpg" width="233" /></a></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzTrmQv25jl0ZHAyMpGs1VY-_pGAyPmkp8SzbboZonNyQGaq4mttG5bLhV9IDHeS6IrrAV2LYN9sFevMTLWhIegHmWUrFwGoi1G745Ppx63lpTAeUbUYbGjBZN9TYH66gAVT3A7Qph5MCVSjVR3kPHJ2yLUgEIIqxFEEm8sTT80C2WPv404EvLfhVj/s995/332188814_1348418192614978_2648592508397997640_n.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="899" data-original-width="995" height="289" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzTrmQv25jl0ZHAyMpGs1VY-_pGAyPmkp8SzbboZonNyQGaq4mttG5bLhV9IDHeS6IrrAV2LYN9sFevMTLWhIegHmWUrFwGoi1G745Ppx63lpTAeUbUYbGjBZN9TYH66gAVT3A7Qph5MCVSjVR3kPHJ2yLUgEIIqxFEEm8sTT80C2WPv404EvLfhVj/s320/332188814_1348418192614978_2648592508397997640_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">When we returned from Oregon, the kids became confused between home and the hotel, which was our home. Cha found a solution and said, "home" is home where the dogs are, "home, home" is the wolf hotel, and "home, home, home, home, home, home, home, home, home, home is OregonGlen because it's important." Sure is, buddy...sure is.</div><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWDx36VZFdNalKrs-xefsqMZ8Fb1KDKJY-SRTdiHqCrip_wzFdbtAFa_VHjmwXLq1ISBWbAmTwyhPrMj7MYPxhDE-3HQj5pF3d6sGFIGBklkD_ZAatXHNYb2Oas8MwKDKfhF8TknFP2cv7MGMvJp1vJMxg2Xzl0sZntpmdG08-T1s75e3gh0lRrhSy/s2048/333016144_5995708033831323_271496277442696950_n.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWDx36VZFdNalKrs-xefsqMZ8Fb1KDKJY-SRTdiHqCrip_wzFdbtAFa_VHjmwXLq1ISBWbAmTwyhPrMj7MYPxhDE-3HQj5pF3d6sGFIGBklkD_ZAatXHNYb2Oas8MwKDKfhF8TknFP2cv7MGMvJp1vJMxg2Xzl0sZntpmdG08-T1s75e3gh0lRrhSy/s320/333016144_5995708033831323_271496277442696950_n.jpg" width="320" /></a><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO88d6VeO_xUao9sg-hB-bFiIO1aQsGQSFDBIRde8pONvDluRpdj4E_leCwGMkVUQ7PtXZe6i4Ywz1_oNFOFojgRDtbmEN9wk74QXShhXQAFxmbE2-v_hPJTXVqq_CtKR3rt2Stgzg2-LcYX4lhkPd7tNJXYRwyPtmARcw9wNErhudXqHmWYdlql46/s2048/332709390_736955194704301_948328980246964052_n.jpg" 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/AVvXsEjO88d6VeO_xUao9sg-hB-bFiIO1aQsGQSFDBIRde8pONvDluRpdj4E_leCwGMkVUQ7PtXZe6i4Ywz1_oNFOFojgRDtbmEN9wk74QXShhXQAFxmbE2-v_hPJTXVqq_CtKR3rt2Stgzg2-LcYX4lhkPd7tNJXYRwyPtmARcw9wNErhudXqHmWYdlql46/w640-h480/332709390_736955194704301_948328980246964052_n.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;"><span style="text-align: left;">After a decade of being the only middle school counselor, my school hired another counselor on a .8 contract, and my working life improved dramatically! While he is green, he is a much more seasoned counselor than I was when I started, probably due to the fact that he coached trach at our school for a decade. I also moved into a new office, about 3 times the size. The best part is that it is right near a shared patio and when I'm at my desk now, I can hear birds chirping, which I didn't even realize that I missed. There is also a piano class one period every other day behind my shared wall. The other day I could faintly hear hallelujah playing.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ4iBwgJTaDyNrPBV5rI7zSvN3MXSZsK-79onu7X5cMYguRHmfaRBHkVj5LSwdaRH2q4hIfKp5JOncfNf7s34u4L-E_HpfGPzcmHf_vNUHp6bL2f1JplCoXXIrzJfUDMs5cVP5lsMzo2BSCYE-sfQsp126Db-rb34-s8cymbPlWGiylV6M_2ES9uNe/s2048/333191490_1357720144984930_4835069289902153061_n.jpg" 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/AVvXsEjZ4iBwgJTaDyNrPBV5rI7zSvN3MXSZsK-79onu7X5cMYguRHmfaRBHkVj5LSwdaRH2q4hIfKp5JOncfNf7s34u4L-E_HpfGPzcmHf_vNUHp6bL2f1JplCoXXIrzJfUDMs5cVP5lsMzo2BSCYE-sfQsp126Db-rb34-s8cymbPlWGiylV6M_2ES9uNe/w640-h480/333191490_1357720144984930_4835069289902153061_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><h3 style="text-align: left;">What we're reading:</h3><div><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Power-Fun-Feel-Alive-Again/dp/0593241401" target="_blank">The Power of Fun</a></div><div><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/60177373-fairy-tale" target="_blank">Fairy Tale</a></div><div>Finished: The Mountain Between Us</div></div></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb7_5yUOTNedEInqzZyx67ZpBEg4pe2Oa-_HXvzGxjx8yLYqJHnth-eBJkblcFF8_qx9YfY0UCYRS0PHDege9qMgzTOiQoZwtWYt8Ium-q3kNIx_VBgScf0F2MSKc9qpC1RVS2oyJmlHRZGi-ltCclnuP8AlQquhempQkKKBpo_0nhfQU84YaOhxYn/s2048/327935432_1067534990712710_5377509352240099559_n%20(1).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1638" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb7_5yUOTNedEInqzZyx67ZpBEg4pe2Oa-_HXvzGxjx8yLYqJHnth-eBJkblcFF8_qx9YfY0UCYRS0PHDege9qMgzTOiQoZwtWYt8Ium-q3kNIx_VBgScf0F2MSKc9qpC1RVS2oyJmlHRZGi-ltCclnuP8AlQquhempQkKKBpo_0nhfQU84YaOhxYn/s320/327935432_1067534990712710_5377509352240099559_n%20(1).jpg" width="256" /></a></div><h3 style="text-align: left;">Moments I don't want to Forget:</h3><div><span face=""Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px;">Actual quote, while I was driving: “Raise your hand if you’re the best mom and the best cooker and the best teacher. Raise your hand if you’re<i> that </i>girl. You should be the cooker at my school because I would get to see you. You should be my teacher -you should’ve picked that job because then I would get to hug you. My love for you is never going to end even when I die.” ~ Charles</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px;" /><br /></div>Megan Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18287505547652721159noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-713032057716800226.post-17145007032332648812023-02-03T14:07:00.001-08:002023-02-03T14:07:11.916-08:00January, 2023<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinxn66IpexcPlMzKD41cATkaKrzE0O_tRxX0RK-U4h2YjLgUWG4ijourDXbB8hEqUXiQSjnQ2-zGywGl1K70ZvvC3cJ_PWM3V7uOOXWiXeGSqEqTPwB_e5izFf1jOhYXh035_90_OI5s_JevaD4h4IVoiIYqDrXCmh9crFUwmao2yP_RCxOxL3OPZ6/s960/324108393_1414734245724299_7088801766318603829_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinxn66IpexcPlMzKD41cATkaKrzE0O_tRxX0RK-U4h2YjLgUWG4ijourDXbB8hEqUXiQSjnQ2-zGywGl1K70ZvvC3cJ_PWM3V7uOOXWiXeGSqEqTPwB_e5izFf1jOhYXh035_90_OI5s_JevaD4h4IVoiIYqDrXCmh9crFUwmao2yP_RCxOxL3OPZ6/w640-h480/324108393_1414734245724299_7088801766318603829_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></p><p>It was such a great start to the new year! Since we worked up until the eve of Christmas eve, we didn't return to work until January 9th. We eased into the year with Universal Studios (again), Great Wolf Lodge (thanks, Grandpa-Glennie), and lots of mountain bike riding behind our home. The kids were supposed to go back around the 4th, but had extra time off because we were off. I just can't send them to school when I'm off because I want to be with them!!</p><p> <iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzFluzz3M4UB10UxFJpqoXLIgt74UHM1-crFktFY5eeaw-DtKRHu1lbx-JTsuWI1uNEfePfBXidWb8rwAJqdA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhGEkQJWhNodG33BJ_XGFXENqjOpYBtEux1wO4Uudi9HtZzIAPJnqxA5_JniiqQYTwd9lfcBMqxdLffRro-aKiW6XHgSVYiD5WShsfmuEXU9Ik8Tou3aXp5Q895vMIf-CANv4k8BTc8Nsnz0oI7cQKGPngbhA-yEz7_Mi0W6rdvO0X80NVeJlykpCH/s1953/324139117_1239322296623912_1835263392909682835_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1953" data-original-width="1810" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhGEkQJWhNodG33BJ_XGFXENqjOpYBtEux1wO4Uudi9HtZzIAPJnqxA5_JniiqQYTwd9lfcBMqxdLffRro-aKiW6XHgSVYiD5WShsfmuEXU9Ik8Tou3aXp5Q895vMIf-CANv4k8BTc8Nsnz0oI7cQKGPngbhA-yEz7_Mi0W6rdvO0X80NVeJlykpCH/s320/324139117_1239322296623912_1835263392909682835_n.jpg" width="297" /></a></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5FdmMdoRLh-WMx7ZnQbus7TNDOjD4rHwy61Vlju75UuWz9v_Wq9UKMGzE6w1a73bOkXcAYuMhHCunjY6BIzUF8e7zTFJL593gUJuwDMHlpFFN3LskXfPqMT5_nBMS7B-Ha7B4tq9sO6P47wrzemSeB9YLhN3DlgTXYZeEd2VgUdHBkHLWIgxk1IiH/s1800/322474532_688334042937704_5918527237036943753_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinSbGC64QZjdxtEQMT5cZstyprcAcd6M4tCKxTLnJCEqgQvClwlXQo4y5a_IJNvhxOJL7Z436OWL1dmRBDifkQJKvJ8h0W7agqo7rTkSn06xEsDQUlsNJ_MnanQcvczqry7oNV6C2gUfiXcPN6a4OZoYHrG4Jykk1-1L7YFEujzkEAYIQP_mjiR3io/s1551/325615096_1215935835677654_4540365447587855741_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1551" data-original-width="1440" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinSbGC64QZjdxtEQMT5cZstyprcAcd6M4tCKxTLnJCEqgQvClwlXQo4y5a_IJNvhxOJL7Z436OWL1dmRBDifkQJKvJ8h0W7agqo7rTkSn06xEsDQUlsNJ_MnanQcvczqry7oNV6C2gUfiXcPN6a4OZoYHrG4Jykk1-1L7YFEujzkEAYIQP_mjiR3io/w371-h400/325615096_1215935835677654_4540365447587855741_n.jpg" width="371" /></a><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="1440" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5FdmMdoRLh-WMx7ZnQbus7TNDOjD4rHwy61Vlju75UuWz9v_Wq9UKMGzE6w1a73bOkXcAYuMhHCunjY6BIzUF8e7zTFJL593gUJuwDMHlpFFN3LskXfPqMT5_nBMS7B-Ha7B4tq9sO6P47wrzemSeB9YLhN3DlgTXYZeEd2VgUdHBkHLWIgxk1IiH/s320/322474532_688334042937704_5918527237036943753_n.jpg" width="256" /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8z2ZgG4D0D-J75JdU_FrMa1RzwMsqpi2qYzjd-srBE_KCNVPRcxKzWGLB5I5OM_7OuP9W-DCJW_HEtYV6LcBTjO62N50bowWmYVKlSJxJcqJ-ZJaRTGYoINpAQHmzVEbuC2NOGfK9kJVa2LJ9uqIJ7XgIhKBDwZY7UyUls3_tmSuGKJDiTBFOlqX2/s2048/323441952_1313342846129394_2405454946513996831_n.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/AVvXsEj8z2ZgG4D0D-J75JdU_FrMa1RzwMsqpi2qYzjd-srBE_KCNVPRcxKzWGLB5I5OM_7OuP9W-DCJW_HEtYV6LcBTjO62N50bowWmYVKlSJxJcqJ-ZJaRTGYoINpAQHmzVEbuC2NOGfK9kJVa2LJ9uqIJ7XgIhKBDwZY7UyUls3_tmSuGKJDiTBFOlqX2/w640-h480/323441952_1313342846129394_2405454946513996831_n.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;"><span style="text-align: left;">This month, the kids tried Ramen for the first time and went to their first hockey game (Go Kings, go!). </span></div><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOYzhOCW-9LE36O0sps-5Q_T5eBhhkCGyrKA19i6jq7MO9yNrZDxuoyKx7uGN9F3l0sM_lmsYPQIgKXLivzeQofgXbJfLOZqVDHBUDhhUeFeZGoCruQ1FNp1Yz313FmOmZDQHs994hew6ukjMUFavj8RVoz4ISRwa5H0B-jQZw9II7MbCMG-Cn2AE6/s2048/324249200_491872246359624_3820151485168015055_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOYzhOCW-9LE36O0sps-5Q_T5eBhhkCGyrKA19i6jq7MO9yNrZDxuoyKx7uGN9F3l0sM_lmsYPQIgKXLivzeQofgXbJfLOZqVDHBUDhhUeFeZGoCruQ1FNp1Yz313FmOmZDQHs994hew6ukjMUFavj8RVoz4ISRwa5H0B-jQZw9II7MbCMG-Cn2AE6/s320/324249200_491872246359624_3820151485168015055_n.jpg" width="240" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkH20Kc4pMqSBS3N9cY0bk9-yHccpJ9Wm_Pn5cDJPsp7AksNn1_xWc9srHPNbG1-UtHwIgiy7gJid5W9QbNJ6v9Is6Q8-5kudIAnxEFHd95IWVHNWeTUH35OZwqmhVhjbov1MhJkyxr3pQnJhnMFf7QLGRz0wjl_YAbwwLHsl20i5Xf6bOLZC62WlZ/s2048/324244927_910083420162462_3653430395195711983_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkH20Kc4pMqSBS3N9cY0bk9-yHccpJ9Wm_Pn5cDJPsp7AksNn1_xWc9srHPNbG1-UtHwIgiy7gJid5W9QbNJ6v9Is6Q8-5kudIAnxEFHd95IWVHNWeTUH35OZwqmhVhjbov1MhJkyxr3pQnJhnMFf7QLGRz0wjl_YAbwwLHsl20i5Xf6bOLZC62WlZ/s320/324244927_910083420162462_3653430395195711983_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></p><p>Aut continues to play basketball and is rapidly improving and loving it. We signed her up for another league before her first one was even through! </p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglm1nn2vrbOXP1rrV1Y3djHEx97Ic88d27EowpmgfG6a-fb3YkcrwuYGf-6Zayoa-6fF5QSyCfbxvgEQZREQJlleFmA6BGGrmD4qgshvKBQMljgtTHKtKPyYIIduli-Vbs0liSCdywPc-sXioMxurOOuB4w8NKQnTIOIaukBKNBj4b3COJUTRcUm55/s2048/325424430_573879567656685_1414428442348876437_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1986" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglm1nn2vrbOXP1rrV1Y3djHEx97Ic88d27EowpmgfG6a-fb3YkcrwuYGf-6Zayoa-6fF5QSyCfbxvgEQZREQJlleFmA6BGGrmD4qgshvKBQMljgtTHKtKPyYIIduli-Vbs0liSCdywPc-sXioMxurOOuB4w8NKQnTIOIaukBKNBj4b3COJUTRcUm55/s320/325424430_573879567656685_1414428442348876437_n.jpg" width="310" /></a></p><p>This year, my goal is to gain muscle and lose fat. This will entail more weight training, less running, and more protein intake. I'm aiming for at least 130g, which proved to be more difficult than I realized. I am loving Caroline Girvan's <a href="https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLhu1QCKrfgPWmStsg7imo5EQ0zmkxymJ2" target="_blank">Iron Series</a>, and am trying to complete a few of her videos each week, while still going to the gym 1-2 days a week and walking or running 3 miles most days. I like supplementing with her videos because if I have an extra 10 minutes in the morning, I can complete nearly half of her workout, and do the rest of it when I get home or (more often than not) the next day.</p><p>Since getting enough protein while trying to keep my caloric intake under 1,500-1,800 was nearly impossible, toward the very end of the month, I started Atkins, Phase 1 (also Keto). For the last week of January, I kept my daily net carb intake at 20 or under, not an easy feat for this carb-lover.</p><p>The kids and I closed out the month by hiking up a nearby hill. We often see tiny, ann-size people from our kitchen window. And so, we set out to find the trail, which wasn't hard to do. The best part was calling Daddy, who was hard at work laying some pipe, while we were at the top and waving to him! It was so neat to see him, and hear that he could see us!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzDpM3QBEs4TcM15bU5NVOTFbXUxq23VKiwvcEaD5DcXBs3wW5VqwGAXtaj9hLBgyV4h_fOsHpwTAt5NvB1BI1DhJ_EfltgAmr8C-D1aDoshD0DGqqlUtcWOSelcHh8ciy2hw_8S8fhpRLEX3HCryNnhP_zjMaAlLMzKzmJ1bMqpX4T2Y_z-SJvYbN/s1208/326998089_714679960048804_6617337672684767908_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1208" data-original-width="750" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzDpM3QBEs4TcM15bU5NVOTFbXUxq23VKiwvcEaD5DcXBs3wW5VqwGAXtaj9hLBgyV4h_fOsHpwTAt5NvB1BI1DhJ_EfltgAmr8C-D1aDoshD0DGqqlUtcWOSelcHh8ciy2hw_8S8fhpRLEX3HCryNnhP_zjMaAlLMzKzmJ1bMqpX4T2Y_z-SJvYbN/w249-h400/326998089_714679960048804_6617337672684767908_n.jpg" width="249" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl_pUW8j7MKZcWuSmOHIxPWPynT6GnppgKNSeMvnKPIMlOtGXIgsTnc2immFJlTikA6LHdUbOM5DtuzSBz96aFhZAfBUBkGDkRD1l2q7SpccNFEPhgTSOItGZslu2CIKTGRy3N33qvua9gW0dpK5ApGIYicebNUN-ARHTm3Z5qvn4Ra3l5f45gc0uX/s2048/327902720_735908087817666_8645662067814355063_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1860" data-original-width="2048" height="291" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl_pUW8j7MKZcWuSmOHIxPWPynT6GnppgKNSeMvnKPIMlOtGXIgsTnc2immFJlTikA6LHdUbOM5DtuzSBz96aFhZAfBUBkGDkRD1l2q7SpccNFEPhgTSOItGZslu2CIKTGRy3N33qvua9gW0dpK5ApGIYicebNUN-ARHTm3Z5qvn4Ra3l5f45gc0uX/s320/327902720_735908087817666_8645662067814355063_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6PFx1-Gr7Xs1r-oicqRsrfI0_VLPROV0o1bOsSeLK0pZAon1j-N9WHYe8VIQxDBKmP7I6eyb8zRstaXe1QQ_T7qtkiqZoGBUaR5zWdBvGZk1TRo2ut0xjx0OnbaV0BozLXwzd7ZOkr7uYueauZaNApXV0DOV9hjx0ftol-_NBGLMDhUXHYGJ8qwAY/s750/327204475_730872141771704_6681418370914622795_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="743" data-original-width="750" height="634" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6PFx1-Gr7Xs1r-oicqRsrfI0_VLPROV0o1bOsSeLK0pZAon1j-N9WHYe8VIQxDBKmP7I6eyb8zRstaXe1QQ_T7qtkiqZoGBUaR5zWdBvGZk1TRo2ut0xjx0OnbaV0BozLXwzd7ZOkr7uYueauZaNApXV0DOV9hjx0ftol-_NBGLMDhUXHYGJ8qwAY/w640-h634/327204475_730872141771704_6681418370914622795_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p><b>Things I don't want to forget about this month:</b></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">While I was driving: “Raise your hand if you’re the best mom and the best cooker and the best teacher. Raise your hand if you’re <i>that</i> girl. You should be the cooker at my school because I would get to see you. You should be my teacher -you should’ve picked that job because then I would get to hug you. My love for you is never going to end even when I die.” ~ Cha</span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Aut insisting "No, I love you more." Not even close, baby girl...not even close.</span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>What we're reading:</b></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA_N4KTrgxnHP0GsXEAjOw0UTIMPyMkzWLbmHWTH-s-lLdu3IYQinmnm98LFJ3xcfXCyOieJuOuMOJmMgjpteUX84YS14l7DU9bNUMBwcQ03yDFtFghUEzcTAEDIcIvi0Ko8cPSsCGbKJiK3UrhBPPIzOU_i8Y7FiD255JUATlTlKxGmOJgU6MulAB/s499/41CSAHVHk+L._SX327_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="499" data-original-width="329" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA_N4KTrgxnHP0GsXEAjOw0UTIMPyMkzWLbmHWTH-s-lLdu3IYQinmnm98LFJ3xcfXCyOieJuOuMOJmMgjpteUX84YS14l7DU9bNUMBwcQ03yDFtFghUEzcTAEDIcIvi0Ko8cPSsCGbKJiK3UrhBPPIzOU_i8Y7FiD255JUATlTlKxGmOJgU6MulAB/s320/41CSAHVHk+L._SX327_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg" width="211" /></a></div><br /><b><br /></b><p></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Kids:</b></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b> </b></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8WVcvZkhBzPYKFwIYbfmXHiVvZSD3ELN9cb2ANyXM2848bLMcpHKTIWv2L8dyHfXt74nXFpYq0FNAoQOfTw8F7LjF9DLCSOYi7GwbF4pgfJ7kakV-esusgaS9hObAuAOUDLIbxRew0fPKoiWtXpSjKUucBntKBVevIm6XlpqVIblY_vpMcPyiGkfw/s500/51J2SVA-ElL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: white; clear: right; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: 700; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="500" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8WVcvZkhBzPYKFwIYbfmXHiVvZSD3ELN9cb2ANyXM2848bLMcpHKTIWv2L8dyHfXt74nXFpYq0FNAoQOfTw8F7LjF9DLCSOYi7GwbF4pgfJ7kakV-esusgaS9hObAuAOUDLIbxRew0fPKoiWtXpSjKUucBntKBVevIm6XlpqVIblY_vpMcPyiGkfw/w200-h200/51J2SVA-ElL.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b></b></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></div><b><br /></b><p></p>Megan Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18287505547652721159noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-713032057716800226.post-11432218662355878592023-01-13T14:06:00.001-08:002023-01-13T14:06:19.069-08:00December, 2022<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgso36z5Sl8UexkiO1Fdjwsucb3a4jLI0yyd8Fj6mo0iMMX1-RCe6J61mcgGHpzOHRfg6LRq9jsnNpl37Tqu56G_gf4WfecErx0-2FSUaDr6DAhsqYHX2IVcG_bWRSBQZN_Lq9Hj4GH1_GmBSR8O2kUJpveNjU5ZlFR33et9gk7jcZZ7j-Pa4qK9k_w/s2048/322805039_734605801564967_4205885387730155349_n%20(1).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1639" data-original-width="2048" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgso36z5Sl8UexkiO1Fdjwsucb3a4jLI0yyd8Fj6mo0iMMX1-RCe6J61mcgGHpzOHRfg6LRq9jsnNpl37Tqu56G_gf4WfecErx0-2FSUaDr6DAhsqYHX2IVcG_bWRSBQZN_Lq9Hj4GH1_GmBSR8O2kUJpveNjU5ZlFR33et9gk7jcZZ7j-Pa4qK9k_w/w640-h512/322805039_734605801564967_4205885387730155349_n%20(1).jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCnhTiaDgo4clxeO8FvbOI4M1f79mrTcLgIbk550pa1MbEu_38xmYWnbRtSmm_Ax59-AUsjKBzxNq_975Pu6RVBb5a3-nSOdg84kmnp-qG2NW8_A0YIRfHgwPGENMgzqVtxmicdZ8NcEecnKUTwq1J6pc_5LGpTXtuP1MUQoh-mLF1pwb6y_D2oari/s2048/322901560_949647266028222_7135718535040720096_n.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvGyxNZXmZbM2MEbcZDCsfl3sT359cG3WoBP8Hf47zrgIlHAwqNQQfEzm5HiJv_lYuW-yGJNTmkzdgDSdWkiwoweHXq8konpOl6826iuMn0NPH3llvoOy-Zkhsu3wULMEkXsdfkB9pEfkWgFTvR4kKX4hlVPcSysNZOQp5WeIp8_ZkhUzffS9EmjVg/s2048/322801364_683537740162652_3780379214798767649_n.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1366" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvGyxNZXmZbM2MEbcZDCsfl3sT359cG3WoBP8Hf47zrgIlHAwqNQQfEzm5HiJv_lYuW-yGJNTmkzdgDSdWkiwoweHXq8konpOl6826iuMn0NPH3llvoOy-Zkhsu3wULMEkXsdfkB9pEfkWgFTvR4kKX4hlVPcSysNZOQp5WeIp8_ZkhUzffS9EmjVg/w266-h400/322801364_683537740162652_3780379214798767649_n.jpg" width="266" /></a><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1366" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCnhTiaDgo4clxeO8FvbOI4M1f79mrTcLgIbk550pa1MbEu_38xmYWnbRtSmm_Ax59-AUsjKBzxNq_975Pu6RVBb5a3-nSOdg84kmnp-qG2NW8_A0YIRfHgwPGENMgzqVtxmicdZ8NcEecnKUTwq1J6pc_5LGpTXtuP1MUQoh-mLF1pwb6y_D2oari/w266-h400/322901560_949647266028222_7135718535040720096_n.jpg" width="266" /></p><p>December is always a magical month. While it can be easy to get caught up in the business and stress of the season, we can always choose joy and we can always choose to be present. It was extra special this year because, in celebration of Uncle Ben's 50th birthday, we went to a lot of fun places like Sea World, the SD Zoo, and Universal Studios. Santa and Mrs. Clause even made a special appearance at our home and visited with the children for an hour, reading, singing songs and handing out some small gifts for each of them. Somehow, he knew who each kid was, what they had done well over the past year and what they needed to improve. <iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/yLZ6ehyDJiU" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe> </p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikco_RTlDHfyUBs8LtAVrmcVaHuFV8dkPWI4XcxNds5peU81zUNKfTLaS1MotEJl7p8_pk-ZXuG_CH6Epgl8AKVpIxQDyGRUcZT9VK1OkAh6iTMqBySKtbaoh3qBGpKfzIaGVtXYLSuvvELtA5K9Na5n5NOB1NKt5QhadmWZlOReRnSyRQ6Pln4HCH/s2048/321557149_3034474123523800_1942387314950667822_n%20(1).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikco_RTlDHfyUBs8LtAVrmcVaHuFV8dkPWI4XcxNds5peU81zUNKfTLaS1MotEJl7p8_pk-ZXuG_CH6Epgl8AKVpIxQDyGRUcZT9VK1OkAh6iTMqBySKtbaoh3qBGpKfzIaGVtXYLSuvvELtA5K9Na5n5NOB1NKt5QhadmWZlOReRnSyRQ6Pln4HCH/w480-h640/321557149_3034474123523800_1942387314950667822_n%20(1).jpg" width="480" /></a></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMIgTZ8fsJMkkm9q9o7dPhj3VRB0eEJV4Y7tpT7Yd8yoBqEGvF7myzhEuhy7ReL0b0ZtTrbPFvFZZkFUF2x6Qn1uZwqeW9j2mUvIT-t7H_hKeF1RcP9-4I5piKAFq61YwLf3EDiTajQGzXtBIWjNb73vtgyw9sjfF6Mg_Uz2YWnVy3jf7rX29YI0Vk/s2048/319838922_2361209614032948_237677397922034167_n%20(2).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMIgTZ8fsJMkkm9q9o7dPhj3VRB0eEJV4Y7tpT7Yd8yoBqEGvF7myzhEuhy7ReL0b0ZtTrbPFvFZZkFUF2x6Qn1uZwqeW9j2mUvIT-t7H_hKeF1RcP9-4I5piKAFq61YwLf3EDiTajQGzXtBIWjNb73vtgyw9sjfF6Mg_Uz2YWnVy3jf7rX29YI0Vk/w400-h300/319838922_2361209614032948_237677397922034167_n%20(2).jpg" width="400" /></a></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg115dx3HkRI-rSbd5fjUhsyD964RjVBRz8XzzMvk0xTOmbEHlhSDARTDcLd2ew-zONm2uuTnElMbOrUMJFY_1HRk9ONcJD7zAofI6EG4SN0p_Zc8izv9RYWZD3YMbiAT2h6qS6kXRktfR34K2it4H_K4CzIQf9fDrbPwWBF3c5qkClIKjKCJ83WEcJ/s2048/321574508_1528365321000599_7498904131648501623_n%20(2).jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg115dx3HkRI-rSbd5fjUhsyD964RjVBRz8XzzMvk0xTOmbEHlhSDARTDcLd2ew-zONm2uuTnElMbOrUMJFY_1HRk9ONcJD7zAofI6EG4SN0p_Zc8izv9RYWZD3YMbiAT2h6qS6kXRktfR34K2it4H_K4CzIQf9fDrbPwWBF3c5qkClIKjKCJ83WEcJ/s320/321574508_1528365321000599_7498904131648501623_n%20(2).jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Uncle TJ & Auntie Bex!</td></tr></tbody></table><p>My husband's brother and his wife stayed with us, which the kids loved (and so did we!). They live in DC, but we wish that they lived closer. We can't wait to visit them next year. My father-in-law also stayed with us for the few weeks when they were in town, which we loved. And, my father and brother spent the night on Christmas eve! It was wonderful having a full house with family.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIWiNShWN89aZlzMEFBEDdlRol31qblX5D6_9IgUdCia2Mqw9szofyDwmrC9PvCg0iBWwWJIbDrcxwMGLC4rDn5iOCzbqx_iGPLDZqjzPHTuMJlTSp7ghlrEhMJBGO9IJAgwbYLKg8bwbSrWQHGz0ox8c3zmG4HqvxYWZjUrTHSGh8i4Z7fPHTxHHO/s960/321661432_712213570422149_3929919837093503947_n.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="785" data-original-width="960" height="262" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIWiNShWN89aZlzMEFBEDdlRol31qblX5D6_9IgUdCia2Mqw9szofyDwmrC9PvCg0iBWwWJIbDrcxwMGLC4rDn5iOCzbqx_iGPLDZqjzPHTuMJlTSp7ghlrEhMJBGO9IJAgwbYLKg8bwbSrWQHGz0ox8c3zmG4HqvxYWZjUrTHSGh8i4Z7fPHTxHHO/s320/321661432_712213570422149_3929919837093503947_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Between two Grandpas</td></tr></tbody></table>On Christmas day, we had so much fun taking Cha's monster truck out on the trails behind our home and enjoying the sunshine.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlrhA1TCKFKobOQbsbCX78NRiv9RsVm0_yq7uS3VX0fIRhch6KYbqZXjrUJF6BiQrwxFDuDpjBk3pfmLNr6UazWZCkELlQtDntGsRRM-lj7rT4yAyoLMGxSgXexY2Cn8E5Lak9ISKjQu6odRyFZnYGya5slKhyXbEJwCvT4JfRJMNWDIRe3EgdIrgZ/s2048/321614488_465235759155925_2187784996033742778_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlrhA1TCKFKobOQbsbCX78NRiv9RsVm0_yq7uS3VX0fIRhch6KYbqZXjrUJF6BiQrwxFDuDpjBk3pfmLNr6UazWZCkELlQtDntGsRRM-lj7rT4yAyoLMGxSgXexY2Cn8E5Lak9ISKjQu6odRyFZnYGya5slKhyXbEJwCvT4JfRJMNWDIRe3EgdIrgZ/w300-h400/321614488_465235759155925_2187784996033742778_n.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhju4GnOFzXJc36_h3Qu5_dnHuDykrLPBFgdx3GR87Mwz-fL7K_8r2F7ovDvr0hZCC7mVhoj0c8UUAaHeELY4RwFxJJAPqUzecXK7dFds2DlVUe8xVpvkgz__xToMmVAOyxa7Ri_jj-esaPxMSlrbksqZODah0WdYW7OCp7GXL0M6PlFDYggnAdxsQB/s2048/321698584_533528162052927_7601394822960479427_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1620" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhju4GnOFzXJc36_h3Qu5_dnHuDykrLPBFgdx3GR87Mwz-fL7K_8r2F7ovDvr0hZCC7mVhoj0c8UUAaHeELY4RwFxJJAPqUzecXK7dFds2DlVUe8xVpvkgz__xToMmVAOyxa7Ri_jj-esaPxMSlrbksqZODah0WdYW7OCp7GXL0M6PlFDYggnAdxsQB/w316-h400/321698584_533528162052927_7601394822960479427_n.jpg" width="316" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0Ok5B8MsZmJg-s8sPvn7bMLf27UlbuixmTCa7ihoC3WYZnMW3jCCB-X_jxyOAFs7yMpoaD4KYWBnTAG4KOYGM-JgX_JXIF0QtxvQxcCmbYrx29CY0-r1cRH7d3YxH1Aye5J1fNAoDZKLrdoIKpP36FQ2AvdkBxLkBJQOnkDQ9qMlJfRi2fwKXGQ70/s2048/322349797_557813046214379_2746237708230422587_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" 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/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0Ok5B8MsZmJg-s8sPvn7bMLf27UlbuixmTCa7ihoC3WYZnMW3jCCB-X_jxyOAFs7yMpoaD4KYWBnTAG4KOYGM-JgX_JXIF0QtxvQxcCmbYrx29CY0-r1cRH7d3YxH1Aye5J1fNAoDZKLrdoIKpP36FQ2AvdkBxLkBJQOnkDQ9qMlJfRi2fwKXGQ70/w300-h400/322349797_557813046214379_2746237708230422587_n.jpg" width="300" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPeyWa900zf8JboozAt8cdycbT5h4h_L2tGlPKFxg64bOeiZ_FMddK7cp2YY4tRm9t6Zdkqj1P9ah5L6keAHmAbMcKWMivJmUgOdYI2tLlImTjBfEk0lSTlA8jUPJVX5MI6Vdl8OLlC1ctUx8ObHobUKBfT5lx8Yiwq2ifk1My91aKMQ_itNAIK7ki/s2048/321978476_729280864925888_4813188989194396858_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPeyWa900zf8JboozAt8cdycbT5h4h_L2tGlPKFxg64bOeiZ_FMddK7cp2YY4tRm9t6Zdkqj1P9ah5L6keAHmAbMcKWMivJmUgOdYI2tLlImTjBfEk0lSTlA8jUPJVX5MI6Vdl8OLlC1ctUx8ObHobUKBfT5lx8Yiwq2ifk1My91aKMQ_itNAIK7ki/w300-h400/321978476_729280864925888_4813188989194396858_n.jpg" width="300" /></a><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-QPWuLcoAEOsD9ksIuhKLnUYZbmnD3TQL9TjI3OUQwJ852ovAkDbYCS2mCIdmZ5yl7qm-HZhbipt468iunqwUeVeNM9dKBKrWoEP0rkZQJPYgFWgN8vsu6CuUW8sRd8MYOO9Oj4Yxbbe2i7EldajfKkeeQEyFu05g_ew7ovyFJrEN0YoBPwNWAu2P/s960/322400656_423642133223748_2028408990551674204_n.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-QPWuLcoAEOsD9ksIuhKLnUYZbmnD3TQL9TjI3OUQwJ852ovAkDbYCS2mCIdmZ5yl7qm-HZhbipt468iunqwUeVeNM9dKBKrWoEP0rkZQJPYgFWgN8vsu6CuUW8sRd8MYOO9Oj4Yxbbe2i7EldajfKkeeQEyFu05g_ew7ovyFJrEN0YoBPwNWAu2P/w300-h400/322400656_423642133223748_2028408990551674204_n.jpg" width="300" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim508jVBTS43dssK9xCLaHqzpzzSIcdHn_rXZh6_mkvGNWYzSBNExOIMGaiI83cYjMztOpF114_MmqsKTQOeVBJeELi8jjA_M4e2ph26jpC4aJxXLBDL1QGGI5bgopYdmnrpuiTXofaA-nO6OOWPLk4btyD3iXZ68gUFGX8Z6NbKqRLutGtpUFlQNJ/s2048/322007107_1360372908114171_3646668971966398916_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" 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/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim508jVBTS43dssK9xCLaHqzpzzSIcdHn_rXZh6_mkvGNWYzSBNExOIMGaiI83cYjMztOpF114_MmqsKTQOeVBJeELi8jjA_M4e2ph26jpC4aJxXLBDL1QGGI5bgopYdmnrpuiTXofaA-nO6OOWPLk4btyD3iXZ68gUFGX8Z6NbKqRLutGtpUFlQNJ/w300-h400/322007107_1360372908114171_3646668971966398916_n.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEici4G5B5-I51mr-CrbzkzuYr9lWVOjbmj8dq6AauYzTGePNWL6iexKVCxwHVNYbf9GG5uf-CJU7kDX4M9QebOlaqDLU4ZoMdv9zpSwZYRIxUq5cihJLbKHPbtJCS32s8OOW8Keti8lLkDSWHZu62f3FPu8c1MBSxWb17N_ayF9o1BNLPyzitLpYdM0/s2048/320774797_3320130224922182_8419889077127632663_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEici4G5B5-I51mr-CrbzkzuYr9lWVOjbmj8dq6AauYzTGePNWL6iexKVCxwHVNYbf9GG5uf-CJU7kDX4M9QebOlaqDLU4ZoMdv9zpSwZYRIxUq5cihJLbKHPbtJCS32s8OOW8Keti8lLkDSWHZu62f3FPu8c1MBSxWb17N_ayF9o1BNLPyzitLpYdM0/w640-h480/320774797_3320130224922182_8419889077127632663_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Christmas morning</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaKh75_9aJvFHZ3p7A35VEaJutzK0VmcefyNC3IMPz-VU4IkT2epN_q0Efdo6Yggkk7E6WNxiQtDfe4NH907YNpNVJ0kGV6xFDjnFHpZyCeGFzwiH54lhYX-vlbidYgaCKFL4cShxH82P9NexoAOHmudmq2hEc-aB9uupAFTqWY85Z68prcG0NXJ6B/s2048/322239195_1267915320454033_4883798812729338762_n.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaKh75_9aJvFHZ3p7A35VEaJutzK0VmcefyNC3IMPz-VU4IkT2epN_q0Efdo6Yggkk7E6WNxiQtDfe4NH907YNpNVJ0kGV6xFDjnFHpZyCeGFzwiH54lhYX-vlbidYgaCKFL4cShxH82P9NexoAOHmudmq2hEc-aB9uupAFTqWY85Z68prcG0NXJ6B/w300-h400/322239195_1267915320454033_4883798812729338762_n.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is 50! Celebrating Ben.</td></tr></tbody></table><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiII9j4ZXd5H2LHqGCAesFOgX4Ikh0Bb-Lvnqq3R_Ytsw0TZr_Z1FihioaRbJxyyHUVD_tchAe0gsCIY3WoFdBjOFZcHEbEE7waYyrdUIBxDjejh9qj1_gXsaTxSkxNBPV-caPW7MklI9KB8HqiNDnntsZJ4rcBgz8nKC_aSx2rC2TrcKjcAPLYZFxn/s2048/322258758_750255819349899_1375222993653445681_n.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1462" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiII9j4ZXd5H2LHqGCAesFOgX4Ikh0Bb-Lvnqq3R_Ytsw0TZr_Z1FihioaRbJxyyHUVD_tchAe0gsCIY3WoFdBjOFZcHEbEE7waYyrdUIBxDjejh9qj1_gXsaTxSkxNBPV-caPW7MklI9KB8HqiNDnntsZJ4rcBgz8nKC_aSx2rC2TrcKjcAPLYZFxn/w285-h400/322258758_750255819349899_1375222993653445681_n.jpg" width="285" /></a><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHHOIlqvwABtFYzcS2AHg3HHc4bP5Vog_ODnpkb91leuhh1CNyFUr2TjWeDQgXbtGo_M74YEs6fQ0mJF1JJdesC0DLFuaKGTftA6ZEPNihIWRnj6CSjqXjQdJa24IU8Ox0QIX-uflU9rKSY8rejgpv6JwRvVnDtAwiVCiHZfbStQq_jvyxPRf3n725/s960/321662075_1101901877168261_8881474718459377901_n.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="771" data-original-width="960" height="514" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHHOIlqvwABtFYzcS2AHg3HHc4bP5Vog_ODnpkb91leuhh1CNyFUr2TjWeDQgXbtGo_M74YEs6fQ0mJF1JJdesC0DLFuaKGTftA6ZEPNihIWRnj6CSjqXjQdJa24IU8Ox0QIX-uflU9rKSY8rejgpv6JwRvVnDtAwiVCiHZfbStQq_jvyxPRf3n725/w640-h514/321662075_1101901877168261_8881474718459377901_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Can't ban these guns!" Grandpa is a good sport.</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5ZMU-D6tWRtQahgq1ltCqRXFBDm8kglM_dIGL0Bo2RGZ66sAxoAr5Y4Fx3pKgjEq0COrLPpKWT_8SXxvldZxQn51b8HgUjihAKzh89_jjBHk55WKp4w72_e7rzPKEOh9fRaTcyp6jrrtO1EkQIdogFVR6KrpYnC9-cZad4rkkK1Vy-KCqYRzaomP-/s2048/321289360_391764903149445_5513908772591742009_n.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: right;"><br /><br /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjITOrk816V4onIW2ZYHYnjTrrEK22sAt5Xc_UkVZmfBGyvlJoQR_UXIXfgWGoyq8j78FSu8iioFPaJ1DoEUer5rjPditvUIP0cohY6DqsoY59s_JBh4SCTwRyAFn-EQ__CWAyU1Mj8DHeETE6FQmu3MrXFOVVJrysFrG0cVHV_Diyj-JHNi85FAEfh/s2048/320408854_711576576997715_8665588514299570534_n.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1234" data-original-width="2048" height="386" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjITOrk816V4onIW2ZYHYnjTrrEK22sAt5Xc_UkVZmfBGyvlJoQR_UXIXfgWGoyq8j78FSu8iioFPaJ1DoEUer5rjPditvUIP0cohY6DqsoY59s_JBh4SCTwRyAFn-EQ__CWAyU1Mj8DHeETE6FQmu3MrXFOVVJrysFrG0cVHV_Diyj-JHNi85FAEfh/w640-h386/320408854_711576576997715_8665588514299570534_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our 12th annual girls' Christmas celebration...or is it 13th?</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit1g5ZMbA7QJXP8gTOUbzEfVq3pRf1nw5kFtTeFsWlMJ4QX1QJV5SQAMA06uXaQ8EYo18G-HK3Ig18tcLEAecoQi4Uu3ekXQbz2T4WO6gm1i_EfoI5jJZkJCMvvQIPcBeFvtfgZLC41o3zSQCjsvEBHzqfElEfGZGgxxol_dr9nys2gG0sb1KR355T/s2048/318844760_10229578527592744_7417518970491495530_n%20(1).jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1534" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit1g5ZMbA7QJXP8gTOUbzEfVq3pRf1nw5kFtTeFsWlMJ4QX1QJV5SQAMA06uXaQ8EYo18G-HK3Ig18tcLEAecoQi4Uu3ekXQbz2T4WO6gm1i_EfoI5jJZkJCMvvQIPcBeFvtfgZLC41o3zSQCjsvEBHzqfElEfGZGgxxol_dr9nys2gG0sb1KR355T/w480-h640/318844760_10229578527592744_7417518970491495530_n%20(1).jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">After his church performance</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8hdFRRXRla6VSVOQNm761C7iav6WSZjCLvQj-UjKbNVyywMRBoooAJD3b2v6-Bl8mz9Kx15scbS2E12E0gNFuAvqcW5cdnBz2Y6_XmhTgBtHECpeItYoDCqIxHahCryuKyp2QxL2hNZBYEbA5g50yGJzTWtLzAjPgNVvPJjUIRw3KzBhyaqSuT2M8/s1440/318335663_632873191945276_7871435064993189538_n.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1240" data-original-width="1440" height="276" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8hdFRRXRla6VSVOQNm761C7iav6WSZjCLvQj-UjKbNVyywMRBoooAJD3b2v6-Bl8mz9Kx15scbS2E12E0gNFuAvqcW5cdnBz2Y6_XmhTgBtHECpeItYoDCqIxHahCryuKyp2QxL2hNZBYEbA5g50yGJzTWtLzAjPgNVvPJjUIRw3KzBhyaqSuT2M8/s320/318335663_632873191945276_7871435064993189538_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Their Great-Aunt Marvel</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh19mv6pQYOyxm-zXs7CegmVV7hR4YMIhI2CKpI-jjCdSE0oiWZmJ5Sh_ZM_HLvPGrWenuxS2FygFpAyxqWmhM68ydLC4sRD7DRlBtoPkOH79UN_u8iR7H-qXoRBlM4SZvv5XNVj9e5G7xWgm1Aqolrzub5sp7JKFr4XNJL3_Dqz88NEYp6HfLMEB4-/s960/318103291_10229526501132115_7808553437035058235_n%20(1).jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh19mv6pQYOyxm-zXs7CegmVV7hR4YMIhI2CKpI-jjCdSE0oiWZmJ5Sh_ZM_HLvPGrWenuxS2FygFpAyxqWmhM68ydLC4sRD7DRlBtoPkOH79UN_u8iR7H-qXoRBlM4SZvv5XNVj9e5G7xWgm1Aqolrzub5sp7JKFr4XNJL3_Dqz88NEYp6HfLMEB4-/s320/318103291_10229526501132115_7808553437035058235_n%20(1).jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Aut loves Basketball even more than Volleyball!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7zNDy0hKZ66UG0EK8Uc_PK3-cxH2dy_gPhwMKytovFlC-OeGnywZPTHogDSeFjJpbVBfaO9ZON1qnHtU4NcTFTFkBnj9KFO1hOk2RKKX6iNURqrcufNwOKmm-7Wp4w3M6rySxGoGFAkkK80znxI6OXSlmq0gFYVh-YFRYB3TNw8TKI1GcQyUN9vNb/s2048/317992745_10229514669796339_8389265722695089389_n.jpg" 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/AVvXsEh7zNDy0hKZ66UG0EK8Uc_PK3-cxH2dy_gPhwMKytovFlC-OeGnywZPTHogDSeFjJpbVBfaO9ZON1qnHtU4NcTFTFkBnj9KFO1hOk2RKKX6iNURqrcufNwOKmm-7Wp4w3M6rySxGoGFAkkK80znxI6OXSlmq0gFYVh-YFRYB3TNw8TKI1GcQyUN9vNb/w640-h480/317992745_10229514669796339_8389265722695089389_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p>
</p><h3 style="text-align: left;">Things I Don't Want to Forget About this Month</h3><p class="MsoNormal">Cha: Mommy,
do you get older when I get older? </p><p class="MsoNormal">Me: Yes, sweetie, I do. </p><p class="MsoNormal">Cha: I want to marry you
when I grow up, but I want you to be new again. Can you pray to God to be new?<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">And Aut insisting that she loves me more, "To Heaven and back."</p><h3>What We're Reading</h3><div><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/56449476-west-with-giraffes" target="_blank">West with Giraffes</a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div>Megan Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18287505547652721159noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-713032057716800226.post-30207187159937133422022-12-09T14:59:00.005-08:002022-12-09T15:15:59.826-08:00Arizona & Oregon - November, 2022<p></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-FjWUE2PutbptpPWhsHalHodhTNdl2ZP-G9w-gH_IWj7Te4rd9Bk_fbH6-aqGRFnUWQWdr8jqyufg6LPLBgR1pDnFTLdBw6FNsdUnkDG8DdyITTDGr4drEXTj-2CPgwuQgkELFcc8T2tYBbMPOcmGUGY6etqo_GrZIkV64-vD3Ka3QcQhXj7q6Ful/s2048/314906047_10229387085886821_6855426267644287707_n.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1974" data-original-width="2048" height="308" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-FjWUE2PutbptpPWhsHalHodhTNdl2ZP-G9w-gH_IWj7Te4rd9Bk_fbH6-aqGRFnUWQWdr8jqyufg6LPLBgR1pDnFTLdBw6FNsdUnkDG8DdyITTDGr4drEXTj-2CPgwuQgkELFcc8T2tYBbMPOcmGUGY6etqo_GrZIkV64-vD3Ka3QcQhXj7q6Ful/s320/314906047_10229387085886821_6855426267644287707_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></p>November is one of my favorite months, second only to December. December goes by so fast, try as we might to savor it, but November starts and builds the anticipation of the Christmas season. For this reason, November seems to last a little longer. I love our tradition of going to Williams, Arizona, over Veteran's Day weekend for the Polar Express because it really kicks off the season. It "feels" like Christmas there. It's colder, some light snow is often on the ground, and everything is decorated. And I feel connected to Mom when we're there because the first time I visited Williams was with her in 2007, after my first year as a counselor. Hubby planned to go with us but ended up being sick, so I made the 6-7 hour drive alone with the kids. We met up with two teachers from my school and their families.<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGQcpKSfljqt47pAABQPdx9-0L7drOXSuYxt_irZqAzEpY4SzIUktukcDORpwNWp-myDRJmK_y5AQGzIgYd3asIXtYj-f0oZ9V00fhepDI4nNX3Vv-e77uG3khgZ97K5OqvPq173RFEIRKPISdoL_f5tgV6F_un6XH8dLPkWqgwlAKT5XNlA1QhFfl/s720/315612103_10229383555398561_3592694267824987242_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="720" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGQcpKSfljqt47pAABQPdx9-0L7drOXSuYxt_irZqAzEpY4SzIUktukcDORpwNWp-myDRJmK_y5AQGzIgYd3asIXtYj-f0oZ9V00fhepDI4nNX3Vv-e77uG3khgZ97K5OqvPq173RFEIRKPISdoL_f5tgV6F_un6XH8dLPkWqgwlAKT5XNlA1QhFfl/w400-h266/315612103_10229383555398561_3592694267824987242_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p></p><p>This was our third year on the Polar Express, but this year, we upped the magic by adding in the North Pole Experience. The NPX was exponentially more amazing and if you go there, you <i>have</i> to do it! You can read about it in greater detail <a href="https://northpoleexperience.com/" target="_blank">here</a>, but it is an immersive 90-minute experience at the North Pole. First, everyone boards a shuttle bus to the North Pole. The bus windows are blacked out, but the screens and audio let you know that you're actually entering a magical portal. How else could you get transported to the real North Pole so quickly? In a group of about 25, children and their parents move from room to room for different activities and adventures. We visited Santa's workshop, filled with historical toys, Mrs. Claus' bakery, and an elf classroom, and wrote out a letter to Santa. The children were able to hand deliver their letter to Santa and spend a few moments with him. Cha asked for a "Hopacopter that flies, with a remote control," and Aut asked for "An American Girl doll and American Girl Doll room." </p><p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/8_XHq0V9WMU" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></p><p>Before heading home, we visited <a href="https://bearizona.com/" target="_blank">Bearizona</a> again. Bearizona is a drive-through wilderness zoo and experience that the kids love. It's so thrilling to be in your car and have Artic Wolves roaming just a few feet away. You also drive through areas with bears, bison, deer, and mountain goats. At the end of the drive-through part is an actual zoo to get out and explore. <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNZ6vAo3tBdZ3QJuB4OffCpMe-r_-W4FqDQ1MJG_NNEWllvRPb7HOIKFsa2mAkQOrPLa7NuLqr72XsYs9FrtWztLqCqvIVpCi7amxOdhcVeMhdFbRcTNnCIQr_E88niYF589SY0OUCv_MU-y4reS5Z_UQvYok9w84utr_wB5fnuknigl-Z6JbKIQf4/s2048/315127798_10229381169058904_8723120770254351031_n.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNZ6vAo3tBdZ3QJuB4OffCpMe-r_-W4FqDQ1MJG_NNEWllvRPb7HOIKFsa2mAkQOrPLa7NuLqr72XsYs9FrtWztLqCqvIVpCi7amxOdhcVeMhdFbRcTNnCIQr_E88niYF589SY0OUCv_MU-y4reS5Z_UQvYok9w84utr_wB5fnuknigl-Z6JbKIQf4/s320/315127798_10229381169058904_8723120770254351031_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></p><p>On the way home, we made an impromptu stop at Calico Ghosttown, a place I went to as a child, and my father visited when he was Aut's age with his grandmother (Eileen, my great-grandmother). We arrived at dusk without too much time to explore but left with plans to return. Aut is fascinated by "olden days" stuff and has a lot of questions about who lived there and where they went.</p><p></p><p><b>As we pulled out of the parking lot just after sunset, one of the most heartfelt conversations I've ever had with Aut happened organically.</b> If you know me, you know that my Mom was my best friend and that she is always on my mind. I want my children to know her, and so I do bring her up from time to time, but not nearly as often as I think of her, which is every hour of every day. In the 8 years since her death, the thoughts have thankfully lessened in the severity of their sadness, but still, even the happy memories of her leave me wistfully wishing that she was here. I do not want to burden the children with these thoughts and hide this aspect from them. When I do speak of her, I keep it positive and light. "Mommy, are the people who lived here still alive?" she asked. "No, babe, they're not." Why not was her follow-up question, and when I explained that it had been too long, no one can live that long she said, "That's sad. I don't want to die, and I don't want you to, either." I responded with, "Neither do I, baby girl. But that's because we have so much living to do! We have a lot left on this earth before we're ready for Heaven." Not to be deterred, she said, "Well, I wish it wasn't true." </p><p>I thought this was a good time for the ol' glass-half-full optimism/pessimism analogy. Aut, it's like this: If I fill up a glass exactly halfway, is it half full, or is it half empty? "Ummm, it's half empty," she said after some thought. "If that's how you view it! But look, you can focus on the positive and say it's half full! That's what my Mommy did. Even when she knew she didn't have much time left, she didn't feel sad or sorry for herself because she looked at all she did have; she looked at the glass half full."</p><p>"Oh, Mommy, I wish she was still here," she said. Tears welling up in my eyes, I said, "Me too, baby girl; she would have loved this trip. She <i>should </i>be here...and I wish that she was here too. She loved children, and she wanted to hold you so bad. Would you like to say a little prayer to her?" as we prayed, I kept my eyes on the road so she wouldn't notice. After the prayer, there was a pause, and then she said, <b>"You know, Mommy...I feel like when we talk about someone and when we pray about them, it's like they're here with us." </b>Out of the mouths of babes. Such heartfelt and amazing words from our sweet 7-year-old.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1tD1KJnTg1v9RG2aHC3ImEWkjCxWinceyryXgaVca2zNMya7XxeNgf_yBmdYu_heBIuYmnIMvxLd5rT44WvGEneyvblBB9sPPROaWeCcVqEV_zrD9RqlkM6NHjJgXr1fK_6YG26Y18alxIK20iJPCDXi2VOTPQO5u94XHGRLJy_U--AmaSiu-7wEW/s2048/313902409_10229328672546524_579102791248511112_n.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoDr8GS2MRfJIh0UfwGrLLvV6Yy23HAkMEYn5Rfq9k3XCg3Wi85ySP3cPrvLHonLNRnudqxtdj8jfNwTKfJ_iN4E1DzKvKe24cdWOvPaGZ95JKJX4t7siUUEyioiujvfx40Xz3ENc0CewP4cFWPKZCDnd3d9Qps2P1gUGZVwreKt2HSsUM-GJK13Uj/s960/314657769_10229334568893929_3476047308710156553_n.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoDr8GS2MRfJIh0UfwGrLLvV6Yy23HAkMEYn5Rfq9k3XCg3Wi85ySP3cPrvLHonLNRnudqxtdj8jfNwTKfJ_iN4E1DzKvKe24cdWOvPaGZ95JKJX4t7siUUEyioiujvfx40Xz3ENc0CewP4cFWPKZCDnd3d9Qps2P1gUGZVwreKt2HSsUM-GJK13Uj/s320/314657769_10229334568893929_3476047308710156553_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1tD1KJnTg1v9RG2aHC3ImEWkjCxWinceyryXgaVca2zNMya7XxeNgf_yBmdYu_heBIuYmnIMvxLd5rT44WvGEneyvblBB9sPPROaWeCcVqEV_zrD9RqlkM6NHjJgXr1fK_6YG26Y18alxIK20iJPCDXi2VOTPQO5u94XHGRLJy_U--AmaSiu-7wEW/s2048/313902409_10229328672546524_579102791248511112_n.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1tD1KJnTg1v9RG2aHC3ImEWkjCxWinceyryXgaVca2zNMya7XxeNgf_yBmdYu_heBIuYmnIMvxLd5rT44WvGEneyvblBB9sPPROaWeCcVqEV_zrD9RqlkM6NHjJgXr1fK_6YG26Y18alxIK20iJPCDXi2VOTPQO5u94XHGRLJy_U--AmaSiu-7wEW/w200-h150/313902409_10229328672546524_579102791248511112_n.jpg" width="200" /></a><div>We returned home and back into the swing of things, with the Christmas decorations slowly making their way into the house. We attended a play at South Coast Repertory and then went to Maggiano's. The girls had such a great time that an impromptu sleepover was scheduled on the spot for that very night. We also worked in a visit with Auntie Andrea, my best friend since 6th grade. <div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNM-gw1sKORNId6jOKMZyPqYG-oGKe4aH8C5b2TUyrydjBM6E34MMeqsbZj0-XsPBOJFNDO-o8FyukbKHou9v5EcU4A5XdRcKxwMpl7aEd0UIf_6O13UEk6MDLDGZxMWx-DUnMc9j1O00v-3KZxhumMOuv6BPDoA5_cuZbqhbGdxl4tNkXLNxsF7tt/s2048/316691546_10229441505847286_3202669952577480062_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1826" data-original-width="2048" height="356" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNM-gw1sKORNId6jOKMZyPqYG-oGKe4aH8C5b2TUyrydjBM6E34MMeqsbZj0-XsPBOJFNDO-o8FyukbKHou9v5EcU4A5XdRcKxwMpl7aEd0UIf_6O13UEk6MDLDGZxMWx-DUnMc9j1O00v-3KZxhumMOuv6BPDoA5_cuZbqhbGdxl4tNkXLNxsF7tt/w400-h356/316691546_10229441505847286_3202669952577480062_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Then, it was time to unpack and then re-pack, as we geared up to head to Oregon for Thanksgiving. I love going to Oregon for many reasons, not the least of which is the fact that I get to escape the seemingly endless list of tasks to do at home. Downtime while there truly is downtime because I don't have a pile of clothes to fold in the next room. I was able to get back to crocheting a blanket that I hadn't worked on in months, read and run and workout almost every day. While there, I averaged just over 6 miles a day, half of which were running. The kids loved having time with their cousins, and they all played together more than ever before. So much so that one morning, when I came downstairs to get coffee, Aut greeted me but when right back to playing with MC. It wasn't that long ago that she didn't want me to ever be out of her site. The passage of time is more apparent with our trips to Oregon because they only happen a few times a year, so it's like fast-forwarding and jumping ahead. When you remember certain milestones from Oregon, you have less to sift through and so the leaps in growth are larger. For example, when we were there in summer, I don't think her foot could quite reach the pedals of the Gator. Yet on this visit, she was able to drive it all on her own!</div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/wU0pJua883A" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipB0Y8au21JDNWV5VoU5BzaAFcn9AM59MZT4xyC9c9QAhYM9RXjPudqdKCgcxIaRCysiyu27K6WokjVEBxLNEBkmIBGzuguCELSZWYa0p4rGynhLnEO1s1xY3JuqoTW6-BdHp1hFBafLIRWuIQBh9qbM4cTaV0NJIjfK34s6jL4LEcmv5RoN6B-PeO/s2048/315703607_10229455748323339_8131655045411742986_n.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipB0Y8au21JDNWV5VoU5BzaAFcn9AM59MZT4xyC9c9QAhYM9RXjPudqdKCgcxIaRCysiyu27K6WokjVEBxLNEBkmIBGzuguCELSZWYa0p4rGynhLnEO1s1xY3JuqoTW6-BdHp1hFBafLIRWuIQBh9qbM4cTaV0NJIjfK34s6jL4LEcmv5RoN6B-PeO/s320/315703607_10229455748323339_8131655045411742986_n.jpg" width="240" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv1GBTRUBhMKULPCLHKpjjrfvLgEUm3TFuRxKwgNIaD9O2kWn_093Gj-sgDwD4wj9qjaovfY5sgR47649fRwKOhHx4mMSyfDM0ZbPIM0T-YXqUVeM7c5g9hJq6VVx59RpD1zfZhP0UnmO0qlX4gcobZCuJf-RJIbJ-ccr7AjJyyq7A25GTMsFxKiZz/s2048/316422105_10229453624630248_259124991275365928_n.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv1GBTRUBhMKULPCLHKpjjrfvLgEUm3TFuRxKwgNIaD9O2kWn_093Gj-sgDwD4wj9qjaovfY5sgR47649fRwKOhHx4mMSyfDM0ZbPIM0T-YXqUVeM7c5g9hJq6VVx59RpD1zfZhP0UnmO0qlX4gcobZCuJf-RJIbJ-ccr7AjJyyq7A25GTMsFxKiZz/s320/316422105_10229453624630248_259124991275365928_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNJC_4wb_ENs6nJSoSItTMgvm9TTfESj9Ylm-z7wnXPiT0zPHDIMMyp34jNW7SkXt9FUpHcQIcHWvnwLVw4rDbwmgU9hmHkumKd1F586RwcurSDWyVJc6lh7Er6hW7K8FDqrhKN341lPf_gBw7pk3ovpXZy5T3-QAyMYwOoxQlH_107YGybaJ4tDMS/s2048/316318403_10229464212574940_6148866787873863536_n.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNJC_4wb_ENs6nJSoSItTMgvm9TTfESj9Ylm-z7wnXPiT0zPHDIMMyp34jNW7SkXt9FUpHcQIcHWvnwLVw4rDbwmgU9hmHkumKd1F586RwcurSDWyVJc6lh7Er6hW7K8FDqrhKN341lPf_gBw7pk3ovpXZy5T3-QAyMYwOoxQlH_107YGybaJ4tDMS/s320/316318403_10229464212574940_6148866787873863536_n.jpg" width="240" /></a><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikLaTzImdheC19-WWNgj37d-w8IX-YxngRthc1e8DGaY0NvlACmovhMJdWaWGys2mw8YM210gfVhat1pdxqssdNfmkBOuH9wxcv61WRfs52ThhL4rR1XvpVGcahraskKMF7JXTcAPMUcyBJVFCTmRSE53MdW3ST282_gBeqgoXxds9vhoin-1_V22X/s2048/316821899_10229471123747715_1184362378033915934_n.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikLaTzImdheC19-WWNgj37d-w8IX-YxngRthc1e8DGaY0NvlACmovhMJdWaWGys2mw8YM210gfVhat1pdxqssdNfmkBOuH9wxcv61WRfs52ThhL4rR1XvpVGcahraskKMF7JXTcAPMUcyBJVFCTmRSE53MdW3ST282_gBeqgoXxds9vhoin-1_V22X/s320/316821899_10229471123747715_1184362378033915934_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Baking with Grandma<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTPlODT9TQDFM6duad-L5AkTb6pBPu3ioVp29jXG0e-sYqMDRDsy_wSoverROuM-zmOI5OOXCiw6piVe4UCo07uSwWSj-mdDIi-oEuNG-nml-Ra8aSdoKC9HQ2LYSCT4IOXqs8-7khXlAxT99_0WogQ8KxlJBmtyo3CoXmmB_-sBuWeoAEmLCRK0K4/s960/317082639_10229471027425307_455867416158101241_n.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTPlODT9TQDFM6duad-L5AkTb6pBPu3ioVp29jXG0e-sYqMDRDsy_wSoverROuM-zmOI5OOXCiw6piVe4UCo07uSwWSj-mdDIi-oEuNG-nml-Ra8aSdoKC9HQ2LYSCT4IOXqs8-7khXlAxT99_0WogQ8KxlJBmtyo3CoXmmB_-sBuWeoAEmLCRK0K4/w640-h480/317082639_10229471027425307_455867416158101241_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Grandma's "Heaven on earth."</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjI6ZCMCWwsgicIrw_v1QDtkEfcHvQZH55sBGwshJKn0jf8p0zabhk7J63TKv6lH3kSHxzOhcWqKpfFs29GbPt_M9l_bENFGUYv2MP19D_DZxP7gH6xR1o6xtFmnPDRbRbTONQo5CTP4oCIwPCnpzOGuf3bdRJRwq-pJDW381ExbWLl2TPb_Edyx9b/s2048/317368999_10229480212814936_4516574234139381639_n.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1962" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjI6ZCMCWwsgicIrw_v1QDtkEfcHvQZH55sBGwshJKn0jf8p0zabhk7J63TKv6lH3kSHxzOhcWqKpfFs29GbPt_M9l_bENFGUYv2MP19D_DZxP7gH6xR1o6xtFmnPDRbRbTONQo5CTP4oCIwPCnpzOGuf3bdRJRwq-pJDW381ExbWLl2TPb_Edyx9b/s320/317368999_10229480212814936_4516574234139381639_n.jpg" width="307" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Until next time, Oregon...</td></tr></tbody></table></div></div>Megan Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18287505547652721159noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-713032057716800226.post-82825407042129844242022-11-21T12:37:00.001-08:002022-12-09T11:57:51.860-08:00October, 2022<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo6LUVNuhCvEJkGBdxIboGUgtlP5CquRjmWnBBTvT-8JvdQEYYlfDT8XXNOL6HOQNNoRZDh8W2sSvqzGAeTykc6T0F_tjHpZEK2BOkE5nnEakBcKzEP0mOh0Wdkx4NK7BPEjLRii6q4mhFtlrJRKx8jDqY91hMKwUfXgE9eC1N2TmIM__AtLH1QOOz/s1794/306948987_10228886801420022_8175882275011222054_n.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1794" data-original-width="1440" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo6LUVNuhCvEJkGBdxIboGUgtlP5CquRjmWnBBTvT-8JvdQEYYlfDT8XXNOL6HOQNNoRZDh8W2sSvqzGAeTykc6T0F_tjHpZEK2BOkE5nnEakBcKzEP0mOh0Wdkx4NK7BPEjLRii6q4mhFtlrJRKx8jDqY91hMKwUfXgE9eC1N2TmIM__AtLH1QOOz/s320/306948987_10228886801420022_8175882275011222054_n.jpg" width="257" /></a>We kicked off the month at the pumpkin patch, where Aut had an activity with her Girl Scout troop and I took photos of their cousin. This month we continued Cha's soccer practice and games, had the jog-a-thon at the kids' school, and survived Red Ribbon week, which required a different dress-up each day. I make notes and set reminders but my I alway have a niggling fear of sending her not dressed in the theme or worse yet, in the <i>wrong</i> theme. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxCBpOnqXJUPaIFc6nJ2ai9zzNlcGr9hSqV-dBtAzLhcBts-NMYsK4mQv-W5LNatjkYNzBw1be5AuToMYxQRRPcPrhczN25kok6cJZ8Y_V8ZGE0wQdvsc0DDdLIpeXM234S_oOnHQpoQU-qRIfZ0SP3OhPOSt1DQIs3PDB9T2_o-Az29zkK35k7ogA/s2048/313291932_10229205558988762_1741417485726039523_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1820" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxCBpOnqXJUPaIFc6nJ2ai9zzNlcGr9hSqV-dBtAzLhcBts-NMYsK4mQv-W5LNatjkYNzBw1be5AuToMYxQRRPcPrhczN25kok6cJZ8Y_V8ZGE0wQdvsc0DDdLIpeXM234S_oOnHQpoQU-qRIfZ0SP3OhPOSt1DQIs3PDB9T2_o-Az29zkK35k7ogA/s320/313291932_10229205558988762_1741417485726039523_n.jpg" width="284" /></a></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4fUKVNUqOPC7hrmrM_cEbG0T96-xkNMUwHG_3i-9Ms4jSto4cDMadX7SWgsp3j2MnzRn-x1ew56S-GvieDIVJOF_gjkIdFc38wX58dM898jqRf6Re6AcFT3GQmW1CPYIiExOiuyl9YvgadxWKmjZ6Sshg1S98jTyNI_o0x-5m5li4aqbHR3GaBGvw/s1440/307202283_10228887324993111_7467048889526030079_n.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1440" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4fUKVNUqOPC7hrmrM_cEbG0T96-xkNMUwHG_3i-9Ms4jSto4cDMadX7SWgsp3j2MnzRn-x1ew56S-GvieDIVJOF_gjkIdFc38wX58dM898jqRf6Re6AcFT3GQmW1CPYIiExOiuyl9YvgadxWKmjZ6Sshg1S98jTyNI_o0x-5m5li4aqbHR3GaBGvw/w640-h640/307202283_10228887324993111_7467048889526030079_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Not many things in life are quite as cute as their awkward poses.</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghRNmL6lW9aDTPB8IMcli3jAe6ppli5VmrrR14sCq_IHevQ0ZM-xEFlSX-5ogOfHCm9-VPO0CS7Y9hfwVQFbhlNN_8epjdcH5n-AmekweIKwrB4-rRvvenXdETU3RkfnnNmOtR5Z1m4I0xuYqk9rStYDAaIlxb144prTxvVYBKdWyGqvuJJsigUz0x/s2048/310296159_10228932466201613_464062721087745940_n.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1638" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghRNmL6lW9aDTPB8IMcli3jAe6ppli5VmrrR14sCq_IHevQ0ZM-xEFlSX-5ogOfHCm9-VPO0CS7Y9hfwVQFbhlNN_8epjdcH5n-AmekweIKwrB4-rRvvenXdETU3RkfnnNmOtR5Z1m4I0xuYqk9rStYDAaIlxb144prTxvVYBKdWyGqvuJJsigUz0x/s320/310296159_10228932466201613_464062721087745940_n.jpg" width="256" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-UeFD_yKq2b_KoWiVzNoOSzy7YZbeNGBaim4v1v5dRIJt519nJKzSZNB-7ttTiHyN-Dimkrz5fJhXI9VFSmP6lU7k0rAWb5v01Zd-cfDhBZsPJdupR8dOeII76ZMcLSvSRACJ66w_jaYwOaRyfVT0we9YLMgZme7DieCiHFWavPRj3FPTwRX1gzBh/s2048/310784172_10228932466321616_2031074287272766511_n.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1638" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-UeFD_yKq2b_KoWiVzNoOSzy7YZbeNGBaim4v1v5dRIJt519nJKzSZNB-7ttTiHyN-Dimkrz5fJhXI9VFSmP6lU7k0rAWb5v01Zd-cfDhBZsPJdupR8dOeII76ZMcLSvSRACJ66w_jaYwOaRyfVT0we9YLMgZme7DieCiHFWavPRj3FPTwRX1gzBh/s320/310784172_10228932466321616_2031074287272766511_n.jpg" width="256" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0ha9QeX6ePFtkJQZ99SQYUKw1uCmSd1778a1EAGyoH4ESIUF86ZM-EASrQCCeTU69ljAOjBd7Hd6DCd3MQ4mqMfO_sJP8aqc01vjrHLLopk6OGXQRNG3v7HptFdyQ1ojpbie5bQ95jR9z27xRq8YAVCesWbrnQyGIkXoGlEdQzRaXlDPqqoEZBR_j/s1525/310984685_10228937283682047_6585112894613935360_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1525" data-original-width="1440" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0ha9QeX6ePFtkJQZ99SQYUKw1uCmSd1778a1EAGyoH4ESIUF86ZM-EASrQCCeTU69ljAOjBd7Hd6DCd3MQ4mqMfO_sJP8aqc01vjrHLLopk6OGXQRNG3v7HptFdyQ1ojpbie5bQ95jR9z27xRq8YAVCesWbrnQyGIkXoGlEdQzRaXlDPqqoEZBR_j/w605-h640/310984685_10228937283682047_6585112894613935360_n.jpg" width="605" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiyn7ZUX2GPKwQREsPsw5hmimJtVWt5_Df1BGwFOimvhCatzX8Cz8MAOuNqSVowCCbBXWvMNK1eYYxREYYP1JOQOjDkboAJ5rJm-FJ0BjNetboPqPY7UPdZ25tnblmHWYz1jsrQTF5pNyHKl2YetjXpt6I5rmSwoDMkq_0JswK9zJfUv7PbmZVwIaB/s2048/311055051_10228955329493181_255406929973579913_n.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiyn7ZUX2GPKwQREsPsw5hmimJtVWt5_Df1BGwFOimvhCatzX8Cz8MAOuNqSVowCCbBXWvMNK1eYYxREYYP1JOQOjDkboAJ5rJm-FJ0BjNetboPqPY7UPdZ25tnblmHWYz1jsrQTF5pNyHKl2YetjXpt6I5rmSwoDMkq_0JswK9zJfUv7PbmZVwIaB/s320/311055051_10228955329493181_255406929973579913_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuEYqXo81SAFP3KGIdpSCAo2Ac0kpcVvesLknXCd2ZvOQMB-3owhpX4xHdH-5j6qGHbGLU3GLU01ZyHEamuEUZjmZc_qyyj6XdWn3WUJ4W8-u9Jg-FplBjeTg5Nt_9vqpvEfuj-kuxfSVdPQyjJpKukRtp8f9y6l7xGuPoKCB7lj55g5yHsC4KI-EM/s2048/310054828_10228955329613184_2439581715124008573_n.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuEYqXo81SAFP3KGIdpSCAo2Ac0kpcVvesLknXCd2ZvOQMB-3owhpX4xHdH-5j6qGHbGLU3GLU01ZyHEamuEUZjmZc_qyyj6XdWn3WUJ4W8-u9Jg-FplBjeTg5Nt_9vqpvEfuj-kuxfSVdPQyjJpKukRtp8f9y6l7xGuPoKCB7lj55g5yHsC4KI-EM/s320/310054828_10228955329613184_2439581715124008573_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis8vezDTbI1Wic6rATCjUrHpwbPSLba354QKuqKdmrtSyjQZxZM1dDrk8DrE_Zjb07FziNQpD2c_nMwGh3as_Ooc-6zd3US1xBsxryrRTAp2N1se4PBX3r0y0kFNeRgkKMmXt_OV9AGUS2Bzp4gFal6-I96QiKtJd62vS3waKOGItTaRFq6yAZkedO/s2048/310429706_10228955329013169_2872290447964771855_n.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1314" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis8vezDTbI1Wic6rATCjUrHpwbPSLba354QKuqKdmrtSyjQZxZM1dDrk8DrE_Zjb07FziNQpD2c_nMwGh3as_Ooc-6zd3US1xBsxryrRTAp2N1se4PBX3r0y0kFNeRgkKMmXt_OV9AGUS2Bzp4gFal6-I96QiKtJd62vS3waKOGItTaRFq6yAZkedO/s320/310429706_10228955329013169_2872290447964771855_n.jpg" width="205" /></a></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Uncle Glennie also took us all to the zoo, which we had not visited since before Covid. The kids had a blast with him and it was nice to have a fun activity to do together, but we missed Dad. His mobility remains limited and we are hopeful that an upcoming surgery will help.<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5sFxAmqZDMA-BvoplzpxzXFKjBgMk7CA-eux209Ibay0W1WKUMV_C4Ul-RnMRVS2_g21cCbFGBhl32a_kLmE1IZ7-3eHVI8jwKo78H6DTYdZklWcdGepWtbhXVELHsBt6dpz3hATTZW6_hkWL-JfFER_4kx0V9sQpDiWtdaC8olKwz5CVgsKcQu7f/s2048/310108431_10228990631455708_5537242883411790325_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5sFxAmqZDMA-BvoplzpxzXFKjBgMk7CA-eux209Ibay0W1WKUMV_C4Ul-RnMRVS2_g21cCbFGBhl32a_kLmE1IZ7-3eHVI8jwKo78H6DTYdZklWcdGepWtbhXVELHsBt6dpz3hATTZW6_hkWL-JfFER_4kx0V9sQpDiWtdaC8olKwz5CVgsKcQu7f/s320/310108431_10228990631455708_5537242883411790325_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><p>We had our first rain of the season and began preparing for our largest Halloween party yet, with 150 people! Our theme this year was Disney Villain's. I made a scare-chuterie board (below) using prosciutto wrapped around string cheese (fingers) and goat's cheese (hand). It was our first party post-pool and we weren't sure that we would have room for everyone.to free up some space, we put the taco cart out front and that helped the flow.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5f_IG0HWg36s5TImLU02C0RFUlRq1y4wbZOqHTMKJfJsgsNKh1uosw6K3isB6vzhLXm9fLQ-sTaGsBJHDKDiI1H-LBmyYoOIOyoJU3HkgEGr5R1Y50MLbzaUrS7Rf9vRQGUN068ynP14NpTuET1NCoUR-W1VVzIKFapI1gxA7RL-HPvUwhiV20siZ/s2048/313194697_10229255845325889_8508981020104982521_n.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5f_IG0HWg36s5TImLU02C0RFUlRq1y4wbZOqHTMKJfJsgsNKh1uosw6K3isB6vzhLXm9fLQ-sTaGsBJHDKDiI1H-LBmyYoOIOyoJU3HkgEGr5R1Y50MLbzaUrS7Rf9vRQGUN068ynP14NpTuET1NCoUR-W1VVzIKFapI1gxA7RL-HPvUwhiV20siZ/s320/313194697_10229255845325889_8508981020104982521_n.jpg" width="240" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDGK0i3d2Q7cNDszgtVlaUQRB66UWrZgJLdqkimZUOADdY9KMuT-jkzNmAmAJuqewJ3PanLbTzkmNPqr0T1C94gHWOsEO10igY3CdJZLVAde3KDav2x_ODorDgM4cEiG4E4t9hxM3kH20WeL3pdX4OQO-MBecMmjzRs3WzH6HGYH1gm_b_ccqbqhsD/s2048/313223172_10229244690967037_2629281779507345938_n.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1638" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDGK0i3d2Q7cNDszgtVlaUQRB66UWrZgJLdqkimZUOADdY9KMuT-jkzNmAmAJuqewJ3PanLbTzkmNPqr0T1C94gHWOsEO10igY3CdJZLVAde3KDav2x_ODorDgM4cEiG4E4t9hxM3kH20WeL3pdX4OQO-MBecMmjzRs3WzH6HGYH1gm_b_ccqbqhsD/s320/313223172_10229244690967037_2629281779507345938_n.jpg" width="256" /></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://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidOKAn-tVjmAmaBeKWyj1Q2rdgKwTiYeI35EgJswBk-Tb2Lyq2ZULyW1GpdqASODi2aXcG9eA5K4OFkx64BFTuxlm6lKzQC1vYUQwhYcYJYkMxkDwiF9io7lP5V_rg5DP59hEGeks0snAj23FB2k4p9cliDUb0fdQ8yRbPzF4ydI40Y0EA5wYgoA8y/s2048/313299562_10229260793889600_3854648684085206166_n.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1770" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidOKAn-tVjmAmaBeKWyj1Q2rdgKwTiYeI35EgJswBk-Tb2Lyq2ZULyW1GpdqASODi2aXcG9eA5K4OFkx64BFTuxlm6lKzQC1vYUQwhYcYJYkMxkDwiF9io7lP5V_rg5DP59hEGeks0snAj23FB2k4p9cliDUb0fdQ8yRbPzF4ydI40Y0EA5wYgoA8y/s320/313299562_10229260793889600_3854648684085206166_n.jpg" width="277" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOfg8-mr_EqjnWBkClpZws96QNEo7PbClXnPd2pWBQ0WIlzUvoRKs5wAMTc5R980v7S9BrU12eaILvfbE8TX1sdLA9sf9GiPB1Kf5MezWFISY8gR4Xn-aF-hqupPr9Au-c5R1ArUA-X3PWpSpjm99CXL4-UhR7t4swidNtRETw91t8GyEEnQS9_cJv/s2048/313347120_10229269175539136_6910587252830160239_n%20(1).jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1510" data-original-width="2048" height="236" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOfg8-mr_EqjnWBkClpZws96QNEo7PbClXnPd2pWBQ0WIlzUvoRKs5wAMTc5R980v7S9BrU12eaILvfbE8TX1sdLA9sf9GiPB1Kf5MezWFISY8gR4Xn-aF-hqupPr9Au-c5R1ArUA-X3PWpSpjm99CXL4-UhR7t4swidNtRETw91t8GyEEnQS9_cJv/s320/313347120_10229269175539136_6910587252830160239_n%20(1).jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT2AQw_b3kjfnDsiAmsMqIKIjFB017lJUOHCm5UOKigU--SuHmt915vtrO3PoG9kdcKH4N0KCywzWSiYQkXwxHPrEKBG0g9JBC3DXX-vScgbeBsepYX6Fq09rcBZf_JULfCi7bmWtwFLFnSSNBVJeuoJgkuE1nC4VAakZ255-zHK0jmqNukHIAoMRX/s2048/313410862_10229269175219128_6392641452785349761_n%20(1).jpg" 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/AVvXsEhT2AQw_b3kjfnDsiAmsMqIKIjFB017lJUOHCm5UOKigU--SuHmt915vtrO3PoG9kdcKH4N0KCywzWSiYQkXwxHPrEKBG0g9JBC3DXX-vScgbeBsepYX6Fq09rcBZf_JULfCi7bmWtwFLFnSSNBVJeuoJgkuE1nC4VAakZ255-zHK0jmqNukHIAoMRX/w640-h480/313410862_10229269175219128_6392641452785349761_n%20(1).jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjisU4epdlx5LwPyzqgsYmKcC63jZVLfkmKAxyq_kjLWTxfhrDRDcSrxDjHJwqNt7SU8MwW-5eIEtjjwM8ZiRYXagnd6uMKlbyD-IKPw6bDzJUAK4vTNBojrFTkoGnM6MSTm01BBGRZzVXWHBMy5BeRTVHe_IgUD1ioDszMPLaT_QoE0Cat3NMia0eI/s2048/313411370_10229269178379207_2429220726370049135_n.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjisU4epdlx5LwPyzqgsYmKcC63jZVLfkmKAxyq_kjLWTxfhrDRDcSrxDjHJwqNt7SU8MwW-5eIEtjjwM8ZiRYXagnd6uMKlbyD-IKPw6bDzJUAK4vTNBojrFTkoGnM6MSTm01BBGRZzVXWHBMy5BeRTVHe_IgUD1ioDszMPLaT_QoE0Cat3NMia0eI/s320/313411370_10229269178379207_2429220726370049135_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">New this year, we had a 360 photobooth which everyone seemed to love, as they were able to have the videos air-dropped to them right then. And, fun for me- I received a link of all the videos to download!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwyvnYSik8QR11xvgHq0y7ZFvhaIquOSpZhb0l6-Q2Lzzr8x-aDjxa3Q0L6eidI_dzaWWT02zhflyCyvO4QNg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDjTD00p6MwoP_41cUW_MJD2Zim4aLTxgVUL7eo6Qbi76tjP9oDKV2RkrZdGpY-mQHBgTsWVgCHSuF4TIIa5w5uMf0YUNxeOpDv6e1T_WA1MoT56eNeRODQg4DEe_FTZhd_K-FlJILd6z-4VNCd-TmbKnHvnDdCnmVx-4Mwobmi_5c_1qFJo_XofyW/s2048/313928402_10229285403224818_4617143006450966665_n.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDjTD00p6MwoP_41cUW_MJD2Zim4aLTxgVUL7eo6Qbi76tjP9oDKV2RkrZdGpY-mQHBgTsWVgCHSuF4TIIa5w5uMf0YUNxeOpDv6e1T_WA1MoT56eNeRODQg4DEe_FTZhd_K-FlJILd6z-4VNCd-TmbKnHvnDdCnmVx-4Mwobmi_5c_1qFJo_XofyW/s320/313928402_10229285403224818_4617143006450966665_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Halloween night</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLTik6Jjic636kDqlxW9aPb8EqdVjv3RuvClCcmc-tuchhOy8wANh9YR1h-GeD7GeqvLHfRKuoW4AY7UIOIfaIXzf-nNHzKPzDB7oEzNYRRRPKcpzOsKMH34cUvDgGxyEV62pWQ0P0yL-lZMQf-tg8cw7wPmZ0YYRPLS9y6NgcWISMtGqvyeBfitvv/s2048/312832180_10229212758528746_7938126741943399853_n.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1920" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLTik6Jjic636kDqlxW9aPb8EqdVjv3RuvClCcmc-tuchhOy8wANh9YR1h-GeD7GeqvLHfRKuoW4AY7UIOIfaIXzf-nNHzKPzDB7oEzNYRRRPKcpzOsKMH34cUvDgGxyEV62pWQ0P0yL-lZMQf-tg8cw7wPmZ0YYRPLS9y6NgcWISMtGqvyeBfitvv/s320/312832180_10229212758528746_7938126741943399853_n.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Treats in the Streets</td></tr></tbody></table></div>Megan Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18287505547652721159noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-713032057716800226.post-66676625700453958342022-10-31T15:08:00.003-07:002022-11-01T12:57:18.641-07:00London Calling - September, 2022<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ_wMFbCJP7qfjxUmBMeiE-MSr1Wzo5NHdCGxiYtYpTDhTxNcjpxGYo2n9-U-A627e442jUf9aEcOQakMPlj5QLQKpbKWY07VKr_EiBGvm0vW1bDf0CBQM68YquHmmHxjyIAFSLlriM7vKT9V5KUoxk89k7rLIP5nn-HyxrOzWUMP3ptNDiIKzXUQf/s379/Screenshot%202022-10-10%20095251.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="368" data-original-width="379" height="311" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ_wMFbCJP7qfjxUmBMeiE-MSr1Wzo5NHdCGxiYtYpTDhTxNcjpxGYo2n9-U-A627e442jUf9aEcOQakMPlj5QLQKpbKWY07VKr_EiBGvm0vW1bDf0CBQM68YquHmmHxjyIAFSLlriM7vKT9V5KUoxk89k7rLIP5nn-HyxrOzWUMP3ptNDiIKzXUQf/s320/Screenshot%202022-10-10%20095251.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>I was 23 and finishing up at my 4-year university; living on my own for the first time. A professor in one of my classes spoke about being a vegetarian, and I decided that this cause was for me. A life-long animal lover, this appealed to me. However, since the professor was teaching a psychology course and not a nutritional course, I interpreted being a vegetarian as eating a ton of carbs combined with a lot of cheese. Cheese enchiladas and pizza became a regular staple. This caused me to gain weight, and suddenly, being a vegetarian was less important to me. But I still wanted to help fight the cause. And so I subscribed to an old-school publication (the kind that comes in the mail) called ActionLine. Each month, a color magazine arrived detailing awful animal atrocities that were taking place across the united states, including pictures of things such as factory farming, animal testing for cosmetics, animals killed for their fur, etc. <p></p><p>I started to dread the monthly magazine, yet would sit down and read it cover to cover, tears filling my eyes as I diligently wrote my letters to whomever they instructed me to so that they would stop. I felt powerless because, well...I was powerless. I was only one person; what could I really do about it?</p><p>So one day, I called up my Dad and asked him what I should do, what I <i>could</i> do.<i> I wanted to change what was happening, to help all the animals in different situations.</i> His answer was something I had not considered and brilliantly simple: "<b>STOP READING IT</b>." </p><p>"What?! But then it's happening, and I'm not doing anything about it!" came my retort.</p><p>"Yes, but it's ruining your day. It's ruining your life. Do what you can, when you can, but stop subjecting yourself to this."</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6aDMjmyPdh8FfYLmEftcp5MSFa0NQHyJ11xGNJ2MRTHpFtH68Ooq5mkePbQU9a-FyXJF5uCxGi350530ZmcqD6Yh5j_4i-MlxM5S7yl5XaFHZ05Rs2fk4KuTJHc3HZvJsg9r7wc_vOzaPLGZrYjs4j7x62YM-7hDJVdd_2-NIHcwDIUQc7mzOjNVQ/s593/Screenshot%202022-10-10%20095002.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="408" data-original-width="593" height="247" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6aDMjmyPdh8FfYLmEftcp5MSFa0NQHyJ11xGNJ2MRTHpFtH68Ooq5mkePbQU9a-FyXJF5uCxGi350530ZmcqD6Yh5j_4i-MlxM5S7yl5XaFHZ05Rs2fk4KuTJHc3HZvJsg9r7wc_vOzaPLGZrYjs4j7x62YM-7hDJVdd_2-NIHcwDIUQc7mzOjNVQ/w359-h247/Screenshot%202022-10-10%20095002.jpg" width="359" /></a></div>And so I did. <b>With my Dad's advice, I threw the publication right in the trash and never looked back. It was so freeing.</b> It doesn't mean that I no longer care about animals. I have done what I can throughout my life to make a positive difference in the lives of animals, and will always continue to do so. From finding baby Isis near death in the bush at a strip mall to fostering dogs, I help where I can, when I can. But the work is positive and rewarding, unlike looking at all those photos, which is a special kind of torture. I think this may be where the saying ignorance is bliss came from. I felt hopeless writing letters to the heads of corporations that would never be read. Instead, helping animals in a very real way does not ruin my day and does not, in turn, affect those around me. <p></p><p>Fast forward to now. I won't waste my time (and your time) detailing all of the political issues getting me fired up lately (think: protecting our children), but this month, I decided to unfollow every political account on social media. I just stood up, threw the 2022 equivalent of that magazine, ActionLine, in the trash, and started <b>fasting from negativity</b>. Just like I felt so many years ago, I was instantly lighter and happier. <b>We are in control of our happiness, not the political climate or whatever else gets us fired up.</b></p><p>My friend AnnMarie gave me the idea and the nudge when she shared this podcast/sermon with me: <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/life-church-with-craig-groeschel/id73802266?i=1000579090238" target="_blank">Silence Your Negative Thoughts | Peace of Mind: Part 5</a></p><p>I started listening to it on my lunch run. At first, I thought that it was super basic and a review of my undergraduate psychology degree. But then, it started bringing in scripture and the idea of <b>fasting from negativity.</b> The idea that our thoughts influence our actions and life is simple. But this caused me to reflect and ask myself: <b>If it's such a simple concept, why am I not doing it?</b> I'll be sailing through my day, having a great one, and then learn about some ridiculous mandate or law that I can't control, and suddenly, I'm all fired up and certain that while there may be hope for some children, there certainly is not any hope for<i> all</i> children. </p><p>And so, I unfollowed every single political account and had a very pleasant rest of the month, living in a Harry Potter-like snow globe, traveling to London, and reconnecting with my Mom's family across the pond. I delved into some great fiction, started reading the gospels, and loved the heck out of my kids and husband, feeling more present with them instead of ruminating on something beyond my control. Disconnecting from anything political really helped each day feel lighter and more care-free. It doesn't mean that I won't help and be involved when and where I can, similar to fostering dogs, but it is a topic that I am too passionate about. My mood gets hijacked when I'm not expecting it and alters the course of my day in a negative way.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbRujBljjQonlxHmGtfFRuHViSIlKfzho7lsGgcDteIkw_NO9vQWYeZDVAQRkK2OZPzNik79rSMN5dJOuv_4OfNJ8i_eq5hcI9lm02TDQQM2cVaAniksT0AwBxudYaSc1es-0tQI4DjxQ43gROHJk4-GJAYHNgG8xJgEFGxACyscJRE2jUvu-_80gu/s1800/306962982_10228865039715993_6727957266116464909_n%20(1).jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1011" data-original-width="1800" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbRujBljjQonlxHmGtfFRuHViSIlKfzho7lsGgcDteIkw_NO9vQWYeZDVAQRkK2OZPzNik79rSMN5dJOuv_4OfNJ8i_eq5hcI9lm02TDQQM2cVaAniksT0AwBxudYaSc1es-0tQI4DjxQ43gROHJk4-GJAYHNgG8xJgEFGxACyscJRE2jUvu-_80gu/w640-h360/306962982_10228865039715993_6727957266116464909_n%20(1).jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Christ the King Catholic Church in Reading, England. On the same steps where the childrens' grandparents and great-grandparents were married.</td></tr></tbody></table><p>London was amazing. It brought me so much closer to my Mom's side of the family, many of whom I met for the very first time. It was such a meaningful trip because the children and I were honored to be in Aunt Anna's wedding. Aut was the flower girl, Cha was the Page Boy, and I was her Matron of Honor. My father and brother went as well, and each did a reading. It was held in the very same church that my parent's were married in, as well as my grandparents. Growing up, I always knew of my Mom's family (5 siblings) in England, but the cost of travel kept us apart. This trip not only re-connected me to them, but helped me realize that I mean much more to them than I ever imagined.</p><p>It was our first international trip without Daddy. We almost didn't go because I was worried about all the ways it could end up a disaster! I thought of going by myself, but couldn't bare the thought of being apart from them for that long, nor depriving them of the family connection. Generally speaking, our children are really well-behaved. But when we do see behavior in them, it is almost always when they are tired. And when they're tired and exhibit behavior, Daddy is usually the only one that they will listen to. I'm a big softie, and they know it... even when I try to act tough. I have been known to give in when I shouldn't, inadvertently reinforcing their behavior. And when do I lose my patience? When <i>I'm</i> tired too, of course. All this added up to a myriad of scenarios in my head, all of which were disastrous. But what was I <i>not</i> expecting? For it all to go off without a hitch and for them both to be exemplary.</p><p>TRIGGER WARNING: THIS POSTING CONTAINS UNAPOLOGETIC BRAGGING ABOUT MY CHILDRENS' AMAZING BEHAVIOR ALONE WITH ME ON AN INTERNATIONAL TRIP.</p><p>But then again, if me bragging about my kids triggered you, you probably wouldn't be here in the first place. We all know that I do more than my fair share of <i>that</i>! Like most moms, I am naturally inclined to think our two tiny humans are amazing. I like to think that they are so well-behaved because my husband and I make such a good team and balance, with me pouring a ton of love and attention into them and with him being a firm shaper of behavior (who also loves the heck out of them). Still, they far surpassed any expectations I had of them.</p><p>We landed at Heathrow on Thursday late morning. We had departed Orange County late afternoon and were not flying business class. While the children managed to sleep on my lap for about 4 hours, I did not sleep a wink. We took a train to the Reading station, and then a cab to the <a href="https://www.devere.co.uk/wokefield-estate/" target="_blank">DeVer Wokefield Estate</a> and were blown away! Like the children's behavior, it far exceeded anything I pictured. Truly, I felt like we were staying at Downton Abbey (which was filmed about 30 minutes away). The scope and scale of the place was grandiose, and the kids had such a fun time exploring! So did I. There was a slight chill in the air, but the weather was beautiful, with billowy white clouds. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiszUcMrOni_-deXkgbD1OJU7GvNh0V61BUxS-slsdfQt1WDl6iT_Qrin1MPHFr00zgqhM_KwrekKDp3aFoWNIeWzh7m1_is5OmcwzQQNR3Cu_sWwvnLEHizof1oJFsq5-ymw8S6hsefNQV8BA39dqwnRzZBmLE5UJkDyAZ-Un_RjeTOUGJBypwPkmt/s1440/307184823_10228823190029777_8044739891134662791_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1082" data-original-width="1440" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiszUcMrOni_-deXkgbD1OJU7GvNh0V61BUxS-slsdfQt1WDl6iT_Qrin1MPHFr00zgqhM_KwrekKDp3aFoWNIeWzh7m1_is5OmcwzQQNR3Cu_sWwvnLEHizof1oJFsq5-ymw8S6hsefNQV8BA39dqwnRzZBmLE5UJkDyAZ-Un_RjeTOUGJBypwPkmt/w400-h300/307184823_10228823190029777_8044739891134662791_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZNEGCOYcTceaB3urxcIYupy_L0xzxU3J4aL_dCqNvwP2TZy5yvAXha8zmpEwaZ1ScfVGm7CC1fNdQb7CBJpvhFnMxV7QszSqxNWaxMkVl4Af_BTS12qbKjW4QvNV0wVH1Hp9ki72qt5qAKZGSvnRT8qglerXUE4HcHFNHu4Zll4znOmw-vihf_aCN/s2048/307920022_10228826202105077_5345840765527852171_n.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZNEGCOYcTceaB3urxcIYupy_L0xzxU3J4aL_dCqNvwP2TZy5yvAXha8zmpEwaZ1ScfVGm7CC1fNdQb7CBJpvhFnMxV7QszSqxNWaxMkVl4Af_BTS12qbKjW4QvNV0wVH1Hp9ki72qt5qAKZGSvnRT8qglerXUE4HcHFNHu4Zll4znOmw-vihf_aCN/s320/307920022_10228826202105077_5345840765527852171_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW2P1TfKbTk5LIBYw9GSDKos94mLdY3Lgh0hcsRzQtfa8bravOWP9EFBUPrqSo9rrrxYcmN-mBs8F1rFvgQjYWfiRbHd5XKLClavU5g3pVGkJONs6C-VyJYuo0HAUInEPJrfOofTs06hksUb8htilDEoJqcDzrzNb4I_a2dqLWARQ1naCc6_lOY17T/s2048/308046956_10228823072306834_7336690476302675433_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW2P1TfKbTk5LIBYw9GSDKos94mLdY3Lgh0hcsRzQtfa8bravOWP9EFBUPrqSo9rrrxYcmN-mBs8F1rFvgQjYWfiRbHd5XKLClavU5g3pVGkJONs6C-VyJYuo0HAUInEPJrfOofTs06hksUb8htilDEoJqcDzrzNb4I_a2dqLWARQ1naCc6_lOY17T/s320/308046956_10228823072306834_7336690476302675433_n.jpg" width="240" /></a><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><h1 style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #555555; font-family: BaskervilleOldFacD; font-size: 36px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: 500; line-height: 1.2; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;">A mansion house hotel near Reading</h1><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #555555; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.2; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;">There has been an estate at Wokefield since the first house was built in the 1560s for the wealthy Plowden family. Set in 250 acres of Berkshire parkland, its history is etched in the different architectural features that greet you throughout.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis7SrLJR6HICX8q9GT-s1qp5tXsdn_zSKHnf23JJVyNwakVVQz0Lqt1d30xN8Cq3iz5dtMFL6l1X-gS6-Qy0mxLCgDgTLOAj_AerE8bG2c4SDT3NWC8UcX2mkzFXrurpa1Xnd0wd4BqRHJrHzhoLKQhkNk742iJZGXxPF56sxDD4No9okiGEnc03uB/s2048/306794855_10228826203585114_6572548481105504121_n.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis7SrLJR6HICX8q9GT-s1qp5tXsdn_zSKHnf23JJVyNwakVVQz0Lqt1d30xN8Cq3iz5dtMFL6l1X-gS6-Qy0mxLCgDgTLOAj_AerE8bG2c4SDT3NWC8UcX2mkzFXrurpa1Xnd0wd4BqRHJrHzhoLKQhkNk742iJZGXxPF56sxDD4No9okiGEnc03uB/w300-h400/306794855_10228826203585114_6572548481105504121_n.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhvvkRZWBo8489yVMDWYWKTbM0CCUNK4fqoNDW6s5ygidVOFpgfj-5m_mcQUay5rRPvqNVlGBDSJGHITxRGsVeiF7ugiYMtPhqj6IR535t1XGu7YMyYNqN0kTzElpvdA08B7iEhTCLDLk37-SP_vmfzEJn0_VxJMHwYFcylpnD_fZ7-pvwXUKekiRMC" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhvvkRZWBo8489yVMDWYWKTbM0CCUNK4fqoNDW6s5ygidVOFpgfj-5m_mcQUay5rRPvqNVlGBDSJGHITxRGsVeiF7ugiYMtPhqj6IR535t1XGu7YMyYNqN0kTzElpvdA08B7iEhTCLDLk37-SP_vmfzEJn0_VxJMHwYFcylpnD_fZ7-pvwXUKekiRMC=w300-h400" width="300" /></a><div><br /></div><div>Originally, I was thinking we would nap but we pushed through and it was the best decision. We were all asleep by 8pm, London time, and slept until our alarm went off at 8:30 the next morning. Aut did wake up briefly in the night but went back to sleep. We could have kept sleeping, but didn't want to miss the amazing, free breakfast with a thousand choices! This first night really helped us adjust well to the time change. Our secret? Three milligrams of melatonin.</div><div><p></p><p>We had a nice, relaxing day on Friday, swimming and napping. Then, we took a cab into Reading to Christ the King Catholic church for the evening wedding rehearsal. We were finally able to embrace Anna, and see my cousin Carl whom I hadn't seen since he was about 7, and met the groom, Ashley. Then, we entered the church. Stepping through the doors of <a href="https://www.ctkreading.org/" target="_blank">Christ the King</a> brought with it an actual feeling which I struggle to put into words. A feeling of connection to the past; of closeness and connection to family. In 2015, we met Anna on those very steps, while I was pregnant with Aut. Knowing that this was the same aisle that my parents walked down in 1969 and her parents before her gave me a sense of belonging. My Mom attended the church's attached Catholic school and played in that school yard. Her home was within walking distance, and her first job, at Gillette, was just around the corner. Upon entering, I was so excited to meet my Mom's sister Julie for the first time, and her brothers, Michael and Johnny. </p><p>Being there was all a bit overwhelming and indescribably meaningful. But what do you say to your aunts and uncles when nearly a lifetime has gone by? I started with what I wanted to know the most: "Tell me about Mom! What do you remember?" They were all very young when she married and moved to America but I was surprised to learn from Julie that "Oh, Paula used to tease us, and she would give me a wedgie!" After exchanging a few pleasantries, the Irish Priest arrived (all the way from Galway!) and it was time to start the rehearsal. </p><p>I learned that children and I were to be seated in the front row. Because it was a Catholic Mass, it also meant that there would be a lot of up and down, and it would last quite awhile. I quickly realized at the rehearsal on Friday night that they were going to be fully on display. And, they would both need to walk town the aisle, all eyes on them. What if the morning came and Charles decided not to? Like that one time he was tired and new to soccer practice and flat-out refused to participate or even get on the field?! Unlike with his swimming lessons, I could not hand him off to the instructor in the pool. There was no way to "make" him stay on the field, only consequences after the fact, as there would be no way to "make" him walk down the aisle. Oh boy, I thought. I mean, the children and I being in the wedding was sort of the whole point of the trip!!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqYxZ1Ktc7b-tGNwnAA3f79py6ZPxqRhBgx3K1EnH92Z5QUwcMLchxnL13UcM7iJR8vBt18W7LoUl9GNgIda10Gol3abJi40UoMaawanT4CCOk5asDDBTpN2vrKI8gfp4JhmR475VLemcrtZLX_x2JVKtEsbzKe0VxdYQNtYnwbmTqt1zh018jLNpF/s2048/306322281_10228838235885914_2899411793020607628_n.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-ky4-QhO8cj0s1Q_tYEad3U3PFUKvFbJnioxavuPHx2M8dN9367PYgdIS81WhlF12CoLZmZFx9MOYv4FvLfVlnaem6hA1ph26PThYe7rFXd0ZBESEiL2IwXkS3-Zxazy3uxt0ncEaNAoc0uPhQkxSixYRQWz1HPcYfpJ2LKYQcihQmwIqDUpEZF_b/s2048/308511354_10228836420760537_875792275765775008_n%20(1).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-ky4-QhO8cj0s1Q_tYEad3U3PFUKvFbJnioxavuPHx2M8dN9367PYgdIS81WhlF12CoLZmZFx9MOYv4FvLfVlnaem6hA1ph26PThYe7rFXd0ZBESEiL2IwXkS3-Zxazy3uxt0ncEaNAoc0uPhQkxSixYRQWz1HPcYfpJ2LKYQcihQmwIqDUpEZF_b/s320/308511354_10228836420760537_875792275765775008_n%20(1).jpg" width="320" /></a><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqYxZ1Ktc7b-tGNwnAA3f79py6ZPxqRhBgx3K1EnH92Z5QUwcMLchxnL13UcM7iJR8vBt18W7LoUl9GNgIda10Gol3abJi40UoMaawanT4CCOk5asDDBTpN2vrKI8gfp4JhmR475VLemcrtZLX_x2JVKtEsbzKe0VxdYQNtYnwbmTqt1zh018jLNpF/s320/306322281_10228838235885914_2899411793020607628_n.jpg" width="240" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>The morning came after another night of great sleep, and we stepped across the hall to help Aunt Anna get ready. This trip really helped me realize how important we are to Aunt Anna, and her to us. As mentioned previously, I was hesitant to take them and worried about their behavior without Dad there. But she gently urged me to and I will forever remain thankful that she did. They connected with her so much, as did I. As we were getting ready to go to DeVere, it was decided that the kids would ride with her in the wedding car, which they were so excited to do!<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3Aaa2NHJh_ivjK33yREySM6t2YYEkRd5N4AUCvFpvKzLDZvGAxukLdbcRK4oTEIeAh7pHO_e0VhpeUNz3tV2oQXYafSdD1yo8r7xdxcBDDoCHOb-gforevEQwxC-dO45bCc_nz_t66o0k-6lt4vUDx0VkFla3j_N8O1f8_soBIk-C9fM7I0xFvLTT/s2048/308596850_10228836534603383_8849223245570110220_n.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3Aaa2NHJh_ivjK33yREySM6t2YYEkRd5N4AUCvFpvKzLDZvGAxukLdbcRK4oTEIeAh7pHO_e0VhpeUNz3tV2oQXYafSdD1yo8r7xdxcBDDoCHOb-gforevEQwxC-dO45bCc_nz_t66o0k-6lt4vUDx0VkFla3j_N8O1f8_soBIk-C9fM7I0xFvLTT/w300-h400/308596850_10228836534603383_8849223245570110220_n.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The beautiful Bride, Aunt Anna!</td></tr></tbody></table><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE09V6xEH3STFdl25REaTViH-fW07IpRTUOFcXI6VuURWaasqRole0ARzXMS9KSDRI8tErppFsHqIoXYP_1_Ijk6vdU-cBLL8IcOVHhHpanHqRp3Aw3-FKg5zzg-4S0-lm-uQVnGZ5rzzV2cg71CG3rPZxK0Z0ydMLOA-tNAG_IOQPfID5uB3oJmiI/s1794/307746896_10228838203605107_4646332416329818263_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1794" data-original-width="1440" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE09V6xEH3STFdl25REaTViH-fW07IpRTUOFcXI6VuURWaasqRole0ARzXMS9KSDRI8tErppFsHqIoXYP_1_Ijk6vdU-cBLL8IcOVHhHpanHqRp3Aw3-FKg5zzg-4S0-lm-uQVnGZ5rzzV2cg71CG3rPZxK0Z0ydMLOA-tNAG_IOQPfID5uB3oJmiI/s320/307746896_10228838203605107_4646332416329818263_n.jpg" width="257" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>I rode with the photographer and we encountered so much traffic that we were almost late!! The kids were already in position, ready to walk down the aisle, which they did perfectly! They were so good throughout the entire wedding mass that I promised them they could play back at the estate, and that Aut could finally get out of her "itchy dress."<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhh-CYNMcbcJmg8YvSdcE_1SCh1X-HsO_9oT7jOxbq2aV7lnLKr-MjlZsKnzqwMygoToNes0Y0vXRwxGEThfBbBvOHd8AkO_GI9d4RHqG9zaZDfC7RaYnw2zyKT7dx4Yktox-eIrAKfCtOT9IRHr0Mc1uehV9fxVHm6Ug_W0L9hwIr4AlJzejQO7Csq" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhh-CYNMcbcJmg8YvSdcE_1SCh1X-HsO_9oT7jOxbq2aV7lnLKr-MjlZsKnzqwMygoToNes0Y0vXRwxGEThfBbBvOHd8AkO_GI9d4RHqG9zaZDfC7RaYnw2zyKT7dx4Yktox-eIrAKfCtOT9IRHr0Mc1uehV9fxVHm6Ug_W0L9hwIr4AlJzejQO7Csq=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Anna and Ash spared no expense! The nicest wedding I've been to.</td></tr></tbody></table><br />The kids made an appearance at the pre-dinner reception and were very impressed. They loved all of the touches, like the display of the drinks in the shape of a heart and loved the live, Irish band: <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyigmpPeFQL_K0feE5xvLEq6y3V-mIjfGYVrAFuuO7muQhKR5PCW6YurbL4u-WKkHwt5hayKhs9MdedUFr0Bw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div></div><div><br /></div><div>We headed up to the room for a bit, and no sooner had I changed Aut out of her dress and let her relax in bed than there was a knock at the door. It was my brother, who was there to deliver the news that the children were being summoned for photos. This is where I thought she might start complaining, but nope! They remained as good as gold! We had a fun time taking pictures (which I cannot <i>wait </i>to see!) before heading to the dinner reception. I was surprised to learn that 1) There were no other children present and 2) We were seated at the head table. Still, the kids were truly wonderful! Anna was thoughtful to have brought them multiple toys to play with, and had placed a lot of yummy candy at our place setting. Again, I was so touched by our placement there. My Uncle Johnny gave a speech, mentioning us which was so touching:<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Ly1z4Oj6U2Q" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe> </div><div><br /></div><div>My Mom's cousin Alan and his wife were also there, whom I had not seen since our wedding. The food was delicious and the reception was so much fun! Uncle Glennie was kind enough to take the kids swimming so that I could visit. While he was gone with the kids, I was sitting watching everyone dance. Then, a friend of the bride crossed the room with a huge smile and her arm outstretched. She pulled me onto the dance floor. I'm definitely a bit self-conscious when it comes to dancing and may not have made the leap without her prompting. I'm so glad I did! When Glen came back, we danced and had the best time. </div><div><br /></div><div>Mom's brother Michael is very much an introvert (like me!) and Julie didn't stay too late. But Johnny really opened up about his life and the ups and the downs and how one of his biggest regrets is not coming over to America to see us. It meant so much to me. Whether or not he comes over is not the point. The meaningful part is that he wants to. Like Mom, he fought for the underdog. Instead of in Johnny's case, I mean it quite literally. He told me this colorful, engaging tale of being out at a pub and a group of drunk men were making fun of a disabled man. What did Johnny do? He put on his "geek" classes, acted like he was hunched over, and asked them if they wanted to fight him outside. Unfortunately for them, they laughingly took him up on the offer and he cleaned house. Fought 4-5 of them. Little did they know, he was a professional boxer for years. Have to say, I do love vigilante justice and swift karma and found this quite endearing. "We have to get you to America!" I said. He was so much fun, and I know he would hit it off with my husband.</div><div><br /></div><div>I did not just connect to my family abroad, but connected to my own brother, whom I see on a regular basis! I had so much fun dancing with him, which I have not done since my own wedding nearly a decade earlier. Anna and Ash paid attention to every detail, and we were so surprised that a ton more delicious food was brought out around midnight! Pizzas, beef kabobs and all sorts of yummy snacks. Glen and I stayed out until about 1am, but there were people dancing until about 4am! <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioiBaOIBUBV944_1RtI-tm4Zd6hVeOykN_Qecld7AE97vrqNwkY6RqKggE60RQVMMc5Sr7xab4ooES12LeJgtMbEISA8OB2ivFUxYn6HE2MHZhDiCLV4uO9wMqHQsZ1FYxQPcdSOua9EK3iLb4IlK3tt1OIvzJQ_6gyqLJcfzyBygrNRMy755CPGqr/s2048/308638006_10228841676611930_254382949317665491_n.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioiBaOIBUBV944_1RtI-tm4Zd6hVeOykN_Qecld7AE97vrqNwkY6RqKggE60RQVMMc5Sr7xab4ooES12LeJgtMbEISA8OB2ivFUxYn6HE2MHZhDiCLV4uO9wMqHQsZ1FYxQPcdSOua9EK3iLb4IlK3tt1OIvzJQ_6gyqLJcfzyBygrNRMy755CPGqr/w320-h240/308638006_10228841676611930_254382949317665491_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">L-R: My Uncle Johnny, Glen, Me and Cousin Carl</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibdRyDyZxdjs36rADrUIUgLaD2GUVkUPbPdkvFBxAJRWYDoeJ2V4O_irPRjvKmRPU16G3GoTbd8m80fNZag51a68CHHNz_giTxMs1HrQb9Mv9KC6abYdMF4cw55ZKEC1z95EM2c7wXchuwBvC9nh_KGmHIH7JDmmdXA-TSuCCOJT69xYph3bjCa6m_/s2048/307131128_10228842902722582_3338335738095453559_n.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1532" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibdRyDyZxdjs36rADrUIUgLaD2GUVkUPbPdkvFBxAJRWYDoeJ2V4O_irPRjvKmRPU16G3GoTbd8m80fNZag51a68CHHNz_giTxMs1HrQb9Mv9KC6abYdMF4cw55ZKEC1z95EM2c7wXchuwBvC9nh_KGmHIH7JDmmdXA-TSuCCOJT69xYph3bjCa6m_/s320/307131128_10228842902722582_3338335738095453559_n.jpg" width="239" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Family</td></tr></tbody></table><p>The next morning we had breakfast and said our goodbyes. It was tough to leave everyone, but I am hopeful that they will come stay with us. It would be so fun to take them all around California. After our stay at the DeVeers Estate, we took a cab to the Reading station, the underground, and then another cab to our hotel in London, near Buckingham Palace and the Victoria station. We took the underground with Dad and Glen, but were staying in different areas of London, so we parted ways. The children and I checked into the hotel and walked to Buckingham Palace. I had booked us a tour, but that was cancelled due to the Queen's death and funeral just a few days prior.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTNmXvr78Mg4Qdm_ws8-fEK33YJrDauz9BAxd8QRmlqJ32le9qHnyI_Tbx45anVxYWJWJ6-JPCWRxZ5z7t08z94vbTaNnNmI-V3_RWoNq3F8ffv3NyosswkQjRb4ho25KM2andQ9U6d1bLPoi0JkmR62GI5yrFkPOGjWapO3mTA_WgpeAUdxvmPsIR/s2048/308110059_10228842788159718_3265940634107845397_n.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1560" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTNmXvr78Mg4Qdm_ws8-fEK33YJrDauz9BAxd8QRmlqJ32le9qHnyI_Tbx45anVxYWJWJ6-JPCWRxZ5z7t08z94vbTaNnNmI-V3_RWoNq3F8ffv3NyosswkQjRb4ho25KM2andQ9U6d1bLPoi0JkmR62GI5yrFkPOGjWapO3mTA_WgpeAUdxvmPsIR/w305-h400/308110059_10228842788159718_3265940634107845397_n.jpg" width="305" /></a></div><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjpIEM-bPezrK-XZhCsMw_VjYq8ldjsmA7IW4RP8v8JbeH2CAbUdtWIVfEP7q-3ojuuxYg4lY8nMG-GnMf-3kiS7PdQWgN-awW4RUZ3j6My0Le_IKuIbR0z8SjRjcSgoE4e5XAcTUCyOKdb-APp9Bcl0ZZbb7ueFcnvhgrRf0XsYQSvjvdDlCJkzui/s2048/306488942_10228842788679731_2392292199522128534_n.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjpIEM-bPezrK-XZhCsMw_VjYq8ldjsmA7IW4RP8v8JbeH2CAbUdtWIVfEP7q-3ojuuxYg4lY8nMG-GnMf-3kiS7PdQWgN-awW4RUZ3j6My0Le_IKuIbR0z8SjRjcSgoE4e5XAcTUCyOKdb-APp9Bcl0ZZbb7ueFcnvhgrRf0XsYQSvjvdDlCJkzui/w300-h400/306488942_10228842788679731_2392292199522128534_n.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Buckingham Palace</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><p></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3ZwGVzob0jQn2OzfD2BeUEs8bcOFta0wHg5M-kArjFtVJWBToOsiAVK8dapaKObsmYRernmZRBeVyQ7E6ZlkCsPTHKJiQWnpT4u9TAncIjC34sAI4iEYs_-02Z8gFW1swKj48pobJk-dnPf3jsYPTwzklHb9j7GwsCIKYICLXlscTB2z7DIHDjuCK/s2048/306545206_10228842789079741_573178235747072896_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3ZwGVzob0jQn2OzfD2BeUEs8bcOFta0wHg5M-kArjFtVJWBToOsiAVK8dapaKObsmYRernmZRBeVyQ7E6ZlkCsPTHKJiQWnpT4u9TAncIjC34sAI4iEYs_-02Z8gFW1swKj48pobJk-dnPf3jsYPTwzklHb9j7GwsCIKYICLXlscTB2z7DIHDjuCK/s320/306545206_10228842789079741_573178235747072896_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></p><p></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC63iLBT9ECo2poNZTbio0wF_KT0l3AO0HbLXoIfOws_Z6tXsh1o4N1rCKDowjfBp-bVtzyeAaOaIl1O9eixa1SP_vNIST0tr9lw7pJJvdD7c_HYJSsXNUS29yTVwa6tcCnejnVg3srqndXknqCYKf5nKrVtXgGGB23MtekW2nwPGdSBVcu1d97MKo/s2048/307954584_10228850159023985_7012035969124560914_n.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC63iLBT9ECo2poNZTbio0wF_KT0l3AO0HbLXoIfOws_Z6tXsh1o4N1rCKDowjfBp-bVtzyeAaOaIl1O9eixa1SP_vNIST0tr9lw7pJJvdD7c_HYJSsXNUS29yTVwa6tcCnejnVg3srqndXknqCYKf5nKrVtXgGGB23MtekW2nwPGdSBVcu1d97MKo/s320/307954584_10228850159023985_7012035969124560914_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></p>The next morning, we took the underground, over-ground and then a charter bus to the Warner Brothers Harry Potter studios, where all of the movies were filmed. The children and I are just beginning to get into the movies but we had an amazing time. The technology has progressed so much in the 10+ years since I've visited even Universal Studios. Our favorite part was going into the goblin bank which was quite impressive, only to turn the corner and find the same bank, being destroyed by a large, realistic, fire-breathing dragon! "This is pretend, Mommy?" Cha stated, trying to double-check and also reassure himself. We had our butter beer and butter beer ice cream and spent so much time there that I realized we would not make it back in time for our boat ride down the Thames. We were still planning to do the hop on, hop off bus but by the time I found the stop, they had stopped taking new riders! Another opportunity for the children to have a meltdown, but they took it in stride. Kids - if your reading this in the future, know that I will always be thankful that you were so good for Mommy on this trip!</div><div> <iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/lt-g9Lhbej0" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe><p>The next morning we flew home. Dad had thankfully found us business class seats and we really enjoyed it. London left us wanting more, and I hope to return in the next few years. Now that I have an international trip with them under my belt, I have zero qualms about taking them anywhere! Will future trips always be this problem-free? No, but at least I know that they won't be an utter disaster, either. All it took was a little bribery, combined with the threat of Daddy bagging up their room!</p><p>This month I also took Aut to her first concert, Kidz Bop, met the legendary Keith Morrison and went apple picking in Oak Glen with the Clarks. We continued to enjoy the pool and the warm weather.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgEOjgwQ0tSN4RixKkFIZ_UEg-32A8OdxrAf4il1nmZj-QNWvF-s1lIL3H63f89HxbobxUVRQ7M8NZ5eNng75N4gLgs8bvVcx_iUJ-XZSew1pBeTfbLu50NWNnbpXwSiEV8gvgvMuw38brLPoEAKk-b5ZMF0mbSahzRtj9elVvBKaDLhX3uv04bA9Lo" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /><br /></a></div><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEinnG7ZO4Mh6d94ReBSRQ-3Gbvr8RhnpYcu_NVtrjFiaGa5BiAZOgAAxYXshHzhxHx-fUbL_PoCvAmqw9aAmlBJzPJbeNDyXug4MfgwqoBJIa0mygINedAMd62b1-Y6-62VojGJf4s17nQcJI1cxTbnCq2Bl8suAOGxycsHlLnj4y2E9e1iIhF7IKuE" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEinnG7ZO4Mh6d94ReBSRQ-3Gbvr8RhnpYcu_NVtrjFiaGa5BiAZOgAAxYXshHzhxHx-fUbL_PoCvAmqw9aAmlBJzPJbeNDyXug4MfgwqoBJIa0mygINedAMd62b1-Y6-62VojGJf4s17nQcJI1cxTbnCq2Bl8suAOGxycsHlLnj4y2E9e1iIhF7IKuE=w300-h400" width="300" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgEOjgwQ0tSN4RixKkFIZ_UEg-32A8OdxrAf4il1nmZj-QNWvF-s1lIL3H63f89HxbobxUVRQ7M8NZ5eNng75N4gLgs8bvVcx_iUJ-XZSew1pBeTfbLu50NWNnbpXwSiEV8gvgvMuw38brLPoEAKk-b5ZMF0mbSahzRtj9elVvBKaDLhX3uv04bA9Lo" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img alt="" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1766" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgEOjgwQ0tSN4RixKkFIZ_UEg-32A8OdxrAf4il1nmZj-QNWvF-s1lIL3H63f89HxbobxUVRQ7M8NZ5eNng75N4gLgs8bvVcx_iUJ-XZSew1pBeTfbLu50NWNnbpXwSiEV8gvgvMuw38brLPoEAKk-b5ZMF0mbSahzRtj9elVvBKaDLhX3uv04bA9Lo=w276-h320" width="276" /></span></a></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjZWk50A53i3riL5PRVDctpssxLY0NUis--LoRPM5qwEn3YDoO5dWHfc_U5Q-vEYXbbPL2LtPZ6RM2Dsk1D_Dz9tHWgNhyOBb-SNdto8x6yaLFeV8jHeBSG0I042qfkb3vW-p_vl-2o2RBsPlHzYjCfqI-xF-qj3wF53lFJSp5fCro7_Lny7BBXcBMK" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1670" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjZWk50A53i3riL5PRVDctpssxLY0NUis--LoRPM5qwEn3YDoO5dWHfc_U5Q-vEYXbbPL2LtPZ6RM2Dsk1D_Dz9tHWgNhyOBb-SNdto8x6yaLFeV8jHeBSG0I042qfkb3vW-p_vl-2o2RBsPlHzYjCfqI-xF-qj3wF53lFJSp5fCro7_Lny7BBXcBMK=w327-h400" width="327" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It was a beautiful fall evening in Orange County...or was it?</td></tr></tbody></table></div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /></div>Megan Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18287505547652721159noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-713032057716800226.post-84855759847972314152022-10-18T14:09:00.006-07:002022-10-19T09:04:01.114-07:00BEFORE & AFTER<div class="separator"><br /></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDBMDXW-0RSKJK-tJsLDjavXLNkPV4vXK1GWfdd1vWXGc-UKKmexhmyD30AkvJQnqntBS6y0qXqemfHCR5A_lbYzXxxT3MAdPI_E5BJE4eDNwY286oej1b4LJ5DCM2lRYrbular7XB1u90_h3h-B2z7BI76d6JTOYp-ADndjkAAC43wEXRpOVABh43/s1794/310919622_10228991897687363_4441773499364104062_n.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: left;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1794" data-original-width="1440" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDBMDXW-0RSKJK-tJsLDjavXLNkPV4vXK1GWfdd1vWXGc-UKKmexhmyD30AkvJQnqntBS6y0qXqemfHCR5A_lbYzXxxT3MAdPI_E5BJE4eDNwY286oej1b4LJ5DCM2lRYrbular7XB1u90_h3h-B2z7BI76d6JTOYp-ADndjkAAC43wEXRpOVABh43/w321-h400/310919622_10228991897687363_4441773499364104062_n.jpg" width="321" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">August 2022. I've never worn crop tops!</td></tr></tbody></table>I never realized how just how much time and energy my thoughts of covering up my tummy were taking up until it was gone. I evaluated nearly every outfit in terms of how much it showed or concealed this problem area, and I wouldn't even think about wearing a bikini. That ship had sailed. But now that my gut is gone, it's indescribably freeing. I can walk into my closet and put on anything I own and feel confident. Before, I would try on multiple outfits, sometimes making myself late because none of them worked. I also did not realize how much your abdominal muscles work to hold in everything. Truly, as my doctor stated, our abdominal muscles act like a corset. Before my surgery, it felt like everything I ate could immediately be detected with the naked eye. I would seriously look at a soda, and my stomach would puff out. Now, I am eating normally (although still much healthier than before), and even when I have a total cheat day (I've had a few), my stomach remains completely flat. It is so strange and foreign to me! Seriously, even when I was 20 and much thinner, my stomach still had a little pouch. It has always been my problem area, and the area any excess weight goes to first.<p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFxkWbSv-RN_2CV7iyPpCjxjtXYboaNtbAK3yuf998UeAirQIfeRpmKfSmcx9o0wQ-hEPkvUglN7bWJy8VqmKWgTvPq69XbtD9ayiGvRMVAf04MoNUWsK-QARJOCkehz2_PONsYrn5mOUwoF-aALrmZOwdZYMHMby3KK-vZp433dWB9dxL7pm9-6DO/s1794/309711832_10228991897767365_1039989995999719683_n.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1794" data-original-width="1440" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFxkWbSv-RN_2CV7iyPpCjxjtXYboaNtbAK3yuf998UeAirQIfeRpmKfSmcx9o0wQ-hEPkvUglN7bWJy8VqmKWgTvPq69XbtD9ayiGvRMVAf04MoNUWsK-QARJOCkehz2_PONsYrn5mOUwoF-aALrmZOwdZYMHMby3KK-vZp433dWB9dxL7pm9-6DO/w321-h400/309711832_10228991897767365_1039989995999719683_n.jpg" width="321" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Before - 2018. While pregnant with him, <br />I was eating for two: Two grown-a$# adults!<br />Worried about another miscarriage, I could not enjoy this <br />pregnancy as much and turned to food for comfort.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqelPiWqfUJtYgRF4x35iBhzwT5zNGvActLrHIg4YqLRt2UxZJNjthUFMJh6Ocmw9fGETVdzoIBhmxn0zxwshYz43zysiRc2rqox8UzKIzXTWASSIulfByPGS27EyX9XhS2WYvqoOD0qj3QJEPhi0k8yO2jOjP_0zXSkcFbwSS1GfFbK1lLE9KnZ5f/s1800/311328829_10228989026575587_5723455942072615053_n.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="1439" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqelPiWqfUJtYgRF4x35iBhzwT5zNGvActLrHIg4YqLRt2UxZJNjthUFMJh6Ocmw9fGETVdzoIBhmxn0zxwshYz43zysiRc2rqox8UzKIzXTWASSIulfByPGS27EyX9XhS2WYvqoOD0qj3QJEPhi0k8yO2jOjP_0zXSkcFbwSS1GfFbK1lLE9KnZ5f/w320-h400/311328829_10228989026575587_5723455942072615053_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The lower 'before' picture here was right before surgery - <i>after</i> I lost all of the weight. Because my muscles have separated, you can clearly see my <a href="https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/22346-diastasis-recti" target="_blank">Diastasis Recti where everything bulges out.</a></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />But while the surgery has been life-changing, I first had to do the work and lose the weight. I went to a consultation for abdominoplasty in the summer of 2021 and was actually told no by the plastic surgeon. "You have too much visceral fat, which will push out and work against you," he said. "You need to be within 10 pounds of your goal weight before surgery is considered." And so I had no choice but to start getting my eating in check. </div><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiIf_Z6_gjdqx1hGAVc_sNbJDAsWFDCAUE06BQXV_beVakIq47nRDvegHy4OV6mV5uIXYvuBK8vKoGtmDtUqIQAWo7yyOK69oUjmSzQUzAJg-6LW6haA3PML_pEEgRLi2vdOGKp_lSL3pXsr-U3UOhX_cH2MzsiMHuVQ01-cmPE7zVYv6z2MH56Gjs/s1800/291145933_10228422564334385_2091588319778730641_n.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="1800" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiIf_Z6_gjdqx1hGAVc_sNbJDAsWFDCAUE06BQXV_beVakIq47nRDvegHy4OV6mV5uIXYvuBK8vKoGtmDtUqIQAWo7yyOK69oUjmSzQUzAJg-6LW6haA3PML_pEEgRLi2vdOGKp_lSL3pXsr-U3UOhX_cH2MzsiMHuVQ01-cmPE7zVYv6z2MH56Gjs/s320/291145933_10228422564334385_2091588319778730641_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">2021/2022 - Both pics are pre surgery</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP2zcq3epxESq4P7i1hgSCjrxwPGSavlhs7qzS119QYdN0TGVx_5cHNb9xPuj4UPNwalO1RyvN7a1HZygs0Tg6U40bpJu4AUJOXzTW16dnNBRza9FgO61BfU6ijJzeLdEEuFjWWynZ4-x1IQwQ6HZZcK5ChCq058ZifpzKSXlh5QoTjD6xiH2DSixm/s1800/291935594_10228422564174381_5477530559263527527_n.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="1800" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP2zcq3epxESq4P7i1hgSCjrxwPGSavlhs7qzS119QYdN0TGVx_5cHNb9xPuj4UPNwalO1RyvN7a1HZygs0Tg6U40bpJu4AUJOXzTW16dnNBRza9FgO61BfU6ijJzeLdEEuFjWWynZ4-x1IQwQ6HZZcK5ChCq058ZifpzKSXlh5QoTjD6xiH2DSixm/w320-h320/291935594_10228422564174381_5477530559263527527_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">2021/2022 - Both pics are pre surgery</td></tr></tbody></table><p>The photo on the left is from April of 2021. The photo on the right is prior to surgery, in June of 2022. In the photo on the left, I had ran about 3 miles almost Every. Single. Day. for a year. But clearly, I was eating too much. In the photo on the right, I was running less (3 miles 2-3 times per week) but also eating less. For me, intermittent fasting is the way to go because I have to think about it less. And instead of having to make multiple good/healthy decisions throughout the day (Oh look! Someone brought bagels - should I have one?) I just have to make one: No food until [insert time here]. After baby number two, I started fasting 16 hours and eating in an 8 hour window. This worked at first, as it reined in my eating whatever, whenever, but I stopped seeing results as I had less to loose. For the last 20 pounds, I upped my game to 20/4 for a few months prior to surgery, which I am sticking to now a few days per week, for maintenance. </p><p><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">I remember taking those before photos above and worrying that there would never be an "after" to compare them to. I uploaded them into a private album and didn't show anyone, not even my husband. I was disappointed and ashamed that even though I was running so much, I was not continuing to lose my "baby weight" and was, in fact, starting to gain some of it back. Since I shared the photos, some of my closest friends have said, "You never looked like that!" And as far as they knew, I didn't. I either didn't post photos that showed my true size or spent a lot of time and energy choosing outfits that concealed it. I never wore tank tops. I decided that it was time to fix things before it was too late. Over time, our daily habits catch up with us, like a snowball rolling down a hill. I can pinpoint when those April 2021 photos started: Post Halloween 2020, when we had a whole lot of full-size candy bars leftover from trick-or-treaters, and I started sneaking one each night before bed when the whole house was quiet and asleep. No one knew, and no one could tell, I told myself, but the snowball was starting to roll down the hill and gather other bad habits. Sneaking a candy bar at night made it much easier to indulge in the free donuts that magically appeared in the breakroom or to have that second helping, followed by dessert. Or to order a 500-calorie coffee. It made it easier to start sneaking the Girl Scout cookies that my daughter was selling, eating almost a whole box one night. Running was becoming more difficult for me with the extra weight; I didn't have the energy with the kids I usually had, and I did not feel as attractive. My mood was not as elevated, because I had this hanging over me. I decided something needed to change because I was worried about to pass the point of no return and giveup. And I knew that it was about much more than just looks or vanity: </span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">My quality </span><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">and</span></em><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><b> quantity of life were in jeopardy if I continued down this path. </b></span></span></p><p><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">In January of this year, I was still 20 pounds from my goal weight and tried to back out of it, under the guise of helping with finances. "I dunno babe, we just put in a pool so maybe we should wait on my surgery" I told my husband. "Look, I don't think you need it at all, but if you want to get the surgery, now is the time because prices are only going to go up. It's already gone up from last year." Shoot, I thought: It's now or never. And then once we put down the deposit and secured a date, I really didn't have a choice.</span></span></p><p><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">I am 3 months post-op now and happy to say that I have finally, FINALLY found the secret to losing weight and keeping it off! </span><strong style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">The secret is: there is no secret.</strong><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"> Much like my husband (who passed nutrition 101 with a D) told me years ago: It doesn't matter <i>what</i> or <i>when</i> you eat; it just comes down to the basic equation of calories in vs. calories out. Nutrition can get complicated with keto, low-carb, whole-30, macro/micronutrients, etc., etc. but it's all about creating a calorie deficit (a 500-calorie deficit per day = about 1 pound weight loss per week) and picking something that you can stick to and live with. We tend to overestimate the calories we burn during exercise and underestimate what we consume. Remember, how we look is 80% of what we are eating and only 20% the result of exercise. It feels like it should be the other way around. Yet you do not even burn enough calories running a marathon even to lose one pound. Let that one sink in. I still remember the day I learned this, and how disappointed I was. </span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">Even while in weight-loss mode, I still had cheat days, as I do now. But the difference is that if I have a cheat day or even a cheat weekend, I get back to my healthy habits instead of using it as an excuse to start that snowball rolling down the hill. And when I'm on my game, I enjoy the indulgences much more than when I've gone entirely off the wagon, starting my day with a 500-calorie muffin, washed down with a 500-calorie coffee. When I can eat poorly all of the time, it is no longer a treat, and far less enjoyable.</span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">I have one more month until I can do any abdominal-specific exercises, but have been able to start back with weight-training. I'm currently working on gaining muscle and going to the gym 2-3 days per week (a lot of squats and lunges) and also doing some 10-minute workouts at home some mornings (arms, glutes). I still hate running, so I do it on my lunch break, as many days as possible. If I waited until I got home to run or tried to get up early, it just wouldn't happen. Most days, I do not eat until 1 pm, and I try to stop eating around 5 or 6, most days. I walk or hike with the kids and use my swim jet when I can. I try to stick to more whole foods and less processed, when possible, but no foods are off-limits for me. I can still be caught having some of the kids' Kraft mac-n-cheese, unless it's during my fasting window. When I slip up and over-eat and have a cupcake at 9 pm, I move on and start over the next day instead of using it as an excuse and evidence that I can't stick to it. The more success I have, the better I feel, and the more determined I become to stick to it. Success breeds success. I love to eat more than your average person, trust me, and if I can do this, anyone can. I seriously never thought I would wear a bikini again at my age and enjoy it. I feel more confident than I did at 20. </span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij6vJ7U7MuyQe-nQtONQcM_Jh8-ByO4SKufGCwyngROsj2BwNwnL6Xs0xG9ggRTz_hxx4wJgt1sifpw2VfDGL0gwviJiQJT3KVdTw9M2yT5PdO8H_a9kGB5whL1upeLZ1ZsqkxBUiffXcadkts2X4z_gxfw53DukZCX2xVBSNYzVhf3or4IuBqhvVp/s4032/unnamed%20(12).jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij6vJ7U7MuyQe-nQtONQcM_Jh8-ByO4SKufGCwyngROsj2BwNwnL6Xs0xG9ggRTz_hxx4wJgt1sifpw2VfDGL0gwviJiQJT3KVdTw9M2yT5PdO8H_a9kGB5whL1upeLZ1ZsqkxBUiffXcadkts2X4z_gxfw53DukZCX2xVBSNYzVhf3or4IuBqhvVp/w400-h300/unnamed%20(12).jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Not having to use my child as a shield to block my body for a picture: Priceless! </td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">The surgery was a key component, but only a reward after I did the work of tempering my eating and losing weight on my own. Just like we must temper our thoughts, actions, and words in order to have spiritual fitness, when we find self-control and discipline in terms of what we eat, it brings us </span><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">more</em><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"> freedom, not less. </span><a class="editor-rtfLink" href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/713032057716800226/8485575984797231415#" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #4a6ee0; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;" target="_blank"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">Reshaping it All</span></a><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">, which I highly recommend, gave me a biblical perspective on appetite and self-control. <b>Having both spiritual and physical fitness under control brings a new level of freedom.</b> I feel so much freer, happier, and more light-hearted. And nothing compares to the feeling of being able to walk into my closet and pick out anything I want. I have not experienced that in at least a decade. When I feel good, I am not the only one who benefits from this...everyone around me benefits, especially my husband and kids. </span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">Someone told me "Wow - you're really happy with your tummy tuck!" And yes, I definitely am; if you follow me on social media, there's no hiding that fact. <b>I would do it again tomorrow, at twice the cost.</b> But I'm more proud of the work I had to do to even be in a position to have the surgery. I'm unsure if I would have been able to lose it without the deadline and commitment of the surgery looming. And, let's face it: If I wasn't sure that I would be able to do it, I might not have. Because as I tell my kids at least once a week, "Whether you think you can, or you think you can't, you're right." ~Henry Ford. </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='435' height='362' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwj3ONAYJIq6g10a-FquAi0r47sChCi8rqFzGyQHT3HjihaoWPFQNwE84nS9oiln7uY3NAH2GKrSAxwxv3uwg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br /><br /><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><br /></div><p></p>Megan Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18287505547652721159noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-713032057716800226.post-63454589932957134112022-09-20T12:28:00.005-07:002022-09-21T14:06:58.202-07:00August, 2022<div class="separator"><br /></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjo8ijuMLlDD4JpVe2qP8Z7gDY3MPPzfNKTrtXu2LMsDxhfIVZfjph-r3ealbyLkU1ZnaPyZsYCFLW7_ARuVu8wdn0VOQrbdunIaCuclQJLaM__X4XjH-RxVwPBcWrD4fIhPiGKda2Wg05m72ugKdRAuXxO64jTMICUV-RGDHdqakCZlUkig_NaCr-/s2048/296912767_10228581759034153_1313689491654428349_n.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjo8ijuMLlDD4JpVe2qP8Z7gDY3MPPzfNKTrtXu2LMsDxhfIVZfjph-r3ealbyLkU1ZnaPyZsYCFLW7_ARuVu8wdn0VOQrbdunIaCuclQJLaM__X4XjH-RxVwPBcWrD4fIhPiGKda2Wg05m72ugKdRAuXxO64jTMICUV-RGDHdqakCZlUkig_NaCr-/s320/296912767_10228581759034153_1313689491654428349_n.jpg" width="240" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdzOjVmYT6ZJ1SHhSm21AL6X1PjTM6Jkq1BQwKVd01Hv8r0YisDYZQZvo0kXYun5R5BSv1OXyAWYf0UcrPBFqdnhtvqrGSjpbTDMZP6L4WO1TEvc49-oW2k0HASB9wciFbAQqdAkKtKCSBMLjLqyOebbUk1mPGPP46Z_cAO3LNXdkvmQ0iEmVUsotq/s2048/296052693_10228583035346060_6570477592870612935_n.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>Our beautiful, brave girl finally earned having her ears pierced! She worked during summer with a little learning each day (reading + workbook + journal) as well as extra chores each day (well, <i>most </i>days) and was able to have them pierced. We were up in Oregon still, and her cousins extended their stay a bit so the timing was perfect. She was able to have the support of her cousin MC who already had her ears done earlier in the year.<p></p>On the 3rd, we celebrated Big Man's 4th birthday out on one of the docks, as we had in previous years. He continues to be such a charming, obedient little man, with such an amazing, and developing, sense of humor. He will often do something new, like make a funny face and then ask "Is that funny, Mom?" and has recently started feigning falling over dead with shock or surprise, legs and arms up in the air like a bug. He is also very loving and sweet. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7nn4xzy32WHPVJ2uxY39HTNPx-yR1nv0MWMkpOxA6PxsoInKewx2baSYEZ2RedXXUux7ZCWwNfhaYP_HuF0v7iXTjZAa-3uD3_6SdKGUq0DTZlKPyDpxMMX_wls7pBLRUFJropRsbJuk7LJvPXUzcTjUYp8H9xWGLi9WUQ_KcHS7ailKyXycipe1X/s2048/296479961_10228592178694638_7318455268373051686_n.jpg" 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/AVvXsEj7nn4xzy32WHPVJ2uxY39HTNPx-yR1nv0MWMkpOxA6PxsoInKewx2baSYEZ2RedXXUux7ZCWwNfhaYP_HuF0v7iXTjZAa-3uD3_6SdKGUq0DTZlKPyDpxMMX_wls7pBLRUFJropRsbJuk7LJvPXUzcTjUYp8H9xWGLi9WUQ_KcHS7ailKyXycipe1X/w640-h480/296479961_10228592178694638_7318455268373051686_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p>I was still recuperating from my surgery while we were in Oregon. It was one of the only times that I have been there and not been able to go on any runs.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZUHOvx9Nvti4j9OUcBOl6pYfwfJp4QCdFJQVFvuIbvt2EpCUMrqxIDNU3yzVeFcI6XxUDQla_MK2tlT42GFUBoV-DMjFP-qUQW7TtL8ka9Dksg938LNHTHPPrWihwSqmjoDosE--U1mZ-AFM31gwtckZEjKP6IA8x6h3J7ERrpSfviX_0g2fJJ1ct/s2048/297217241_10228592179294653_1784725401849500335_n.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZUHOvx9Nvti4j9OUcBOl6pYfwfJp4QCdFJQVFvuIbvt2EpCUMrqxIDNU3yzVeFcI6XxUDQla_MK2tlT42GFUBoV-DMjFP-qUQW7TtL8ka9Dksg938LNHTHPPrWihwSqmjoDosE--U1mZ-AFM31gwtckZEjKP6IA8x6h3J7ERrpSfviX_0g2fJJ1ct/w480-h640/297217241_10228592179294653_1784725401849500335_n.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUzqCM27JrnLD1qutN6a0z7Z8nhibZUucKoUwFypB6ki2eK09mSrvD_aMS6jopaZATjl9nVhFBVY58rbkt3DM8YQHgKBkYrpFvnYFO5URKkTiLMO0UbA59BB7AxvcU3CrS-Wz6e-4lYhVn8NWKZd7aoUCyf1extWSbrTrDMh6AfK8cgncBdymZ9f9b/s2048/297325093_10228580177874625_4312602328489872566_n%20(1).jpg" 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/AVvXsEiUzqCM27JrnLD1qutN6a0z7Z8nhibZUucKoUwFypB6ki2eK09mSrvD_aMS6jopaZATjl9nVhFBVY58rbkt3DM8YQHgKBkYrpFvnYFO5URKkTiLMO0UbA59BB7AxvcU3CrS-Wz6e-4lYhVn8NWKZd7aoUCyf1extWSbrTrDMh6AfK8cgncBdymZ9f9b/w480-h640/297325093_10228580177874625_4312602328489872566_n%20(1).jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEud7D0Cj1MS_xXz_OP5q29S_WzDW-ae0wkCmBEVI7y9jKakLg7xMRVsLkeg3V3PKy0xTaSUMIRPdrvldDwzO0Edq4eOTdIbod8LWSfdlssKzRA1GWsLusXrprRGkW42-TNw9jqK_wCtfTiwljAbTVf5wwgSm0OdsZrVxUAVJ9lVngpnVtVepe5jRN/s1800/296339064_10228585467126853_8040140486512709206_n.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><br /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj68YeWQG_3oq2k8QP9O0wAZ2JRvbFEXAh15I2KBY7asVSJcv7R3-yEzuUpooQcbSAx-1OyJA7beAAEjOZXT0P-_w4d2jNKW54OAXZVuJdy7N5Y4BWjCw85mlHl7VcYu0mvvXexCLZVY41a4iyDbsONEoPNX4F1IDip0yGkokwlXeAtAxBkJdlzAMLO/s2048/297014592_10228594917163098_7961828931701422391_n.jpg"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj68YeWQG_3oq2k8QP9O0wAZ2JRvbFEXAh15I2KBY7asVSJcv7R3-yEzuUpooQcbSAx-1OyJA7beAAEjOZXT0P-_w4d2jNKW54OAXZVuJdy7N5Y4BWjCw85mlHl7VcYu0mvvXexCLZVY41a4iyDbsONEoPNX4F1IDip0yGkokwlXeAtAxBkJdlzAMLO/w400-h300/297014592_10228594917163098_7961828931701422391_n.jpg" width="400" /></a><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="1440" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEud7D0Cj1MS_xXz_OP5q29S_WzDW-ae0wkCmBEVI7y9jKakLg7xMRVsLkeg3V3PKy0xTaSUMIRPdrvldDwzO0Edq4eOTdIbod8LWSfdlssKzRA1GWsLusXrprRGkW42-TNw9jqK_wCtfTiwljAbTVf5wwgSm0OdsZrVxUAVJ9lVngpnVtVepe5jRN/w256-h320/296339064_10228585467126853_8040140486512709206_n.jpg" width="256" /></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>When we returned to California around the middle of the month, we worked in a day at the OC Fair. I was dreading the heat, crowds and expense but we had the best time. We went in the latter part of the afternoon and had the best time. <div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiatHIakL2ImbPaM-AOC45-TYpTC24k0uy-nNTLHhqp_DzmxV2lcpNBCpagZfky1zitpgk6OgTLTAFyCOvyuTEDNfglX4893_va-c1OA8jdFA1SBL8let8gVjYuxAh20HETWROIgPw6m9xh4Ds32ONMvoP9ctVY7a6B_jCZpkcxbJIbnAL3iZUCw0kY/s2048/298594165_10228628273236979_6852807388103061173_n.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1638" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiatHIakL2ImbPaM-AOC45-TYpTC24k0uy-nNTLHhqp_DzmxV2lcpNBCpagZfky1zitpgk6OgTLTAFyCOvyuTEDNfglX4893_va-c1OA8jdFA1SBL8let8gVjYuxAh20HETWROIgPw6m9xh4Ds32ONMvoP9ctVY7a6B_jCZpkcxbJIbnAL3iZUCw0kY/w320-h400/298594165_10228628273236979_6852807388103061173_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>We tried our best to squeeze out the last drops of summer before we returned to school and work by working in a few Disney trips, a beach day with friends and lots of pool nights.<div> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaFmirHIVWPDTeBVhFqV558uu0MHRG1SCvVrI_AC20gGfVYmwKS4rhvRSLIeLqFfiozjt7-a6x_WsyQnwChQ4f6X9Le2EJlPCzMO4FB2LsJD5XRiP-_6BfMPg-e14B84T5jtCY0m-l_w1loLndGlgoAJ4-VIsOTB2QdO7ejZMNKLnYelvkvCJ7drvo/s2048/299600802_10228636691487430_2894668486727381988_n%20(1).jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1328" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaFmirHIVWPDTeBVhFqV558uu0MHRG1SCvVrI_AC20gGfVYmwKS4rhvRSLIeLqFfiozjt7-a6x_WsyQnwChQ4f6X9Le2EJlPCzMO4FB2LsJD5XRiP-_6BfMPg-e14B84T5jtCY0m-l_w1loLndGlgoAJ4-VIsOTB2QdO7ejZMNKLnYelvkvCJ7drvo/w260-h400/299600802_10228636691487430_2894668486727381988_n%20(1).jpg" width="260" /></a> <br /><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/AVvXsEguqun-HOhyPGV64L-tqr1txPMnBdGu3Lx1IbEpg5Z-bawKvYcvWsjBm-1Y_9ksjckMzJjOqReYa36VtbugW9qmO4G5rWGZ6x9d3sS98766XpQtrsfUdBEg3sRY5dh8jWyJGPFDyBNjfgh3ktz0B9Nz6DbRsqePmZ7Lcbg68YNhV1s49Zkug3wXUzAp/s2048/298732448_10228650043741228_6542873142382739575_n.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguqun-HOhyPGV64L-tqr1txPMnBdGu3Lx1IbEpg5Z-bawKvYcvWsjBm-1Y_9ksjckMzJjOqReYa36VtbugW9qmO4G5rWGZ6x9d3sS98766XpQtrsfUdBEg3sRY5dh8jWyJGPFDyBNjfgh3ktz0B9Nz6DbRsqePmZ7Lcbg68YNhV1s49Zkug3wXUzAp/s320/298732448_10228650043741228_6542873142382739575_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpEnu5-rvRfK6OQMPxCb1GLFQHvuDvpu6h68A0v3a67xYWXgRpIHfR49oWSKF2b2ZAi_flk5FQ_EPfw8vInIppxWlwiTTgKvlZEHg8UaJQQTGG_fTKLbjMRQBPMcFCMBXtqmyidINot9LAdQAbkIMc4G_3mbrS6N3wnpM4eEWqEUjzkQWVok5mnEnw/s2048/298957063_10228650044101237_5936754033850716337_n%20(1).jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1454" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpEnu5-rvRfK6OQMPxCb1GLFQHvuDvpu6h68A0v3a67xYWXgRpIHfR49oWSKF2b2ZAi_flk5FQ_EPfw8vInIppxWlwiTTgKvlZEHg8UaJQQTGG_fTKLbjMRQBPMcFCMBXtqmyidINot9LAdQAbkIMc4G_3mbrS6N3wnpM4eEWqEUjzkQWVok5mnEnw/s320/298957063_10228650044101237_5936754033850716337_n%20(1).jpg" width="227" /></a></div><div>The month concluded with a Blippi party for Cha. We hosted this a little later in the month so that he could invite his class. Blippi came and entertained the smaller kids for 2 hours, and was a good sport about being harassed by the older kids who could be heard giggling and stomping upstairs. After the party, a few of our friends stayed after to swim. It was a great way to end our summer, as we started to gear up for the new school year!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-eeLxuq7GK_R_IGBpwpzHp23OmOQGRxddxLIxAgxUPwr9JQw1A6DAVDq5X5Kky_7uJuXjsjZWz6cb2mad5t-z0KVyUz5cUd26Nlzpvi_rPRFucwmq8JYAwWKm2PPSgH3Lfwk0bvQ9mfYg8NEt2Y8Eve8Wsd0SlxBHWdfkoaYe3DuC696RT6idELSV/s3155/302433319_10228704844231206_4651819124601957064_n%20(1).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1329" data-original-width="3155" height="270" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-eeLxuq7GK_R_IGBpwpzHp23OmOQGRxddxLIxAgxUPwr9JQw1A6DAVDq5X5Kky_7uJuXjsjZWz6cb2mad5t-z0KVyUz5cUd26Nlzpvi_rPRFucwmq8JYAwWKm2PPSgH3Lfwk0bvQ9mfYg8NEt2Y8Eve8Wsd0SlxBHWdfkoaYe3DuC696RT6idELSV/w640-h270/302433319_10228704844231206_4651819124601957064_n%20(1).jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhMOIHco72Moes425qgCumbLs_pND4V-TbU9g7emkn9Frpe-IoA5TojXhs5NzodDWX9dMb1O5BLDxcZJP3WrynlNnuf9Q0EL4qFfkeiVJJsomN0p_r87drB2AE6SMMXkX8GACwsyLIkrWnufXPCCZMVy9i9yuDddKg_eaNfP6FsgIHA6YMBeYrm5ww/s2048/302343093_10228704846711268_4737554794195253267_n%20(1).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/AVvXsEjhMOIHco72Moes425qgCumbLs_pND4V-TbU9g7emkn9Frpe-IoA5TojXhs5NzodDWX9dMb1O5BLDxcZJP3WrynlNnuf9Q0EL4qFfkeiVJJsomN0p_r87drB2AE6SMMXkX8GACwsyLIkrWnufXPCCZMVy9i9yuDddKg_eaNfP6FsgIHA6YMBeYrm5ww/w640-h426/302343093_10228704846711268_4737554794195253267_n%20(1).jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVOxonWBW2oeVQVrF2RJznETDYgQa6Tw1XZA4OptwDjpUKvz6cotmaUOjItDAU164Q3AdH3OMVE7-4XDMXdPTSDkv8EU_nvieg7G4lTtVQnD24PN4DxprZCYnMhLpAqJqvnWW2NEdVg6O5XkQjndBcAEqqVDuJLdb_bjQvfF9dd_8ylUGDBAIBFVgv/s2048/302201021_10228704847591290_6104092340426142995_n%20(1).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/AVvXsEiVOxonWBW2oeVQVrF2RJznETDYgQa6Tw1XZA4OptwDjpUKvz6cotmaUOjItDAU164Q3AdH3OMVE7-4XDMXdPTSDkv8EU_nvieg7G4lTtVQnD24PN4DxprZCYnMhLpAqJqvnWW2NEdVg6O5XkQjndBcAEqqVDuJLdb_bjQvfF9dd_8ylUGDBAIBFVgv/w640-h426/302201021_10228704847591290_6104092340426142995_n%20(1).jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRGsZMxYy7madvUVzv9Argbm65QokZ1zEmhu5IR-120Bkc53KIheWuiYl5g7GyEmJkoqcTuedJAcYM2_jnA9UWp0n2wfE7YHKGlov-1LjytDQeBRivNoY6Uomkx5D4Mv7ZHS03HRlRov7QznZauAUuiGzLRwbOAJx3U4Cpkfp8c0HPqh8qZXQ0HY4S/s2048/296359731_10228589555509060_5178383545375250445_n%20(2).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1568" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRGsZMxYy7madvUVzv9Argbm65QokZ1zEmhu5IR-120Bkc53KIheWuiYl5g7GyEmJkoqcTuedJAcYM2_jnA9UWp0n2wfE7YHKGlov-1LjytDQeBRivNoY6Uomkx5D4Mv7ZHS03HRlRov7QznZauAUuiGzLRwbOAJx3U4Cpkfp8c0HPqh8qZXQ0HY4S/w490-h640/296359731_10228589555509060_5178383545375250445_n%20(2).jpg" width="490" /></a></div><br /></div></div>Megan Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18287505547652721159noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-713032057716800226.post-12274042733990128912022-09-13T15:11:00.000-07:002022-09-13T15:11:06.818-07:00July, 2022<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg7XD2-X4-bI_qwWyBtuDgDOI_vQxgnxXFdjAxjBmQtbc0FnnHw3BJNNnZtyBoEOefdb73IOkbkvuEWA2wrgbrrkTN2gijGhNaaX9xv8lbfiZacczGTuHZQC2WFzRdds7l71QvyYVC696JX-vBVPeV1pkgdqS4x6LK9N3P32_jtw-b31dkhXQ0StKQ/s960/291913833_10228432443701363_8616777010221003945_n%20(1).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="694" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg7XD2-X4-bI_qwWyBtuDgDOI_vQxgnxXFdjAxjBmQtbc0FnnHw3BJNNnZtyBoEOefdb73IOkbkvuEWA2wrgbrrkTN2gijGhNaaX9xv8lbfiZacczGTuHZQC2WFzRdds7l71QvyYVC696JX-vBVPeV1pkgdqS4x6LK9N3P32_jtw-b31dkhXQ0StKQ/w289-h400/291913833_10228432443701363_8616777010221003945_n%20(1).jpg" width="289" /></a></div>July started with our July 3rd tradition of watching the fireworks from El Modina High School while having a late dinner at the Orange Mining Company. Then, it was finally time for my surgery before flying to Oregon at the end of the month. Because I was recuperating from the 7th onward, this blog is especially lacking my usual content. More accurately, <i>any</i> content. But a picture is worth a thousand words, right?<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs4gxMHHmbUZfgjwHcnywRX4luQDURoOkfHJEN7jFlbQ0zevPyeOs7z-2pvL0u2qSnMNZg2-SDDxqv7a32PCWfC7VK12ss9uYqXA5WzhgMGqb2awNnWySKzVez1DvsLgGdv4NlmmkT8IIvWhJOnYbvaVRobYxyv3udScou6Qnmn5ka89uAnirWe_1-/s1440/291701699_10228432298057722_8121226004850524274_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1440" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs4gxMHHmbUZfgjwHcnywRX4luQDURoOkfHJEN7jFlbQ0zevPyeOs7z-2pvL0u2qSnMNZg2-SDDxqv7a32PCWfC7VK12ss9uYqXA5WzhgMGqb2awNnWySKzVez1DvsLgGdv4NlmmkT8IIvWhJOnYbvaVRobYxyv3udScou6Qnmn5ka89uAnirWe_1-/s320/291701699_10228432298057722_8121226004850524274_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ9fwAYGtugj5UDocMxrtcKIWYEi5fDu96N0mDw1ZzI7pciuyVVUGULzMXUd21HOehsawE5cAfUvhKUYz1udvDin1KhxJVQO-7Qu8-8U77FJQzq1hVv89JGDFLP8_uYkkJtk3cIi7uIOYTg4bYu3DlTzqKgTtqNj_a7RBhr_SAURkMAY_wIfzTgOrz/s2048/291687519_10228437841636308_7687857647125070487_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ9fwAYGtugj5UDocMxrtcKIWYEi5fDu96N0mDw1ZzI7pciuyVVUGULzMXUd21HOehsawE5cAfUvhKUYz1udvDin1KhxJVQO-7Qu8-8U77FJQzq1hVv89JGDFLP8_uYkkJtk3cIi7uIOYTg4bYu3DlTzqKgTtqNj_a7RBhr_SAURkMAY_wIfzTgOrz/s320/291687519_10228437841636308_7687857647125070487_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWFHCQcBcZcjwbaUZtF5QgmcJVtwnB7rBRhq39_tbcsQ5WqWa-p8LHLbm1StQ4jQngxvGnma2qfw38Wmti2OoLZOWos9CUQjTUdXgLmW91Ye70Xyw44sU-IZWPwhK1HrKXz5Q8ItofV0D6Fwtv09S1-TxYLp8cC3u2iTYPqzdG_U0ztY5HfePN3Qkf/s1440/291467577_10228432297977720_9032809777485081770_n%20(1).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1440" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWFHCQcBcZcjwbaUZtF5QgmcJVtwnB7rBRhq39_tbcsQ5WqWa-p8LHLbm1StQ4jQngxvGnma2qfw38Wmti2OoLZOWos9CUQjTUdXgLmW91Ye70Xyw44sU-IZWPwhK1HrKXz5Q8ItofV0D6Fwtv09S1-TxYLp8cC3u2iTYPqzdG_U0ztY5HfePN3Qkf/s320/291467577_10228432297977720_9032809777485081770_n%20(1).jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz2yIPHfptz604XmnDkia46sIqKg7QnGmp_CEhQz0ofsRCr3-h75bNWXnNfpVDOjin6ATyqkG4T1m84UUTe3_e_uLi9oPEtExGSvq9sc9uebKNFFXFhfr2FVzoJ3d5tmHT0efIG4hTceP8V6NTeRUSpzEz6VQlsfbB2mHasGoSS6QZ7Lj-MbGI5QRY/s2048/297288059_10228578297587619_2762161294455938630_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1604" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz2yIPHfptz604XmnDkia46sIqKg7QnGmp_CEhQz0ofsRCr3-h75bNWXnNfpVDOjin6ATyqkG4T1m84UUTe3_e_uLi9oPEtExGSvq9sc9uebKNFFXFhfr2FVzoJ3d5tmHT0efIG4hTceP8V6NTeRUSpzEz6VQlsfbB2mHasGoSS6QZ7Lj-MbGI5QRY/s320/297288059_10228578297587619_2762161294455938630_n.jpg" width="251" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVdGuhiHonAiZqms7ACeUrAVfcBPcRAGniktU25W7Yy2ASvAipPpv2RcGtVL2U2ijIUW1s2wufIX-ZxRU6oK0XGxCO_dBAfpB7S04ZahlLlc4joRsO8hT1ASIJGD8dOF7bWvulJ0_jK-wfrQJxCrjHW9TzSGIaX9s0OiD19OCbMJDiL0MbG208t2_2/s1440/296730764_10228573373864529_4733332998694033322_n%20(1).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1440" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVdGuhiHonAiZqms7ACeUrAVfcBPcRAGniktU25W7Yy2ASvAipPpv2RcGtVL2U2ijIUW1s2wufIX-ZxRU6oK0XGxCO_dBAfpB7S04ZahlLlc4joRsO8hT1ASIJGD8dOF7bWvulJ0_jK-wfrQJxCrjHW9TzSGIaX9s0OiD19OCbMJDiL0MbG208t2_2/s320/296730764_10228573373864529_4733332998694033322_n%20(1).jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg--E7r-TmJ7CHCKMb9sIz7RI9ym3gBu7GBy10CdHww9yvFrGBEN2Bb7W1A4fNyOTBLUhS3mV5QlY4ODOH68k1qh6HE5VWJF9kvy5GyeMMAOxweF5OT0_iYHOmKaH5IgfdDRs99wiT_ieVAiDqHum8ip20GsPNM7HV8LpH8dUD8n4dwCu2fb58NCvO6/s2048/296525533_10228576215415566_7985342342004990167_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg--E7r-TmJ7CHCKMb9sIz7RI9ym3gBu7GBy10CdHww9yvFrGBEN2Bb7W1A4fNyOTBLUhS3mV5QlY4ODOH68k1qh6HE5VWJF9kvy5GyeMMAOxweF5OT0_iYHOmKaH5IgfdDRs99wiT_ieVAiDqHum8ip20GsPNM7HV8LpH8dUD8n4dwCu2fb58NCvO6/s320/296525533_10228576215415566_7985342342004990167_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; 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text-align: center;"><br /></div>Megan Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18287505547652721159noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-713032057716800226.post-42099912223279482262022-08-16T15:04:00.002-07:002022-08-16T15:05:35.873-07:00June, 2022<p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL3ARpqrTEao07zzRZcyV1yyww_RLIIkcuMXN1_wJeHu3_Sk6TUQH0h7c6BvD9gUhYnmOfe4zOQJl3N2nRSOU5EySAWZCnBUDe4KTCOkRYn2OoFd6Cdp0WXbjp1hVV00qtUx2IEx0Q0aBWhAS5PS70Og7lpvG7Jj8zIit62jA5isgA2MutO4gsBT7P/s2048/june20227.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL3ARpqrTEao07zzRZcyV1yyww_RLIIkcuMXN1_wJeHu3_Sk6TUQH0h7c6BvD9gUhYnmOfe4zOQJl3N2nRSOU5EySAWZCnBUDe4KTCOkRYn2OoFd6Cdp0WXbjp1hVV00qtUx2IEx0Q0aBWhAS5PS70Og7lpvG7Jj8zIit62jA5isgA2MutO4gsBT7P/w480-h640/june20227.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Not pictured: SIX more</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRSnSxNaf7UVqmOTcUsMeZljKIexEFG3vOgXdWGHuFGyxqDfbQE-_XgvodOtgm7f4Ze0otoItsc4UXWn7RaHA35ZSYG254MMPHMRgXvPAJEtaAxEizW92OaxjtOzgA7HTBtcQ7XPuUsRh-ezi6soCyH-vcdMKXrJ7nrSxkNtjCe0iYtezcFOpImECc/s2048/june20221.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRSnSxNaf7UVqmOTcUsMeZljKIexEFG3vOgXdWGHuFGyxqDfbQE-_XgvodOtgm7f4Ze0otoItsc4UXWn7RaHA35ZSYG254MMPHMRgXvPAJEtaAxEizW92OaxjtOzgA7HTBtcQ7XPuUsRh-ezi6soCyH-vcdMKXrJ7nrSxkNtjCe0iYtezcFOpImECc/s2048/june20221.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1412" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRSnSxNaf7UVqmOTcUsMeZljKIexEFG3vOgXdWGHuFGyxqDfbQE-_XgvodOtgm7f4Ze0otoItsc4UXWn7RaHA35ZSYG254MMPHMRgXvPAJEtaAxEizW92OaxjtOzgA7HTBtcQ7XPuUsRh-ezi6soCyH-vcdMKXrJ7nrSxkNtjCe0iYtezcFOpImECc/w138-h200/june20221.jpg" width="138" /></a></div> <div>June brought the end of first grade and the beginning of summer. And finally, the completion of our pool. Although complete, we still had to wait for a few weeks after it was filled before jumping in together as a family (retrievers included!). Aut had end-of-year celebrations for Girl Scouts, Cha had a birthday party for his bestie, and we worked in quite a few Disney trips. We also found loving homes for all ten of our Golden Retrievers, primarily from word of mouth.<p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJqq9S68xmy-3BUULVWULoXyz76zmSxwEMhYVWZx7Un5x461av3NPOz__BfpOCioEApgjeFmcCR-iHBwdA9lBrSqsnmQUQUfRuQRgRDipfTYx_9n0Czf4Thl5E4DxGL-OOtWtHaiyjnBAg0obZQVn62Z2rTi0xkmT-CacZagaDt_CuyHNpMaP_V6LO/s2048/june20223.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJqq9S68xmy-3BUULVWULoXyz76zmSxwEMhYVWZx7Un5x461av3NPOz__BfpOCioEApgjeFmcCR-iHBwdA9lBrSqsnmQUQUfRuQRgRDipfTYx_9n0Czf4Thl5E4DxGL-OOtWtHaiyjnBAg0obZQVn62Z2rTi0xkmT-CacZagaDt_CuyHNpMaP_V6LO/s320/june20223.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Legendary" dinner at the Hobbit.</td></tr></tbody></table><p>I volunteered for VBS at Autumn's school, and her Aunt/Godmother paid for her to attend a Catholic one as well. We celebrated my birthday and my best friend's birthday with a now legendary dinner at the Hobbit.</p><p>Because we had ten puppies, we were not able to work in an international trip as planned, but enjoyed staying home and watching them swim.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnPZysSRCabH5nIMEsR7nLzRwc91fEdkKcRF4aAzuVv5W097pGBHgtZmXblgCwTI6E7xngulk98gruxLuh5n41ADHl6eXuj5A8VEqddc-He9gWumqJfPTPpCP2rntbm9dn6LmkdzknNjtQOdaOrQnDyCJNLyaVi3oxEx0xskSAywHSdGyEmjT3K8Er/s2048/june20224.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnPZysSRCabH5nIMEsR7nLzRwc91fEdkKcRF4aAzuVv5W097pGBHgtZmXblgCwTI6E7xngulk98gruxLuh5n41ADHl6eXuj5A8VEqddc-He9gWumqJfPTPpCP2rntbm9dn6LmkdzknNjtQOdaOrQnDyCJNLyaVi3oxEx0xskSAywHSdGyEmjT3K8Er/s320/june20224.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Girl Scouts end of year party</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWYnWl6BDeM64Y3olVc_bZSC7vjuXGMV72pTX3NDK7vWa4zvkUVMTV_7wkLTs4nQDajzvqUUH97V1dYJzldDYA58mwJRaXF2g7zQ3j7TNbbQSf76Vtj4vJwJij0teQrHUOjdQpeqo2Jef0tRATeNVD15IqiaLavhSup79BZzOilL9P95Oeqo21Yit5/s2048/june2022.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1702" data-original-width="2048" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWYnWl6BDeM64Y3olVc_bZSC7vjuXGMV72pTX3NDK7vWa4zvkUVMTV_7wkLTs4nQDajzvqUUH97V1dYJzldDYA58mwJRaXF2g7zQ3j7TNbbQSf76Vtj4vJwJij0teQrHUOjdQpeqo2Jef0tRATeNVD15IqiaLavhSup79BZzOilL9P95Oeqo21Yit5/s320/june2022.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Moms from the kids' school</td></tr></tbody></table><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK639KQ9jyljiypY6Gs1kHVF3KnUY4WHWq16sFMs-2GfbRy6fx-H0HHCCXiMjoBzqmbO3f5VSnTCBwL1AgfgPyc_Qh5Lr_D3u04j3SNqZC31k4VSwABWsYai4mkyXs27RFc7-AAgx78zKn6PHU_lulUWpZuKpVvTQyMhTAUQHYkN-O0A_d5g33TdCk/s2048/june20222.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK639KQ9jyljiypY6Gs1kHVF3KnUY4WHWq16sFMs-2GfbRy6fx-H0HHCCXiMjoBzqmbO3f5VSnTCBwL1AgfgPyc_Qh5Lr_D3u04j3SNqZC31k4VSwABWsYai4mkyXs27RFc7-AAgx78zKn6PHU_lulUWpZuKpVvTQyMhTAUQHYkN-O0A_d5g33TdCk/s320/june20222.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Disney days are the best days!</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2muQdiRRJF4ahUu2DBypCPw9mmyA2l9JnQp2kMKUZlQBGRUd0XAnZ2E52d8-fRVzb7gKa2gnmuLGZohYoYdAJnKRBI2n8awXxB5SQwF4bv5GeIKa4HKfeBlThh9jkPZrTU-a5sD_t5DCdWbzgLjOhxeUbQBMAP50R8V3rOM71KmkgeOkeHgh4AilN/s2048/june20225.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2muQdiRRJF4ahUu2DBypCPw9mmyA2l9JnQp2kMKUZlQBGRUd0XAnZ2E52d8-fRVzb7gKa2gnmuLGZohYoYdAJnKRBI2n8awXxB5SQwF4bv5GeIKa4HKfeBlThh9jkPZrTU-a5sD_t5DCdWbzgLjOhxeUbQBMAP50R8V3rOM71KmkgeOkeHgh4AilN/w480-h640/june20225.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">BFF!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiREjybJAxlP5gJXoNeo9qVLwXji8cS7UWTs2_GELEgSw_-JruYfV-gcKKlPBAFH1PiMj2d19k69r4tX72Ws_hab3jQzZARlHVcafPAhAQ6vk5R7rZuE0nYga54WXexlie-PYbnDiFS7-kjn1nB44byGhbIQBEn457IisfrOFI_LhzmmHQAu5z6zo8/s1440/june20226.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1440" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiREjybJAxlP5gJXoNeo9qVLwXji8cS7UWTs2_GELEgSw_-JruYfV-gcKKlPBAFH1PiMj2d19k69r4tX72Ws_hab3jQzZARlHVcafPAhAQ6vk5R7rZuE0nYga54WXexlie-PYbnDiFS7-kjn1nB44byGhbIQBEn457IisfrOFI_LhzmmHQAu5z6zo8/w400-h400/june20226.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Making slime!</td></tr></tbody></table>I'm really impressed that my hubby actually designed out pool to fit the space. The pool company that we chose first presented the typical, curvy pool that they have placed in hundreds of backyards. But it did not fit our space, so my hubby drew up come other plans. The six foot fireplace, extra large hot tub and the Baja shelves and swim-up barstools were all his idea. While it was initially hard for me to conceptualize, it could not be more perfect. He even had them install a Badu swim jet (alone over 10K) just for me. The only thing we are waiting to get installed are the fire/water bowls along the back wall. And of course, landscaping. But the kids were in there every day since allowed to swim!<br /><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/AVvXsEg-5geJaw_DyUwn7NnA70T3Y_KD5IexFBiKFqgW2_Ye7P5PWdB6rFrbV9Klu_TvGp2XaeGmmpqGh1LCT4jtlMjzSK9uIwlydvA4VRqoGZFQQSuc74IJIVK4nYD0OrvB_Ya2DrHSGfpjabYobDiRJ2njUJZHfiVP3WgKncrjB4j3l2wugGVFhshmUmyP/s2048/pool2.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHUiOCVUZVJTWsMX2SUFcpOv3bUQk77x0mNK0Ksqya-fiuz-zsjPVJ-mbZpUl6h0gkHQlsbgd6G1TyLiNz0Yxpc2L7iS0KFcCtapmmYPZBpU1q0JUu7Ha0ElYO0nydTT1ydHI7tBrVDONPC5WCQA7ke15TkuL_mXYxwdfyzTrA6PVmwOGa3F-t7uZN/s2048/pool.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1746" data-original-width="2048" height="273" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHUiOCVUZVJTWsMX2SUFcpOv3bUQk77x0mNK0Ksqya-fiuz-zsjPVJ-mbZpUl6h0gkHQlsbgd6G1TyLiNz0Yxpc2L7iS0KFcCtapmmYPZBpU1q0JUu7Ha0ElYO0nydTT1ydHI7tBrVDONPC5WCQA7ke15TkuL_mXYxwdfyzTrA6PVmwOGa3F-t7uZN/s320/pool.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL9pcYAHnOGPsf6Voqhrk27cchWE9z4zD35h02mHoKQ2vmBUbaigTo4krwTEX_BJlEjJn9_duMDKduDloz1Mx1_J67mGFHLcBegxdR4kMJdr6iBpWk-h3iu5nnsqgF34H-Pj4qDUIKpOmoHZQXOYjVTidB1EgHN8y4FnOpmbRMNtbfOaJRn32ZsAnG/s1920/pool3.jpg" 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/AVvXsEjL9pcYAHnOGPsf6Voqhrk27cchWE9z4zD35h02mHoKQ2vmBUbaigTo4krwTEX_BJlEjJn9_duMDKduDloz1Mx1_J67mGFHLcBegxdR4kMJdr6iBpWk-h3iu5nnsqgF34H-Pj4qDUIKpOmoHZQXOYjVTidB1EgHN8y4FnOpmbRMNtbfOaJRn32ZsAnG/w640-h360/pool3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNXo6OktO2VD71xGk2iLLO3VYGEawCt2sj1GsSJkuD7G6scfriNlPRQ7WyeMKGmlHPsaE0yNAv73qJh1myidhSu1oiUCFa2fcKSBKsPdBvrB_jXJXlTW8-amEkP_xa-kk-ycEaFem3oHN9QO4VH0uTLgsWFHAqe1oXE4JFfAJGnlJDt-wftTXGHqXo/s1800/MSwanek_Summer2022.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1198" data-original-width="1800" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNXo6OktO2VD71xGk2iLLO3VYGEawCt2sj1GsSJkuD7G6scfriNlPRQ7WyeMKGmlHPsaE0yNAv73qJh1myidhSu1oiUCFa2fcKSBKsPdBvrB_jXJXlTW8-amEkP_xa-kk-ycEaFem3oHN9QO4VH0uTLgsWFHAqe1oXE4JFfAJGnlJDt-wftTXGHqXo/w640-h426/MSwanek_Summer2022.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p>June can't pass by without mentioning that the 28th was my Mom's birthday, and she would have turned 71. When I mentioned that it was her birthday to Aut, she said "Oh Mommy, we need to have a tea party!" and she was excited. I love it that she has formed that connection. And I found a new (to me) song that I listen to when I'm missing her the most. It came out the year before she died. </p></div><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/0n67dSG35L4" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>Megan Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18287505547652721159noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-713032057716800226.post-64526733450375906762022-07-03T18:55:00.005-07:002022-07-05T09:41:57.611-07:00Tummy Tuck Time!<p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">A tummy tuck (also known as an abdominoplasty) is a cosmetic procedure that reshapes and flattens the abdominal area by removing excess fat and skin, as well as tightening the muscles in the abdominal region, the goal being a tighter and firmer abdomen. But it does a lot more than help women feel comfortable in a bikini again after having babies. This major surgery is considered more invasive than a c-section with a longer and more difficult recovery for one main reason: the muscles. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">I have a condition common post-pregnancy called <a href="https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/pregnancy-week-by-week/expert-answers/diastasis-recti/faq-20057825" target="_blank">Diastasis recti</a>, where the two bands of muscles that come together in the middle of the abdomen are separated by the growing uterus. And when this happens, there are no exercises in the world that can help. The only solution is surgical repair. Not repairing the abdominal muscles can lead to back problems down the line. While some people feel that I should roll the dice and only have surgery <i>once</i> I have back problems, I don't want to<i> ever </i>have back problems if it can be avoided and also don't want to have major surgery when I'm any older.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Although there are muscles being repaired, abdominoplasty is never covered by insurance, and only done by cosmetic surgeons. And, let's be honest, if no muscle repair was needed, I would still want the procedure because I was huge with Cha! So large that when I sent my before picture to a friend, she thought I had altered it and responded with "You never looked like that!" But I did...and here's my proof:</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCaGMwJ4dfklCjVTJNfHfIQfY1qS3FVvPXcyf-JmkvQBAw5bZ5jVxZ_JSykwPmhcQ9jsp-H3i3yEFTLDC19Z2UBxl-aqMwu765Qocw2_8lh-L496FvYx8rax8toDCar6RD9bveyK6zoNF_nUY4lE3oUR7xURXhfm9LTL9lQxvqJ2MuwZAa8zYqpRnz/s1800/290733744_10228422563934375_9160442525218660138_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="1800" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCaGMwJ4dfklCjVTJNfHfIQfY1qS3FVvPXcyf-JmkvQBAw5bZ5jVxZ_JSykwPmhcQ9jsp-H3i3yEFTLDC19Z2UBxl-aqMwu765Qocw2_8lh-L496FvYx8rax8toDCar6RD9bveyK6zoNF_nUY4lE3oUR7xURXhfm9LTL9lQxvqJ2MuwZAa8zYqpRnz/w640-h640/290733744_10228422563934375_9160442525218660138_n.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">While I worked hard to loose the majority of it, I still found myself larger than I wanted to be, and larger than I felt comfortable weighing. My BMI was still too high, and last summer, a plastic surgeon that we had a consultation with told me that I had too much visceral fat. He was brutally honest, and even though it wasn't what I wanted to hear, it needed to be said. He told me that a tummy tuck could not help with fat around my organs, which is the worst type of fat to have, medically speaking, and that it would work against the procedure. Another surgeon explained that I needed to get down to my goal weight before having a tummy tuck. Its okay to gain some weight after the surgery...but you do not want to loose.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">I was pretty frustrated because I had been running more than ever; three miles almost every single day from March 13, 2020 until the picture below, on the left, taken in April of 2021.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicv8gM_NDHnmjF7qFvUH79P_jz95jKUs_e1pB49Q_O5G1mWOCc8xAi_vbjBGFTSgQL1jzZoqXTLiIic6k-ADCv1yp95lFhjvo_iehDKO7dQMQQTb6at-20t5MUl8_xy7SKbARiCCj6Wx72elvChcFKup2CqitTfmHaJ0czhFdYXhh6X00zOuKickNC/s1800/291145933_10228422564334385_2091588319778730641_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="1800" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicv8gM_NDHnmjF7qFvUH79P_jz95jKUs_e1pB49Q_O5G1mWOCc8xAi_vbjBGFTSgQL1jzZoqXTLiIic6k-ADCv1yp95lFhjvo_iehDKO7dQMQQTb6at-20t5MUl8_xy7SKbARiCCj6Wx72elvChcFKup2CqitTfmHaJ0czhFdYXhh6X00zOuKickNC/w640-h640/291145933_10228422564334385_2091588319778730641_n.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">So I decided to work smarter, not harder. Knowing that weight is only abut 20% how much we exercise and 80% what we eat, I backed off on my running, added in weight-training two days a week, and upped my intermittent fasting, which had been key to all my progress up until this point. I remember taking the photo on the left, and being worried that there never would be an "after" to compare it to.</span><p></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">For several months, I did nothing. And a few months after that...nothing. But then we put down the deposit on my surgery, picked the date and it was time for the rubber to meet the road. I was out of excuses and ways to justify how I looked and felt. <i>Ohh...it's tougher to loose when you're older</i> was countered with the knowledge that our metabolism only slows 3% a decade. Or <i>well, I'm a Mom now</i> was quickly countered with yes, I am and for that reason and more I want to be around as long as I can, and be healthy; feel healthy! Being in shape does not just add to the quantity of our life, but to the quality as well. I have more energy and am in a better mood when I'm on my game.</span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Also super helpful to me in shifting my mindset was Candace Cameron Bure's book, <a href="https://www.christianbook.com/reshaping-motivation-physical-and-spiritual-fitness/candace-bure/9781433669736/pd/669736#CBD-PD-Description" target="_blank">Reshaping It All</a>. This book helped me view self-control as being more in line with Biblical teachings than gluttony and self-indulgency. </span></p><p></p><blockquote><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif;">In </span><i style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif;">Reshaping It All, </i><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif;">she continues the story, inspiring women to embrace a healthier lifestyle by moving faith to the forefront, making wise choices, and finding their worth in the eyes of God. Candace shares a candid account of her struggle with food and ultimately her healthy outlook on weight despite the toothpick-thin expectations of Hollywood.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif;">More than a testimony, here is a motivational tool that will put readers on the right track and keep them there. In addition to practical advice, Candace offers a biblical perspective on appetite and self control that provides encouragement to women, guiding them toward freedom.</span></span></blockquote><p></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Look, I love food more than most people. And being a distance runner, I have gotten away with being able to have more than my fair share. In fact, I famously ate more than my husband who is 6'4" (and full of muscles) on our first date because I was training for an ultra marathon. I mean, I actually went back for thirds, which did concern him a little! But the problem is that a mile still only ever burns 100 calories, and when I'm not logging the miles, it can be too easy to get used to eating more.</span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">As a runner, I felt like I was brainwashed into thinking I had to eat frequently, at least every three hours. But when you're eating that often, there are too many opportunities to slip up. For me, it is much easier to make one decision: to not eat for a period of time, rather than trying to make 15 healthy, good choices each day! I mean, I work in a school where there are always unexpected pastries materializing out of thin air. When I'm fasting, I feel like I have a magic shield activated and I am able to say no. I have even driven the kids through the in-n-out drive through and not had one bite, not even their leftovers. No matter what your weaknesses and pitfalls are, there are ways around them. It just took me a few decades to find mine. I've tried a lot of different techniques, but intermittent fasting is the only thing that has worked for me. When I used to track my calories, I felt like it put food on my mind even more! And once I messed up, usually by 2pm each day, I quit tracking for the day and said I would start over tomorrow. My advice is to find what works for you; there is something. And every time you fail, you're one step closer to succeeding. For reals, this time. </span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">I feel like I'm on a great path now, and it feels good to be in control. I'm hopeful that the picture on the right is not my "after" picture, but rather my "during" picture, which I can eventually place next to my true "after." I look back on the time when I was eating for two adults (not myself and my fetus) and I can truly say that I did not enjoy it. When you can have anything you want to eat, any time you want, you do not appreciate it. Now, I enjoy my occasional cheat meal or Two Good yogurt (with only 2g of carbs) way more than I ever enjoyed that second bowl of ice cream. I look forward to my cup of tea. I feel proud when I wake up and weigh myself.</span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">My surgery is only four days away, on 7/7, and I am more excited than nervous. I check into the surgery center at 6am and stay until 6:30 am the following day. Always the over-sharer, you can count on regular updates from me. Here's a preview: I will have two drains in for two weeks, and won't be able to walk upright for awhile! It going to be tough not being able to help around the house, swim or play with the kids. I think I'm even going to miss the gym and sauna! But I'm fortunate to have made it to this stage, and be a good candidate for this. Here's to a speedy recovery and health and strength. Oh, and patient kids who won't mind several days (weeks?) filled with Disney movie marathons, and lots of reading and snuggling.</span></p>Megan Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18287505547652721159noreply@blogger.com1