tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-54821351411611705602024-02-20T15:55:30.537-07:00This Abundant Life"I came that they may have life and have it abundantly."
- John 10:10Mrs Bichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13968828175824379992noreply@blogger.comBlogger197125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5482135141161170560.post-58836910685651600502012-02-21T20:27:00.003-07:002012-02-21T21:32:27.309-07:00Pleasure in the Midst of Chaos<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK3XE8zMW-CeYR3OngGW7ItNa-sXXIY4P4sAEjtXJzO7De8Eho3AMKv5iuWPjvfRro6SL-BzGgunFOMwF728sV6OXvQYij5Bbdgur4IP0apblp0acmFckJztmTekcRfvw-iOll-PPSg5I/s1600/P1000534.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK3XE8zMW-CeYR3OngGW7ItNa-sXXIY4P4sAEjtXJzO7De8Eho3AMKv5iuWPjvfRro6SL-BzGgunFOMwF728sV6OXvQYij5Bbdgur4IP0apblp0acmFckJztmTekcRfvw-iOll-PPSg5I/s400/P1000534.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5711812334294577490" /></a><br /><span ><span style="font-size: 100%;">In my mind's eye, there is this picture of a not-too-fussy, but very neat and clean house with folded laundry in all the closets and weeks of dinners stocked in the freezer. The only mess that greets you in the bathroom is a wayward toothbrush or a haphazardly placed hand towel. Sure, the master bedroom has a toy, here or there, and some men's slippers placed where they do not belong, but it looks and feels peaceful and intimate. The only dishes in the sink are a couple of plates from the last meal, that didn't quite make it into the dishwasher. </span></span><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-style: normal; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; ">In this home, children run and play and laugh...and their mother laughs with them. She's not in the Kitchen washing dishes that should have been done hours before. She isn't on her hands and knees by the foot of the highchair cleaning up what can only be described as an <i>entire </i>meal. She is not scrubbing a filthy toilet or folding basket <i>after basket</i> of laundry. It's all done.</div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><br /></div><div><span ><span style="font-size: 100%;">But, there-in lies the problem. My Mind's Eye LIES. </span></span></div><div><span ><span style="font-size: 100%;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span ><span style="font-size: 100%;">My children only want to play hide and seek when our king-size bed (and the dinning room table) is covered with mounds of clean laundry, just waiting to be put away. My little ones only want to do face-painting or marker-using after the basket of blocks (and the basket of dirty towels) have already been dumped out and scattered throughout, not only, the toy room and living room...but also the kitchen and hallway. </span></span></div><div><span ><span style="font-size: 100%;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span ><span style="font-size: 100%;">In their </span>opinion<span style="font-size: 100%;">, the absolute ideal time to have a dance party is when I am, literally, in the middle of trying to make my very first pie, <i>ever</i>, and the kitchen looks like someone came in and took out every dish and measuring </span>utensil<span style="font-size: 100%;">, all the dry ingredients possible and every kind of dairy from the refrigerator, and just </span><i style="font-size: 100%; ">threw </i><span style="font-size: 100%;">it all over the place.</span></span></div><div><span ><span style="font-size: 100%;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span ><span style="font-size: 100%;">And here, again, is the problem with my Mind's Eye. My Mind's Eye says I should play with my children when things are serene and quite lovely...and taken care of. I should not stop to play with them when, should someone be taking a rolling video of our surroundings, I would be found to be an entirely unfit mother, raising her children in utter filth and </span>squalor.</span></div><div><span ><br /></span></div><div><span >I want the Target commercial. I want the Pinterest snapshot. I want the Real Simple Magazine cover. Then I'll play.</span></div><div><span ><br /></span></div><div><span >But, if I wait for these...I never play. </span></div><div><span ><br /></span></div><div><span ><b>Lord</b>, give me the courage to enjoy the <i>Joy. </i>Give me the energy to be diligent in working hard to keep my home as comfortable as possible...and the peace to be okay when it is <i>not </i>that way. Give me a Mind's Eye that sees the beauty in the Babies and sees that their smiles and laughter are, in no way, hindered by the banana on the leg of the living room chair.</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><br /></div>Mrs Bichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13968828175824379992noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5482135141161170560.post-38673436245101111052012-02-16T15:17:00.007-07:002012-02-16T16:54:40.386-07:00"Think on THESE Things"<div style="text-align: center;"><span ><u><br /></u></span></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizgoSM8qQyXw2NclA8xDGRoUbhnDfyVxrDCTx7lDQty1JUVjtRs1av1I6H4qLSCQG7pSkji7JJNl19RUVU-9Ux3zUtf1df4m3pgAPtTcS-QASEn8qBepfdUwa_KqvymTOVgTRVsmHx4q8/s1600/P1110867.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizgoSM8qQyXw2NclA8xDGRoUbhnDfyVxrDCTx7lDQty1JUVjtRs1av1I6H4qLSCQG7pSkji7JJNl19RUVU-9Ux3zUtf1df4m3pgAPtTcS-QASEn8qBepfdUwa_KqvymTOVgTRVsmHx4q8/s400/P1110867.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5709882383201386018" /></a><span ><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I'm Thankful For...</div></span><ul><li>Daddy finding Gwen's Ducky, in the park, just in time for bedtime.</li><li>My comfortable home where I can stay and play, rest, watch, surf, cook, and care for my crazies.</li><li>Pro-biotics, anti-biotics, yummy berry vitamins, elderberry syrup, and children's Tylenol.</li><li>My beautiful, silly, healthy...and exhausting children.</li><li>Frozen Berries</li><li>Bibles...scattered throughout the house, available at any time, to remind me of what is true...and what is <span style="font-style: italic;">not.</span></li><li>My husband...his diligence in providing everything we could ever need...and most of what we want.</li><li>The completely unchanging nature of the one and only True God...despite circumstance or emotion.<br /></li></ul><p><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGz-4wovdhanWvQUlalE_mkZbBX620RNUBe68HQmiK9qK35hdY5B9UXYSPmaSjDYo1xKCJ9IZGhZKdUBg1feU7ceFiX3nlIXbvRnNZthyphenhyphen6nkYCyAsITvrghsFF6wJzxsn87POW_7EMztE/s400/P1110873.JPG" /><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI3YRG-RmijgKDd9mpbrcahCgDN2x5E32v0qFYGxcjVaPItXtCw2ghsEo-Kji7xhburnuGAXAcaosTrDq_WFGy9-ecZQ_FyfffVrt5A5eqyouWmbtiv2qma5l49UiCIAUNoko0PdA8miw/s400/P1110872.JPG" /></p>Mrs Bichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13968828175824379992noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5482135141161170560.post-61587477276400355452012-01-13T14:50:00.003-07:002012-01-13T15:07:05.402-07:00What Matters in Mothering...<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju-GvfcgTyg0D0U403cpu7t2CC1R_YWgIjab8zNGPXPdzhKkWlhvceWMCalcLRDWpYBw2kl4n7L9elV_w7bxSHAv8f_gBXwEpN_bqcGoitthJwgsJocPK6SGhwcIX2hx9ddBEhMTOKH68/s1600/257.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 400px; height: 300px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5697241284152693250" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju-GvfcgTyg0D0U403cpu7t2CC1R_YWgIjab8zNGPXPdzhKkWlhvceWMCalcLRDWpYBw2kl4n7L9elV_w7bxSHAv8f_gBXwEpN_bqcGoitthJwgsJocPK6SGhwcIX2hx9ddBEhMTOKH68/s400/257.JPG" /></a><br /><div><span class="commentBody" jsid="text">"Learn to be a good shepherd to your children. Read the Scriptures and take them to heart. Don’t compare your little flock with the other flocks. Compare your flock with what God wants from you, not from what you think will impress others. Are you being faithful with what He has given you? That is what counts."<br />- quote from <a href="http://www.feminagirls.com/2011/12/09/shepherd-mothers/">Shepherd Mothers</a> Post @ <a href="http://www.feminagirls.com/2011/12/09/shepherd-mothers/"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">FeminaGirls</span></a><br /></span></div>Mrs Bichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13968828175824379992noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5482135141161170560.post-38302708607937577012011-12-29T12:37:00.005-07:002012-01-08T14:26:49.896-07:00A Few Recipes for Sharing<div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyz1rRFLJcknuSPs0l6VDtkoKb66jf2Hws9f8P0qAS2kfwFqjag1p8ldgHj6W6ZQvoI6rlbOXVjJDiddNHaqDTDTyWO-S8ul8NUWsj1_T40GLJMbgL6eII5C5GOKARdQok3CQbnNlIrNg/s1600/301.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 400px; height: 300px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5695347460626651634" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyz1rRFLJcknuSPs0l6VDtkoKb66jf2Hws9f8P0qAS2kfwFqjag1p8ldgHj6W6ZQvoI6rlbOXVjJDiddNHaqDTDTyWO-S8ul8NUWsj1_T40GLJMbgL6eII5C5GOKARdQok3CQbnNlIrNg/s400/301.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><div>Contrary to what this post might look like, I have not been<br />cooking very much lately, but in the last few months, I have revisited a few recipes that are real favorites and I thought you might like to browse.<br /><br />Remember, you will see ingredients here like Coconut oil, Sucanat, Kefir, etc. If these are ingredients that you are interested in trying out, these are easy opportunities to do so. But, keep in mind, you can always use the oils, sugars, etc. that you currently have in your home.<br /><br /></div><div>Also, I have stolen ALL of these recipes and have never come up with a single one on my own :).<br /><br /><a href="http://www.nourishingdays.com/2009/02/make-chicken-stock-in-the-crock-pot/">Baked Oatmeal (at the bottom of this menu plan)<br /></a></div><div><br /><a href="http://www.nourishingdays.com/2009/02/make-chicken-stock-in-the-crock-pot/">Homemade Chicken Stock in the Crock Pot</a></div><div><br /><a href="http://heavenlyhomemakers.com/chicken-noodle-soup-with-homemade-broth-and-noodles">Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup (No, I did NOT make my own noodles :)</a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.thenourishinggourmet.com/2008/05/my-favorite-dinner-guest-post-chili-and-cornbread-2.html">Chili and Cornbread</a><br /><a href="http://heavenlyhomemakers.com/chicken-noodle-soup-with-homemade-broth-and-noodles"></a></div><div><br /><a href="http://www.passionatehomemaking.com/2010/01/zuppa-tuscana-soup.html">Zuppa Tuscana Soup (This is excellent)</a></div><div> </div><div><br /><a href="http://heavenlyhomemakers.com/gratituesday-creamy-orange-cooler">Creamy Orange Cooler</a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.passionatehomemaking.com/2008/08/f-n-grilled-veggie-sandwiches.html">Grilled Veggie Sandwich</a><br /><a href="http://www.passionatehomemaking.com/2008/01/more-desserts-nutritiously-delicious.html"><br />Berry Crisp</a><br /><br /></div></div></div>Mrs Bichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13968828175824379992noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5482135141161170560.post-64202475509430808772011-12-04T11:53:00.022-07:002011-12-04T16:34:06.405-07:00Happenings...<div align="left">We've been "busy" around here, doing things that are not actually very <em>busy. </em>I've kind of been taking things <em>one week at a time...</em>not because I'm so good at <em>resting in the moment, </em>although that is something I am making a real effort at, but mostly because this pregnancy has left me with far less (energy, health, sleep, brain power, "normal" feeling moments, etc.) than I ever imagined it would. But, I can already tell, this baby is going to be really cute...and beauty doesn't come cheap!</div><br />I love literature and poetry and the <em>written </em>word, in general, so NO, I do not think that pictures always say it best, but right now they certainly DO!<br /><br /><br /><div align="left"><em>I truly wish that I could kid-nap a professional photographer with awesome camera equipment (like </em><a href="http://www.kaceyluvi.com/blog/the-bickerton-family/"><em><strong>Amy Cooper</strong> over at <strong>Kacey Luvi Photography</strong></em></a><em>) and make her take pictures of us all day...not of the screaming or crying (or the kids misbehaving, either :), but until I figure out how to do that, these will have to do!</em><br /><br /></div><br /><div align="center">Preparing for our Jesse Tree/Advent Celebration<br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgexkbDawPsHZlvTb1btxBFjRlUp3g9gqhQWtWhAfCBXGX3dVRH6qXvkScWtP1it8NxPdlxiDMeCNJvxd3V68tiOZ0pUujU3upbJ9FQGIQggXeDQg1L_AEkb9vawd0MCAF5q3tGFYht4Ko/s1600/P1110328.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5682399396723557698" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgexkbDawPsHZlvTb1btxBFjRlUp3g9gqhQWtWhAfCBXGX3dVRH6qXvkScWtP1it8NxPdlxiDMeCNJvxd3V68tiOZ0pUujU3upbJ9FQGIQggXeDQg1L_AEkb9vawd0MCAF5q3tGFYht4Ko/s400/P1110328.JPG" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRxh1Wn4hNc5XHDl36F0Y6NI9a885MFH8CsDYEziLU6Z4hVRid-pdv6NJhhHZnZJ_AyoJsXge0jNjAP2MVy-FWNJoCZ3YQa8hEkpYeWlcl0hCHNakwAWaWdqsrApG9d6PkAdbNzChf25M/s1600/P1110323.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5682397355026672162" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRxh1Wn4hNc5XHDl36F0Y6NI9a885MFH8CsDYEziLU6Z4hVRid-pdv6NJhhHZnZJ_AyoJsXge0jNjAP2MVy-FWNJoCZ3YQa8hEkpYeWlcl0hCHNakwAWaWdqsrApG9d6PkAdbNzChf25M/s400/P1110323.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTtInyOwyuVUw4lkCyDEiPELFreWI4Q5eskD_cvVwDgmTkcBl9EqDt_H2JWxOhmaufKTOVksmGqFW4MUvRtQOZ62-1dFQvBCUHs3N9UvZJhBNEhnCnMp4aT-B74Zoyyf8qUm1ZjuIPrZE/s1600/P1110396.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5682351801913934450" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTtInyOwyuVUw4lkCyDEiPELFreWI4Q5eskD_cvVwDgmTkcBl9EqDt_H2JWxOhmaufKTOVksmGqFW4MUvRtQOZ62-1dFQvBCUHs3N9UvZJhBNEhnCnMp4aT-B74Zoyyf8qUm1ZjuIPrZE/s400/P1110396.JPG" /></a><br />Being adorable and sparkly (or, in other words, constantly changing from one outfit to the other because, apparently, that's what Princesses Do)<br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFzL-Am17FYAysjNmNARhIMf-Mz-HoAUvsCNd7seJ0RyvNS91r7s4N0_aacmEsg0ONrlXo64YLNDTphbmSSl8jp3M8SG3IiC7f9TPd33ibhtmKWYMr4_9N-2jPzUKc5C65IcOuXtaKlwY/s1600/P1110316.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5682392450033584738" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFzL-Am17FYAysjNmNARhIMf-Mz-HoAUvsCNd7seJ0RyvNS91r7s4N0_aacmEsg0ONrlXo64YLNDTphbmSSl8jp3M8SG3IiC7f9TPd33ibhtmKWYMr4_9N-2jPzUKc5C65IcOuXtaKlwY/s400/P1110316.JPG" /></a><br />Just being all cute (and dirty), in general<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9JyNtIBPa2q-4I_pq9LeoqhX3mPvrMDDzAtokTE7aQ1jPkhQgDeMOwwNEHraiiebNpXTAcHZ6FNn6yV9yvesH57Rcdv_q-zhu7-bzaXuGMrwCW6gtjxojcaDimn_uVoquDO4EBXTpO5Q/s1600/P1110330.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5682398768194747746" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9JyNtIBPa2q-4I_pq9LeoqhX3mPvrMDDzAtokTE7aQ1jPkhQgDeMOwwNEHraiiebNpXTAcHZ6FNn6yV9yvesH57Rcdv_q-zhu7-bzaXuGMrwCW6gtjxojcaDimn_uVoquDO4EBXTpO5Q/s400/P1110330.JPG" /></a> </div><br /><br /><br /><div align="center">Enjoying some time with some precious Goffeneys...I'm pretty sure they love us, too, but were just a tad tired from travel :) </div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhakEk42W7-nqXBoOYFvQma5ADEATJzvRb6Ms2AjujzM_mdqbFM7IneBnPCa8DtprSLotgaAQVOet49Dh2rpESSMVQiOi9U6r42i6Ib-WwdHkigTiULdhFEvuxNt7c7QphdKwBdXOWXcXI/s1600/P1110304.JPG"><em><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5682391792792546082" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhakEk42W7-nqXBoOYFvQma5ADEATJzvRb6Ms2AjujzM_mdqbFM7IneBnPCa8DtprSLotgaAQVOet49Dh2rpESSMVQiOi9U6r42i6Ib-WwdHkigTiULdhFEvuxNt7c7QphdKwBdXOWXcXI/s400/P1110304.JPG" /></em></a><br />Got to witness my Nephew, Cohen's, baptism! </div><br /><div align="center">...I had trouble editing this pic, but he has adorable eyes. He's pretty much the most adorable thing around...however, has was a little concerned about the water messing up his hair :).<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWpUyxrRiKFhvYgWyNXR_6savkn3T4UcoU2ienrF1HDnJK3sy-K8xTAmOHCcaoRJa4WETFRhk1hYNzde2fVIkrPyAdH6YiGgB9KiTJsNXS4o26D0URz0FrnqhIweAJCdvU0wMRiAGQEa4/s1600/P1110242.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5682416767479403266" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWpUyxrRiKFhvYgWyNXR_6savkn3T4UcoU2ienrF1HDnJK3sy-K8xTAmOHCcaoRJa4WETFRhk1hYNzde2fVIkrPyAdH6YiGgB9KiTJsNXS4o26D0URz0FrnqhIweAJCdvU0wMRiAGQEa4/s400/P1110242.JPG" /></a><br />Celebrating Thanksgiving and Papa's Birthday.<br />Guess who it is that Gwendolyn takes after...<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWuQGrU7ucdLuPvdVWXdBRAl9aZnm0vennkPdoZHx76OQSXT_qTASvcc0dZO44f0r52-2AADjSAKT82ERHlW-A7z9heEJPqtFqYKj0KM-CFgB5RV1IorkOjdP_79dKQPSHVjmnoOOJS-M/s1600/P1110269.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5682390856688733570" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWuQGrU7ucdLuPvdVWXdBRAl9aZnm0vennkPdoZHx76OQSXT_qTASvcc0dZO44f0r52-2AADjSAKT82ERHlW-A7z9heEJPqtFqYKj0KM-CFgB5RV1IorkOjdP_79dKQPSHVjmnoOOJS-M/s400/P1110269.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnS56bG70oIq7sDXBMasaaCuvpneUPy1sEa30hguMYSS8A3nFJfeUmcxIK9B_URisR5yxuKtvILWlMYTp99vsmLthTD2FG1akOVqw84YOlMa_1cVyz2siQ_DSrNCuNbuvVjY73yulD4LU/s1600/P1110281.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5682389789589222482" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnS56bG70oIq7sDXBMasaaCuvpneUPy1sEa30hguMYSS8A3nFJfeUmcxIK9B_URisR5yxuKtvILWlMYTp99vsmLthTD2FG1akOVqw84YOlMa_1cVyz2siQ_DSrNCuNbuvVjY73yulD4LU/s400/P1110281.JPG" /></a><br />...and getting to hang with my sister, Rebekah, and her boyfriend, Mark (He's a great guy!)<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr2BjkHiFbrbRo-JKiUDUCFHzK2GevbRxxLjAGFiZj_962FsZI3XIYfZObtV2fyE2VBf-mYstIR6fbooBvfTirmj9K6xq4QnJjtUf4-lhl5cmgOwNyvRSh4cO2ej4g3c80ZAUhMwnxHSQ/s1600/P1110295.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5682409708294944418" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr2BjkHiFbrbRo-JKiUDUCFHzK2GevbRxxLjAGFiZj_962FsZI3XIYfZObtV2fyE2VBf-mYstIR6fbooBvfTirmj9K6xq4QnJjtUf4-lhl5cmgOwNyvRSh4cO2ej4g3c80ZAUhMwnxHSQ/s400/P1110295.JPG" /></a><br />Carrying on one of the better Rehrmann traditions of Olive-eating<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrEbwYVTN-eUPX0GtycbiiCugW4Tye5Si3UAxHNjF8eOlzvvDnlix-cz6_XOEy67IABuPeKRE1Y1ZOgXWS4Q0LKlA3wQH1HYnDLtTQXjC0q7uz_jhMCxuGl-wntJ_GgebJ2aRsGDIxOjM/s1600/P1110248.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5682408609006934770" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrEbwYVTN-eUPX0GtycbiiCugW4Tye5Si3UAxHNjF8eOlzvvDnlix-cz6_XOEy67IABuPeKRE1Y1ZOgXWS4Q0LKlA3wQH1HYnDLtTQXjC0q7uz_jhMCxuGl-wntJ_GgebJ2aRsGDIxOjM/s400/P1110248.JPG" /></a><br />Taking on Zoo Lights as a Family<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLx6TP1GedbWvOsTmRA2A_NBo3Opef8VmaNG68K6toQLW9TVHLjUJgYgZSK0usz-SeMUVUbgJmh2RuszEw3-1tnw_65garhOhyjSySKLWov5NtQqJF9fBO0fIK4tq38kgKlNPfaBjtnkk/s1600/P1110357.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5682410473711680146" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLx6TP1GedbWvOsTmRA2A_NBo3Opef8VmaNG68K6toQLW9TVHLjUJgYgZSK0usz-SeMUVUbgJmh2RuszEw3-1tnw_65garhOhyjSySKLWov5NtQqJF9fBO0fIK4tq38kgKlNPfaBjtnkk/s400/P1110357.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNSqzyCu8uhfm2c3mTqt9A-lyM89PP9UhNQj-0-L4CVzNKnK9-XmLLDKo6IHP3saDpBy4FiwJDpAD4oyhLBBFHYVf5QzCGPGh0xWVSwQQ1WkAVKkluzl2WO-N-S8BILxbo68y6cE76rgE/s1600/P1110341.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5682353011825679618" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNSqzyCu8uhfm2c3mTqt9A-lyM89PP9UhNQj-0-L4CVzNKnK9-XmLLDKo6IHP3saDpBy4FiwJDpAD4oyhLBBFHYVf5QzCGPGh0xWVSwQQ1WkAVKkluzl2WO-N-S8BILxbo68y6cE76rgE/s400/P1110341.JPG" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1_ESMNl8bjpXH5t58tc16YS3mbP3-EKIjjGuc1RScddzOA6NcZBOEHrUZZUQ3ujPOVSKXr4lhZ2DLRQjkNMm_SIIcx0hqNjyp74pf94j2D_gzePEyPNBIrrdIN_7cMxRIr0l-BrYEkxU/s1600/P1110361.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5682411855059316722" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1_ESMNl8bjpXH5t58tc16YS3mbP3-EKIjjGuc1RScddzOA6NcZBOEHrUZZUQ3ujPOVSKXr4lhZ2DLRQjkNMm_SIIcx0hqNjyp74pf94j2D_gzePEyPNBIrrdIN_7cMxRIr0l-BrYEkxU/s400/P1110361.JPG" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLUAnePSfgPoMWGeaVZtcj36DDZ4ozZnHMCiEK7fOLdzXphemwtXTQv_49J_-5XgXhd0DWPM7YOe1SHYrAK25PtFtXcfXWDEUa5Q-r9tLcVuM5b9PEAxxfSBDl9CZRfol8odmMWQMcRKE/s1600/P1110349.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5682413268768550658" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLUAnePSfgPoMWGeaVZtcj36DDZ4ozZnHMCiEK7fOLdzXphemwtXTQv_49J_-5XgXhd0DWPM7YOe1SHYrAK25PtFtXcfXWDEUa5Q-r9tLcVuM5b9PEAxxfSBDl9CZRfol8odmMWQMcRKE/s400/P1110349.JPG" /></a><br />And, of course, making a breakfast of french toast and mac and cheese...the breakfast of champions!<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYL5rIXCTVh59BiPwRKOWo6lHgND6Bcg3pJlge8a85ouWdOVSooKorHhS51Wmhou434Dv3nRrpq_6A_oe6_flJePcepN0n2znJIv_H1-EYLBGhiV4qUDj5MSbmGmp4PdY-z2jKI-hgAO0/s1600/P1110413.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5682349018392133442" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYL5rIXCTVh59BiPwRKOWo6lHgND6Bcg3pJlge8a85ouWdOVSooKorHhS51Wmhou434Dv3nRrpq_6A_oe6_flJePcepN0n2znJIv_H1-EYLBGhiV4qUDj5MSbmGmp4PdY-z2jKI-hgAO0/s400/P1110413.JPG" /></a> </div></div></div></div></div><br /></div><br />I hope this time leading up to the celebration of Jesus' coming, has been fun, so far, for you!Mrs Bichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13968828175824379992noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5482135141161170560.post-88403382254779811792011-11-18T13:43:00.005-07:002011-11-18T14:26:52.298-07:00The Advent Season<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc_hx0Sb9CbDXwqsJcDKID_eIPcvu6N6lviHLToXWVUcGsNaTyMYNmHkGALP1CdvaADinE_wr4EZlo2Cz_JUUkXvO0lBmL97cz3K12dDSiKutwAOWeXpMslFXgaGkgg6LUb9PM0z8LKZc/s1600/P1110193.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc_hx0Sb9CbDXwqsJcDKID_eIPcvu6N6lviHLToXWVUcGsNaTyMYNmHkGALP1CdvaADinE_wr4EZlo2Cz_JUUkXvO0lBmL97cz3K12dDSiKutwAOWeXpMslFXgaGkgg6LUb9PM0z8LKZc/s400/P1110193.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5676447862093186050" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">This picture has nothing to do with the post...he's just cute.</span><br /></div><br />This year is when it begins! Bic and I are going to do an advent celebration with our children! No more waiting for all the pretty Crate&Barrel and Anthropologie ornaments to fill the Jesse Tree. Well, <span style="font-style: italic;">I'm</span> waiting...not so much <span style="font-style: italic;">Bic</span>. I don't even think he knows that I <span style="font-style: italic;">want </span>them.<br /><br />I still want those ornaments...and I'm going to get them :), but for now, we are going to use things we have around the house and celebrate the coming of Christ with treats, activities and the beautiful scriptures that God has already given to us. The Kids will love it...they don't even <span style="font-style: italic;">like </span>Crate&Barrel and Anthropologie...silly kids.<br /><br />I found a great (and FREE) resource with all the Advent readings and some extras. Check it out at Ann Voskamp's <a href="http://www.aholyexperience.com/free-advent-devotionals-jesse-tree-book/">A Holy Experience</a> Blog. By signing up to receive her posts, you get an extensive <a href="http://www.aholyexperience.com/free-advent-devotionals-jesse-tree-book/">Advent Jesse Tree Printable</a>, for Free! I've skimmed it and I am really looking forward to using it.<br /><br />Our "Jesse Tree", this year, is a mix between a "calendar" and a "tree." I have a ton of small brown paper sacks and a bunch of varied Christmas ribbon scraps and I'm going to make a little bag for each day of advent and string them (with an ornament hanger) up on decorative garland on our book shelves. Inside I am going to put the scripture for that day and some sort of fun and quick little activity the kids and I can do that day...I still need some ideas for that, if you have any please leave them in the comments.<br /><br />I saw one idea that said "eat a candy cane off the tree." My kids will LOVE that. fun. simple. delicious. Oh, I'll also number the bags (if I run out of time, it might just be with a Sharpie :). Here's the start...<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifeZcH7J0ug_FXINcB-LHT9vh-Z-mpRc2cXcE4HSYnBZmPp03Eaw5-UWheQReJ8Tl05RzKrXdbcbe0X4uahaXbiJ1g8XYGzd5P4soKZC5QPsmz0faGsjzOIuulDbHicvOw55Biea9uw2s/s1600/P1110223.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifeZcH7J0ug_FXINcB-LHT9vh-Z-mpRc2cXcE4HSYnBZmPp03Eaw5-UWheQReJ8Tl05RzKrXdbcbe0X4uahaXbiJ1g8XYGzd5P4soKZC5QPsmz0faGsjzOIuulDbHicvOw55Biea9uw2s/s400/P1110223.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5676442046276870690" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6WH9xzjFg5575yKkZbwKuFQNmCGV5lZv5sp1zTGr8_aJw6qD3Mspf0GXEpGq3ZbPc_rOOduqGHmWivmxzT6qmYtKFCGuxLsSnsNScV6mzkv1PtBjD1sxxoBxvXSE2GtvDt0JFcyZgH0o/s1600/P1110222.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6WH9xzjFg5575yKkZbwKuFQNmCGV5lZv5sp1zTGr8_aJw6qD3Mspf0GXEpGq3ZbPc_rOOduqGHmWivmxzT6qmYtKFCGuxLsSnsNScV6mzkv1PtBjD1sxxoBxvXSE2GtvDt0JFcyZgH0o/s400/P1110222.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5676442644729640482" border="0" /></a>Happy Holiday Fun planning to YOU!Mrs Bichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13968828175824379992noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5482135141161170560.post-43294812012841927772011-11-16T21:01:00.006-07:002011-11-16T22:15:05.320-07:00Holiday JOY<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs5lJAhgQJn3EX4gApPTFW1H4pjMxmIe4l4fdgjvEVCwKOMbNqwaTmwBIorU6Dm3sxFj9qyMF0hsXySffGqfGqqYpBenaCn-9yYYwtyCkeCIS6MOa9jGruSHEjH4lxUG0zEoycx-vEdfg/s1600/P1110131.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs5lJAhgQJn3EX4gApPTFW1H4pjMxmIe4l4fdgjvEVCwKOMbNqwaTmwBIorU6Dm3sxFj9qyMF0hsXySffGqfGqqYpBenaCn-9yYYwtyCkeCIS6MOa9jGruSHEjH4lxUG0zEoycx-vEdfg/s400/P1110131.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5675824112763444162" border="0" /></a><br />With the Holidays quickly approaching, I am so excited to really be focusing on My own little family. What are the traditions we want to embrace and enjoy? What are the things we are going to choose to let go of, in favor of what is best for the NOW?<br /><br />If all we do from this day until January 1st is make sloppy sugar cookies at home and decorate our Christmas tree with the cheap ball ornaments and learn about Jesus and why He came...and it makes my children grin with joy...then that is all I need. But, by golly, I will make a few crafty plans and see what else we just might be able to accomplish!<br /><br />Come along with me, will you? Come walk with me in this idea that maybe <span style="font-style: italic;">less </span>flawless Pinterest photos and <span style="font-style: italic;">less </span>never-ending Facebook posts, for comparison, is really what we need for a Very <span style="font-style: italic;">Merry </span>Christmas.<br /><br />Let me elaborate, lest I have already turned you off. ...I can hardly think of a more delicious reality than a beautifully-spread Christmas table...a sparkling tree that looks like it's been slowly crafted over many years, but with a fresh and chic look of a pottery barn ad...delicate, yet hardy homemade Christmas treats, layered in a multilevel display...beautifully and lovingly decorated and wrapped individual gifts hand-crafted for family and loved-ones.<br /><br />I am a "nest-er" who loves the idea of decorating and...<span style="font-style: italic;">creating...</span>perfect spaces and "moments". But, although there are many things that are <span style="font-style: italic;">good</span>... not <span style="font-style: italic;">all</span> are <span style="font-style: italic;">best.</span> As wives...mothers...women who know and seek the Lord, it is our responsibility to figure out what is <span style="font-style: italic;">best </span>for each season.<br /><div style="text-align: left;"><blockquote style="font-style: italic;">"And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet and listened to his teaching. <br />But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, "Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.<br />But the Lord answered her, "Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, <br />but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her." - Luke 10:39-42<br /></blockquote>I look forward to the future seasons when there are bound to be more opportunities for spectacular spreads, and perhaps, this is <span style="font-style: italic;">that </span>kind of season for You.<br /><br />As for me, I'm not going to stop enjoying the creativity that God, Himself, has given me. But, since my natural tendencies are way more <span style="font-style: italic;">Martha </span>than <span style="font-style: italic;">Mary...</span>my focus is gonna need to be in the direction of the <span style="font-style: italic;">sitting.</span><br /><br />Here are couple of great Holiday Posts you may enjoy:<br />- <a href="http://www.feminagirls.com/2008/12/06/wrap-up-the-stress/">FeminaGirls "Wrap up the Stress"</a><br />- <a href="http://www.passionatehomemaking.com/2011/11/traditions-choosing-the-best-for-this-season.html">Passionate Homemaking "Traditions: Choosing the Best for THIS Season"</a><br /></div>Mrs Bichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13968828175824379992noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5482135141161170560.post-74282845657696207492011-11-08T12:24:00.001-07:002011-11-08T13:27:37.229-07:00Hello Again...and Have Some Soup<a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/43sMiKthaOkDDUkDyuu2hqG0sFiuQLReYhyqVa_HXk0?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGepIns2tu-i3JjXrzeJkOV7vxXP9IcMXcmTishV90r8ooVdDnB7IFZR7yzYoBreFzxwKUdt22pZJpVEN8Ai7ujP8_df_RZ7EtAzh4uR58ZKy1UlI45hwvgo9Q3rvzYBxNXlYTEpD6ErQ/s640/P1110158.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a><br /><br />Well, It's been three months since my last blog post. I figure, now's as good a time as any to get going again. I do so enjoy the Blog world, but lately my focus has been very single-minded.<br /><br />I'm now 15 weeks pregnant and I've been very sick for the last 8 weeks of my life, with all-day, intense nausea. But yesterday I made soup...and it was wonderful!<br /><br />Now, I've read many blog posts that start out by saying how difficult it's been for some woman in her first trimester of pregnancy, and yet she has managed to continue nourishing her family well, hosted a fundraiser for over-seas missionaries and just happened to have a little time and energy left over to knit new Christmas stockings for all 5 of her children. Believe me, I'm no stranger to the temptation to feel inadequate. But, lest my nourishing soup story and pictures of my darling children tempt <span style="font-style: italic;">you </span>in the same way...let me tell you a little about how it's <span style="font-style: italic;">really </span>been going around here....<br /><br />I've spent most days sitting on the couch...sitting, not laying, because that would just make the nausea worse. I can't even count the number of hours of television my toddlers have watched and the extent of my care for them has been diaper changes and some food...when absolutely necessary. I've been eating all the food that is easy and quick and full of unhealthy ingredients and simple carbohydrates...not because it makes me feel good, but because it requires less of me.<br /><br />The Pastor's wife had to take over leading my bible study and I have basically been ignoring even my closest friends just so I don't have to have much conversation with anyone and, last week, my husband took it upon himself to scrub the toilets because he just couldn't take it anymore. And, if you know my husband, you know how bad things must have been for it to have come to that!<br /><br />But, this day, I went to the store...I purchased <span style="font-style: italic;">real</span> food and I made soup! I've been craving Paradise Bakery's broccoli cheese soup every day, so when Sarah from <a href="http://www.littlestfoodie.com/">The Littlest Foodie</a> shared a recipe from the <a href="http://www.mangiodasola.com/2009/11/broccoli-cheddar-soup.html">Mangio de Sola</a> blog I knew I had to try it! It really hit the spot and it's so good for my body (and my baby) to be eating this kind of nourishing meal. Take a look <a href="http://www.mangiodasola.com/2009/11/broccoli-cheddar-soup.html">here</a> if you want to try it out!<br /><br />And, here's a few pics of my babies...because they are just so dang cute!<br /><br /><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/neQ6eymoXXuKbCC4xUmjqzrRQq2i8qK-ctNGkqK8I9Q?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPFSKP6zG37TNgkJc5kiiuB7KWfEiIaD6Jt2MFrQMwOEQ8g7QeAbr8CFjGs7RvL_Yo8xAfVmOaGuoRoD9HdoMhft1h06-5ZAl66hk3jGbofX93w5sNkReJlP0z7TtYjPmOHiTgG3jJVV4/s800/P1110139.JPG" height="600" width="800" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/HV7pOQGXTPwHdxGaob8ypzrRQq2i8qK-ctNGkqK8I9Q?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4pZtlI9NuEIG30u48AJQ3Rt70SXc4I-b-7_3etgfqammJdR3Yx3UawXl8q0vpWAOkVgxd5a6h3E0ImUW-Dn1U8rxt1WWTBynixauJNm4MKr_z73f9d4yBRzegqY7ofXehcUeVTMi4ecI/s800/P1110141.JPG" height="600" width="800" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/L1ICe6XJarwxZNTP4XcVx3rHWUBgciJgsmmrBLpbcIU?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUvRIeesKB0Nwenvt5rL_9E2bpz2L982117LIV06gZTRNidNCYdbxeRbsGJPvpV3RbUobfihj0IDC4NyEAnKDAaQfpYvmazI-ykxk-fPXjOJA3wULDyjk9sDbFNTQofxA_WOVREtd6em8/s800/P1110168.JPG" height="800" width="600" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/D5w02HohAMolTG4co-ujzW3TLA9c9MqM9VRuwWsS_rc?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZq9gXsKN6uRlotQVJTcjSt07uMRgb-bXPSQ3_SIXIqGIXyxZGbNYzldl0EcG7K-ddcUQvsPYR2eEHas3fGtCo3j7QedNUb-KW15jAhTKZX6AAELtAJpzeh2d2I4QXfqj4otY87ruwzTI/s800/P1110122.JPG" height="574" width="800" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/is0Gz9rESWI_tsjxIhnarG3TLA9c9MqM9VRuwWsS_rc?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge74HH4-uE7Ekz27aZk9_ZJ-meYi7tktdAel4fPhm4Q2o-SKsaCSzlefEj1yvR3Jy5Jr8zB2wO4ok0D-WM7t9IkH28aOMv5TOO9RpIQsVdCVRbLExLKS119LF1nb_XVavsBIMsszyB9Dg/s800/P1110054.JPG" height="600" width="800" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/8AsRjwH6HFsEqxCENvJHQ9SW5CX2pUXgAUr6v79P_2s?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2WkTTvcpcSxej9zBZS4nzUcVGJNUZbBN1QRyrVrqgKEQr2Ga7xvm6MMjaf_n2S9ZCBKrw37VT5CrFQOQ6QXCs6wTEumNQFJX6MCuS9Ca79N5enqd0CSS03hzm7yz4eEeY3OtRPM3SkOo/s800/P1110036.JPG" height="600" width="800" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/R_NuQK_eUalljyZ2HGAodQAqfKgPqK-soBJzPe0aWG8?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj_tVkhmwsDos6sUZ_hA3XObleBlmH2wrjtiScqK_oFpdfIGLrSlFvKsDj0gsuSycBKZbhSCExQM6q0mG9GwJzeBvRHagOwy7aJTw6ktXeysutqs9PHZCFzYi6p1xxkmVNgwjwy6sUsCA/s800/P1100985.JPG" height="600" width="800" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/e-1ZLdDWAU1Q6Y88NPfYrPP_z9hV4xirWPxaVu8v9ZQ?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSawRD1POra-wbWaIsPEEfu207A31M1a79KuxjaC2hfjknpSawmVntSR6Do7GV5W9EpRgzuqqTBi307AfEOIGtjp_3oN7OESYjwn93AyKvWjYd4H6Yfip4vJMp6G_0MuWChRk6EN1fw3g/s800/P1100870.JPG" height="600" width="800" /></a>Mrs Bichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13968828175824379992noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5482135141161170560.post-80679745085636882152011-08-11T12:37:00.012-07:002011-08-11T15:50:50.940-07:00VACATION!<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKGZf3WYV_jPHJjpvoy80i-ealSfv3fultuhKk5Z9c2fImCrEfxtkUVBEgxwLdD-dpkLdlQqMpruxpZIWyIMjkb-QB8lNWLIzBSVof9uBeZUMqbjingYsNk_B449TskaX3kBLxXDdL9d0/s1600/P1100340.JPG">
<br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCnP7hta7NwEciVMQqeGETeKK2n8KitsTHBLn2pvh8CNiDdBXINFsUdkXO5VRDj9GqYa_IJkCly-on33UGybcC0rbWBKqHHLZQ31X6J2mIgbTgXVVQid-d8WcDLBQSQNDQs7RFOiFXmwM/s1600/P1100439.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 287px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCnP7hta7NwEciVMQqeGETeKK2n8KitsTHBLn2pvh8CNiDdBXINFsUdkXO5VRDj9GqYa_IJkCly-on33UGybcC0rbWBKqHHLZQ31X6J2mIgbTgXVVQid-d8WcDLBQSQNDQs7RFOiFXmwM/s400/P1100439.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5639730072624750898" border="0" /></a>
<br /><div style="text-align: left;"> Our Good Friends, the <a href="http://alifedowntown.typepad.com/blog/">Williams'</a>, took us on vacation this year. It was the first trip we took with our kids...our first family vacation...and they were the perfect family to help break us in to the "this is no lounging-by-the-pool-with-a-book-and-cocktail-in-hand type of vacation."
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<br />No, seriously, we had a blast. Ricky and Cara are the most laid-back people we know with the most precious children we know. They make everything easier and more fun. It was so wonderful to create memories with our babies while they are so little. It was so awesome for Gwen to play with her best friend, Clair...and for Augustine to follow little Ricky around to see what big one-and-half-year olds know how to do.
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<br />I loved spending some girl time with Cara...talking about silly and serious things and getting to stay involved in each others <span style="font-style: italic;">real </span>lives. And, of course, Bic and Ricky are NEVER at a loss of things to connect them together and make them laugh.
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<br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKGZf3WYV_jPHJjpvoy80i-ealSfv3fultuhKk5Z9c2fImCrEfxtkUVBEgxwLdD-dpkLdlQqMpruxpZIWyIMjkb-QB8lNWLIzBSVof9uBeZUMqbjingYsNk_B449TskaX3kBLxXDdL9d0/s1600/P1100340.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKGZf3WYV_jPHJjpvoy80i-ealSfv3fultuhKk5Z9c2fImCrEfxtkUVBEgxwLdD-dpkLdlQqMpruxpZIWyIMjkb-QB8lNWLIzBSVof9uBeZUMqbjingYsNk_B449TskaX3kBLxXDdL9d0/s400/P1100340.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5639730782377343618" border="0" /></a>The Little Dudes
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<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUPzG-Bp_HJ5UDMeofHmYa7ja-xyYRNtyy3vY7DnhxVBKWLtl5HHW_ZcTGdZqL2Xt5Hjx3WStcbAhpRSfVUSoCcyk-tbzYetIqgCnACdYWt1q3AVjTF6AWW1i1szi1DKC70yIhT8pU3z8/s1600/P1100261.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUPzG-Bp_HJ5UDMeofHmYa7ja-xyYRNtyy3vY7DnhxVBKWLtl5HHW_ZcTGdZqL2Xt5Hjx3WStcbAhpRSfVUSoCcyk-tbzYetIqgCnACdYWt1q3AVjTF6AWW1i1szi1DKC70yIhT8pU3z8/s400/P1100261.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5639730724668609730" border="0" /></a>That's our Girl! How did she get so BIG?
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<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO_M0fO9VrOCqHADVivkRxpQOly_zYg5HKPLpM3JUk44-JjVymJFdhx6w3R-BfRanF3VwJYfAZDzmYh4qhYOL9MR8dvOf7yDBWowxtxJSOdUrQTwQNIQw-6kFN1Qqf5LC6naoPc1lVXys/s1600/P1100324.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO_M0fO9VrOCqHADVivkRxpQOly_zYg5HKPLpM3JUk44-JjVymJFdhx6w3R-BfRanF3VwJYfAZDzmYh4qhYOL9MR8dvOf7yDBWowxtxJSOdUrQTwQNIQw-6kFN1Qqf5LC6naoPc1lVXys/s400/P1100324.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5639730667983301826" border="0" /></a>Rascals!
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<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY6v3hWPAjAE-sblLgSc7P3OkqmmvLca89zc7GrRMjSD46d0zry5W0nWkTBIKUT7J6SdvPSbyLgQymIRJAZxb6s1_2uZlpHpVF1sud1MobfjNxQCHmDVM1x_hp6kKuP98atXfYAUuPVrM/s1600/P1100432.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY6v3hWPAjAE-sblLgSc7P3OkqmmvLca89zc7GrRMjSD46d0zry5W0nWkTBIKUT7J6SdvPSbyLgQymIRJAZxb6s1_2uZlpHpVF1sud1MobfjNxQCHmDVM1x_hp6kKuP98atXfYAUuPVrM/s400/P1100432.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5639730584905559586" border="0" /></a>BFFs! They have been since the beginning.
<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">These girls know that there are some people you just "click" with.
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<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIN37ddrj5ZDAhygVyo9FwMuggHv_EQbGeaRGrfMXFvzWojHt51x_uADLpjXdpLUmYZsMWMm4hsxIGTpSt1YvnbjEQxFQW7rISklnIkQxdy8ik5oXpFAuCZp1BjuxDKjXg2yavUoNP_Kc/s1600/P1100429.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIN37ddrj5ZDAhygVyo9FwMuggHv_EQbGeaRGrfMXFvzWojHt51x_uADLpjXdpLUmYZsMWMm4hsxIGTpSt1YvnbjEQxFQW7rISklnIkQxdy8ik5oXpFAuCZp1BjuxDKjXg2yavUoNP_Kc/s400/P1100429.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5639730464816100482" border="0" /></a>They are, however, not so great at the picture-taking.
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<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKD7ZlmbI9flSxFbTBw93lW23BXEYIhlmxAZmTGslfwcUr5Xw3M9Ef5fNXjfJUsfBXWuxjAR1OlWKogdGMLCmR8Z1M9BthOCVlB8Na8skoaWxfOEm6GlmuDc29KIjQTQuOeMZh6PkjCg0/s1600/P1100216.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKD7ZlmbI9flSxFbTBw93lW23BXEYIhlmxAZmTGslfwcUr5Xw3M9Ef5fNXjfJUsfBXWuxjAR1OlWKogdGMLCmR8Z1M9BthOCVlB8Na8skoaWxfOEm6GlmuDc29KIjQTQuOeMZh6PkjCg0/s400/P1100216.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5639730329271478882" border="0" /></a>
<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmQCio5eGDHc8m1mm44GkZEGhHnlGbckP11zuLptI2g-jeuM4ufA00mVRxNgyQ5nOqdxRTqX7rbL7id-xj8jS32y9ei1bq-X5HL9JSfvDJsOdcjMNkkz8tqyQG_F32V8yqU-MM01_-b5Q/s1600/P1100434.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmQCio5eGDHc8m1mm44GkZEGhHnlGbckP11zuLptI2g-jeuM4ufA00mVRxNgyQ5nOqdxRTqX7rbL7id-xj8jS32y9ei1bq-X5HL9JSfvDJsOdcjMNkkz8tqyQG_F32V8yqU-MM01_-b5Q/s400/P1100434.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5639730173136361570" border="0" /></a>There he is. All tired out after he destroyed the couch with his banana.
<br />Don't work too hard there, buddy.
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<br /></div>We Love the Williams'! Thank you for your friendship!
<br />Mrs Bichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13968828175824379992noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5482135141161170560.post-90901160932849042992011-08-05T20:05:00.002-07:002011-08-05T20:10:57.318-07:00Couldn't Have Said It Better, Myself<center><br /></center>Hey Everyone, Check out <a href="http://littlelambfamily.blogspot.com/2011/08/come-home-soon-isaac.html">Jenn's </a>Latest Blog on <a href="http://reecesrainbow.org/sponsorkelley-2">Isaac's Adoption</a>!Mrs Bichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13968828175824379992noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5482135141161170560.post-67109101690020874302011-08-03T17:22:00.002-07:002011-08-04T08:04:33.562-07:00Perspective Gained<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinRzL22NnFqCFHbKfknEiVLeZRRVisPtpoGxUeD6nwSe8MXBspbwxLwn9AC1PhyzJm6kGv5MOV7sDz9AJx2PNimI3Yl523GgAMdHdXwW-x-a4ztb4Gdr7eFH851VzRqSiwAQXMFenWe9k/s1600/P1100085.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinRzL22NnFqCFHbKfknEiVLeZRRVisPtpoGxUeD6nwSe8MXBspbwxLwn9AC1PhyzJm6kGv5MOV7sDz9AJx2PNimI3Yl523GgAMdHdXwW-x-a4ztb4Gdr7eFH851VzRqSiwAQXMFenWe9k/s400/P1100085.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5637016829407356866" border="0" /></a><br />I had to stop in the middle of an exhausting day, yesterday, to re-read <a href="http://www.feminagirls.com/2011/07/26/heart-tenderizing-words/">this post</a> from the <a href="http://www.feminagirls.com/2011/07/26/heart-tenderizing-words/">Femina Blog</a>. Really Cool.<br /><br />Perspective can be everything. Take a look!Mrs Bichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13968828175824379992noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5482135141161170560.post-64084384638210921762011-08-03T08:02:00.002-07:002011-08-03T08:05:19.719-07:00The Kelley Family's Story about Bringing Isaac Home!Check the <a href="http://room4love.blogspot.com/">Kelley Family's</a> story about adding this Precious baby boy to their Family!<br /><br /><center><a href="http://reecesrainbow.org/sponsorkelley-2"><img src="http://i1215.photobucket.com/albums/cc502/ReecesRainbow/isaacfsp.png" width="100%" /></a><br /><a href="http://room4love.blogspot.com/">Grab This!</a><br /></center>Mrs Bichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13968828175824379992noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5482135141161170560.post-23349400842872080352011-08-01T08:40:00.004-07:002011-08-01T09:27:50.951-07:00Bear Fruit: NOT a Command<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWWidV20NMAQOqsleO2riUAhp6o9c0A9RXsjuQHEFRihCA7A6pxzRTiisH3b3kqsVNhFxOys6okDV6yBApFquvlv046kCroSfApvIjbrkKDLYAfzgrgLgTnoJEXPT2FsnACPEgjsRH7nM/s1600/P1090772.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWWidV20NMAQOqsleO2riUAhp6o9c0A9RXsjuQHEFRihCA7A6pxzRTiisH3b3kqsVNhFxOys6okDV6yBApFquvlv046kCroSfApvIjbrkKDLYAfzgrgLgTnoJEXPT2FsnACPEgjsRH7nM/s400/P1090772.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5635924424066089074" border="0" /></a><br />I wanted to share with you our Church's<a href="http://holycrosstucson.com/#/sermons-calendar-donate"> sermon from yesterday. </a>Even a person with a Mature relationship with Jesus Christ can mistake <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">mis</span>-information or nearly-truth, for truth.<br /><br />Pete reminded us that there is no command to Bear Fruit. Jesus does not say, "...now, you, go bear fruit." He says, "Abide in me...and you <span style="font-style: italic;">will </span>bear fruit."<br /><br /><blockquote>John 15:4,5<br />"Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine, you are the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">branches</span>. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing."</blockquote><br /><br />I know there is a lot of "fruit...tree...branches talk here (and even more if you read the whole chapter). But, this was a analogy very real and understandable to the people who Jesus was speaking to. They understood this very well...their lives depended on their crops bearing fruit. There was no Fry's or Safeway around the corner (neither is there one of those around <span style="font-style: italic;">my</span> corner...but that is an entirely different subject for me to complain about at a different time).<br /><br />Anyway, If you want a better understanding of "vines" bearing fruit...come on over...my tomato plants are pitiful. They are bearing about 1/3 of the fruit they could be...and one plant has NEVER born any. It's because I have neglected the pruning altogether and their climbing structure is pitiful and falling. The vine is weak and the dead branches are chocking out the life from the good branches.<br /><br />But, that's okay. My tomatoes don't matter. But <span style="font-style: italic;">I matter</span>. My abiding in Christ is directly related to my experiencing Joy.<br /><br />Pete's Message was a blessing to me...convicting, encouraging. He reminds me that my struggle is not<span style="font-style: italic;"> with anxiety</span>...or <span style="font-style: italic;">anger</span> or <span style="font-style: italic;">with being a servant, </span><span>or </span><span style="font-style: italic;">with patience. </span>My struggle is in <span style="font-style: italic;">abiding in Christ.</span><br /><br />I thank my God that He has provided all I need to be able to abide in Him...His written words, translated and easily accessible...His people, to love and encourage me...His Spirit, already indwelling me, revealing what is true.<br /><br />Take a little time...while you are surfing the net, looking for coupons, reading <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Facebook</span> statuses or looking at posted pictures of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">someone's</span> family vacation...to listen to <a href="http://holycrosstucson.com/#/sermons-calendar-donate">the talk</a>. I know you will be as encouraged as I am!Mrs Bichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13968828175824379992noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5482135141161170560.post-61208257131794670122011-07-28T21:35:00.007-07:002011-07-28T22:02:35.502-07:00Time With My Man<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFDza-WKDpjrGo4Bk22h_GI1ssBCiARBKP7h-IjT2f3isOxAbIHCAALXjcDBQpUnMlB5_tjBQ9I_Ch4UDr4ay34CJlqIhJ_G2eEjNOdtpxYAtWJWmK9_FqLW13of3s80g9OriRktpL41s/s1600/P1090902.JPG"><br /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-0AtCqP2VBsY0oksJLiidw4F5SP3ZqIslZd1GRNRVNrIOSsjokSPd9WnbRcC9jeC9oN1BefEcj891twyh3xP2Lj4VAEQ7s2Rn5yTtyeIdBPvsrmfrfyPpNGlGkUySrYKfXTbgFfGYiik/s1600/P1090915.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-0AtCqP2VBsY0oksJLiidw4F5SP3ZqIslZd1GRNRVNrIOSsjokSPd9WnbRcC9jeC9oN1BefEcj891twyh3xP2Lj4VAEQ7s2Rn5yTtyeIdBPvsrmfrfyPpNGlGkUySrYKfXTbgFfGYiik/s400/P1090915.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5634633074618390898" border="0" /></a>This last weekend was so wonderful. My husband took me to my favorite Resort, here in Tucson. It was just a couple of nights, but it was AWESOME. It definitely refreshed me and excited me to dig in deep in my roles as Wife, Mom and Keeper of my home. But, it also left me wanting more...more sunshine, more quiet moments, more clean, white towels...and more of my man. Sometimes he gets lost beneath the little tower of snotty noses, piercing screams and potty dances.<br /><br />I love those little crazies and I missed them, tons, just being away for such a short time...but I'm on a mission now...I want to steal some of those moments from them...and give them back to him.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYuUv75Xy88X0IvmAU67nj4fw-jZpmb3AxnOyMsN1taTxJQfuZHb9a2D7cy5BrRGAncb_0bvDnjQkb_LTysD7M3GAgnxi9C4GRZaEAS8wah5Xys-WJ_wVAXntSaLlLkKZcVAJelyKUJfg/s1600/P1090912.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYuUv75Xy88X0IvmAU67nj4fw-jZpmb3AxnOyMsN1taTxJQfuZHb9a2D7cy5BrRGAncb_0bvDnjQkb_LTysD7M3GAgnxi9C4GRZaEAS8wah5Xys-WJ_wVAXntSaLlLkKZcVAJelyKUJfg/s400/P1090912.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5634631839332578642" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFDza-WKDpjrGo4Bk22h_GI1ssBCiARBKP7h-IjT2f3isOxAbIHCAALXjcDBQpUnMlB5_tjBQ9I_Ch4UDr4ay34CJlqIhJ_G2eEjNOdtpxYAtWJWmK9_FqLW13of3s80g9OriRktpL41s/s1600/P1090902.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFDza-WKDpjrGo4Bk22h_GI1ssBCiARBKP7h-IjT2f3isOxAbIHCAALXjcDBQpUnMlB5_tjBQ9I_Ch4UDr4ay34CJlqIhJ_G2eEjNOdtpxYAtWJWmK9_FqLW13of3s80g9OriRktpL41s/s400/P1090902.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5634634286514888738" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUpCyhOZillp8WElVpXwsG5p8miljra-ZUQCrbsieE98hOYVPPfTOwLeIYaX5PdvrzyCvmCv8iwXyHtScGN7WO7KJRR5ODpjmErUQH-YgBnxQ4j4vAWwgQ3HD9ckFrhgIm3pYpFVKKhmY/s1600/P1090911.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUpCyhOZillp8WElVpXwsG5p8miljra-ZUQCrbsieE98hOYVPPfTOwLeIYaX5PdvrzyCvmCv8iwXyHtScGN7WO7KJRR5ODpjmErUQH-YgBnxQ4j4vAWwgQ3HD9ckFrhgIm3pYpFVKKhmY/s400/P1090911.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5634630751617194162" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVr-euqRhzWpBUq91_zzugZMQudsr3OKo5zrH-4Rd1L_3CVeeSHJaZvKE9jVmzuGqPx8J1WFKxWayYTUCxFZALdY2KQBlgnsLcpqrFNWxb0usTNALGp0vs9fzYt4FPJl4E0-UdGMieOhY/s1600/P1090906.JPG"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8ECkeLB0zqoNoCYoLjqcXXpVFxpe_w4OqajXXb6wS53avn_fR1c2PGQ5tdRkOZlELAMTVXtjzYMhfFqrAKZS0DCORZyzX8Rhf5omMaPNuAUc-2HBkb9jnFn31aFHZoNj1MQtpvDR2dH0/s1600/P1090907.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8ECkeLB0zqoNoCYoLjqcXXpVFxpe_w4OqajXXb6wS53avn_fR1c2PGQ5tdRkOZlELAMTVXtjzYMhfFqrAKZS0DCORZyzX8Rhf5omMaPNuAUc-2HBkb9jnFn31aFHZoNj1MQtpvDR2dH0/s400/P1090907.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5634629682443808706" border="0" /></a>Mrs Bichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13968828175824379992noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5482135141161170560.post-1244251860389805532011-07-28T21:27:00.000-07:002011-07-28T21:30:46.169-07:00Have You Ever Seen a Cuter Ice Cream-Eater?<embed type="application/x-shockwave-flash" src="https://picasaweb.google.com/s/c/bin/slideshow.swf" flashvars="host=picasaweb.google.com&hl=en_US&feat=flashalbum&RGB=0x000000&feed=https%3A%2F%2Fpicasaweb.google.com%2Fdata%2Ffeed%2Fapi%2Fuser%2Fjennbic%2Falbumid%2F5634624508516390577%3Falt%3Drss%26kind%3Dphoto%26authkey%3DGv1sRgCNblyvOapaefSA%26hl%3Den_US" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" width="600" height="400"></embed>Mrs Bichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13968828175824379992noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5482135141161170560.post-36756845836056341512011-07-27T09:00:00.004-07:002011-07-27T11:21:26.404-07:00Let Us Not Overlook the Plain and Obvious<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdc4sLBplHVu-AygORl_lIo33HTLtOqD-jyuXKdWhHq889Q-zpiqPY0HZn1U6ZmwfrDvemGA92CyEKRY_O2lnw7_yMEKakMWRKEhr-3_N02v0JGm8TbkVZddl9GZuje_n2fjOtcLqd4ro/s1600/P1090713.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdc4sLBplHVu-AygORl_lIo33HTLtOqD-jyuXKdWhHq889Q-zpiqPY0HZn1U6ZmwfrDvemGA92CyEKRY_O2lnw7_yMEKakMWRKEhr-3_N02v0JGm8TbkVZddl9GZuje_n2fjOtcLqd4ro/s400/P1090713.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5634096202429887090" border="0" /></a><br />Gwendolyn and I are busy getting ready for <span style="font-style: italic;">Christmas in July</span> with a Birthday Party for Jesus, this Friday (not because we are such a super-spiritual and event-clever family, but because we happen to be a little birthday/Christmas CRAZY in this house).<br /><br />In our preparation, this morning we were reading the nativity story in her Bible. As we stared at a picture of Mary and Joseph and baby Jesus in the stable, I began pointing out the various characters. Like a good mother, I spoke of Joseph being Jesus' earthly Father and God also being Jesus' Father and the baby, pictured, being Jesus, etc...etc. As I finished imparting spiritual wisdom and went on to continue reading, Gwendolyn points her finger to the only remaining figure on the page and says, "...and that's a cow."<br /><br />It's true. That <span style="font-style: italic;">was </span>a cow.<br /><br />In the tired and, often, unpredictable moments of mothering small children, It's the simple and true things that are of most encouragement to me. Somehow, amidst the hours of readable Facebook statuses, googled coupon codes, interesting DIY projects and on-line shopping sales, it can be hard to notice the very real cow in the picture.<br /><br />Jesus is my cow. And, I need to spend my time looking at, and listening to, those who can point Him out to me and say, "and that's a cow." <span style="font-style: italic;">That </span>is Jesus. He's your only source of real and lasting Joy and plain-old, regular happiness. Look at Him, and you vision for all your life-roles and daily activities will be clear, fresh and...dare I say it...<span style="font-style: italic;">Exciting</span>!<br /><br />Here area few of my personal favorite Joy-reminder resources:<br /><a href="http://www.feminagirls.com/">Femina</a><br /><a href="http://www.desiringgod.org/blog">Desiring God Blog</a><br /><a href="http://www.passionatehomemaking.com/">Passionate Homemaking</a><br /><br />What are some of yours???Mrs Bichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13968828175824379992noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5482135141161170560.post-61792612235820044242011-06-18T18:12:00.002-07:002011-06-18T19:44:40.252-07:00Motherhood as a Mission Field<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA4NdrBUFaVgfRFhm9i8mqkuMeoMHKBd5nwMetkJ8-GO9wOdH6lDMwUzaeFet7Dz4LEhPBLbW8_Gs6xm87SUdWYnqLjb0gShmloNIYQqyYVURHJXwTqj7CX2iCVAhKt1ggPpYS-Uvzsow/s1600/P1090644.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA4NdrBUFaVgfRFhm9i8mqkuMeoMHKBd5nwMetkJ8-GO9wOdH6lDMwUzaeFet7Dz4LEhPBLbW8_Gs6xm87SUdWYnqLjb0gShmloNIYQqyYVURHJXwTqj7CX2iCVAhKt1ggPpYS-Uvzsow/s400/P1090644.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5619756132343337650" border="0" /></a><br />Awesome Article from guest blogger at <a href="http://www.desiringgod.org/">Desiring God</a>.<br /><br />Liz Jankovic is the Author of <span style="font-style: italic;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Loving-Little-Years-Motherhood-Trenches/dp/1591280818/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1308450728&sr=8-1">Loving the Little Years</a>. </span>This book is changing my mothering!<br /><a href="http://www.desiringgod.org/blog/posts/motherhood-as-a-mission-field?md5=5cd7b50d37565f2318bee0dac1a2eec8"><br /></a>Check it out:<br /><a href="http://www.desiringgod.org/blog/posts/motherhood-as-a-mission-field?md5=5cd7b50d37565f2318bee0dac1a2eec8">Motherhood as a Mission Field</a> Blog PostMrs Bichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13968828175824379992noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5482135141161170560.post-20663528086856579832011-06-07T13:42:00.000-07:002011-06-07T13:43:57.078-07:00About Sums Up Our Days at Home<div style="padding-bottom: 2px; line-height: 0px"><a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/35880918/" target="_blank"><img src="http://d30opm7hsgivgh.cloudfront.net/upload/35880918_m4hZ8dt8_c.jpg" border="0" width="327 height =" /></a></div><div style="float: left; padding-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px;"><p style="font-size: 10px; color: #76838b;">Source: <a style="text-decoration: underline; font-size: 10px; color: #76838b;" href="http://www.elementsofstyleblog.com/2011/01/design-crush-estee-stanley.html">elementsofstyleblog.com</a> via <a style="text-decoration: underline; font-size: 10px; color: #76838b;" href="http://pinterest.com/mrsbic/" target="_blank">Jennifer</a> on <a style="text-decoration: underline; color: #76838b;" href="http://pinterest.com/" target="_blank">Pinterest</a></p></div>Mrs Bichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13968828175824379992noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5482135141161170560.post-81515730301197978302011-05-27T12:19:00.007-07:002011-05-27T12:45:43.418-07:00My Awesomes<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKbFju1GgX43mVQGFACHhx7_gSTmiUSsdBjdJ14uicyrrL9Mjp4bVZ8gS_T7A6wbJn7CG16O1olIVYnhQishmMu9AujBzidxp1DtA5cE2Gsqp0mW1eulZcmfnmnsnK65KsJEsmkICupDc/s1600/P1090362.JPG"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHYCaHmrACpAJakUGlyET5mlMYp9qdYnLyxgQ8CwXlWpIr8HGU0bRBPB34LnrwGiWPMUwOOAgQh6eM6gDsmeApUNKTe72adCQzg_se8jw_p77cXzl8iyV_3gMTr9VsugM3ut14Hi_xpOM/s1600/P1090355.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHYCaHmrACpAJakUGlyET5mlMYp9qdYnLyxgQ8CwXlWpIr8HGU0bRBPB34LnrwGiWPMUwOOAgQh6eM6gDsmeApUNKTe72adCQzg_se8jw_p77cXzl8iyV_3gMTr9VsugM3ut14Hi_xpOM/s400/P1090355.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5611479320482007538" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5hbLwIu53jf6cm2uJkDRY5GhQeorY-NF7LCQ-7iocTa0dVOlOReT7S7cRZpLwzHOPuHcFe-tAVYYZWGwmeTcd5NwUaIYGvhfZ0ome-_v2quAI2tjtQYxVn3FPp2TzOId98carVz-Q3Hw/s1600/P1090369.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5hbLwIu53jf6cm2uJkDRY5GhQeorY-NF7LCQ-7iocTa0dVOlOReT7S7cRZpLwzHOPuHcFe-tAVYYZWGwmeTcd5NwUaIYGvhfZ0ome-_v2quAI2tjtQYxVn3FPp2TzOId98carVz-Q3Hw/s400/P1090369.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5611480100237115218" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs4CpFflWq-XQCaAor9tUVFfSA-S_8Wn2PpCUwII36AG96C3Hsemve7_CYVysh6eYgO4Fn6U8STlKIDMWg_j8Gg6uqD3Hbg67Ioddc7vbRmmvEYpjC0zZKa8zovrGZpW6pFI2bACZA2EU/s1600/P1090361.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs4CpFflWq-XQCaAor9tUVFfSA-S_8Wn2PpCUwII36AG96C3Hsemve7_CYVysh6eYgO4Fn6U8STlKIDMWg_j8Gg6uqD3Hbg67Ioddc7vbRmmvEYpjC0zZKa8zovrGZpW6pFI2bACZA2EU/s400/P1090361.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5611480777736303298" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKbFju1GgX43mVQGFACHhx7_gSTmiUSsdBjdJ14uicyrrL9Mjp4bVZ8gS_T7A6wbJn7CG16O1olIVYnhQishmMu9AujBzidxp1DtA5cE2Gsqp0mW1eulZcmfnmnsnK65KsJEsmkICupDc/s1600/P1090362.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKbFju1GgX43mVQGFACHhx7_gSTmiUSsdBjdJ14uicyrrL9Mjp4bVZ8gS_T7A6wbJn7CG16O1olIVYnhQishmMu9AujBzidxp1DtA5cE2Gsqp0mW1eulZcmfnmnsnK65KsJEsmkICupDc/s400/P1090362.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5611482449639400098" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5hbLwIu53jf6cm2uJkDRY5GhQeorY-NF7LCQ-7iocTa0dVOlOReT7S7cRZpLwzHOPuHcFe-tAVYYZWGwmeTcd5NwUaIYGvhfZ0ome-_v2quAI2tjtQYxVn3FPp2TzOId98carVz-Q3Hw/s1600/P1090369.JPG"><br /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHYCaHmrACpAJakUGlyET5mlMYp9qdYnLyxgQ8CwXlWpIr8HGU0bRBPB34LnrwGiWPMUwOOAgQh6eM6gDsmeApUNKTe72adCQzg_se8jw_p77cXzl8iyV_3gMTr9VsugM3ut14Hi_xpOM/s1600/P1090355.JPG"><br /></a>Mrs Bichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13968828175824379992noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5482135141161170560.post-24609890874973108672011-05-26T17:26:00.004-07:002011-05-27T12:18:25.461-07:00Life Is NOT Like a Box of CrayonsDon't you just love a big, brand new box of Crayons? All those sharpened points of beautiful color, standing straight up...all in a line. You know, the really good brand...you know the one I'm talking about.<br /><br />I Do. I love them.<br /><br />I love pottery barn magazine pictures of playrooms I've only half been able to imagine in my mind...but knew they existed somewhere.<br /><br />I love wooden toys that are shiny and new, and also look like they've been around forever.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI46ZstBRBYVRzPGZJSQisp0lJcLDtNgpKTIKSoGbB1iO9GY9XoXvJkCwq2wEWN-EcjXrMF8Okll9kqagcTvwFnnU59QlAlJPxJBKz0Y4Bwk0GgVcxWlHGqABcJagOJ2O7UgACTcyfZzY/s1600/P1080427.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI46ZstBRBYVRzPGZJSQisp0lJcLDtNgpKTIKSoGbB1iO9GY9XoXvJkCwq2wEWN-EcjXrMF8Okll9kqagcTvwFnnU59QlAlJPxJBKz0Y4Bwk0GgVcxWlHGqABcJagOJ2O7UgACTcyfZzY/s400/P1080427.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5611407292261671170" border="0" /></a>This is our collection of crayons. All different kinds and brands (only a few left of the good ones)...most of them stubby and void of wrapping (you can find the wrapping torn up into many little pieces, under the little table...or in the baby's mouth. Oh, and some random washable colored pencils that I absolutely hate and will never buy again. But, best of all...those little, dirty hands, eager to be a part of whatever mommy is doing with the crayons.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGSm7xHn7m6FHm1G6mE1TLJqIYF5qzYvbJ13ytrmFfJH91sx-6LgtpjwW2Wtljtgg1-VQVR7zFBPEHKC20IFaKCuSRXH476DrdEETninArtQRsQ5AMxyyQhBL0pnoXVKcTE_NSTdCScIU/s1600/P1090353.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGSm7xHn7m6FHm1G6mE1TLJqIYF5qzYvbJ13ytrmFfJH91sx-6LgtpjwW2Wtljtgg1-VQVR7zFBPEHKC20IFaKCuSRXH476DrdEETninArtQRsQ5AMxyyQhBL0pnoXVKcTE_NSTdCScIU/s400/P1090353.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5611408241514444274" border="0" /></a>This is our playroom. Plastic garage sale bins have bullied out the romantic idea of cloth and woven baskets. And, that poor, poor baby doll...one foot, hanging on for dear life. One Crazy princess and one Baby Dude...conquering the world, one Walmart block at a time.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm32U5GwMa_binyKh_1ha9F4tL8WMTsZiNgi68rG7PLSiHUNFMkI6Cv40ZMU0ehKUOK9elXOAH0pRXTyBLp3nUosywTjYNVu83hAXpetoAGZO_icWpX8Kb2TmI9MIPuRwZg_cs7TamND0/s1600/P1090332.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm32U5GwMa_binyKh_1ha9F4tL8WMTsZiNgi68rG7PLSiHUNFMkI6Cv40ZMU0ehKUOK9elXOAH0pRXTyBLp3nUosywTjYNVu83hAXpetoAGZO_icWpX8Kb2TmI9MIPuRwZg_cs7TamND0/s400/P1090332.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5611409147904944194" border="0" /></a>THIS...this is just what happens when you turn your back to take pictures for the blog.<br /><br />Thank you, Lord, for my beautiful blessings!Mrs Bichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13968828175824379992noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5482135141161170560.post-61739931148808363852011-05-04T06:18:00.002-07:002011-05-04T06:40:58.385-07:00Give Me Poetry!This morning, as my husband left for work, I said to him,"I'm reading <span style="font-style: italic;">Galations</span>...and I'm bored."<br /><br />He smiled...because,<span style="font-style: italic;"> Galations</span> may be many things...but it is <span style="font-style: italic;">not boring. </span><br /><br />But, even as I continue reading in the book, I am still a little bored. I realized that I need a little poetry in my life...some beautiful passion to cling to all morning. The kind of words that linger well into the afternoon and come back to remind you, at evening's close.<br /><br />I went to the Psalms and there I read this:<br /><div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-style: italic;">"In peace I will both lie down and sleep; for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety." </span><br />- Psalm 4:8<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">It took my breath away...an actual breath-stopping gasp. Beautiful!<br /></div></div>Mrs Bichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13968828175824379992noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5482135141161170560.post-12798832466720725412011-04-29T11:20:00.001-07:002011-04-29T11:21:59.581-07:00FEMINA Blog<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.feminagirls.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/Springy-Header1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 780px; height: 200px;" src="http://www.feminagirls.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/Springy-Header1.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />I can feel myself being more encouraged by the minute.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"></span><blockquote><span style="font-style: italic;">"</span><span style="font-style: italic;" class="messageBody">Mothers: As you keep feeding your children, behold, they do grow! Keep your homes, build your homes. All your washing and shopping and planning and cooking and cleaning and swatting is used by God to make faithful homes and faithful children."</span></blockquote><br /><br />Check out the whole Blog Post <a href="http://www.feminagirls.com/2007/07/18/give-yourself-a-good-job-description/">HERE</a> over at <a href="http://www.feminagirls.com/">Femina</a>.Mrs Bichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13968828175824379992noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5482135141161170560.post-27502678612121049082011-04-29T10:55:00.002-07:002011-04-29T11:18:00.195-07:00Let Her Eat Cake!<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://heavenlyhomemakers.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/chocolate_cake_9.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 519px; height: 389px;" src="http://heavenlyhomemakers.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/chocolate_cake_9.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><a href="http://heavenlyhomemakers.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/chocolate_cake_9.jpg">photo credit</a><br /><br /></div>After watching a <span style="font-style: italic;">Sesame Street</span> episode where they made a cake, Gwendolyn was dead-set on making one of her own. I was actually feeling pretty sick that day, but when the girl gets something in her head...well, it's just easier to let her make a cake.<br /><br />But, if she was going to make a cake at 7am and eat it all day...it was going to be a "healthier" cake and it was going to be easy to make.<br /><br /><a href="http://heavenlyhomemakers.com/buttermilk-whole-wheat-chocolate-cake?">This</a> recipe from <a href="http://heavenlyhomemakers.com/">Heavenly Homemakers </a>was PERFECT! I used <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Kefir</span> instead of buttermilk and I DID use the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Sucanat</span> and coconut oil. <span style="font-style: italic;">I didn't even frost the thing!</span> It was delicious and, honestly, next time I will try even cutting the sugar way down.Mrs Bichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13968828175824379992noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5482135141161170560.post-75322107970176606722011-04-22T15:24:00.002-07:002011-04-22T15:29:32.893-07:00Letters to Friends On Stuff That Matters<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:trackmoves/> <w:trackformatting/> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:donotpromoteqf/> 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</w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0in; mso-para-margin-right:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0in; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} </style> <![endif]--> <p style="color: rgb(255, 102, 102); font-style: italic; text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">My Dear Friend, <a href="http://alifedowntown.typepad.com/blog/2011/02/letters-to-friends-about-stuff-that-matters.html">Cara</a>, and I decided to join in on this beautiful study at <a href="http://www.aholyexperience.com/">A Holy Experience</a>, on loving Jesus and others with our words. Perhaps you would also enjoy this!</span></p><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:130%;">*********<br />This letter, I just LOVE. I Love CARA, for being real...for being poetic while she's being real...I love her for being tired, like me.<br /></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br />*********</span><br /></div><p class="MsoNormal">Hey Jenn, </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span>The babies haven’t been sleeping. They come, looking for comfort between our sheets, our full size sheets. <span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>As the clock ticks through the wee night hours and the chimes ring downstairs, I try to roll over on my stomach and pull the covers that have been kicked off of both the baby and me just a little bit farther over onto my stomach so I’m not really <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">really</i> cold. And then, in between kicks to the head, I realize the sunrays have begun to filter in through the wooden blinds and I lay there, cold…eyes shut…mind wide open…heart seething frustration and understanding at the same time. </p> <p class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left:45.0pt;mso-add-space:auto; text-indent:-9.0pt;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1"><span style="mso-bidi-mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin;font-family:Calibri;" ><span style="mso-list:Ignore">I.<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span>Am. So. Tired.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Tonight at a stoplight, my eyes glazed over and all the cars turned into small fuzzy golden orbs of light. The orbs moved closer and my head drifted back to watch the light show progress on past me, slowly, easily.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">I so want to let life just pass by. To glaze over the intentions and lean back, eyes half closed, letting the exhaustion win. It could envelope my mind and my heart. I could slowly lose the wild dreams. Those wild and crazy longings to be more. Different. Purposeful.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">I could close…my…eyes</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">But then, I know I would miss it. The wild. The longing. I would hunger for the could-have-been and the yesterdays. And I never want to look back like that. </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Only look ahead. Eyes wide and seeing. Thoughtful and Dreaming. </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Tonight I will sleep. Because it is necessary…</p> <p style="text-align:center" align="center"><span style=" Tahoma","sans-serif";font-family:";font-size:130%;color:black;" ><br /><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">Start by doing what’s necessary;</b></span></p> <p style="text-align:center" align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span style="Tahoma","sans-serif";font-family:";color:black;" >Next do what’s possible;</span></b></span></p> <p style="text-align:center" align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span style="Tahoma","sans-serif";font-family:";color:black;" >And suddenly you are doing the impossible</span></b></span></p> <p style="text-align:center" align="center"><span style=" Tahoma","sans-serif";font-family:";font-size:130%;color:black;" >~St. Francis of Assisi</span></p> <p style="text-align:center" align="center"><span style=" Tahoma","sans-serif";font-family:";font-size:130%;color:black;" > </span></p> <p style="text-align: center;" align="center"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:100%;color:black;" ><br /></span></p><p style="text-align:center" align="center"><span style=" Tahoma","sans-serif";font-family:";font-size:100%;color:black;" >But tomorrow, tomorrow I wake early, eyes open, ready to let the wild heart lead.</span></p> <p style="text-align:center" align="center"><span style=" Tahoma","sans-serif";font-family:";font-size:100%;color:black;" >One step at a time.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in"> CARA</p>Mrs Bichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13968828175824379992noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5482135141161170560.post-6349225441061271172011-04-05T19:12:00.005-07:002011-04-05T19:22:26.329-07:00We're Proud of our Harvest!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtlI8SqZvhFmD_b65m43xlXpjKBb1kFc6RT-5m_opO-qXy7B1RlYoqGZrbwRiRLIYx3Q3NVeWtEH1d5BkjD_GsXu9YxE9zm3nYPEHL2pHCS84KrDqf9ESKoHI0hUaWIX324DHBLZ21ePA/s1600/P1080255.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtlI8SqZvhFmD_b65m43xlXpjKBb1kFc6RT-5m_opO-qXy7B1RlYoqGZrbwRiRLIYx3Q3NVeWtEH1d5BkjD_GsXu9YxE9zm3nYPEHL2pHCS84KrDqf9ESKoHI0hUaWIX324DHBLZ21ePA/s400/P1080255.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5592290202927174114" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH8kkiE9iwU_U7dcLUTms6ASYWXX5APsEtN2Y7OVqwDnttlS7YmpVciZWwmrpQh3bZrNbUf5kyM7FAUaZym5weMWH7pc6OttEoQlfgb7nD_cPWZU9CP82DQ5YdebEByqJHtOQELy2mcN0/s1600/P1080256.JPG"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhquwtjrppPa9LsIllKOLKcsNWRRkjrO3-K1SjcRugUyYWvAHkZVDBkFUm_JnBfgrB-KaDmTj4jQwl9LwVcqOuwGnhfmN77K3z73AQB-lQcaMj_PJ6PHQTuuCt3xpZBMEIpIe3c3BshXu8/s1600/P1080256.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhquwtjrppPa9LsIllKOLKcsNWRRkjrO3-K1SjcRugUyYWvAHkZVDBkFUm_JnBfgrB-KaDmTj4jQwl9LwVcqOuwGnhfmN77K3z73AQB-lQcaMj_PJ6PHQTuuCt3xpZBMEIpIe3c3BshXu8/s400/P1080256.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5592289265298646354" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhquwtjrppPa9LsIllKOLKcsNWRRkjrO3-K1SjcRugUyYWvAHkZVDBkFUm_JnBfgrB-KaDmTj4jQwl9LwVcqOuwGnhfmN77K3z73AQB-lQcaMj_PJ6PHQTuuCt3xpZBMEIpIe3c3BshXu8/s1600/P1080256.JPG"><br /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHKQWUVMOzt0j0OsyO0qvpyWnb7rQLtNorXhyphenhypheneL0kIlEcq3NyY0rfl2gLIMLWgDMqbvM5Gd4UbpGAHbsL2eTTBeCB-bMy0QdoEzyLID-xaAgSQ8IMeBwT50ZHtQD_BRZdjgMFvM-ak4Vs/s1600/P1080252.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHKQWUVMOzt0j0OsyO0qvpyWnb7rQLtNorXhyphenhypheneL0kIlEcq3NyY0rfl2gLIMLWgDMqbvM5Gd4UbpGAHbsL2eTTBeCB-bMy0QdoEzyLID-xaAgSQ8IMeBwT50ZHtQD_BRZdjgMFvM-ak4Vs/s400/P1080252.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5592289114600072290" border="0" /></a><br />The <span style="font-style: italic;">Lettuce</span>...Not the fish : ).<br /><br />Next up: tomatoes, cucumbers, zucchini, basil and Sunflowers!Mrs Bichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13968828175824379992noreply@blogger.com3