tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37155803243576258282024-02-20T13:47:53.299-08:00A Kansas WindJesseca Dawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03248251614365079067noreply@blogger.comBlogger188125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3715580324357625828.post-4153192232178611022016-02-09T20:42:00.000-08:002016-02-09T20:42:15.263-08:00Let Him hold youOkay, I know. What kind of a blog post title is that? Well, hopefully by the time you finish reading the post it will all make sense.<br />
I was planning to do a January-in-Review post, and I still will, but this is just something that's been on my heart lately so I thought I'd share it.<br />
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January was a difficult month for our family. Dad has been on three antibiotics since Christmas, he has had multiple Dr. visits, and Mom has not been doing too well. Her MS has been acting up, so her vision has been blurred and a lot of the time she feels dizzy. And, in the middle of it all, almost everyone came down with a nasty cold. There were days when Faith, dad and I were the only ones who were up and around. <br />
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So, yeah. It's definitely not been one of the better months for our family. There were times this past month where I just wanted to go and hide from everything that was going on. Yes, I know it wouldn't have changed anything, but sometimes hiding can just sound so comforting. A way to get away from everything, even if it's only for a moment or two.<br />
Unfortunately, that's not really possible. Even when you do get away, the thoughts and worries are still there.<br />
There's one song that has been a huge blessing to me this month; "Just be Held" by Casting Crowns.<br />
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I tend to try and control the circumstances around me. And even if things don't go as planned, then at least I'll try to stay the same. Not appear affected by what's happening, taking everything in stride. Well, I <i>try.</i> The truth is, I try to ignore it. I look at the facts, see what needs done, and try my best to do it. If I give myself a moment to think, then all the questions I've pushed aside threaten to overwhelm me.<br />
It's easier to stay busy and to not think about it. But even in a house with ten people, there are times when it is quiet, there are times when there is nothing else that needs done.<br />
And that's when all the questions and worries come. That's when I have a choice. I can either do my best to continue in my own strength, which will eventually fail. Of I can turn everything over to God, and trust that He is holding me and my family in everything we're going through.<br />
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Yes, God has a reason. I don't know exactly how it will work out, but it will. In his timing. One of the hardest things for me to do is trust. I have a hard time letting go of things. And when you're in the middle of something that's going on, it is so easy to look at the surroundings. To see the physical side of what's happening and how it effects us.<br />
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My favorite line in "Just be Held" is; "When your eyes are on the storm you'll wonder if I love you still, but when your eyes are on the cross you'll know I always have and I always will. And not a tear is wasted, in time you'll understand. I'm painting beauty in the ashes, your life is in my hands".<br />
God is there. Even in the storm, even in the chaos, He is there, and He loves you. He wants what is best for you, and somehow what you're going through is all part of His will. We may not see it. Honestly, I don't really see it yet, but I know that His plan is there, and someday I <i>will</i> see it.<br />
It is hard to trust, but He knows what's best. There is freedom in surrender. Lay down the circumstances you are trying to control and give them to God.<br />
It's not a one-time only thing. You need to keep trusting God through all the trials that come your way. When you see all the pain and confusion, it is easy to wonder if God can possible use any of it for good. He can and He will, just trust. Release your hold, and instead let Him hold you. Jesus loves you. It's a simple truth, but one that can be hard to grasp.<br />
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Jesus is there and He will hold you. Let go, and let God.<br />
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So. . .yeah. This is just some things that have been on my heart this past week.<br />
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I will have a "proper" January-review post up sometime later this week. :) I hope you all are having a good week!<br />
<br />Jesseca Dawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03248251614365079067noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3715580324357625828.post-3455930433049704292016-01-11T12:39:00.003-08:002016-01-11T12:42:43.738-08:00The Earliest Memories Tag<span style="font-family: inherit;">Okay, I've<span style="font-family: inherit;"> decided I realllyy need to spend some time and catch up on all the <span style="font-family: inherit;">fun tags I've been tagged<span style="font-family: inherit;"> in these past couple months. </span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">For this one I was tagged by Bethany from <a href="http://bethanyr4him.blogspot.com/">A Great God and Good Cocoa </a></span></span></span><a href="http://bethanyr4him.blogspot.com/"><i> </i></a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Thanks for tagging me, Bethany!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>1. What is your earliest memory?</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Ummm, I remember when I was almost three and my sister was in the hospital. She was born 3 1/2 months early, so she was there for quite a while. I remember having to dress up in a funny gown, wear a mask, and wash my hands for two minutes before we went in the room. I LOVED being able to go and visit her. :) </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i> </i></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>2. What is your earliest memory of a birthday?</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i> </i>I vaguely remember my fifth birthday. We had quite a few friends from our church over and we eat outside. that's about all I remember. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>3. What is your earliest memory of a food?</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I remember eating so much clam chowder I was tired of it. ;) I think I was 4 and we lived in Washington at the time. Some neighbors of our went clamming all the time and they would always bring us back a whole bunch for us; so much that it got to the point we were having clam chowder every night. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i> </i></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>4. What is your earliest memory of a gathering?</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i> </i>Other they church it would have to be my fifth birthday. :) </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>5. What is your earliest memory of family?</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">When I turned six we moved to Kansas. Soon after that, my aunt and Uncle on my dad's side came down to see us, so we had them as well as our grandparents over to our house. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i> </i></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>6. What is your favorite memory?</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i> </i><span style="font-family: inherit;">The night I rec<span style="font-family: inherit;">ieved <span style="font-family: inherit;">Jesus as my Saviour. :) Other then that? Probably the time <span style="font-family: inherit;">last year when my grand<span style="font-family: inherit;">ma was in t<span style="font-family: inherit;">he hospital<span style="font-family: inherit;">. I had stayed <span style="font-family: inherit;">at the hospital to <span style="font-family: inherit;">be with Gra<span style="font-family: inherit;">ndpa during the surgery and then we had gone <span style="font-family: inherit;">to</span> her room afterwards. Some <span style="font-family: inherit;">close friends of ours came to see her and then <span style="font-family: inherit;">the<span style="font-family: inherit;">ir</span> mom s<span style="font-family: inherit;">tayed with Grandma and the dad and 2 boys <span style="font-family: inherit;">took Grandpa and<span style="font-family: inherit;"> I</span> to get dinner. I<span style="font-family: inherit;"> can't remember t<span style="font-family: inherit;">he last time I had so much fun! :<span style="font-family: inherit;">D </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>7. What is your earliest memory of a gift?</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">On my 5th birthday, my aunt got me a glass china tea set. It was sooo pretty!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i> </i></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>8. What is your earliest memory of an embarrassment?</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I honestly don't remember being embarrassed at all when I was little. I mean, I'm sure there were times when I was, I just can't remember them. There are only 3 events that come to mind of when I was embarrassed, but they are all pretty recent. The earliest was when I was 14. We had gone to a lake for a picnic, and it had iced over. It was pretty shallow in the area where we were, so dad said the ice was thick enough along the edges, and if we stayed right next to the shore it would be fine if we wanted to walk on it. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">We did and it was fine, but then I went and got a stick <span style="font-family: inherit;">because</span> I wanted to see how <span style="font-family: inherit;">think</span> the ice was <span style="font-family: inherit;">further</span> out. I stayed next to the shore<span style="font-family: inherit;"> and tapped the ice about <span style="font-family: inherit;">five feet <span style="font-family: inherit;">awa<span style="font-family: inherit;">y</span></span></span>. To my horro<span style="font-family: inherit;">r, <span style="font-family: inherit;">the ice broke</span> broke and I careened forward<span style="font-family: inherit;">, lost my bal<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">a</span>nce and</span></span></span></span></span>. . .promptly fell in the water. My sisters both screamed and ran to get Dad. I could swim and the current wasn't too bad, the water was just really cold. My brother helped me back onto the ice (the only one of my siblings who has stayed with me) and everything was fine. . .or so we thought. Well. . .obviously, someone had seen the ice break and called 911. So just think firemen, police, and even <span style="font-family: inherit;">someone from the lo<span style="font-family: inherit;">cal news pul<span style="font-family: inherit;">ling up</span></span></span>. . .yeah. <span style="font-family: inherit;">It was re<span style="font-family: inherit;">ally, really <span style="font-family: inherit;">embarrassing<span style="font-family: inherit;">. </span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span></span></span></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>9. What is your earliest memory of when you were scared?</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">T</span>he first time</span> I went to <span style="font-family: inherit;">the</span> dentist when I was fi<span style="font-family: inherit;">ve. I think I thought he was going to <span style="font-family: inherit;">pull my teeth o<span style="font-family: inherit;">r <span style="font-family: inherit;">some<span style="font-family: inherit;">thing</span> and I was terrified. </span></span></span></span><i> </i></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i> </i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>10. What is your earliest memory of a camp? </i></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i> </i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">When <span style="font-family: inherit;">I was five<span style="font-family: inherit;"> or six,</span> our ch<span style="font-family: inherit;">urch went on a family camp to <span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Vancouver</span>, B.C. It w<span style="font-family: inherit;">as sooo beautiful!! I <span style="font-family: inherit;">dearly want to go <span style="font-family: inherit;">again</span> <span style="font-family: inherit;">sometime</span>. </span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span></span></span></span><i> </i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>11. How young were you when you received Christ? (optional)</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I received Christ as my Lord and Saviour in 20<span style="font-family: inherit;">12,<span style="font-family: inherit;"> when I was <span style="font-family: inherit;">fou<span style="font-family: inherit;">rt<span style="font-family: inherit;">een years old. Up until then I had just thought tha<span style="font-family: inherit;">t <span style="font-family: inherit;">since I <span style="font-family: inherit;">had been rais<span style="font-family: inherit;">ed in a Chris<span style="font-family: inherit;">tian f<span style="font-family: inherit;">amily and gone to church, <i><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></i><span style="font-family: inherit;">Go<span style="font-family: inherit;">d would <span style="font-family: inherit;">surely</span> think I was good enough to go to Heaven with my <span style="font-family: inherit;">parents</span>. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">A month after I turned fourteen, <span style="font-family: inherit;">somethings hap<span style="font-family: inherit;">pened th<span style="font-family: inherit;">at showed me just how w<span style="font-family: inherit;">rong I was and ho<span style="font-family: inherit;">w</span> much <span style="font-family: inherit;">I needed a Saviour.</span></span></span></span></span> Honestly, <span style="font-family: inherit;">the peace<span style="font-family: inherit;"> that Jesus gives when you have given your life into His cont<span style="font-family: inherit;">rol i<span style="font-family: inherit;">s wor<span style="font-family: inherit;">th so much more then the world has to offer!</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">And. . .that wraps up the questions!<span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span>Thanks, Bethany! I had a lot of fun <span style="font-family: inherit;">answering</span> them all. :) </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><i> </i></span>Jesseca Dawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03248251614365079067noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3715580324357625828.post-45308517149838251892015-12-31T12:40:00.001-08:002015-12-31T16:24:20.365-08:002015 Year in ReviewAnd so. . .2015 has come to an end and we are finishing yet another year.<br />
Wow.<br />
Seriously, this year seems to have gone by so fast! I want to put on the brakes and just be like "okay, let's slow down a bit". But. . .that's not how time works.<br />
This past year has been one of the fullest that I can remember. There are so many different things that happened, both good and bad.<br />
So. . .I thought I'd do what most normal bloggers are doing and write a year-in-review post. Beware, it will be long! Read on at your own risk! :)<br />
There were many firsts this year, as well as a few lasts. So many amazing things happened that were so special to me. God has given me so many gifts this year that looking back I feel overwhelmed. He has a way of blessing us beyond and above what we can even imagine. Yes, there have been trials along the way, but God has seen us through them all.<br />
So, since this post is going to be loonnggg, I thought I'd separate it into three different sections. Life, Writing, and Goals. :)<br />
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<h3 style="text-align: center;">
<b>Life:</b></h3>
In January of this year my Grandma had her reverse shoulder operation. During the month I spent most of my time either staying with her at the hospital, or helping her once she got home. This was a huge learning experience for me and really enjoyed it. Not only did I get to spend time at the hospital and ask the nurses and CNA's questions, I was also blessed to be able to to spend a lot of time getting to know my grandparents better.<br />
We also had our first-ever piano recital in March.(I think it was March. It may have been the beginning of April.) I had played in church before, but this was the first actual recital had played in, so it was a lot of fun!<br />
The homeschool conference came after that in April. This is absolutely one of the things I look forward to ever spring! Well, that and the used book sale. :P They are always so much fun! I love being able to see friends I haven't seen for a while, and of course BOOKS!!! :D<br />
In June my parents celebrated their twenty-first wedding anniversary, and I got my drivers permit!<br />
In July I turned seventeen, which was exciting and fun. ;)<br />
In August our family went on a two-week long vacation to the pacific ocean. . .which was so super amazing!! We spent the majority of the time driving up and down the coast in Oregon and Washington and stopping whenever we wanted. Which was awesome. Of course, we also attended my cousins' wedding and I was able to meet an amazing friend who I had been pen -pals with for over a year. :)<br />
Also, in August I self-published my first book. Which was awesome too!! (Don't worry, I'll have a ton to more say about it later on in the writing section. :P )<br />
After August was finished the rest of the year passed in a blur. We were so super busy with school, and then it was October, and I got to meet another pen pal when her family came through Wichita! Which was so exciting!! Then Thanksgiving was here, then Christmas. And now it's New Years Eve!! Augh! Where has all the time gone?!<br />
Dad has done pretty well this year, our vacation in August proving that. Every test he's had for the past eighteen months have come back clear, and his body was a lot stronger this year. Last year there were several days he was in the doctors because he got sick, and since his body was weak, he needed antibiotics to help fight anything off.<br />
This year, (excepting the problem with his right elbow this past month) he hasn't been in at the Dr. for any reason other then a check-up, which is such a blessing!<br />
And sometime in this crazy year I was able to read seventy or so amazing books. Which was awesome. (I know, I use that word a lot ;) )<br />
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<h3 style="text-align: center;">
Writing:</h3>
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This year I have (including my short stories) written 152,651 words. Compared to last year, when I wrote around 10,000. So, yeah. my writing may or may not have drastically increased. </div>
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I also self-published my first ever book!!! Which was so awesome! Although it was honestly more of a "test" book to see how everything went, thus it isn't on Amazon or any other major online retailer. But, Lord willing my 2nd book will be out in the next couple months<strike> and it will be on amazon.</strike> Still a little nervous about putting something I've written out in the world like that. . . ;) </div>
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I also participated in and won NaNo for the first time ever! I heard about NaNo about two weeks before it started, so I didn't have too much time to prepare. I was like "Hey, why not?" Even if I didn't meet my goal, I'd have more written then if I didn't participate in it. </div>
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Not only did I meet my goal, I finished my manuscript, <i>A Question of Honor, </i>at around 65,000 words, which is the longest I've ever written! It is now sitting in my virtual "to-edit-later" bookshelf. Not particularly a project I'm looking forward to editing, but I will get around to it soon! Of all the projects I've worked on, <i>A Question of Honor</i> would have to be my favorite. It is set in one of my absolute favorite places and eras ever--WWII England and France. Of course right now it is a disaster, and a ton of things are going to be changed, taken out, etc. But it was fun to work on. :)</div>
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Also, In November we went and attended a WWII battle reenactment. Perhaps I should have put this under the "life' section, but. . .it was the one event that gave me enough inspiration and ideas to finish NaNo. And NaNo is/was writing. So I put it here. :D<br />
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<h3 style="text-align: center;">
Goals:</h3>
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I am a person who tends shy away from making a lot of goals at the beginning of a year because I know how much our schedule, and life, can change. And I am a fairly "checklist motivated' kind of person, so If I do have a goal that doesn't get completed, I tend to stress out about it. </div>
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However, I <i>do </i>think it is a good thing to have a few goals. I mean, as Christians one of our goals should be to grow in our knowledge and wisdom of our Savior and His word. And I do believe we should make it a priority to spend time in His word every day.<br />
Thus saying, I did make a few goals this past year. One of them was to read through the entire Bible. In January, I realized that the only way I would be able to complete that goal would be if I read only for the sake of reading. But I wanted to be able to spend time in the sections I was reading and really study them, so I shortened my goal to reading through the New Testament. I was able to complete that goal in September, so I started making my way though the prophets and today I finished the last chapter of Jeremiah. I also read through Proverbs, Ecclesiastes and Malachi,<br />
I also made a goal to get my first book out into the world--got that one done! :)<br />
I honestly didn't make to many other goals. I wanted to get caught up on school, which I've managed. (Well, managed in every subject except. . .math.)<br />
I also did a lot of things that I never would have imagined would happen this year! Such as spending time at the ocean, meeting new friends, seeing family, visiting a WWII research center, visits from friends, etc.<br />
But this year I would like to make some goals. And a few more then I made last year. ;) They're not in any particular order.<br />
1--Graduate! This'll probably happen in the later half of 2016, but I can't wait for it to actually happen! (Having algebra finished will be a HUGE plus. ;) )<br />
2--Publish <i>The Silent Blade. </i><br />
3<i>--</i>Finish reading through the prophets and read through the rest of the Old Testament.<br />
4--Look into college more thoroughly and make a decision. *gasp* At the present the task sounds too daunting. ;)<br />
5--Edit. Not very fun, but it needs to be done! And actually enjoy the first few edits. But after that it gets tedious.<br />
6--Get my drivers license.<br />
7--Spend more time with my younger siblings<br />
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So, there you have it. My year in review as well as some of my goals for the new year. While 2015 has been an AWESOME year and I am sorta sad to be telling it goodbye, I am looking forward to 2016.<br />
I am looking forward to for a number of reasons. Graduating is definitely one of them, the homeschool conference, of course, where I'll get to see friends and meet one of my favorite authors, as well as being able to vote in the presidential election for the first time ever. And on that note, I think we need to be in prayer more then ever for our country and its leaders. This year there has been a huge decline in our country's moral values, and it saddens me to see it. Our country needs God. When we turn our back on Him, how can we expect Him to continue blessing us? But what would happen if all us Christians who live in American started being the revival we want to see? What if we lived every day as though we were on a mission field? We should, because we are. We are not at home in this world, we are on a mission from God to spread his news to every corner of the earth. He has put us here in this country at this time for a reason. We need to shine all the brighter as the blackness around us grows darker. White on grey is harder to see then white on black, and it's when the situation around us gets black that God's light will be seen.<br />
Okay, I wasn't trying to change the subject. :) It's just something that's really been on my mind.<br />
Anyway, that's pretty much it for this post. I hope you all have had a blessed 2015 and are looking with anticipation to 2016!<br />
God bless you all and your families!<br />
~Jesseca</div>
Jesseca Dawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03248251614365079067noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3715580324357625828.post-59981324568677460142015-12-29T13:39:00.001-08:002015-12-29T13:39:25.578-08:00Praise!So, dad went in for his appointment this morning and it is not a blood clot! The ultrasound showed that there is an abscess on his elbow, so they are switching antibiotics and giving him a stronger one that will hopefully take care of it. <div>
Thank you guys so much for all your prayers and sweet comments! They mean a lot. :) </div>
Jesseca Dawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03248251614365079067noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3715580324357625828.post-83891130345200207032015-12-28T19:38:00.002-08:002015-12-28T19:38:26.514-08:00UpdateHi y'all! I thought I'd post a quick update for you guys. Thank you so, so much for all your prayers! They are so appreciated!<br />
On Saturday night dad was about the same, so we weren't planning on church the next morning. The swelling hadn't gone down and he was still in quite a bit of pain.<br />
Sunday morning he said he was feeling better. He was able to get up and do more then he had since before Christmas. We listened to a message together as a family and just had a really restful day which was such a blessing. Dad seemed to be doing better and we were all very thankful for that.<br />
Then. . .Sunday night, dad's arm started hurting again and the swelling increased. The past few days he had been able to get the pain under control with ice and ibuprofen and/or acetaminophen, but now nothing was helping. He had a fever and chills and he just really wasn't doing well. He SHOULD have gone to the ER (the Dr. said that if he got a fever, he should go) but. . .have I mentioned my dad is stubborn? So mom stayed up with him most of the night; he was hurting so bad he couldn't get comfortable and sleep.<br />
Today he called our family Dr. and made an appointment for this afternoon. He now has an app. scheduled for tomorrow morning to get an ultrasound done on his arm. The Dr. said that since the swelling hasn't gone down, there is the possibility that there may be a blood clot, which is what the ultrasound will find out. If there's not, it is just a really bad infection and he'll need to stay on strong antibiotics. Of the two, the infection would BY FAR be the better diagnosis! So please continue to keep him in your prayers.<br />
Thank you all so much!!<br />
~JessecaJesseca Dawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03248251614365079067noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3715580324357625828.post-72394202074676206062015-12-26T14:08:00.001-08:002015-12-26T14:08:45.271-08:00Prayer Request. . .Hi all my wonderful blog readers! I hope you are all having an amazing day-after-Christmas Saturday! :)<br />
I would like to ask if you could keep my dad in your prayers. This past week on Wednesday he realized that his right elbow was swelling pretty bad. He had absolutely no idea why. He thought it might be a spider bite, so he decided just to wait and see how it looked the next day.<br />
It seemed to be the same Thursday morning and it had started to hurt pretty bad. He thought about going to see our family doctor but the office was closed because it was Christmas eve. He didn't think it was quite bad enough to go to the ER, so he went to work. By the time he came home Thursday evening and it was hurting so bad he could hardly move it.<br />
But. . .my dad is stubborn and he insisted he was fine so we went to church as we had planned. The service was finished and we were about ready to leave when our family doctor (yes, we attend the same church) walked over and greeted dad. They talked for a little while and dad mentioned that he had almost called to make an appointment to see him because of his arm, but of course the office had been closed.<br />
The doctor asked which arm and took a look at it. He didn't think it was a spider bite, but he thought it might be Bursitis. Either that or it was an infection. He told dad to watch it and if it got any worse to call him and he would call in an antibiotic to one of the 24-hour pharmacies.<br />
Well, we left church and headed to our Grandparents and celebrated Christmas eve with them, and then headed home and went to bed.<br />
Christmas morning dad seemed okay. He had been on ibuprofen around the clock, which the doctor had recommended, and while his elbow was still swollen, it didn't seem to be any worse.<br />
But by late afternoon Christmas day it had gotten worse. It was hurting to the point he had to move it with his left arm and he couldn't even lift it on its own.<br />
Right before we started our Christmas dinner dad called the doctor who called in a prescription for a strong antibiotic. The doctor told him to take one that night and then at intervals the next day, and if it hadn't gotten any better in twenty-four hours, he should go to the ER.<br />
Well, this morning when dad woke up his elbow was red and hot and even more swollen, if that was possible. Right now he is resting, but if there hasn't been any marked improvement, mom may take him into the ER tonight. He hasn't been his normal self at all these past few days and we can all tell it's hurting him really bad.<br />
My mom is also really tired and she hasn't gotten the rest she needs for the past few days now. If you could just keep them both in your prayers, we would be so grateful.<br />
Dad has his CT scans and his cancer check-ups this next week, so we would so appreciate your prayers for how all this turns out, since the antibiotic will interfere with some of his tests and of course, he can't go in until this issue with his right elbow is resolved.<br />
Thank you all so, so much for all the times you've held up up in prayer in the past. Even in the darkest times, God sends his light!<br />
I hope you all have a wonderful weekend. :)<br />
~JessecaJesseca Dawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03248251614365079067noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3715580324357625828.post-41058899995398681302015-12-25T12:17:00.002-08:002015-12-25T12:17:22.785-08:00MERRY CHRISTMAS 2015!!!MERRY CHRISTMAS, EVERYONE!!! I hope you all are having an amazing time as you gather together with family to celebrate the Savor's birth.<br />
I heard this song on the radio the other day and it's quickly made it's way to the top of my favorite Christmas songs.<br />
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Below is a really pretty narration I found of the reason we celebrate Christmas. (a.k.a Luke chapter 2) Merry Christmas to you and your family! And remember that Jesus was born to die. Born to die, so that we could live.</div>
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<br />Jesseca Dawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03248251614365079067noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3715580324357625828.post-31008041720812509772015-12-01T17:33:00.001-08:002015-12-01T18:36:16.961-08:00The awesome food tag!! <div>
<span style="line-height: 21px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Hey everyone! Okay, so Blessings Counter from <a href="http://countingyourblessingsonebyone.blogspot.com/">Counting Your Blessings One By One</a> tagged me for this a looonnggg time ago. Like, embarrassingly long ago, but I haven't had the time to get it up until now. I was also tagged by Lauren from <a href="http://les0498.blogspot.com/">Lauren's Amazing World</a> and Indi Raine from<a href="http://rainesreads.weebly.com/blog"> Raine's Reads.</a> Thank you all so much for tagging me and I'm super sorry it's taken me so long to get it up!!</span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 21px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The rules:</span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 21px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">1). Thank the person who nominated you, as well as link to their blog.</span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 21px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">2). Answer the 10 questions provided.</span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 21px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">3). Come up with 10 more questions that relate to food.</span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 21px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">4). Nominate at least 5 people.</span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 21px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">5). Let those people know they've been nominated.</span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 21px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">And here are Blessing's questions first! :) </span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 21px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>1. Chocolate or vanilla?</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 21px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Chocolate of course! Always chocolate. ;) Chocolate is my weakness. Which is bad. But yeah, CHOCOLATE!!!</span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 21px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>2. Favourite dessert? </b></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 21px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Chocolate cake with chocolate frosting. It's soooo good. ;) </span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 21px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>3. Imagine that it's freezing cold, there's lots of snow, and you just came in from playing outside. Would you prefer to drink hot chocolate or coffee?</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 21px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Apple cider! Oh, that wasn't one of the choices? Then definitely coffee. But just black without anything in it. I don't especially like coffee with sugar. </span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 21px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b> 4. Favourite pie/cake?</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 21px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Cheesecake. That sorta counts as both, right? I mean, it's shaped like a pie, but it has the word "cake" in it's name.</span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 21px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>5. What is a dessert that you love making/is the easiest thing you can make?</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 21px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Hmm, well I love making any dessert! Apple pie, pumpkin pie, chocolate cake, cheesecake. . .yeah they're all some of my favorites that I enjoy making. The easiest thing? Probably our 5-ingredient "cheesecake". It's super easy, quick to make, and everyone loves it. </span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 21px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>6. What is a meal that you love making/is the easiest thing you can make? </b></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 21px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Well, I love making a variety of meals. I'm in charge of our suppers, so I have to make sure I have a variety of meals planned for our weeks. One of the easiest things would probably be scalloped potatoes and ham. Everyone loves them and they're easy enough I can whip them together while I'm watching a movie. (And just so you don't think I cook in the living room, our living room and kitchen are semi-connected and I can watch the TV from the kitchen. ;) ) </span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 21px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>7. Is there a food that you hope that you'll never have to eat in your life time?</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 21px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Sushi. Just looking at it makes me feel sick. I don't know why, I'm just weird that way. </span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 21px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>8. The strangest dish you've ever eaten?</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 21px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Well, my dad grew up in Brazil, so we've had a lot of Brazilian dishes. The strangest was probably Fejoada. It's made with pork and traditionally the feet of the pig are used in it as well. I've only had it once or twice, though my dad loves it!</span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 21px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>9. Favourite mealtime? Why?</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 21px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Supper. Because that's when we're all sitting around the table together. Dad usually isn't home for breakfast or lunch. :) </span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 21px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>10. How do you make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich? :) </b></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 21px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Get two pieces of bread, spread peanut butter on one side, and then with a new knife spread the jelly on top of the peanut butter. When you're finished, place the 2nd slice of bread on top. </span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 21px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Okay, now Lauren's questions! :) </b></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 21px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>1. What's your favorite type hot chocolate? (Dark chocolate, mint chocolate, with whipped cream, etc)</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 21px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Peppermint hot chocolate!! :) With marshmallows. Of course, Raspberry hot chocolate is pretty good too!</span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 21px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>2. What's your favorite type of sandwich?</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 21px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Meat and cheese sandwich with dill pickles, lettuce, tomatoes, mayonnaise and mustard. </span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 21px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>3. Favorite place to eat out and why?</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 21px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Applebees! We go there as a family every once-in-a-while. It's about the only one we all go to together, so that's probably one of the reasons I like it so much. </span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 21px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>4. Favorite Christmas cookie?</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 21px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Sugar cookies! Our piano teacher makes the best sugar cookies and she gives them to us on our last piano lesson before Christmas. They're sooo good!</span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 21px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>5. Favorite part of Thanksgiving day meal?</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 21px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Cranberry relish! Of course, the pumpkin pie is good too!</span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 21px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>6. How do you eat your dinner? (do you eat each different food by itself or do you mix foods together etc,)</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 21px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I usually eat the vegetables first, then the side dish, then the main dish. When my plate is clear, then I'll get salad. :)</span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 21px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>7. Favorite candy?</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 21px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Sour skittles! Or chocolate truffles. We don't get either very often, so they're a special treat. </span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 21px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>8. Favorite carnival food?</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 21px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Cotton candy! </span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 21px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>9. Favorite food to make over a fire?</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 21px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">S'mores! I love making them over our campfire in the summer!! And of course they're amazing! </span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 21px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>10. If you could only eat one food for the rest of your life, what would it be?</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 21px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Rocky Road ice cream. Oh, that's not very healthy, is it? Okay. . .taco salad! We don't have it very often and it's one of my favorite meals!</span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 21px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Annnndddd. . .Indi's questions!!</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 21px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>1.) Do you like oranges or apples best?</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 21px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Apples. Because I can eat them while i'm reading without their juice getting all over the pages of my book. ;) </span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 21px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>2.) Do you prefer whipped cream or ice cream with pie?</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 21px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Whipped cream!! It's usually not quite so sweet, which I like!</span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 21px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>3.) What is your favourite berry? </b></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 21px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Blakcberries! We hardly ever get them! When we went to the west coast this past summer they were EVERYWHERE!!!! And they were all sooo good !</span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 21px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>4.) Have you ever eaten sushi? If so, did you like it? If not, would you want to try some? </b></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 21px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Tried it once and really, REALLY didn't like it. Never want to have to eat it again!</span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 21px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>5.) Do you like your food separated on your plate, or can different items touch?</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 21px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I don't really care, but I generally don't like it when my sweet things get into the salty foods.</span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 21px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>6.) Have you ever eaten apple sauce on pizza?</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 21px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">What??? Nope, never thought of it. Not sure if I'd like it or not. . . ;) </span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 21px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>7.) What is your favourite drink (non-alcoholic, you understand!)?</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 21px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Iced black tea! I normally add some stevia and lemon/lime juice to it. I drink it all day. My siblings tease me by saying it is possible to live without iced tea, but I always shake my and say it's not. Dad and I are about the only ones who actually enjoy iced tea, so I'm happy. It means I don't have to share. B-) </span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 21px;"><b>8.) What colour of icing would you use if you were decorating your own cake?</b></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 21px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Yellow! I love the color yellow! </span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 21px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 21px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>9.) What jelly bean flavour is your favourite?</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 21px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Well, we don't have jelly beans too often, but I really like the green apple. The marshmallow is really good too!</span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 21px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>10.) Have you ever eaten a raw oyster or other kind of sea food?</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 21px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Nope! We don't have seafood very often. :) </span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 21px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 21px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Well, that's all of them!! That you all for tagging me; I had fun answering the questions! </span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 21px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">And I nominate:</span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 21px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 21px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Rishona at T<a href="http://theraublog.blogspot.com/">heraublog</a></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 21px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 21px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Rebekah at <a href="http://rmraub.blogspot.com/">Rebekah's blog</a></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 21px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 21px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Lydia at<a href="http://createdbythecreated.blogspot.com/"> C'est La Vie</a></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 21px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 21px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">And here are my questions for them!</span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 21px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">1: What is your favorite thing to cook?</span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 21px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 21px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">2: What is your favorite kind of chocolate? (i.e. dark chocolate, milk chocolate etc.)</span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 21px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 21px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">3. What is your favorite kind of seafood?</span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 21px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 21px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">4. Favorite fruit?</span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 21px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 21px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">5. If you could have any food you wanted for breakfast, what would it be? (In other words, what is your favorite breakfast? :))</span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 21px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 21px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">6. What is your favorite cookbook?</span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 21px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 21px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">7. It's a hot summer day. What do you want to eat/drink cool off?</span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 21px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 21px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">8. What is your favorite "fictional" meal? (a meal you've read about in a book and wanted to try.)</span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 21px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 21px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">9. You just came in from sledding. What do you want to eat/drink warm up?</span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 21px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 21px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">10. Have you ever utterly ruined a meal? If so, what was it? (I know, it's sorta a mean question. . . ;))</span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 21px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 21px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I know I'm supposed to tag five people. . . but I think everyone else has already been tagged. Of course, I'd LOVE to hear all you guy's answers to the questions in a comment. :) </span></span></div>
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Jesseca Dawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03248251614365079067noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3715580324357625828.post-23050713161747610202015-11-26T04:00:00.000-08:002015-11-26T08:39:35.184-08:00Thanksgiving!<div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; font-family: tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Hey everyone! Wait, what?! How is Thanksgiving already? Oh, well. I guess it was bound to come. And it's my favorite holiday so. . yeah. ;) I was thinking back on our past thanksgivings and there is just so much to be thankful for! Two years ago our thanksgiving was so different. . .so I thought I'd write a quick post comparing the two. God's been so good to us this year (well, He is every year :) ) and I am so grateful for all He's blessed us with!</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.6667px; font-weight: 700; line-height: 1.38; white-space: pre-wrap;">Thanksgiving Day 2013</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The smells of Thanksgiving wafted through the house. The turkey had just been carved by Dad and I was pouring the punch and making sure the food had all been set on the table. The pies were cooling on the stove and the whipped cream had been stuck in the freezer so it would stay cold until it was time for dessert. The playlist of instrumental hymns was playing softly, providing a peaceful background as well as adding to the festiveness of the day. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">On the surface, everything appeared normal. The smiles, the laughter, they were all there. But this year, something was different. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">My eyes wandered over to the living room where Dad sat talking to the family we had invited over from church. He seemed normal, but this year the smile didn’t quite reach his eyes and the tiredness was still there.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A few minutes later mom said we were ready to eat and dad called everyone to the table. Once we were all seated, he took the Bible off the shelf and read some verses out of 1st Thessalonians chapter 5. Yes, thanksgiving seemed to be the same, but this year it was so, so different.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This year, the nagging fact that it might be the last time Dad was there with us added a more sober feeling. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">You see, Dad had been diagnosed with a fast growing cancer and at that time, the doctors had no idea where the cancer had started. With the information we had, it seemed very probable that it might be Dad’s last thanksgiving. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Yet, we still had so much to be thankful for. Dad and mom were home after their trip to Seattle and we were together again. There was also the very special gift we had been given just the week before when the doctors decided to wait to start radiation. The way it was set up, he would not have to start until after thanksgiving and there would be whole week with no treatment during Christmas. We were going to treasure every last important day with dad because we knew it might be the last. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This year, I was thankful that he was still able to be with us, that he was still able to sit and the head of the table and join in our conversation. This year was special because Dad was there and we were all so thankful for that!</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.6667px; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Thanksgiving day 2015</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I am surrounded by family as the delicious smells swirl throughout the house. I know many of my siblings will refuse to eat much for breakfast because they want to eat all they can for the midday meal. I’m helping with the cooking so I get to sample it all. *smiles* </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">God has given me so many gifts this past year. I know many of you have heard them before, but I’d like to take the time to list two of them hear.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">First, this year we as a family were able to go on a vacation to the west coast. My mom asked me later what my favorite part of our time was. My answer? The time in the car driving together. Now don’t get me wrong, the family and friends we were able to see and meet was also a HUGE highlight of our trip, but more than all that I just loved traveling together. The games we played, the silly songs and stories we made up, all that was so special. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Second, this year I was able to meet two very dear friends in person. This was very special to me because I had appreciated their friendship so much over the past year or so and being able to actually meet them in person was amazing!</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">And, of course I'm thankful for books! Just had to add that because without books. . .yeah. Life would be quite boring without them. ;)</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">God has given me so many blessings this year and I have so much to be thankful for. If I tried to list them all I’m sure they would fill quite a few pages. But at the top of those pages would be what I am most grateful for. My salvation through Jesus Christ. I mean, guys, who else can say that they have an everlasting hope? A hope that transcend even death? Only those of us who have been saved through the blood that was shed on the cross can say that! And that is a gift that we should be thanking our Saviour for every day of the year, not just on Thanksgiving.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">So, anyway, I hope you all have a wonderful day as you gather with your family or friends and remember some of the blessings of the past year. Remember, God is good, all the time. And all the time, God is good! Even when it may not seem like it, He is! And we have so much to give thanks for! </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!! :) </span></div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/x3dXCL34aEA/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/x3dXCL34aEA?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">And what would thanksgiving be without music?! I found this awesome medley with three of my favorite "Thanksgiving" hymns! I LOVE this time of year! :D :D </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">1 Thessalonians 5:18 In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. </span></div>
Jesseca Dawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03248251614365079067noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3715580324357625828.post-63653526712704321712015-11-11T03:00:00.000-08:002015-11-11T03:00:03.736-08:00Veterans Day<div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; vertical-align: baseline;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; line-height: 1.38; white-space: pre-wrap;">I wrote up this quick post based on an actual </span><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; line-height: 20.24px; white-space: pre-wrap;">experience</span><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; line-height: 1.38; white-space: pre-wrap;"> I had this </span><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; line-height: 20.24px; white-space: pre-wrap;">past</span><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; line-height: 1.38; white-space: pre-wrap;"> week. I know it's short, but. . .it said what I wanted to say. :) </span></span></i></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I walked into the museum and walked straight to the gift shop, already knowing exactly what I wanted to buy. It wasn’t my first time there and I had been planning the trip for a while.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The man behind the counter smiled at me and asked if he can help with anything. I point to the item I need and since I’m getting it personalized, he hands me the form I need to fill out. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">As I’m filling in the information we get to talking, and because of an earlier reference, he asks if "my David" is in the air force.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I smile and shake my head and he nods and says he was just curious. Then, in an almost faraway tone of voice, he mentions that he still has his dog tags from when he served.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">That captured my attention and I glanced up from my writing. “Were you in the service?” </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">He nods. “Yes, I served in Vietnam.”</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Paper and pen completely forgotten, I ask what division of the armed forces he served in. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">“I was in the air force, served there for four years.” His tone is very matter of fact.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">“Were you in Vietnam?” I ask.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">He shakes head and smiles almost sadly. “No, but I was in Korea while we were fighting in Vietnam.”</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">“My grandpa was in that war,” I smile and shrug. “He won’t talk about it at all.”</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The man nods and I can tell he understand why. “It definitely wasn’t one of the best wars we were involved in.”</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">“Yeah, I’ve read a little about it for research. A lot of what I’ve read says the same thing; nearly every man who came out of Vietnam alive knew at least one person who hadn’t.”</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">He nods, “yeah, that'd be about right.”</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I go back to filling out the information and then hand him the forms. He takes them and assures me they’ll call me just as soon as the items I ordered were ready. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I leave the museum and think about the conversation. Just how many veterans have had to come back from a war and had to fit back into life at home? </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">After seeing the horror of war, how many men have come back to the states feeling as though they are a completely different person then they were when they left? They fought for us. They sacrificed for us, but do we show them that we are grateful? Do we appreciate their sacrifice? We should, because they have been willing to sacrifice their lives for us. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Veterans day is a day set aside for us to honor those who have served in any branch of the service, at any time, in any way. Today, let’s make an effort to thank those who have served our country and protected our freedoms. Because honestly, if it wasn’t for the soldier, our constitution, our way of life, and the freedoms we enjoy would be nothing. It’s the soldier who protects them all. It is the soldier who puts his line on the life for us. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">To all those who have served in any branch of the armed forces in any way, thank you for your sacrifice and service!</span></span></div>
Jesseca Dawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03248251614365079067noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3715580324357625828.post-46258127303182106012015-11-10T03:00:00.000-08:002015-11-10T03:00:00.900-08:00WWII Battle!!!!!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
So . . . this past weekend dad took 4 of my siblings and I down to El Dorado, Kansas for an event that I had been waiting MONTHS for. I literally had been counting down the weeks, days and hours until the event hosted by the WWII research center. . . the WWII battle reenactment!!! To say I was excited would be a HUGE understatement!! </div>
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I'm sure that by now you all know of my fascination with WWII, so you can probably imagine how I was feeling. :) </div>
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Anyway, it exceeded all of my expectations! I was not excepting it to be so real! The guns, the grenades, the soldiers etc. I mean, when the German commander speaks German throughout the battle? </div>
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Yeah, that's just awesome! :) </div>
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After the battle was over, some of the "Germans" were giving rides in the motorcycle, so Kezzy and Caleb took a ride in that. And then. . . we were able to shoot a WWII machine gun. Which was so totally awesome! Later on I realized that since I had shot a German machine gun I was technically shooting at the American allies. </div>
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Oh well. :P </div>
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After that I ended up talking to one of the German soldiers for a while. I asked a ton of questions and he showed me all the equipment the soldiers carried, let me feel the weight of the different weapons, explained their different uses, etc. It was so amazing! Plus he reminded me a lot of one of my characters. So I felt like I was talking to a character that had come to life, which of course got me inspired to write more. ;) </div>
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So. . .I did remember to take some pictures! And I recorded about six minutes of the battle for you guys. :) (Well, it was for my mom too. . . ;) </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidvzDrtJnLalc1vDSaQkIVjIXt88oAodTtNupF-84muiuunOW-YWsB3wWtaE7h-216G1AGb0_B1ADJCFh_shFqMEiDD-MUM4Z5SaHaPyOEBDd_9ftvq6KA07__Cko8k0rHDxRpjaAzT6s/s1600/069.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="188" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidvzDrtJnLalc1vDSaQkIVjIXt88oAodTtNupF-84muiuunOW-YWsB3wWtaE7h-216G1AGb0_B1ADJCFh_shFqMEiDD-MUM4Z5SaHaPyOEBDd_9ftvq6KA07__Cko8k0rHDxRpjaAzT6s/s320/069.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The German soldiers advancing onto the field. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtwh0clf2lcG_kU4MDNtcDocFrUSHuHbLubI15OMv5Hieony28iR5-Yda5K4-4TmqFkP072CJBvofwghxMPmc5tGBMTX7P-jh8jqv5QWqAFfOQncY4GYGcfsnLP810H1_xQvnqIK48DZY/s1600/070.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="232" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtwh0clf2lcG_kU4MDNtcDocFrUSHuHbLubI15OMv5Hieony28iR5-Yda5K4-4TmqFkP072CJBvofwghxMPmc5tGBMTX7P-jh8jqv5QWqAFfOQncY4GYGcfsnLP810H1_xQvnqIK48DZY/s320/070.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Getting into position. . .</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdD6uKOjYDKLc24u8bHpbKnFWb2b8BbIfTE2g9q4jPPRbPMyGtAHCGKjB4cBDjmphdnO7LpgzpqEXcsBCEHqHPj5UOp3Q7st-cwAS6sNuDYBi_t2Om53z6M9K4BKyJFm8GmbSoYj_C0V0/s1600/072.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="217" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdD6uKOjYDKLc24u8bHpbKnFWb2b8BbIfTE2g9q4jPPRbPMyGtAHCGKjB4cBDjmphdnO7LpgzpqEXcsBCEHqHPj5UOp3Q7st-cwAS6sNuDYBi_t2Om53z6M9K4BKyJFm8GmbSoYj_C0V0/s320/072.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of the Germans threw some sort of smoke grenade or something of the sort. :P I don't know exactly what it was., but it <br />was awesome!<br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGd7SO_VyK-D4DDO702Sa5ScJQKmualVa1jGWlz7asfQgag1I2bKYUEHBWJnjhCKWwcHctgVDaSo7XeGwUanWUPDZW6tMLyv1GO2XN0O8h12g1F1HXtbUrB-Jmy4u9FTBHvsTNZ5yAnqo/s1600/075.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="264" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGd7SO_VyK-D4DDO702Sa5ScJQKmualVa1jGWlz7asfQgag1I2bKYUEHBWJnjhCKWwcHctgVDaSo7XeGwUanWUPDZW6tMLyv1GO2XN0O8h12g1F1HXtbUrB-Jmy4u9FTBHvsTNZ5yAnqo/s320/075.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Allied soldier. . .</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihBMPAUTe7b_TyXRdiQst7MI_eTw6nFtBuzPxj_j519qMoXZrBb6GWWT-bhZHEjXqUuT1kMg3qVrygCSsU4EpaU9AvIwFBLkCsYhRFnFdOy_5tvq0Ax5cX9XlCNZcfKpuQokgN4Xvf3k4/s1600/076.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="251" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihBMPAUTe7b_TyXRdiQst7MI_eTw6nFtBuzPxj_j519qMoXZrBb6GWWT-bhZHEjXqUuT1kMg3qVrygCSsU4EpaU9AvIwFBLkCsYhRFnFdOy_5tvq0Ax5cX9XlCNZcfKpuQokgN4Xvf3k4/s320/076.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The battle</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8rVKd4-1mVN9mgJjXMZWRRARanTKnIqIslT9DpO1tbPdOQvpU4XkAqRnRP-uwXEKTZKnI6jTHnuxK1ZpIf16XQfiYGYeHvEVYMt_Wj9K9xMZb_sYlCMFMMs-QccHKFVPx7SieoTmXp4M/s1600/077.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="246" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8rVKd4-1mVN9mgJjXMZWRRARanTKnIqIslT9DpO1tbPdOQvpU4XkAqRnRP-uwXEKTZKnI6jTHnuxK1ZpIf16XQfiYGYeHvEVYMt_Wj9K9xMZb_sYlCMFMMs-QccHKFVPx7SieoTmXp4M/s320/077.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The German side. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnlKnVn0CK5ebifFwY4orgnmrh5rX8Oo1RGATkNsNOT9lg6xPE8DlYCRjjgHoiA6B60xcnZWbI22yblgciBl9hVLAQrw6ooV62YrcKP0Z9jrTUycCdXB547M7sgwD0KPp-WTcmc5Mvono/s1600/083.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnlKnVn0CK5ebifFwY4orgnmrh5rX8Oo1RGATkNsNOT9lg6xPE8DlYCRjjgHoiA6B60xcnZWbI22yblgciBl9hVLAQrw6ooV62YrcKP0Z9jrTUycCdXB547M7sgwD0KPp-WTcmc5Mvono/s320/083.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The battle is over and the German's are being rounded up by the allies. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYncWQwfet8sD4Poia6uuSk5pHvJJGVJ2va_Mf8QvRDAvDMqEXrSyu5SjUB1jGLZsdcE-oY1I2M0ejSPX2saMyVSPUA4OHiKHMdjdfsJMrAcMH43zSed6h9WrTPAZpUyUZXxLPkLOP8BM/s1600/089.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYncWQwfet8sD4Poia6uuSk5pHvJJGVJ2va_Mf8QvRDAvDMqEXrSyu5SjUB1jGLZsdcE-oY1I2M0ejSPX2saMyVSPUA4OHiKHMdjdfsJMrAcMH43zSed6h9WrTPAZpUyUZXxLPkLOP8BM/s320/089.JPG" width="219" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The German prisoners. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1rjHRKVP1M8huoNoCmrVzheaox35EE0pEWcxO2z4Sv9xkywR8duyp7JP3ijgIgQkcVBUjw8vjweuPkcDUKw09UQBU27NTN7bt56F7BehiQu7rZ-kubZgZ9c4at7oaIj9hDxMFSxOK2jc/s1600/097.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1rjHRKVP1M8huoNoCmrVzheaox35EE0pEWcxO2z4Sv9xkywR8duyp7JP3ijgIgQkcVBUjw8vjweuPkcDUKw09UQBU27NTN7bt56F7BehiQu7rZ-kubZgZ9c4at7oaIj9hDxMFSxOK2jc/s320/097.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This tent was carried on the soldiers's back, rolled up and fastened above his blanket. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPKhD0QwKCJzaxOt1QRzJkNNGpjF5vrihcKjoQYF2KxkRp0MokuTQy79MxTbFgF1p4bZk7BoFTggxQ5ZZjErlX9gG_zZlkeX4YTPsQWDjNPcSxcHIiee0RoYH2b0v3CC27BV5z7rgJjIU/s1600/099.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPKhD0QwKCJzaxOt1QRzJkNNGpjF5vrihcKjoQYF2KxkRp0MokuTQy79MxTbFgF1p4bZk7BoFTggxQ5ZZjErlX9gG_zZlkeX4YTPsQWDjNPcSxcHIiee0RoYH2b0v3CC27BV5z7rgJjIU/s320/099.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Typical German literature every German soldier carried</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqOKNxjMChx26s2i32VzagaeWUHG5IyiGeGSSxYWJQgXb2aGIySFeHcDOdnWFnA4HTYPzWhVxGKCuf92sxbugiFKQhsm-XuFWTWr0Tx7fsBJELXdaU4lPdhGPyCueMehN-JlTESYS76ro/s1600/109.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqOKNxjMChx26s2i32VzagaeWUHG5IyiGeGSSxYWJQgXb2aGIySFeHcDOdnWFnA4HTYPzWhVxGKCuf92sxbugiFKQhsm-XuFWTWr0Tx7fsBJELXdaU4lPdhGPyCueMehN-JlTESYS76ro/s320/109.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Benjamin shooting the machine gun. . .</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDXgMbo25zEehyoAgPRZWPuSYFUEmmBK13VZZijjI5FwQ16NiOPCtT1RtdaUNIg5EwKT_7BZVUyKmRorh_BnqE5BDdGbtXGW2D-xV6asEVXJr73K8VfLPqKIETYrAcUjZr_cOl7ZELdzo/s1600/110.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDXgMbo25zEehyoAgPRZWPuSYFUEmmBK13VZZijjI5FwQ16NiOPCtT1RtdaUNIg5EwKT_7BZVUyKmRorh_BnqE5BDdGbtXGW2D-xV6asEVXJr73K8VfLPqKIETYrAcUjZr_cOl7ZELdzo/s320/110.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kezzy shooting it. . .</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtLR3sgNHYxaadORT3geKthW-XcHJrHCBEFidqZVibTJUTV05jC6_j623IcGmStQMliO1UIFB3dRZ7btvk9ydaejidnvxkthXkIvuWcxKPtCPApi_D0WfKZI2gJ76XX5gSC2JqvE9Ubbc/s1600/111.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtLR3sgNHYxaadORT3geKthW-XcHJrHCBEFidqZVibTJUTV05jC6_j623IcGmStQMliO1UIFB3dRZ7btvk9ydaejidnvxkthXkIvuWcxKPtCPApi_D0WfKZI2gJ76XX5gSC2JqvE9Ubbc/s320/111.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And. . .me. It was pretty awesome, but a lot heavier then I had expected! :) It was weird because it was so loud during the battle, but when you sat behind it, it seemed a lot quieter.<br />The other two siblings who went along took turns as well, but one of the pictures came out really bad and another sibling asked that I not post it. </td></tr>
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Okay, now the part you've all been waiting for. . . the recording! :D Enjoy!! You can view it: <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/0Bwj98f8VwdGFSUFQRWJnRDV5TnM/view?usp=sharing">Here </a>(Since blogger won't let me upload it 'cause the file is to large.) <div>
Well, that was my Saturday. :) I hope you guys all had an amazing weekend as well! I've thought about doing a post with random facts about WWII that I learned at the reenactment. Would that be something you all would like to see? It was nothing super outstanding, but I did learn a lot of things I didn't know before. :) </div>
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Let me know!:D</div>
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Jesseca Dawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03248251614365079067noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3715580324357625828.post-40788563664054744332015-10-26T19:27:00.001-07:002015-10-27T06:16:12.997-07:00Pen-pal visit!!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
So. . .this post was supposed to be up a while ago, but...life. ;) Well, anyway, here it is now! :D </div>
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About four weeks ago, Faith P. emailed me and said that their family was planning a trip west, and on their way home they would be coming through Wichita!! I was so excited!! We weren't sure exactly how/if everything would work out for us to meet, but we were both praying that it would!</div>
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Our moms started emailing trying to figure out all the little details and then, on October 2nd, after weeks and days and then finally hours of counting down, we were able to FINALLY meet!! </div>
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After months of emailing, chatting exchanging stories, doing research together and being completely crazy (well, okay, maybe not <i>completely</i> ;) we were finally able to meet! </div>
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They didn't have a lot of time, so our families met at an ice cream shop and spent an hour and a half together. We had such an amazing time and I wish it could have been longer, but I'm so thankful it worked out! God is so good! :D </div>
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Here are some pictures we took just before they left.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-dYX8-5WviaS_iHuyCU0suIxsPKMUYfxyNMcFjaarRZnUhR5XHTP-fPB99dibwQ_1oYlkcPaNiO2bUcbYlgpKiiJjPQ-oFRT7dR2yRzo-0lRl79L181VBoYXVWTeOyWY00gqM6T7yrP8/s1600/family%2521.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-dYX8-5WviaS_iHuyCU0suIxsPKMUYfxyNMcFjaarRZnUhR5XHTP-fPB99dibwQ_1oYlkcPaNiO2bUcbYlgpKiiJjPQ-oFRT7dR2yRzo-0lRl79L181VBoYXVWTeOyWY00gqM6T7yrP8/s320/family%2521.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">SO glad we were able to meet this sweet family! Sorry for the reflection, the flash on the camera was supposed to be off. . </span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12.8px;">.apparently it wasn't. ;)</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxN6ed3EAtgs-BcO5TXv29DV-CUHH5Zq6OBweQ8DTt2kflTMzAsNfvE-_V4IyvEfKkY-Fcp8_HJpt7GbljGuWlB1yLTkO7NRpwMZcDy1E4QBPLe3h36zV9sxlU28CHC3suB6oSdXLCcT0/s1600/jess+and+faith1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxN6ed3EAtgs-BcO5TXv29DV-CUHH5Zq6OBweQ8DTt2kflTMzAsNfvE-_V4IyvEfKkY-Fcp8_HJpt7GbljGuWlB1yLTkO7NRpwMZcDy1E4QBPLe3h36zV9sxlU28CHC3suB6oSdXLCcT0/s320/jess+and+faith1.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oops, we weren't looking at the camera. . .</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuud-9LVf9xtq0K_OtI5EppYzHJHjU93rgtmnEo3D6nzYJaxwlHZT1atuUskARe71Kuxp5X0t-dUfQO-UzUuDZwei3JjdesITJOjulLRmsMH8eqgJyyC4Ay_sJy-XissMFKAOvtx9mCpo/s1600/jess+and+faith+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuud-9LVf9xtq0K_OtI5EppYzHJHjU93rgtmnEo3D6nzYJaxwlHZT1atuUskARe71Kuxp5X0t-dUfQO-UzUuDZwei3JjdesITJOjulLRmsMH8eqgJyyC4Ay_sJy-XissMFKAOvtx9mCpo/s320/jess+and+faith+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ahh, there we go! Now we're looking in the right direction. Faith and I! So, SO excited we were able to meet in person!!! </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbKtC0fafMZV4KeKQPsOgRftU-E3uEdGjFkxBUC5VHGdClC8vEa1-mRzYRgAFWFPxc_Dfr70LdLwMKdF1mk4jnomSlpTpNk-wySpMNR0iEZCv-ekAvcrfLQ1F6kChFyamUQ4xvGZSVIss/s1600/moms.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbKtC0fafMZV4KeKQPsOgRftU-E3uEdGjFkxBUC5VHGdClC8vEa1-mRzYRgAFWFPxc_Dfr70LdLwMKdF1mk4jnomSlpTpNk-wySpMNR0iEZCv-ekAvcrfLQ1F6kChFyamUQ4xvGZSVIss/s320/moms.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our moms! A.K.A the people who made it possible. ;) </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-GcP9KfzGz4Tgbg1lxIpZErPv7oMW4spOonjeq38Qyoyp4MwMmDLRaeVp9cM6nD4AMZpR4qFIxIYveOEIBPntPKJt5aLokwFJOxTGXMKIPqM0deGb2SaWlND0Fb26LUBTrAAnmRJgnjw/s1600/Jess+and+faith3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-GcP9KfzGz4Tgbg1lxIpZErPv7oMW4spOonjeq38Qyoyp4MwMmDLRaeVp9cM6nD4AMZpR4qFIxIYveOEIBPntPKJt5aLokwFJOxTGXMKIPqM0deGb2SaWlND0Fb26LUBTrAAnmRJgnjw/s320/Jess+and+faith3.jpg" width="179" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mom took this picture as we were saying goodbye. They weren't able to stay very long, but I'm so thankful it all worked out! I've said that a lot, haven't I? B-) </td></tr>
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So, yeah. We had a wonderful time together and we've all decided that we need to take a trip out to North Carolina to visit them sometime. We had a wonderful time of fellowship and. . .yeah. Thanks for the visit, Faith!! :)Jesseca Dawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03248251614365079067noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3715580324357625828.post-65495863774521629462015-10-22T14:47:00.001-07:002015-10-22T14:47:19.861-07:00Were it not for grace. . .<div style="text-align: center;">
Grace, grace, God's grace. Grace that is</div>
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greater than all our sin. </div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">(Julia Johnston)</span></div>
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If it were not for God's grace, just where would we be today? </div>
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Aren't you thankful that we don't need to ever ask that question? God's marvelous grace has been given to us! Freely! All we need to do is believe on Him. </div>
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I heard this song on the radio today and. . .wow. The words are so, so powerful! I won't say anything else because the song really does say it all. </div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">*picture verse found on pinterest </span></div>
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Jesseca Dawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03248251614365079067noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3715580324357625828.post-59940239384597954202015-10-15T03:30:00.000-07:002015-10-15T03:30:00.423-07:00Two years. . .October 15th, 2013. Exactly two years ago today, I started this blog. Two full years ago. <br />
But this post isn't just about the blog. Two years ago, my dad was diagnosed with cancer.<br />
Well, okay, two years and two months. He was diagnosed in August of 2013. I was planning on doing a post on the exact date, but we were on vacation, so I thought I would combine the two posts together.<br />
I look back, and so, <i>so, </i>much has changed.<br />
My parents have changed.<br />
My life has changed.<br />
<i>I </i> have changed.<br />
But do you know what? I can look back and say that my dad being diagnosed with cancer was one of the best things that ever happened.<br />
Okay, let me explain.<br />
When my dad was diagnosed with cancer, it was a shock to everyone. Sure, he hadn't been feeling great, but. . .cancer?<br />
The official diagnosis took a few days to sink in, and then chaos erupted. Literally. No one in our little area of the world had even heard of my dad's cancer. The doctors couldn't figure out where the cancer had started, but it had already traveled to his lymph nodes. As far as we knew, it was a rare, aggressive cancer. And there were no treatments. Chemo didn't do a thing to his kind of cancer, so it wasn't even an option.<br />
After studying the cancer for a few weeks, my parents found that there were 3 areas in the U.S that <i>researched </i>the kind of cancer my dad had. It was so rare they were still researching it, trying to find a treatment that worked.<br />
One of the research centers was located in Seattle, WA at the University of Washington State. Technically, they never should have been able to go. But God provided in miraculous ways. My Grandma and Aunt from California offered to traveled out here and stay with us, and one of dad's friends from college offered to buy their plane tickets. A guy my dad works with had family in WA, and my parents were able to stay with them while he was having the doctors visits.<br />
And so, less then two months after the official diagnosis, my parents were on there way to Seattle.<br />
I can't describe the feelings that went through me as they left. Fear. Uncertainty. Confusion. But it didn't matter. As the oldest child with my parents being gone, I was the one my siblings looked to.<br />
I steeled myself, blocking out all emotion and turned to the task that was ahead of me. I didn't let myself cry or tell anyone else how I was feeling. I was fine. I could handle it. I never showed any emotion. I did was was required of me, then found something else to do that would keep me busy and keep my mind off everything else. I told myself I could handle it. I <i>would</i> handle it.<br />
But I couldn't. <br />
I would have nightmares that my dad had died and I never had the chance to say good bye. I would wake up with tears streaming down my face.<br />
And it was then, that God made himself real to me.<br />
There came a time when He was the only one I could turn to. No one else understood what I was going through, no one else understood the pain and hurt I felt.<br />
But He did. There came a time I couldn't hold on anymore. I let go, and He was there to catch me. I didn't have to act anymore. I didn't have to be strong because He was strong for me! I didn't have to do it in my own strength. I couldn't. But instead I could lean on Him, trusting Him to get me through the storm.<br />
And do you know what?<br />
He did. Just like He always does.<br />
Cancer is one of the best things that ever happened because it brought me closer to Jesus.<br />
But He didn't only carry me through it, He provided so many blessings along the way!<br />
Through the trials of cancer, I discovered my love for writing.<br />
I had never written before any of this happened. I read a lot, but other then what was required for school, I didn't write much at all. After dad was diagnosed with cancer, I needed something, <i>anything </i>to get my mind off reality if only for a few minutes. So I started writing. Just little stories at first, but then longer ones. I realized then that I LOVED writing. The rest is. . .history. ;)<br />
Through this blog, I was able to meet some of the most amazing people. Seriously, looking back I can't imagine a time when I didn't know you guys! It has been so amazing to get to know some of you!<br />
I have also had opportunities to get to know people I would never have met had it not been for the cancer. Also, the many days going back and forth between the hospital and our home when dad was having radiation showed me my love for all things medicine. Lord willing within the next 1-2 years I will be able to enroll in a nursing program at our local community college.<br />
Now fast-forward two years. Two years since the cancer diagnosis, Dad is closer to normal then he was before the cancer. And there has been no cancer activity in his body since the radiation treatments ended in January of 2014. We were able to take a family vacation this year, the first since the cancer diagnosis. I was able to meet two very dear friends and pen pals this summer and I have started my senior year of highschool. I'm still learning, still growing, but I'm different then I was two years ago. I have changed. It puts Job 23:10 in a whole new light. 'But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.'<br />
I have learned that I can't shun cancer as an enemy, I can't embrace it as a friend, but I can accept it as something God has brought into my life for His perfect reason.<br />
I'm not saying I have everything down. Trust me, I don't! There are still times I struggle to see exactly why God is doing what He's doing. But I have to remind myself that God sees the end of the road. He sees things I can't see. There are still times I doubt any good can come from what is going on, but then I have to remember that even in the midst of it, God is there. I'm just so thankful that He always welcomes us back with open arms!<br />
The trials God brings into out life are for our good. Maybe we can't see it at the time. In fact, it is very hard to see it when everything that is happening . But later on, when we're able to step back and see how everything has changed, we can see God's hand through what has happened. And honestly, I can't wait to get to heaven and see how all the little pieces of our life fit into the big picture God has in mind. I mean, can y'all just imagine how exciting that will be?!<br />
Am I saying it's easy? <i>No!</i> Fully trusting God and surrendering to Him can be one of the hardest things you will ever do.<br />
Just remember.<br />
He has a reason.<br />
He is faithful.<br />
And He will bring you through it!<br />
Two years, and yet so, so much has changed. But there is something that will never change. God is good, all the time. And all the time, God is good!<br />
<br />Jesseca Dawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03248251614365079067noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3715580324357625828.post-71526233232538514752015-10-12T13:36:00.001-07:002015-10-12T13:44:12.691-07:00WWII museum trip!!!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
A couple weeks ago I was so thrilled to realize there was a WWII museum/history center that was only 40 minutes away from our house!! If you've been following my writing blog for any amount of time, you know I am slightly obsessed with that time period. Dad took my sister and I there on Saturday, September 5th and we had an amazing time! I actually uploaded these pictures and planned to have this post done a loonggg time ago. But. . .life. ;) Anyway, here are the pictures I took. Excuse the horrible quality. . .I was using my dad's phone camera. Some of the pictures are numbered because there are two parts. The actual picture, and the description.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvYsLFGRMz32mJrGNqNJnRAxZOXbvcHwRheQfeX72WIsS7D_Jl0wzXmAlRY5AqrP2Nc2Qryi-pP8qYO_MMRQkx3EFOlYCuVHHjo0wJupp2rU97oBWt6HNvbbPTbIywA6AgF8LkjETpHEo/s1600/052.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvYsLFGRMz32mJrGNqNJnRAxZOXbvcHwRheQfeX72WIsS7D_Jl0wzXmAlRY5AqrP2Nc2Qryi-pP8qYO_MMRQkx3EFOlYCuVHHjo0wJupp2rU97oBWt6HNvbbPTbIywA6AgF8LkjETpHEo/s320/052.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">#1</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE16UwDEwPHytQe1vkxuy5M3eHFJqEQwQiUzCyGKIqWWgnB5wt6dEkgO2ESHJ-ddADW_f0z0giqgqZtsIs8IkeOIiJt992Y39zroWpmj0XLkgCXIcyKzpn5VHTKKXDS6weuzGjt70zt7Q/s1600/054.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE16UwDEwPHytQe1vkxuy5M3eHFJqEQwQiUzCyGKIqWWgnB5wt6dEkgO2ESHJ-ddADW_f0z0giqgqZtsIs8IkeOIiJt992Y39zroWpmj0XLkgCXIcyKzpn5VHTKKXDS6weuzGjt70zt7Q/s320/054.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">#2. Description</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidvZjIZAbcOg8Q-vjUKa6giiaj8IvUVB4O-28l9iz4o_wDys3yKVp7PGr46VqxmWHnCxd7os2UCzF21_jyTKUNYB6w2v2RoQqdReE-qCnRY4RlKhcUK-qb4ZuldHLIpLXKO3RhV5kNMTA/s1600/055.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidvZjIZAbcOg8Q-vjUKa6giiaj8IvUVB4O-28l9iz4o_wDys3yKVp7PGr46VqxmWHnCxd7os2UCzF21_jyTKUNYB6w2v2RoQqdReE-qCnRY4RlKhcUK-qb4ZuldHLIpLXKO3RhV5kNMTA/s320/055.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px; text-align: start;">A silk </span><span class="il" style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px; text-align: start;">map</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px; text-align: start;"> that was issued in 1944 and given to all the allied fighter pilots. Is showed the escape routes and safe areas for them to go if their plane crashed. It was kept sewn into their uniforms so that if they were captured and searched by the enemy, no one would be able to find them. </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px; text-align: start;">The</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px; text-align: start;"> </span><span class="il" style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px; text-align: start;">map</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px; text-align: start;"> </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px; text-align: start;">had actually been donated like an hour before we got there!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHRQrl5pQAE_hx00Sjw6NE43Qfh02wE1IT6chBo-aykW0Bawc17TN0GPvt-zN593S7PVTTuCFdajQGWmDivf1HcWP2kvrJppt2JNIxEf2Qj_prdZmt3-06NHm_hmo3v07ysS_l01HOOn4/s1600/061.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHRQrl5pQAE_hx00Sjw6NE43Qfh02wE1IT6chBo-aykW0Bawc17TN0GPvt-zN593S7PVTTuCFdajQGWmDivf1HcWP2kvrJppt2JNIxEf2Qj_prdZmt3-06NHm_hmo3v07ysS_l01HOOn4/s320/061.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">#1</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHrt_Gd2xxZmH2l9zjjj07V3Kdq4dDsM7uII-oUZPodi5dPjupcHO0QmKyQ-X10V61xpAv7w0Ix65grxk_qRmqP-h0g0n_acVznMF-6CsmnejwkE_QQfa_ztd_yzj0SSLlQ0omm1kk5Pc/s1600/104.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHrt_Gd2xxZmH2l9zjjj07V3Kdq4dDsM7uII-oUZPodi5dPjupcHO0QmKyQ-X10V61xpAv7w0Ix65grxk_qRmqP-h0g0n_acVznMF-6CsmnejwkE_QQfa_ztd_yzj0SSLlQ0omm1kk5Pc/s320/104.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">#2</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXWN8uW2S0-WdXI-0zm1MY9-_X2Aybamx8PtPup-Do9sw37Wcel_I1AFFAKeEY3MRXzvv8ERFNXeAdfh8cxZ7g58SCGHUCTAMJq5uaSSmiITaQBCYjQsPMlXCtcFh5j0KdMlEIEBUm2Hg/s1600/wedding.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXWN8uW2S0-WdXI-0zm1MY9-_X2Aybamx8PtPup-Do9sw37Wcel_I1AFFAKeEY3MRXzvv8ERFNXeAdfh8cxZ7g58SCGHUCTAMJq5uaSSmiITaQBCYjQsPMlXCtcFh5j0KdMlEIEBUm2Hg/s1600/wedding.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">#3. Description.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdFQbFuFQJhhCVkKflDXtJqyB9HPuvgJL0gXgCxxi3BnAWhnsTBt9xei9iTzt6g09SeezAsuvqdCRBTTLTiMycTFkXl1oWA71NjqZpOL8x4ic-_2cbRZ-y5UuhEsEB628h5dvLU1FMAmQ/s1600/063.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdFQbFuFQJhhCVkKflDXtJqyB9HPuvgJL0gXgCxxi3BnAWhnsTBt9xei9iTzt6g09SeezAsuvqdCRBTTLTiMycTFkXl1oWA71NjqZpOL8x4ic-_2cbRZ-y5UuhEsEB628h5dvLU1FMAmQ/s320/063.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Standard Red Cross nurses's uniform issued during WWII.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">#1.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaNhtHRVns8XjO7kLYOcdXb_JsQk_qxXnXNvwCPsaiqtb0-DHzAKhjWA11Ubwl2IkqWnvp4uGFQAIuOBTZjj_dAiDyvYFpIkm_IBqxRsVuae8Ne_NxjJH1LwgVzzG80irFRorB6BjyXWY/s1600/067.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaNhtHRVns8XjO7kLYOcdXb_JsQk_qxXnXNvwCPsaiqtb0-DHzAKhjWA11Ubwl2IkqWnvp4uGFQAIuOBTZjj_dAiDyvYFpIkm_IBqxRsVuae8Ne_NxjJH1LwgVzzG80irFRorB6BjyXWY/s320/067.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">#2. Description. (Although I'm sure all of you know what it is. ;) </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinFIvSzM4iiT2OECzmuO4I941NDGuy35TxxiY8hRQVIBf2Vd3lmPfjlQ7BZXNg0oDNFAXWJBeVE-toKR9gvdLGqkwWYFZYgcIia_ZmtlJipsoAZiV-6JFRkcfjQQgcS4SgGey4dqL2pM0/s1600/medal.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinFIvSzM4iiT2OECzmuO4I941NDGuy35TxxiY8hRQVIBf2Vd3lmPfjlQ7BZXNg0oDNFAXWJBeVE-toKR9gvdLGqkwWYFZYgcIia_ZmtlJipsoAZiV-6JFRkcfjQQgcS4SgGey4dqL2pM0/s1600/medal.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">#1.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoJaFRMi5u31mYI_30VmVbDv74fg84g2mzFh7nvI75DwBpHl7OibFMmV7Piog-YDOi9siKz3tmFxIwYuCRdXfsVMiCpUoiL1kjvYl40ibWVrVi4OC4w8fTPAEO-YD9HGp6UcYVaApsKcI/s1600/073.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoJaFRMi5u31mYI_30VmVbDv74fg84g2mzFh7nvI75DwBpHl7OibFMmV7Piog-YDOi9siKz3tmFxIwYuCRdXfsVMiCpUoiL1kjvYl40ibWVrVi4OC4w8fTPAEO-YD9HGp6UcYVaApsKcI/s320/073.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">#2. Description.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">#1.</td></tr>
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#2. Description</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">#1.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">#2. Description</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO5E17d1QtIGp8KvIsfUTQRncbX0fjyPetpj8xidnt721YnnDTh-WxxDfk42hiq0zRJ2FK_sI1rXlINhHCJfO4F6lJ5NkPDHBbDi_RXJLUYPuN-V-YlRejacdbo1tx2UTXqOqIIrPaAmQ/s1600/125.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO5E17d1QtIGp8KvIsfUTQRncbX0fjyPetpj8xidnt721YnnDTh-WxxDfk42hiq0zRJ2FK_sI1rXlINhHCJfO4F6lJ5NkPDHBbDi_RXJLUYPuN-V-YlRejacdbo1tx2UTXqOqIIrPaAmQ/s320/125.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Model 1940s american living room. The radio actually played speeches by the British prime minister, and American president which was really cool! </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1QcZKhf1w5XGjb3WxHoJQipeftqFvXgGQ09dAROkXxuq0YXRKErHyk_FBl8uZQcfEGazHQQeU5e2O_Og2-w_DHwg-hQLXhoLNOJXYTo9_RH4e9tu4kL23b8R46RPCYGtTzEU8q52Gp6I/s1600/143.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1QcZKhf1w5XGjb3WxHoJQipeftqFvXgGQ09dAROkXxuq0YXRKErHyk_FBl8uZQcfEGazHQQeU5e2O_Og2-w_DHwg-hQLXhoLNOJXYTo9_RH4e9tu4kL23b8R46RPCYGtTzEU8q52Gp6I/s320/143.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At the bottom of this soldier's letter it says V-Mail. The story behind "V-Mail" is quite fascinating! You can read an article on it <a href="http://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.30thinfantry.org%2Fhistory_docs%2Fv-mail.doc&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNGRIsrqAtPA-TqcfaNoXKNq97FyEA">here.</a> (Since I'd rather not copy and paste the whole thing! ;) ) </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The letter that was read to the troops the night before D-Day. </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">#1</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">#2. Description. El Dorado is the town where the museum is, about 40 minutes from Wichita.</td></tr>
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Well, that's all of them! I had such an amazing time! The museum also has a research library that has shelves full of books about WWII. Like a room full of shelves. I told my dad I could have been there for another 2 hours and still felt like I hadn't seen everything. ;) I ended up coming back with 8 or 9 books, which have been invaluable in my research!<br />
The day we went we were the only ones there, and so the man there ended up sorta being our personal tour guide. He was so helpful and it was amazing to learn more about my favorite time period. We got to the museum around 2:45pm. It closed at 4:00 and since it was small, dad though an hour would give us more then enough time.<br />
Well. . .we were there until. 4:45pm. ;) Anyway, I'm sure by now you have heard enough to know that I LOVE the museum. We're planning another trip there at the end of this month and I'm sooo excited!! :D Also, there is a WWII battle re-enactment sponsored by the museum in November, which I'm also super excited about! ;)<br />
I hope y'all are having an amazing week! I'll try to get back to more regular posts some time this week. . .or maybe next week. :)Jesseca Dawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03248251614365079067noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3715580324357625828.post-89803340437127484002015-09-14T19:31:00.000-07:002015-09-16T12:18:48.553-07:00Bookshelf Tag!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Wow. It has taken me way to long to get this post written! Well, better late then never, right? Blessings Counter tagged me for this before our vacation, but I'm only now finding the time to get it up. Thank you so much for tagging me and I'm sorry it's taken me so long!</div>
If the pictures are clear and they actually look decent, they were taken with my dad's iphone, if they're darker and horrible quality, they were taken with the laptop camera. ;)<br />
Also, I'm not sure what happened to all the font. I've tried to change it and make it all the same, but it won;t cooperate. Oh well, I guess it isn't horrible. :)<br />
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<b>Describe your bookshelf (or wherever you keep your books-it doesn't have to be a shelf) and where you got it from.</b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhifKnnv-yQWp9hpVVdYASYAYf3mfo9O7abBZfG39uz35OQO9IHZK-zPVXfSqnkEdM7xCyEhCcGpBS7iB2DYhUJ806_QKbmc7dY9qBHOYDDYUzqUDvdRZ2fXhyTuYg2Jou3kVtXNaaKr2o/s1600/195.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhifKnnv-yQWp9hpVVdYASYAYf3mfo9O7abBZfG39uz35OQO9IHZK-zPVXfSqnkEdM7xCyEhCcGpBS7iB2DYhUJ806_QKbmc7dY9qBHOYDDYUzqUDvdRZ2fXhyTuYg2Jou3kVtXNaaKr2o/s320/195.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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Here is is! ;) My bookshelf is actually part of my sister's and my loft bunk bed. She has her own bookshelf next to the window in our room and she wanted the top bunk. . .which I was more then happy to let her have. So now I get all my books next to my bed! (Note: All the books laying horizontally on the second shelf are library books, so they're not actually my books. :)<br />
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<b style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22.4px;">What's the thickest (most amount of pages) book on your shelf?</b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWOsXTzp9_zgCQl0OtV6GRiW7HHcoLr69KXo1Ff9eDj6UZxJrv-ytdn5L8loVu8TMSpy_OX-JlNXKSh0yv_F4i7D8q_MpUrjtkVZ5qeeB5LvCIy457zhhaciv0DKmroox4HJi4iVS18ZU/s1600/196.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWOsXTzp9_zgCQl0OtV6GRiW7HHcoLr69KXo1Ff9eDj6UZxJrv-ytdn5L8loVu8TMSpy_OX-JlNXKSh0yv_F4i7D8q_MpUrjtkVZ5qeeB5LvCIy457zhhaciv0DKmroox4HJi4iVS18ZU/s320/196.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, Palatino Linotype, Palatino, serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="line-height: 22.4px;">My dad picked this up at Goodwill and I kinda stole it from his office. He doesn't mind. :) Its almost 800 pages long.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, Palatino Linotype, Palatino, serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="line-height: 22.4px;"><br /></span></span></span>
<b style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22.4px;">What's the thinnest (least amount of pages) book on your shelf? </b><br />
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The little Woodchopper. I think I've had this book since I was like 8!<br />
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<b style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22.4px;">Is there a book you received as a birthday gift? </b><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj64w5jOuyfFQfCZDpxe2zqXYPuYfYFuA8KPnj2WNBvylwq4Z7BR5AgHIkeGnTpZaS-jNGVjXM6oHW7973v1RTafuaOi0zCF87x1G85b5vrMxdvw5yrSLZsoyEhr4eGB73DP7cwuaMEXaI/s1600/200.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj64w5jOuyfFQfCZDpxe2zqXYPuYfYFuA8KPnj2WNBvylwq4Z7BR5AgHIkeGnTpZaS-jNGVjXM6oHW7973v1RTafuaOi0zCF87x1G85b5vrMxdvw5yrSLZsoyEhr4eGB73DP7cwuaMEXaI/s320/200.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I got these from my grandma for my birthday this year after she found out I loved writing. :)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUP-SFG_yCjgCFCHxZM9KsRSKyXX_OsNclqfs7h2_EOS9Y8W4k3MSF0LAK-BXnXukFcQ8faqI60MACWFSFGgkv-OnS9LOvo3jrCYK2aXRENqFQ5yIhNH0RjGrXD34w4P_xNr6Fxyqrd14/s1600/198.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUP-SFG_yCjgCFCHxZM9KsRSKyXX_OsNclqfs7h2_EOS9Y8W4k3MSF0LAK-BXnXukFcQ8faqI60MACWFSFGgkv-OnS9LOvo3jrCYK2aXRENqFQ5yIhNH0RjGrXD34w4P_xNr6Fxyqrd14/s320/198.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My parents have given me a couple of these every year on my birthday.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0otjkkInJlTEfBGkbgVlb8L7gYJCbPjoF0J4UssizvIEXfklZZdOV50XSOBnOZBKSoWodH6l9DByjA-YSevXvJ0KyqUOttelzISDcX5636wwct41BP5afn_Y8NpygzhjhUnt8CBERQIk/s1600/202.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0otjkkInJlTEfBGkbgVlb8L7gYJCbPjoF0J4UssizvIEXfklZZdOV50XSOBnOZBKSoWodH6l9DByjA-YSevXvJ0KyqUOttelzISDcX5636wwct41BP5afn_Y8NpygzhjhUnt8CBERQIk/s320/202.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This was a birthday gift from a friend.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHUfHCKo5ERyd1VJwoKTAOgUvD98skqN40yS3NPkg5G8ptsShb0hj2egLy5vpv2qlmN1N-ja8rq296RuIv5zrSmPWvf2EX2cNHOJL4Fh5Vpxbs43BR7yuO1a3mYpAQWmFxizuvFVUxSRs/s1600/Photo_00005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHUfHCKo5ERyd1VJwoKTAOgUvD98skqN40yS3NPkg5G8ptsShb0hj2egLy5vpv2qlmN1N-ja8rq296RuIv5zrSmPWvf2EX2cNHOJL4Fh5Vpxbs43BR7yuO1a3mYpAQWmFxizuvFVUxSRs/s320/Photo_00005.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small; text-align: start;">These are "The Adventures of the Northwoods" books by Lois Walfrid Johnson that I got from my grandparents when I turned 14. I have books 1-9 (there are 10 in the series) but I think my sisters are reading books 4 and 8. ;) </span></td></tr>
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<b style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22.4px;">What's the smallest (height and width wise) book on your shelf?</b><br />
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The little Woodchopper.</div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><b>What's the biggest (height and width wise) book on your shelf?</b></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWOsXTzp9_zgCQl0OtV6GRiW7HHcoLr69KXo1Ff9eDj6UZxJrv-ytdn5L8loVu8TMSpy_OX-JlNXKSh0yv_F4i7D8q_MpUrjtkVZ5qeeB5LvCIy457zhhaciv0DKmroox4HJi4iVS18ZU/s1600/196.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWOsXTzp9_zgCQl0OtV6GRiW7HHcoLr69KXo1Ff9eDj6UZxJrv-ytdn5L8loVu8TMSpy_OX-JlNXKSh0yv_F4i7D8q_MpUrjtkVZ5qeeB5LvCIy457zhhaciv0DKmroox4HJi4iVS18ZU/s320/196.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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Once again, it the Holocaust Chronicle. :) </div>
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<b style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22.4px;">Is there a book from a friend on your shelf?</b></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, Palatino Linotype, Palatino, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 22.4px;">Yep, a couple :) </span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOX6aRnYDE8LvpV0PiM7O3uOAuF6CRaLnUr5uP3hZgYEfFRl1_9Q8QN4nxfUhjArG26zPOWyDYQVLm_JteXM88IJ-lr2DQhV-Sz4TOzXZdcYlICbuzFhcbHHVd8MzMQa5IA3ZwsKicrcE/s1600/204.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOX6aRnYDE8LvpV0PiM7O3uOAuF6CRaLnUr5uP3hZgYEfFRl1_9Q8QN4nxfUhjArG26zPOWyDYQVLm_JteXM88IJ-lr2DQhV-Sz4TOzXZdcYlICbuzFhcbHHVd8MzMQa5IA3ZwsKicrcE/s320/204.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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"Tribulation Force", "A gown of Spanish Lace" and "The Family Secret" were all from a very dear friend for my birthday and "Secret Sabotage and "The Silver Flower" were from another dear friend when we met their family. :) </div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxfxpYRctfsivnHZFpelHOm2xFDCmszgITAl0fAhIgKW3HGJGwuaMcKj1d29-vI1DPcHT9xKnRUkaZsSlSGqR1-WrDZFPbQwWZtNlpWJGuNlzIaSVUtKvMV4z4sZNY04CNLzK6_bn4oxg/s1600/Photo_00006.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxfxpYRctfsivnHZFpelHOm2xFDCmszgITAl0fAhIgKW3HGJGwuaMcKj1d29-vI1DPcHT9xKnRUkaZsSlSGqR1-WrDZFPbQwWZtNlpWJGuNlzIaSVUtKvMV4z4sZNY04CNLzK6_bn4oxg/s320/Photo_00006.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This book was a birthday gift from my dear friend who also happens to be my editor. :) </td></tr>
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<b style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22.4px;">Most expensive book? </b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7neT6uaQ9x7pgPkI7yz5L86HTMjMGrYkW8CBPrQ32tVvpLBKdKF21gH3UP7n0Vwk4zCnWZmUBa4BMCJ9JyZt5rTBpHHGsPdG6Cmmv5TRqukxzF6K7TfS8HIe99wSsdwS3ows2wlffuSs/s1600/209.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7neT6uaQ9x7pgPkI7yz5L86HTMjMGrYkW8CBPrQ32tVvpLBKdKF21gH3UP7n0Vwk4zCnWZmUBa4BMCJ9JyZt5rTBpHHGsPdG6Cmmv5TRqukxzF6K7TfS8HIe99wSsdwS3ows2wlffuSs/s320/209.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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This book was $11. I ended up paying less, but it is the most expansive book on my shelf. Most of my books I've gotten for only a couple dollars each. ;) </div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><b>The last book you read on your shelf? </b></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVFd84SkBorqgIDKFfWeS1e2j6-0sJFMWirzATr5oO1ukScjA4BQOb-7NSi_kAD_wkj5FLbX3AhAmrk14Hdvb_KH4eTq1wwTPbpqpo2Yz7M-VNaNPlGDl2r_eIVAFFyxNUQ4Up5M6plJI/s1600/211.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVFd84SkBorqgIDKFfWeS1e2j6-0sJFMWirzATr5oO1ukScjA4BQOb-7NSi_kAD_wkj5FLbX3AhAmrk14Hdvb_KH4eTq1wwTPbpqpo2Yz7M-VNaNPlGDl2r_eIVAFFyxNUQ4Up5M6plJI/s320/211.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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"A Higher Call" is a book I got from the library for research. It's amazing! I've stayed up so many nights to read this! As a caution, it isn't a christian book so there is some swearing, but it's an amazing book.</div>
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<b style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22.4px;">Of all the books on your shelf, which was the first you read?</b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdq_zZS1RW1A8AGTI8W2HoGAZIsrQUkpHZnxZ_bNqXpvY-Hl3pL4O8n6fpXPsj-UZrpPtq_9B_UplHS3A-FBo_NegylhfHd2g69T-2jdAQAfU3PGmSb03KkkL_LHHEj3Kct2FXcRqwLfI/s1600/217.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdq_zZS1RW1A8AGTI8W2HoGAZIsrQUkpHZnxZ_bNqXpvY-Hl3pL4O8n6fpXPsj-UZrpPtq_9B_UplHS3A-FBo_NegylhfHd2g69T-2jdAQAfU3PGmSb03KkkL_LHHEj3Kct2FXcRqwLfI/s320/217.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, Palatino Linotype, Palatino, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 22.4px;">I think I've had this book since I was 5 or 6. My grandma thought it would be fun to get each of us a book with our name on the title and this is the one she got me. It a very good book and it's very special to me!</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><b>Do you have more than one copy of a book?</b></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1-NaUukdMopMIBqgaXcy72BKszEyN548ZrFKyeR5t1bIcn3OXWG9A6_x8tl4xuzAt2LZ98Iv9Jh9PnVbZ_GG5fDYHbOie8FV6WqaNUkMQjR8YzKDl4LDg_8MpbLdV8gCF6KeI8ShweV0/s1600/212.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1-NaUukdMopMIBqgaXcy72BKszEyN548ZrFKyeR5t1bIcn3OXWG9A6_x8tl4xuzAt2LZ98Iv9Jh9PnVbZ_GG5fDYHbOie8FV6WqaNUkMQjR8YzKDl4LDg_8MpbLdV8gCF6KeI8ShweV0/s320/212.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyHeGBn95yFRvTrunMqOFrcm6D9qtg1lfgCZ9MvxOPfz9s66XF7ARS6h_hMcABBQ_wH9s5QbiY0qy6q7c7_36zJsiDYU-OvI5kDyCF9T86FMPkLrpJQt5yw9n2T2sR_OMxV3dsMeZFQCg/s1600/Photo_00008.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyHeGBn95yFRvTrunMqOFrcm6D9qtg1lfgCZ9MvxOPfz9s66XF7ARS6h_hMcABBQ_wH9s5QbiY0qy6q7c7_36zJsiDYU-OvI5kDyCF9T86FMPkLrpJQt5yw9n2T2sR_OMxV3dsMeZFQCg/s320/Photo_00008.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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I have doubles of both of these. :) </div>
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<b style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22.4px;">Do you have the complete series of any book series?</b></div>
<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/AVvXsEhGC64Ba5apJ7xnPLxhTZy-FuazGAm5_IOvfajS_rAP32tGZgpQywx7WcYiiKIKMrhfJk41icWgsGOv7cDTT7kWW9GG0ifb4san1WNyYmHv3-hFT2_3bWu_CUkiivHPGTrZ8Rt0LYhWbng/s1600/215.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGC64Ba5apJ7xnPLxhTZy-FuazGAm5_IOvfajS_rAP32tGZgpQywx7WcYiiKIKMrhfJk41icWgsGOv7cDTT7kWW9GG0ifb4san1WNyYmHv3-hFT2_3bWu_CUkiivHPGTrZ8Rt0LYhWbng/s320/215.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I have the complete original Elsie Dinsmore set</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifXUvBL2AAqBcimLv9V6wYvhfpggxM0_Bw3eClrFjGCBqpGx8kz6pjdC1a3HrOjfLnNspDZdOOcOHCtUpSsoiQsezrf_9fSZVWxqimnsGL8R7c6RxuBa4b4vxsPUkStpsacLwyJ-Mk7pM/s1600/219.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifXUvBL2AAqBcimLv9V6wYvhfpggxM0_Bw3eClrFjGCBqpGx8kz6pjdC1a3HrOjfLnNspDZdOOcOHCtUpSsoiQsezrf_9fSZVWxqimnsGL8R7c6RxuBa4b4vxsPUkStpsacLwyJ-Mk7pM/s320/219.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Time Navigators trilogy</td></tr>
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And of course the "Secret of the Rose" series!<br />
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<b style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22.4px;">What's the newest addition to your shelf?</b></div>
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The writing books my grandma got me. I got them in the mail last week, :) </div>
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<b style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22.4px;">What book has been on your shelf FOREVER?</b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOIg9lg5J1PJCmKohe4Tl5RducmLsl_PQcm-X9kAVaWMOoA1Apm37dpSSEVZGTjpwCchADOUD5vIL2CTy6-9MmSMebThOvr7aPDuc3Hafz0nRa23WU7I-OVNTGPfXQpbtS_yrrP3ofaUk/s1600/217.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOIg9lg5J1PJCmKohe4Tl5RducmLsl_PQcm-X9kAVaWMOoA1Apm37dpSSEVZGTjpwCchADOUD5vIL2CTy6-9MmSMebThOvr7aPDuc3Hafz0nRa23WU7I-OVNTGPfXQpbtS_yrrP3ofaUk/s320/217.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, Palatino Linotype, Palatino, serif;"><span style="line-height: 22.4px;">Jessica's First Prayer. This is a very special book to me because when I was little my dad used to wake me up every morning and he would get himself a cup of coffee and make me a cup and then we'd go down to our basement and I would curl up in his lap while he read it to me. It's one book I would NEVER want to lose!</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><b>What's the most recently published book on your shelf? </b></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7gSKR7qdYFeNY52TqQVd_FNwz8uHp0PDwoQaIbHHTqtYNLE7pM_ZEL8uu7q-DS31Dy7Gni-oZZuRrdm_deeI9W1-arLzE_8YAAo_wL5yN89Ypda1qFq6xXHXKO3ZU7BwNCxS7iIPk4go/s1600/218.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7gSKR7qdYFeNY52TqQVd_FNwz8uHp0PDwoQaIbHHTqtYNLE7pM_ZEL8uu7q-DS31Dy7Gni-oZZuRrdm_deeI9W1-arLzE_8YAAo_wL5yN89Ypda1qFq6xXHXKO3ZU7BwNCxS7iIPk4go/s320/218.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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"The Sliver Flower". :)</div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><b>The oldest book on your shelf (as in, the actual copy is old)?</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, Palatino Linotype, Palatino, serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="line-height: 22.4px;">"Treasures of the Snow" published in 1950. It's not too old. ;) </span></span></span></div>
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<b style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22.4px;">A book you won?</b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdxRpnuu5vzTZjTks9ePcSBIU2ONJshpw9pO8lhKUFoeBmdqN1RLNnhl7YJ59_GcKNVy36Oi6YgC3x2p_A992v2BqYsLEszHIWt_YDnwVau_IaqG3lZK7Xkd3EIQAAgDEgDnNE5UK9A90/s1600/221.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdxRpnuu5vzTZjTks9ePcSBIU2ONJshpw9pO8lhKUFoeBmdqN1RLNnhl7YJ59_GcKNVy36Oi6YgC3x2p_A992v2BqYsLEszHIWt_YDnwVau_IaqG3lZK7Xkd3EIQAAgDEgDnNE5UK9A90/s320/221.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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"The Eleventh Hour" and "Beneath the Western Sky". ;) The First one I won on a giveaway on Emily's blog, the second one I won becasue I placed 2nd in the "Circle C Adventures" Contest. :D </div>
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<b style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22.4px;">A book you'd hate to let out of your sight (aka a book you never let someone borrow)?</b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOIg9lg5J1PJCmKohe4Tl5RducmLsl_PQcm-X9kAVaWMOoA1Apm37dpSSEVZGTjpwCchADOUD5vIL2CTy6-9MmSMebThOvr7aPDuc3Hafz0nRa23WU7I-OVNTGPfXQpbtS_yrrP3ofaUk/s1600/217.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOIg9lg5J1PJCmKohe4Tl5RducmLsl_PQcm-X9kAVaWMOoA1Apm37dpSSEVZGTjpwCchADOUD5vIL2CTy6-9MmSMebThOvr7aPDuc3Hafz0nRa23WU7I-OVNTGPfXQpbtS_yrrP3ofaUk/s320/217.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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I have 2. ;) "Jessica's First Prayer" and "The Elements of Style". </div>
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<b style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22.4px;">Most beat up book?</b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1-NaUukdMopMIBqgaXcy72BKszEyN548ZrFKyeR5t1bIcn3OXWG9A6_x8tl4xuzAt2LZ98Iv9Jh9PnVbZ_GG5fDYHbOie8FV6WqaNUkMQjR8YzKDl4LDg_8MpbLdV8gCF6KeI8ShweV0/s1600/212.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1-NaUukdMopMIBqgaXcy72BKszEyN548ZrFKyeR5t1bIcn3OXWG9A6_x8tl4xuzAt2LZ98Iv9Jh9PnVbZ_GG5fDYHbOie8FV6WqaNUkMQjR8YzKDl4LDg_8MpbLdV8gCF6KeI8ShweV0/s320/212.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, Palatino Linotype, Palatino, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 22.4px;">"Sarah's New World". I got it when I was 10 and it's been through a lot. The Front cover is horribly bent and ripped and it's had a drink spilled on it.</span></span></div>
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<b style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22.4px;">Most pristine book?</b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs5CsqTTufg1o_6Vn8S-5Ou14temu97xpLneoX2VpXgOznysg24MSi76C9NE5ZenyWdYyUPKS7x6JmBcMOmC-TY7mMNvpRVE123Z1quaAOvNMr9DeWdjNDNng-LOfnJsVbahU9yr8kbdA/s1600/226.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs5CsqTTufg1o_6Vn8S-5Ou14temu97xpLneoX2VpXgOznysg24MSi76C9NE5ZenyWdYyUPKS7x6JmBcMOmC-TY7mMNvpRVE123Z1quaAOvNMr9DeWdjNDNng-LOfnJsVbahU9yr8kbdA/s320/226.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, Palatino Linotype, Palatino, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 22.4px;">"Unbroken". I've never read it, but I've heard it's really good!</span></span></div>
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<b style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22.4px;">A book from your childhood?</b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOIg9lg5J1PJCmKohe4Tl5RducmLsl_PQcm-X9kAVaWMOoA1Apm37dpSSEVZGTjpwCchADOUD5vIL2CTy6-9MmSMebThOvr7aPDuc3Hafz0nRa23WU7I-OVNTGPfXQpbtS_yrrP3ofaUk/s1600/217.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOIg9lg5J1PJCmKohe4Tl5RducmLsl_PQcm-X9kAVaWMOoA1Apm37dpSSEVZGTjpwCchADOUD5vIL2CTy6-9MmSMebThOvr7aPDuc3Hafz0nRa23WU7I-OVNTGPfXQpbtS_yrrP3ofaUk/s320/217.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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Once again, 'Jessica's first Prayer". ;) </div>
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<b style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22.4px;">A book that's not actually your book?</b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8VLdrulCBmvDxtTwUatCfgG56NfHtn7_YwQkbsXngq49_c8i3qGozxymPEn9ibkgK1Z1igEV0DGoMxDwobWWmRALC-9mVy-JVQLIHAdV1f2eKWlsyx2rQLmD9GBMMcupSD31TVXDVQW0/s1600/236.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8VLdrulCBmvDxtTwUatCfgG56NfHtn7_YwQkbsXngq49_c8i3qGozxymPEn9ibkgK1Z1igEV0DGoMxDwobWWmRALC-9mVy-JVQLIHAdV1f2eKWlsyx2rQLmD9GBMMcupSD31TVXDVQW0/s320/236.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22.4px;">Both of these stacks are library books. ;) </span></div>
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<b style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22.4px;">A book with a special/different cover (e.g. leather bound, soft fuzzy cover etc.)? </b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie3u0GwtiOZuchEKteq0Riro_iMNattYGv5_xtQMeu8kiL6JfFFKY1RvKGRcrp5H72_L77ebz9CjVrcZ3NsFkj2pD7hpOQNctFVHy0QsgVyN417IVo845eEeiavnKqrKBs08_T8hVcdQ8/s1600/239.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie3u0GwtiOZuchEKteq0Riro_iMNattYGv5_xtQMeu8kiL6JfFFKY1RvKGRcrp5H72_L77ebz9CjVrcZ3NsFkj2pD7hpOQNctFVHy0QsgVyN417IVo845eEeiavnKqrKBs08_T8hVcdQ8/s320/239.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, Palatino Linotype, Palatino, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 22.4px;">I got "Jesus Calling" from a neighbor she had my name put on it. :) It's also leather.<br />"Prince Caspian" is the movie edition.</span></span></div>
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<b style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22.4px;">A book that is your favorite color?</b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv2MufAyaGx2iNdKJUXjomoCNe4f8UEiacku4yRBrF79dg8DtEtR0pvTR_0Tpy2Qe0HaP-GOOhOMtXqaVHxCaJ6ndLHM4cNG1G0UFmp0VTg7wj9jzNS2GDVNjooXyx12G6pEYdV2FctpQ/s1600/Photo_00007.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv2MufAyaGx2iNdKJUXjomoCNe4f8UEiacku4yRBrF79dg8DtEtR0pvTR_0Tpy2Qe0HaP-GOOhOMtXqaVHxCaJ6ndLHM4cNG1G0UFmp0VTg7wj9jzNS2GDVNjooXyx12G6pEYdV2FctpQ/s320/Photo_00007.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, Palatino Linotype, Palatino, serif;"><span style="line-height: 22.4px;">You</span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 22.4px;"> can't really tell in this picture (it was taken by our laptop camera *shudder*) but it's a really pretty golden yellow. </span></span></div>
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<b style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22.4px;">Book that's been on your shelf the longest that you STILL haven't read?</b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHKeA0hdL99JpihLVElxv8MnAFHwDk_16t9KVFZvRiASXWTHu6TBFucN1667qpIHzBfvCCMX1NxpCfL2WX24MCfcgkDo4Z7ANH-Nrq55sIDaF9q12wHkRDLSJUTX7y3yo3qSywYpQubgw/s1600/238.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHKeA0hdL99JpihLVElxv8MnAFHwDk_16t9KVFZvRiASXWTHu6TBFucN1667qpIHzBfvCCMX1NxpCfL2WX24MCfcgkDo4Z7ANH-Nrq55sIDaF9q12wHkRDLSJUTX7y3yo3qSywYpQubgw/s320/238.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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<b style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22.4px;">"</b><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22.4px;">Jesus Calling". It was a gift from our neighbor, but my dad said he wasn't too crazy about it, so I haven't actually read it.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><b>Any signed books?</b></span></div>
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Well, that wraps up the questions! Thank you so much for tagging me, Blessings Counter! :D </div>
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Jesseca Dawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03248251614365079067noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3715580324357625828.post-54863587791687476442015-09-11T03:30:00.000-07:002015-09-11T06:56:54.601-07:00September 11, 2001September 11th. The day started out normal, but what happened in the next few hours would change the course of history.<br />
I was only 3 when this happened. My younger sister, Faith, who had been born 3 1/2 months early on March 15th had finally been able to come home from the hospital.<br />
In the corner of my memory, if I look hard enough, a picture comes into focus. That picture was 14 years ago when I wandered out to the living room to see my dad, mom and grandma and grandpa (who had been visiting us) on their knees in front of the TV. I remember not knowing what was happening, not knowing why they were all praying and not understanding why everyone was so sad.<br />
When I was older, my dad explained it to me. Now, when ever that picture comes to mind, I understand.<br />
That day was the day terrorists hijacked four passenger planes and used them as weapons for an unimaginable act of destruction and terror.<br />
On that day, over 3,000 people were killed. No longer was this just an attack overseas, this attack on America happened within our own boarders.<br />
In my research I've come across many stories of bravery by people from every aspect of life. Firefighters, police officers, businessman, chaplains, and many others all stepped up and helped wherever there was need, but one story stands out among all the others.<br />
It was of a man who, sitting at his desk, called his wife on the phone soon after the towers were hit and told her he loved her. He told her that no matter what happened, he would see her again. You see, this man was a christian and he knew that he would soon be seeing his Savior.<br />
While the people were panicking and there was a general chaos everywhere, he calmly walked from person to person asking one simple question, "Friend, do you know Jesus?"<br />
Until eternity we will never the impact this man had, but if only one person was saved, it was a difference that will be felt for eternity.<br />
<i>Note: I came across this story while sorting through a stack of old christian magazines that were released after 9/11. I searched the internet for the story, but I can't seem to find it. </i><br />
Even this horrible tragedy, God used for good.<br />
I wrote this small poem as a tribute to those who lost a loved one on 9/11/01.<br />
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<i>I stand frozen, motionless as I stare up at the planes</i></div>
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<i>I want to move, but I feel bound by chains</i></div>
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<i>They continue on their deadly course,</i></div>
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<i>No human on earth could stop their force.</i></div>
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<i>As they hit the glass, smoke fills the air,</i></div>
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<i>the billowing clouds block the sun with a sickening glare.</i></div>
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<i>I feel a tear spill from my eye, and run down my cheek, </i></div>
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<i>then over the noise, I hear someone speak.</i></div>
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<i>I haven't abandoned you, I love you my child,</i></div>
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<i>this is part of my perfect plan for you and him.</i></div>
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<i>Then, through my tears, I simply smiled</i></div>
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<i>I knew that voice, though it was dim, </i></div>
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<i>It came from one who never did sin.</i></div>
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<i>I squared my shoulders, knowing He was in control;</i></div>
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<i>I know Jesus has my husbands's soul.</i></div>
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<i>For you see, my husband was in that building,</i></div>
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<i>but now he's with our Savior and free from all pain.</i></div>
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<i>Another tear blinds my vision as I see the building tilt</i></div>
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<i>I think of him and the life we'd built,</i></div>
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<i>I loved him dearly, and my heart breaks,</i></div>
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<i>The thought of life without him makes me ache.</i></div>
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<i>I'll see him again when God calls me home, </i></div>
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<i>but life without Kenneth seems very alone.</i></div>
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<i><br /></i></div>
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On that day and in the cleanup that followed, we were Americans. Not democrats or republicans. And on that day, Americans were not afraid nor ashamed to call upon God. It's sad that it takes something so horrible for us to turn back to God. </div>
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America needs revival, and I pray that it wouldn't take another disaster to bring us to our knees. We live in a hurting world, and what the world needs is Jesus. I pray that, as christian, we would shine for Him, a shining light in a dark world. </div>
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I hope y'all have an amazing day today! </div>
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<br />Jesseca Dawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03248251614365079067noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3715580324357625828.post-32524754216449257432015-09-08T15:16:00.001-07:002015-09-08T15:16:56.923-07:00Vacation pictures post #2. I'm <i>finally</i> sitting down to do a blog post. I am so behind! But I'm scheduling two other posts for this week, so I should be able to catch up. ;) <br />
After spending time with our cousins and grandparents in Reedsport, we back up towards Keiser to stay with a friend mom has known for a long time. We stayed one night at her house in tents in her backyard (which was a lot of fun :D ) before heading up towards Washington.<br />
After traveling for a few hours we spent the night in Olympia. The next day we were ready to head to our final destination: the Eddy's house! I know I was super excited to meet Rebekah, but all my siblings couldn't believe we were going to the house of someone I met <i>online</i> of all places. Thankfully, after about an hour there, they were more then happy we had come! In fact, if you asked them what their favorite part of our vacation was, they would tell you it was getting to visit the Eddys. :)<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7NpGM-uixKLBKivnD8998MUsxm1GScOy4ctFl9uGWFwRw8iumtlBpJMnobo1IciEAnnElZ2ITlL0IQmOcAN5bcTcAnsPZwudWt-3PsQax5A2s-59U0Zp6FwpzeQhmd5ORcrLxcIvIdU0/s1600/vacation1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7NpGM-uixKLBKivnD8998MUsxm1GScOy4ctFl9uGWFwRw8iumtlBpJMnobo1IciEAnnElZ2ITlL0IQmOcAN5bcTcAnsPZwudWt-3PsQax5A2s-59U0Zp6FwpzeQhmd5ORcrLxcIvIdU0/s320/vacation1.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At mom's friend's house. We had a lot of fun. ;) </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Benjamin playing with her dogs. he loves animals!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZXAkON8xJXrYFETJaiHIuCNA6Aq8SY0KCctvglhQLMU8Woa0NIAmJyEo9e3PDxZ0VfBPX8T11cs9K-yOb1NbCu8liAmMDog6rh9QuVwgPizDg_MBVvknfuZaCqhR5HoPpzxmDv99NIfI/s1600/vacation3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZXAkON8xJXrYFETJaiHIuCNA6Aq8SY0KCctvglhQLMU8Woa0NIAmJyEo9e3PDxZ0VfBPX8T11cs9K-yOb1NbCu8liAmMDog6rh9QuVwgPizDg_MBVvknfuZaCqhR5HoPpzxmDv99NIfI/s320/vacation3.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jesse had a lot of fun throwing the balls around. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPuaY9ENlleq2JcjuASYXXoXBdLiQ_2KTRskxT0AVZk4A28DW0OQtrkT6MZl1DHK4nN6zWWPcGcXN3NzTiYDXpdgoIwwJvN9A-CsdDPkExufZnxy2RFKhMCYhUUpSRR_OuHNVBd0JHSN4/s1600/vacation4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPuaY9ENlleq2JcjuASYXXoXBdLiQ_2KTRskxT0AVZk4A28DW0OQtrkT6MZl1DHK4nN6zWWPcGcXN3NzTiYDXpdgoIwwJvN9A-CsdDPkExufZnxy2RFKhMCYhUUpSRR_OuHNVBd0JHSN4/s320/vacation4.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kezzy with one of the dogs.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM_9XeEaPRIiJoBFIKm9_xtKn2tXJvO60pPnhzb6KtV2vmW2vDyF-iV_W5M8DVUT73IyK_uysNh-bTavbzYlNC7h8b0vA7H4Lia1f1hRQeHoHB6StueophWP6HX_zQrTfsUmw1leIQ7uE/s1600/vacation5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM_9XeEaPRIiJoBFIKm9_xtKn2tXJvO60pPnhzb6KtV2vmW2vDyF-iV_W5M8DVUT73IyK_uysNh-bTavbzYlNC7h8b0vA7H4Lia1f1hRQeHoHB6StueophWP6HX_zQrTfsUmw1leIQ7uE/s320/vacation5.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On our way to the Eddy's, we missed our exit and ended up at the Bremerton Navel Base. . .which was really cool because he had never seen a military ship before. (we're from Kansas, what did you expect? ;) )</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj3Fp0eTgXapR0lJGcUf1v83tjTRAgHqGBxbZwmuV2MnHWL7r5ZU_j4o2rYJq0qMJfOk28NR9Bp22hP0cgK6jeLd0E3b256aRB0mkj1wH8KGQdVZYHOaxTlyT4gb2MfyAatGa2RUCzPg0/s1600/vacation6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="124" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj3Fp0eTgXapR0lJGcUf1v83tjTRAgHqGBxbZwmuV2MnHWL7r5ZU_j4o2rYJq0qMJfOk28NR9Bp22hP0cgK6jeLd0E3b256aRB0mkj1wH8KGQdVZYHOaxTlyT4gb2MfyAatGa2RUCzPg0/s320/vacation6.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another picture of the ships. Since we were already late, dad didn't stop so we could take pictures, thus the horrible pictures. :) </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj25WRUk73ZfMV7wfASvvHqscXnk3AQmqTQBIC6ZXooffGoX9kH_q4evQOiJAxolNMV3MJaaxwbuT7idnGax3ypmrJACZapuSF878Dq9Ctep4TB5kcnIOyaJPfn1VPVRQR6_XOU54AsTxI/s1600/vacation10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj25WRUk73ZfMV7wfASvvHqscXnk3AQmqTQBIC6ZXooffGoX9kH_q4evQOiJAxolNMV3MJaaxwbuT7idnGax3ypmrJACZapuSF878Dq9Ctep4TB5kcnIOyaJPfn1VPVRQR6_XOU54AsTxI/s320/vacation10.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Abut an hour after we arrived at the Eddys, Rebekah and I were upstairs talking and it got really noisy downstairs. A couple miutes later her older sister asked us to come down so we did. . .and found all our siblings in the middle of a nerf gun war. You had to be sure to stand against a wall or else you would either get hit by someone running or shot by a 'bullet". It was so much fun to watch!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Loading a gun.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Playing legoes in the living room. </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The day we arrived it was raining! Mr. and Mrs. Eddy took my mom and dad out to look at the small apartment where my family was staying for the night. </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rebekah and I and our moms. </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Playing a game!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Supper! Pizza and a salad bar. . .it was amazing! </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I mean, doesn't this pizza look amazing? Just looking at it makes me hungry!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rebekah and I. after being pen pals for over a year, it was amazing to be able to meet in person! It was also a miracle that it worked out. God is good!</td></tr>
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So that completes our trip! I still have one more picture post I'll do but It'll be mostly scenery. We drove by some beautiful places on our way to and from Oregon! And or course, Cannon Beach was breathtaking. I just need to go through all those pictures before I post them. :)Jesseca Dawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03248251614365079067noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3715580324357625828.post-86120724197056048402015-09-02T19:28:00.005-07:002015-09-02T20:31:01.362-07:00Seventy Years Ago. . .. . .WWII officially ended. It had been a long, horrific struggle involving nearly all the nations and continents of the world. Both happiness and sadness, tears and laughter mingled together on this day, September 2nd, 1945.<br />
WWII has been called the bloodiest war leaving behind mass destruction and many wounds that would never be healed. In all, over 60 million people were killed during the duration of the war. On a military level, America lost 407,300 men, the U.K lost 383,700 men, Poland, before being overtaken, lost 240,000, France lost 210,000, the Soviet Union lost 10,000,000 men, and Germany lost 5,180,000 men.<br />
A mass slaughter of the Jews also happened during this war. Estimates range that anywhere between 4,000,000 and 6,000,000 Jews were killed. That is 55% of the world's Jewish population! In all this, I haven't even mentioned civilian (non-Jewish) deaths.<br />
There was laughter on this day, but the laughter was rivaled by the tears. America was the only country involved in WWII that did not have any cleanup to do after the war ended. France had been bombed, Germany had been flattened and Japan had had massive cities destroyed by the atomic bomb not to mention the other cities that had been fought over and destroyed in an attempt to stop the Japanese. On this day many mothers would glance fondly at pictures of their uniformed sons, knowing they would never again hold them in their arms. Wives and girlfriends wiped away tears and tried to be happy for their friends when they knew they themselves would never again feel their mans's arms around them.<br />
Then there were those who's men had come home from war, but they would never be the same. Fathers had to learn how to work and provide for their family while missing a leg or an arm. Those who may not have had physical damage did have emotional damage that would never be fully healed.<br />
Wive and mothers on the home-front lived each day wondering if they would ever see their men again. They worked hard to take the places of the men that had left, making it possible for the war supplies to continue to be made. Some never saw the fruit of their labor because their family members had been killed overseas.<br />
Soldiers saw men they had come to think of as brothers killed beside them in action, seeing the destruction and the senseless waste of men and women was something they would never fully recover from. Doctor and nurses had had men die in their care. They had men brought to them they knew would never make it out alive.<br />
Of all the men and women who served in WWII, I would argue that the nurses and doctors stationed in field hospitals had been through the most. They had heard the bombs as they worked, not caring for their own exhaustion, as they tried to remove a bullet from a leg or perform an amputation in less then sterile conditions hoping that somehow their patient would make it out alive. They had to make the agonizing decision of leaving men they knew wouldn't make it behind because there was only a limited amount of room available on the transports.<br />
Yes, while September 2nd, 1945 was a day of rejoicing, it was also a day of deep sadness. Wounds may heal, but they leave a scar telling the story of what has happened. This is is the day where we celebrate the ending of the greatest conflict known to the world. My great grandpa served in WWII and this past month I had the pleasure of meeting two older men who served in the war. Their stories are astounding, amazing, and they leave behind a legacy. They saw firsthand the horrors of the war and they saw the day when peace was declared.<br />
I was watching a movie called <i>The Battle of Britain</i> yesterday (which isn't exactly a movie I would recommend). My favorite part is what was said by Chief Air Officer Dowding before the battle of Britain begun. One of the men from parliament had come to get Dowding's opinion on their air force. Dowding said "We have 650 planes compared to our enemies 2,500 planes". The second man said "Yes, but we have our radar and Churchill puts great faith in our Radar." Dowding turns and says, "Well, I'll be praying." The second man replies, "So your trusitng in our Radar and praying to God?" to which Dowding replies "More like I'm trusting in God and praying our radar works."<br />
I LOVE that last line. It shows where a lot (not all) of the allied leader's hearts were. They were trusting God and when the War was over, they praised God.<br />
So today as we celebrate the end of this war, I pray that we would take a moment to pause and reflect on how God played a hand in ending the War. It was a horrible war, but in the midst of it, God was still there.<br />
Today is may seem like we're in the midst of many wars whether it be the fight for freedom, the fight for justice or even the fight for survival on this earth. Remember, God is always there. As Christians our freedom is found in Christ, our need for justice is replaced by God's mercy and our survival on this earth is because God placed us here for a reason.<br />
I hope we are celebrating this day, because it was on this day that many people were freed and allowed to return to their homes. It was a day that many people rejoiced over knowing it meant that their loved ones would soon be home, and it is a day that should always be remembered in History.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Japan signs the peace treaty.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An American newspaper celebrates the end of WWII.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">American soldiers celebrating the end of the war.</td></tr>
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<br />Jesseca Dawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03248251614365079067noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3715580324357625828.post-52922657993693961802015-08-25T13:15:00.000-07:002015-08-25T13:15:06.184-07:00Vacation Pictures post #1<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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This past month we took a 2-week family vacation. Starting in Seaside, OR, we made our way down to Cannon Beach, OR, Reedsport, OR, then back up to Keizer, OR before heading to WA. It was a full trip, but we had an amazing time! It was so good to be able to have some family time together; we haden't had a vacation since before dad was diagnosed with cancer, so it was a lot of fun!</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Leaving our house. Everyone was excited!<br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We drove through the night a couple times. Since the 2nd bench is empty, I think this picture was taken when we stopped. :) </td></tr>
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The main reason we made the trip was to attend my cousin's (mom's niece's) wedding. The wedding was held on Cannon Beach and it was absolutely beautiful!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Bide and Groom with her parents and grandparents. </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Everyone on the Bride's side of the family who attended the wedding. :) </td></tr>
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The Day after the wedding we traveled down to Reedsport, OR with our grandparents and Aunt and Uncle and their family. We had such a fun time there with them! </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWYKuWI9uPQPh4I4sXa7qfVeeW52oc7WgkkFaMccPs90kElnzFzTPBBNqvP3-AgMfUX8CKhabsXIKfaoeC6_NtWWqAC7WnixXb3VfZIOBcPT4T_4zqzCC8TNylz2tbY2q0wTW7QSU8FBk/s1600/beach.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWYKuWI9uPQPh4I4sXa7qfVeeW52oc7WgkkFaMccPs90kElnzFzTPBBNqvP3-AgMfUX8CKhabsXIKfaoeC6_NtWWqAC7WnixXb3VfZIOBcPT4T_4zqzCC8TNylz2tbY2q0wTW7QSU8FBk/s320/beach.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Before driving down to Reedsport, we all stopped at Cannon Beach..</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisqjPM6T8ia7OEj5rlxZkDy2AcOz9bEUD4tyD_yGn3zmqBd6fYJV9E4hFMFwBPCLM9arNO8z2XvlhKd9u60pFWitGZMcXgB_w-Ywz2zUxbX0hP-y6CfPi5uhyphenhyphend3hCA1ZU6vKHOFizK7u8/s1600/cousins.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="161" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisqjPM6T8ia7OEj5rlxZkDy2AcOz9bEUD4tyD_yGn3zmqBd6fYJV9E4hFMFwBPCLM9arNO8z2XvlhKd9u60pFWitGZMcXgB_w-Ywz2zUxbX0hP-y6CfPi5uhyphenhyphend3hCA1ZU6vKHOFizK7u8/s320/cousins.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cousins! We had such a fun time sitting in the hotel lobby and telling random stories. ;) </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdsV7pYJJZJ1eCN3qYz9o5Br6dFzCMOw2m-xgjZI7TiOtJPgMp0ul3xawhcln63m6bIEzyTyyeACAuFwS044Ua7N_E7Tj8x1CVW3BMcuA9pIlxLvgQQANSKJbGb_r2utpJXDRbHjoON-A/s1600/dinner.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdsV7pYJJZJ1eCN3qYz9o5Br6dFzCMOw2m-xgjZI7TiOtJPgMp0ul3xawhcln63m6bIEzyTyyeACAuFwS044Ua7N_E7Tj8x1CVW3BMcuA9pIlxLvgQQANSKJbGb_r2utpJXDRbHjoON-A/s320/dinner.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Having dinner with our grandparents!!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf8D-c_QyptwQDnKVcPw7RxNor1H7tFQ41tWsy-qHpcsb4idhoQ9ND9eENE5sTw3Ndh5daU2TPkHVyZIP2OQpTPsi9pPFk7oPc0YjH9Lh_MwBl4wJn_4SdwuD98vTXmecrVKQQ-RNu6PY/s1600/silly%2521.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf8D-c_QyptwQDnKVcPw7RxNor1H7tFQ41tWsy-qHpcsb4idhoQ9ND9eENE5sTw3Ndh5daU2TPkHVyZIP2OQpTPsi9pPFk7oPc0YjH9Lh_MwBl4wJn_4SdwuD98vTXmecrVKQQ-RNu6PY/s320/silly%2521.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Saying goodbye and TRYING to take a picture. This scenario happened a few times before we got a good one. ;) </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEscSOzQ9vEygoHcW2RUk-Yx_2cxvEzrJHgvJQxoYbt3bLhTyu-22PP0bmpCuFt0rBEpLlpgQ5JaOJrqiDOXbHX4NGaO9wAcowx8CUE_HRzOLtPfWxg7T_oi8z4rNx6kZTITdc5btO7Vg/s1600/sandy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEscSOzQ9vEygoHcW2RUk-Yx_2cxvEzrJHgvJQxoYbt3bLhTyu-22PP0bmpCuFt0rBEpLlpgQ5JaOJrqiDOXbHX4NGaO9wAcowx8CUE_HRzOLtPfWxg7T_oi8z4rNx6kZTITdc5btO7Vg/s320/sandy.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mom and Cameron on the beach. :)<br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWTaQlnksYxfNN9U1SomSjGlr5Qebl8l0EZYecMC4fpk79zn6kFXqLI5m6kxoLzAPCJR9BXh2iLqTLxC1xpUI4aOW6XLqAJ1pIPsZC7V85_FUQgWJRY7qrGWgc_j1Kn9GFZzFdYBhnpPo/s1600/waves.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWTaQlnksYxfNN9U1SomSjGlr5Qebl8l0EZYecMC4fpk79zn6kFXqLI5m6kxoLzAPCJR9BXh2iLqTLxC1xpUI4aOW6XLqAJ1pIPsZC7V85_FUQgWJRY7qrGWgc_j1Kn9GFZzFdYBhnpPo/s320/waves.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Isn't this picture beautiful???</td></tr>
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<br />And that's all for this post! I hope y'all have an amazing rest of your week!<br /><div>
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Jesseca Dawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03248251614365079067noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3715580324357625828.post-76800769955288722582015-08-21T05:00:00.000-07:002015-08-21T05:00:01.623-07:00A song and verse for the weekend--Already there<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Sorry I haevn't done these posts for so long! I sorta slacked off while we were gone. ;) </div>
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The words to this song are so good. No matter what is happening in life, God has a plan! Everything that is happening, no matter how unnecessary it may seem, is part of His perfect tapestry for your life. He's already there, He knows how everything will end, just trust Him! I included the lyrics below if you'd rather read them. </div>
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<iframe width="320" height="266" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/qrOotpSKOX0/0.jpg" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/qrOotpSKOX0?feature=player_embedded" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
Jerimiah 29:11 <span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px;">For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the </span><span class="small-caps" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-variant: small-caps; line-height: 24px;">Lord</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px;">, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13.3999996185303px; line-height: 19.1428565979004px; text-align: center;">From where I'm standing</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13.3999996185303px; line-height: 19.1428565979004px; text-align: center;" /><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13.3999996185303px; line-height: 19.1428565979004px; text-align: center;">Lord it's so hard for me to see</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13.3999996185303px; line-height: 19.1428565979004px; text-align: center;" /><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13.3999996185303px; line-height: 19.1428565979004px; text-align: center;">Where this is going</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13.3999996185303px; line-height: 19.1428565979004px; text-align: center;" /><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13.3999996185303px; line-height: 19.1428565979004px; text-align: center;">And where You're leading me</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13.3999996185303px; line-height: 19.1428565979004px; text-align: center;" /><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13.3999996185303px; line-height: 19.1428565979004px; text-align: center;">I wish I knew how</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13.3999996185303px; line-height: 19.1428565979004px; text-align: center;" /><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13.3999996185303px; line-height: 19.1428565979004px; text-align: center;">All my fears and all my questions</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13.3999996185303px; line-height: 19.1428565979004px; text-align: center;" /><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13.3999996185303px; line-height: 19.1428565979004px; text-align: center;">Are gonna play out</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13.3999996185303px; line-height: 19.1428565979004px; text-align: center;" /><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13.3999996185303px; line-height: 19.1428565979004px; text-align: center;">In a world I can't control</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13.3999996185303px; line-height: 19.1428565979004px; text-align: center;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13.3999996185303px; line-height: 19.1428565979004px; text-align: center;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13.3999996185303px; line-height: 19.1428565979004px; text-align: center;" /><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13.3999996185303px; line-height: 19.1428565979004px; text-align: center;">When I'm lost in the mystery</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13.3999996185303px; line-height: 19.1428565979004px; text-align: center;" /><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13.3999996185303px; line-height: 19.1428565979004px; text-align: center;">To You my future is a memory</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13.3999996185303px; line-height: 19.1428565979004px; text-align: center;" /><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13.3999996185303px; line-height: 19.1428565979004px; text-align: center;">Cause You're already there</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13.3999996185303px; line-height: 19.1428565979004px; text-align: center;" /><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13.3999996185303px; line-height: 19.1428565979004px; text-align: center;">You're already there</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13.3999996185303px; line-height: 19.1428565979004px; text-align: center;" /><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13.3999996185303px; line-height: 19.1428565979004px; text-align: center;">Standing at the end of my life</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13.3999996185303px; line-height: 19.1428565979004px; text-align: center;" /><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13.3999996185303px; line-height: 19.1428565979004px; text-align: center;">Waiting on the other side</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13.3999996185303px; line-height: 19.1428565979004px; text-align: center;" /><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13.3999996185303px; line-height: 19.1428565979004px; text-align: center;">And You're already there</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13.3999996185303px; line-height: 19.1428565979004px; text-align: center;" /><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13.3999996185303px; line-height: 19.1428565979004px; text-align: center;">You're already there</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13.3999996185303px; line-height: 19.1428565979004px; text-align: center;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13.3999996185303px; line-height: 19.1428565979004px; text-align: center;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13.3999996185303px; line-height: 19.1428565979004px; text-align: center;" /><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13.3999996185303px; line-height: 19.1428565979004px; text-align: center;">From where You're standing</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13.3999996185303px; line-height: 19.1428565979004px; text-align: center;" /><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13.3999996185303px; line-height: 19.1428565979004px; text-align: center;">Lord, You see a grand design</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13.3999996185303px; line-height: 19.1428565979004px; text-align: center;" /><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13.3999996185303px; line-height: 19.1428565979004px; text-align: center;">That You imagined</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13.3999996185303px; line-height: 19.1428565979004px; text-align: center;" /><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13.3999996185303px; line-height: 19.1428565979004px; text-align: center;">When You breathed me into life</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13.3999996185303px; line-height: 19.1428565979004px; text-align: center;" /><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13.3999996185303px; line-height: 19.1428565979004px; text-align: center;">And all the chaos</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13.3999996185303px; line-height: 19.1428565979004px; text-align: center;" /><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13.3999996185303px; line-height: 19.1428565979004px; text-align: center;">Comes together in Your hands</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13.3999996185303px; line-height: 19.1428565979004px; text-align: center;" /><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13.3999996185303px; line-height: 19.1428565979004px; text-align: center;">Like a masterpiece</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13.3999996185303px; line-height: 19.1428565979004px; text-align: center;" /><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13.3999996185303px; line-height: 19.1428565979004px; text-align: center;">Of Your picture perfect plan</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13.3999996185303px; line-height: 19.1428565979004px; text-align: center;" /><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13.3999996185303px; line-height: 19.1428565979004px; text-align: center;">When I'm lost in the mystery</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13.3999996185303px; line-height: 19.1428565979004px; text-align: center;" /><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13.3999996185303px; line-height: 19.1428565979004px; text-align: center;">To You my future is a memory</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13.3999996185303px; line-height: 19.1428565979004px; text-align: center;" /><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13.3999996185303px; line-height: 19.1428565979004px; text-align: center;">Cause You're already there</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13.3999996185303px; line-height: 19.1428565979004px; text-align: center;" /><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13.3999996185303px; line-height: 19.1428565979004px; text-align: center;">You're already there</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13.3999996185303px; line-height: 19.1428565979004px; text-align: center;" /><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13.3999996185303px; line-height: 19.1428565979004px; text-align: center;">Standing at the end of my life</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13.3999996185303px; line-height: 19.1428565979004px; text-align: center;" /><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13.3999996185303px; line-height: 19.1428565979004px; text-align: center;">Waiting on the other side</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13.3999996185303px; line-height: 19.1428565979004px; text-align: center;" /><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13.3999996185303px; line-height: 19.1428565979004px; text-align: center;">And You're already there</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13.3999996185303px; line-height: 19.1428565979004px; text-align: center;" /><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13.3999996185303px; line-height: 19.1428565979004px; text-align: center;">You're already there</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13.3999996185303px; line-height: 19.1428565979004px; text-align: center;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13.3999996185303px; line-height: 19.1428565979004px; text-align: center;" /><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13.3999996185303px; line-height: 19.1428565979004px; text-align: center;">One day I'll stand before You</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13.3999996185303px; line-height: 19.1428565979004px; text-align: center;" /><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13.3999996185303px; line-height: 19.1428565979004px; text-align: center;">And look back on the life I've lived</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13.3999996185303px; line-height: 19.1428565979004px; text-align: center;" /><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13.3999996185303px; line-height: 19.1428565979004px; text-align: center;">I can't wait to enjoy the view</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13.3999996185303px; line-height: 19.1428565979004px; text-align: center;" /><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13.3999996185303px; line-height: 19.1428565979004px; text-align: center;">And see how all the pieces fit </span><br style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13.3999996185303px; line-height: 19.1428565979004px; text-align: center;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13.3999996185303px; line-height: 19.1428565979004px; text-align: center;" /><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13.3999996185303px; line-height: 19.1428565979004px; text-align: center;">One day I'll stand before You</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13.3999996185303px; line-height: 19.1428565979004px; text-align: center;" /><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13.3999996185303px; line-height: 19.1428565979004px; text-align: center;">And look back on the life I've lived</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13.3999996185303px; line-height: 19.1428565979004px; text-align: center;" /><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13.3999996185303px; line-height: 19.1428565979004px; text-align: center;">Cause You're already there</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13.3999996185303px; line-height: 19.1428565979004px; text-align: center;" /><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13.3999996185303px; line-height: 19.1428565979004px; text-align: center;">You're already there</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13.3999996185303px; line-height: 19.1428565979004px; text-align: center;" /><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13.3999996185303px; line-height: 19.1428565979004px; text-align: center;">When I'm lost in the mystery</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13.3999996185303px; line-height: 19.1428565979004px; text-align: center;" /><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13.3999996185303px; line-height: 19.1428565979004px; text-align: center;">To You my future is a memory</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13.3999996185303px; line-height: 19.1428565979004px; text-align: center;" /><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13.3999996185303px; line-height: 19.1428565979004px; text-align: center;">Cause You're already there</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13.3999996185303px; line-height: 19.1428565979004px; text-align: center;" /><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13.3999996185303px; line-height: 19.1428565979004px; text-align: center;">You're already there</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13.3999996185303px; line-height: 19.1428565979004px; text-align: center;" /><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13.3999996185303px; line-height: 19.1428565979004px; text-align: center;">Standing at the end of my life</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13.3999996185303px; line-height: 19.1428565979004px; text-align: center;" /><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13.3999996185303px; line-height: 19.1428565979004px; text-align: center;">Waiting on the other side</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13.3999996185303px; line-height: 19.1428565979004px; text-align: center;" /><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13.3999996185303px; line-height: 19.1428565979004px; text-align: center;">And You're already there</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13.3999996185303px; line-height: 19.1428565979004px; text-align: center;" /><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13.3999996185303px; line-height: 19.1428565979004px; text-align: center;">You're already there</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13.3999996185303px; line-height: 19.1428565979004px; text-align: center;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13.3999996185303px; line-height: 19.1428565979004px; text-align: center;" /><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13.3999996185303px; line-height: 19.1428565979004px; text-align: center;">You are already there</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px;"><br /></span>Jesseca Dawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03248251614365079067noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3715580324357625828.post-9837748116267222252015-08-19T07:39:00.002-07:002015-08-19T16:45:10.662-07:00Catch-up post!Wow, it's been a long time since I've posted anything on here! For those of you who didn't know, my family and I were away for the past two weeks on a family vacation. It was nothing short of a miracle that we were able to go, God worked in so many ways.<br />
We had a wonderful time! From being able to attend my cousin's wedding, to spending hours on the beach, to meeting my pen-pal, Rebekah, face to face, it was an amazing time!<br />
While we were gone we "celebrated" the two-year mark of my dad being diagnosed with cancer (there will be a post about that), and I managed to get fifteen hours of driving in.<br />
Just a note for those of you who are new drivers (like me!); don't offer to take the 9:30pm-2:30am driving shift! (Ummm, yeah, I might have done that. . .)<br />
Anyway, it was such a blessing to travel as a family; we hadn't had a family vacation since dad was diagnosed with cancer.<br />
I took somewhere around 200 pictures. . .so the next few days I'll be sorting through them and deleting all the bad ones, then I'll start posting them on the blog. ;)<br />
I hope y'all are having an amazing week!Jesseca Dawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03248251614365079067noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3715580324357625828.post-10315619539642905982015-07-21T15:10:00.000-07:002015-07-22T14:46:00.541-07:00Fallen HeroesAs I'm sure all of you know, five service members were killed in a shooting last Thursday. Four marines were among those killed. I've been really bothered by that and the fact that it doesn't seem to bother a lot of people. Two of these men were fathers. They had children and a wife. Today those children are fatherless and their wives are widows. One of them men had graduated from high school and joined the service only three years ago. At least three of them had been on tours in Afghanistan and one had been in Iraq. They had made it back home to where they were supposed to be safe. Yet it was here in our own country that they were killed. My heart aches for their families. These men truly are heroes. May God comfort their families during this trying time.<br />
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<h4>
<i>"Fallen Heroes"</i></h4>
<h4>
<span style="font-weight: normal;">By: Jesseca Dawn</span></h4>
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; line-height: 1.38; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #990000;">Another day, another drill,</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #990000;">The same routine, there was no thrill.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #990000;">The sun shone bright, the sky was clear,</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #990000;">All was well as noon drew near.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #990000;">Then suddenly, the peace was shattered,</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #990000;">As the shots rang out, the people scattered.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #990000;">Not caring for themselves, five men did as trained,</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #990000;">Entering combat mode, they worked to save others, </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #990000;">Despite the wounds they sustained.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #990000;">While they saved lives, all five lost their own, </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #990000;">They did what they could, but then fell to the stone.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #990000;">Their eyes closed, and the sounds faded away,</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #990000;">As they breathed their last, and bid earth farwell.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #990000;">They served our country, they gave their all.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #990000;">They survived the battles fought overseas, </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #990000;">only to be killed in our very own streets.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #990000;">They fought for the freedom of the one who killed them,</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #990000;">They gave their lives, these few brave men.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #990000;">They didn’t want to be heroes, but that’s what they’ve become,</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #990000;">Their legacy lives on, through their families left behind.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #990000;">May we never forget what happened, their lives they signed,.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #990000;">They said they’d give their all, and that’s just what they did.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #990000;">They stood their ground, they never hid.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #990000;">And in the face of a trial, they gave their lives,</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #990000;">We owe much to them and their sacrifice.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #990000;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. . .</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">And I won't forget the ones who died</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; font-style: italic; line-height: 1.488; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #990000;">Who gave that right to me</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #990000;">And I gladly stand up next to you</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #990000;">And defend her still today</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #990000;">'Cause there ain't no doubt I love this land</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #990000;">God bless the U.S.A.--Lee Greenwood</span></span></div>
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Jesseca Dawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03248251614365079067noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3715580324357625828.post-67699872707167111222015-07-17T12:40:00.001-07:002015-07-17T12:40:35.894-07:00A song and verse for the weekend--Oh, to be like Thee<i>Alrighty, It's been way to long since I posted on here! ;) I've got a couple posts planned for this next week, but for now, here's this week's song and verse.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
This is my favorite song. I'm not sure if I've posted it on hear before, but if I have, it's been while. :) I love the words to this song; all the verses are so good.<br />
Well, okay, enough of my talking. :D I hope y'all have a good weekend!!<br />
<br />
2 Corinthians 3:18<br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.</span><br />
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<iframe width="320" height="266" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/KrYhiK2nQBg/0.jpg" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/KrYhiK2nQBg?feature=player_embedded" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
The song doesn't have all the verses, so here all five of them are in order ;)<br />
<span style="background-color: #f0edd3; color: #0a3f64; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 20.3999996185303px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">Oh! to be like Thee, blessed Redeemer,</span><ol style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">
<li class="first" style="list-style-type: none; margin-top: 0px;">This is my constant longing and prayer;<br />Gladly I’ll forfeit all of earth’s treasures,<br />Jesus, Thy perfect likeness to wear.<ul style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">
<li class="refrain" style="list-style-type: none; margin-left: 20px; margin-top: 1em;"><span class="refrain" style="font-style: italic;">Refrain:</span><br />Oh! to be like Thee, oh! to be like Thee,<br />Blessed Redeemer, pure as Thou art;<br />Come in Thy sweetness, come in Thy fullness;<br />Stamp Thine own image deep on my heart.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li style="list-style-type: none; margin-top: 1em;">Oh! to be like Thee, full of compassion,<br />Loving, forgiving, tender and kind,<br />Helping the helpless, cheering the fainting,<br />Seeking the wand’ring sinner to find.</li>
<li style="list-style-type: none; margin-top: 1em;">Oh! to be like Thee, lowly in spirit,<br />Holy and harmless, patient and brave;<br />Meekly enduring cruel reproaches,<br />Willing to suffer, others to save.</li>
<li style="list-style-type: none; margin-top: 1em;">Oh! to be like Thee, Lord, I am coming,<br />Now to receive th’ anointing divine;<br />All that I am and have I am bringing,<br />Lord, from this moment all shall be Thine.</li>
<li style="list-style-type: none; margin-top: 1em;">Oh! to be like Thee, while I am pleading,<br />Pour out Thy Spirit, fill with Thy love,<br />Make me a temple meet for Thy dwelling,<br />Fit me for life and Heaven above.</li>
</ol>
Jesseca Dawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03248251614365079067noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3715580324357625828.post-57896403615457126492015-07-04T06:47:00.001-07:002015-07-04T08:13:33.550-07:00Independence Day<div dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #20124d;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 14.6666666666667px; line-height: 1.38; white-space: pre-wrap;">Hey, everyone! I hope you're having an amazing </span><span style="font-size: 14.6666669845581px; line-height: 20.2399997711182px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Independence</span><span style="font-size: 14.6666666666667px; line-height: 1.38; white-space: pre-wrap;"> day so far! :D </span></span></span></span><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; line-height: 1.38; white-space: pre-wrap;">I was </span><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6666669845581px; line-height: 20.2399997711182px; white-space: pre-wrap;">planing</span><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; line-height: 1.38; white-space: pre-wrap;"> on writing a poem and posting it, but. . .I couldn't seem to get any of </span><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6666669845581px; line-height: 20.2399997711182px; white-space: pre-wrap;">the</span><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; line-height: 1.38; white-space: pre-wrap;"> words to </span><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6666669845581px; line-height: 20.2399997711182px; white-space: pre-wrap;">rhyme</span><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; line-height: 1.38; white-space: pre-wrap;">. ;) So, I wrote a short story instead. I wanted to capture the reason our Nation has been great. Just remember, our freedom came at a price, it wasn't free. Freedom is never free. We owe a debt of gratitude to everyone who has died for our country and everyone who is serving our country.</span><br />
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; line-height: 1.38; white-space: pre-wrap;">I hope y'all are having an </span><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6666669845581px; line-height: 20.2399997711182px; white-space: pre-wrap;">amazing</span><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; line-height: 1.38; white-space: pre-wrap;"> 4th! </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #20124d;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 14.6666666666667px; line-height: 1.38; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div>
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<h2>
<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 14.6666669845581px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 20.2399997711182px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>Freedom</i></span></span></h2>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #073763;">“Grandpa, Grandpa. I want to see that one!” Eleven-year old Sam pointed across the Arlington cemetery to the Marine Corps memorial that stood tall and silent, flag flying proudly in the breeze.</span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #073763;">The Grandpa smiled, “Alright, we’ll go and see that one next.”</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #073763;">Sam slipped his hand into his Grandpa’s and they began to slowly walk across the large cemetery.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #073763;">“Grandpa, why are there so many crosses? So many graves?” the boy asked, glancing at his Grandfather with a questioning look.</span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #073763;">“Those, my boy, are all the men who have died for our flag.”</span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #073763;">“But Grandpa, why would they die for a flag? It seems silly.”</span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #073763;">“Oh, Sam, you want to know why they would die for our flag? Let me tell you. When our forefathers declared their independence, we become the first nation that had a government of the people, by the people and for the people. Do you know why that was so important, Sam?”</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #073763;">He shook his head, “Why Grandpa?”</span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #073763;">“Because that meant that no longer would there be a king or a dictator telling people what they should do and shouldn't do. They were free to govern themselves and to elect the leaders they thought would be best for our great country. And, most importantly, America had freedom of religion.”</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #073763;">“But, Grandpa, I thought that being free meant there were no rules and you could do whatever we wanted. There are still rules in America.”</span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #073763;">“The Grandpa smiled, “I’m glad your so inquisitive, Sam. Yes, being free means you can do what you believe best, but there are also laws that are needed to protect our freedom. I mean, would you feel free if you knew someone could kill you simply because they thought it would be best?”</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #073763;">Sam shook his head, “That would make me scared.”</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #073763;">“That’s right. So, to protect our freedoms, we have laws. The laws should never tell us what to believe or how we must live, but laws are guidelines made for your protection. Sam, freedom is the ability to listen to your conscience, It doesn’t give you a free ticket to sin. It’s just like how Jesus dies for us. He forgives all our sin if we ask him to, but does that mean we should keep on sinning?”</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #073763;">Sam shook his head, “No, because that would make Jesus sad.”</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #073763;">“That's right. When we love someone we don’t want to do anything that would hurt them. The same is true for our country. If we truly love ‘The land of the free and the home of the brave,’ we won’t do anything that could hurt it or tear it down. We’ll realize that the laws that are in place are meant to preserve our freedom. When our founding fathers established the country, the laws they governed it by were the same laws and rules that are found in God’s Holy Word. That’s what truly made our country great. But,” a sad look entered the Grandpa's eyes, “We are turning away from those laws in our country. People who haven’t been taught why America is great and haven’t been taught the Bible and don’t know the real meaning of freedom are trying to make their own laws. If we aren’t careful, their laws will destroy our country. We need to pray that God can show them what freedom really is. Freedom in His Son is the true freedom. And we need to be a witness through how we live. We need to show them what true freedom looks like.”</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #073763;">“Why did you fight for our country, Grandpa?” Sam wondered.</span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #073763;">“I fought for our freedom. I fought so that you can be free to make decisions, Sam. I fought so that you can choose who to serve. I fought to give you the freedom to choose.”</span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #073763;">“So, even if I chose to do things you don’t like, you fought for that?”</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #073763;">The Grandpa chuckled, “I certainly hope you chose to do right, but, yes, I fought that you could have a free choice. But we must remember, whatever choice you personally make is yours alone. You can not try and force it on others. They must make their own choice, they are free to make their own choice. And they do have the right to make their own choice.”</span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #073763;">“But, Grandpa, what about the flag? You said the men died for the flag.”</span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #073763;">“They did. The flag stand for everything I've been explaining for you. Our glorious flag stands for freedom, liberty and justice for all. It stands for the freedom to make your own personal choice. It stands for America.”</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #073763;">By this time they had reached the Marine Corps memorial and Sam gazed up at the flag, “Is that why these men were trying to keep the flag up?”</span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #073763;">“Yes, my boy. The flag must never be dishonored, must never be allowed to touch the ground. they loved America. They were fighting to keep us free.”</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #073763;">Sam thought for a moment, “I love our flag, Grandpa.”</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #073763;">The Grandpa smiled, “So do I, Sam. So do I.”</span></span></div>
<span id="docs-internal-guid-f98cb50c-599c-bca4-5423-c535c851ebb1"><span style="color: #073763;"><br /></span></span>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #073763;">Oh say, does that star-spangled banner yet wave, O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave?</span></span></div>
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Jesseca Dawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03248251614365079067noreply@blogger.com2