tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-519922498740773272024-02-07T00:22:52.130-06:00Verbal IllustrationsWe get one journey... here's putting into words what is going on in ours. Alicia Gregghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06769101340770559231noreply@blogger.comBlogger566125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-51992249874077327.post-44444540652252272622016-08-16T00:32:00.000-05:002016-08-16T00:32:07.226-05:00As the Phase TurnsJust the other day I was sitting with my oldest snuggled up with me watching the Olympics. As I felt his weight against me, I began to recall a story to him about a time not so long ago that I sat in a little upstairs apartment, the streetlights flooding through the window, eating yogurt covered raisins and pretzels - a craving I must have had - and watching the summer Olympic games. I was six months pregnant with him.<br />
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I remember it like it was yesterday. It was an exciting time in our ministry. It was an exciting time in our marriage. We'd finally 'come back home' officially from being off the road. This little boy that was growing inside me had been moving and growing and rolling around. You could finally actually <i>see</i> my stomach move. At the risk of sounding romantic, it was magical.<br />
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And I can remember thinking to myself one of those nights, "The next time I watch the summer Olympics, he will be almost four." I'm sure I cried.<br />
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You see, I've always known the time would fly. Maybe it is a blessing, I've tried to soak up every moment. Maybe it's a curse, I'm always distinctly aware time is fleeting. But when that sweet little boy, who is now 'almost 8', was curled up against me and concluded my story with, "The next time we watch the summer Olympics, I will be almost 12," my heart swelled into my throat, and I had to fight back the tears.<br />
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<i>What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes.</i></div>
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James 4:14</div>
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There have been a lot of tears lately, if I'm honest. My youngest is about to be off to kindergarten, my oldest is going into second grade, and I have never been a mom who has counted down the days until school starting. Quite the contrary... I'll need a box of Kleenex and a quiet place to sob when the first day comes around. In the last few years, the honest me would say that I miss the ages of my children several years ago. Four and two... I <u style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">loved</u> everything about that time in our lives. </div>
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I loved playdates and homemade projects. I loved blowing bubbles and park visits. I loved afternoon naptime when I could finally 'get something done'. Then I loved realizing that my favorite thing to get done was just being 'mom.' I loved the sweet little way they mis-spoke words and holding them close when words or things hurt. </div>
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And though I've never been a 'wish it away' type mom, it's taken these recent tears for me to realize what I <i>have </i>become. I've become a "wish for what was" mother. </div>
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Lord forbid I miss today because I'm digging in my heels to slow it down. What highs will I hurt through allowing the shadow of things that once were to steal today's sunshine? In five years, if I realize how sweet <i style="font-weight: bold;">this</i> phase was, but I missed it because I was dwelling on the one that came before, I'm no better off than having wished it away to begin with. </div>
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Will I cry on the first day of school? You betcha I will. It's a new milestone. Every moment of the last eight years was based on my being home with our babies until they both started school. Change is hard sometimes. Sometimes it's a good hard, but hard still hurts. </div>
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Do I miss my babies being babies? Of course I do, but how thankful I am for all of the sweet memories I have and for healthy growing kiddos. </div>
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What I will <i>not do, </i>however, is get so caught up in yesterday that I miss today. I will love this phase. I will love the little cackle laugh from A as you tickle her armpits. I will love B's perseverance and will to try, try, and try again. I will love the fact that they are still small enough (barely) for me to pick up and hold in my arms. I will love that Ans still tells me I look beautiful and that she loves me, for no reason at all. I will love that B still wants to have family time. I will love this place in life, our here and now, in all of what seems imperfect, that I've learned well enough to know I will at some point miss desperately. </div>
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Sure - my heart hurts. The page turns. Life continues. But there are good pages to come... sweet pages. It's time to stop rereading the beginning of the story and continue on with the rest of the book.</div>
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Alicia Gregghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06769101340770559231noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-51992249874077327.post-69846583608151569382016-07-21T01:29:00.004-05:002016-07-21T01:29:57.327-05:00The Story of Us<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Your eyes saw me before I was born. </i></div>
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<i>Every day of my life was recorded in Your book.</i></div>
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<i>Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed.</i></div>
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<b>Psalm 139:16</b></div>
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This is the story of us. You and me. Where we began. Where we have been. </div>
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I have learned not to project where we are going. </div>
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Boy met girl when I was 16. We won't comment on your age, but it was all innocent enough. It was a brief encounter in the skating rink for a sweet friend of mine to set up a tennis game with you. You were wearing a visor with a Jesus fish on it, but you didn't know of Him yet. We were in and out, and she and I were gone. </div>
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We both went on living. </div>
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Somehow, we'd gone seven years with you working a mile from my house, and I had never noticed you before. I hadn't even heard your name in my little small town where my dad knew everyone. Yet, after that initial meeting your name kept popping up. </div>
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As time would continue, you and I became acquaintances. You knew so and so and so did I. Our circles started to overlap, and I got to know you more. I was privileged to consider you a friend when you wrestled with the Lord over your salvation. It is so precious to me, your love for the Lord. The way you loved Jesus in the months and years that followed would radically challenge me in my own walk with Christ. Your desire was that everyone know the love and forgiveness you knew in Him. His love oozed out of you. You were either getting my peers out of football practice to take them to church or offering a homeless man a warm meal. Selfless. Real. </div>
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Our friendship grew. Eventually, you would become my boss. I still don't know what you were thinking hiring this person who hadn't stepped in a skating rink for that many years, but you did. Then, you would become my youth pastor. My heart, tattered during much of this time and broken in life <i>and </i>in my walk with Christ, needed the Jesus that oozed from you. </div>
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I can remember the first time I uttered the words to a friend. We were on a walk. It was October. I heard myself say it out-loud. "I don't know who I'll marry, but I want it to be someone like him." And it was innocent. I never thought I'd be lucky enough for it to be you. </div>
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In the months to follow, I'd found myself in love... in love with your love for the Lord. In love with your love for people. In love with you. My mind flooded with the 'what ifs' and the 'no, it can't bes', and I'd pray at night that God would take any feelings I had for you away. You. My employer. My youth pastor. My friend. This could never be. I pled, and I cried, and the feelings remained.</div>
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Finally, one night, I changed my prayer, "Lord, if you aren't going to take these feelings away, show me how this is going to work." And little by little, it all worked out. </div>
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We did it all 'right', and waited it out. I didn't think World Changers would ever be over, but we made it. We finally got to start this journey of 'us'. </div>
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The next year and a half were filled with Steak n Shake and movies, trips to Sams, Tiger Woods golf on the playstation and Pizza Hut pizza. I looked forward to Monday nights all week long. 7th Heaven and Everwood on the WB, thin crust hamburger pizza and breadsticks. Best. Nights. Ever. Who would have known years later we'd have our own "Bryt" in the house?!</div>
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We knew early on we wanted to marry. I kept guessing on when the proposal would come. In the summer of 2004 I left you for seven long weeks to work summer camps. Myself (and a large handful of others) felt for sure I'd be engaged before summer was out. In fact, the Wild Week family all had non-monetary bets that Glorietta was going to be the time. Shoot... even my real family thought that! At one point you told me you were sending me a 'package', and I felt for sure you were going to show up on that mountain somewhere. A couple days later I received some of your sweatshirts in the mail. Thankful for the warmth (and the fact that they smelled like you), I was only a little mad at you ;)</div>
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When I got home, we hit the ground running again. I was in school and working and Christmas was rounding the corner. I remember you asking me what I wanted. My list looked something like this:</div>
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- you</div>
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- a wedding</div>
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- you</div>
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- a honeymoon</div>
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- you</div>
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Well... you get the drift. And as I was always trying to deflate my hopes about Christmas, my birthday rolled along. You were fighting one terrible case of kidney stones. You'd just taken hydrocodone for the pain but were insisting that we go to Alongi's to eat. I'm pretty sure I raised my voice and refused to go and told you that you were crazy. Birthday or not, you were pitiful. </div>
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But somehow you got me there... and my parents... and your parents... and some time before our food came I looked over and you were on one knee. And the place erupted in clapter. Or something like that. Our story was being written. Hydrocodone and all. (Bet you wish you would have considered that Glorietta thing on the mountain, huh? :) )</div>
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Eight months later I had the privilege of watching you watch me walk down the aisle. It's one of those moments that I'm so very thankful that God included in our story. After all, it's what makes it 'our' story. I don't know that I've ever smiled so much in my life. I smile now just thinking about it... our little life in our little house on Park Street. Our newlywed home. </div>
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Since then... we've had quite the journey. 10 months after our wedding day we were packing our life away to go on the road. Countless salvations, miles and hotel rooms, lots of learning to be married in a confined space with only your spouse, and many, many, many awesome experiences and adventures later, we were ready to 'settle' back down. Somehow, we still haven't done much of that settling... 15 months on the road then gave way to 8 years, 9 addresses, 2 children, who knows how many car exchanges and a countless number of highs and lows. </div>
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It's been eleven years now. 11. Sometimes, when I don't think about the journey between, it feels like only yesterday we were dating. I can still remember the smell of your apartment, the view of your profile from the passenger seat of the Matrix, and I can hear the sound of your voice on the phone before I went to bed at night. </div>
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If only I knew then how much I'd love you now... </div>
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To see you love our kids... </div>
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To see you love your friends... </div>
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To see your love for His church... </div>
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To see your love for strangers... </div>
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All has deepened this love for you that began when I was just a teenager. This love for the Lord that you have maintained all of these years, continues to draw my heart to you all these years later... deeper, more intimately.</div>
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We've been through it... some of the most exciting times, some of the most excruciating times, but that's the glory of life lived together... WE live it. Side by side. For the glory of God. </div>
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And you know what, after all of these years, all of these experiences... all of the exciting and the excruciating, I choose you more. I choose you more than I chose you 11 years ago. I say "I DO" more affectionately and more absolutely than I did in the white dress on the pink alter on that hot day in August. I am so thankful that when the Lord was orchestrating our pages, long before either of us were born, He was writing our pages together... this story that He is writing is my favorite. </div>
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Here's to many, many, many more. I'm excited to see how our story continues...</div>
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Alicia Gregghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06769101340770559231noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-51992249874077327.post-16316293609560511352016-01-17T23:26:00.002-06:002016-07-20T23:21:03.357-05:00The Here and Now<br />
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<span style="background-color: #351c75; color: white;">I do not dare to convey that we've walked through the worst of times. We have not. In fact, most of my days have been easy. I was twenty-six when I lost the first person I was close to, a grandparent. Granted, I would lose two more over the course of a couple years, but that isn't the intention of this story.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #351c75; color: white;">You see, I wasn't naive. You can only be a Christian so long - well - you can only be a <i>human being</i>, really, to know that life isn't always easy. We are all on this ride together and inevitably pain, hardship, and unfavorable circumstances will greet us all, often unexpectedly. I was keenly aware of this fact. I often had lie awake at night wondering if this would be the last 'normal' night of our lives.</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;"><i><b><span style="background-color: #351c75; color: white; font-family: inherit;">"Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you." - 1 Peter 4:12</span></b></i></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #351c75; color: white;">Maybe I am a pessimist and a worrier, and maybe I am just a realist, but when our current trial came I was in no way expecting it to look, feel, or effect us as it did. By the grace of God, my family is intact, we have our health, and we have seen true friends that have stood alongside us, but the level of surprise, hurt and anger felt over the past many months have been exhausting. Literally, a good portion of our days, most waking moments, are lived in some way <i>dealing </i>with the aftermath of it all. I understand now when people say an experience is 'all consuming'. It is not only in thought, but in deed. </span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;"><b><i><span style="background-color: #351c75; color: white; font-family: inherit;">"Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." - Matthew 11:28</span></i></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #001320; font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: #fdfeff;"><span style="background-color: #351c75; color: white; line-height: 20px;">I have not blogged much in the last four years. I haven't neglected the blog due to lack of desire... rather, lack of inspiration. The Lord has been so good and so faithful in our lives over the last four years. In many ways, these have been some of the sweetest moments of our lives. The husband had been more satisfied in work and ministry than ever, our sweet babies were growing through what I believe may always be the most precious moments of life (not that they don't have many more to come), and we have made incredible friends, many whom feel like family. My relationship with the Lord was real and vibrant, and the Lord showed me things about Himself each and every day, but the desperate need that I'd once felt for Him was not as prevalent amongst the roses. </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #001320; font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: #fdfeff;"><span style="color: white; line-height: 20px;"><b><i style="background-color: #351c75;">"If you want God's grace, all you need is need..." - Timothy Keller</i></b></span></span></span></div>
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<b><i style="background-color: #351c75;"><span style="color: white;">"When the righteous call out for help, the Lord hears and delivers them out of all of their troubles. The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit." Psalm 34:17-18</span></i></b></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="background-color: #351c75; color: white; font-family: inherit;">And then the bottom fell out. The storm rolled in. The rock gave way. The fire came. And so did pain. And so did anger. And so did doubt. And so did Jesus. Jesus came. </span></span></div>
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<i><b style="background-color: purple;"><span style="background-color: #351c75; color: white;"><span style="font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">"The thief comes only to steal and </span><span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-ESV-26480A" data-link="(<a href="#cen-ESV-26480A" title="See cross-reference A">A</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span><span style="font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly." - John 10:10</span></span></b></i></div>
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<span style="line-height: 24px;"><span style="background-color: #351c75; color: white; font-family: inherit;">Abundance. It doesn't always look how we expect it to appear. Abundance for me right now has come in many ways. It has come in the music and talk radio to and from school each day. It has come in the church service we choose to visit each week. It has come through the words of friends and family. It has come through scripture posted, well, just about everywhere. It has come in the devotional books of my children, and it has come through the most unexpected sources... and though we have great need... we have an abundance with Jesus. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #351c75; color: white;"><span style="line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">For two weeks I've felt the Lord impressing on me that at this moment He may be less concerned with our upcoming destination and more concerned with our journey getting there. <b><i>Maybe God's intention with this season in our lives is not to see us in a particular place, but to see us grow in a particular way. </i></b></span></span><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 24px;">For we are not </span><i style="font-family: inherit; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px;">there </i><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 24px;">yet... we are </span><i style="font-family: inherit; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px;">here</i><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 24px;">, and it is in this present moment that He desires to meet with us, to grow us, to firmly foot us deep into the foundation of this faith He has birthed within us. Today, today I was led into this scripture at church:</span></span></div>
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<b><i><span style="background-color: #351c75; color: white; font-family: inherit;"><span class="text Exod-13-18" id="en-ESV-1886" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">"But God <span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-ESV-1886AC" data-link="(<a href="#cen-ESV-1886AC" title="See cross-reference AC">AC</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span>led the people around by the way of the wilderness toward the Red Sea. And the people of Israel went up out of the land of Egypt equipped for battle.</span><span style="font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;"> </span><span class="text Exod-13-19" id="en-ESV-1887" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 12px; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span>Moses took the bones of Joseph with him, for Joseph had made the sons of Israel solemnly swear, saying, <span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-ESV-1887AD" data-link="(<a href="#cen-ESV-1887AD" title="See cross-reference AD">AD</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span>“God will surely visit you, and you shall carry up my bones with you from here.”</span><span style="font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;"> </span><span class="text Exod-13-20" id="en-ESV-1888" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 12px; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span>And <span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-ESV-1888AE" data-link="(<a href="#cen-ESV-1888AE" title="See cross-reference AE">AE</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span>they moved on from Succoth and encamped at Etham, on the edge of the wilderness.</span><span style="font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;"> </span><span class="text Exod-13-21" id="en-ESV-1889" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 12px; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span>And <span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-ESV-1889AF" data-link="(<a href="#cen-ESV-1889AF" title="See cross-reference AF">AF</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span>the <span class="small-caps" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span> went before them by day in a pillar of cloud to lead them along the way, and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, that they might travel by day and by night.</span><span style="font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;"> </span><span class="text Exod-13-22" id="en-ESV-1890" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">The pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night did not depart from before the people." - Exodus 13:18-22</span></span></i></b></div>
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<span style="background-color: #351c75; color: white;">It is the culmination of the Lord's whisperings in a big, loud yell. He isn't only walking with us <i>through </i>this wilderness, He is <i>orchestrating</i> it. Every nook, every cranny, every extra step and restep. Sure, it'd be shorter to go from here to there, but the long way leads us nearer to Jesus. The wilderness may be the most uncomfortable, but Jesus is near to the broken-hearted. He is near and He is protecting us. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #351c75; color: white;">Lauren Chandler says, "sometimes He wrings the worship from our hearts." </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #351c75; color: white;">I believe this is such a time. The unbridled, unkempt, raw worship being wrung from within us to the very throne of God. It isn't fancied up. It isn't rehearsed or planned out... it's brought forth in tears and praise in the same raspy breath, "Jesus." </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #351c75; color: white;">So though I would have never chosen this path for our family, though I would have never wanted these trials, I am so very thankful for Jesus... the one with us in the roses and the trenches, the one with us on the mountain and in the valley, the one with us even in the wilderness. </span></div>
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Alicia Gregghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06769101340770559231noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-51992249874077327.post-22710005030543302112015-07-08T14:20:00.003-05:002015-07-08T14:20:50.957-05:00He Works Together All ThingsApproximately 25 years ago I sat in a church pew most Sundays with my grandma Peggy. I was a little girl who liked twirly skirts and shoes that tapped when I walked. (Surprising now, I know.) Sundays were the perfect time to feel cute and to sit with grandma doing something I knew made her happy.<br />
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One Sunday I heard the Pastor preach from Matthew. His message was on being a sheep or a goat. The sermon was simple, sheep go to be with Jesus, goats do not. I wanted to be a sheep. That was my first real encounter with the gospel, and I've carried those verses as part of my testimony ever since. </div>
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In 2004 - when I was 19 - I worked as staff for a Christian summer camp for students. I was introduced to a young evangelist who was in charge of all of the evangelism efforts at the camp. I was his right hand 'woman'. I watched him and sat beside him on countless nights, at countless camps, with countless students as he introduced them to Jesus and led them through scripture as their eyes were opened and their hearts became receptive. </div>
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In August of 2005 Aaron and I married. We lived in our old hometown. God moved us around here and there. Then we went back 'home', had a couple of kids, and ultimately felt God was moving us onward. The year was 2011, and the next thing we knew, God had brought us to a church being pastored by that same evangelist I'd worked alongside 7 years ago. </div>
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Last night, as we were going through our normal bedtime routine, I sat down with the kids to read the Bible. The topic of the night was sheep and the Shepherd. I explained the sheep were people - us - and that the Shepherd was Jesus - that those of us who are sheep hear Jesus' voice, recognize it and follow Him. Memories of my grandma Peggy and my sitting in that pew really hearing the gospel for the first time flooded back, and, in passing, I mentioned to B that God saved me with scripture much like this, about being a sheep or a goat. </div>
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Last night, God led my baby boy to Himself using similar scripture that He called me with. He used the faithfulness of my ( now deceased ) grandmother who faithfully took her grandbaby to church. (I can't imagine the party that ensued...) Lesson 1: The legacy you leave reaches much further than what you can see, and chances are, if you're a Christian, God had been preparing a way for you to get to Him LONG before you were even born.</div>
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And today - today I sat in the Pastor's office, hearing him talk to MY little boy just as he had those students 11 years ago. Had I known then... I could not have fathomed. So many times in life we wonder 'why' and 'what was that all about' and 'how does this fit in with God's plan' -- and that brings me to Lesson 2: God always has a plan. He's always working it together for good for those who love Him. Sometimes we can't see it, sometimes we can't understand it, and sometimes we'll never see it, but sometimes, yes, sometimes we get to see a small piece of years worth of God's orchestrating out our lives come to a hard, beautiful collision, and it's awesome and overwhelming and an incredible blessing. </div>
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His love for us is beyond anything I can understand. </div>
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<span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 25px;">For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; i<b>t is the gift of God</b>, </span><span class="reftext" style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 14px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 2px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 25px; vertical-align: text-top;"><a href="http://biblehub.com/ephesians/2-9.htm" style="color: #0092f2; text-decoration: none;"><b>9</b></a></span><span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 25px;">not a result of works, so that <b>no one may boast</b>. </span><span class="reftext" style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 14px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 2px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 25px; vertical-align: text-top;"><a href="http://biblehub.com/ephesians/2-10.htm" style="color: #0092f2; text-decoration: none;"><b>10</b></a></span><span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 25px;">For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which <b>God prepared beforehand</b>, that we should walk in them.</span></div>
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God is so good. We are so blessed. </div>
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Alicia Gregghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06769101340770559231noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-51992249874077327.post-34729015335364248552015-04-12T22:46:00.004-05:002015-04-12T22:46:56.179-05:00Ramblings Regarding InfluenceIn what seems like a previous life I had the privilege of walking with my husband in the realm of student ministry. I started a newly-wed, and finished a young mother. My oldest turned three just weeks after my husband accepted the call into full time worship ministry.<br />
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All that said to say --- I don't think I ever really 'got it' until now.<br />
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By 'it' I mean that I didn't get the weightiness of the <i>trust </i>it took for parents to <i>allow </i>me to be an influencer in their child's lives. Don't misunderstand me. I knew the call itself was weighty. There wasn't a decision made or advice given to a student without a load of prayer involved, but I never thought much about what it required of that <i>parent </i>to allow me the <i>privilege </i>to give that advice.<br />
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And this year, my oldest started Kindergarten. You know, it's one of those milestones that few parents, mothers especially, escape from unscathed. There are tears, sometimes many. There is sadness, sometimes great. And there is emptiness, often heavy. I think all parents feel that.<br />
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I knew I would be different though. From the moment he started his last year of preschool I knew I would struggle. I've never understood those who pump fists and shout for freedom at the start of a school day. What I don't understand most is passing my child over to a person I've probably never met, for the greatest portion of their best awake hours, to become, in theory, one of the largest influencers in their lives.<br />
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I have a problem with that. Just sayin'. (And I'll totally say it outloud... or... well, type it bluntly, I'm totally considering homeschool.)<br />
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Please don't judge me. I know a lot of teachers. (I used to work in an elementary school.) I would choose a great many of those teachers to be a providing influencer in the life of my child. I don't know that I would choose many of those to be the primary influencer in the life of my child, and that is not a hit to the teacher at all. For me, it is the weightiness of the responsibility that God gave to me the responsibility of training my baby up in the way of the Lord, and unless I can get to know them for, say, a few years, and then have them endure an in-depth interview process, I think giving that responsibility away from 8-3 every day is preposterous. (Honest, not judging those who feel 100% okay in public school at all, either. I've been one of those for a long time, and I <i style="font-weight: bold;">firmly </i>believe God calls us to different things, at different times, for different reasons. AND - we are still in the public school system right now!)<br />
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Before I go any further, allow me to mention that this post isn't about public school (or private school, or homeschool, or unschool, or any other kind of school, for that matter). No, this blog isn't even about shielding my children from the world or other ideas that could have been assumed. This blog is actually about the fact that I <i style="font-weight: bold;">know, </i>without a doubt, that my child needs us - their parents - primarily in their lives, but they <i style="font-weight: bold;">also </i>vitally need other influencers in their lives.<br />
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I'm setting us all up here. I'm so thankful for the parents who allowed their student to hang out and talk to me at our house, when I now know that they so badly wanted to be the one talking to them. I'm so thankful they trusted me to be an ally, an advocate for their child, to be their voice. Because, lets face it, at some point, our kids need adults who aren't us.<br />
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And here's what this post is about: what am I looking for in an influencer?<br />
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My kiddos are still young. I still have a chance to formulate relationships with men and women who can watch my kids as they grow and speak into their lives when the extent of the guidance is the correct way to swing the bat in baseball or how to treat a teammate who just struck out and lost the game for the team. Those relationships will soon be the ones who may get the privilege of talking to my children about the party they've considered sneaking off to, or about the bullying they've endured at school. We are so lucky to have awesome church friends, other parents, ministry leaders, and coaches speaking into the lives of our kids, and, trust me, we've seen our fair share of, well, not good influencers.<br />
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Men in the church abandoning their families.<br />
Coaches in little league yelling at kids who aren't their own.<br />
Worse, dads yelling at their own kids and ripping apart their performance.<br />
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And it's made us diligent. It's made us ask tough questions. And it all leads me to this (deep breath and drum roll, after that novel):<br />
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<b><i><u>5 Traits of a Great Influencer:</u></i></b><br />
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1. No cowards. For real, be real. Life gets hard. This one is huge. My kid comes to you and wants to sneak out to that party, a great influencer needs to tell them they've lost their ever loving minds and their parents will not deny wrath for such an offense. Feel free to share your own "I tried this and you really shouldn't go down that path" stories. Then, they need to relay the message. Secrets and safety do not mix. Scale the scenario down a notch, and if you happen to be my kids coach or tutor or be teaching them some skill, if my kid's not performing his / her best (hear me, I'm not talking perfection here, their <i>best, </i>which implies that the influencer knows my child well enough to know their 'best performance'), they need to have the <i>grace </i>and the <i>courage </i>to drive them to do their best. And one more biggie on not being cowardly: a great influencer knows when and how to apologize. We are all human, and in relationship, we all make mistakes. I don't care if you're 40 and the time comes to apologize to my 4 year old. Do it. <b>I do. All the time.</b> Is it humbling? <i>Miserably.</i> But we all need that from time to time. Bonus points if you teach my kid the proper times for him / her to apologize, too.<br />
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2. Established relationships. This stuff is messy. There's nothing more frustrating to me than someone who doesn't really know me from anyone and wants to start spouting off advice or tell me things I need to change. Nope. Chances are you'll make me mad and I'll do the opposite. Some of the hardest things I've had to hear are from people who love me the most. That established relationship is the only thing that allowed me to <i>really </i>hear and consider what they had to say, and it's also the only thing that kept me in the relationship after the hard thing was heard. Don't think you can choose where you have an influence and where you don't. One thing I learned in student ministry, nothing was 'out of bounds'. Ask any coach, teacher, mentor, etc. You'd be surprised the things that kids / students confide in them.<br />
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3.) We have to be on the same page. We live in Texas, and we are Cardinal fans. Chances are, we aren't going to find many friends around here pushing the Cardinals for us to our kids. <i>But</i>- great influencers are going to know our faith, and even if they spiritually don't have all the answers for our kids, they are going to know that <i>our answer </i>is always going to be one that aligns with our faith, and a great influencer will echo that.<br />
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4.) They meet our kids where they are. I noticed something during our son's little league baseball game the other day. (May I mention, for the record, we have amazing coaches.) He is in coach pitch now and the coach has tailored a specific style of pitch for every kid. He knows where they like them. He knows where they hit the best. He knows what speed the ball needs to come in, and he knows where it needs to cross the plate. Does he try to stretch them? Yes. But when push comes to shove in a game, if a kid typically hits the one that's fast and a little outside, that is the pitch he's going to throw them. This also aligns with number 2... knowing my kid, but it fits just as well here. My son isn't much of a talker at first. He's a little quiet and gets nervous easy, and <i>the only way to bring him out of that</i> is to talk to him, often, and it's sometimes awkward, but that is meeting him where he is. Eventually, he'll talk back. My little girl, well, she'll talk your ear off. You want to meet her where she's at, you gotta be able to listen. Fast forward 10 years and meeting them where they are may look much different, but a great influencer is going to not only meet them there, chances are they aren't going to leave them there either.<br />
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5.) This one goes without really mentioning, but I feel compelled to mention it. Be a good influence. Yeah, I said it. Want to be a great influencer? Set an example for my child to follow. Ultimately, I want them to follow Christ, but they learn what that looks like in a visual way by watching men / women who are already do it. Display attributes they want to mirror. <b>Don't throw your hat and yell at an ump. </b>And if you do, apologize --- to the ump, preferably in front of my kid, and then to my kid (and all the others). Hear me, hear me, I'm just as guilty as the next one. We had a little league game last night and I was off the bench and fuming mad as my little man hit an in the air to center field double then got <i>called out</i> for 'throwing his bat' (he in NO WAY threw his bat, and a boy from the other team had all but taken out the third baseman EVERY time he had batted with no thrown bat call... did I mention this is a U7 league?!). I watched my "young for the league" kiddo CRY in the dugout and my mom claws came out. I had to focus and think about what he was seeing in me at that moment. I aired my frustration in a private way to those around me and didn't end up needing to apologize, but I could have. It happens. It does. But let's think real hard about the behaviors that our kids will come to mimic.<br />
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So there it is. Be a great influencer. Be one that is true, present, on our side, flexible and worth mimicking. You are treasured more than you know, as you are being trusted with our most. prized. possessions. We are handing you a bit of the reigns of the responsibility and weightiness that we've been given by God, and trust me, that is <i>not </i>a decision we have taken lightly. And we are ever thankful for those who have allowed us or are allowing us the same investment into theirs. Thanks for traveling this journey with us... it really takes a village. I just prefer to choose mine ;)<br />
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What other things do you all look for in a great influencer?<br />
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<br />Alicia Gregghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06769101340770559231noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-51992249874077327.post-82350997744405100382015-04-11T00:41:00.000-05:002015-04-11T00:41:29.665-05:00To B & AIn the thick stands a tree<br />
firm and deep rooted,<br />
His leaves the deep thoughts<br />
budding tight in the wind.<br />
Err the wind blows,<br />
the leaves, they don't falter<br />
but dance in the current and hold firm to the end.<br />
Solid and sure his branches jet outward<br />
his roots reach down inward,<br />
his gaze, it transcends.<br />
Absorbing the drink of knowledge and knowing<br />
His words may be few<br />
but his thoughts never end.<br />
Yet near that tree flitting,<br />
dancing and singing<br />
the bird she is flying but doesn't descend.<br />
Rather she rests upon strong reaching branches<br />
While breaking from joyfully riding the wind.<br />
Unlike the tree she moves without thinking<br />
and risks all worth risking and yet does not bend.<br />
Her chirp, quite the giggle, her joy not lacking<br />
all while shamelessly deeming the tree her best friend.<br />
The tree, he is steady, a tree in his being,<br />
Always a branch from him there to lend,<br />
She nests and she rests in all of his glory,<br />
Chirping him love songs again and again.<br />
The tree, in his quiet, he shades and protects her,<br />
lifts her, is with her from now to the end,<br />
And she tickles the bark with innocent nonsense<br />
And she brings forth his laughter, hidden deeply within.<br />
So very different, yet here for each other<br />
the tree and the bird, through thick and through thin<br />
Thoughtful and true meets joyful surrender<br />
Each their own being, yet better as friends.<br />
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<br />Alicia Gregghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06769101340770559231noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-51992249874077327.post-20200582203124152352015-02-23T23:13:00.002-06:002015-02-23T23:13:51.344-06:00When God Waits On MeI've spent much of my life contemplating what I wanted to do when I <i>grew up. </i>Think about it. I'm 30. Generally, somewhere around toddler-hood people start filling your brain with the 'you can do whatever you want to do when you grow up' jargon, by somewhere around 1st grade every school-going lad wants to be a teacher when they grow up (me included), and by 6th grade they are handing you a skills assessment and revealing to you your destiny. To say I've contemplated 'the rest of my life' since I was a kid is an understatement.<br />
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How that affects us - much to my dismay - when I not only graduate high school, but also college, wondering what in the world God wants from me! Worse... how much of a disappointment I must be to God, who certainly has directed me and made painfully clear what He has planned, and I've <u style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">missed it</u>. Sure, they <i>say </i>you can be anything you want to be (which I have theological issues with, anyway, but that's another blog for another time), but <i>what if you have no idea what that is?</i><br />
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For people who are type A, as I am, it's torture. It feels like failure. It feels like disappointment.<br />
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I've prayed many, <i>many, </i><b style="font-style: italic;">many </b>times in my life for God to write it on the wall in the middle of the night, for Him to speak to me in a dream, I've physically yelled, "HERE I AM, LORD, SEND ME!" and here I've sat.<br />
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But ---<br />
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I now know... I wasn't ready.<br />
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In days of late, I feel closer than I've ever been. I feel like I may be onto something here. I feel like He may <i>finally </i>be removing the scales from my eyes. Loose ends abound. Questions still remain, "Is this <i>my dream</i> or is it <i>God's will</i>? And my prayer pleads, "Your will be done, Lord, not mine." But that means I have to aspire towards it. It means I have to make action steps, because maybe this dream of mine was born when I was. Maybe when the Lord knit me together, He knit me together for such a time as this.<br />
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And my 20 year old self, yes, well, she wouldn't have entertained this idea. In fact, the thought would have never occurred to her.<br />
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My 25 year old self, she would have laughed and waved it off. She would have been Jonah and run completely the opposite direction.<br />
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I don't even think my 29 year old self was prepared for this.<br />
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And the moral of the story is this: if you are 5, 15, 25 or 105 and don't really know where life is heading, push into Him. He'll either tell you or He'll be silent, and if He's silent, it's because you aren't ready for it yet and He's prepping you every. step. of. the. way.<br />
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I'm 30. For the first time I have a real dream with an end goal. It's my 30 year old dream, not to be confused with what He'll do in my life for my 40, 50 or 60 year old dream, but I thank God for His faithfulness and wisdom in holding out on me, for my own good.<br />
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Prayerfully pushing forward and praying God's provision in opening doors -<br />
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-AAlicia Gregghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06769101340770559231noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-51992249874077327.post-15705608368630529562015-02-11T14:37:00.002-06:002015-02-11T14:37:49.808-06:00My GirlSome know this and some do not, but I knew... the Lord had impressed upon me long before A was knit together in the womb, that she would be part of our family. We had two names picked out for B, a boy name and a girl name, and when we found out B would be a B, well, Ansley's name felt void, empty... and I knew she'd come, I just knew it.<br />
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Fast forward to my pregnancy with her, and before I knew she was a 'her', we had two names picked out, a boys name and a girls name. The boys name was for traditional purposes only. I knew we wouldn't need it. I'd already bought girl clothes. I was not surprised to see the 'hamburger' on the ultrasound. Not in the least.<br />
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She's special like that. Until God states otherwise, she has completed our family. God knew I'd need to laugh a bit more... He knew B would need a fierce friend and companion... He knew daddy needed a little girl, with a personality precisely like his... and I'm so grateful He knew.<br />
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And now my sweet girl is on the cuffs of 4... of FOUR, I tell you! Four years of laughs and fun. Four years of sweet embrace. Four wonderful years. So here's a brief look back... it's all felt as if it's flown by anyway...<br />
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It's a special bond that's formed with your ob. Seriously, they become the best of friends. Here is our last picture as a family of three. We were dropping B off with Gaga and Papa on our way to the hospital for A's eviction notice (read: induction). Praise Jesus for an OB who thought the growth ultrasound a day prior seemed "off some" (ahem, almost 2 full pounds), and pulled every. string. she. could. to get the induction 9 days prior to my due date.<br />
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These pictures may be never before seen. I'll never forget Aaron posting on facebook that she was here and we were fine but there'd be no pictures. This was why... her poor, sad, bruised head, and that left arm, we thought it'd never be mobile again. It was an easy labor with a scary five minute ending. A weighed in at a whopping 10 lbs 1.1 ounces. (Slightly above the 8 lbs 3 oz they'd claim the day prior) Again, the ob and I, yeah, we are tight.<br />
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But all the bruising didn't kill the enthusiasm of a certain Big Bro ;) Look at that cheese!<br />
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And a week to heal the bruising and this sweet girl is perfect, and has ginormo feet :)<br />
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And here at 1 - there's that personality coming out...<br />
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And at 2-- the year of hair...<br />
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And at 3--- little girl, now, more than baby...</div>
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And nearing 4 ---- What a sweet, funny, precious gift she is :)<br />
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<br />Alicia Gregghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06769101340770559231noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-51992249874077327.post-1300361019971867092014-11-09T21:31:00.000-06:002014-11-09T21:31:47.014-06:00Fear Not<div style="text-align: center;">
<i> "Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you. I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. "</i></div>
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<i>-Isaiah 41:10</i></div>
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A couple weeks ago I sat curled up with my sweet boy in his bed. We'd read his Bible, talked about the day to come, and prayed together. As I was getting up to leave, he asked me what the weather was expected to be the next day. My heart sunk. </div>
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The weather. </div>
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Who would have thought it'd be a topic of contention? I mean, people talk about the weather all the time. It's the favorite topic of generations of men for as long as we can all remember. In our house, though, it's been a conversation riddled with fear. Deep. Dark. Fear.</div>
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It all started many months ago. Near the church we attend a home in an affluent community was struck by lightning. Much of the house burned. We drove by the house many times a week, and it was referred to by both of our kids as 'the house that was burned'. </div>
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Since then, the house has been rebuilt. It stands firm. The people are well. The temporary replaced. It has long left our conversation. Until now. </div>
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Somewhere between August and September our oldest has developed this unhealthy, irrational fear of fire, and somewhere in that ever thinking, overly-analytical mind of his, he's connected the dots. </div>
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With rain comes lightning. With lightning comes fire. With fire comes fear. Lots and lots of fear. </div>
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And there we sat in his bed, his innocent question bidding me to reassure him, begging me to protect him... his little, precious heart wondering, "Do I need to fear tomorrow, mommy?" </div>
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And my heart breaks. He is mine. I was him. From the earliest age I can remember, I worried. Fear laced my days. Irrational fears. Rational fears. Worry. Anxiety. It was paralyzing. It kept me up at night. It keeps me up at night. It is paralyzing. And it hits me - nothing - <i>not a thing - </i>my parents said or did could fix it. It plagued my heart, it seeped into every empty corner of my mind and consumed me. </div>
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And I wasted empty breath as I explained to my sweet innocent boy, "The Lord is good. He wants what is best for us. It's highly unlikely our house will catch on fire, but God is always good." Knowing that no words could heal his heart or ease his mind. Knowing that when I shut the door behind me after twenty minutes of reassurance that he would listen for raindrops. He'd watch the sky. He'd ask, yet again, about the weather. </div>
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And I prayed, "Lord, don't let him be like me." I begged, "DELIVER him from this! Let his life NOT be spent in fear." And I spouted my grievances, "It doesn't even make sense! There's - like - almost NO chance our house will catch fire! Why can't he believe us? Why can't he trust us?"</div>
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And ever quietly God answered...</div>
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"Why can't <i>you</i> believe <i>me</i>? Why can't <i>you</i> trust <i>me</i>?"</div>
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Because I've been lying awake at night. I've been petitioning my father with questions about the weather in my own life. I've been begging for reassurance. I've been wrestling. </div>
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My fears are different. But are they really? Because with a loving Father who promises that God works together ALL things for good for those who love Him, what shall I fear? WHOM shall I fear? </div>
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Every scripture I'd relayed to my sweet 6 year old came pouring through my own mind, God using my words to reinforce His. The desperation I felt for <i>him to just trust me </i>is the same God feels for <b>me to just trust Him.</b> And, is HE not the one who is trustworthy? Can HE not protect my son and I better than I ever could? Could HE not provide for us better than I? Could HE not deliver us from our fears, our anxieties, our pains, our SIN, not just this time - but forever? Is HE not the one who is able?</div>
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30 years. 30 years I've feared and worried. 30 years my own mother has pleaded with me not to worry, and it's come to this; seeing my sweet boy walk my own footsteps to see how my Lord has seen my fears and worries this entire time, pleading me to trust Him... <i>really</i> trust Him. </div>
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And my prayer is that He'd deliver us from the worry. That we would FEAR NOT, because our God is FOR us, WITH us, and LOVES us, and that God's salvation would come quickly in the life of my kids. That a holy boldness would replace the empty fear... that the hearts and minds consumed with fear would be replaced with overflowing springs of praise and adoration for a loving Savior who is faithful to deliver. </div>
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May we not forget His goodness. May we not forget to whom we belong. May we not forget how this all turns out. </div>
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<i>"For it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you."</i></div>
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<i>Deuteronomy 31:6</i></div>
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Alicia Gregghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06769101340770559231noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-51992249874077327.post-21845541416736793282014-10-05T21:36:00.001-05:002014-10-05T21:36:28.311-05:00A Magical Trip of a Lifetime - Day 8My heart sank that morning.<br />
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Really? Another headache?<br />
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It sank for all of about 30 seconds, because it only took me about 30 seconds to remember one of the worst headaches I'd had in my own life.<br />
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I was in San Francisco with a friend having my first 'adult' vacation. We had spent 6 weeks previously putting on summer camps for teenagers, and we had just come from Glorietta, New Mexico. My first 'adult' vacation was accompanied by an "I'm dying" phone call to my mommy. Worst headache ever. Major tummy upset. Dying.<br />
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In anxiousness my mom mentioned my condition to a nurse friend who promptly told her to have the friend staying with me walk the streets of San Fran on her own and get me some Gatorade, and to pray that I wasn't so far dehydrated that I'd need to be hospitalized.<br />
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Within hours I was walking those streets with her. Amazing the power of Gatorade. (Any time B has a stomach bug he asks for powerade or gatorade because we push it so heavily to keep him hydrated. I really believe he thinks it's a medicine, and I really believe it has a placebo effect for him!)<br />
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Why hadn't I thought of it sooner? Could she really just be dehydrated? Now that I thought of it, it'd been a long time since her last potty break. I grabbed our refillable mugs and headed for the resort restaurant.<br />
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An hour later we had a <i>completely </i>different kid.<br />
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I'd be lying if I said I didn't have some major mom guilt. The poor kid had gone about 16 hours with symptoms of dehydration, and of course she didn't know to tell me. Then - to add insult to injury - and to enhance the mom guilt - to know she could have <i style="font-weight: bold;">enjoyed </i>the previous night...<br />
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I'm still carrying it.<br />
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We had toyed with the idea of going back to Magic Kingdom several times. Saturday's plans were supposed to be to relax, enjoy the pool (which we hadn't done yet), and have a special dinner. After feeling shorted on MK time, we'd actually decided we'd spend the $40 or so and go back Saturday. (The more park days you purchase, the cheaper and cheaper they get.)<br />
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But rain was, once again, in the forecast.<br />
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We still hadn't finished up Downtown Disney.<br />
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It was our last day there and Monday was coming, as was routine.<br />
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Dinner was at 4:00. (And it was going to take some time to get there.)<br />
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And frankly - I was afraid of pushing any more.<br />
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So we packed everyone up and traveled by bus to Downtown Disney. Again.<br />
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This time, it actually wasn't raining yet, so we were able to score just a few pictures outside with the kids. We bought a few souvenirs and gifts for a few friends. We had an early lunch at Wolfgang Puck Express. It was fantastic. No pictures, but it was by far one of the best quick service meals we had. Ansley couldn't figure out why there were leaves on my pizza (bay leaves), but that didn't stop us :)<br />
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And we made one last stop at Goofy's Candy Cauldron to redeem some of the 14 snack credits we had left. Many of the items we bought are in our pantry as we speak. Chewy Sprees. Jelly Beans. Snack mixes. But a few of the things we bought came handmade. This is a horrible picture, but frankly, no picture would do it justice.<br />
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On the left? Yeah, that's a rice krispy treat. Let me be more clear. That's a Rice Krispy treat covered in chocolate. And not a little chocolate, a lot of chocolate. Then it's doused in reeses pieces. It was delectable and was shared by all four of us. (We all felt we had PLENTY.)<br />
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On the right. That's three, count them, three chocolate covered marshmallows. Simple, but heavenly.<br />
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We wrapped it up at Downtown fairly early in the afternoon. Dinner was scheduled for 4:00, and we were supposed to be there for check-in 15 minutes early.<br />
<br />
Add to those factors that when the front desk gave us directions to the location they told us to allow a full 1.5 hours to get there. That's one and a half, folks.<br />
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The directions went something like this:<br />
<br />
- Ride the Magic Kingdom bus to the Magic Kingdom.<br />
- Get off and find the water taxi that goes to Fort Wilderness. It should have a green flag.<br />
- If that particular taxi doesn't seem to be running, wait for a bus to Fort Wilderness. They <i>should </i>run every twenty minutes.<br />
- Once you finally get to Fort Wilderness, wait for an internal bus to take you back to the restaurant. This can take several minutes because there are several stops.<br />
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My mouth was literally hanging as she wrote the directions down. It wasn't until we'd got to Downtown Disney that it had occurred to me, "Hey, we have a car here. I wonder if it's shorter to drive."<br />
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Turns out it is, and we arrived at the Hoop Dee Doo Review almost 45 minutes early for check in.<br />
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Yes. You heard me. The Hoop Dee Doo Review. Believe it or not, that dinner was our 'splurge' dinner of the week and required two dining credits per person. (A side note: the two dining credits - totally worth it. All your food is included, plus it's a show, plus drinks - including some alcoholic selections for those interested. It also includes gratuity. Without the dining plan, the cost for all four of us would have been around $180. Because we were on the dining plan, it was free :) )<br />
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Admittedly, this is <i style="font-weight: bold;">not </i>a restaurant I would have sought out myself. I take zero credit. A sweet friend who is a previous Disney Cast Member made the suggestion when I reached out to her about things not to miss. She prefaced that, "I went with a bad attitude and thought I'd hate it, then I loved it," and encouraged us to make a go of it if we could swing the cost or found it worthy of two credits on the dining plan.<br />
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I'm not a dumb woman. When someone knows a lot more about something than I do, I take their advice. (She also suggested going in the fall for free dining! She's worthy of listening to!)<br />
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So I booked it as our last night, one last sit down, enjoyable meal as a family.<br />
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Let me first say - Fort Wilderness is that, wilderness. Not like tents wilderness. But RV's wilderness. With horses, and a lake, and a couple of cabins scattered about. And that internal bus she told us about, yeah, it really did make many stops before our stop.<br />
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But - while we were waiting our 45 minutes to check in, I got to prove I still have the mad hula hoop skills I've always had. Oh yea.<br />
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And it got to rain again.<br />
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And I got to take this cute pic of Ans with the new purse she'd bought that day. She's such a girl :)<br />
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Sweet.<br />
<br />
And finally we were checked in.<br />
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Now, I've made it through like 8 blogs with not one complaint, so I'm not going to start now. I'll just offer a word of advice. Hoop Dee Doo Review tickets come in tiers. You can get Tier 1, Tier 2 or Tier 3 seating. I called around 4 months in advance and Tier 3 was all that was remaining. If you have the option, go with Tier 1 or 2. Your view of the stage - and your family, for that matter - is much better. Again, not a complaint, just an observation. (Another suggestion, if you don't want to be made part of the show - because a lot of people don't - stick with Tier 2 for the best chance of that happening and still having better seats.)<br />
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So let's move on to the food. Fantabulous!<br />
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When you sit, you've got a big ole loaf of cornbread. And not just any cornbread. SWEET cornbread. There's also salad. Both are great. Soon comes fried chicken, BBQ ribs, corn, BBQ beans, and mashed potatoes. Real southern cookin', at it's finest, and it's all you can eat.<br />
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The show is fantastic. It's funny, cute, and somewhat interactive. It kept the attention of my three year old, and the hubs and I laughed at many things that we know went way over the heads of the kids. The kids got to sing at the top of their lungs, swing their napkins in the air, and play a washboard by the time it was all over. Who am I kidding?! I did all of those things, too!<br />
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It was all out fun, and with all of the things to do at Disney, I would not have passed this up. It was relaxing and enjoyable. We enjoyed it as a last night activity, but several there were using it as their arrival dinner. Also a great idea!<br />
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And the finale? The finale was this yummo Strawberry Shortcake! Props to Momma in the kitchen for whipping this up for the whole restaurant ;)<br />
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The turn around time here is unreal. Our reservation opened at 4:00. We were seated <i>very </i>shortly after. It's my understanding the next group comes in at 6:00. We left at 5:55. That's Disney perfection at it's finest.<br />
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And so the trip was coming to an end. I don't do the end of vacations well. I never have. It's sad and depressing, and really starts to set in sometime when I hit the midway point.<br />
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When we returned back to our hotel, I still hadn't packed, but I wanted the kids to be able to swim. So we donned our swim attire and headed down to the 'heated' pool.<br />
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Turns out a heated pool doesn't do you much good if you can't bear to get in it. The kids had a great time, but I shivered in the '70 degrees with a breeze' night air.<br />
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They swam until pruny, and we sat at the edge and enjoyed their enjoyment.<br />
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That really was the theme of the trip. I've been to Disney before and loved it. I'm really a kid at heart.<br />
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I could go back without kids some day and enjoy it, but frankly, I wouldn't want to.<br />
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This trip, I saw Disney through a whole new set of eyes. I saw it through the eyes of my children.<br />
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I saw their wonder seeing Mickey Mouse the first time. I listened to Ans' hilarious giggle / scream on every fast ride we rode. I saw fireworks light up in their eyes. I heard "zip-a-dee-doo-dah" be sang over and over and over again, unprompted, in the shower, and I saw B break multiple troubling habits he had picked up in the last couple months as he was able to relax with a family who was relaxing and <i>focusing </i>on him.<br />
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In sharing stories when we returned, I was told that B would probably remember the trip, but Ans probably wouldn't. And I don't doubt that. I don't doubt that most of the moments of that trip will be forever lost somewhere in Ans' three year old mind.<br />
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But.<br />
<br />
(There's always a 'but.')<br />
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But my six year old Ans who 'may have' remembered wouldn't have reacted like my three year old Ans did. And I will never, ever forget her eyes lighting up when she met Ariel and she pulled out her dinglehopper to show her. I will never forget that shrill of enjoyment that rang from her lungs riding the Barnstormer for the first time. I won't forget her sweet little face when she declared that Space Mountain was her favorite ride, even though she really only rode the People Mover through it. And I won't miss that little sleepy face that graced my bed every night.<br />
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Sure. She will have pictures.<br />
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But.<br />
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But I - yes, I - will have the memories. And those memories, well, they were worth every penny.Alicia Gregghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06769101340770559231noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-51992249874077327.post-5057491749848189842014-10-04T19:16:00.000-05:002014-10-04T19:16:48.565-05:00A Magical Trip of a Lifetime - Day 7Day 7 - Well, day 7 was the day I'd been looking forward to all week. Ans' antibiotic was sought out <i>because </i>of day 7. A short park day was planned on day 6 <i>because </i>of day 7. Day 7 was a biggie. Day 7 was Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party. It was another day in the Magic Kingdom <i>and </i>a special event at that.<br />
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Bring on the fun.<br />
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To start the day, though. We slept in. Now, it must be noted that 'sleeping in' with a 5 and 3 year old means you top 7:00 a.m. Since it was vacation, and all, I think we may have hit 7:30 a.m. I'm not naive enough to have believed we'd get a super late morning in, so I planned a special 'late' breakfast for us that morning.<br />
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In the past few months the kids have become avid fans of the movie Lilo & Stitch. It just so happens that I ran across a 10:45 a.m. character breakfast with Lilo and Stitch at the Polynesian's Ohana just weeks prior to our trip. I snagged it.<br />
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I can't even believe I'm typing this, as I felt for sure I could have named 10 other characters that would have taken the title of the kids' favorites at Disney World, but Lilo and Stitch took the cake, and not just by a little bit, by a landslide. They were so excited.<br />
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We arrived to the Polynesian <i>really </i>early so we rode the monorail around twice before finally just showing up at 10:15. They sat us around 10:30. As we were walking in the kids were immediately given maracas and asked to join in a character parade around the restaurant. They loved it.<br />
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Now - I'm a foodie, so I have to immediately comment on the food. This was by far one of the best of the trip, and it was breakfast food. It doesn't sound like anything incredible: sausage, eggs, breakfast potatoes, breakfast breads, bacon and fruit... normal breakfast fare. But the sausage? Awesome! Aaron and I both swear it had an Hawaiian flare. The breakfast potatoes, unlike anywhere else. The breakfast breads were an iced cinnamon raisin bread - outstanding - and a pineapple bread, Yum! The hubs said the pineapple was the best pineapple he'd ever had. (And it wasn't just Disney - we'd had pineapple other places all week... this pineapple was GOOD.)<br />
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Here's a little glimpse:<br />
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The hot food came in this huge skillet. Like I said... GOOD. And it was all you can eat. (But we only asked for more of that fresh pineapple.) May I also mention - breakfast is served with this incredible juice. I believe our server said it was a combo of mango, pineapple and guava juice. For those of you who know me, the guava juice made this drink a hit in my book!<br />
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It took the characters awhile to get back around to our table, but the anticipation was worth it when we saw these faces:<br />
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Seriously - ask B who his favorite character was and he probably won't even have to think. Stitch.<br />
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The breakfast would have topped the charts for our trip anyway, but what happened next was a memory for the memory books. We were waiting for our last character to come through (Stitch, we were not leaving without that one), when it came time to do the maraca parade again. The kids were given maracas and away they went. When the song was over, the kids finished the parade on the other side of the restaurant. I immediately went into that 'mom concern' mode for Ans who is only three and isn't the most direction savvy kid anyway. I could not see she nor B from our table.<br />
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I tried to relax and decided to wait and give them the opportunity to make it back. Within just a few seconds I saw Ans' skipping towards us. Crisis averted. But then a minute went by... and another minute. And I was starting to work into a mini-panic over the competent, direction savvy offspring that I have. The hubs was just raising up out of his chair to go looking when B started running around the corner. It'd easily been 3 minutes or so since the song ended.<br />
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Of course, he sits down and we immediately start grilling him, "Where were you," "What took so long," and lecturing him, "We were worried, you always come right back," when we were interrupted by one of the servers, "Sorry it took him so long to get back! He offered to collect the maracas from the kids for me. He was a great helper, was very patient, and offered to do it himself!" In just moments a few more servers came by doting on him.<br />
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We apologized and praised him for doing something nice without being asked.<br />
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Just minutes later, this happened:<br />
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In recognition for his act of kindness, he was given a signed Maraca (by all four characters) and a cupcake for he and his sister. (And yes, it was a pineapple cupcake.) His day - and ours - was made. So great to hear positive things about your kiddos, and we explained to him that you don't always get something when you do the right thing or help someone, but we agreed that his maraca was pretty cool.<br />
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From there - we made a short trip to Downtown Disney. B had been saving a gift card he had for the Lego Store from the beginning of the trip, and we wanted him to have the opportunity to spend it. Granted, this was a short trip because it immediately started pouring on us again. We did accomplish the lego store and a couple Christmas tree decorations, but we decided that we'd be heading back a different day because we didn't accomplish much else.<br />
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Then - back to the hotel to get ready for our big night.<br />
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Now. Here's where it all gets interesting, as if the trip hadn't been interesting previously. I'm going to clue you all in now, being that it took me a long time -- too long -- to get clued in, feel privileged. Mom of the year, right here.<br />
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Little did I realize at this point that we had gone, gone, gone much of the day. We ate a later breakfast and had reservations to eat an earlier dinner (5:00), so we skipped lunch. Ans hadn't been asking to go to the bathroom at all the inopportune times, like normal, but I didn't really notice. Plus, we were in the hotel room for an hour or so in the afternoon, and I didn't really pay attention to bathroom habits then.<br />
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I got us all ready - and off to the Magic Kingdom we went with Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween tickets in hand.<br />
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We got into the park just fine, with just some mild sprinkling (though - not mild for my hair and Ans', which I'd dolled up prior to leaving the hotel), and two happy kids. Here is B riding the ferry to the MK in his pirate costume:<br />
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And us stopping for a photopass photographer, all dolled up in costumes for the evening:<br />
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Look at those smiles. This was going to be a good night.<br />
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I had also scored (and by scored I do mean 'scored', this one was not easy to come by) a 5:05 reservation to the Magic Kingdom's hottest new restaurant, Be Our Guest. Located in Fantasyland, at night it's a sit - down experience in the Beast's Castle.<br />
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As was the theme for our trip - we got in a few minutes early, but not after getting a couple good shots outside:<br />
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Before long, they called our name and we were heading in.<br />
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The restaurant is gorgeous. The ballroom, well, it really looks like the ballroom in the movie. We were lucky enough to dine there. It's snowing out the back windows. It's beautiful.<br />
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The ambiance was perfect for a sweet family dinner, and check out that rose, it's my napkin.<br />
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They encourage you to go visit the other rooms in the castle, two other rooms in which one can dine. After taking our drink order - I gave Ans a special treat and ordered her a Sprite - I immediately asked Ansley if she'd like to go look around with me. She declined, and in recent minutes had started being pretty whiny. I declared she needed to change her attitude and I asked B if he'd like to go. He did, so off we went.<br />
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So the rose, from the movie? Yeah, it's pretty incredible. In the same room, the Beast's picture transforms at the thunder sound.<br />
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The other room's centerpiece was this beautiful 'music box' made by Belle's dad for the two's wedding gift. You can see it just over B's head.<br />
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Upon returning to our table, Aaron had convinced Ans to visit the other rooms with him. This would be the last we'd really see of her for the night.<br />
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When she returned to the table bread had been delivered, as well as her Sprite. She declared that she didn't want her Sprite and she wasn't hungry for bread, nor did she want any other food, including a cupcake I tried to bribe her with. For the first time since Wednesday, her eyes looked sick, and for the first time in her life, she complained of a headache.<br />
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I know, I know. I should have known immediately. I've been dehydrated twice before in my life, and my number one symptom was one of the most horrible headaches I'd ever had. BUT - having had migraine headaches my entire life - I've spent most of my 'mom' life praying over my babies that God would deliver them from this highly probably genetic thorn in their side. Dr's agreed that if either showed symptoms, it'd probably be Ans (female) and mine started when I was about her age, so when she said headache, my first fear was "migraine".<br />
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And of course, she'd not needed tylenol for a few days at this point, so I had none.<br />
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When she mentioned a headache the second time, I offered for her to lay her head in my lap. She immediately laid down and was asleep within moments.<br />
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I proceeded to eat my strip steak, french fries and green beans (I'm a foodie, remember, I couldn't continue through the dinner story and not tell you of the <i>awesome </i>food. Aaron had shrimp and scallops and was happy as a clam. Hardy har har.), plus my dessert - the grey stuff (and BOY was it delicious, no need to ask the dishes) with a sleeping child in my lap.<br />
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Mind you, at this point the Beast - one character Ans had been intrigued to meet - had come through our dining room not once, but twice. At the time of our leaving, he was available to meet and have pictures with. Ans wouldn't wake up to meet the master of the castle, so I took B while daddy carried her to the stroller.<br />
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They insisted I get in the picture as "the Beast had never met Snow before". The cast does a great job at staying in character, but when you are 'in character' they do a great job keeping you in character as well. I can't tell you how many times I was referred to as "Snow" that night, many of which took me several moments to realize they were talking to me or about me.<br />
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Anyway. B and I made our meeting and exited to find Ans asleep in the stroller. Golden. Good start to our evening.<br />
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We then proceeded to take the next five minutes to replan our evening. What was this headache she was experiencing? Was it her ears flaring back up? Exhaustion? She hadn't napped all week... seems probable. That must be it, she must be exhausted. We were going to search out Tylenol, let her sleep for an hour or so and she'd be rejuvenated and ready to tackle the night... and it was all going to work out, it was supposed to be a long night anyway... so we thought.<br />
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So, Aaron had taken B on Space Mountain previously in the week and B had asked several times since to ride it with me. For that reason, Aaron headed to First Aid (they are <i>fantastic</i> by the way) to get Ansley some tylenol, and I headed with B to Space Mountain being that Lines (an awesome app worth every penny, and far surpassed even the My Disney Experience App on wait times) showed a ten minute wait time.<br />
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So - the camera for space mountain is immediately upon entering the ride. I was still waiting for the ride to 'start' when we jerked. I was trying to fix my event bracelet, and the look on my face shows my surprise at the ride starting. Classic.<br />
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When the ride was over (and the line really <i>was </i>ten minutes) we walked out to see Aaron and Ans. She was sitting up in the stroller, but looking pretty miserable. I quipped that she'd need a half hour or so for the meds to take effect, and we decided to walk over to the Monster's Inc Laugh Factory to sit in the AC in a show to give her some time to recover.<br />
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So you know how I mentioned previously that our kids - B especially - kept getting chosen out of audiences over and over? Get ready.<br />
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For those of you who haven't sat in Monster's Inc Laugh Factory, let me give you the general rundown. The idea is that since figuring out that laughs create more energy than screams, Mike hosts a 'laugh factory' comedy show to collect laughs and thus provide energy for Monstropolis. As you walk into the attraction you sit in a 'stadium' or theater style seating. I'm bad at guessing, but this is probably another attraction that holds around 150-200 people. Again, I'm a bad guesser, but that's what I have to offer.<br />
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We were about 3/4 full that night.<br />
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Animated characters then appear on the main screen and interact with different people in the audience. Those people from the audience are shown on another large screen. We'd made it almost through the show when Mike's nephew came on to tell jokes and to meet a kid (it'd been mostly adults being chosen... maybe 3 or 4 of them, up until this point.)<br />
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Let me tell you our current situation at this time. B had walked in first in our group and was on the other side of Aaron. I was sitting next to Aaron and Ans was on the other side of me, once again, laying with her head in my lap. By the time I figured out that the spotlight that had entered our part of the theater was on B, he was already answering the animated character and telling him his name.<br />
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As much as I was trying to enjoy the moment and soak it all in, I kept thinking, "he was chosen AGAIN! How does that happen?"<br />
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The animated character proceeded to ask him, "Hey Bryton - you want to hear a joke?" B, sometimes shy, but tonight 'on' in all respects, answered, "Yeah!"<br />
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At this point, I became extremely nervous. My children's definitely of a joke is this:<br />
"Knock knock. Who's there? Banana. Banana who? Banana sitting in a bathtub eating an ice cream cone." To which the both laugh hysterically. And this is not exaggeration. This IS their favorite 'joke'.<br />
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I was nervous to say the least.<br />
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The animated character continued, "Why was 6 afraid of 7?"<br />
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Before I could lean forward to look over at B he answered and shocked us, "Because 7 ate (8) 9!"<br />
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My mouth hit the floor. I'd sure never taught him that joke. Nor was he the type of 'joke' kid to think it up. Especially not that fast. Even the animated character was caught a bit off guard.<br />
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Their conversation continued, with literally the only other thing I caught being the character asking him what he'd like to be when he grew up, to which he replied, "A pilot," and the character commenting that he had high expectations. All I could think of was 'how did he know the answer to that joke," and "I sure wish I could get Ans off my camera to get a picture of him on the screen." (Which I never got.)<br />
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When it was all over both Aaron and I immediately asked B, "how did you know the answer to that joke?!" To which he replied, "I learned it in school last week from my teacher!"<br />
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We love school in this house, and I thoroughly enjoyed sending that email to his teacher when we got home.<br />
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Classic.<br />
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Ans hadn't perked up much at this point, and I could feel my hopes for the night diminishing. We decided since we were right there we'd ride the People Mover and give Ans some more time before hitting the park hard. She loved the ride, as it goes through Space Mountain, a ride she'd wanted to ride all week but isn't tall enough for, so she felt she had actually rode Space Mountain. Ask her favorite ride and she'll probably answer "Space Mountain". What she means is the People Mover, because she thought it was in fact Space Mountain.<br />
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B and daddy rode the teacups after that, and then we proceeded to the Winnie the Pooh ride. By the time we'd ridden in the honey jar, Ans looked done, so back in the stroller she went.<br />
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From there, we decided she'd stay in there and we'd take turns riding with B. The night was fading before my eyes.<br />
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When we hit our first candy line (oh yes, they do trick or treating, and they do it well! In the few hours we were there, we probably left with ten pounds of candy. I kid you not.) I thought she'd for sure perk up. We made her get out of the stroller to get the candy, but she crawled back in and declined the offer to try a piece. Now I knew we had a problem.<br />
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The conversation then ensued, "do we stay or do we go? No, you stay with him, we'll take Disney transportation back. No, you stay. We don't want him to miss out. It's only $40 to come back tomorrow, maybe we should just come back tomorrow. But we won't have this experience tomorrow..."<br />
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It was confusing and frustrating.<br />
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By this point we'd made it over near the Haunted Mansion, and the decision was made to hit the candy stops we found on the way out, the rides that pertained to B, but to head out and be done for the night. I was so disappointed, and also really concerned for Ans.<br />
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We accomplished more than I expected on the way out. Ans slept in the stroller through everything from this point. B and I rode Pirates. Aaron and B rode Aladdin's carpets. We hit three or four more candy stops. I and B had a Dole Whip from Aloha Aisle (which I would have paid the $40 to come back for the next day, had I missed it), and we just happened to hit the Castle light show and fireworks on Main Street. How's that for perfect timing? Ans slept through every bit of it. (And the fireworks were not quiet.)<br />
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We bought the kids both balloons on the way out, being that they had asked for them since Tuesday. (Who would have known they'd stay inflated <b>forever? </b>The good news is we were able to gift them to other kids in our resort lobby before we left to come home.) After that we loaded the car and headed back.<br />
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We are - once again - horrible parents, and having thought that Ans was just exhausted, we assumed she should be more than rested after basically sleeping away five hours of our evening, and we made her walk back to our room. We joked that she'd probably caught her second wind and would be up all night.<br />
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I dosed her with ibuprofen when we got in 'just to make sure', and laid us all to bed. Much to my surprise, she passed right back out. I laid my hands on her and prayed over her that night, that God would heal her body and make her feel better.<br />
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Much to my absolute surprise, the first words out of her mouth on Saturday morning was, "My head still hurts."Alicia Gregghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06769101340770559231noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-51992249874077327.post-81347644459209318012014-10-01T18:24:00.000-05:002014-10-01T18:24:19.191-05:00A Magical Trip of a Lifetime - Day 6As day 6 dawned, we were well aware of the weather. Having had two almost rain out days, and being that rain was in the forecast for every day that we were there, we decided to change a fastpass we'd had planned for the day. Ironically, that fastpass was for arguably the wettest ride at Disney, Kali River Rapids. Rain was expected from noon on, so I moved our fastpass from the warmest part of the day, 4:00, to the cooler part of the day, 9:30 a.m.<br />
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Allow me to say, the fastpass was not necessary at 9:30 a.m. In fact, the stand-by line may have been shorter.<br />
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Apparently - 70 degrees and the possibility of being soaked, coupled with the possibility of remaining wet for a good portion of the day - yeah, that tends to run people off from the wet rides.<br />
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It's also important that I note that I dressed myself and the kids in quick drying material. Aaron chose his own clothes. Enough said.<br />
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This picture was taken about 30 minutes after our fastpass for Kali River Rapids. We rode Kali River Rapids twice this day. This was probably the driest Aaron was all day.<br />
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I'll be honest, I can't look at this picture without laughing hysterically.<br />
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From Kali River, I took a short ride through the single rider line of Expedition Everest, and we headed over for our fastpass for Kilimanjaro Safaris. I'll spare you all of the pictures of animals that are much closer than the pictures make them out to be, and I'll share just one that shows the perspective.<br />
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We were <i>not </i>disappointed with our animal interaction on this ride. Frankly, the safari truck itself was fun.<br />
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It was the next attraction, though, that took the cake for topping our day, and of all things, it was a show. Festival of the Lion King is heralded as the best show Disney offers. I had no idea what the show was like, only that the Lion King was a part of it.<br />
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We were VERY pleasantly surprised.<br />
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Pixie dust for our family started upon entering the theater. 100 or so people went in before us, and as we were ushering ourselves towards the nearest stairs to move up in the theater, a cast member caught Aaron and ushered us to a reserved, front row bench, perfect for the four of us. I really think we had the best seats in the house.<br />
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Then - B's luck befell him again and he and Ans were chosen to participate shaking shakers with the performers.<br />
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This experience makes the top five for best experiences in the whole trip. For sure!<br />
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Following Festival of the Lion King, Ansley's world fell apart again. Ear infection, tackled. The next battle would be against sin and sunscreen.<br />
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Exiting the Lion King, we noticed the sun had made a fierce appearance and was beating down. We walked to park the stroller for our next attraction, and I pulled out the spray sunscreen to spray the kids down.<br />
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Approximately 1.25 minutes after spraying Ansley she burst into tears regarding some situation in which she didn't get her way. (Hence the sin.) As the tears fell, she rubbed and rubbed and rubbed her eyes. What ensued was a flat out squaling fit that lasted the endurance of a 5 minute time out in the forest of strollers, and continued through a swift walk to the nearest restroom to allow her to finish her fit in privacy.<br />
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Once she'd finished falling apart, she began to rub the tears out of her eyes. And rub. And rub. And rub, until finally, she was crying again. I began threatening another trip to the restroom, thinking the fit was rearing it's awful head again, when she began telling me how bad her eye hurt. I put two and two together and realized that eye was probably chalk full of sunscreen at this point. The more it hurt, the more she cried. The more she cried, the more she rubbed. The more she rubbed, the more it hurt. It was a vicious cycle. All in all, it was probably a good 45 minutes of telling her to keep her hands off her eye and just to let it water. Here's a picture post the sin and sunscreen incident:<br />
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That's a rough life for a three year old, let me tell you. Still smiling though.<br />
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When peace prevailed and the eye incident was over, we headed to The Tusker House for a late afternoon lunch, our sit down meal for the day.<br />
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I took zero pictures of food here. I know, slacking, but let me assure you -- the food was a-mazing, and this was the one meal I was least sure about. The restaurant boasts African food mostly for their lunch and dinner offerings, with a few normal dishes here and there, but mostly geared towards the kids. We were all about trying new foods, but African food seemed a little much for us even. Oh my, was it good. I'd say this placed top three or four in food offerings. It was good.<br />
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I did get the pictures that mattered most:<br />
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From Tusker House we rode a few more rides, we took in Finding Nemo the Musical (also very good), and rode Kali River Rapids one last time. We met Pocahontas to end our day, and it rained on us as we were leaving to get in the car. I'd call that a successful day!<br />
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Us with Rafiki - this actually happened first thing in the am, but I thought I'd post the character pictures together. Ans was scared of him, hence my appearance in the picture. It was the only character she was hesitant of.<br />
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I was a bit leery of Animal Kingdom. It was the only park I hadn't visited previously, and I'd teetered with the idea of exchanging it for another day at MK, thinking it would gear better towards our kids. I'm glad I didn't follow through. We experienced everything we wanted to experience (minus "It's Tough to Be a Bug" which was under refurbishment), and honestly, it was beautiful. There seemed to be less hustle and bustle, more sites to take in. I'd love another day in the park with my kids dressed better just to move them from one place to the other and take pictures. I had fun with the camera that day...<br />
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Again, it was beautiful.<br />
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We caught the Frozen Fireworks from our balcony again that evening, and got ready for what would be a big day Friday.<br />
<br />Alicia Gregghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06769101340770559231noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-51992249874077327.post-42230693048918189852014-09-30T16:00:00.001-05:002014-09-30T16:00:22.971-05:00A Magical Trip of a Lifetime - Day 5Day 5 started with 'princessing up' our little princess and decking out our little prince. Our park for the day was Epcot again, this time to travel the world showcase, and we were starting in Norway at Askershus for a royal Princess breakfast.<br />
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The first picture is foggy, because I had to yank my lens cap off quickly when the kids started dancing immediately upon stepping out of the hotel room. I just had to capture the cuteness. Luckily, we ended up with a better backdrop then the orange hotel room door. </div>
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The Epcot Ball - Spaceship Earth. Again, breakfast before the park opens can make for some magical memories. The kids danced and we snapped 100 pictures AND got ridiculously cute video.<br />
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Look at the toe. We are in so much trouble.<br />
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I can't get over the ball. I just love it. Aside form the castle, it's my favorite Disney Icon.<br />
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Askershus is in Norway, and is one dining credit for breakfast and includes five, yes, five, princesses.<br />
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It currently comes wit a picture package with Belle, but I believe that is expected to cease in 2015. The good news, if you are on memory maker you get it anyway :) </div>
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So, they have a royal princess and prince processional where the kids get to parade around the restaurant with the royalty.<br />
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And, like the other breakfasts, the characters visit you right at your table, sign autographs, and take pictures.<br />
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No comments on this picture, except to say that Disney characters stay in character under all circumstances...<br />
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From that point, we changed the kids, and headed over for a trip through the Seas with Nemo, again, and then to use our fast pass at test track before the World Showcase opened. If Disney does anything well (and let's be honest, they do most things well), they make waiting in line seem fun. Getting to create a car to test through the ride was half the fun for our kids. </div>
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I'll admit, I was a little concerned about this day. Traveling through 11 countries with a 5 and 3 year old can only hold attention for so long. I was pleasantly surprised that not one - yes folks, not ONE - time did my kids say they were bored or go ask to ride rides.<br />
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Instead, we rode the few rides available in the countries, including Maelstrom and the boat ride in Mexico.<br />
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We tried on funky souvenirs.<br />
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Ansley was able to pick an oyster and 'pick a pearl' in Japan, which we had made into a necklace for her.<br />
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These wonderful people cut out your kids' silhouettes for next to nothing. $20 for two and that included the tip. One of my favorite souvenirs from the trip. </div>
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Of course, we got great pictures.<br />
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But what kept the kids' attention was the Kidcot Stops. At your first country you receive a Duffy bear (Or Agent P) and at each stop your child is able to color their bear and the representative, all from the home country you are visiting, writes something on the back of their bear and stamps their holder. We bought our kids passports as well, and they stamped those for them as well. The kids LOVED it, and couldn't wait to find the stop in each country. Disney did great at attracting the kids attention in a place not totally geared towards them.<br />
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Ans' coloring her Duffy.<br />
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Waiting for the coloring to happen in Italy.<br />
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Their finished product - all 11 countries. I blew it up so you could see it better. We started the day in Mexico and ended in Canada.<br />
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What else did we do in the World Showcase? Well, we ate, of course. We were lucky enough to be there during Food and Wine, but Aaron only took advantage of one of those stops with this bad boy - </div>
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We also had:<br />
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School Bread from the bakery in Norway. It was YUMMY!<br />
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And REAL caramel corn from Germany. I'm pretty sure I could have loved anything from either place, and this caramel corn was by far the best I've ever had. (Did I mention all three items were snack credits and free on the dining plan? Just sayin' ;) )<br />
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The kids also got to meet Mulan:<br />
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And another few pictures:<br />
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When we finished the world Showcase Ans' fever had spiked again, so we ate dinner and went back to the hotel for a few hours. When she recovered pretty quickly, we decided to go back for an outdoor trip on Test Track and Illuminations.<br />
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We did Test Track first thing, then watched Illuminations with a Mickey Ice Cream Bar -- and worked our way back to Soarin' for one last ride during Extra Magic Hours.<br />
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Overall it was a great day, with good food, and fun rides!<br />
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Tomorrow, visiting the animals at Animal Kingdom!<br />
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<br />Alicia Gregghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06769101340770559231noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-51992249874077327.post-23959571010666924462014-09-29T15:50:00.003-05:002014-09-29T15:50:56.536-05:00A Magical Trip of a Lifetime - Day 4After getting the first round of antibiotic in Ansley and keeping her medicated with tylenol, Tuesday morning brought with it our first round of super pixie dust. The Magic Kingdom really is that - magical. Especially when viewing it through the eyes of your kids. <br />
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Upon entering the parking lot, you have two options, ferry or monorail to MK. The monorail was not yet running (did I mention we had another pre-park opening breakfast? :) ) So we opted for the ferry. Here was our first view of the magic :)<br />
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Upon arrival, we had plenty of time to take some good 'almost empty' shots.<br />
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Here are the kids waiting in front of our breakfast venue, The Crystal Palace. I will say this, overall, this was probably our least impressive breakfast, BUT, to be in the park pre-opening and for the kids to get to meet Winnie the Pooh and friends, it was well worth doing it once. Next time we may opt for breakfast in Cinderella's castle, though.<br />
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Here were our character friends (minus Eeyore, who passed our table right as we sat down, and we just didn't want to wait on this particular day ;) ):<br />
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I just can't handle the cuteness :)<br />
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Ansley was so concerned Tigger was going to bounce through the ceiling :)<br />
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After The Crystal Palace we set off towards Ansley's number 1, Ariel:<br />
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Unfortunately, these are some of the photopass pictures I'm missing, so I only have this one that I took right now, but it's priceless. Ansley was very concerned about having a question to ask each character. For Ariel, she asked where her dingerhopper was. Low and behold, it was right behind her shell, and she proceeded to get it out and demonstrate proper dingerhopper use. It was awesome, and the kids talked about the interaction the rest of the day. She spent more time with us then she had to, and it was so appreciated!<br />
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From Ariel, we visited the ever infamous, DUMBO!<br />
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Look at the sweet boys' expression! Pure, little boy, BLISS, I tell you! God love you, Dumbo, for this precious captured smile!<br />
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From there, on to Ansley's first roller coaster, the Barnstormer, check out her face:<br />
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We quickly graduated to the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train. It's the one ride we did not ride more than once that I so wish we would have had the opportunity to!<br />
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Oh- I just love her face! Priceless! (Notice the ponchos, they are foretelling...)<br />
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Here are a few more ride or random pictures from the day - Carousel:<br />
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Because I love this place:<br />
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And this face:<br />
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And this face: (we were well medicated ;) )<br />
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And this one! Smiles galore!<br />
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We had quite the perfect seats for the Festival of Fantasy Parade. Here's a peek:<br />
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The characters - they are always in character. Always. (Wait until you see one of tomorrow's pictures.) Speaking of characters, here's the kids and Buzz (to whom Ansley had planned to ask, "Where's Woody?", got flustered, and asked at least three times "Where's Buzz?" Ha! Good thing he can't talk ;) )<br />
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And here was THE magical moment of the day. Enchanted Tales with Belle is an attraction I ALMOST didn't pursue, but with a fastpass thought it was worth it due to the special (and I do mean special) effects. They are phenomenal and would have made the attraction more than worth it alone. <br />
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Add to the effects that they choose members of the 'audience' (around 40-50 people, fairly small) to participate in the story and you have a memory... a priceless memory. And B, he got asked to play THE Beast... with Belle! Ans got asked to play Chip, the Teacup.<br />
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You are getting ready to see a theme. From this point forward, B somehow got singled out daily in some way, shape or form. Here is B scaring Belle, dancing with Belle, and bowing after they dance. This MAY have topped my magical moment list for the whole week... may.<br />
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And one with 'Chip' and Belle:<br />
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Ansley asked to do it again so she could 'be the beast'. :)<br />
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From this point, the rain started. And it rained... and rained... and rained some more. And we waited under an awning on Main Street for 30 minutes, and no sign of letting up, so three hours premature, we decided to brave the rain... to the car. (Can I also put a plug in for strollers here? Rent one. And make sure it comes with a rain-cover. It was a SAVE ALL... for the whole week!)<br />
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Here's some Photopass pictures, again, keep in mind the early breakfast and few other people in the park :)<br />
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Love, love, LOVE these!<br />
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And, despite the rain, we had to meet Tinkerbell on the way out :)<br />
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We headed back to the hotel, ate again in Pop's restaurant. I tried the chicken parmesan and BOY, I was impressed. Possibly the best chicken parm I've ever had... at a 'fast food' rated restaurant!<br />
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Tomorrow - tomorrow is Princesses and touring the WORLD! :)<br />
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<br />Alicia Gregghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06769101340770559231noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-51992249874077327.post-69995964916456952012014-09-29T09:36:00.000-05:002014-09-29T09:36:00.587-05:00A Magical Trip of a Lifetime - Day 3 Hollywood StudiosFair warning, friends. This was our rough day. Not that it wasn't good. It was just rough. It ended up in a wash out, but not after first figuring out that the one thing that could paralyze our son was fire. Yes. Fire.<br />
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Adding insult to injury, I spent a good portion of the day worrying about the mysterious fever that hit Ansley mid-night and talking back and forth on the phone to our pedi back home. (The phone was one object I was trying to avoid at all cost on this trip.)<br />
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So - to be upfront about it. Rough. Day. But we endured and enjoyed anyway.<br />
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Hollywood Studios has extended their Frozen Summer, so we got to take part.<br />
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Now - I've raved about the Disney Dining Plan, allow me to mention something else we thought was fantastic. Pre-rope drop breakfasts. Yes, friends. They are fantastic. Why, you ask? Many reasons. One, you don't have to beat the crowd to make way TO your restaurant. Two, you get to see the park virtually empty. Aside from cast members, who tend to blend in well, the only other people in are people eating breakfast. We experienced one of these breakfasts in 3 of the 4 parks and it was WORTH IT. May I also add that we were there during the 'off' season, and we showed up for every. single. meal. early and got right in each time.<br />
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So here are pics of the kids in a virtually empty Hollywood Studios (Ansley good on tylenol :) ):<br />
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And in front of our 'play and dine' breakfast at Hollywood and Vine:<br />
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This breakfast is called a 'play and dine' for a reason. About every 15 minutes the characters and cast would get together to do a Disney Jr. song / dance that the kids were encouraged to take part in. The food was so-so and typical breakfast fare (though it was the hubs' favorite food of the day), but the character interactions were fantastic.<br />
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Dad enjoyed the play and dine portion too :)<br />
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Mickey waffles, they are everywhere!<br />
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Meeting Sophia:<br />
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Meeting Doc McStuffins:<br />
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And Jake:<br />
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And Handy Manny knocked off Ansley's ginormo bow, and fixed it for her. As appropriate :) No tools required:<br />
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As we were leaving I took this picture of the kids in the front of the restaurant. At first, I thought, "Man, look at those smiles, the kids love me for this." Then I realized Handy Manny was dancing around behind me. I'll take it :)<br />
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From breakfast, Bryton decided he was brave enough to ride Tower of Terror (which I was probably more concerned about him than he was), so we hiked on over before the line got forever long. The picture is far away, but it explains his reaction perfect:<br />
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He and I are in the back on your left. The couple next to him were from Georgia and enjoyed his enjoyment of it as well :)<br />
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From there, we had a slight meltdown from Ansley, who also wanted to ride (but we said 'no' to that), and we trekked on to our first fastpass, Toy Story Midway Mania. Toy Story is a 3d ride / game where you can shoot targets and earn points to compete against the others in your car. Overall, it was the favorite ride of the day, by a landslide. (And we only had time to do it once.)<br />
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From there, we visited a Disney Jr. Show:<br />
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And the animator's academy to try our hand at animating (we got to draw Mickey! FREE souveniers, which I plan on framing and hanging in our home! Tip: I took a wrapping paper roll, cut in half, to preserve the papers through the trip and the journey home!) and to meet a few characters. Unfortunately, I don't have pictures of our drawings (but I'll get some soon!) but I do have pictures with the characters :)<br />
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From there, we went to the ABC Commissary to have lunch. Lunch was just ok, but thank you dining plan for giving us dessert, my Olaf Carrot Cake cupcake was AWESOME! He was so cute I almost couldn't eat him. Almost.<br />
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It was during lunch I got the bright idea to reach out to our pedi on Ansley's condition. She had mentioned twice by this point that her ear hurt, so it seemed appropriate to give it a shot. I placed a call to the doctor at lunch time, and waited to hear back from the nurse. Until then, more tylenol.<br />
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From there is where the whole day blew up, rather literally.<br />
We decided to take the kids on the Studio Backlot Tour, something rumored to be closing, and family friendly, so we thought. I received two phone calls from the Dr during all the explosions, all while watching B deteriorate QUICKLY with any sign of fire. Ansley loved it, but B pretty much looked a mess the whole time.<br />
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This is a picture of him in a GOOD place. His hands weren't over his eyes, he wasn't crying, or in fetal position. I know they've been talking about fire at school, but the fear he has of it... not normal. This from the kid who rode test track, tower of terror, space mountain and haunted mansion...<br />
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Here's a few backlot pictures:<br />
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I didn't have many, between phone and B... I had my hands full.<br />
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While this was going on, the sky was doing this:<br />
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So we decided to go into a show to see Muppets in 3D. B still did not recover.<br />
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Mike and Sully were meeting kids at their character spot, and Ansley was interested. At this time it was pouring, and their spot was covered, so we went for it. B was still clammed up, so Ans and I went and he laid, quite literally, in the stroller.<br />
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From there we played "do we stay or do we go" - as in, really. And we decided... go. Ansley had a script waiting at the pharmacy at this point, and we decided the day could just be a 'wash'. There were a few things that we would have liked to do but didn't have the chance to, but ultimately, it was an accomplished day, if nothing else.<br />
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We hit up one photopass photographer for these pics at the end, and yes, I forced B into them:<br />
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At that point - we left, went back to the hotel for me to ask concierge about a good counter service meal option. She sent us to the Polynesian to Capt' Cooks. It was good, but Ansley's fever had returned, back to the hotel we went.Alicia Gregghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06769101340770559231noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-51992249874077327.post-91673409187220767742014-09-29T08:48:00.001-05:002014-09-29T08:48:17.235-05:00A Magical Trip of a Lifetime - Day 1 (Arrival) & 2Since B was conceived I had a dream to take the kids, however many we may have at the time, to the most magical place on earth before they were out of the 'character' age. When Ans' came spaced 2 years and 4 months apart from B, we decided we thought 5 and 3, near B's turning 6, would be the perfect time, and thus the saving began.<br />
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Last week, we finally got to take the trip we'd been saving (and planning) for for so long. I've literally done 100's of hours of research over the past 10 months to choose good and appropriate meals, to schedule fastpasses for the most coveted attractions, and to learn all the good and important tips for all the things you'll never think of.<br />
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Take the planning and a WHOLE LOT of Disney magic, and what you have is a family vacation that won't soon be forgotten.<br />
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This series of blogs is the documenting of our trip (because I can't wait to share, and there may be a few of you who want to know).<br />
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We arrived at Pop Century Resort Saturday evening, hungry and ready to settle in. After a good amount of research (and that magic or 'pixie dust' I'd mentioned), I had requested a room on the back side of the 50's or 60's building with a view of Hourglass Lake. Hourglass Lake overlooks the Art of Animation resort and a bridge connects the two. The reason I requested a room here was due to a.) noise, but mostly b.) there were rumors of having a fantastic view of the Hollywood Studio's Frozen fireworks every evening.<br />
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We were not disappointed! We were one room away from the end of the row on the 4th floor, PERFECT for fireworks viewing. Here's a view directly off our balcony.<br />
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Take ten steps to the kid's left and you've got firework viewing front row seats!<br />
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So - for the evening, we decided to hit the Pop Century 'food court' and grab dinner. Here's where I put my plug in for the Disney Dining Plan. (Stay with me, it's important.) If you plan on eating and everyone eating their own thing, and if you'd rather not count pennies, I highly encourage utilizing the Disney Dining Plan. Now, it's fair to say, we went during a Disney Dining Plan promotion, so our dining plan, for all intents and purposes, was free. I only paid a small per person fee (ahead of time) to upgrade us from a 'quick service' plan, to a 'regular' dining plan. The difference= the dining plan provided with our value resort as part of the promotion was only for 2 'fast food' type meal experiences a day + a snack. Our upgrade, around $200 total (if I remember correctly, it's been a few months since I paid it), allowed us a sit down meal every day, a 'fast food' type meal and a snack. May I mention, you also receive a refillable mug for each person of your group, and your meals all include your drink and a dessert. You'll hear more about this as our journey together continues, but the bottom line is -- IF you can go during free dining... DO IT. If you can't, and you are a foodie like me, who wants the relaxation of sitting down for some decent meals - it's worth purchasing, really. (Our 'fast food' type meals, with our drinks and desserts all topped $50 for our family. Had we NOT been on dining plan, I'm certain we would have split many meals and opted not to try fun desserts and things.)<br />
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Ok, off my dining soapbox. Here's dinner: :)<br />
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The kids each received two sides with their meals from our resort, and the food, for quick service was surprisingly good! I had the pizza twice and once had the chicken parmesan. It was fantastic. No, really!</div>
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From there, we went and explored our resort:</div>
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And Art of Animation: </div>
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We finished off the night with Frozen Fireworks and a semi-early bedtime for our next day - Epcot! </div>
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Do you see our newest family member in the bottom right corner? Here's where I put my props in to the memory maker option. You see a ton of 'photopass photographers' at Disney, all more than willing to take your picture and make your vacation all the more magical. Now, I will say, we are missing some coveted pictures from our account, but Disney is working on finding them for us, however, we had 140ish pictures when we got home, some of those 'magic' shots like these with a Disney character popping up. Worth it? Yes.<br />
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We spent Sunday traveling around Future World, riding rides and learning our way around. Favorites were Soarin':<br />
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Test Track (Ans is next to me in the back):<br />
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And of course, the character Spot with Mickey, Minnie (two of those missing pictures...) and Goofy:<br />
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We did mosey over to the World Showcase to have lunch at La Cantina De San Angel (all free dining, of course):<br />
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We sampled sodas at Club Cool. Peru was our favorite. Here are the kids enjoying "Beverly":<br />
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And we finished out the day with our sit down meal, Garden Grill. Garden Grill is located in The Land portion of Future World, where Soarin' is located. It is a character meal in a rotating restaurant, and it overlooks Living with the Land, a boat ride that shows how our food is grown and harvested, etc. The coolest part of the meal, for us adults, is that a great portion of the food that we ate that evening was grown / harvested right there at Disney. (And, it was gooooood.)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPdZ9I2fGMQAo6VxUbrNqGxMLrEjeGdNGUcrufdsMINO04GlY2wcoey7z74hraQBXgFCc4lRwY2Y_Vsx_FkTK4W7hDn6bv2FBuO8AjCGuVealsR5tAA7Cq_uTcLlyrOAScxCfyLBGmwg/s1600/IMG_6271.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPdZ9I2fGMQAo6VxUbrNqGxMLrEjeGdNGUcrufdsMINO04GlY2wcoey7z74hraQBXgFCc4lRwY2Y_Vsx_FkTK4W7hDn6bv2FBuO8AjCGuVealsR5tAA7Cq_uTcLlyrOAScxCfyLBGmwg/s1600/IMG_6271.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
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Dinner included beef tenderlin and garlic mashed potatoes, tilapia and veggies, turkey and stuffing, and chicken legs, mac n cheese and sweet potato fries for the kiddos. It was all you can eat and came with bread. Dessert was this berry masterpiece below, yum! It was my favorite thing we ate all day.<br />
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And the important part, the kids with the characters (who come right to your table, sign autographs, give hugs, and ultimately interact very well with the kids).<br />
Mickey:<br />
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Dale:<br />
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Pluto:<br />
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Chip:<br />
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<br />
The kids did great with the characters! The one funny moment we had happened this night between Ansley and Pluto. Pluto tried to get Ansley to kiss his nose, she scrunched her nose, pulled away and pressed as far into me as she could. As he laughed and walked off we asked her why the weird reaction. She replied, "His mouth was open!" HA!<br />
<br />
She is our little perceptive one. She realized very quickly that 'stuffed' characters don't talk and often times their mouths are open. When we met face characters (princesses, etc), she was so excited they could communicate with her!<br />
<br />
That concluded our Epcot day. We rode Soarin' two times that day, the kids loved it so much. Test Track was another favorite (but not 'favorite enough' for mom and dad to wait an hour to ride it again, we had a fastpass planned for Wednesday).<br />
<br />
We arrived at the hotel in time to watch Frozen fireworks again and go to bed! Little did I know, Ans would wake up with a fever around 2 am, Aaron would make a middle of the night run to Walgreens for fever reducer, and I'd spend most of the rest of the trip medicating her...Alicia Gregghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06769101340770559231noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-51992249874077327.post-66575500381505306472014-08-12T14:58:00.001-05:002014-08-12T14:58:22.425-05:00Another Robin Williams PostYesterday, we had all sat down for a nice family dinner. We had prayed, ate, talked, ate, discussed our week, and ate some more. We solved world problems like whether we'd have strawberries or grapes for dessert. Then, I cleaned up.<br />
<br />
As I was cleaning up, the kids were playing the wii and the hubs was scrolling through facebook on his phone when he exclaimed, "Wow."<br />
<br />
Now, 'wow' hasn't particularly meant good news in our vocabulary over the past several weeks. I could tell by the shock on his face this 'wow' was following in typical fashion.<br />
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"Robin Williams is dead."<br />
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I was shocked. And sad.<br />
<br />
"<i>The Dead Poets Society</i> was one of my all time favorite movies," I said, kind of to my husband, but mostly to myself. <br />
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Then - to find out that the actor, who had made me, and so many others, laugh for all of these years - had committed suicide. That was unfortunately not surprising but still very hard to swallow.<br />
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As I was cleaning up and thinking about the roles he'd played and the irony of not knowing a person at all, yet mourning their loss, another thought hit me, 'Facebook is blowing up right now with trending Robin Williams' status updates, and it's only a matter of time...'<br />
<br />
It's only a matter of time until people compare this to children starving...<br />
<br />
Or the riots in St. Louis (surprising, yet, not surprising for this area of St. Louis, for those of you not from there...)...<br />
<br />
Or... and most likely this one... the children being beheaded, the Christians being killed for their faith in the middle - east. <br />
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I felt guilt in my thinking of Robin Williams' family. I felt guilt in thinking of the demons he'd been fighting - seemingly unarmed. I felt guilt that I didn't 'care enough' or 'hurt enough' or 'pray enough' for the Christians being slaughtered over seas. <br />
<br />
Sure enough, it hasn't taken long. I can list about twenty different blogs I've glanced at, just today, talking about the celebrities we make to be idols, or the real problems our world is facing, or why we should be more concerned about beheaded children. (I also read another blog that significantly questioned what for sure IS really happening in the middle east... regardless, it's not good.)<br />
<br />
All of that said - I finally feel good about where I stand on this.<br />
<br />
I <i style="font-weight: bold;">am </i>sad about the loss of Robin Williams'. I did enjoy his work. He held value as a human being and used his gift to benefit others well.<br />
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I <i style="font-weight: bold;">am </i>sad, angry, and a little bit shocked (though I shouldn't be) about the brothers and sisters that I have in Christ who are being persecuted in ways we could never imagine. It hurts me on another plane. I fear the future for my children and grand children. I know that the world is big, but the world is small, and the last genocide we saw like this affected everyone. <br />
<br />
And I have reconciled that I can mourn both of these. I can harbor emotion for both. I can pray for both. I <i style="font-weight: bold;">should </i>pray for both.<br />
<br />
But ultimately, where I've come to stand is that this is a grueling reflection of our current condition. <br />
<br />
Christians being literally taken out for their faith.<br />
Another man taking himself out due to hopelessness and despair.<br />
A whole city rioting and causing utter havoc in the streets.<br />
<br />
And then there are the personal battles we fight daily... currently, they are just as ugly.<br />
<br />
Quite frankly, I don't see this as being a problem in prioritizing problems, I see this as one big sin problem. Sin is ugly. It is rampant. It knows no economic class, no profession, no culture. It does not show favorites.<br />
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The enemy is real. He is ugly. He causes havoc in our selves, in our families, our cities, our countries and our churches.<br />
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The answer to the problem is Jesus. He may not rescue (as we'd see rescuing) all of those Christians in the middle-east out of their current situations, but He is good. He may not offer a life void of sadness, but He is enough. He may not ease the tension in cities, countries or states, but it's only through Him there is hope.<br />
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So - rather than fight the fight against fellow Christians on what is worth fighting for - I'd suggest that they are all worth fighting for. That depressed friend you have, they are worth fighting for. Our brothers and sisters over seas, they are worth fighting for. The alcoholic co-worker you have who abuses his wife, yeah, he is worth fighting for (and so is she, for that matter). What kind of Jesus are we displaying? Are we willing to step outside of ourselves and love all people well.<br />
<br />
So I'll tear up for the Disney pictures of Aladdin saying 'Good - bye, Al', and I'll say gut wrenching prayers for those living a completely different reality thousands of miles from my front door. But I will not do one thing, I will not argue with you on the right thing to be concerned about. It's our current condition, and that is concerning.Alicia Gregghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06769101340770559231noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-51992249874077327.post-73660063716264650352014-07-29T16:45:00.002-05:002014-07-29T16:45:34.077-05:00The Things Worth Missin'Three years in Texas have sped by -- I mean, super speed. <br />
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Maybe it's the frequent trips back to where 'home' once was.<br />
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Maybe it's the incredible people we've met here (and the ones we still love back home). *Que Girl Scout song, "Make new friends, but keeeep the oooold, one is silver..." Ok, you get the gist.<br />
<br />
Anyhow - It daily rocks my world that DD is now older than DS was when we moved here. It also takes me by surprise knowing Texas will be all she has ever known. <br />
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Around the time of DS's birthday this year, he will have lived here longer than he lived 'back home'. <br />
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I'm even at that weird state of wondering what to call 'it'. For me, and my 27 years having lived there, the roads are still as familiar as the back of my hand. I could probably drive them with my eyes shut. So, naturally, 'home' comes out of my mouth, but it is very much not home to my kids, and not really to my hubs, either, who spent some time there, but not as much as I did.<br />
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All that said to say, the pivotal 'missing home' milestone is fittin' to happen. <br />
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It is on the horizon.<br />
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It seriously makes my eyes well up and my breath catch in my throat. <br />
<br />
DS starts kindergarten.<br />
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I know, I know, it's a milestone they all go through. I get that.<br />
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I also know that there's been many a momma with a handful of tissues and eyes full of tears on the first day of school.<br />
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But I've dreaded the coming of this day since we moved to this state. <br />
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Home - well, home was where everyone knew everyone. Home was the land of no secrets. Home was comfortable. The elementary school was no different.<br />
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I walked those halls multiple times weekly. I've been in almost every classroom substituting. I've got a good read (or HAD a good read) on all of the teachers there. There are very.... VERY ... few I'd be worried about my son being placed with. I could be walking the same halls as him. Smelling the same smells. I know the schedules up and down. I know the kids he'd be in school with. I know which hot food lunches to steer him from, and which ones to encourage him to try. <br />
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I know the administration.<br />
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I know the staff.<br />
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I know the nostalgia of having your dad say, "She was MY first grade teacher when I was in school!" Something I will never say to my kids. <br />
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I'm coming to grips that this is 'ok'. DS is smart. He will flourish. He makes friends well. But, oh to know the halls he walks better. To pass him and shoot him a smile throughout the day. To know how a teacher runs and manages her classroom. To have open dialogue. <br />
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I'm sure as the year continues I'll be more at ease, but since the day we've left I've mourned the loss of - of all things - the school district that I walked out of... even when I'm walking into one of the best in the entire state of Texas. <br />
<br />
Those are the things worth missin'.Alicia Gregghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06769101340770559231noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-51992249874077327.post-27178002411833713732014-07-06T15:16:00.000-05:002014-07-06T15:16:25.284-05:00Soccer Guidelines for Life<span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">Just yesterday we ventured into a new world in our realm of athletics, we registered BOTH kids for soccer. Being that we have been a baseball family up until this point, I was scouring the website for all of the information I could absorb. Right as I was getting ready to commit and push the 'register now' button, I noticed an unchecked box marked with the little red asterisk that means it's required. Now, I'm sure I'm like many of you, normally I check those bad boys and move on with life, giving no attention to the fine print, but this one caught my eye. It was parental guidelines and expectations. I thought they were spot on and this entire blog post is simply to share them. Many of them translate into life quite well. </span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;">1. Children have more need for example than for criticism.</span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;">2. Attempt to relieve the pressure of the competition, not increase it. A child is easily affected by outside influences.</span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;">3. Be kind to your child's coach and officials. The coach is a volunteer, giving of personal time and money to provide a recreational activity for your child.</span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;">4. The opponents are necessary friends. Without them your child could not participate.</span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;">5. Applaud good plays by your team and by members of the opposing team.</span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;">6. Do not openly question an official's judgment and honesty. Officials are symbols of</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;">fair play, integrity, and sportsmanship.</span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;">7. Accept the results of each game. Encourage your child to be gracious in victory, and to turn defeat into victory by working towards improvement.</span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;">8. Remember your child is involved in organized sports for their enjoyment, not yours.</span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;">9. Encourage your child to always play by the rules.</span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;">10. Teach your child that honest effort is as important as victory so that the result of each game is accepted without undue disappointment.</span>Alicia Gregghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06769101340770559231noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-51992249874077327.post-38560305023278229112014-06-22T23:46:00.002-05:002014-06-22T23:46:37.029-05:00To expand on the safety post<div>
I'm linking this blog to another for the sake of reference: <a href="http://mrsgoresdiary.com/2014/06/20/the-most-important-article-youll-ever-read-on-child-safety/" target="_blank">The Most Important Article On Safety...</a></div>
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Every bit of my world changed when a certain little boy entered the world. I became less selfish, and I realized how selfish I still was. My needs directly became effected by the needs of another. Many drives, passions, goals and desires shifted. My world would never, could never, be the same, nor would I want it to be. I had been given the sweetest gift that had ever been given. <div>
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Little did I know that such permanent bliss would be paralleled with deep fear. At first it was "is he eating enough," "why is he crying," "is his belly button <i>supposed </i>to look like that?"</div>
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Then it was, "hurry, corner protectors on <i style="font-weight: bold;">everything</i>, baby gates on every door, in front of every stair, for heaven's sake, LOWER THE CRIB MATTRESS!"</div>
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If it wasn't an innocent bite of dog food, or his first spill on the concrete, it was stressing over the peeling (yes, I said <i>peeling) </i>of grapes and on his not so well developed social skills. "Could something be wrong!"</div>
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I felt in my heart if he could just be older, more independent, the fear would subside, but as he does get older and he becomes more dependent I see the fear does not subside, it just morphs into a different kind of fear. "Will he be made fun of?" "Is he really safe at school?" "How far is too far? How much is too much?" The questions stream through my head, heavy... burdensome. </div>
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And THEN - I visit social media. Or THEN I watch the news. Fear becomes not only present, but overwhelming. It is evident the danger that lurks in the world, and my every choice can keep my children from - or expose them to - said danger. </div>
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It's terrifying, really. </div>
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You think I'm exaggerating. </div>
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Admittedly - I have chosen NOT to visit certain establishments alone with my kids out of fear. I prefer to walk through my neighborhood with my kids only with my husband present. The desire for a gun in my home comes from fear - and produces fear at the slight chance that at some point they could access it despite my efforts to keep it from them, and then - again - I would be at fault for their demise. </div>
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I have said - and do somewhat hold to - my children won't have the freedom to 'ride their bikes through town' as I did. Half of that is the difference between small town and - well - not small town. The other half is because people are creeps, and I don't know when creeps are roaming the same road as my kids. </div>
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And I find in this that I mourn. I mourn the life I wanted my kids to experience. The simple pleasure of childhood:</div>
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being able to watch the street lamps to know when to be home</div>
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playing flashlight tag or kick the can throughout the neighborhood</div>
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swimming at a friends house - with no outside adult supervision</div>
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riding my bike all summer, everyday, from 8 - 4 through town, stopping only for lunch</div>
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It's a different world we live in, and I'm praying for guidance on the line we walk on allowing our kids to be kids and parenting them well with their best interest (and safety) in mind. Mostly, I'm praying with the guidance comes peace from the fear, the fear that my actions will destroy the lives of the very beings I love most. Be it the food that I feed them, the water I let them swim in, the distance I let them wonder, the homes I let them frequent, the stores in which we visit...</div>
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and the lack thereof. </div>
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Because not experiencing life is not the answer. </div>
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Because without the freedom to be independent and make decisions apart from my parents, I wouldn't know that character is built when you're not being watched. </div>
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Because - frankly - I can't keep them in a bubble forever. It is not healthy. For me. Or for them. </div>
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And as for me and my house - well - we are choosing Jesus. We choose to trust. We choose to use the common sense and wisdom He's given, then we choose to lay down fear at the foot of the cross. We choose to live in the joy of the Lord, rather than the fears of the enemy. </div>
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That is experiencing life, albeit, life different than I had growing up. </div>
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That is building character. </div>
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That is healthy. </div>
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And as always - Jesus is the answer. </div>
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Alicia Gregghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06769101340770559231noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-51992249874077327.post-88035224920471465572014-06-12T16:25:00.003-05:002014-06-12T16:25:59.877-05:00My 30 by 30 ListThere's really no rhyme or reason to this blog, so I'm going to try to make it coherent and readable, and ultimately it's going to end with a list (you do know me, right?), but I'm probably not even going to proof it. <br />
<br />
*Gasp*<br />
<br />
Anywho.<br />
<br />
So, if you've been around these whereabouts long enough you can probably figure out a few things about me. A.) I have dreams. B.) I'm terrified of failing. C.) A+B does not equal accomplished dreams. <br />
<br />
No need to dwell on the items above. They've been stated many times. <br />
<br />
Just yesterday in scrolling through my facebook feed I came upon a Jim Carrey commencement speech. The two together intrigued me, so I watched it, and I'm so glad I did. It brought out verbally exactly what I've felt inwardly for years. I'll link to the video <a href="http://www.buzzfeed.com/maycie/this-61-second-video-of-jim-carreys-commencement-speech-will" target="_blank">here</a>, but because I'm so much of a sucker for the written word, I needed to see it in front of my face. Here is what he shared:<br />
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<i>"Many of us choose our path out of fear disguised as practicality. What we really want seems impossibly out of reach and ridiculous to expect so we never dare to ask the universe for it. I'm saying, 'I'm the proof that you can ask the universe for it.' My father could have been a great comedian, but he didn't believe that that was possible for him. And so, he made a conservative choice. Instead, he got a safe job as an accountant, and when I was twelve years old he was let go from that safe job, and our family had to do whatever we could to survive. I learned many great lessons from my father, not the least of which is that you can fail at what you don't want, <b>so you might as well take a chance on doing what you love</b>."</i><br />
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Now, the universe comments are a whole other blog post, but as a Christian, I believe we can ask God for the desires of our hearts, and I even believe many of those desires He instills within us. There's so much I could 'amen' in just that one minute of speech that, had I been there, they may have removed me for disturbance. <br />
<br />
It hit home. <br />
<br />
So - that tied in with the fact that I'm nearing 6 months until my 30th birthday (someone explain how that happened...), and I have been teetering with the thought of compiling a list of 30 things to do before I'm 30.<br />
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Many of the things on the list don't even touch the possibilities that could come to fruition in my life if I'd only allow myself to dream them and risk for them, but these items are baby steps, some maybe even insignificant, but hopefully will lay the foundation to a confidence boost in feeling as if I can accomplish something small, maybe I can accomplish something larger. <br />
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So here it is, in my last 6 months before I leave the 20's (and in no particular order)...<br />
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<b>1.) I plan to try to blog 2-3 times weekly, barring sickness, vacation or other unforeseen circumstances. </b>(I have to include the contingencies. If I don't, and I miss a day here or there, I've been known to throw in the towel.)</div>
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<b>2.) Learn how to do <i>something </i>to help myself and help others. </b>(ie: Change the oil in the car, jump start a car, change a tire. I'm not sure why, it's only car examples I can think of so far. If any of you have joined in life's journey with us over the past many years, you may understand why :) )</div>
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<b>3.) I've attempted this before, but I'm going about it a bit differently this time. I'm going to accomplish a 6 month photo challenge. One photo, taken every day, and blogged at the end of the month.</b></div>
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<b>4.) Tattoo. </b>(I could spend an eternity here either a.) trying to justify myself or b.) excusing myself if it doesn't end up happening, but ultimately, it's been on the list for sometime, so we are just going to leave it at that.)</div>
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<b>5.) Try a new art class. </b>(When a friend finally convinced me to go try painting with her, I was shocked at two things. I liked it, and I wasn't as horrible as I thought I'd be! - Only 1 painting I've done, of many, don't hang in our house daily. - For the fun, I'd like to try a different medium. Who knows what you might like if you don't try! I may very well be able to accomplish this one in Hollywood Studies as I try my hand at animation!)</div>
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<b>6.) Buy something off of a stranger's registry just for the fun of it. </b>(Because doing something kind for someone else is always a win / win. Maybe I'll try to find another couple that share our names!)</div>
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<b>7.) Originally, I had 'read the chronicles' - as in, Narnia- written on my list, and then I realized I wanted this list to be <i>attainable </i>and not <i>overwhelming. </i>So I decided that I would set to finish two in this six month time frame (I have 29 other things here, ya know?), and will finish the set out in the years to come. So for the before 30 sector - <i>The Magicians Nephew </i>& <i>The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe.</i></b></div>
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<b>8.) Again, we are going for success and attainability again. I need an everyday workout routine to stick to, so I'm starting with an easy set of five exercises, low reps (getting higher each week), in addition to a set amount of walking weekly. Am I going to become a professional body builder? No. Will I get stronger. Yes. </b></div>
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<b>9.) 5k. Yes, you read that correctly. This is in conjunction with at least my five year old, and can be walked, ran, or crawled for all I care. </b></div>
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<b>10.) I want to master <u>five</u> of my mom's recipes. </b> (It's not a rare occasion that I don't think to myself, "Man, I could sure go for..." insert one of many of my momma's favorites. It's at those times that I realize that I've carried almost nothing over from my mother's kitchen, mostly because the hubs and I grew up with completely different dinner experiences and our tastes are so much different. Now that there are two kiddos involved, it's bout time they experience some of Gaga's specialties! On the menu: Gaga's Italian Beef, Peppered Steak, Chop Suey, Chicken n Dumplings, and Bean / Potato Salad - yes, I know, the last 'one' is two, but they go together quite well!) </div>
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<b>11.) Write letters to 5 influential people. </b>(Because it does me good to know I've not gotten to where I am by accident, and it does them well to know what they've done has mattered.)</div>
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<b>12.) Visit a gun range... and participate. </b>It's like the old sayin', if you can't beat 'em, join 'em. Well, if you ain't packin' heat in Texas, you ain't beatin' nobody. My first step is to get comfortable with a gun in my hand. </div>
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<b>13.) Camp Out. </b>And yes, I mean in a tent, outside, preferably in the woods somewhere. Roast hotdogs and marshmallows, make smores, no electronics, go exploring. You know, the good ole days. </div>
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<b>14.) Try foods I've never tried. </b>I'm not putting a goal or a stipulation on this. I'm afraid if I say one, I'll stop at one. If I say ten, I'll feel it's unattainable, so, when given the opportunity to try something new... I may just do it. </div>
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<b>15.) Plan a dream vacation and start saving for it, even if it's just chump change. </b>I've already put way too much thought into this, as I expected, but my biggest decision here is going to be 'romantic or family'? If it's romantic, I want one of those over sea cabanas somewhere in the middle of nowhere. If it's family (and we aren't counting another trip to Disney in the future, a trip to NYC at Christmas-time or a cruise someday), it'd probably be an RV trek through the west. (Who AM I???)</div>
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<b>16.) Do something spontaneous! </b>Judging from number 15... I'm quite the planner, and I actually thoroughly enjoy planning. Half the fun of the vacation is planning it! But I'm well aware there's a thrill of dropping things spur of the moment and just doing something. So, though I obviously don't know what it is... sometime before mid-December, we're doing something spontaneous. (Can you plan spontaneity? I dunno, I think I just did. Kinda.)</div>
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<b>17.) Tell someone 'no' without giving a reason. </b>I'm not going to lie, I stole this from another when I was thinking about things that were really important to me, and it stuck. I'm a people pleaser by nature. Over the years I've been able to say 'no', but most of the time I feel obligated to give an exaggerated reason as to why I cannot. I'm going to feel the liberation of just saying, 'no'.</div>
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<b>18.) Have a Mental Health Day. </b>We've agreed to give our kids one once a semester once they are in school. So, why do I not take these occasionally? No kids. Just me. A whole day. </div>
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<b>19.) Make a 40 Before 40 List. </b>Because, somethings you just need more time for.</div>
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<b>20.) Purchase something I really love that I wouldn't normally purchase. </b>I'm not going to say this is going to be lavish. We don't do 'lavish' right now, I'm just saying that I'm not going to talk myself out of something, just one time, in the next 6 months. </div>
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<b>21.) Attempt one DIY project. </b>I'm thinking, maybe refinishing something? Something I can work, see and feel accomplished. </div>
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<b>22.) Go to DISNEY WORLD! </b>It's already on the books!</div>
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<b>23.) Learn my cameras better. </b>Hopefully this will be part of the 6 month photo challenge.</div>
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<b>24.) Learn how to fix hair, and do it. </b>This benefits not only me, but Ansley too. You'd think by 30 I'd accomplish something aside from "straighten", but that pretty much sums it up. </div>
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<b>25.) Go to a Mavs game. </b>This may seem menial, but I've done MLB, NFL, and NHL, and even pro-golf, it just seems fitting to get them all in in 30 years. </div>
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<b>26.) Go have my makeup done. </b>And have them teach me how to do it properly. </div>
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<b>27.) Care less what others think. </b>Which I'm getting surprisingly better at in my age. Dressing up for halloween at Disney with the kids this year and LOOKING FORWARD to it! :)</div>
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<b>28.) Build a sandcastle with my kids at the ocean. </b>Two accomplishments in one. I've never built a sandcastle (I know!), and I've never been with both of my kids at the beach, and neither one where they could really react to it.</div>
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<b>29.) Journey the 'World' and learn some new things about countries I've not actually seen. </b>This is at Disney World, of course, and traveling the countries there. We are devoting a whole day to it, we'll see how it goes! </div>
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<b>30.) Start and make good progress on that book I've mentioned 100 times. </b>I have no intentions of forcing it done by the end of 2014, but have high hopes for the end of 2015!</div>
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Alicia Gregghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06769101340770559231noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-51992249874077327.post-81877026307487530422014-06-01T21:07:00.002-05:002014-06-01T21:07:39.416-05:00Dry GroundWe moved to Texas almost three years ago. We came in the midst of selling our previous home, with hopes of quickly buying a new home here. We didn't feel that our expectations - or our 'want list', if you will - were very complicated. It appeared something like:<br />
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<li>Within Budget (first priority)</li>
<li>At least 3 bedrooms</li>
<li>Basement</li>
<li>Garage</li>
<li>2 full baths</li>
<li>An extra space of some sort (and the garage doesn't count, though people in Texas, for whatever reason, believe that it does.)</li>
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Somewhere at about the 'garage' point things become more "wants" than necessities. They are high on the priority list, but not deal breakers. The garage vaguely fit the deal breaker category, but many of the homes in our price range, surprisingly, had garages. Little did we know, a garage would be the least of our worries. It was the <i style="font-weight: bold;">basement</i> that threw us off guard. </div>
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When we sat down with our realtor the first time to explain our wants / needs, we read her our list and she literally laughed out loud (LOL) when we read the word 'basement'. </div>
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Aaron and I saw no humor in the matter and stared at each other like deer in headlights. What was so funny? </div>
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It was then that she explained to us that homes in Texas just aren't built with basements. The ground cannot support them, and in thirty years of selling real estate, she had sold one... yes, one... house with a basement. </div>
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For a Southern Illinois girl who lives in a basement during storms, this was less than settling. </div>
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Once I finally, yet unwillingly, wrapped my head around the idea that a basement was out of the picture, we began looking at homes. We put in offers on not one, not two, not even three homes. It was home number 4 that we ended up settling in, but lovely Texas soil reared it's ugly head in our dream house number 3. </div>
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Perfect space, perfect square footage, fantastic back yard, ideal neighborhood. They even accepted our 'perfect price'. Fast forward to the inspection and $17,000 worth of hidden foundational problems were found. Not only that, the problems were so bad, the foundation repair company that always brings their work with 100% lifetime guarantee said 'NO WAY' to guaranteeing it... ever... at all. </div>
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That didn't sound like a popular resale, so we bowed out. Our realtor agreed it was a great move, but her comment next stuck with me, "If you own a house in Texas, you own some kind of a foundational problem." </div>
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Awesome. </div>
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And I'm sure you wonder where all of this is heading. (Don't worry, so do I.)</div>
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The longer we've lived here, the more we have learned. Foundation problems here are due to drought. The ground is not a little dry, it's way dry. Walk around an area that's not 'watered' and you will see large, sometimes gaping, cracks in the ground. The cracks are unsettling enough that you wonder if you are standing atop the next yahoo news thread of a sinkhole. </div>
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For this reason, it's not uncommon for people to have sprinkler systems. This seemed like a lavish upgrade for us at first, we quickly learned they are all but standard, and they aren't just so your grass is green. They also own soaker hoses. These hoses lay along the outside of your foundation and 'water' your foundation, because those big nasty cracks I mentioned previously, yeah, they'll show up under your house (read: eventually in your foundation) if that ground is not kept watered. (And, another fun fact, most DON'T own gutters, because they WANT the rain to run off their houses near the foundation.)</div>
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The vicious circle comes in the drought that we are perpetually in. This means that our foundation is not being watered naturally through rain, but normally means that we are under water restriction DUE to the drought which limits how much we can water. That, my friends, = foundation problems. </div>
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Moving forward. </div>
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And for the first time I felt a vested interest in these lyrics: </div>
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"In Christ alone my hope is found</div>
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He is my light, my strength, my song. </div>
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This cornerstone, this solid ground, </div>
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<i>Firm through the</i> <i>fiercest drought and storm."</i></div>
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Did I mention we found a large crack through our garage floor the other day? We did. It's devastating, really. I mean, when you are on a tight budget all you hear are dollars 'cha ching, cha ching,' whether it comes in the form of fixing, or loss in selling, it's dollar signs. It's worry. It's uneasiness. </div>
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But this morning, when we sang those words, I appreciated it for the first time. My foundation.... not the foundation of my house, but the foundation that I stand on perpetually, eternally, is crack free. It is not uneasy. It requires no worry. There is no sinkhole looming, ready to swallow me up. No drought strong enough can shake it. My foundation, yes, my foundation is <b>firm. </b></div>
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And those storms I was worried about. You remember? The entire reason I needed that basement... yeah... they say - in homes without basements - you should gather in the most interior room, under stairs if possible, and if there is a commode, you should hang on to the commode (the plumbing runs deeper than the sinks... who knew?). Risking sounding sacrilegious, Jesus is better than any commode. His truth runs deeper. There is no storm that can shake me, be it physical or figurative, because my foundation IS Jesus. </div>
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When the cornerstone is strong, the entire structure remains sound. When Jesus is my foundation, there is nothing that can shake me. My I remain strong in the Lord, pressing into Him, and standing confident on His promises. </div>
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The ground may be dry, the storm may be fierce, but I shall not be shaken. </div>
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-a</div>
Alicia Gregghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06769101340770559231noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-51992249874077327.post-29535896536693027282014-05-27T14:45:00.000-05:002014-05-27T14:45:15.807-05:00Why We Don't Tell Our Kids Jesus Lives in Their Hearts<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15.359999656677246px;">Those that hate goodness are sometimes nearer than those that know nothing at all about it and think they have it already. - C.S. Lewis</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15.359999656677246px;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15.359999656677246px;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15.359999656677246px;">Student ministry was good for my husband and I in so many ways. There were, and still are, incredible rewards of watching kids grow in their love and understanding of the Lord, following after Him to their secular jobs, or their Christian jobs, or for some, even off to the ministry or mission - field. We had direct access into speaking into the lives of kids. I got to witness my husband teach and plead to God for souls of students walking through our doors each week. We were able to see the ins and outs of what ministry looked like. (Whether that's good or bad, you decide.) </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15.359999656677246px;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15.359999656677246px;">We saw it from different perspectives, too. We viewed it on the front lines as a student pastor / wife. We had the outside perspective when we traveled on the road and went in and out of churches. I saw it on the front lines over 8 weeks of youth camps when I served on staff. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15.359999656677246px;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15.359999656677246px;">If there is one thing we learned for sure it was this: <u style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Not all kids (teenagers, adults or elderly) who think they are saved really are.</u> To add to that, we often found that these were the ones who seemed furthest from the reach of the Gospel. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15.359999656677246px;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15.359999656677246px;">I laugh as I write that because it's untrue and true at the same time. God, of course can call to Himself anyone and everyone at any time that He so chooses, and my perspective is incredibly, horribly foggy. In fact, I may very well be blind in reference to knowing what God plans to do in or with someone's life. That even goes for my own. My saying that those who think they are saved seem furthest from reach comes from the fact that a key part of salvation is the realization that one is <i>in need </i>of a Savior. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15.359999656677246px;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15.359999656677246px;">We had a lot of kids walk through student ministry, or we watched a lot of kids walk through other student ministries or in and out of camp meetings, who knew they weren't Christians but they recognized their need for <i>something. </i>Hubs and I would often comment that these such individuals were, "Right there..." (picture us squeezing our fingers just as close to touching as possible... thiiiiis close.)</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15.359999656677246px;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15.359999656677246px;">On the opposite end of the spectrum we have two types of kids:</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15.359999656677246px;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15.359999656677246px;">Type 1: The do good / be good / talk good = must be good kid. Typically they've grown up in a Christian home, they've made good choices, they do good works, and sometimes they may serve well at church, but ask them their salvation experience and the air gets foggy. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15.359999656677246px;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15.359999656677246px;">Type 2: Here's the kid with the 'salvation' experience story. (Not to stereotype, because this is by all means not always true, but the story probably takes place at revival or student camp or somewhere of the like. VBS as a young kid may also be a key player.) Sadly, the salvation experience was a long time ago, and the lifestyle change has been minimal to non-existent. This kid says he's a Christian in one turn and lives like the world in the next. He / she also isn't the one to be declaring the Gospel much outside of a church setting. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15.359999656677246px;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15.359999656677246px;">These kids were often the kids that kept me up at night. They were the ones in which my heart pled to the Lord, "Please remove the scales from their eyes." I begged God for that critical first step of recognizing their fallenness. These were the ones that I felt God would so quickly save if they had any realization that they <b>needed saving! </b></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15.359999656677246px;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15.359999656677246px;">And I've carried that into my life with own kids. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15.359999656677246px;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15.359999656677246px;">Frankly - I prefer not to have child 1 or 2 listed above. If I'm choosing, I want a child saved at 5 (B is nearing 5.5...) who lives like Jesus and loves like Jesus all the days of his / her life, but if I had to choose 1 or 2 above... I'd rather my kid not be confused about their salvation, and it's the ultimate reason that we <u style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">DO NOT </u> tell our kids that Jesus lives in their hearts. He doesn't. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15.359999656677246px;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15.359999656677246px;">In their current state they are sinners. They are fallen. They are void of the Holy Spirit. It sounds harsh. I get that. In fact, my eyes tear up a little bit typing it. I long for the day that they come to know the Lord, follow Him, and His Holy Spirit indwells them guides them throughout their lives, but that is not now. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15.359999656677246px;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15.359999656677246px;">We've seen it happen, we jumble the lines until they are complete jargon to kids. We tell kids, in love and with good intentions, that Jesus lives in their heart, and then, be it weeks, months, or years later, they hear us say, "Come, invite Jesus into your heart and be saved," and the natural response is, "Well, been there done that." </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15.359999656677246px;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15.359999656677246px;">Where do we come up with this lingo anyway? I could soapbox here, but I won't.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15.359999656677246px;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15.359999656677246px;">So as we have it, we are that family. We are the family who cringes when someone tells our kids (or any kids, for that matter) that Jesus lives in their hearts apart from a salvation experience. I am the one that will go as far as to immediately correct this for my own kids by reiterating to them that Jesus does send His Holy Spirit to live within us after He saves us, but that it only happens if we are saved. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15.359999656677246px;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, lucida grande, tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 15.359999656677246px;">B, just the other day, said something that familiarly echoed Paul's words, but there was a stark difference. He said, "I really want to do the right thing, but sometimes I don't even know what the right thing is." Paul, of course, knew the right thing because the Holy Spirit dwelled within him. B does not have that full advantage right now, so I took the opportunity to gently explain to him that when Jesus saves us and gives us the Holy Spirit, the right thing is much easier for us to see. I then explained, for now, that we can read the Bible to see what God says and listen to Godly counsel, mostly from mom and dad, at this point. </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15.359999656677246px;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, lucida grande, tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15.359999656677246px;">Laced in good intentions, I fear we've tried to protect our kids from the gritty truths of salvation. For salvation to happen there has to be a need for salvation... the need being that we are all sinners, that sin separates us from God (and not just in the large empty chasm realm... God requires sin be punished. Hell is often left out of this conversation.), and that someone had to pay the price for such punishment. I'm a firm believer that until you can really recognize sin for what it is and what it's consequences really are in your life, why would you have any need or desire to deeply love and follow someone you've never seen, met or experienced?! And if we keep putting the "Jesus lives in your heart" sticker all over the foundational faith of our children, will they ever realize a God that's just and angry over their sin, and the deep love of Jesus (God Himself) who paid the ultimate price to take that sin away? I fear not. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, lucida grande, tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15.359999656677246px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, lucida grande, tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15.359999656677246px;">Ultimately - God will save whom He will at the proper time in the correct context. My goal for my own children is to be age appropriate in relating to them their need for a Savior and to create an environment of truth that would pave a clearer path towards a faith response, if God so wills. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, lucida grande, tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15.359999656677246px;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, lucida grande, tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15.359999656677246px;">My prayer is that my words would be theologically sound, age appropriate and would lead my children to The Truth. I'm realizing that speaking so may require me to unlearn many 'Christian' sayings I've accumulated over the years. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, lucida grande, tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15.359999656677246px;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, lucida grande, tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15.359999656677246px;">-a</span></span></div>
Alicia Gregghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06769101340770559231noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-51992249874077327.post-22202217874975525922014-05-21T16:57:00.000-05:002014-05-21T16:57:05.063-05:00Once a DreamerOnce I was a dreamer. <br />
<br />
There was a time when I was told I could 'be anything I wanted to be', I could 'do anything I wanted to do.' There was a day I believed it. <br />
<br />
The time came with the shift that I could {and should} do anything that God called me to do. I was encouraged to identify the desires He'd given me. And I dreamed. Man, did I dream. And I believed He could achieve it through me. Not the faith of a mustard seed, the faith of a mountain. No money? No problem. No access? No worries. He's called me to it, He'll accomplish what He's set out to accomplish. <br />
<br />
And I dreamed of the day that those dreams would become reality.<br />
<br />
And fear beckoned. <br />
Doubt emerged.<br />
Discontentment settled.<br />
Discouragement abounded.<br />
Abilities rusted.<br />
And faith dissipated.<br />
<br />
The dream grew cloudy.<br />
Far from reach.<br />
Unrealistic.<br />
Unattainable.<br />
<br />
The grind ground them to dust.<br />
The American Dream may have stolen mine.<br />
I'm not even sure what the dream was anymore. Or what they are.<br />
And I wonder...<br />
<br />
Did I miss it?<br />
Am I too late?<br />
<br />
Here's to praying that the God of grace<br />
would shower it on a doubter, would forgive the fearful, and would restore just a mustard seed of faith<br />
that He is not done with me.<br />
That there is more than this.<br />
That the dreams I was given...<br />
That the desires of my heart...<br />
were not mine alone...<br />
<br />
but were His to begin with,<br />
<br />
And may He fulfill in me His purpose, for His glory and His renown. <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Alicia Gregghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06769101340770559231noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-51992249874077327.post-88411517391400400152014-04-09T15:34:00.002-05:002014-04-09T15:35:49.535-05:00From Many a Year Ago - Easter<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17.68000030517578px;">Can you see them?</span><br style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17.68000030517578px;" /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17.68000030517578px;">They are moving, darting, running, racing</span><br style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17.68000030517578px;" /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17.68000030517578px;">Chasing after one another to a tomb</span><br style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17.68000030517578px;" /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17.68000030517578px;">Not just any tomb, but the Jesus tomb</span><br style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17.68000030517578px;" /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17.68000030517578px;">The tomb that sat empty before three days ago</span><br style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17.68000030517578px;" /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17.68000030517578px;">Now has been rumored to be empty again</span><br style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17.68000030517578px;" /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17.68000030517578px;">But where did He go?</span><br style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17.68000030517578px;" /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17.68000030517578px;">Where has He gone,</span><br style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17.68000030517578px;" /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17.68000030517578px;">Can it be true that this man of no sin</span><br style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17.68000030517578px;" /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17.68000030517578px;">Could rise from the grave and live once again?</span><br style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17.68000030517578px;" /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17.68000030517578px;">A man, just a baby three decades ago,</span><br style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17.68000030517578px;" /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17.68000030517578px;">Could love and could live</span><br style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17.68000030517578px;" /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17.68000030517578px;">Could serve and could die</span><br style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17.68000030517578px;" /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17.68000030517578px;">And now is it true that he could again be alive?</span><br style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17.68000030517578px;" /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17.68000030517578px;">Is it so?</span><br style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17.68000030517578px;" /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17.68000030517578px;">The man that fed thousands with a few fish and some bread</span><br style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17.68000030517578px;" /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17.68000030517578px;">Could die on a cross and then rise from the dead?</span><br style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17.68000030517578px;" /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17.68000030517578px;">That this man, what a man, could wash feet and speak truth</span><br style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17.68000030517578px;" /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17.68000030517578px;">Could grow and speak and please and heal</span><br style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17.68000030517578px;" /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17.68000030517578px;">Could pray and work and prepare a meal</span><br style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17.68000030517578px;" /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17.68000030517578px;">But not just any meal – the Last Supper</span><br style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17.68000030517578px;" /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17.68000030517578px;">His body, His blood</span><br style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17.68000030517578px;" /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17.68000030517578px;">Poured out for us.</span><br style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17.68000030517578px;" /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17.68000030517578px;">That this sin scarred on me could be washed away clean,</span><br style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17.68000030517578px;" /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17.68000030517578px;">By his wounds we are healed, on that tree where He died</span><br style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17.68000030517578px;" /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17.68000030517578px;">Could wash on the out and heal the inside.</span><br style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17.68000030517578px;" /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17.68000030517578px;">Is it true? </span><br style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17.68000030517578px;" /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17.68000030517578px;">That in John 3:16 that says God loves the world,</span><br style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17.68000030517578px;" /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17.68000030517578px;">That Jesus knew what this love would cost –</span><br style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17.68000030517578px;" /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17.68000030517578px;">for His life to be slain for all who are lost.</span><br style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17.68000030517578px;" /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17.68000030517578px;">A man, what a man –</span><br style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17.68000030517578px;" /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17.68000030517578px;">Selfless, Sinless, Love that’s endless,</span><br style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17.68000030517578px;" /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17.68000030517578px;">Caring beyond comparing</span><br style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17.68000030517578px;" /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17.68000030517578px;">Would lay Himself down – guilty, charged</span><br style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17.68000030517578px;" /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17.68000030517578px;">Bearing the weight of my lust...</span><br style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17.68000030517578px;" /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17.68000030517578px;">Of my greed...</span><br style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17.68000030517578px;" /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17.68000030517578px;">Of my lies...</span><br style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17.68000030517578px;" /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17.68000030517578px;">And deceit...</span><br style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17.68000030517578px;" /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17.68000030517578px;">Of my gossip and hate</span><br style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17.68000030517578px;" /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17.68000030517578px;">That this man who’s so great could humble Himself,</span><br style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17.68000030517578px;" /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17.68000030517578px;">And offer such grace.</span><br style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17.68000030517578px;" /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17.68000030517578px;">And Jesus cried out, “Oh my God, why hath thou forsaken me?”</span><br style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17.68000030517578px;" /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17.68000030517578px;">The rejection He felt,</span><br style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17.68000030517578px;" /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17.68000030517578px;">The anguish of nails,</span><br style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17.68000030517578px;" /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17.68000030517578px;">The weight of the sin,</span><br style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17.68000030517578px;" /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17.68000030517578px;">All to hang there and die for us men.</span><br style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17.68000030517578px;" /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17.68000030517578px;">But Jesus didn’t just die.</span><br style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17.68000030517578px;" /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17.68000030517578px;">He wasn’t a martyr.</span><br style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17.68000030517578px;" /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17.68000030517578px;">Yes He died on that day and was taken away</span><br style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17.68000030517578px;" /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17.68000030517578px;">To a tomb where a stone locked in the dark,</span><br style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17.68000030517578px;" /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17.68000030517578px;">Locked in the death</span><br style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17.68000030517578px;" /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17.68000030517578px;">And a guard, He stood watch.</span><br style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17.68000030517578px;" /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17.68000030517578px;">Day 1, Day 2 both passed away,</span><br style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17.68000030517578px;" /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17.68000030517578px;">But on Day 3 was the race.</span><br style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17.68000030517578px;" /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17.68000030517578px;">Word had spread quickly</span><br style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17.68000030517578px;" /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17.68000030517578px;">the stone had been rolled,</span><br style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17.68000030517578px;" /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17.68000030517578px;">The tomb was not closed,</span><br style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17.68000030517578px;" /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17.68000030517578px;">The body was gone!</span><br style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17.68000030517578px;" /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17.68000030517578px;">And racing to see was Peter and John</span><br style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17.68000030517578px;" /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17.68000030517578px;">who got to the tomb to see folded grave clothes. </span><br style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17.68000030517578px;" /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17.68000030517578px;">And the Jesus we love – No, he didn’t just die</span><br style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17.68000030517578px;" /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17.68000030517578px;">He rose from the grave and gave US new life.</span><br style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17.68000030517578px;" /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17.68000030517578px;">Without resurrection it’s just a hero’s death.</span><br style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17.68000030517578px;" /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17.68000030517578px;">It would be blood to cleanse us but no life within us. </span><br style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17.68000030517578px;" /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17.68000030517578px;">His rising was vital</span><br style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17.68000030517578px;" /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17.68000030517578px;">Death could not win</span><br style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17.68000030517578px;" /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17.68000030517578px;">He was God Himself.</span><br style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17.68000030517578px;" /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17.68000030517578px;">He was perfect,</span><br style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17.68000030517578px;" /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17.68000030517578px;">True,</span><br style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17.68000030517578px;" /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17.68000030517578px;">Faithful,</span><br style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17.68000030517578px;" /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17.68000030517578px;">Wonderful.</span><br style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17.68000030517578px;" /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17.68000030517578px;">So that morning in folding the clothes as he left</span><br style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17.68000030517578px;" /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17.68000030517578px;">He dusted his hands of death and it’s sting</span><br style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17.68000030517578px;" /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17.68000030517578px;">Not just for Him, but for you and for me,</span><br style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17.68000030517578px;" /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17.68000030517578px;">That we can be saved from ourselves and from the anguish of Hell</span><br style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17.68000030517578px;" /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17.68000030517578px;">But that we could live –</span><br style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17.68000030517578px;" /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17.68000030517578px;">That we too could be raised!</span><br style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17.68000030517578px;" /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17.68000030517578px;">That when our lives here are done</span><br style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17.68000030517578px;" /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17.68000030517578px;">the people can race because though our bodies will lie</span><br style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17.68000030517578px;" /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17.68000030517578px;">We can live once again, away from the weight and the hurt of our sin,</span><br style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17.68000030517578px;" /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17.68000030517578px;">We can live with the one who died in His love</span><br style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17.68000030517578px;" /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17.68000030517578px;">We can dwell at His feet</span><br style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17.68000030517578px;" /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17.68000030517578px;">Stare at His face</span><br style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17.68000030517578px;" /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17.68000030517578px;">Sing</span><br style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17.68000030517578px;" /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17.68000030517578px;">Shout</span><br style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17.68000030517578px;" /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17.68000030517578px;">Love</span><br style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17.68000030517578px;" /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17.68000030517578px;">Praise</span><br style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17.68000030517578px;" /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17.68000030517578px;">Because this God who loved us</span><br style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17.68000030517578px;" /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17.68000030517578px;">Knew His wrath was so great –</span><br style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17.68000030517578px;" /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17.68000030517578px;">That His son came to live</span><br style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17.68000030517578px;" /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17.68000030517578px;">And die</span><br style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17.68000030517578px;" /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17.68000030517578px;">And be raised.</span></span>Alicia Gregghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06769101340770559231noreply@blogger.com0