tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15837811886166818082024-02-02T00:40:15.438-05:00Teagan TalesAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11636708124030548068noreply@blogger.comBlogger665125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1583781188616681808.post-41061212477246112302018-08-28T22:26:00.001-04:002018-08-28T22:26:08.617-04:00Diagnosis and hard days.<div class="gmail_default" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: "arial narrow", sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">
This just plain sucks (sorry, Mom). I’m not really sure how else to put it. Ida is having a difficult time right now because it’s changing of the seasons and she is either currently fighting a cold virus or allergies. To be honest, I’ve gotten to the point where I feel like I’m crying without tears because I feel like I’ve cried myself dry.</div>
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I’ve not written here in a really long time but to be honest, I am a multi-colored yarn ball of emotions and I’m all over the place with a need to let it out somewhere, so here we are. </div>
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Ida was diagnosed with Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA), polyarticular rheumatoid factor negative on August 17th. Mouthful isn’t it? Try explaining it to people and then feel like an idiot because the words run together. I guess that will eventually get easier because we are just two weeks into a disease that is likely going to last Ida a lifetime. JIA is an autoimmune disease where Ida’s super power immune system has decided to fight not only the bad guys but the good guys. Her initial symptom was waking up in the mornings limping and favoring her left side. Eventually the limping progressed and didn’t go away. She had a few bad weeks of an eye infection (not related in this case) and strep throat. She got to the point she couldn’t stand up in the mornings and we took her in. That was July; this is August and we are 11 days into a diagnosis with two shots under our belts. You read that correctly, our 20-month old has to be given weekly methotrexate shots and is concurrently taking Naproxen twice daily.</div>
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Let me get something straight before I go down some emotional black hole. Even on our worst days, we truly believe the God of the universe is in control of this. Does that make it easier to handle? Honestly, some days it does and some days it doesn’t. Does it hurt me to my core on days, like today, when I see Ida in pain or not feeling well or struggling to fight something? Absolutely. Does the fact that I hate this make me think He is less in control on the days she doesn’t feel well? Absolutely not. To be truthful, as difficult as this is, He has been gracious to show us His presence in every part of this. He has shown his hand in a helicopter mom’s observations, a dad who trusts said helicopter mom’s observations, a pediatrician both up front and in the wings who has fought and advocated, the door slam shut on the wrong provider and swing open for the right one, good blood flow on lab days, daycare that has loved on her when this mama couldn’t, nurses who are family and “framily” that are willing to support and teach, and the list just goes on. </div>
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Does this suck? Again, yes. (Sorry, Mom!) There is a bigger picture here. God has plans for Ida Jayne and right now this is a season of growth and faith and enduring (hello, Brian Lowe) for our family. Growing pains hurt, developing stamina for endurance hurts, faith can often be hard. This isn’t going to be easy but even on the days Ida hurts too much to walk and I’ve cried myself dry, He is STILL in control and He does NOT falter. </div>
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“Even the darkness is NOT dark to you; the night is as the day, for darkness is as light with you.” Psalm 139:12</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11636708124030548068noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1583781188616681808.post-36393020413486177172016-05-30T19:55:00.001-04:002016-05-30T19:55:39.144-04:00Crushing idols. Wow. Sometimes lessons are hard to learn and even harder to swallow. Sometimes contentment leads way to pain because the only way the light can be shed on darkness is for something to break or crack. I've been learning this lesson the hard way for the last few days. Sometimes (well, more often than not) good things are our worst idols because they are sneaky. Good things should not be bad and sinful, right? Well, not when held in their right place but when they take over the spot in your heart that is God shaped that is when the trouble starts and the idol begins to take root and eventually take over. <div>
Idols can certainly take various shapes in our lives; idols can be contentment, idols can be perceptions, idols can be people, idols can be money, and the list can go on and on. Often times we think of sin as lying and cheating and blatant defiance of God's word. We don't often think of sin being the way we long for our children to behave like angels in Target or for our husbands to take out the trash like Susan's does. It's easy to look at our sin when it's obvious; like feeling bitterness towards a coworker or stealing that Range Rover you've had your eye on since you were 16. I'm telling you though, ya'll, from experience that the sneaky sins are exactly how they are described. </div>
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God is growing me in hard heart times right now and it's really hard sometimes to see the light breaking through the cracks. It's hard not to just hid my eyes from the truth that is breaking in before me, calling me to repentance and to growth; calling something deeper and more pure to root in my heart instead of the idols and the sin that seems to fester just below the surface. </div>
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Man, is this hard as most lessons tend to be. It's hard right now and sometimes there are tears shed but I can see those glimmers of light coming in and I long for the joy that will eventually come when it breaks through entirely.<br /><div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11636708124030548068noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1583781188616681808.post-53909744537595869752016-02-15T14:54:00.001-05:002016-02-15T14:54:17.204-05:00Swarming thoughts. Random thoughts swarming in my mind and heart currently:<br />
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Can I tell you how much I hate the term "it's just a phase"? I hate it so much because it holds a lot of truth. I've learned over the years that after a phase of life is over for me, I grieve it. Sometimes I grieve the last phase right into the middle of the next one. Friendship is something I've been struggling with lately. Friendship and phases. I focus so much on the past and the what ifs and the whys and the why nots that I can occasionally miss out on the amazing group of friends I have in the here and now. None of the friendships have ended angrily or abruptly and this is probably why I think of them often and wonder what we would be had life not gotten in the way. Something I need to work on is remembering the good times and not focusing on the times we won't likely have in the future. Life happens. I've been given amazing friends through every walk of my life; some have loved me well, some I've loved well, and some have challenged me something fierce. Now, it's time to stop looking back and to look forward and into what I have with the same passion that I used to look back.<br />
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Raising girls is hard. Raising girls that have my personality and my husband's strong will (well, maybe some of mine too) is even harder. Raising these girls shows me all my faults but it shows me great examples of grace. Mornings are the toughest for us. Getting myself ready (you would think scrubs would make life at least a LITTLE quicker), getting two girls ready, and getting out the door at a reasonable hour is SO MUCH HARDER than it seems. Somedays, most mornings, I want to pull out my hair, scream and cry and then run away...far away. Somedays I mess up so badly because I let their behaviors frustrate me to the point I yell; sometimes far louder and angrier than I even imagined I could. It's those times that grace wins. It's those moments that I realize what just came out of my mouth and how it came out was no example I want them to ever follow. It's in those moments that by grace I get down to eye level, pull them tight, and apologize. I come to them humbly and seeking forgiveness. You know what? They always give it, without question. I am so thankful that more often than not I feel like I am shown grace through my mistakes than I get it.<br />
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I miss running. I took some time off after my marathon and my crazy, rack up the hospital bills, sickness. I thought my body needed and deserved a rest. I've been doing a lot of high interval training (which I LOVE) and it works well but there is something about a long run day with my favorite music that just calms my spirit. I do believe my running shoes are about to bite the dust though, so that probably needs to be taken care of first...<br />
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I have reached a point in my career where I don't know which way is up. I'm learning what I like about my job, what I don't like about my job, what I wish my job could look like, and where I potentially want to go with it. This is a really crappy position to be in to be frank. I feel like I have experience but I don't feel like I have enough, well, I know I don't have enough. This lesson is currently on the topic of contentment. I've not been very content lately and that is a heart issue. This has convicted me a lot over the last several weeks; where am I seeking this contentment? why am I not feeling content? why am I doubting this place I've been placed? So many questions.<br />
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I miss blogging, I miss writing, I miss sketching. This is sometime I want to make time to do more of.<br />
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I would like to go out and get dressed up. The kind of dressed up where Josh has to wear a suit or tux. The kind where I get help with my hair and make up and a I wear heels that give me legs for days and make me almost as tall as my 6'2" husband. It seems though that these places don't exist anymore unless you're strutting down the red carpet...sad.<br />
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I don't like chocolate very much. I do however love to put a packet of hot chocolate in my coffee...it's pretty much my new favorite thing.<br />
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I think that might be all for now...Until next time!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11636708124030548068noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1583781188616681808.post-16015259678394939512016-01-17T17:50:00.001-05:002016-01-17T17:50:24.787-05:00Stress is a funny opponent. Okay, so more often than not I spend a good bit of my day laughing, or whistling-I whistle a lot too. Sometimes it's laughing at something so funny it brings tears to my eyes. Sometimes I have to laugh to keep from crying. Sometimes I laugh because I really just don't know what other response to have.<br />
Stress is a funny opponent. Stress tends to twirl you around on the dance floor, dip you romantically, and then drop you like a hot plate. Currently stress has me out on the dance floor but seems to be dipping me, dropping me, and picking me back up for round after round. To be honest, I'm not really sure what to do with this. My brain is going a thousand miles a minute and I feel like I can't grab a hold of a single thought.<br />
It's times like this that show me just how reliant I can become on myself and the people around me. How often I count on a work out or a rant to friends to fix it or feel better. How often I seek worldly things to calm me or comfort me. It takes me some time to allow my spirit to calm and heart to remember that it's not about me and I am not the one who can change my unsettled being to calm. Sometimes the Lord lets me fall on my butt one more time before he picks me up and escorts me off the dance floor for some quiet time with Him to refresh and reboot. One of these days I'm going to ask to be escorted off the floor and sit out a dance...until then I'm thankful for the grace that my Lord extends to me on a frequent and sometimes daily basis.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11636708124030548068noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1583781188616681808.post-744686045717175142016-01-04T14:49:00.000-05:002016-01-04T14:49:09.780-05:00Timing and little things. <div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">
Isn't it funny how certain people, p<span style="font-size: 12.8px;">laces, and things come to our lives at just the right time? Even when the time is not necessarily by our choosing? How certain songs come on the radio when you've held in a much needed cry for several days and you hear that song that always brings tears but at this moment opens the floodgates and you almost feel 5 emotional pounds lighter? How you watch a movie for the thousandth time but this time it catches you the right way and you laugh so hard you can't catch your breath- the kind of laugh that you've not been able to manage in a while because of how hard and heavy life has seemed.</span><span style="font-size: 12.8px;"> </span></div>
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I've had a few of those moments over the last several weeks. Did it fix everything and wrap it up in a pretty bow? No, of course not. Did it fix all the problems I've been focused on in normal everyday life? Not really. Did it cause me to stop? Yes. Did it cause me to appreciate that solitary moment in time that my life was overtaken by an emotion I was forced to feel because I'd been too busy, or stubborn, or something up until that moment? Yes, it did. </div>
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Funny story coming 'atcha- I really just have one large vice in life. That happens to be coffee somebody else makes. I'm not necessarily a loyalist but yeah, Starbucks and Dunkin (mortal enemies, I know) typically top the list. My husband and I are really trying hard to buckle down and meet some financial goals this year. So, for me, my coffee routine has obviously taken a hit...mostly because we have two children we need to feed but that's really the only reason...Now, coffee is not something I prayed about giving up. I did not give my coffee treat guilt over to the Lord. I thought it minuscule in the scheme of things and just decided to suck it up for a while. However, no less than 3 weeks after trying hard to contribute to our new goal I was gifted a rather nice gift card and then another one for Starbucks and Dunkin. I know it sounds trite y'all but it's the little things. I remember sending my mom a message almost in tears, she did cry, about how the Lord has control and cares about the big things like my heart and my salvation but he knows the ins and outs of my wants and needs all the way down to coffee. Honestly y'all, that is one of those "oh, how he loves me" moments that might not seem like a big deal to anybody else but boy did it rock my world. </div>
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That being said, it's the little things. The song on the radio, the movie, the 6 minutes in the shower without interruption instead of 4, the meal a friend randomly brings, the random text with a thank you or encouragement, a cup of coffee. Don't discount the seemingly small life things. It's in those moments that our Creator shows his difference and his intimate and his personal. Don't miss it y'all because if we look over it, there might be a song on the radio with your name on it...</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11636708124030548068noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1583781188616681808.post-45266699272256957342015-12-30T18:24:00.000-05:002015-12-30T18:24:43.646-05:00Not stuck in a box. For those of you who have read this blog or followed me on any sort of media, ever, you'll know that I've never hidden the fact that I struggled with an eating disorder for several years. Struggled to the point my husband, who was my fiancé at the time, told me we needed to get me help before I needed to even think about getting married. For me that was the deal breaker. It was either a marriage and a family or me by myself wasting away and being miserable and eventually dead. By God's grace the path of marriage and family was wide enough to encompass my insecurities and after a long process I was healed.<br />
These days healthy and strong is my workout motto. I feel better now than I probably ever have in my life. I love the fact that i am strong and not skinny. I enjoy seeing my muscles become more defined and I am no longer scared of the numbers going up on a lousy scale.<br />
I have had a lot of unfortunate happenings with my health over the last 8-9 months. Happenings that almost cost me running across the finish line at the Thunder Road Marathon that I'd trained so hard for, again. Happenings that meant a LOT of medical testing and blood giving and video camera pill swallowing and several almost hospital admissions. Thankfully those problems have gone away with an explanation I haven't decided if I'm going to share yet or not but I'm alive and well and back at it!<br />
Most recently I have given myself a break from running (my knees are screaming thank you) and I've gotten into weight training and HIIT workouts. Whew! Are those toughies but awesome! I'm definitely new to those kind of workouts and I'm learning all I can. I plan to start sharing some of my journey here from now on. This blog has kind of adapted and morphed over the years into more of a smorgasbord that anything else and I think I'm okay with that. I thought for the longest time that I needed to fit this blog into a tiny little "mommy blog" and I got stuck in that and eventually it wore on me because anytime I stepped out of that box it felt wrong. No more I say!<br />
So, all that being said, the plan is to just blog. Some days it will be about the girls and others it will be about how many jumping jacks I did that day and some times it might be about how the Lord convicted my heart to tears…You never know what you're going to get! And boy am I excited!<br />
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*Also, I do a lot of posting on Instagram (who doesn't, right?) so feel free to follow me there too! <complete id="goog_2124195039">@RiCiReid *</complete>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11636708124030548068noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1583781188616681808.post-18031624040589208092015-07-20T22:01:00.002-04:002015-07-20T22:01:25.078-04:00Tell the guards to open up the gate! How often do you come drive home, pull into the garage, and then shut the door? How often is the only time you come out of your house it's to walk straight to the mailbox or on the sit back deck where you are surrounded by your fenced in backyard? How often have you nodded your head to the neighbor that lives in the white house, oh you know, the one that has the black jeep and two teenagers? How many times have you started a conversation with the owner of the black jeep? Do you even know his or her name? <br />
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We are so guilty of this. We is talking about my husband and I. We know one set of our neighbors well enough to walk into their house without thinking twice about knocking. We've lived in the same house for 8 years. It's beyond sad. </div>
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We are called to live in community and our church family lives this out better than most churches I've known or interacted with. We are blessed by it but with this blessing comes a sense of contentment. A sense of contentment that needs shaken up a bit. Because contentment is often a slippery slope. I talked about needing a neon sign that flashes sometimes to get the point across? Well, that neon flashing sign came by way of a for sale sign in the neighbors yard. You know, the neighbors that I nodded my head to the other day? The neighbors whose names I don't even know? </div>
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Something that has been convicting this family of ours here lately is our comfortably in community. We have been blessed with such a tight community that we consider them family. But we've become comfortable. It's easy and amazing and a blessing to send a quick message and instantly have dinner guests (not guests, companions is more like it) and just spend the evening laughing and loving on one another with ease. </div>
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It's time to open the gate of our fence and perhaps linger a little longer at our mailbox. Or perhaps it's an intentional walk across the road and a knock on the door and an invitation to a cup of coffee or some hotdogs on the grill. It's time for the garage door to not come down with such ease so quickly after we get home. </div>
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1 John 4:11 "Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another." (ESV)</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11636708124030548068noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1583781188616681808.post-18445648808569124432015-07-03T19:08:00.001-04:002015-07-20T20:55:46.475-04:00Comfort. Control. Contentment. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Comfort, control, and contentment are three huge things to me. I struggle when even one of those elements of my life are either missing or out of whack. Sometimes, I find myself relying on those things more than anything else and a mere shift of one of the three can turn my world chaotic, as well as the world of those I hold closest. However, I am beginning to realize sometimes a shift of the elements is necessary when we become too comfortable, when we rely on elements other than our savior to make us complete. Sometimes we just need a gentle reminder. Sometimes it needs to be one more forceful and of the flashing neon light persuasion. Sometimes, life just gets out of whack and we have choices. We have the choice to wallow in those moments, "take charge" of it, or just submit and fall at the foot of the cross. I tend to cycle through all three during a shift change but thankfully as I've grown older (maybe a tad wiser) I've begun to cycle through those quicker and find myself landing at the foot of the cross much quicker than I ever have before. Submission can be harder than anything but how sweet it is when it happens.</div>
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Psalm 139: 10-12<br />
"even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me. If I say, "Surely the darkness shall cover me, and the light about me be night," even the darkness is not dark to you; the night is bright as the day, for darkness is as light with you." (ESV)Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11636708124030548068noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1583781188616681808.post-20594258236423422472015-06-19T10:18:00.000-04:002015-06-19T10:35:36.968-04:00instant. Perseverance is a funny thing. I think one of my most proud moments as a mom was when Teagan learned to whistle. She was ecstatic and continues to work on her "craft" because she wants to get better and "whistle like mommy" (can't help it, whistling is something I do ALL THE TIME- ask my coworkers). It was far from instant; in fact it took several months that included whistle attempts several times a day every day. It was a testament to true perseverance which is something we are called to as Christians.<br />
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Everything is instant these days. Instant messages. Instant money. Instant food. Instant clothes. Instant bug spray. Instant tan. Instantly dried hair. Instant information (thanks, Google and Siri). In this world of instant though, we are losing our ability to be patient. We are losing our ability or our willingness to persevere. We are losing our ability or our willingness to work for something and not give up when it gets hard to doesn't come as quickly as we think it should.<br />
What is our reaction though, to those things that take work? take time? take persistence? Things like peace? Or health? Or weight loss? Or knowledge? Or trust? Or respect? We often, I know I do, react to these like we can just Google them but when that doesn't work out we throw our hands up and look down at our device or turn on the TV to drown out the reality of something needing work.<br />
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We are going through Judges at Exodus right now and looking at God's relentless pursuit of his people. Can you imagine if God were to have said, well, I can't get these people to turn to me and stay with me right this second so I'm done? I don't even want to imagine that. He was and is persistent in his pursuit of us. He even sent a Savior to ensure our eternity with him. But, our GOD, who could bat his eyes one time and make everything however he would want it, decides to exude perseverance and consistent pursuit of us. His pursuit of us goes from Genesis to Revelations.<br />
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It definitely puts our instant gratification "needs" into perspective.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11636708124030548068noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1583781188616681808.post-66729793217588950432015-05-11T21:45:00.000-04:002015-05-11T21:45:20.742-04:00Funny thing, habits. I would need at least 12 extra sets of hands and feet to count up the number of times I have said I was going to start this or commit to that. That I was really going to start waking up again at 5am to go for a run or read my Bible or blog or fill in the blank here. <div>
Why does it seem so hard to start something new? Or start something again? Honestly, I'm not sure. I've jumped back on the marathon journey but this time it's going to be harder. Because this go 'round I am fully (and then some) employed and don't just have hours to spare while my girls are at daycare. My family is first priority and my job is a necessity but my passion is health and right now for me that manifests in running. </div>
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I've written out my training schedule. I've adapted the infamous Hal Higdon's <a href="http://www.halhigdon.com/training/51137/Marathon-Novice-1-Training-Program">Novice 1</a> plan. While I could probably do the Novice 2 plan I am doing things a bit differently this time. I'm allowing more time for training and ensuring that I've built a solid foundation. I have already become more diligent about strength training and I've been reading up a lot on it because it truly is important for runners to have a solid strength training routine. I'm also spending a lot of time stretching, with this I've had to schedule at least 20-30 minutes on top of my running time to ensure that I've properly stretched. I won't have my IT band being what brings me down this time. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaotWl5d3faOukJgkkk58acYppSzguFFoeTdagdbVEwHGY3KUG4y1xg1enoPaPnkyAikU6SvUxdtJ-Q7TdyDz0-mUQcYrYLcW8T29PCRcJIJ-le7XJF3EWPKiI8kWGbng_fuNRj79c-FDR/s1600/IMG_0102.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaotWl5d3faOukJgkkk58acYppSzguFFoeTdagdbVEwHGY3KUG4y1xg1enoPaPnkyAikU6SvUxdtJ-Q7TdyDz0-mUQcYrYLcW8T29PCRcJIJ-le7XJF3EWPKiI8kWGbng_fuNRj79c-FDR/s400/IMG_0102.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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What it comes down to this time is ultimately time. This is where habit comes in. This is where it becomes about mind over matter. Do I wake up when my alarm goes off at 5:15am or do I hit the snooze button again? Hopefully, the habit will slowly (or quickly) come back and we'll be off to the races! Heres to the run! </div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11636708124030548068noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1583781188616681808.post-46000831345889983912015-04-11T21:30:00.000-04:002015-04-11T21:30:04.348-04:00Yoga Outlet! (Review)I think I could live in "yoga clothes" or "running clothes" every day of my life. Actually, 5 out of 7 days I'm in scrubs at the hospital and the other two I am likely yoga or running clothes except the 2-3 hours we are at church on Sunday. And date night…I will wear real clothes for date night.<br />
I was approached by Yoga Outlet for their Spring promotion and said an immediate yes! $50 to spend on their site? How could I say no?<br />
It took me a day or two to actually decide on what I wanted and I found some pretty Spring colors and patterns for pants. I was able to get two pair!<br />
Aren't they lovely?<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.yogaoutlet.com/p/soybu-allegro-capri-8126589/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinB3zeWtZigj4rQHKWPEYKBWPyJikXNVkEIhzjsdkrg6tn6ys95ykMXK5NBYFe1Bg1f0skR0ZgVqMXqsk_oI8k6lJbYiqP6JNb9lxoieA9n4qkTNVtFDrJavJS0KMnYnV4DY-zm9zIxf8p/s1600/IMG_9826.PNG" height="400" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.yogaoutlet.com/p/soybu-allegro-capri-8126589/?q=1&richrelevance&MultiItemPersonalizedViewCP&item_page.rr1">Soybu Allegro Capri</a></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.yogaoutlet.com/p/soybu-allegro-legging-8126702/?q=1&richrelevance&ViewedPurchased&item_page.rr1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJbRUsO0KgrVrHUs3RA4B_06X4LRc2DG2yK4NYWtQPpaBOcA-UCGAkGqUoIc6q_K3uaysnYWHsYP7G4_S7b0ITh5UIOmPUFlopoSMcoC_LwdZgl0OJEd1cHo27CxDCpTYDQLMSy-IgyLYR/s1600/IMG_9829.JPG" height="320" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.yogaoutlet.com/p/soybu-allegro-legging-8126702/?q=1&richrelevance&ViewedPurchased&item_page.rr1">Soybu Allegro Legging</a></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFMi8Gog_3p79u3Z-Y-wk0UjUhWojEDS6OCDU3I-7pSMcnWJNcSt4zDaf_LYXkqIzReiLs_JSj2pCAEkMu3aDsPHH2IVmzoICF4SCS3zhcMt57KCkvf0H-IBFboBZOwsZjBztLQ_AZsoFL/s1600/IMG_9833.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFMi8Gog_3p79u3Z-Y-wk0UjUhWojEDS6OCDU3I-7pSMcnWJNcSt4zDaf_LYXkqIzReiLs_JSj2pCAEkMu3aDsPHH2IVmzoICF4SCS3zhcMt57KCkvf0H-IBFboBZOwsZjBztLQ_AZsoFL/s1600/IMG_9833.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
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The products I purchased were fantastic. However, I bought them for Spring/Summer but they are more fit for Fall/Spring due to the fabric thickness. They are both incredibly soft. They sit high on the waist, which is awesome!<br />
I would recommend the website, especially so you can try out some of the higher name brand items for a cut cost. The only issue I had was with the mobile website; if you're not already signed up for the site I do suggest signing up on something other than the mobile site because that was a pain, however, it took no time at all once I got on my laptop.<br />
Other than the website glitch everything else was great. Shipping was quick and my new pants got to my front porch quicker than I imagined! I doubt this will be the last time I order from <a href="http://www.yogaoutlet.com/">Yoga Outlet</a>. Enjoy!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11636708124030548068noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1583781188616681808.post-30382142492754775882015-03-23T09:30:00.000-04:002015-03-23T09:30:02.006-04:00Where did you get your funny?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1NS4k1Z_d1MFRg6HLUA0wuHA0dAjLAWmYD-dIFYor9Uyn1i9qtikfXiIKbGByYXzGuTD1j9pvDq6_Tg2c035Qzp1AXAQvlSUoRaJCAdey8KouqJ_3FXTtbd-IMpswN-dbPNb98DvfNxHP/s1600/IMG_9788.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1NS4k1Z_d1MFRg6HLUA0wuHA0dAjLAWmYD-dIFYor9Uyn1i9qtikfXiIKbGByYXzGuTD1j9pvDq6_Tg2c035Qzp1AXAQvlSUoRaJCAdey8KouqJ_3FXTtbd-IMpswN-dbPNb98DvfNxHP/s1600/IMG_9788.jpg" height="400" width="298" /></a></div>
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Oh Kyra Mae, </div>
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I have no idea where you got your funny from. You are all or nothing. You are meltdown or funny face. You fight hard but you love harder. You have me wrapped. You are smart like your daddy and emotional like me. We've decided this has potential to be a dangerous combination. You have super curly hair that is rarely tamed and in the humidity, Shirley Temple has nothing on you. You love reading and puzzles and snuggling. You have grabbed on to the role of the youngest and played it well. You love your sister with a fierceness that I pity anybody who dare breaks her heart. Hell hath no fury like a Teagan with a Kyra Mae as her sister. You dance to your own beat but you have two left feet and are our constantly bruised and beat up kid. You are passionate. You know what you want and typically will stop at nothing to get it. You bring such laughter to our lives. I even have to watch myself when you are doing things you know you shouldn't because it's often funny. You love hugs and kisses and you love to be tickled. You despise having to go try and potty if you don't have to go right that second. You always come home with a sandbox of sand in your hair on pretty days. You share the brightness in your eyes that Teagan has. You are barely one size away from her in clothes because you are physically your daddy made over and are taller than some of the kids in her class. People rarely believe me when I tell them you are merely 3. Our relationship had a rocky start. I feel like I've spent a lot of time making up for the bonding I feel like I deprived you of in the first year. I think I'm partly at fault for feeding into your youngest child mentality. I admit to babying you some. I admit to doing things for you because it's just a little bit easier that way. You get very upset if you don't do things right immediately and if it doesn't work the first time you get yourself worked into a tizzy. This has been a tough one for your daddy and I. We recognize the frustration and sometimes we are really good at cultivating persistence and perseverance with you during those hard times and sometimes we are terrible at it. We aim for more good at than bad at. I just ask that you be patient with us. I pray that you know how much we love you. I pray that in those times of frustration that we are able to show each other Jesus and grace, oh, so much grace. </div>
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We love you. Forever and always. </div>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11636708124030548068noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1583781188616681808.post-57365685676707740732015-03-20T20:31:00.000-04:002015-03-20T21:07:12.101-04:00Tea for two. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMVzSIXgTC4Oa_0bXGgZn6kIHAZ5gXH7z_4jEE354Za_PB77Ll6BNiLCs_BESiRA82n9U-i2TzjVpZA52ApN9da-Xfdb-cwTPIRiWHQXDqUYM70xumq1phK8k6x0owOa4gWj9UjNqFKXIk/s1600/IMG_9382.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMVzSIXgTC4Oa_0bXGgZn6kIHAZ5gXH7z_4jEE354Za_PB77Ll6BNiLCs_BESiRA82n9U-i2TzjVpZA52ApN9da-Xfdb-cwTPIRiWHQXDqUYM70xumq1phK8k6x0owOa4gWj9UjNqFKXIk/s1600/IMG_9382.JPG" height="400" width="400" /></a></div>
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This little girl of mine, she isn't so little anymore. I hear myself starting to say the words, "don't rush it" and "your time will come" more often than I'd like. Her smile lights up the room. Her eyes can tell you every answer to the universe. She has concern for what others think but she still stays true to herself. She reminds me at night to braid her hair so it won't tangle for tomorrow. She asks questions about friends overseas and how certain cultures believe certain things. She prays for their hearts, that they will learn about and love the Jesus she does. She is sassy and easily distracted. She is kind. She loves to sing, and after a lot of persistent practice, has taught herself to snap and whistle and she beams when she does. She tries to mother Kyra Mae which doesn't always go over well. She is rarely without a book or high heels. She likes to accessorize and asks to wear lotion on her face like mommy. Occasionally I curl her hair. She loves dresses. She loves chapstick and cannot wait until we let her have a tube with color. She challenges me. She pushes my buttons and tests my patience. I say, "seriously, kiddo?" quite frequently. Her heart is tender and is easily bruised. There are times where my words are the ones that bruise. She loves deeply and forgives quickly. </div>
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There are times when I cringe for the times that will come as she gets older. I sometimes grow weary for things that will be. For when the reality of a fallen world smacks her in the face. When the kids in her class are not so accepting of her personal style. When the world starts to tell her to just give up or move on to something else when the things in life or life itself gets hard. When her heart gets broken the first time by a friend or a boy after loving them deeply and possibly forgiving too quickly.</div>
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Then I rejoice. I rejoice at the fact that God gave her to us. He gave her to me to be her mommy. To be blessed to capture that smile and to be the one to look into her eyes to find the answers she may not want to tell me. I rejoice that there will still be times she wants me to sit on her bed and braid her hair before she sleeps. For the times I won't be leading her into prayers but that we will pray together and her words will be without prompt. I rejoice that she has personality. I rejoice that she has started to seek perseverance now and hope that it will be something we can continue to encourage in her. I love how she loves her sister. I know there will be a realistic version vs. the romanticized version of their relationship that I see but their genuine love for one another makes my heart burst. I am anxious for those relationships that cause her heart to break. I am anxious that she is going to go through the phase that all girls go through where parents are no longer the heroes of their story. However, I hope that at that time I won't want to be her hero and won't pretend to be able to fix it. I pray that Josh and I are able to love her and direct her to the cross, to the real hero. I pray that when the time comes that loving her well as her mommy will be what I am equipped to do. And I am blessed to fill that roll, both now and later. Forever and always. </div>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11636708124030548068noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1583781188616681808.post-37913192183345993902015-02-28T15:05:00.001-05:002015-02-28T15:05:24.417-05:00That first time I actually went in.I'm not a makeup kinda gal. I don't know how to put on eyeliner. I don't know how to pick a good shade of red lipstick-not that I would wear it if I did. I don't curl my eyelashes or fill in my brows. I have maybe four solid ways of fixing my hair. I've just never been that girl. I did decide, on a whim last weekend, to just go for it. <div>
<a href="http://www.sephora.com/">Sephora</a> has always been one of those stores for me. The kind of stores where you linger in the doorway or you do nothing but take one lap around the outside aisle of the store and then you leave, head down, hoping nobody noticed you. Because, oh my goodness, overwhelming is an understatement! I had quite the proverbial come to Jesus meeting that day. You see, 31 was hovering in the shadows. I decided to just pull it in to the light and pull up my big girl panties. I was going into <a href="http://www.sephora.com/">Sephora</a> and I was going to seek out help and a makeover. </div>
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The people? They were nice! These people with this pretty faces who looked straight out of a magazine were friendly and didn't look at me like I had three heads. I was assigned to a Sephora magician named Kristin. I told her my woes and my "I hate make-up but I don't want to hate it and I've never walked to the center of this store" story. She was kind. She talked me through the process and explained as she went. She let me do some of my face and showed me every step of the process. I told her up front I didn't want to look like a I took a frosting tool and caked makeup on my face. I also told her I didn't want my face to take more than five minutes. She was good with that on one condition; that my "date night" look was allowed to take at least fifteen. I was okay with that. </div>
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Of course, I took before and after. I think it's hilarious that the after picture just screams deer in headlights, but that is kind of how I felt because I had no idea who this person was staring back at me. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLw1x3r_KnaqqaxHc9KWL7IZtHFkT1gWn3FgLIj8zIBgc6OARRDNtuER2cWKcWyrosFZ1CN1mZT8prEr-cPlburoqCHsyFnhonqI13usUhjHXaWqguyI-kbjE3RnvHqqVcxY5X-sryRrF5/s1600/IMG_9657.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLw1x3r_KnaqqaxHc9KWL7IZtHFkT1gWn3FgLIj8zIBgc6OARRDNtuER2cWKcWyrosFZ1CN1mZT8prEr-cPlburoqCHsyFnhonqI13usUhjHXaWqguyI-kbjE3RnvHqqVcxY5X-sryRrF5/s1600/IMG_9657.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Before. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaH3FF_C3Tp24AWIKXwptAQhN9bQwFs7tqy0P2ZjbIXI0OqWp5zxYWzTfIsbaSOvCbNg9Idux2PKWinQLg8tjnT6han4KdnZrljJHMdQe2JDhR4sBwHnceFgIz-mNCKFSEjbSC-S7tLZ3z/s1600/IMG_9659.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaH3FF_C3Tp24AWIKXwptAQhN9bQwFs7tqy0P2ZjbIXI0OqWp5zxYWzTfIsbaSOvCbNg9Idux2PKWinQLg8tjnT6han4KdnZrljJHMdQe2JDhR4sBwHnceFgIz-mNCKFSEjbSC-S7tLZ3z/s1600/IMG_9659.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Getting the gunk off. This was equally cool and gross.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQnUI4rqHNq203YkzP4UbO7fjNKfCq56SH9W6vYLVOnsY-EAe3ius5Nyt9RIFFSTGFmMnSgxHk65F4EIL4wDQf7p3pHfCfmn5jV_W4uWX6bNhTPfuvooz26uTQ8Sc0QGwpz8Va_c5e98lq/s1600/IMG_9660.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQnUI4rqHNq203YkzP4UbO7fjNKfCq56SH9W6vYLVOnsY-EAe3ius5Nyt9RIFFSTGFmMnSgxHk65F4EIL4wDQf7p3pHfCfmn5jV_W4uWX6bNhTPfuvooz26uTQ8Sc0QGwpz8Va_c5e98lq/s1600/IMG_9660.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Super clean face!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3xaSxPLnFSMlHNlld3OniEGAO5mtFpQfQLGfYAnwn6B7m-VZ5gAzFC0WdAwlu1CSyBh4CqchMAglQJGPTOh6M87Ms3m4UGa09UJp7LPEuwkZ7TtKDtQwctts2qnPAiugsPRSGBmki0JR_/s1600/IMG_9665.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3xaSxPLnFSMlHNlld3OniEGAO5mtFpQfQLGfYAnwn6B7m-VZ5gAzFC0WdAwlu1CSyBh4CqchMAglQJGPTOh6M87Ms3m4UGa09UJp7LPEuwkZ7TtKDtQwctts2qnPAiugsPRSGBmki0JR_/s1600/IMG_9665.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Day look. Basic is my favorite. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2kd5RqzKFTgKFyuoIarMnD364-PHXrez-03Q3zM2QjGVv76A5tJZw9FEG3tJ7eG8ZQc4mSMvwUYKTyllNhFl8FZrAbdB0oQkkBiO1bdFtimnEqLW105YuFju1P68wnfo4q1C-oUo5rquY/s1600/IMG_9666.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2kd5RqzKFTgKFyuoIarMnD364-PHXrez-03Q3zM2QjGVv76A5tJZw9FEG3tJ7eG8ZQc4mSMvwUYKTyllNhFl8FZrAbdB0oQkkBiO1bdFtimnEqLW105YuFju1P68wnfo4q1C-oUo5rquY/s1600/IMG_9666.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Date night prep. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghy21tRM0RT10QZ1w5tT50o0NXafa5lP5CmztW1j4rXWAZ5zIxaJp6XZBebWLWdLYNn0sWYi7cXd0rLE3Vxc9DteDqGWNKWHO0Gbvt_TfviYb_gLyzL1sUryzIdK4siN_xqtbrc6eS6ejC/s1600/IMG_9668.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghy21tRM0RT10QZ1w5tT50o0NXafa5lP5CmztW1j4rXWAZ5zIxaJp6XZBebWLWdLYNn0sWYi7cXd0rLE3Vxc9DteDqGWNKWHO0Gbvt_TfviYb_gLyzL1sUryzIdK4siN_xqtbrc6eS6ejC/s1600/IMG_9668.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Deer in headlights. Date night look. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC_Cw6GiyLNQN6viHU2cYH088DVDJVFZh3LrW9uOgV6jH3bjPTPwj3RpCyhGatPNo6kO3Uib1AVgRQOJW3WerP2kMonXD8iaxhasqjK3m5HndnbH0XGvDjv-e3T1zQWrH5dUt_G7JA6i-o/s1600/IMG_9669.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC_Cw6GiyLNQN6viHU2cYH088DVDJVFZh3LrW9uOgV6jH3bjPTPwj3RpCyhGatPNo6kO3Uib1AVgRQOJW3WerP2kMonXD8iaxhasqjK3m5HndnbH0XGvDjv-e3T1zQWrH5dUt_G7JA6i-o/s1600/IMG_9669.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The magic.<br /><br /></td></tr>
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So, I am no longer scared of Sephora. I'm actually likely to shop there more often. The people I came in contact with were friendly and knowledgable. I came away with the <a href="http://www.sephora.com/b-b-cream-broad-spectrum-spf-27-pa-P288804?skuId=1339035">BB cream by Boscia </a>and the concealer by NARS. I did end up with two lip pencils by NARS for my birthday, so that was pretty awesome too! </div>
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My wish list includes the <a href="http://www.sephora.com/firmx-peeling-gel-P377561?skuId=1495860">Peter Thomas Roth exfoliant</a> which price wise wasn't terrible and this awesome face cream by <a href="http://www.sephora.com/genius-cream-P384537?skuId=1582477">Algenist</a> which was super pricey. </div>
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If you're like me and "beauty stores" scare the britches off of you I suggest just going for it. Go for it with a friend and tag team. The staff in those stores are there to actually help you, contrary to what most people think. I just went in on a whim and came out a happy girl. Step out of your make-up, or lack thereof, rut and just go for it! </div>
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*this post is my opinion. I have not been compensated in anyway. I just wanted to share a good experience.*</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11636708124030548068noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1583781188616681808.post-24807891732659480082015-02-17T21:05:00.000-05:002015-02-17T21:05:00.037-05:00Upside down. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsWu5_u_RsedkSI62HbluOPdxBfNDCKQVw8-7Xpey7PqTwFz6yu465f6-xxY4QgT2R9znXhaT42XrFbI_ixeO0s7YcIvxYFpY6jV2jFFxjf6DdOszHcnER0U3f9S-nj2rhXL_io8hxuCfG/s1600/IMG_9462.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsWu5_u_RsedkSI62HbluOPdxBfNDCKQVw8-7Xpey7PqTwFz6yu465f6-xxY4QgT2R9znXhaT42XrFbI_ixeO0s7YcIvxYFpY6jV2jFFxjf6DdOszHcnER0U3f9S-nj2rhXL_io8hxuCfG/s1600/IMG_9462.PNG" height="400" width="272" /></a></div>
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Isn't it funny how real the struggle is? How one minute you feel on top of the world and then the next minute you feel completely upside down? Depression is one of those things that people don't like to talk about. Or when they talk about it they down play it. Depression is a struggle that is real. For some it is only a moment in time. For others it's a lifelong companion. My relationship falls in the latter category. I have my good days and bad. Sometimes my life feels upside down for no reason at all. Not talking about it isn't going to help. Pretending like I'm awesome all the time isn't going to help. It's not going to help me and it's not going to help you. Depression gets worse when we let the silence of it become deafening. So, let's talk about it. Open the lines of communication. Don't suffer in silence. Reach out. </div>
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One thing I've been doing for myself lately is yoga. I'm able to focus my mind on things that are true, like Gospel true. I'm able to focus on Bible verses that my heart needs to hear and my head needs to put on repeat. I'm able to focus at how strong my body is and is becoming. I'm able to calm my mind. I'm able to test my physical limits. I'm able to belly breathe and feel it to my toes. I'm able to pause in positions that make my body feel good and breathe deeper into positions that cause me some difficulty. Yoga is slowly becoming a physical metaphor for my life and the roller coaster that is depression. Good days and bad. I'm blessed and thankful and prayerful that even on those bad days I don't forget it. </div>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11636708124030548068noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1583781188616681808.post-61876265676987960812015-01-14T11:17:00.000-05:002015-01-14T11:17:49.679-05:00The not resolution. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Resolutions are just not my thing. They never have been and it's likely that they never will be. However, one thing I want to work on is self-care. Not just for myself but for others. Some of my current self-care favorites. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfvv0K-NKB8z-9LRYRyIYz3dkg0pbVtj1aDPLLWRXp3KFz9Hw3lpiLH-QwseRx2XKWOwGslkgnTQSXUeE7w2SnbrzNyHG6rXk9vmKeCx637VLYjPf8mbiBOGdFCUgvIVl8-bhCEbHtvkix/s1600/IMG_9275.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfvv0K-NKB8z-9LRYRyIYz3dkg0pbVtj1aDPLLWRXp3KFz9Hw3lpiLH-QwseRx2XKWOwGslkgnTQSXUeE7w2SnbrzNyHG6rXk9vmKeCx637VLYjPf8mbiBOGdFCUgvIVl8-bhCEbHtvkix/s1600/IMG_9275.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
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Pampering with some of my best gals. Yes, we were desperate enough the other night for some girl time and pampering that we had on flip flops in 30 degree weather. Oh well, it was super worth it! </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfFoYXYFB_J2P0NGUVqAAS49vYU3dCLjrQQ7ECnB45IPG02OWICSJtIgKyWcXnk4b2VqCAct-WsOwoFE3ffl_m1fHZUrhAvRgW1K_uL1zWBK4VD1GQ2b0LPQqwfGB7sqjjsBIPLKC6UiId/s1600/IMG_9023.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfFoYXYFB_J2P0NGUVqAAS49vYU3dCLjrQQ7ECnB45IPG02OWICSJtIgKyWcXnk4b2VqCAct-WsOwoFE3ffl_m1fHZUrhAvRgW1K_uL1zWBK4VD1GQ2b0LPQqwfGB7sqjjsBIPLKC6UiId/s1600/IMG_9023.JPG" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
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Yoga. Yoga. Yoga. This is not limited to any particular kind. This does however include Holy Yoga as often as possible. The "regular" yoga, I make sure kicks my butt and clears my mind. Holy Yoga fills my spirit. I try to focus on prayer and scripture when I'm participating in Holy Yoga. My favorite yoga studio in my area is owned by my dear friend, Jessica, and you can check Simply Yoga Belmont out <a href="http://www.simplyyogabelmont.com/">here</a>. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3HWhm-ZBz53Qw5MQXSFcpXBF0rBXmwFrbY-y5qQ8gdrDPbeXdcNSXX5afS99haxMBsypH2Nfl41Lfc4pJ1D4wcdoaEQ5MIl222PHfvmoyJMfhtZ2bFehtXFmkUJHI-lsvDXucazk9QpWP/s1600/IMG_9114.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3HWhm-ZBz53Qw5MQXSFcpXBF0rBXmwFrbY-y5qQ8gdrDPbeXdcNSXX5afS99haxMBsypH2Nfl41Lfc4pJ1D4wcdoaEQ5MIl222PHfvmoyJMfhtZ2bFehtXFmkUJHI-lsvDXucazk9QpWP/s1600/IMG_9114.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
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I have always wanted to try <a href="https://www.birchbox.com/">Birchbox</a> but I never did because I'm just not a girly girl. My amazing sister (in-law) gifted me three months for Christmas and it was one of my favorite gifts. I love getting a surprise package in the mail every month full of girly goodies in a colorful and beautiful box. This might be something I continue indulging in! I even put on eye liner y'all! </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS6PNuol2JPdVpokP1sfrFNjJxsy-2f_jnyvMv3JI9445Z0ddtibMwV4w1Eu_LTIhVY8FbdR6ErybgT65EiBg9P2ok57hYN8aExh32_aj61SS0hUFr2kWUaYKRP-bHPWQJ1PPQ-QZJ7UjD/s1600/IMG_9168.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS6PNuol2JPdVpokP1sfrFNjJxsy-2f_jnyvMv3JI9445Z0ddtibMwV4w1Eu_LTIhVY8FbdR6ErybgT65EiBg9P2ok57hYN8aExh32_aj61SS0hUFr2kWUaYKRP-bHPWQJ1PPQ-QZJ7UjD/s1600/IMG_9168.JPG" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
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Hot tea with Apple Cider Vinegar and Thieves essential oil. I blame my sweet friend Alexas for the ACV love. Then I blame my friend Jessica (from above) for the Thieves love. I have started drinking hot lemon zinger or orange tea with honey and ACV and at least half the time thieves. I drink this almost nightly. This is my night time pre-bed snack and I've become addicted. There are so many amazing properties to ACV and local honey and Thieves (or any essential oils). I think I might pick my friends brains soon and do a post on helpful ways to start incorporating these things into the every day. </div>
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*the links are just for your information and ease. I am not getting compensated in any way if you click through the links to the websites above*Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11636708124030548068noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1583781188616681808.post-9562340091939045332015-01-05T21:34:00.001-05:002015-01-05T21:53:39.515-05:00Time after time. <div style="text-align: center;">
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So many times over the last few months I have thought about a blog post. So many times I've had a thought come flooding through my head in the middle of the night only to find myself giving in to sleep, or the wishful thinking of such an act. So many times I have been having a time with one of the girls and I think to myself about how if I would type it up that it could potentially help another mom realize they weren't alone in the confusion and chaos. So many times I've felt strong or weak or pretty or not so lovely that I felt the need to write. There have been adventures and parties and service opportunities that I'd thought would be nice to share but they never did. There have been new words, new dances, and new yoga poses that I felt were worth sharing but didn't.<br />
Over the last few months I've been working on life. Actually living it. I got sucked so deep into the world of online that it was taking over. I pulled back from the life I was living online and threw myself back into reality. Want to know something? I didn't grow an extra appendage nor did I have one retract! I've actually lived life again. I'm not watching the world through my fingers. I'm not seeking out things to do with my family just so I can blog about it or announce it to the world.<br />
That being said, I'm baby stepping back into the online world. Back into letting my fingers dance on the keyboard once again. I've missed it. I've also realized I have to tread carefully or risk being drawn in again. So, here we go 2015. Lets live this.<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11636708124030548068noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1583781188616681808.post-2189592082809134402014-12-14T21:38:00.000-05:002014-12-14T21:38:01.453-05:00The things she says...Mommy, God controls everything, right? -Teagan<div>
Yes, He does, T. -Me</div>
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And He knows everything, right? - Teagan</div>
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Yes, Teagan, He does. -Me</div>
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So, I guess He knows when its best for us to go to bed because He turns off the sun, huh? -Teagan</div>
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I love the mind of my almost 5 year old. Oh Teagan...sweet sweet Teagan. To think so concretely about our God. How the hustle and bustle and chaos of life just gets in the way. Can you imagine the simplicity of just believing? Without putting in our own preference to what it "should be" and engaging in the opinions of the world? How I often long for that innocence and just matter of factness. </div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11636708124030548068noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1583781188616681808.post-91688964437985208282014-10-21T21:36:00.000-04:002014-10-21T21:36:34.258-04:00Funny thing, weather. Y'all, I have not blogged since July. Life happened. Full time job happened. One late night a week happened. A new deck happened. More time with my family happened.<br />
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It was needed time away. Needed time to put my priorities back in order. It was time to live my life, our lives, for real instead of at the need for a blog post.<br />
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There is something about fall that makes me want to do all the things. Like eat three apples a day, run and run and run, drink too much coffee, snuggle my girls while wrapped under a blanket reading a book, kiss my sweet husband a little longer, sleep with the windows up, and campout in the backyard (or somewhere else).<br />
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Fall is my favorite. It's just begun. I just wish it would linger as long as possible.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCiQAxox7avY39cgC_JBmi5Tq5yLkJIoasodAx33B0PyQ4cKpmGUYFXgYKzGqRgwV4Fb5VdxCcFkxYZD-icJFmWxzsIU5xUwaBYfzjbouqrHwKL2VYqzBWxRZuU8C3UKc-JByPjqwJVaEw/s1600/DSC_0420.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCiQAxox7avY39cgC_JBmi5Tq5yLkJIoasodAx33B0PyQ4cKpmGUYFXgYKzGqRgwV4Fb5VdxCcFkxYZD-icJFmWxzsIU5xUwaBYfzjbouqrHwKL2VYqzBWxRZuU8C3UKc-JByPjqwJVaEw/s1600/DSC_0420.JPG" height="265" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11636708124030548068noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1583781188616681808.post-15805023777484401422014-07-24T09:43:00.001-04:002014-07-24T09:43:54.159-04:00Warm rains in NC. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYSJ-UtO0A4aPnUZal8lBp8LveuzZASXKNC5YLsOsUTWw-hbK3pvWYqgKPDBCYBtlVx9nNEXEGha3Xssp5an6k2DP4GSgn3j6GkXEpcQVBhKZbSD2cla6sZDvFdfKe7Z_h8DtBkRSZRiEE/s1600/DSC_0379.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYSJ-UtO0A4aPnUZal8lBp8LveuzZASXKNC5YLsOsUTWw-hbK3pvWYqgKPDBCYBtlVx9nNEXEGha3Xssp5an6k2DP4GSgn3j6GkXEpcQVBhKZbSD2cla6sZDvFdfKe7Z_h8DtBkRSZRiEE/s1600/DSC_0379.JPG" height="265" width="400" /></a></div>
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Rainy storm-less days are few and far between when you live in North Carolina. Most of the time the rain is accompanied with thunder and lightning. When we get the treat of having just a warm summer rain we try to make sure we take advantage of it. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5V_CH0QbtnNmueqmpQW6kMFxQ7lJ0kZLY2aZsUC3TPNS-wpJeuyFXyh8Jqje9HaDypHc95b4G0vk8ADLXDOm0fDbiM0zU5ngT3zlvIZJTLQSIuK8L7BCC9-rEq8iiKiLbV7SkNATHnWHp/s1600/DSC_0343.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5V_CH0QbtnNmueqmpQW6kMFxQ7lJ0kZLY2aZsUC3TPNS-wpJeuyFXyh8Jqje9HaDypHc95b4G0vk8ADLXDOm0fDbiM0zU5ngT3zlvIZJTLQSIuK8L7BCC9-rEq8iiKiLbV7SkNATHnWHp/s1600/DSC_0343.JPG" height="265" width="400" /></a></div>
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Teagan is our little dancer; she loves everything about dance and movement of her body. However, you have to catch her on a day where her shyness has momentarily left the building or when she doesn't know you're watching her. I love to catch her when she thinks nobody is watching because there is something so innocent and precious about the rawness and the vulnerability and the freedom. </div>
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Kyra Mae is our fearless snuggler. She continues to test her independence as long as Josh or I are in her direct line of sight. She is also trying to figure out who she is apart from Teagan while wanting to be like Teagan. It's so funny how early it happens. It's in subtle ways but it's happening and it has been interesting to watch how she maneuvers through her latest challenge.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11636708124030548068noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1583781188616681808.post-10845228335641548142014-06-10T14:49:00.002-04:002014-06-10T14:49:41.880-04:00Kyra Mae <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Y'all, can you believe this girl? I can't even get over her sometimes. </div>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11636708124030548068noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1583781188616681808.post-25382633825255465072014-05-15T16:18:00.001-04:002014-05-15T16:18:29.184-04:00Mothers Day. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Mothers Day 2014. </div>
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These are the women of my family. Each of us are stubborn and bull-headed. Sometimes we are stubborn and bull-headed towards each other. However, we are family and we are fiercely devoted to one another. I am thankful for the way God has made us incredibly different but I am more thankful for the ways He has made our hearts so similar. From our hearts to yours. </div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11636708124030548068noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1583781188616681808.post-66317007376480801272014-05-04T15:36:00.001-04:002014-05-04T15:36:37.237-04:00Pinky toes. When is the last time you thought about your pinky toe? Other than to complain there isn't enough toenail to paint or the last time all your foot except your pinky toe got through the threshold of the door? If you're anything like me, other than those instances my pinky toe doesn't even cross my mind. Thing is, the pinky toe is a pretty important part of the body. The pinky toe helps the body to balance. The pinky toe also functions autonomously from the other toes but is a necessary part. <div>
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Our Pastor spoke this morning on Ephesians 4 and the parts of the body of Christ's church. This is one of those passages I've read and heard pastors speak on a lot. Every time I've heard it I have had myself as the main character. My take away from the passage has been more about what gift have I been given. I've not always thought about it in terms of service of the body. </div>
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This morning, I heard it a new way: How I seek Jesus and how I use the gifts God has given me directly effects my sisters and brothers in Christ. If I am not utilizing those gifts given to me, if I am not spending time with the Lord, if I am not seeking Him then it directly effects the body. However, the body is NOT dependent on me. I, like that pinky toe, function autonomously from the body and the body can function without me but it works better if I'm doing my job. Honestly, I never thought about how those days where I am "too busy" to dig into the Word effects how I relate to the church family.</div>
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This passage also triggered a response of thanks in me and the drive to do more thanking. I know there have been times in my life where I was serving in the behind the scenes jobs and often felt forgotten or unimportant. And while serving is never supposed to be about affirmation of self, it is nice to hear a sincere thank you every now and then. Satan also used those times of feeling forgotten to dig in to my head and heart that I am not needed. My emotions have always been a tunnel to the feelings of despair for me and satan has used that tunnel several times over the years. That being said, when is the last time you told your kid's Sunday School teacher thank you? What about those sweet people who take care of the coffee in the morning? Also, do you know how time consuming it can be to set up the AV system and make sure the power points go smoothly with the songs as well as the pastors sermons? We also have people who restock the peppermints in the bowls and people who make sure there is toilet paper in the bathrooms. Our worship team works hard to maintain their craft and the decorating and the esthetics don't just happen. So, I'm challenging myself and you to thank somebody within your church sincerely and specifically in the next week or so. Whose in? </div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11636708124030548068noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1583781188616681808.post-64988954982013342082014-04-28T22:19:00.001-04:002014-04-28T22:19:12.423-04:00Funny thing, 30. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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It's almost May (really, y'all?) and I turned 30 in February. I've never been a "omgoodness, my _____ birthday is coming!" person and 30 was no different. However, it struck me the other day that I do actually feel like a grown up now. I wanted to share somethings I've learned about myself and my life in general. </div>
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1) I'm not 20. Or 23. Or even 28. I need to remind myself of that sometimes. My 30 year old self is not in the place where I can just get up and go. I have two sweet girls and an incredible husband that depend on me. Is that a burden sometimes? Honestly, yes. There are times when I wish I could just be driving down the road and head somewhere, leaving inhibition in the wind. However, after a few days I have no doubt that I would have this aching in my heart because I knew away from them is never where I'm supposed to be. That lesson leads me to the next. </div>
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2) I am still Rici. Yes, I am proudly Josh's wife and Teagan and Kyra's mom but I am still Rici and that is okay. I am allowed to still pursue my dreams and be an individual but I refuse to do so at the expense of my family. It has been a learning curve trying to figure out what that looks like. I've had to say no to some things that I thought I wanted to do but time with my family won out. I've also had to say yes to some things for a little while because my family is still top priority. </div>
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3) It's taken me 30 years to realize what Josh and I try to instill in our girls daily. I am fearfully and wonderfully made. I have struggled for years with my body image because I have sought out what I thought was good and pretty and right in places that I shouldn't. I've sought out my identity in what I assume others think is good and pretty and right. After 30 years, I've almost got it. I've known and heard my whole life to find my identity in my sweet Savior but I've never been able to leave my heart there. Finally, I am almost there. I have days where I see somebody or something and my pride measures me up to the Victoria's Secret models but more days than not an advertisement is not where I seek my identity anymore. </div>
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4) The idea of friendship and community changes as you get older. This one has been a little difficult for me to swallow. Again, my head has kind of known that but my heart has been slow and reluctant to follow. My friendship definition (perhaps it's partly the extrovert in me as well) has been to spend as much time together (aka all the time) as you can and take a lot of pictures and basically be each others life line. When you have kids, the phrase "all the time" no longer applies (or at least for me and the moms I'm friends with). "All the time" becomes "whenever possible" and that isn't always often. One of my dearest friends that I've been friends with since elementary schools is an example. We have families that love each other dearly and want to spend time together but we only see each other every month or every other month. Not because we don't want to see each other but because we have jobs and we have families and we have different churches. But if one of us needs something, we're there. We're praying for each other. We're texting or calling. We're still very much friends and I forsee that always being the case. I've also got a group of sweet ladies whom I've grown very close to from church. Friendship looks different for us too; our commonality, the thing that has brought us together is Jesus. I've befriended ladies through church I might not otherwise come in contact with and boy am I glad. Friendship at this time in my life is not bad it's just different and once my heart caught up with my head, I am realizing more each day just how blessed I am. </div>
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5) Marriage is hard. I didn't marry my best friend. I am now married to my best friend. The beginning of our marriage was difficult to say the least. Over the last almost 7 yrs of being husband and wife I have learned the numerous reasons why Josh and I just fit. We have grown to know each other and we've grown to realize where he is strong and I am weak and vice versa. He has become everything I could ever imagine wanting in a best friend and so much more, except he hates pictures but we're working on that one...</div>
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6) Embrace the natural. I've never really been a make-up and fix your hair girl but boy have I tried. I've reached a point in my life where I'm okay with not being that girl. I don't know how to put on eyeliner and make it look un-Halloweeny and I'm still figuring out what to do with the natural wave/curl hybrid of my hair (think Hermione Granger in the first two HPs mixed with a beach bum). I'm okay with that. I will continue to pin stuff on Pinterest and occasionally attempt them and occasionally get frustrated but for the most part I like my 5 minute routine. I asked Josh the other day on the way to church if he wished I was a "make-up and hair girl" and he gave me a very honest "no". He enjoys when I play dress up for date night but he'd much rather me stay the girl he fell in love with. The one who throws on tinted moisturizer and mascara and runs out the door. I'm completely okay with being that girl. </div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11636708124030548068noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1583781188616681808.post-68530383715023220832014-04-09T21:46:00.003-04:002014-04-09T21:46:43.560-04:00"Nick-Nick" <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Teagan and "Nick-Nick"</div>
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I shared some about this picture on <a href="http://instagram.com/RiciReid">Instagram</a> earlier but I felt like I didn't do it justice. A few months ago Teagan was chased by a dog that lived (they moved, we didn't kill her, just FYI) on our road. She was indeed a puppy in every sense of the word. She was playful and rambunctious and didn't listen to a word anybody said to her; including the word STOP. We were playing out in the yard one pretty fall day and the pup "came over to play" (she was always loose). Teagan apparently looked like the most fun out of us four and so the pup decided a game of chase would be best. She jumped to get Teagan running and Teagan ran. Teagan ran and the pup followed her thinking it was truly a game of chase, except Teagan was petrified and screaming and crying the entire time. I had Kyra in my arms and Josh started toward her after we realized she was terrified and not doing her fake "I'm having so much fun I'm going to scream bloody murder" cry. Thankfully I married a man whose legs are as long as I am tall and he got to her quickly but it felt like it took him years to rescue our sweet girl. I was in tears as Josh swooped her up to comfort her. Since then she has had a severe fear of dogs both small and large. On Saturday, it seemed like some of that fear dissipated and all was right with the world. Teagan loved on Nick-Nick the entire day, making sure that anytime he passed she rubbed him or told him she loved him. Once again, tears came to my eyes as I said a little "Thank You".<br />
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