tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-50697746201257973082024-03-14T02:27:32.639-07:00what's up at the white houserachel whitehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02392361134124443295noreply@blogger.comBlogger431125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5069774620125797308.post-79844616299604119342020-04-09T11:53:00.000-07:002020-04-09T11:53:52.271-07:00things graham said<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
graham has the sweetest personality. he says some really great things. all these photos are from november 2019 while graham and i were killing time at the ski shop in boulder, colorado, waiting for his skis to be tuned. he's so much fun to be around.</div>
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last night as i was tucking graham into bed...</div>
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graham: mommy, thank you.</div>
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me: you're welcome, buddy. thank you for what?</div>
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graham: everything.</div>
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on february 10, 2020; out of the blue...</div>
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graham: when i grow up i'm going to have four kids and i'm going to name them scott, caleb, preston and gabe.<br />
me: what if you have girls?<br />
graham: 😳<br />
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on a covid-19 time capsule worksheet i asked him to fill out there was a letter he wrote to himself. i told him to think about it as if he was thirty and he was looking back at this time capsule. what do you want to tell yourself? </div>
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he wrote...</div>
"this is what i want you to do: pray more, get baptized, marry well."<br />
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<br />rachel whitehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02392361134124443295noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5069774620125797308.post-10136502603987117472020-04-04T14:26:00.001-07:002020-04-04T14:26:08.549-07:00quarantine questionnaire<div style="color: #454545; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
to kill a little time during the covid-19 shelter in place mandate, i asked the kids these questions:</div>
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Graham, age 11</div>
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Harrison, age almost 13</div>
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1. If you won a million dollars, what would you buy? </div>
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Graham: a gaming room, like Dude Perfect’s</div>
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Harrison: all the supplies I’d need to make a 14-foot scale model of New York City</div>
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2. How long does it take to get to California? </div>
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Graham: 18 hours and 15 minutes</div>
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Harrison: a good 12 hours. no, make it 16</div>
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3. What does Mom always say to you? </div>
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Graham: i love you. unload the dishwasher.</div>
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Harrison: do your school work. get in the shower. goodnight white boys.</div>
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What does Dad always say to you?</div>
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Graham: hugs and kisses. hook it. </div>
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Harrison: you gotta pay the toll. rinse your dishes. where’s the bloody ice cream?</div>
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4. What job would you like to do when you get older?</div>
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Graham: zoologist or join the air force</div>
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Harrison: mechanical or chemical engineer</div>
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5. What is the capital of the United States? </div>
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Graham: there is none <span style="font-family: "Apple Color Emoji"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">😳</span></div>
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Harrison: Washington DC</div>
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6. Where do babies come from?</div>
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Graham: i’m not going to answer that</div>
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Harrison: mommies and daddies </div>
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7. How old is Mom? Dad?</div>
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Graham: 43 and 42 and 9/10</div>
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Harrison: 43 and 42 (43 in July)</div>
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8. If you could change one rule our family has, what would it be? </div>
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Graham: watch tv all day for two days a week</div>
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Harrison: that you can’t punish us ever, like send us to our rooms or take away or tv time. no consequences. </div>
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Graham: there’s gotta be consequences. if there’s no consequences you won’t be a good person. </div>
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Harrison: i am a good person.</div>
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Graham: that’s because you have consequences, harrison. </div>
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9. If you could be a superhero, what superpower would you have?</div>
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Graham: invisibility and walking through things like a ghost</div>
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Harrison: teleportation or telekinesis</div>
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10. What would you do to save the planet?</div>
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Graham: have no fossil fuels</div>
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Harrison: robot domination! or everybody moves to Mars</div>
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11. If you could eat one thing for the rest of your life, what would it be? </div>
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Graham: pizza as the entree, ice cream cake for dessert, tiny pb&j sandwiches and donut holes for appetizers</div>
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Harrison: Raising Cane’s Caniac combo, and a cookie cake with frosting for dessert</div>
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12. How much does it cost to buy a house?</div>
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Graham: depends on how big the house. a million. well, is it like a mansion? </div>
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Harrison: if i had it my way it’d be a mansion and i’d get it for free. or for 3 small payments of $19.99</div>
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13. Why do you think we should be nice to each other? </div>
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Graham: because i’m a nice person</div>
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Harrison: because society says it’s mean to be rude to each other, and if you defy society they put you in jail. </div>
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Mom: guys, what about what jesus teaches about kindness?</div>
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Graham: oh yeah!</div>
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Harrison: because god says so</div>
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14. What does love mean to you?</div>
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Graham: oh gosh. um...comfort. </div>
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Harrison: kissing. kissing is associated with love. kissing is gross. therefore love is gross. </div>
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Mom: what fallacy is that? </div>
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Harrison: whole-to-part</div>
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Mom: so do you want to amend your statement? </div>
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Harrison: no</div>
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15. What are you scared of? </div>
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Graham: ocean</div>
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Harrison: being surprised from behind and failure</div>
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16. What is important to you? </div>
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Graham: my woobie (his special blanket)</div>
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Harrison: air, food, water, lola (our dog), that’s it </div>
rachel whitehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02392361134124443295noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5069774620125797308.post-60664561621889084002020-03-14T15:05:00.001-07:002020-03-14T15:05:23.787-07:00it's been four years<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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the last time i documented our lives on this blog harrison was nine, graham was seven, and neither jeremy nor i had reached our forties. i quit writing for several reasons. life became busier, my responsibilities at work increased, we switched to an online school which required more of my time at home. mostly, though, i became aware of how our children were growing and wanted to be more careful about writing about them. especially regarding harrison's sensory processing issues.<br />
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however, harrison has recently begun asking questions. he's trying to understand more about who he is, and how he fits in to the world. one afternoon while he and i were walking winslow, one of the dog's harrison walks for his dog care business, i mentioned i had kept a blog about our experience with sensory processing disorder. i told him i'd tried to find my old blog posts so he could read them. when i opened the blog both boys began reading, laughing, and reminiscing.<br />
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they asked me to start blogging again.<br />
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i told them it's important that they understand this blog is MY perspective of our lives. they may remember things differently. they may want to write their own version of our everyday moments. even so, one thing i know for sure is that it has all gone by, and is going by, faster than i'd like.<br />
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documenting these days, months, years is a gift i'd love to give our two sweet sons.<br />
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rachel whitehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02392361134124443295noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5069774620125797308.post-26853771115674100772016-05-08T08:07:00.001-07:002016-05-08T08:07:36.691-07:00a mothers day message<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal;">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">i am so thankful i get to be their mom</td></tr>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;">she saw me through the car window, then spontaneously opened the passenger side door. i smiled politely from the driver’s seat, surprised by this bold stranger who seemed intent to deliver a message, concerned that perhaps i hadn't navigated the school drop-off line correctly. reaching for my hand and clasping it in both of hers, she gently said <i>thank you</i>. i lifted my sunglasses to the top of my head, wanting her to see she had my full attention. with now tear-soaked cheeks, in a quivering voice, she cried, <i>thank you for raising up your boys to be so respectful and well-behaved. i don’t know what you’ve done but your kids are amazing.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">i thanked her but attempted to rebuff the compliment <i>if you came home with us you’d see they aren’t quite the gentlemen you think they are</i>. she persisted and shared that her own son is one of the tough kids in the 3rd grade class.</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">i had received previous praise regarding what sweet boys harrison and graham are, but this time was different. </span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">what impacted me about this brief conversation wasn’t the kind things this beautiful woman said to me, it was her BRAVERY. </span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">i have frequently seen her at the school - she’s a mama who shows up for her son.</span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;"> </span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">her son isn’t quite like the other kids - she’s a mama who loves her son no matter what. </span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">through tears and pain she encouraged me - she’s a mama who chooses to speak life into others.</span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;"> </span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">i drove toward home praying for this incredible mother who took the time to express gratitude and share her story with me. it’s the prayer i have for every mom, for every woman - </span></span><i><span style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">let us stop comparing ourselves to others, let us be KIND to ourselves, let us recognize the good in ourselves and our children, let us celebrate all the amazing strengths we find in each other, let us find a sister who will hold us up as we deal with difficult times, let us keep showing up every.single.day to mother ourselves, our kids & each other, let us see ourselves as </span>the<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;"> brave heroes we are, let us choose joy & life & love…even when it’s hard.</span></span></i></span></div>
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to each of the lovely women in my life - those who are moms and those who are not - i send you love today.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pU6sNcnukWA/Vy9Pr2s6cXI/AAAAAAAAEeI/aND-FMQkUzUuAjGIlJK31lY8fzSz5NGZwCK4B/s1600/IMG_0058.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pU6sNcnukWA/Vy9Pr2s6cXI/AAAAAAAAEeI/aND-FMQkUzUuAjGIlJK31lY8fzSz5NGZwCK4B/s400/IMG_0058.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">happy mother's day</td></tr>
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rachel whitehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02392361134124443295noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5069774620125797308.post-73660319619501376652015-10-06T09:33:00.001-07:002015-10-06T09:33:34.000-07:00real life conversation...about brotherhood<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ktucuzb1MCY/VhPsFjNz0RI/AAAAAAAADgM/oey_4ywpnTI/s1600/IMG_7171.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ktucuzb1MCY/VhPsFjNz0RI/AAAAAAAADgM/oey_4ywpnTI/s640/IMG_7171.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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<b>the scene</b>: while sitting at the breakfast bar eating a snack; out of the blue.<br />
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<b>graham</b>: life is so disappointing.<br />
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<b>me</b>: (chuckling) really? why is life so disappointing?<br />
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<b>graham</b>: always having to take care of my older brother.<br />
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<b>me</b>: (no longer chuckling)<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jwi4hIOLmlg/VhPsHjF5h1I/AAAAAAAADgU/iLyB-0OEFaM/s1600/IMG_7472.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jwi4hIOLmlg/VhPsHjF5h1I/AAAAAAAADgU/iLyB-0OEFaM/s640/IMG_7472.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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the bible says "how good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity."</div>
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lately i question the balance between the good and the pleasant...</div>
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the things that don't feel good nor pleasant...</div>
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and the unity that can be found between the two. </div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-syW539ZpFHU/VhPsFgKybyI/AAAAAAAADgI/rVs7A-S6pgo/s1600/IMG_7151.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-syW539ZpFHU/VhPsFgKybyI/AAAAAAAADgI/rVs7A-S6pgo/s640/IMG_7151.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="text-align: center;">graham truly has been gifted with the unique ability to read a situation and adjust it to meet harrison's needs. this intuitiveness is special and will serve him well his whole life long. </span></div>
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<span style="text-align: center;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="text-align: center;">conversely, graham has become harrison's guide - looking out for, standing up for, speaking on behalf of, leading the way for, a comforting sidekick - starting when he was very little (younger than two). a job he took on himself and one i, admittedly, placed him in a few times too many. </span></div>
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<span style="text-align: center;">what does a mother do when her son expresses discouragement that </span><b style="text-align: center;">his gift has become a burden?</b></div>
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<span style="text-align: center;"> schedule counseling appointments then write a blog post, of course. :)</span></div>
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<span style="text-align: center;"> ponder it; put the question out into the universe and pray for an answer. </span></div>
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<span style="text-align: center;"> sit with him in life's disappointment. </span></div>
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<span style="text-align: center;"> teach him to think on the positive aspects of his relationship with his brother. </span></div>
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<span style="text-align: center;">show him unity isn't a treasure to be found...</span></div>
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<span style="text-align: center;">it is beauty we must create.</span></div>
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rachel whitehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02392361134124443295noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5069774620125797308.post-35330690811052970912015-08-14T08:58:00.000-07:002015-08-14T08:58:41.367-07:00a real life conversation<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qF2PhARGjig/Vc4Pkn2ilgI/AAAAAAAADfE/XZCNFRvdYjo/s1600/IMG_7650.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qF2PhARGjig/Vc4Pkn2ilgI/AAAAAAAADfE/XZCNFRvdYjo/s640/IMG_7650.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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me: you have rockstar hair, bud.<br />
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g: that's what i'm gonna do when i grow up.<br />
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me: what? be a hairstylist or a rockstar?<br />
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g: no, just be a regular man. no job. no college. then i'll have my hair like this and walk around.<br />
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me: then what will happen?<br />
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g: maybe a girl will see me and walk up to me.<br />
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me: then what?<br />
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g: she might ask to be my girlfriend.<br />
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me: what will you say?<br />
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g: no. but maybe if she begs me too much i will say yes.<br />
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me: but what are you going to do for money?<br />
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g: i'm not going to have any money. i'm just gonna play video games.<br />
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me: and that's it?<br />
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g: yeah.<br />
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<br />rachel whitehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02392361134124443295noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5069774620125797308.post-91695693052046500222015-08-04T12:59:00.001-07:002015-08-04T12:59:05.627-07:00new house photos - entry, guest bed & bath, hall, dining room, and a couple morei cleaned up the dining room today so to celebrate here are a few more unedited pictures of the interior...<br />
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view of the formal dining room from the kitchen:<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-y7hmkSEuXtc/VcET6Qsp4II/AAAAAAAADbw/ggs0Wp67krk/s1600/IMG_7622.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-y7hmkSEuXtc/VcET6Qsp4II/AAAAAAAADbw/ggs0Wp67krk/s640/IMG_7622.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
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the dining room is round. i'm not sold on keeping this rug in here especially because i think it would be too small once a table is in the room. if anyone would like to donate a round table and chairs to the white family i'll be your best friend forever: <br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RJkYsiAy28A/VcET6lSt4UI/AAAAAAAADb0/4oHcjae0ahg/s1600/IMG_7623.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RJkYsiAy28A/VcET6lSt4UI/AAAAAAAADb0/4oHcjae0ahg/s640/IMG_7623.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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a peak of the kitchen from the dining room: <br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_vsn-Tu0dFI/VcET6hnizPI/AAAAAAAADb4/rLI1xHiOHFA/s1600/IMG_7624.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_vsn-Tu0dFI/VcET6hnizPI/AAAAAAAADb4/rLI1xHiOHFA/s640/IMG_7624.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
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the staircase is across from the dining room. real life = dirty clothes on the stairs and vacuum cleaner at the ready all the time: <br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3d8xW-iZJDc/VcET7byl45I/AAAAAAAADcE/I85FhnCkEMk/s1600/IMG_7625.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3d8xW-iZJDc/VcET7byl45I/AAAAAAAADcE/I85FhnCkEMk/s640/IMG_7625.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
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entry. i had to stand outside to get enough light behind the camera in order to get this shot. the house is dark and difficult to photograph because the ceilings are so tall thus the canned lighting is too high to truly illuminate the rooms: <br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3od-qp7RANY/VcET724JeEI/AAAAAAAADcM/DcjW9pt78qc/s1600/IMG_7626.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3od-qp7RANY/VcET724JeEI/AAAAAAAADcM/DcjW9pt78qc/s640/IMG_7626.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
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oh hello lamp cord, bare bulb and empty wall (it's a work in progress). that little window with the wrought iron is part of our wine room, which is waaaaay too dark to photograph. but i'll try someday. because i love you: <br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sj3MIiN2a-0/VcET7xhtz3I/AAAAAAAADcU/TO9HGscwC8w/s1600/IMG_7627.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sj3MIiN2a-0/VcET7xhtz3I/AAAAAAAADcU/TO9HGscwC8w/s640/IMG_7627.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
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here is our huge iron door and my homemade "no solicitors" sign. we had three people a day knocking, welcoming us to the neighborhood, then trying to sell us stuff. annoying: <br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-shnf6tcb4xQ/VcET8T-tMxI/AAAAAAAADcc/zJ-qf2mVuHE/s1600/IMG_7628.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-shnf6tcb4xQ/VcET8T-tMxI/AAAAAAAADcc/zJ-qf2mVuHE/s640/IMG_7628.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
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in the hallway, a place to keep all our files: <br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lSUu73t4G5U/VcET8_ya5YI/AAAAAAAADcg/dFJS3Gc9nAI/s1600/IMG_7629.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lSUu73t4G5U/VcET8_ya5YI/AAAAAAAADcg/dFJS3Gc9nAI/s640/IMG_7629.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
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the guest bathroom: <br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-u3oKdrv0Hwk/VcET9GEqRmI/AAAAAAAADco/7F_0jeOeVVE/s1600/IMG_7631.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-u3oKdrv0Hwk/VcET9GEqRmI/AAAAAAAADco/7F_0jeOeVVE/s640/IMG_7631.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
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i set out a few candles and hung paintings the boys made: <br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WQCXnowoKHE/VcET95oAzyI/AAAAAAAADc0/uPeqQFDGgis/s1600/IMG_7632.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WQCXnowoKHE/VcET95oAzyI/AAAAAAAADc0/uPeqQFDGgis/s640/IMG_7632.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
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the guest bedroom with pillows that will eventually go on the bed: <br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FUmY8kcvyF4/VcET-NAUlUI/AAAAAAAADc8/XGOhVMfcgf8/s1600/IMG_7633.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FUmY8kcvyF4/VcET-NAUlUI/AAAAAAAADc8/XGOhVMfcgf8/s640/IMG_7633.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
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the room has a large, lovely window: <br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hKUitUqyE8U/VcET-cRr8tI/AAAAAAAADdE/PEcklIAQLy0/s1600/IMG_7634.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hKUitUqyE8U/VcET-cRr8tI/AAAAAAAADdE/PEcklIAQLy0/s640/IMG_7634.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
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a view of the hall from the opposite direction. the french doors lead to jer's office with the guest bathroom and bedroom beyond:<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xQXs1bt1HAs/VcET-8gnewI/AAAAAAAADdI/0Pki97qbXSc/s1600/IMG_7636.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xQXs1bt1HAs/VcET-8gnewI/AAAAAAAADdI/0Pki97qbXSc/s640/IMG_7636.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
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a straight-on view of the living room (and backyard) from the hall. hard to photograph but you can see the whole back wall of the house is windows. i'm considering keeping them bare, no curtains. we'll see. off to the right you can see the eat-in area of the kitchen with chandelier:<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QDiXV-9eml8/VcET_bQaY4I/AAAAAAAADdM/MEMLx2YG0ug/s1600/IMG_7637.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QDiXV-9eml8/VcET_bQaY4I/AAAAAAAADdM/MEMLx2YG0ug/s640/IMG_7637.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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y'all are motivating me to continue getting things put away - thank you!! rachel whitehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02392361134124443295noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5069774620125797308.post-17898467362584748212015-08-02T07:18:00.001-07:002015-08-02T07:18:45.977-07:00new house photos - kitchen, living room, family roomhello all! for those of you who do not know, we moved to texas! i'll have to write the story of that decision and how it came to fruition at some point BUT for those of you who do know (and have been begging for photos), this post is for you.<br />
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these first two photos of the kitchen are from the first week we were in the house:<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TPd2Ycf_X_0/Vb4f3GpDTzI/AAAAAAAADZc/5Gn-CcuXjeQ/s1600/IMG_7542.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TPd2Ycf_X_0/Vb4f3GpDTzI/AAAAAAAADZc/5Gn-CcuXjeQ/s640/IMG_7542.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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the house came with dark brown stained cabinetry (which i'm not in love with) to coordinate with the dark brown stained hand-scraped hardwood floors (which i am in love with).<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wXrQZN0MmgU/Vb4f8RNsEoI/AAAAAAAADZk/8ZEUYSjkn0w/s1600/IMG_7556.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wXrQZN0MmgU/Vb4f8RNsEoI/AAAAAAAADZk/8ZEUYSjkn0w/s640/IMG_7556.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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we purchased a new cream colored sofa to complete the seating in the living room.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-y8Fjwy0s0-A/Vb4gE4ukj1I/AAAAAAAADZ4/owbMnkJy2qA/s1600/IMG_7564.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-y8Fjwy0s0-A/Vb4gE4ukj1I/AAAAAAAADZ4/owbMnkJy2qA/s640/IMG_7564.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-w2OhRYkQt4E/Vb4gBrx5DYI/AAAAAAAADZw/9EAnHh-PcJU/s1600/IMG_7563.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-w2OhRYkQt4E/Vb4gBrx5DYI/AAAAAAAADZw/9EAnHh-PcJU/s640/IMG_7563.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
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i managed to get some things hung on the walls. his lindsay letters art was special gift from my sweet friend sara.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AEFL2D9tHfM/Vb4gHHzv6wI/AAAAAAAADaA/qjk-x5NFxTk/s1600/IMG_7566.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AEFL2D9tHfM/Vb4gHHzv6wI/AAAAAAAADaA/qjk-x5NFxTk/s640/IMG_7566.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
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this is the monstrosity hanging above the fireplace. it came with the house. jeremy and i are "negotiating" about whether this beast should stay or go. lord help me.<br />
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last week we had the kitchen cabinets painted so this is what it looks like now. i love it! this area is SO much lighter and brighter now. the grey glass subway tile finally looks pretty instead of out of place.<br />
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the family room upstairs is pretty well finished.<br />
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the white door behind the sectional leads to a large unfinished yet pre-wired storage room. at some point jeremy would like to add drywall and use that space as a media room (basically an extension of the family room).<br />
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the roald dahl books were a gift for the boys from my dear friend leslie.<br />
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the boys' bedroom is in the distance; you can see harrison if you look closely. there is also a bathroom and another bedroom (currently being used as a play room) upstairs.<br />
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that wraps up the house tour for now. jeremy's office is slowly coming together, as is the boys' bedroom. the master bedroom is a mishmash of random pieces we are using to get by for now. the guest bedroom is empty. the dining room is empty too unless you count all the art and accessories being stored there. the back patio and garage still need some love (and hard work).<br />
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even with all the odd jobs that have yet to be done we love the house and feel very happy here.<br />
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<br />rachel whitehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02392361134124443295noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5069774620125797308.post-75640056303311125532015-06-12T14:31:00.000-07:002015-06-12T14:31:01.631-07:00a real life conversation about father's day<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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the scene: sitting in the living room, trying to figure out what to get daddy for father's day.<br />
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me: okay, graham, you need to make a father's day gift for daddy.<br />
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graham: no i don't.<br />
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me: you don't?<br />
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graham: no. because do you remember a long time ago when i was born?<br />
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me: mmm hmm.<br />
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graham: yeah, so when i was born i was a gift. so i don't have to make him a gift because i'm already his gift.<br />
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you are everyone's gift, sweet boy.<br />
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you're also pretty knowledgable about how to get out of work...and definitely not lacking in self-esteem...i couldn't love you more.<br />
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<br />rachel whitehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02392361134124443295noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5069774620125797308.post-46568609987146591912015-06-10T15:23:00.002-07:002015-06-10T15:23:34.210-07:00quotes i love<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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with regard to exercise, lena dunham said, <a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-3036267/Lena-Dunham-posts-workout-selfie-says-exercise-helps-manage-anxiety-mood.html">"it aint about the ass, it's about the brain."</a> <br /><br />amen, sister.<br /><br /><br />with regard to being overweight and still wearing a bikini, angela was quoted on the momastery blog saying, <a href="http://momastery.com/blog/2015/06/08/jacked/">“Listen. I’m a little fat. I don’t spend a lot of time worrying about that because I’ve got stuff to do. So to make the world a better place, I wear this bikini to the pool. You know, so other women who DO worry about their weight will feel awesome in comparison. No skin off my nose. That’s my good deed. Done. Check.”</a><br /><br />i love that so much.<br /><br /><br />from the book essentialism by greg mckeown (quote found at hollywoodhousewife.com), <a href="http://www.hollywoodhousewife.com/2015/06/books-to-simplify-your-life.html">"</a><a href="http://www.hollywoodhousewife.com/2015/06/books-to-simplify-your-life.html">When people believe that their efforts at work don’t matter, they tend to respond in one of two ways. Sometimes they check out and stop trying, like the mathematically challenged child. The other response is less obvious at first. They do the opposite. They become hyperactive. They accept every opportunity presented. They throw themselves into every assignment. They tackle every challenge with gusto. They try to do it all. This behavior does not necessarily look like learned helplessness at first glance. After all, isn’t working hard evidence of one’s belief in one’s importance and value? Yet on closer examination we can see this compulsion to do more is a smokescreen. These people don’t believe they have a choice in what opportunity, assignment, or challenge to take on. They believe they “have to do it all.”</a><br /><br />this hits true to home when i think of how hard my hubby works (and why???).<br /><br /><br />on motherhood, julie beck said, <a href="https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2007/10/mothers-who-know?lang=eng">"</a><a href="https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2007/10/mothers-who-know?lang=eng">Mothers who know do less. They permit less of what will not bear good fruit eternally. They allow less media in their homes, less distraction, less activity that draws their children away from their home. Mothers who know are willing to live on less and consume less of the world’s goods in order to spend more time with their children—more time eating together, more time working together, more time reading together, more time talking, laughing, singing, and exemplifying. These mothers choose carefully and do not try to choose it all. </a><br /><br />yup.<div>
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on pain and hurt, glennon doyle melton says, <a href="http://momastery.com/blog/2015/01/30/cool-ashes/" target="_blank">"i believe that life starts when we stop running from pain and instead surrender to it. we can't remain on the lam from pain forever. the running and deflecting and numbing always cause more trouble than the pain would have. healing begins when we stop running and turn ourselves in."</a></div>
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i agree.</div>
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have you read any good quotes lately?</div>
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<a href="http://www.stuffbyh.com/2015/02/adult-as-verb.html" target="_blank">(image source)</a></div>
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rachel whitehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02392361134124443295noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5069774620125797308.post-51865751571646915642015-06-09T17:02:00.001-07:002015-06-09T17:02:53.219-07:00the two year post-therapy mark<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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my oldest boy and i snuggled together this morning, taking turns sneezing and wiping sleep from our eyes. he watched cartoons, i sipped coffee. he wiggled around, taking his time getting situated and comfortable. he rested his head on my chest then slid down to lay his head on my hip. he rearranged my arms and placed them where he wanted them, where they felt best. he fidgeted with my fingers. he told me to squeeze him harder. i stayed there with him and complied.<br />
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cuddles aren't his favorite thing. typically i ask him for a hug or say "do you want to snuggle with me" and let him decide whether to oblige. i can get away with a pat on his back or a kiss on the top of his head but prolonged affection is not a regular occurrence.<br />
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but <i>this morning </i>there was no asking<i>.</i><br />
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he simply sat down next to me and leaned in.<br />
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he offered himself.<br />
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all i had to do was open my arms to accept the gift.<br />
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the truth is i've gotten plenty of snuggles from this boy; enough that i don't feel deprived or like a part of our relationship is lacking. but still, i do not ever take them for granted. i'm keenly aware in those moments that cuddling with this kid is a privilege.<br />
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it's because he trusts me.<br />
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he feels comfortable being himself with me.<br />
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i feel honored.<br />
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this summer is the two year anniversary of harrison's graduation from <a href="http://whatsupatthewhitehouse.blogspot.com/2013/04/photos-of-occupational-therapy-at-star.html" target="_blank">STAR center</a>. this is what i wrote about <a href="http://whatsupatthewhitehouse.blogspot.com/2014/06/the-one-year-post-therapy-mark.html" target="_blank">the one year anniversary</a>.<br />
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you may have noticed, i've stopped blogging about sensory processing disorder. it's been a purposeful decision. it's one part because there just isn't as much emotion for me to release, one part because there just aren't as many sensory issues to talk about, two parts because my sweet boy is getting older and while i'm still likely to write about him and the things we do together, i want to be more careful about exposing the serious stuff to the world. <br />
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it's his story to tell.<br />
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if he wants to, when he wants to.<br />
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but what i would like to say is this: i am so stinkin thankful i get to be a mom to this boy. i <i>adore</i> who he is. i <i>love</i> every little snippet of his personality. i am <i>in awe </i>at the amazing things he does.<br />
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he is just such a great kid! a smart boy, a brave boy, a loving boy, a kind boy, a strong boy, an honest boy, an active boy.<br />
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yes, he's a boy who gets motion sickness. he's a boy who hates handwriting. he's a boy who makes the term picky-eater an understatement. he's a boy can rarely catch a football.<br />
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<b>but there is not one single sensory issue that hinders <i>who he is </i>as a person. </b><br />
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he is not an either/or situation. he is not one thing <i>in spite of</i> the others. he is all the things.<br />
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my son is a mixture of so many beautiful characteristics which mesh together to create a masterpiece so stunning that sometimes, just by looking at him, it brings tears to my eyes.<br />
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<br />rachel whitehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02392361134124443295noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5069774620125797308.post-65076361730589138062015-06-08T16:19:00.002-07:002015-06-08T16:19:45.765-07:00life latelywe've slept at the condo twelve nights in a row. that's the longest stretch we've ever stayed here i think. in some ways it's weird to not have a house in the city to go home to. in some ways it's lovely to fully commit to mountain living. mostly i miss our friends and neighbors.<br />
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we were blessed to have some sweet friends drive up to see us today. we met them at the park, ate lunch together, went for a hike and even carved out a few minutes to swim. we managed to cram an entire day into a few hours and it was really fun.<br />
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jeremy had to work yesterday (sunday) so the boys and i drove over the dam road (dillon reservoir), parked along the side of the road (where the locals do) and walked to a fantastic spot on the shore of the lake. we played there for a couple hours, building rock sculptures, digging out and filling up a moat, skipping rocks, and even following a pair of moose tracks that were left in the wet sand not long before we arrived. i left my phone in the car on purpose so no pictures.<br />
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that afternoon while the boys were resting i went out for a solo walk, half way down buffalo mountain and then halfway back up. it was three miles exactly, but more uphill than down because of the route i took. my legs were very happy to reach home.<br />
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saturday night the boys thought it would be a good time to set up a tent in the middle of the living room. we had to stack the ottomans onto the couch and push the couch back a couple feet (blocking the entrance to the bathroom which was super convenient) to make it fit.<br />
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here's a family bedtime selfie. harrison didn't want to act silly with us so he hid behind his book.<br />
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they slept uneventfully through the night and woke up happy! although graham did take a two hour nap sunday afternoon so i'm not sure it was the best quality sleep. of course now they want to keep the tent up forever. lord help me.<br />
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in other news, harrison and graham have been at each other's throats. perhaps it's the transition of moving that's been difficult on them? or all the tv watching they'd been doing? or now living in a 700 square foot condo? whatever the case my new policy is to assign chores each and every time they fight. it seems to be working so far but i'll keep you posted.<br />
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i have also been doing my best to provide plenty of activities to keep us busy...and some separate play time too. <i>psalm 133:1 how good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity. </i>it truly is so beautiful when they get along!<br />
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these two brothers, born on easter sunday, seems live together pretty well...<br />
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see their cute little side-by-side tooshies? these guys live just up the block from our old house in denver.<br />
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well, i'm off to cook some dinner. steak and salad with blue cheese dressing (for jeremy because blue cheese is just ew).<br />
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later taters.<br />
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<br />rachel whitehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02392361134124443295noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5069774620125797308.post-90549193013361602352015-06-07T17:55:00.001-07:002015-06-07T17:55:55.949-07:00our first hike of the season - lily pad trail 2015<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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saturday morning, june 6th, found us hiking to lily pad pond. </div>
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there is a steep vertical at the trailhead but the view at the top is worth it and once you make that initial ascent the rest of the hike is easy.</div>
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at the top of that first climb we were greeted by a patch of snow and walking sticks. we each gladly grabbed a stick and left them behind in the same spot when we were finished.</div>
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this is what it's like when we hike...</div>
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graham is waaaaaaay up front, usually so much so that i cannot see him...</div>
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and jer and harrison bring up the rear. </div>
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i stay mostly tucked in the middle, taking photos of things like these curlicue branches.</div>
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we meander quite a bit. i mean, other hikers get up and back before we even get up, know what i'm sayin? we stop to look at birds and build rock sculptures and investigate animal poop (mostly dog, occasionally deer, rarely moose) and take photos and have drink/snack breaks and complain about our feet and beg for piggyback rides. </div>
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our favorite part is BRIDGES!</div>
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and signs!</div>
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cute boys.</div>
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when you get to the end of the trail there is a small pond full of lily pads and a separate, larger lake. the lake is in the background in the jeremy's and my selfie above. jer was squeezing my toosh. that's why he's smiling so big. usually he smiles like this...</div>
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i should let him grab my arse more often, huh? </div>
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and those, my friends, were the best moments from our hike to lily pad pond.</div>
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<br />rachel whitehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02392361134124443295noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5069774620125797308.post-45463759654380628412015-06-06T18:53:00.000-07:002015-06-06T18:53:38.384-07:00my morning walk<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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the forecast suggested rain so i laced up my sneakers early.</div>
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the air was brisk, my pace not so much. </div>
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the trails were muddy from last night's storm so i stuck to the streets.</div>
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i chose a direction i hadn't traveled before. </div>
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there's the summit of buffalo mountain. </div>
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maybe one day i'll be brave enough to hike to it. </div>
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i found this guy walking nearby. </div>
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when he spotted me he stopped and posed. </div>
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i know they say <i>wise old owl</i> and <i>clever as a fox</i> but this guy seemed wise. </div>
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to my ways, at least.</div>
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there were twisty trees.</div>
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ouch i've got a kink in my back.</div>
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there were scenic views.</div>
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there was a curved road that lead me back toward home. </div>
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there was even a secret shortcut. </div>
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but i walked right on past. </div>
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why curtail the morning's offering? </div>
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a walk along mountain roads is surely a privilege.</div>
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but everyone has trees and rocks. </div>
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dew and dandelions don't discriminate. </div>
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beauty is all around us. </div>
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get outside and soak some up.</div>
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rachel whitehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02392361134124443295noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5069774620125797308.post-12189436420555609182015-06-05T17:38:00.001-07:002015-06-05T17:38:23.402-07:00where oh where has my iphoto gone? and other questions about lifei could have sworn i had uploaded some images (christmas photos maybe?) and edited them on my macbook air but now the only photo software i can find is called <i>photos</i> (not iphoto) and it has jackcrap in the way of editing ability. so i'm bewildered.<br />
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was iphoto ever on this laptop? was that only in my imagination?<br />
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these are the questions that plague me.<br />
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.......<br />
i have a couple hundred photos from a family reunion last weekend that need to be edited. do i upload them to dropbox as is and let everyone edit their own? or do i make everyone wait until i can find my dang iphoto and actually sit down to process them before i upload?<br />
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it was a reunion for jer's side, by the way. his aunt jenny was in town from arkansas so the colorado cousins drove to denver and hung out for the afternoon. it was lovely.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iBAbKAoqRYQ/VXI-MhNtQzI/AAAAAAAADP4/UE-438jyLL8/s1600/IMG_7402.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iBAbKAoqRYQ/VXI-MhNtQzI/AAAAAAAADP4/UE-438jyLL8/s640/IMG_7402.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">a photo of the cousins. unedited of course.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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.......<br />
today we closed on our house in texas. we found out at the last minute that i had to drive down the mountain to wire transfer our closing funds in person. not convenient. i jumped into the car, made the drive, transferred the money and drove back up the hill just in time to meet jeremy at the title company.<br />
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we signed the documents and went on our merry way. rather anti-climactic if you ask me.<br />
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does this mean we are officially texans??<br />
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.......<br />
when we got back up to the condo the conversation went like this:<br />
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me: well boys we just bought a house. that's what we were doing when we signed all those papers.<br />
graham: i know.<br />
me: so now you'll have a yard to play in.<br />
harrison: but it's not a big yard.<br />
me: it's big enough for a dog and a trampoline.<br />
harrison: but it's not big.<br />
me: let's just see how big you think it is when you're the one who has to mow it.<br />
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sigh.<br />
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haters gonna hate.<br />
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did i just quote taylor swift?<br />
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.......<br />
today was national donut day but it was a bummer for us because no donut shops in summit county offered freebies. i did take the boys to city market to get a discounted donut (25 cents is about as close to free as you can get...but it's a grocery store donut, not a donut shop donut) so the day was (somewhat) redeemed.<br />
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what i'd really like to know, though, is when the heck will it be national <i>gluten-free</i> donut day? huh? anyone?<br />
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help a sister out.<br />
<br />
.......<br />
this page from <i>charlotte's web</i> - a conversation between sheep and rat - is one of the best things i've read ever.<br />
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do you agree?<br />
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we bought a new hummingbird feeder for the condo but the poor dears cannot figure out how to eat from it. they fly up and hover for a few seconds only to fly away confused. i'm sure they're humming secret messages to their friends about how lame our balcony is.<br />
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why in the world can't the hummingbird feeder design people create a feeder that is both functional and beautiful?<br />
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i do believe that's all the randomness in my head this evening. i hope you lovelies have a fantastic weekend. and if you've got answers for any of my crazy questions - and especially if you know where i can get a gluten-free donut - leave me a comment! lord knows i could use all the help i can get.<br />
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<br />rachel whitehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02392361134124443295noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5069774620125797308.post-3651465452217553872015-06-03T17:36:00.001-07:002015-06-03T17:36:09.680-07:00life has been cray-cray around here<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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what's been up here at the white house is that we decided not to build a house, started searching for an existing home to buy in the denver metro area, worked toward getting our townhouse sale-ready, listed our townhouse, sold our townhouse, entertained the idea of moving to the dallas metro area instead of staying in denver, took a trip to dallas to check it out, bought a house in dallas, worked toward packing up and moving out of our townhouse and now, finally, we are spending the month of june at our condo waiting until the big move to texas.<br />
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all while finishing out the school year.<br />
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april and may were a whirlwind.<br />
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i ate all the bad things. i did not exercise. i did not read. the children did not read. no one read. but there was a whole lotta tv-watching going on.<br />
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..................<br />
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but now here we are in paradise. enjoying the fresh mountain air, soaking up the sunshine, listening to the hummingbirds whiz by the balcony, eating a bit healthier, getting some exercise, playing and swimming together and watching less tv.<br />
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we do have an ipad addiction that is causing havoc (just ask the g-man who had to go to bed early last night because he disobediently, sneakily played on the tablet).<br />
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i still haven't read anything but the kids are reading again so baby steps.<br />
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the boys and i took a walk through the national forest land that's across the street from our condo this morning. i took a couple photos of the tipi-like structures i discovered this past winter. it's cool to see them in spring...<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bSWfVb9BmI4/VW-Z6pzAkyI/AAAAAAAADOk/hbWxDX3vRWA/s1600/IMG_6773.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="534" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bSWfVb9BmI4/VW-Z6pzAkyI/AAAAAAAADOk/hbWxDX3vRWA/s640/IMG_6773.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">spring<br /></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BU1KAar27AQ/VW-aAQ5iOLI/AAAAAAAADO0/xNCJ239Pozs/s1600/IMG_6122.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BU1KAar27AQ/VW-aAQ5iOLI/AAAAAAAADO0/xNCJ239Pozs/s640/IMG_6122.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">winter. this is one of my favorite photos ever.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">spring</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">winter, view from the opposite direction. i promise it's the same structure - crazy how much the snow covers!!<br /><br /></td></tr>
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i am so thankful for june. what a blessing to be able to take life a little slower this month!<br /><br />rachel whitehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02392361134124443295noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5069774620125797308.post-61732996992418635962015-04-01T10:11:00.004-07:002015-04-01T10:11:26.257-07:00books i read in march<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<i>the rosie effect</i> by graeme simsion -<br />
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a sequel to <i>the rosie project</i>, this book had me frequently chuckling. don tillman is now married and must adjust his regimented lifestyle to include his wife, rosie. but when rosie reveals she is pregnant poor don tillman's world turns upside down!<br />
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a cute, light-hearted book that i think anyone can relate to, especially if you've had one plan in mind and life dealt you a different one. full disclosure: i did find myself skimming quite a bit.<br />
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<i>the girl on the train</i> by paula hawkins -<br />
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a thriller - but not a scary one - about a woman who takes the train into london each morning and back home each evening. the story unfolds to slowly reveal more about the main character, rachel watson, and why she habitually rides the train.<br />
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a good page-turner with a redemptive ending.<br />
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<i>all the light we cannot see</i> by anthony doerr -<br />
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the story of two teens, a french girl and a german boy, who live through world war two. the girl, who is blind, is forced from her home in paris to take shelter in the seaside town of saint-malo, france. the boy is forced to join hitler's regime, moving up through the ranks because of his intelligence and skill. the two survive the war, meet, and discover a long-held connection between them.<br />
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this was a very beautiful, heart-wrenching, heroic, worthwhile read. i found the book interesting from a historical perspective too.<br />
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<i>if i built a house</i> by chris van dusen -<br />
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one of my favorite children's author/illustrators, chris van dusen had me (and the boys!) captivated once again with his most recent story book. although i believe it was published in 2012, this was the first time i'd found it at the library so promptly checked it out. the boys and i read this every night for two weeks.<br />
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<i>the life-changing magic of tidying up</i> by marie condo - </div>
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a book about decluttering and organizing your house and, thus, creating the life you want for yourself, based on japanese principles. i read this yesterday in less than one hour. while i don't agree with everything she suggests <span style="font-size: x-small;">(taking the shampoo, conditioner, body wash, etc out of the shower, drying off the bottles, then putting them away in the cupboard EACH time you shower seems ridiculous to me)</span>, i did find some nuggets of truth.</div>
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a super fast read that does provide inspiration to get your home in order.</div>
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<br />rachel whitehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02392361134124443295noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5069774620125797308.post-7975826414011151912015-03-13T06:00:00.000-07:002015-03-13T06:00:00.678-07:0038 things about me<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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to celebrate this day which marks my 38th year of life i thought i'd tell you 38 things about me. you may or may not already know this stuff but, ya know, whatever the case...<br />
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1. i am half persian. jeremy calls me his hairy iranian. so sad but oh so true. he also calls me food nicknames - pumpkin, muffin, cupcake, buttercup.<br />
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2. i was adopted when i was two months old. the story goes that i was in foster care for two months because my biological father did not want to relinquish his paternal rights.<br />
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3. i don't know what ethnicity the other half of me is.<br />
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4. i was born in iowa city, raised in waterloo, iowa.<br />
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5. i graduate high school in 1995.<br />
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6. one time i tried unsuccessfully to find a picture of my biological father in a university of iowa yearbook. long story, but after that failed search i took it as a sign that finding my birth parents just wasn't meant to be.<br />
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7. i moved to oklahoma when i was 18 to go to college. i originally planned to go to a different university but switched at the last minute to follow a friend to bartlesville wesleyan college. (can we say co-dependent?)<br />
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8. while i moved to oklahoma my parents and brother moved to russia. (probable cause of the co-dependence)<br />
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9. i had to go to my professor's house and use his aol account and dial-up internet to email my family while they were overseas. i also baked chocolate cookies in his oven and did laundry in his washing machine.<br />
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10. although originally declaring a psychology major i switched to biology because most of my friends were science majors (again, co-dependent). i shoulda stuck with pysch.<br />
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11. i was SUCH a lost soul (not spiritually but probably in every other way...and, yeah, probably spiritually too) during my college years.<br />
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12. i dropped out of college my junior year because i was completely aimless and sad about a boy.<br />
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13. there were many people in oklahoma who adopted me as their own, gave me a family and a home. not one single day goes by that i don't think of at least one of them.<br />
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14. i used to work as a certified podiatric medical assistant, taking x-rays of feet and filing toenails.<br />
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15. i used to work as a nanny. loved it!<br />
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16. i used to work as an assistant youth pastor. those youth have now graduated college - crazy!<br />
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17. once, when asked by a questionnaire to use one word to describe myself, i thought at length about it and wrote <i>mercurial. </i>in many ways i think that word still suits me today. the volatility has faded but the molding to fit my environment remains.<br />
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18. i learned in therapy yesterday that adaptability does not negate authenticity. think on that one for a while.<br />
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19. i used to work in the music industry.<br />
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20. i used to work as an event planner for three wealthy commercial real estate brokers. they gifted me the most comfy rocker/glider and ottoman when i was pregnant with harrison.<br />
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21. i met my husband on eharmony.com.<br />
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22. jeremy said <i>i love you</i> first but i knew i would marry him first.<br />
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23. we got married in bartlesville, oklahoma in 2004, outdoors in july (sweaty!) on the porch of the most beautiful southern plantation style house (the home of the family i nannied for).<br />
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24. it was one year from our first email to our wedding day. it was nine months from our first in-person meeting to our wedding day. it was five months from our engagement day to our wedding day.<br />
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25. i love jeremy more now than i did then. truly.<br />
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26. we spent ten days in the dominican republic for our honeymoon. jeremy planned it and surprised me. i had no idea where we were going until we boarded the flight out of miami.<br />
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27. we still live in the same townhouse jeremy owned before we got married.<br />
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28. i feel content in our little townhouse but i'm ready to find our next house.<br />
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29. i have a good handful of very dear friends but i'm not sure i have ever had one all-time best friend.<br />
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30. i am just awful at keeping in touch with people. it is one of my worst flaws.<br />
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31. my favorite food is potatoes - mashed, baked, fried, roasted, hash-browned...i'll even eat them raw...but NOT scalloped!<br />
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32. i am an introvert but people find that surprising (might be due to #17).<br />
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33. if you looked in my closet you would see lots and lots of horizontal stripes. i guess i have a thing for them.<br />
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34. i prefer to have my hair pulled back out of my face.<br />
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35. i prefer not wearing make-up but i think i look better when i actually put the stuff on.<br />
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36. i prefer wearing loungewear all day every day. don't we all?<br />
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37. i love living in colorado.<br />
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38. i love jesus<br />
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and a pinch to grow an inch...<br />
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39. my favorite bible verse is probably isaiah 54:2 which says <i>enlarge the place of your tent, stretch your curtains wide, do not hold back; lengthen your cords, strengthen your stakes. </i>if you read the previous chapters leading up to that verse the meaning is so cool! basically, the nation of israel is being compared to a barren woman and god is finally telling her <i>listen, i'm about to bless you with so many stinkin children you're gonna have to build a bigger house to hold them all, so get busy sister!</i><span style="font-size: x-small;">(interpretation mine)</span><br />
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that's how i feel on my birthday this year - so very blessed. and i know god will continue to shower his love down on me (because that's what he does) so my plan is to open my arms wide to receive it all. i love being 38 but i think the best is still yet to come.<br />
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<br />rachel whitehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02392361134124443295noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5069774620125797308.post-50920347731566252792015-03-11T15:08:00.004-07:002015-03-11T15:08:53.210-07:00how to dress kids for outdoor winter activities<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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whether it's for a family ski trip, a neighborhood sledding adventure or simply playing in the yard on a snowy day, it's important to know how to dress your children for outdoor winter fun.<br />
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because i once lived in oklahoma and now live in colorado i get the pleasure of advising warm-climate out-of-towners about the gear they'll need in order to keep warm in the rocky mountains. we were blessed to see two such families last month! here's the information i gave them.<br />
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our family uses a three layer system: <b>base layer, mid layer and outer layer.</b> this concept works for both kids and adults. it is great for any weather because one layer can easily be added or removed. by keeping to just three layers it prevents getting too hot, which can cause excess sweating. if your child gets too sweaty and that perspiration stays near the skin it will make them cold.<br />
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<b>base layer </b>- this should be a thin, wicking layer that is made from polypropylene or polyester. no cotton allowed! a synthetic fabric will help perspiration evaporate whereas cotton holds moisture in. dry clothes are warm clothes.<br />
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our favorite brand base layer is<a href="http://www.hotchillys.com/c/baselayers-for-kids" target="_blank"> hot chillys</a> but again, just read the label to see what the garment is made of. most packages will say something like "moisture wicking" or "draws moisture away from body".<br />
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<b>mid layer</b> - this layer is strictly for warmth. it's typically some type of fleece. polartec fleece is a good option as is a 100% wool sweater. again, no cotton. we go with columbia brand gear for our kids mostly because it's great quality and we can buy it for a discounted price at the outlet store near our condo. i prefer a mid layer that can zip into the outer layer so it becomes one coat. dressing kids to go outside can be laborious and time-consuming; it's helpful to minimize the number of items they need to put on. <a href="http://www.columbia.com/winter-layers-midlayer/#prefn1=genderGroup&prefv1=Youth" target="_blank">HERE</a> are some good options.<br />
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<b>outer layer </b>- this is a lightweight shell jacket that is both windproof and waterproof. <a href="http://www.thenorthface.com/catalog/sc-gear/boys.html" target="_blank">HERE</a> are some good options.<br />
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it should be noted that you could choose to purchase an insulated, waterproof winter coat for your child which would negate the need for a mid layer because the coat would provide enough warmth on its own. then you'd just go with a base layer and the insulated coat.<br />
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<b>pants</b> - our kids wear insulated, waterproof ski pants with a hot chillys base layer underneath. this provides plenty of protection and warmth no matter the activity or the temperature. i highly recommend buying pants instead of bib overalls. while the overalls might keep them slightly warmer they make it much more difficult for kids to go potty!! <a href="http://www.columbia.com/girls-bugaboo-pant-1562121.html?dwvar_1562121_variationColor=650&cgid=activity-skiSnow#prefn1=genderGroup&prefn2=productClass&prefv2=Pants&prefv1=Youth&start=0" target="_blank">HERE</a> is a great pants option.<br />
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in both coats and pants i look for "outgrow" options which many brands offer now. what this means is that the coat and pants are made with a two-inch hem inside the sleeves and legs so, as your child grows, the garment can grow with them if you let out the hem. another way to save money and extend the life of your outerwear is to purchase plain patterns and/or neutral colors so coats and pants can be passed down from older to younger, and maybe even from boys to girls. i also tend to buy one size up in hopes that my kids can wear a coat for at least two years.<br />
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now on to the accessories...<br />
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<b>socks</b> - only wear one pair! don't fool yourself into thinking two pair will keep feet warmer, it's just not true. i recommend <a href="http://www.smartwool.com/socks.html?cat=6680&cid=ps%3AGOOGLE%3ABrand+Socks+Exact+Term+-+US%3Asmartwool+socks%3Asmartwool+socks&gclid=CKOliJSSocQCFQERaQodPFYAmg&limit=60&utm_campaign=Brand+Socks+Exact+Term+-+US&utm_content=SmartWool&utm_medium=cpc&utm_source=google&utm_term=smartwool+socks" target="_blank">smartwool brand socks</a>. they are a bit pricey but the tootsies will stay toasty. one other tip: do not tuck the pant legs of the base layer inside the sock. the sock should be against the skin, then the base layer, then the boot.<br />
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<b>gloves</b> - we've used both gloves and mittens with success. mittens do keep fingers just a bit warmer. the most important factor is that they are insulated and waterproof.<br />
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<b>neck warmer</b> - for super cold or windy days a neck warmer is a good idea as it can be pulled up to cover the lower part of the face. i like the <a href="http://www.turtlefur.com/Necks/b/5441975011" target="_blank">turtle fur brand</a>. all the kids in the photo above are wearing neck warmers, some pull over their heads like a hat whereas some just rest on the shoulders like a scarf. both work equally well.<br />
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<b>boots</b> - for playing in the snow our boys wear basic snow boots i bought at target. occasionally i wish i had purchased better quality boots for them but, honestly, most of the time they never complain! skiing or snowboarding boots will need to be rented along with the rest of equipment for those specific sports.<br />
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<b>hats</b> - helmets are required for skiing and snowboarding so when doing those activities the boys' heads and ears stay warm without a hat. when they are playing outside in the snow, though, they always pull up their fleece-lined hood or wear some type of hat. i don't have any specific recommendations other than to just make sure to wear one. :-)<br />
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<b>sunscreen, wrist guards, goggles</b> - i am always hounding my family to put on sunscreen. it's a must-do in the mountains. wrist guards are a good idea for snowboarders, especially beginners. goggles are fantastic for any kind of outdoor activity on snowy, windy days. on calm days and for low-key activities a pair of sunglasses would suffice.<br />
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whether you're headed to the mountains for a winter vacation or you live in oklahoma and get blessed with a rare snowstorm, these are the rules to follow to keep kids warm outdoors.<br />
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<a href="http://www.ski-bums.org/FreshiesArticle1.html" target="_blank">this website</a> also offers great, detailed information.<br />
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<br />rachel whitehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02392361134124443295noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5069774620125797308.post-83290371028284573822015-03-10T12:49:00.000-07:002015-03-10T12:49:27.440-07:00why i said goodbye to facebook<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://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yqSDtME6FGk/VP8itJev5HI/AAAAAAAADKs/CotyTa_UvqI/s1600/facebook-logo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yqSDtME6FGk/VP8itJev5HI/AAAAAAAADKs/CotyTa_UvqI/s1600/facebook-logo.jpg" height="160" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.geofffox.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/facebook-logo.jpg" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">source</span></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">i've lost track now how long it's been since i quit facebook. i'm guessing a month, maybe more. i used to count the minutes, then the hours. it took me a solid week to stop picking up my phone again and again and again to check my newsfeed. it took me longer than that to stop wondering what's going on out there in the world of status updates. in fact, i even texted a friend at one point to ask her what was happening on facebook. her response: <i>just the usual woes and brags.</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">apparently, i wasn't missing much but it sure felt like i was.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">i legitimately like facebook. i grew up in iowa and my family is still there. i lived in oklahoma for ten years and have dear friends there. facebook is a fabulous way to connect and share life with those near and far! but what <a href="http://whatsupatthewhitehouse.blogspot.com/2015/03/whats-saving-my-life-right-now.html" target="_blank">kills me</a> about facebook is when "friends" use it to announce things that should really be done in person or over the phone or, god help us all, at the very least through a text message. when you find out your brother got engaged by reading about it on facebook that kinda sucks. when you discover your favorite aunt's cancer has returned and is terminal on facebook that kinda sucks even more.</span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">i deactivated because i got tired of facebook being more important than the people on facebook. </span></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">the truth is i'd been considering dropping off social media for a long while before i actually pulled the trigger. it was more than a year ago that my therapist mentioned studies which determined facebook can lead to depression. i've read, and been fascinated by, essays about people's breaks from social media or the internet altogether. they suffered withdrawal symptoms but ended up living a fuller life offline; most began using technology again after a predetermined timeframe but they felt more purposeful in doing so. then i stumbled upon a ny times article about how one viral tweet caused a woman to be fired from her job and forced her to leave the country to avoid the media frenzy that followed. i must admit, too, that the more and more common cyberattacks have made me wary of the internet in general. <span style="font-size: x-small;">(yes i understand the irony of that statement given that i'm about to publish this on my personal webpage).</span> ultimately, though, i disconnected <b>longing to decrease the white noise that infiltrated my daily life and, more so, to connect with people in a real-er way.</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">so what can i tell you about life since saying byebye to facebook? surely i use my time more wisely now that i don't have my nose in a newsfeed multiple times a day but i couldn't exactly tell you how. it's safe to say i've been reading books more, the house has been a bit tidier, i've paid more attention to the boys, i've said "just a minute" to them less, my phone has been plugged into the wall more and by my side less. i have certainly made more phone calls or sent more texts instead of relying on facebook to tell me how my friends are doing. all incremental changes. all good ones.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">but i do miss the ability to connect with people who mean a lot to me. i want to see photos of new babies. i want a reminder notification when it's a friend's birthday. i wish i could post a quick status update to get recommendations for a local cleaning service. i want to know about the progress a friend is making with her family's venture to start a farm...</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">it's all that stuff but mostly i just honestly, sincerely miss all the plain old </span><i style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">woes and brags</i><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">so, who knows, maybe i'll join facebook land again one day. until then i'll just keep posting my own woes and brags right here. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">#blogsarebetterthanfacebook </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">;-)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">here are some articles about social media you may find interesting...</span><br />
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<a href="http://john.do/null/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>going null on social media</i> by john saddington</span></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2015/02/15/magazine/how-one-stupid-tweet-ruined-justine-saccos-life.html?_r=0" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>how one stupid tweet ruined justine saccos life</i> at the ny times</span></a><br />
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<a href="http://money.cnn.com/2015/03/02/technology/facebook-envy/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>too much facebook leads to envy and depression</i> at cnn money</span></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.mommyish.com/2015/02/11/technology-destroying-my-marriage-family/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>technology is destroying my family #help</i> at mommyish.com</span></a><br />
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<br />rachel whitehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02392361134124443295noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5069774620125797308.post-83942494998206127072015-03-09T12:55:00.001-07:002015-03-09T12:55:17.892-07:00free therapy advicei had to schedule an emergency counseling session with dr. vermiller a few weeks back because of a family incident that got me stewing. after day three of frustration and self-loathing i reached out to ask for help. i'm so glad i did.<br />
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here's what i learned that morning in therapy:<br />
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1) i am a child of god, gifted with sensitivity, keen insight and intuition.<br />
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2) not everyone is gifted in this same way.<br />
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3) i am comfortable talking about things.<br />
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this is mostly because i know who i am and what i believe. pretending to be anything other than my real self just doesn't work for me. chatting about my feelings is not hard because i'm just sharing part of myself with others. debating with someone who carries a dissenting opinion is easy because being grounded in my own beliefs allows me the space to offer others the ability to be grounded in theirs. i'm open-hearted, willing to changing my opinion if so moved. i think the freedom with which i can discuss things is also due to an deep understanding that we're all in this together, we all experience pain. i know the pain goes away more quickly, and we feel less alone, if we talk about it.<br />
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now, when situations pop up that cause me to question myself? that's when i get back to therapy to get grounded again. (in fact i've got another appointment with the good doctor tomorrow).<br />
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4) not everyone is comfortable talking about things the way i am.<br />
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5) in order to be an authentic person one must be both vulnerable and assertive.<br />
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vulnerability is a keystone for authenticity. be who you are no matter what, even if it's scary. assertiveness, too, is important because people should feel confident expressing who they are, what they believe, what they like, what they don't like, what they want and how they feel. these are the qualities we need in order to show up and be real with each other.<br />
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6) authentic relationships (whether with a spouse, parent, child, friend) can only exist if people allow themselves to be vulnerable with others and feel comfortable being assertive with others.<br />
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7) not everyone is authentic. not everyone is capable of participating in an authentic relationship.<br />
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8) i can show grace to those who don't possess the same qualities i do, but i am not responsible for how they live their life or how they react to the way i chose to live mine.<br />
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9) my only obligation is to honor god with my words and deeds and thoughts; to be who he created me to be - a perceptive, self-actualized human being.<br />
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10) all this is much easier said than done!<br />
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11) all this is much easier when you have a therapist to coach you through it!!<br />
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so what about you? in what ways do you think you are gifted? are you a talker or a under-the-rug-sweeper? would you consider yourself an authentic person? is it easy for you to be vulnerable? how 'bout assertive? do you like reading about my therapy sessions??? :-)<br />
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happy monday to you all!<br />
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<br />rachel whitehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02392361134124443295noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5069774620125797308.post-53462154036492621322015-03-08T08:04:00.001-07:002015-03-08T08:04:33.954-07:00a real life conversation<br />
after just waking up i walked to the boys' room to check on them. graham was awake but still lying in bed so i crawled in next to him. he started whispering to me...<br />
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graham: mommy, i have a joke for you. well, it's kind of a riddle.<br />
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me: ok.<br />
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graham: how do you put a hippo in a frigerator?<br />
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me: i have no idea.<br />
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graham: you open the door, stuff him in, then close the door.<br />
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me: [skeptical about this riddle]: oh, i see!<br />
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graham: how do you put a giraffe in a frigerator?<br />
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me: um, you open the door, stuff him in, then close the door?<br />
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graham: yes, except you have to pull the hippo out first.<br />
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me: oh, of course.<br />
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graham: mommy, there's a river. there's a sign that says "beware alligators" and the bridge is out. how do you get across?<br />
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me: you jump?<br />
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graham: no, you swim because the alligators are at a party.<br />
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me [smiling]: that's pretty clever, graham.<br />
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graham: who can't cross the river?<br />
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me: i don't know. buddy.<br />
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graham: the giraffe! because he's stuck in the frigerator!<br />
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here are a few cute word-mishaps harrison has said lately...<br />
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"give me those cards! staff!" (he meant to say STAT)<br />
"don't temper me with cookies" (he meant to say TEMPT)<br />
"we need a new suspenders" (he meant to say SUSPENSION for the car)<br />
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<br />rachel whitehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02392361134124443295noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5069774620125797308.post-3468727353317769892015-03-07T18:33:00.001-08:002015-03-07T18:33:26.062-08:00the superficial things that are saving my life right nowfrom <a href="http://whatsupatthewhitehouse.blogspot.com/2015/03/whats-saving-my-life-right-now.html" target="_blank">serious</a> to silly...here's a few of my favorite things of late.<br />
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after my last cleaning my dentist gave me a new toothbrush. it's the <a href="http://www.walgreens.com/store/c/colgate-slim-soft-gliding-tip-toothbrush/ID=prod6210880-product?SL_ClientGroup=1" target="_blank">colgate slim soft toothbrush</a> and it feels like i'm brushing my teeth with a cloud!<br />
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along that same line, i've been using <a href="http://www.walgreens.com/store/c/crest-3d-white-luxe-whitestrips-professional-effects---teeth-whitening-kit/ID=prod6016317-product" target="_blank">crest whitening strips, the professional luxe series</a>. i drink coffee therefore i need white strips and these work great. i use them two nights in a row then one night off so my teeth don't get too sensitive.<br />
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let me introduce you to your new best friend: <a href="https://www.victoriassecret.com/victorias-secret-sport/bra-guide" target="_blank">the victoria's secret sports bra!</a><br />
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my physical therapist recommended these lightweight, flexible running shoes because they allow my feet to function the way god created them. <a href="http://store.nike.com/us/en_us/pw/womens-running-free/7ptZ9zmZ8yz" target="_blank">the nike free 5.0 series.</a> i love them. i also love that i can buy them for super cheap at the nike outlet store!<br />
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<a href="http://www.clarisonic.com/shop-our-products/clarisonic-mia-CL11.html" target="_blank">the clarisonic mia.</a> if you've read reviews and wondered about it i'm here to tell you it really is amazing. i got one for my birthday last year and although i still have problem skin (especially if i eat too much sugar) i do think my skin is the best it's been in a long, long time...maybe ever. it's pricey but worth the investment.<br />
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jeremy and i are binge watching nbc's <i><a href="http://www.nbc.com/the-blacklist" target="_blank">the blacklist</a></i>, usually getting through two episodes each night after we tuck the boy into bed. we've almost finished the first season.<br />
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<a href="http://www.fox.com/masterchef-junior" target="_blank">masterchef junior </a>wins the award for favorite family tv show. the boys love it and, bonus, it inspires them to get in the kitchen more!<br />
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<a href="http://modernmrsdarcy.com/" target="_blank">modern mrs. darcy</a> is my current blog obsession. if you love reading you will love this blog.<br />
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that completes the list of random things - just the first few that popped into my head - that making life better right now.<br />
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<br />rachel whitehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02392361134124443295noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5069774620125797308.post-87752148225272796882015-03-04T06:41:00.004-08:002015-03-04T06:41:48.561-08:00what's saving my life right now<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">i read something a few weeks back that got me contemplating. blog writer <i>modern mrs. darcy</i>, inspired by the book l<i>eaving church</i>, <a href="http://modernmrsdarcy.com/2015/02/whats-saving-life-right-now/" target="_blank">challenged her readers to consider the things that are saving their lives</a>. she wrote, "e<span style="color: #222222; line-height: 25px;">ven though most of us can easily articulate what’s killing us, few of us pay attention to what’s giving us life."</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: #222222; line-height: 25px;">guilty as charged. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: #222222; line-height: 25px;">i cannot tell you how frequently i catch myself saying <i>the kids are killing me</i> or <i>this weather is killing me</i> or <i>all.the.legos are killing me!</i></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: #222222; line-height: 25px;">so i did indeed feel challenged to shift my focus toward what brings me back to life.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="line-height: 25px;">1) </span><b style="line-height: 25px;">waking up before my children.</b><span style="line-height: 25px;"> i'm writing about this first because i honestly feel it has been the simplest, yet most profound thing i've been doing to refresh my spirit. i used to read about moms who woke before their babies and thought they were crazy. now i realize there are different stages of motherhood. the season i'm in now, with children ages 6 and 7 who wake consistently around 6:30am and can dress themselves and even make their own breakfast if necessary, makes it easy for me to get up at 5:30am. i enjoy a quiet hour of reading, thinking, praying...sometimes wasting time scrolling through my phone...sometimes just staring out the window (to catch the sunrise!). all while sipping a piping hot cup of coffee. waking up in peace is the very best way to start the day and it allows me to feel settled and readied for the frantic before-school rush.</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="line-height: 25px;">2) <b>vitamins.</b> i wrote about my vitamin regime <a href="http://whatsupatthewhitehouse.blogspot.com/2015/01/banishing-winter-blues.html" target="_blank">here</a>.</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="line-height: 25px;">3) <b>exercise.</b> a friend told me yesterday about working out, "you're so dedicated". i'm not sure it's dedication, i just know doing some form of physical activity most days makes my brain and body feel better. </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="line-height: 25px;">4) <b>writing.</b> i process my life by writing it. i've said repeatedly that writing is my therapy. not everything is published on this blog because, although i'm a fairly open book, some topics are better left hiding in a file on my computer. or written long-hand and burned! but they all get written out. </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="line-height: 25px;">5) <b>keeping a very simple schedule. </b>routine is my life-blood and i enjoy a simple one. i know i am incredibly blessed to do so! my days are typically all the same: wake, quiet time, get boys to school, exercise, errands, pick up graham, housework, pick up harrison, homework, dinner, bathes & bed for boys, tv time with j</span></span></span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 25px;">er, bed for me. on thursdays i spend the morning volunteering at the boys school. that little tweak in my routine often throws me for a loop; i get home and need a nap! on valentine's day i volunteered at the school plus coordinated graham's class party, drove home to eat lunch, then headed back to the school to be with harrison during his class party. i was exhausted at the end of that day and woke up with a migraine the next! all that to say, i know a simple routine saves my life. </span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 25px;">6) <b>saying no.</b> i have become accustomed to saying no to things in order to keep my routine as simple as possible. not because i don't want to do them but because i've grown to understand they come with a cost. the things i can say yes to (meeting friends at the park) i'll jump at. the things i need to say no to (helping coach the soccer team) are easier to decline because i'm firmly grounded in knowing how much i can handle. </span></span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 25px;">we purposefully limit the boys' commitments (lessons, sports, teams) too!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 25px;">7) <b>daydreaming.</b> regarding the photo, sometimes when jeremy or i feel like something (mostly parenthood, let's just be real) is killing us we put our arms around each other, close our eyes and whisper "mexico, mexico, mexico" until we remember the ocean, the breeze and the unadulterated stress-free beauty of </span><a href="http://whatsupatthewhitehouse.blogspot.com/2014/07/home-from-puerto-vallarta.html" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 25px;" target="_blank">our week there</a><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 25px;">. taking a moment to transport ourselves saves us.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 25px;">so that's what's saving my life right now. what's saving yours?</span><br />
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 25px;"><br /></span></span>rachel whitehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02392361134124443295noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5069774620125797308.post-38343597179194648142015-03-03T16:20:00.000-08:002015-03-04T05:39:18.270-08:00a weapon against hardship<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tVzQQI6JE38/VPT423Y_JFI/AAAAAAAADJY/fnFr4MRM42A/s1600/IMG_5869.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tVzQQI6JE38/VPT423Y_JFI/AAAAAAAADJY/fnFr4MRM42A/s1600/IMG_5869.JPG" height="490" width="640" /></span></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">i've got a friend in marriage counseling after discovering her husband has been hiding an addiction.</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">i've got a friend battling depression and anxiety.</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">i've got a friend adjusting to a new city and realizing the reason she moved there isn't what </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">she thought it would be.</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">i've got a friend fighting aggressive cancer.</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">i've got a friend struggling to make the pennies stretch.</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">i've got a friend unhappy about how her body looks and feels.</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">i've got a friend purposefully carrying a few layers of fat as a shield from the world.</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">i've got a friend bottling emotions so deeply they make her hyperventilate when they come to the surface.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">i've got a friend concerned about her son's development, unsure what to do for him.</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">i've got a friend filling the void by shopping.</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">i've got a friend exhausted by the unspoken expectations of motherhood.</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">i've got a friend going the extra mile to help others but feels unworthy of receiving help herself.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">i've got a friend who had one daughter released from the hospital only to have her other daughter admitted. double sickness, double stress, double bills.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">these lives we lead aren't easy. there is struggle and strife and sadness. there is hurt and pain and emptiness. there is a relentless pursuit, a dirty scoundrel desperate to mire us in a spirit of heaviness and make us feel alone.</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">but there is a weapon against such sorrow: praise.</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">praising god in the midst of a trial is kryptonite to a heavy heart.</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span><b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">he will give you: beauty for ashes; joy instead of mourning; praise for heaviness. for god has planted you like a strong and graceful oak for his own glory, isaiah 61:3</span></b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br />sometimes praise is the furthest thing from our lips. maybe gratitude seems too hard. maybe the depths are so deep you cannot see what you have to be thankful for. the good news is that praise doesn't have to be verbal. it doesn't have to be documented five bullet points per day in a journal. it doesn't have to be sung with hands lifted high during a church worship service. praise is not an extra task on your already long to-do list. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">praise can be as simple as living life anyway. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">getting out of bed anyway. being kind to a stranger (or your children) anyway. unloading the dishwasher anyway. saying i love you anyway. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>praising means refusing to roll over and despair when all the world is gripped in darkness. to praise is to remember the victory that already belongs to us, even when our reality makes us sad. praising means soldiering on in the face of dismal odds and getting out of bed every day because god gives us the strength to do hard things. praise is sitting in the dark with my tears but knowing i don't sit there alone. </b></span></span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 21px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">-</span> <a href="http://www.flowerpatchfarmgirl.com/2015/02/praise-for-heaviness.html" target="_blank">shannan martin, </a></b></span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 21px;"><b><a href="http://www.flowerpatchfarmgirl.com/2015/02/praise-for-heaviness.html" target="_blank">flower patch farmgirl</a></b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small; line-height: 21px;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br />i have many lovely friends. they are beautiful humans inside and out, gifted in such various ways. each one is unique yet aren't we all the same? we plow forward in this thing called life, facing the trials, holding hands in the valleys and hugging on the hilltops. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">this is my encouraging word to you today; a lengthened version of texts i sent last week to three special ladies who needed a weapon to take into battle. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">life is hard. but you can do hard things. and by doing the hard you become the physical embodiment of praise. and by being the praise you automatically make the hard things just enough easier. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">trudging on together,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">rachel</span><br />
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<br />rachel whitehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02392361134124443295noreply@blogger.com0