tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23543467574640102002024-03-14T08:08:18.093-07:00Life in the Gateway CityStephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10902794344155774480noreply@blogger.comBlogger373125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2354346757464010200.post-15272948467880460382015-11-08T18:13:00.001-08:002015-11-08T18:13:33.895-08:00He is a good, good FatherLast night, we went to the Saturday night service at our church. Samuel wanted to go to "Big Church" with me and James, so we agreed to let him join us. I held him during some of the worship service so he could see the band. One of the songs that our worship pastor lead us in was "Good, Good Father."<br />
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Here are some of the words if you're not familiar with the song:</div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 17px;">You're a good good Father. </span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 17px;">It's who You are, it's who You are, it's who You are</span></i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 17px;">And I'm loved by You </span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 17px;">It's who I am, it's who I am, it's who I am</span></i></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 17px;">As I stood there, singing with Samuel in my arms, I smiled with gratitude. There was a season in our adoption story when I was so grief stricken that trying to sing that song would have sucked the air out of my lungs and left tears streaming down my face. Doubt. doubt. doubt. It didn't feel like He was a good Father. I didn't feel like I was loved by Him. "I do believe; help my unbelief!" from Mark 9:24 became the cry of my heart.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 17px;">And now, He has blessed us with the children we longed for.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 17px;">This popped up in my Facebook memories last night.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjarjiD_z1Bh-UvvPcfbvZSpjRA7mld1fe7jn-bve6qZTO1mfTpH5CB-WQ1APlKjuhPkap-YokSuqeCuqETe66sPPyJbH0mXuj5I10RHWlVodyySHNOfA8LU6Ly3HASel9dQNUZTbDNjuFZ/s1600/Screenshot_2015-11-07-22-53-13.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjarjiD_z1Bh-UvvPcfbvZSpjRA7mld1fe7jn-bve6qZTO1mfTpH5CB-WQ1APlKjuhPkap-YokSuqeCuqETe66sPPyJbH0mXuj5I10RHWlVodyySHNOfA8LU6Ly3HASel9dQNUZTbDNjuFZ/s320/Screenshot_2015-11-07-22-53-13.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 17px;">I looked at the date, and my mind went back to the tragic news that we had recieved a few days prior. The little Ethiopian babe that we had longed to bring home, was going to be leaving the world soon. Her health was utterly failing. She left this world just after Thanksgiving, only a few weeks later. My heart was crushed that Sunday, five years ago. I remember praying and weeping with two of our pastors after church. One of whom was an adoptee himself and the other an adoptive father. I remember wondering where God was. I was grateful -and still am- for the body of Christ who grieved with us, and prayed for us - especially when I had no words to pray. One of the pastors who prayed with us that Sunday was <a href="http://stephen-miller.com/">Stephen Miller</a>. (If you aren't familiar with his music, go check it out. It is gospel saturated.) He shared a quote on Facebook yesterday from Spurgeon's Morning and Evening that tied in well with what I had been remembering.</span><br />
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<i><span style="font-family: inherit;">"Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands."</span></i></div>
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a class="bibleref" data-bibleref="Isa.49.16" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isa.49.16" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; box-sizing: border-box; color: #b34b2c; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;">Isaiah 49:16</a></span></i><br />
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<i><span style="font-family: inherit;">What can be more astounding than the unfounded doubts and fears of God's favoured people? The Lord's loving word of rebuke should make us blush; he cries, "How can I have forgotten thee, when I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands? <b>How darest thou doubt my constant remembrance, when the memorial is set upon my very flesh?"</b> O unbelief, how strange a marvel thou art! We know not which most to wonder at, the faithfulness of God or the unbelief of his people. He keeps his promise a thousand times, and yet the next trial makes us doubt him. He never faileth . . . and yet we are as continually vexed with anxieties, molested with suspicions, and disturbed with fears, as if our God were the mirage of the desert. Heaven and earth may well be astonished that <b>rebels </b>should obtain so great a nearness to the heart of infinite love as to be written upon the palms of his hands. "I have graven thee." It does not say, "Thy name." The name is there, but that is not all: "I have graven thee." See the fullness of this! I have graven thy person, thine image, thy case, thy circumstances, thy sins, thy temptations, thy weaknesses, thy wants, thy works; I have graven thee, everything about thee, all that concerns thee; I have put thee altogether there. <b>Wilt thou ever say again that thy God hath forsaken thee when he has graven thee upon his own palms?</b></span></i></div>
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In the midst of sorrow, grief, and loss our hope lies in the Risen One who bears the wounds that were necessary us to be adopted into the family of God. He is ever with the rebels that he redeemed. His ear ever listen to our prayers and pleas. He is always faithful to the ones He spilled His life for.</div>
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Stephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10902794344155774480noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2354346757464010200.post-45278148660785881652015-09-05T13:51:00.000-07:002015-09-05T13:51:12.572-07:00Celebrating Samuel's Adoption Day<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Today marks the third anniversary of the finalization of Samuel's adoption. I'll never forget that day in court and the relief and gratitude that washed over me as the judge declared him to be legally our son. After all the waiting and the grief of having four little girls slip though our fingers, I had wondered what God's plans were for Samuel. Was he to be ours only for a short time too? I'm so thankful that God saw fit to make him part of our family, and this is certainly sometime to celebrate. </div>
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<b>Let them give thanks to the LORD for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for mankind,<span style="color: #001320;"><span style="background-color: #fdfeff; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Psalm 107:8</span></span></span></b></div>
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After breakfast, we went to the St. Louis Galleria to visit the original Build-A-Bear. This was our first time there, and we had fun. Samuel decided to build his own Toothless, and Eva Kate decided on Rarity from My Little Ponies. The added a heart and a voice box to their toys. Samuel's dragon roars, and Eva Kate's unicorn talks. The heart actually makes a "beating" vibration. The toys have their own unique birth certificates also.<br />
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We ate lunch at the food court. James and I got sushi. The kids shared a Honey Walnut shrimp bowl from Panda Express. They also got a fortune cookie to share, and I thought the fortune was appropriate in light of conversations we've had with the kids lately about being kind to others.<br />
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Every good celebration calls for cupcakes. These came from Cupcakes Amore. So yummy!</div>
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The kids' birthmother is always in my thoughts as we celebrate their adoption days. I wonder if this day weighs on her heart, and I wonder how she's doing. We pray for her with the kids, and we write to her. We're ever grateful to her for giving these children life and for entrusting them to us.<br />
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<br />Stephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10902794344155774480noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2354346757464010200.post-28507257720406354232015-06-18T12:54:00.002-07:002015-06-18T12:55:17.746-07:00Fourteen YearsOn Tuesday, James and I celebrated our 14th anniversary. We got a sitter on Saturday evening, and we went out to dinner. We had hoped to go to the <a href="http://www.sfstl.com/">Shakespeare Festival</a>, which was about to wrap up for the year. The play this year was Anthony and Cleopatra, which I was kind of familiar with. The Festival takes place every year in the late spring. We've lived here for 7 years, and we still haven't been because it was raining when the show was scheduled to begin. Oh well.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photos by Kevin Beasley</td></tr>
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We went out to eat at <a href="http://www.theshavedduck.com/">The Shaved Duck</a>. The restaurant has been featured on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives, so there's a bit of hype surrounding the place.<br />
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We got there a little before 6 pm. I don't think they have a parking lot, but we were able to find a free spot on the street close by. The place was insanely packed. You couldn't open the front door without banging the doorknob into someone's rear end.There was an hour wait for a table indoors, so we opted to sit outside in the sun. If that option hadn't been available, we would have left. After we sat, I wanted to wash my hands. That meant having to go inside through the crazy cram-packed-maze of people to get to the restroom. I spent five minutes digging in my purse for hand sanitizer before giving up and making the trek to the restroom. Back at our table, it was hot. Thankfully, another guest showed us how to tilt the umbrella at our table to provide some shade. James ordered a combo plate with three different types of BBQ meat. I ordered the duck breast, which was delicious. James was not wowed with his food. He said it was good, but he prefers the burnt ends at <a href="http://www.supersmokers.com/">Super Smokers</a>. The service was slow, so this wouldn't be a good place to take the kids. They do have an extensive menu of local beers and whiskeys, so if you're into that, it might be worth a visit for you. I'm glad we tried the place, but I don't think it is worth a second visit unless some things change - like they start accepting reservations.<br />
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We drove to Ted Drew's for dessert. They are where Dairy Queen got their inspiration for their Blizzards. We still have never eaten there because there were about a hundred people in line when we drove by. It might be good, but I'm not going to wait in a line that long for ice cream. We had dessert at <a href="http://www.bissingers.com/">Bissinger's Chocolate</a> instead, which was amazing. The had a large seating area, inside and out. This place is certainly worth repeat visits.<br />
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On Tuesday, our actual anniversary, James had flowers waiting for me when I got home from work. He cooked scallops for dinner - and even the kids liked them.<br />
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Celebrating our anniversary made me reflect on our wedding vows. Our vows came from a seminary's website. We tweaked them a bit. Here's a link to them if you want to read them: <a href="http://lifeinthegatewaycity.blogspot.com/2011/06/our-wedding-vows.html">Wedding Vows</a><br />
I think the most weighty line in them is the promise to serve Christ together. Satan finds way to deter us, sometimes using the most benign means possible.<br />
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James, I am so thankful for you. You have been Jesus to me when I was too heartbroken to worship Him. There is a sacredness to my love for you that grew in hospital rooms, doctors offices, and on our knees in Ethiopia. After our first Ethiopian baby girl went to be with Jesus, you were by my side week after week at church, quietly hoping for the Sunday when I could make it through the service without weeping. In the midst of that despair, had I known that three more Ethiopian babes would slip through our fingers, I would have been utterly hopeless. It is a good thing that God doesn't let us see into the future. I had no idea when I said "I do" at age 21, what God would ask of us. You have stirred my affections for my First Love, and I pray that our children will say the same of you. May they be able to say that their Daddy showed them the love of Jesus.Stephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10902794344155774480noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2354346757464010200.post-71408077226077169982015-06-15T14:50:00.000-07:002015-06-15T14:54:41.799-07:00Tour de Cure Recap<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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A little over a week ago was the St. Louis Tour de Cure for the American Diabetes association. I signed up on my gym's team, hence the yellow and black jersey in the photo above. All of the participants who had diabetes, received a "red rider" jersey. I've had diabetes since I was a kid, so I got a red jersey. I decided to leave my team jersey on for the ride though.<br />
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I wore this pin on my jersey. The photo on the left is my Dad's younger brother, who just just recently lost his battle with diabetes. The photo on the right is my Mom's sister. She passed away 14 years ago, and she battled with diabetes for years. Neither of them saw their 55th birthdays, and they are both sorely missed by many people. Two lives cut short, partially due to diabetes. </div>
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The ride started a bit later than originally announced, and I never heard why there was a delay.</div>
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I met a couple of other people to ride with, and this is the three of us at one of the rest stops. </div>
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This is the 50 mile route I was riding. See that pink bar at the bottom of the photo? That shows the elevation changes. This was a hilly course, but I'd been training on some hills. Somewhere between 28 and 30 miles, I crashed. See that last tall pink peak? I was near the summit. I'm frustrated that I had made it through almost all of the challenging part of the route when I crashed. If I could have hung in for a couple more miles, I would have been back on mostly flat terrain. I still don't remember what happened. I was exhausted. I hadn't slept well for 2 days. It was kinda hot, and I was taking the descents too fast. A deputy found me on the downside of a hill with my bike on top of me. I have no memory of even speaking to him. He stayed with me until first aid arrived.<br />
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My helmet and gloves did their jobs. The foam on the interior of my helmet was cracked. The straps were bloody. I started to try to wash the blood out of my gloves, until I saw that they were ripped. I threw it all away. The day after the crash, I checked my bike computer to see what the maximum speed recorded was - thinking that would be what I was doing when I crashed. It was just over 30 mph. Too fast. </div>
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I had to get checked out at the ER. X-rays and CT were all clean, thankfully. Just a lot of road rash. I saw my chiropractor two days after the crash and my internist the day after that. The appointment with the chiropractor was so helpful. He adjusted my back, neck and ribs. It was the first adjustment I had ever had there that was painful, but I felt much better afterwards. My ribs are still sore a bit, but they have healed to the point where I can breathe deeply enough to exercise.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5SQYCWsGDdaSu7XT1cl3Ymj6LsWxIG9jUj01adRKx_lEbd02opfhCNSpMYsKBRuxUd-QwLs7Zg8Jh3g0SdnlGLGHlcvIubEiLOZE22i9MWUAanz5VmsxKKlwGRRPySbWE8HvDgN7njCIZ/s1600/20150609_135815.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5SQYCWsGDdaSu7XT1cl3Ymj6LsWxIG9jUj01adRKx_lEbd02opfhCNSpMYsKBRuxUd-QwLs7Zg8Jh3g0SdnlGLGHlcvIubEiLOZE22i9MWUAanz5VmsxKKlwGRRPySbWE8HvDgN7njCIZ/s640/20150609_135815.jpg" width="360" /></a></div>
My new helmet and gloves arrived last week, and I have already put them to use. Over the weekend, I got an email from my team captain. He told me that there would be a small gift for me at the front desk of my gym on Monday. I had no idea what would be there, and I went and picked it up today.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihldP5D-k1MASNNiS8gvnH46QYBQbBdK5igXkWeAwN2Fua9bHePjdOWb-x0NZ0utAVlX1uZm8PBXL3Y_4pB5owHIBPi6yrfhW8Jgm-ZK2jgktBgIJwQmgz9J0fmA9FNZqR4UMJxmrHqG-K/s1600/20150615_151944.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihldP5D-k1MASNNiS8gvnH46QYBQbBdK5igXkWeAwN2Fua9bHePjdOWb-x0NZ0utAVlX1uZm8PBXL3Y_4pB5owHIBPi6yrfhW8Jgm-ZK2jgktBgIJwQmgz9J0fmA9FNZqR4UMJxmrHqG-K/s640/20150615_151944.jpg" width="360" /></a></div>
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Here's what he and the regional manager sent me! A new helmet, new gloves, a water bottle, a dri-fit shirt (which was the right size!), and a card. This was so thoughtful! I love the card. Here's what the inside says.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8E-X1LJ8RD5DHvdaeVprY4EkhnpVzAz1mmOjFNEYgKYG7lgXg9B-Pb-QIF3v6X_QsAOwNlGkoCku_yFQBIr9dkWM8-5od8yfetHAEm05-AXnfKujqcylAh_kiXW31KsxztquiONWKVmEI/s1600/20150615_152018.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8E-X1LJ8RD5DHvdaeVprY4EkhnpVzAz1mmOjFNEYgKYG7lgXg9B-Pb-QIF3v6X_QsAOwNlGkoCku_yFQBIr9dkWM8-5od8yfetHAEm05-AXnfKujqcylAh_kiXW31KsxztquiONWKVmEI/s640/20150615_152018.jpg" width="360" /></a></div>
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I found this to be so encouraging.</div>
Stephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10902794344155774480noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2354346757464010200.post-44266250680782632452015-05-09T12:26:00.000-07:002015-05-09T12:29:35.493-07:00Happy Mother's Day<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I want to wish a Happy Mother's Day to some special women in my life.</div>
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To Mom -<br />
Thank you for your love, and for sharing the things that you love with me. You helped instill a love for the arts in me. I have so many memories of you playing the piano when I was growing up, and hearing the piano still moves me in a way that other music doesn't. It triggers memories of being a carefree child sitting on the piano bench with you. You always encouraged me in my artistic endeavors. I remember picking out my first camera with you. I think I was about 9 years old. It was a simple 110 film camera, and I had fun with it. More importantly than the arts though, you shared your love of Jesus with me. You were my Sunday School teacher for a time, and I still remember some of the curriculum you taught from. You taught me as a young child that all people are worthy of love, no matter their age or what they look like. You took me to serve in nursing homes and encouraged me to volunteer with Special Olympics when I was a teen. Thank you for all your prayers, and for being a loving Nana.<br />
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To my Mother-in-Law -<br />
I'm so thank for to have a Mother-in-Law who loves Jesus and shared her faith with her son. When I met James, I saw that he valued biblical truth deeply. My family is blessed my your talents that you shared with him. He loves to cook, because he had a momma that loved to cook. I never had you as an algebra teacher, but you gave a few pointers on my homework in college. I saw then that you were a gifted math teacher, and you passed your teaching gift on to James, along with your love of numbers. Thank you for the practical cooking knowledge you shared with me as well. Thank for you the support and love that you give us. Thank you for the way you love on your grandbabies.<br />
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To James' Grandmother -<br />
What a blessing to have a family who's love for Jesus spans the generations. A mother's most lasting legacy is her children. You raised your children to serve the Lord, and they followed suite raising theor own children. You set a lovely example for your family, in how you serve at your church, in your community, and in your own home. I see you in James in his love for animals. He is without a doubt, your grandson when it comes to animals. I think he got that soft heart from you, watching you serve for so many years in the Humane Society. Thank you for your faithfulness and love.<br />
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To Elizabeth -<br />
When we were in the process of adopting, we had to name guardians for our child-to-be should something happen to us. We prayed about it, and he discussed it with James' mom. She suggested you and Stephen, without knowing that we were also thinking of you two. Thank you for saying yes when we asked you to be Godparents to our children. I'm thankful to call you family. Thank you for your faithfulness to pray for the kids - and for James and me. You're a wonderful example for the kids. I pray that they will be quick to follow Jesus' voice, where ever it may take them - just as you and Stephen are faithful.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZVWVu-MBBchrew22dYu4U_bnYMwe8Wo8BdaXAI51ndk47_AVyxO5dBB9bMLfCFcidY8TpLPJnF_fWlVjVPWGpFz-NS1TDZDNnv8Vk6WY97sD05BvJLOyHtZfs7JWTAFUvpfurZ0mPUyN6/s1600/SSEK-2085.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZVWVu-MBBchrew22dYu4U_bnYMwe8Wo8BdaXAI51ndk47_AVyxO5dBB9bMLfCFcidY8TpLPJnF_fWlVjVPWGpFz-NS1TDZDNnv8Vk6WY97sD05BvJLOyHtZfs7JWTAFUvpfurZ0mPUyN6/s640/SSEK-2085.JPG" width="426" /></a></div>
Stephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10902794344155774480noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2354346757464010200.post-61394009695741538572015-05-01T17:15:00.000-07:002015-05-01T17:15:47.266-07:00The Value of Menu PlanningOne of the habits that I've developed as I have tried to live a healthier life is menu planning. I did it a little before Samuel was born, but it became a necessity after he came along. I had some space in my kitchen pantry to paint a chalkboard, so I did that one day while my mom-in-law was here watching newborn Samuel. I've used it every week since then. The black paint is chalk board paint, and the white paint was just some white latex paint that I had left over from another project.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaLx8rDw9yAIThlz70oRMkT_vfivJSzyg5wA7GUYLXswm2D-yI8Ap_khyruVc_zIj1s4MmYcl1N7BPsXJ6xJi-JYYq39DBGuOPCGX4kxV8-LFOUW8gEI-YutnYsuM6Cg8hDYyzMrNhvS0w/s1600/birthday-1520.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaLx8rDw9yAIThlz70oRMkT_vfivJSzyg5wA7GUYLXswm2D-yI8Ap_khyruVc_zIj1s4MmYcl1N7BPsXJ6xJi-JYYq39DBGuOPCGX4kxV8-LFOUW8gEI-YutnYsuM6Cg8hDYyzMrNhvS0w/s1600/birthday-1520.JPG" height="640" width="426" /></a></div>
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Menu planning has helped eliminate stopping to get take-out for dinner when life gets crazy. I'll take some time on Friday, Saturday, or Sunday each week and choose recipes for the coming week. I usually print out recipes from the internet and then I make my grocery list off what I printed. Having a plan for the week means that I know I have healthy options to prepare at home when something unexpected happens.</div>
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My lunches usually consist of left overs from the night before, but I keep some back-up options on hand just in case we don't have any leftovers. My favorite things for last minute lunches are unsweetened coconut milk yogurt with fruit and hemp seeds or eggs and Canadian bacon with veggies or fruit on the side.</div>
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Sometimes I get a mental block when trying to decide what the plan for the week. So here's a little framework that I came up with:</div>
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<ul>
<li>a crock pot meal</li>
<li>breakfast for dinner</li>
<li>fish prepared one way or another</li>
<li>a chicken recipe</li>
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That leaves three nights unaccounted for. If it's cold, I'll add a soup or chili recipe. If it's warm I'll plan for something that can be grilled. Sometimes I will plan a meatless night, but I've been doing less of that lately. One night is take-out night. Cooking is a chore that James and I share. I do the planning and grocery shopping. If a recipe has a lot of steps, I'll do some of the prep work. James does most of the cooking. He enjoys it more than I do. Cooking is a hobby for him, whereas it is a chore for me. I usually keep the kids entertained while he cooks. I'm thankful for his willingness to help!</div>
Stephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10902794344155774480noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2354346757464010200.post-19434590742187128192015-04-03T19:44:00.000-07:002015-04-03T19:44:38.462-07:00Cures for my First World HeartThis is part of a series of posts that I'm writing on replacing the consumerism in my heart with contentment and gratitude. <br />
<span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>"I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want." Philippians 4:12 (NIV)</i></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #fdfeff; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #001320; font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 20px;">We Americans often battle with consumerism. The desire for a larger home, a better car, a more extravagant vacation, or a more </span></span><span style="color: #001320;"><span style="line-height: 20px;">luxurious</span></span><span style="color: #001320; font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 20px;"> lifestyle are well known to us. I realized years ago that I needed to learn to be content in whatever situation I was in. It's a hard thing to learn here in the land of plenty. Things really began to change for me when I went to Haiti in 2010. I saw poverty that took my breath away. Along the way, I've found a few things that have helped break my desire to have more. The first thing that I want to share with you is a company called <a href="http://www.noondaycollection.com/pws/JessicaHartman/tabs/home.aspx">Noonday Collection</a>. </span></span></span><span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;">A quote from their website to explain what they do:</span><br />
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<span style="color: #001320;"><span style="background-color: #fdfeff;"><span style="line-height: 20px;">"Noonday Collection is a business that uses fashion to create meaningful opportunities around the world."</span></span></span></div>
Noonday partners with artisans in developing countries to develop fair trade businesses that offer fair wages and good working conditions free of child labor. <span style="background-color: #fdfeff; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #001320; font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 20px;">Here is a short video about one of their artisans:</span></span></span><br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyCa_f00-o8Iz4iTZK_MQMp17oI5DqHVRJQdWi7endutiLcKg8Wa45scu3n_7XmYwi-1paGw08uEjiUMADShg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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<span style="background-color: #fdfeff; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #001320; font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 20px;">Please go check out their website and watch some more of their videos - so moving.</span></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0OKu7_znl64py0oYrdFdEPkY1ZdYVQw1IvVG8qimBdB0_Z5H7o67uBI3GhXcCVLIPT0A7BbnKE5YWQlCKXUW0cPPupl-3NjJSMKr-6v8LX7SdZYgx1ESn1pURfABkGc7gievSnOMNBoIj/s1600/11046917_10153224162024274_2387101201739492496_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0OKu7_znl64py0oYrdFdEPkY1ZdYVQw1IvVG8qimBdB0_Z5H7o67uBI3GhXcCVLIPT0A7BbnKE5YWQlCKXUW0cPPupl-3NjJSMKr-6v8LX7SdZYgx1ESn1pURfABkGc7gievSnOMNBoIj/s1600/11046917_10153224162024274_2387101201739492496_n.jpg" height="117" width="320" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDzxzPaniHMD4gKD41cvzO-7U-_DEOtpYus-HWLf_nFDd2a8ZnxI3OiCBYJAI_TqUSyPtdJ_jxmEGXyQERmlQ20rEBGgzg1ZHIFlEFBC2YajeU244pexn0kpg-XZYcz1k5w8RFzk5hLQFa/s1600/20140524_105113.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDzxzPaniHMD4gKD41cvzO-7U-_DEOtpYus-HWLf_nFDd2a8ZnxI3OiCBYJAI_TqUSyPtdJ_jxmEGXyQERmlQ20rEBGgzg1ZHIFlEFBC2YajeU244pexn0kpg-XZYcz1k5w8RFzk5hLQFa/s1600/20140524_105113.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Noonday necklace in this photo is made from ethically harvested animal horn.</td></tr>
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I own several pieces from Noonday. I love them because they are beautiful, unique, affordable and durable. But I also love them for much deeper reasons. One of my favorite pieces is the necklace in the photo below, and it was made in Ethiopia from re-purposed artillery. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBtY73aIcNzwYUevbVPTeiU9bTmQAi5XQVXaG2sd9y2XOBYclw0QZ-RLtUr5lD7y5bdHeLXJOBwj3QZb-rXe1FZXpIDyBjyFzJj3cKpjIbk7hMhBty44zIt4cfxdA3haL4_5MJwqo5ReY5/s1600/11094782_10153300324714274_6886387068143226599_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBtY73aIcNzwYUevbVPTeiU9bTmQAi5XQVXaG2sd9y2XOBYclw0QZ-RLtUr5lD7y5bdHeLXJOBwj3QZb-rXe1FZXpIDyBjyFzJj3cKpjIbk7hMhBty44zIt4cfxdA3haL4_5MJwqo5ReY5/s1600/11094782_10153300324714274_6886387068143226599_o.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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Something that man created to do harm has given someone a job making lovely necklaces. While Noonday feds my consumerism on some level, it frees me from it at the same time. I love to buy it and give it away. I always feel good knowing that my money went to a company that is breathing life into countries where people struggle to get buy. I love getting to wear jewelry that has given another woman a dignified life. If you'd like to purchase some Noonday pieces, I'm hosting a trunk show! Have fun shopping at <a href="http://www.noondaycollection.com/Pws/JessicaHartman/store/AMUS/catalog/Jewelry,317.aspx">Noonday Collection</a> & enter my name as the trunk show host. You have plenty of time to order for Mother's Day deliveries!</div>
Stephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10902794344155774480noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2354346757464010200.post-74928780524425187292015-04-01T08:42:00.000-07:002015-04-10T08:34:54.473-07:00Weight Maintenance UpdateIt's been a little over a year since I hit my goal weight, so I thought it was time for an update. Hitting the one year mark, and still being at the weight I want to be at is a big deal for me. When I started trying to improve my health over two years ago, I was truly unsure of how successful I would be both in the short term and long term. Could I actually loose the weight? Could I maintain healthy eating habits for the rest of my life?<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMPU8kHw95jl-j9y5rxVOUfP3h3OT6mAEm9-FbcnYwNmfK5R-nV0zCsrDd9DSRIAWomV8mydvnTvXT0wnkYTzPgPr6a8CK17AbgcVjA-rzLqZ6YAdWh9rVrCGw1YDTq2RSIB0YsP-pG9gJ/s1600/20150401_080738.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMPU8kHw95jl-j9y5rxVOUfP3h3OT6mAEm9-FbcnYwNmfK5R-nV0zCsrDd9DSRIAWomV8mydvnTvXT0wnkYTzPgPr6a8CK17AbgcVjA-rzLqZ6YAdWh9rVrCGw1YDTq2RSIB0YsP-pG9gJ/s1600/20150401_080738.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
I've hit a new low weight of my adult adult life. The photo above was taken this morning, and it's the first time I've seen my weight below 150 lbs as an adult. It's a welcome change from this before photo:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggEinhy-h0AYytO4Ds0nJNJOWAvQBQmnjCpG77ewqOhHUo6CdnIG_RAr8AvS6dpGGBNxXWtjHTrqHmPsYhVR7q0zCDDQjjDZPpBdKU7AAxX8tyjq23faSRKYNcCG9dPXB3H7KM3vp3oSyQ/s1600/before.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggEinhy-h0AYytO4Ds0nJNJOWAvQBQmnjCpG77ewqOhHUo6CdnIG_RAr8AvS6dpGGBNxXWtjHTrqHmPsYhVR7q0zCDDQjjDZPpBdKU7AAxX8tyjq23faSRKYNcCG9dPXB3H7KM3vp3oSyQ/s1600/before.jpg" height="320" width="175" /></a></div>
I have to admit part of this recent dip in weight is due to a stomach virus that my whole family has been fighting, but that's not all of it. We got back from vacation about a week ago, and vacation time usually means a several pound weight gain for me. Not this time though. I did three things differently - no desserts at restaurants, I made a solid effort to track most of the food that I ate, and I tried to stay away from wheat. I did have a little wedding cake on the trip, but I came home weighing what I weighed when we left for the trip! I've noticed that avoiding wheat has resolved my issues with water retention.<br />
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I still have these size 20 jeans in my closet, just as a measure of restraint. They are there to remind me of what I used to have to wear. I still struggle with self control, and I still eat and drink things that I shouldn't at times, but one day off the wagon is just that. One day.<br />
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I've been reading <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Made-Crave-Satisfying-Deepest-Desire/dp/031029326X">Made to Crave</a>, which a a great book that addresses the emotional and spiritual component of over eating. I'll write a more detailed review of the book when I'm finished with it, but I want to share a quote from the book.<br />
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<i>"Food can fill our stomachs but never our souls,</i></div>
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<i>Possessions can fill our houses but never our hearts,</i></div>
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<i>Sex can fill our nights but never our hunger for love.</i></div>
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<i>Children can fill our days but never our identities."</i></div>
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The main point of the book is that we find true joy and satisfaction in God alone. I finally got some time to listen an excellent sermon on gluttony that was recently preached at my church. Hear is the link, if you'd like to watch it: <a href="https://vimeo.com/123092779">Where do you find your satisfaction?</a> One point that our pastor made that really stuck a cord with me was this:<br />
<br />
<i><b>Does my over indulgence mean that someone else starves?</b></i><br />
<br />
Oh that pinged my heart. I've seen severe poverty, I've lost a child in Ethiopia, partially due to malnourishment. How much money each week do we spend on food that we don't really need? How much of that money be given to buy food for someone else who doesn't know where their next meal is coming from?Stephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10902794344155774480noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2354346757464010200.post-87201583852008788232015-03-27T08:49:00.000-07:002015-03-27T08:51:08.914-07:00Saying GoodbyeI wish could be with my husband's side of the family today as they say good-bye to his grandmother - his Mamaw. She passed away on Wednesday, and James and Eva left for Louisiana yesterday to be with his parents. Samuel and I stayed home because we've both been battling a stomach virus. I think we're both on the mend today though.<br />
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Mamaw was delighted to be a great-grandmother.</div>
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I don't know what these ladies were talking about, but it sure was funny. James is not the best with the camera, but sometimes he captures some true gems. He grabbed up my camera after I left it to chase down a child & I'm so glad he got that shot.<br />
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James has many fond memories of his Mamaw. She was very involved in the lives of her grandchildren. He talks often playing at her home as a child and vacationing in Nashville with her and her husband. She loved her husband well, and she enjoyed life best when he was at her side. Mamaw loved to sew and cook, and she enjoyed sharing her talents with others. We have three quilts that she made. In her wisdom, she made baby blankets to give her great grandchildren before her grandkids were even married. She feared that her hands wouldn't allow her to sew by the time the great-grandbabies came along. I'm glad she prepared them in advance! James' favorite recipe of her's was her cornbread dressing, and he went over to her home one day around the time we got married so she could teach him how to make it. I'm glad he did this, and so was she. The recipe was all memorized & she had never measured any of the ingredients. James measured everything out, and put it to paper. Here is it is - you have to start with homemade cornbread first.<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Cornbread</b></span><b style="font-family: Surfer; font-size: 24pt;"> </b><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;">-
Verdell Thomas<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">1
½ C.
Martha White’s Self-rising corn meal<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">1
Tbs. oil<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">2
eggs<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">1
¼ C. buttermilk<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">½ tsp. baking Powder<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Preheat
oven to 400°. Beat eggs before adding them to the rest of
the ingrediants in a medium sized bowl.
Mix well. Pour into greased and
floured skillet. Put skillet into hot
oven. Bake 20 min. on Medium rack, then
5-10 min. on high rack.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Cornbread Dressing </b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>-
Verdell Thomas</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">1
cornbread (see above recipe)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">2
stalks of celery (chopped)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">1
onion (white or yellow)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">1
can cream of chicken soup<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Crumble
cornbread in a large mixing bowl. Saute
celery and onion in skillet. Mix celery
and onion with crumbled cornbread in the mixing bowl. Warm a can of Cream of Chicken soup with 1
can of water in skillet then mix into dressing.
Pour into buttered 9x13 aluminum pan – cut slits into dressing with
knife before baking. Bake at 350°</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> for 15-20 min.</span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 16pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Stephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10902794344155774480noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2354346757464010200.post-44561875209553394872015-03-03T13:29:00.000-08:002015-04-10T08:35:06.423-07:00Bye-Bye WheatAt a doctor's appointment a couple of weeks ago, my doctor advised me to eliminate wheat from my diet. This wasn't a big shock to me. I've recently had some blood work come back that may suggest I've got an autoimmune disease brewing, and wheat can be problematic for people with autoimmune diseases. I don't have any noteworthy symptoms, thankfully, so no diagnosis, no medication for now. <br />
A few months ago, a pharmacist friend of mine let me borrow a book called <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Breaking-Vicious-Cycle-Intestinal-Through/dp/0969276818">Breaking the Vicious Cycle</a>. That book outlines a diet called the Specific Carbohydrate Diet (SCD), and my friend used it for his son following his diagnosis of Crohn's disease. After following the diet, his son is symptom free and not in need of any medication. That is a huge victory. However, the SCD plan is rather rigorous with a long list of foods to avoid - wheat is one of them, along with a host of others. Since I wasn't having any symptoms, it didn't make since for me to jump all in with it. One change I did make after reading the book was eliminating Splenda. I had been using it in my coffee and oatmeal. After giving it up, I realized just bad Splenda was making me feel.<br />
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After leaving the doctor's office, I decided that giving up wheat is doable. Coming from the girl who used to love and crave bread, that is a big deal. Some friends gave me some good ideas of substitutions to make for wheat products in recipes, and I'm off to a good start. Last Friday, the four of us went out to dinner at a little Italian restaurant. The bread didn't look appealing to me, so I didn't even want to eat it. The kids enjoyed it though.<br />
<br />
I get most of my recipes from <a href="http://www.skinnytaste.com/">Skinnytaste</a>, and you can find a searchable list of gluten free and paleo recipes there. I really love that the author post the nutrition facts for every single recipe. I had to give up my favorite Kashi granola bars, because they contain wheat. I started making my own, thanks to a gluten free recipe at Skinnytaste called <a href="http://www.skinnytaste.com/2013/08/banana-split-bars.html">Banana Split Bars</a>.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">So yummy!</td></tr>
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Stephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10902794344155774480noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2354346757464010200.post-5290684952391819082015-02-03T14:01:00.001-08:002015-02-03T14:01:42.335-08:00Happy 3rd Birthday!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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It's hard to believe that it has been three years since we got the phone that changed our lives forever. Samuel is such a joy to us.<br />
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I was sad for him to have a birthday in the wintertime, because I have a winter birthday. I didn't like it much as a kid. The weather was usually yucky, so I couldn't have my party outside. I was really glad when Samuel wanted to have a snowman party this year.<br />
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I got the cupcakes from Whole Foods, and they were very tasty - and very affordable. They were just over $1 each. I got some of the decorations at after-Christmas sales and I made the rest. Disney missed the mark on marketing Frozen themed items for little boys. All of the party decorations that I could find were very girly. If I had been able to find plates and party hats with Olaf and Sven on them, I probably would have bought them. I managed to track down Olaf though! He was a hard character to find in St. Louis, but I finally found him through a friend. He was provided by <a href="http://onceuponapartystl.webs.com/">Once Upon a Party.</a> That company was great to work with, and they even sent Olaf with a gift and card for Samuel. Olaf and his assistant played a couple of game with the kids.<br />
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The first game was "building a snowman." The kids wrapped each other in toliet paper.<br />
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The second game was stick-the-nose on Olaf. Samuel decided that he wanted to stick his paper nose on Daddy instead of Olaf.<br />
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Eva Kate had no problem posing with Frankenstein at Halloween, but she didn't want to pose with Olaf. I had to get in the photo with her. Next, it was time for presents and birthday cake.</div>
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Samuel was given two sled for his birthday, but no snow. He is still getting to play with them inside though. One of them has become a little boat that he and Eva pull around - or get pulled around in themselves.<br />
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We were blessed to have all four of our parents in town for his party, and we had several of our friends join us as well. Thank you all - you made the day special for Samuel!</div>
Stephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10902794344155774480noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2354346757464010200.post-75373560798771627002015-01-19T15:27:00.000-08:002015-01-19T15:27:07.965-08:00Eva Kate's Adoption DayOn January 8th, we got to celebrate the one year anniversary of Eva Kate legally becoming our daughter. As with Samuel's first anniversary, I breathed a little sigh of relief. According to our attorney, there is little legal precedent for adoptions coming into question after a year of the finalization. With the anniversary of the Roe v. Wade decision in just a few days, I thought this would be a good time to post this. Our kids have the brave woman as their birthmom. Their birth fathers both advocated for her to abort these two precious lives. She obviously didn't listen to them, and we are forever grateful that she made the courageous choice to give these little ones the gift of life. We are so thankful for her belief in the sanctity of human life.<br />
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We had a fun evening with Eva Kate. James and I both worked that day, but he brought home St. Louis' finest cupcakes from <a href="http://www.jillyscupcakebar.com/">Jilly's Cupcake Bar</a> for us to have for dessert. Then she had a gift waiting for her in the basement.<br />
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We gave her a play kitchen. She and Samuel both love it, and they have already had several hours of fun with it.<br />
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James gave her a silver coin. He a few of them for her to choose from, and she picked out a Chinese Panda.<br />
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On the following Saturday, we all went out to lunch at <a href="http://www.thetattooeddog.com/">The Tattooed Dog</a>. This place is about twenty minutes west of our house, and I'm glad it's not closer. Or else I'd be tempted to eat there too often. They have delicious gourmet burgers. I ordered kids' meals for Samuel and Eva. The hot dog that came with Eva's was way bigger than what they give you at the ballpark. She didn't come close to finishing it.<br />
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The next day. we all went to the art museum. This place is such a treasure. Monet, Van Gogh, Picasso, Warhol, Chagall, Renoir - to name a few. They had several pieces of Native American art on display too. We got to see the new wing that they just added, where there was a fun contemporary art display.<br />
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We are so thankful to God for making you our daughter, Eva Kate!</div>
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Stephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10902794344155774480noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2354346757464010200.post-36973073663490383842015-01-13T13:11:00.000-08:002015-01-13T13:11:38.243-08:00Christmas Day 2014<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I was going through some photos to put together a montage for Samuel's third birthday, and I saw that I never finished editing my photos from Christmas day. Here they are, finally!</div>
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We add a new ornament or five to the tree each year. I took the kids to Target one day before Christmas and let them pick out one ornament each. Eva Kate chose Minnie Mouse and Samuel chose Superman. The sphere with the fish on it was our souvenir from Hawaii. We bought it at the resort we stayed at on Kauai. It was handpainted by a local artist. The ornament on the bottom row was one of the stocking stuffers I gave James. We had to say goodbye to Daisy in June, and these were some of my favorite photos of her. That ornament is made from metal, and I ordered it from Shutterfly. I'm really pleased with the quality.<br />
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Stocking stuffers are always fun. The kids got socks, a coin, soap, sunglasses, cutters for bread, annd Frozen band-aids.</div>
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Eva liked the new silicone baster that I gave James. Silly girl. We ate breakfast after we had opened our stockings. The kids wanted to use their new bread cutters.</div>
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On to the rest of the gifts. </div>
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The day after Halloween, I got up early and went to Wal-mart to get some costumes for the kids. These were a big hit. They like to play dress up. I embroidered chef's hats and aprons for them too, and they have already used these several times.<br />
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I gave James the Rosetta Stone spanish suite and he gave me a studio backdrop that is portable. I'm looking forward to using this!</div>
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The kids had a fun surprise waiting for them behind these doors. James' parents gave them a power wheels car that they can both ride in. The weather was really nice, and they were able to play outside for a while on Christmas day.</div>
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I took Samuel to register for preschool a few days ago. He was very excited to see the school, and he told me that he would drive himself there in his new car - not ride in my car. Hahaha.</div>
Stephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10902794344155774480noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2354346757464010200.post-80870343471768888552014-12-31T14:11:00.000-08:002014-12-31T14:13:50.643-08:00My Top 12 of 2014<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvYgawXHigx-9KOH_tZPZ8aQxb3FEsCQkjLB0tREdhGsQO6K7T-Aez18gXmXkFuMJgskdvQTUk0npbVXdfN5SY6uyVQWnkhh9ZkUIpQF13s8keEBqQ9RpzI5VZMinbjsnhIEdXNLXlKlQd/s1600/court.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvYgawXHigx-9KOH_tZPZ8aQxb3FEsCQkjLB0tREdhGsQO6K7T-Aez18gXmXkFuMJgskdvQTUk0npbVXdfN5SY6uyVQWnkhh9ZkUIpQF13s8keEBqQ9RpzI5VZMinbjsnhIEdXNLXlKlQd/s1600/court.jpg" height="440" width="640" /></a></div>
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1. Eva Kate legally became our daughter in January.</div>
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2. Samuel turned two in February, and he got to visit an authentic caboose before his birthday party.<br />
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3. After 17 months of following Weight Watchers, I hit my goal weight in March. </div>
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4. In April, we had two great events. Eva Kate was dedicated at church. . .<br />
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5. and she turned one year old a few weeks later. She got to see all four of her grandparents for both events - and a bunch more of our family and friends for her birthday.<br />
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6. In May, James and I went to Hawaii. Here's two of my favorite shots - and I don't know if they could be more different. They capture the two things that I loved most about our trip though - the ocean and the volcano.<br />
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7. We spent the 4th of July with James' parents. They got a wading pool for the kids, and despite the looks on their faces, they loved it. They also got to play with their cousin.<br />
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8. In August, we went to Mississippi to celebrate our nephew's first birthday. It was a super cute party, and my sister-in-law planned a visit to the Mississippi Children's Museum while we were there. That place was awesome, and our kids had more fun there than they did at the Magic House in St. Louis. <br />
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9. In September, I participated in Pedal the Cause. This was a fun event, and I plan on doing it again next year.<br />
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10. In October, there's usually not anything more fun than Halloween.</div>
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11. Earlier in December, we got to spend an evening with our dear friends who are serving our Father in Ethiopia. It was so nice to see them. Our kids had fun playing together, and the adults did our best to catch up with each other between keeping the kids for playing in the toilet (Eva) and getting trains stuck in the girl's hair. (In retrospect, she may have done this to herself.)<br />
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12. This is one of my favorite photos from Christmas. We got see our immediate families, and James' grandparents.</div>
<br />Stephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10902794344155774480noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2354346757464010200.post-70493423176770406432014-12-30T18:55:00.000-08:002014-12-31T14:12:52.253-08:00The Polar Express<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The main gift we gave the kids this year for Christmas, was a ride on the Polar Express at Union Station. I was so excited to hear about this event! It had probably been 5 years since I had been inside of Union Station, and while it was a beautiful building, it had really become run down. It was in much better shape this time - and I hope this event helps in the revitalization efforts.<br />
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Our tickets were for Christmas Eve. There was a "depot" where we waited to board the train. There were snowmen, Christmas trees, and a bell that we could ring. The kids wore their new Christmas pajamas. Some of the adults wore their pajamas as well, but James and I opted to wear regular clothes. We were able to view part of the movie in the "depot" while we waited.<br />
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There were characters from the movie on the train. Samuel and Eva Kate like most of them, but they were scared of the elves.<br />
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She ate that entire cookie. Samuel barely touched his - he was too busy taking everything in to eat.<br />
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In the middle of the train ride, Santa boarded the train. He gave every child a silver bell, sang and danced, and took a photo with each family.<br />
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Samuel said that getting his bell from Santa was the best part of the ride. We hung them on our Christmas tree the next day.<br />
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Santa danced to "Let it Go." This was the most entertaining part of the ride to me. Hahaha.<br />
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After the ride, we ate dinner at Union Station. They had salad, chicken, pasta, and green beans for the adults. They had a kid's buffet with mini corn dogs, mac-n-cheese, chicken fingers and fresh fruit.<br />
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Union station was beautifully decorated. These photos are from the room where we ate dinner.</div>
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Since the ride, Samuel has asked to go back. He also pretends to be the train conductor.<br />
<br />Stephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10902794344155774480noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2354346757464010200.post-36344855120800825672014-12-03T19:01:00.000-08:002014-12-03T19:01:43.178-08:00Thanksgiving Recap<div style="text-align: center;">
We had a fun visit with our family last week in Louisiana. </div>
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There was time for fun. Samuel and Eva Kate both love this tricycle. Eva was too little to ride it the last time we visited.<br />
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Sometimes, there is nothing more fun than a laundry basket and a pair of glasses that you stole from your grandmother!<br />
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James' parents watched the kids for us one night so we could go out. We went to a batting cage at a new place called <a href="http://dbatmonroe.com/">D-Bat</a>, and then we went out to eat at a nice place called <a href="http://restaurantsagemonroe.com/">Restaurant Sage</a>. We'll definitely go back to both places. The batting cages had only been open for a few weeks, and we both had fun. I did better that I thought I would. I hadn't tried to hit a softball or baseball since high school PE. For dinner, I had Sea Bass and James had New Orleans style BBQ shrimp. Yummy!</div>
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<span style="text-align: start;"> James' parents suggested we all go to the Visitor's Center in their town for a free viewing of The Polar Express. This was fun for all of us. They had cookies, popcorn, and hot chocolate for everyone. </span>The kids were invited to wear their pajama's, but we'd just been to the nursing home to see James' grandmother. I didn't want to bother with changing the kid's clothes at the visitor's center.</div>
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We don't make a big deal about Santa at our house, but the kids have seen James dress up as Santa for my photography business. When Samuel first saw Santa in the movie, he said "Santa my Daddy." So cute.</div>
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Santa and Mrs. Claus made an appearance after the movie. Samuel didn't want to have his photo taken, but Eva Kate was willing.</div>
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We took some family photos, and this is one of my favorites of the kids.</div>
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My parents were able to spend the day with us.</div>
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Both kids missed their nap, and Eva crashed late in the afternoon.</div>
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Here's the kid's completed Thankful Charts for the month. I think one little boy is missing baseball season.<br />
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Stephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10902794344155774480noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2354346757464010200.post-85573192873203185512014-11-16T21:37:00.001-08:002014-11-16T21:55:24.362-08:00Halloween Recap<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIMkuBpUduZcF0EHqvkCY2FtkkBcpNE27qfwVPVtrc0ANpVCHl91DBHUMVombcctftTG5GiWrl0PscO_MEKsK6wV-ME9OC7wpVVWtTBtrpPHfUCOWuRc1E7W8lCJbfa7EgwE9XqXqyHsNj/s1600/halloween-4951.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIMkuBpUduZcF0EHqvkCY2FtkkBcpNE27qfwVPVtrc0ANpVCHl91DBHUMVombcctftTG5GiWrl0PscO_MEKsK6wV-ME9OC7wpVVWtTBtrpPHfUCOWuRc1E7W8lCJbfa7EgwE9XqXqyHsNj/s1600/halloween-4951.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
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Better late than never, right? Halloween was fun, but really cold this year. I dressed the kids in two layers, and I bought them mittens - which they actually wore!</div>
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A fews before Halloween, we went over to our neighbor's house to carve pumpkins.<br />
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The kids all thought this dancing skeleton was awesome!</div>
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I carved Elmo, James carved a smiley face.</div>
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Eva Kate was agreeable to sit in Frankenstein's lap for a photo, but Samuel wasn't. He was unsure.<br />
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The kids ate a hot dog for dinner, along with a few pieces of candy. I put them to bed after they got too cold, and I grabbed the baby monitor and went back outside. We had about 200 trick-or-treaters, and while we didn't have any candy left, we did have some stickers and apple cider left.<br />
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Here's some of the decorations from our street:<br />
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Our house:<br />
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We usually put our big screen up over the garage to show this movie, but it was too windy outside. We were afraid that the wind would rip the screen, so James just projected in onto the garage door.<br />
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Stephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10902794344155774480noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2354346757464010200.post-39246947663200293922014-10-26T18:51:00.000-07:002014-10-26T18:51:24.578-07:00Eighteen MonthsEva Kate turned 18 months old today. It's hard to believe that it's been a year and a half since our surprise baby girl popped into our lives.<br />
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It's fun to see her personality develop. She can be pretty sassy sometimes. She's not talking much yet, but she understands much of what we say to her. She loves to eat applesauce, pumpkin, waffles, and cheese. She is fearless, and while that characteristic makes me crazy right now, it is my hope that God has a plan to work though her in her fearlessness. These days her fearlessness is played out by climbing upon anything that is stationary, but it is my prayer that she will follow fearlessly after Our Redeemer as she grows.</div>
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We gave her a little gift to open today. Nothing extravagant, just some fun little things.</div>
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A bottle of bubble bath.</div>
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A bag of balloons. Balloons are a fun thing to have when we're stuck inside with bad weather, but I forgot about my latex allergy when I bought them. I blew one of them up for her, and I was immediately reminded that we can't have latex anything around here. Sigh. Yes, I'm a pharmacist. James is going to be responsible for blowing up the rest of these balloons.<br />
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And a little ball with Tinkerbell on it.</div>
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I made some brownies for her that we shared with our small group from church this evening.</div>
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Happy Half-Birthday, my girl!</div>
Stephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10902794344155774480noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2354346757464010200.post-42502652404118883582014-10-13T16:51:00.000-07:002014-10-13T16:52:01.268-07:00Understanding Samuel-SpeakBack in May, James' parents took care of the kids for a little over a week while James and I were in Hawaii. Before we left, we wrote down and interpreted some of the things that Samuel was saying at the time. It was cute, so I thought I would share it here. He was 2 years and 3 months old at the time.<br />
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<ul>
<li>Tan-too = thank you</li>
<li>Elmo = usually means he wants to watch Sesame Street</li>
<li>Me-me or Miss-Mouse = Mickey Mouse</li>
<li>Duck = if you’re looking for a book to read & he says “duck” it means he wants to ready “The Icky Little Duckling”</li>
<li>Cat = Cat in the Hat</li>
<li>Hat = also the Cat in the Hat</li>
<li>Bobble = bubble bath</li>
<li>Baaah – he wants a nutri-grain bar to eat</li>
<li>Eye-Yai – outside</li>
<li>Ding-ding = he wants to watch “What does the Fox Say?” on the you tube app on your phone OR he wants to read the book by the same name.</li>
<li>Day-she = the dogs. His words for the dogs are almost the same. Sometimes he calls Lily “Did-he”</li>
<li>Eis = this</li>
<li>Bah-we = Eva Kate’s bottle</li>
<li>shock-ut = chocolate</li>
</ul>
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He can say a lot more now - sometimes he can say more than we wish to hear. It is fun to watch his language develop. Today when he got up from his nap, he told me that he wanted to watch Yadi hit. I told him, "You and the rest of St. Louis want to see that, buddy." (Yadi is one of our favorite players with the Cardinal's, but he is out with an injury as of last night.) Then Samuel said to me, "I watch Matt Holiday hit then." Haha. There was no game today.</div>
Stephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10902794344155774480noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2354346757464010200.post-28221729267823269752014-10-11T19:16:00.001-07:002014-10-11T19:16:46.898-07:00Pedal the Cause - Ride Day photos<div style="text-align: center;">
Photos from the ride day are finally available! </div>
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I rode downtown with my neighbors.</div>
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This was such a fun event, and I'm looking forward to riding in it again next year. Before the ride started, we took a team photo and I ate breakfast.<br />
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Breakfast was provided by Whole Foods and Kaldi's Coffee. I had yogurt made from coconut milk, granola, a banana, and almond butter that had been sweetened with honey. That was all quite good. Kaldi's hit it out of the park with their coffee the night before, but the stuff they served the day of the ride tasted like it had been sitting getting reheated and reheated until it was burnt. Yucky stuff. I've been to Kaldi's shop several times, and they are capable of way better than what they were serving on this day.</div>
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Finish line photo</div>
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My stats for the ride:</div>
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Finish time = 1:24:44, 94th overall out of 1,668 fifteen mile riders and 33rd out of 806 females.</div>
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Not bad. This wasn't a race, but I did want to finish at a reasonable time. My goals were to finish at least in the middle and to stay on the bike - no walking the bike up hills or stopping for frequent breaks. I stopped once just over halfway through the route, and I stayed on the bike. I had my bike computer with me, measuring my speed and distance. When I crossed the finish line it read 16.2 miles. I don't know if the route wasn't quite 15 miles, or if I got off the route inadvertently for a bit. I had reset the computer right before the ride, and I tried to stay with other cyclists. Oh well. I felt like I could have ridden longer anyway.</div>
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It was a little before 11 AM when I finished, and James was there with the kids. I changed clothes, and we ate lunch. Sugarfire BBQ provided the food, and it was fabulous.</div>
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James had trouble finding a place to park when he arrived, and he ended up parking in front of a Hooters that was several blocks away from the finish line. I decided to ride my bike back to the car and get it loaded up while he walked with kids. I needed to use the restroom before we drove home, but I didn't want to use a Port-A-John again. Those are nasty, nasty places. So, I went in Hooters just to use the bathroom. I had never been in a Hooters before, but I knew that it would be way cleaner than a Port-A-John.</div>
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Samuel has been playing with my finisher's medal. He will pick it up and say "I go bike race." Makes me smile. I hopes he love it as he grows up. Last Saturday, there was a new section of highway opened up for pedestrians and cyclists. Just four miles there, four miles back. Easy peasy. We decided to take the kids with us in the bike trailer. What I didn't account for was the 27 MPH headwinds. Oh my word. James had the kids hitched to his bike when we got started. He lasted about half a mile, then I took them. I didn't make it far with them either. James decided to take the kids back to the car and go to the library while I finished my ride. That was the most awful, difficult 4 miles of riding followed by 4 miles of fast, fun, easy riding. </div>
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I got up to 25 MPH without exerting much effort. Even after being out in the cold wind in the trailer, Samuel asked to go back for more.<br />
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Stephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10902794344155774480noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2354346757464010200.post-6226367223691296632014-09-27T20:28:00.000-07:002014-09-27T20:29:20.716-07:00Taste the Cause<div style="text-align: center;">
Tomorrow is the cycling event, Pedal the Cause, that I've been preparing for, and this evening we had the chance to go to a dinner that is a fundraiser for the same event. The dinner was called "Taste the Cause," and all the riders got in for free. Kids under the age of 12 years also got in for free, so the only one of us that needed a ticket was James. We got to try food from several local chefs, and I think we will be visiting their restaurants.</div>
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This was my favorite thing I tried: Roasted Lamb with Pumpkin and Edamame Salad. The lamb was really tender, and the salad was very flavorful. </div>
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The main thing that Samuel had to eat was Shrimp and Grits. That made me happy.</div>
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He also loved the chocolate coconut macaroons from <a href="http://www.cravingsgourmetdesserts.info/">Cravings Gourmet Desserts</a>. I thought I'd had macaroons before, and didn't care for them - but these were so good.</div>
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There was a live band, and he got up from our table to dance with his macaroon in his hand.</div>
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The chicken entree that the FarmHaus had available was quite tasty. Samuel enjoyed some of their cornbread.<br />
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<a href="http://kaldiscoffee.com/">Kaldi's Coffee</a> was on site demonstrating the <a href="http://www.chemexcoffeemaker.com/">Chemex Coffemaker</a>. I had never seen this done before, and it certainly did produce a smooth cup of coffee. They were serving some their Kenyan coffee.<br />
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There was a time for cancer survivors to share their stories, and as the crowd clapped for them, so did Eva Kate.<br />
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There is a huge wall set up for people to place a sticker and write the name of someone they are riding for. Jon's name went on my sticker.</div>
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Jon is a friend of ours from college, and I just learned this week that he has traveled to Austria with his wife to under cancer treatment. This is his second battle with the disease, and there is a fundraising campaign going on right now to raise funds to help cover his medical expenses. You can read about his story here: <a href="https://www.giveforward.com/fundraiser/tzv5/kicking-cancer-with-the-bufkins">Kicking Cancer with the Bufkins</a>. Please pray for healing!</div>
Stephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10902794344155774480noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2354346757464010200.post-20579234916552892372014-09-21T20:44:00.000-07:002014-09-21T20:44:40.023-07:00Pedal the Cause is Almost Here!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I'm so excited to be participating in <a href="http://stlouis.pedalthecause.org/">Pedal the Cause</a> this year. I picked up my rider's jersey on Friday, and I got my bike tuned up.<br />
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Pedal the Cause is a cycling event in it's 5 year here in St. Louis that raises funds for the <a href="http://www.siteman.wustl.edu/">Siteman Cancer Center</a> and <a href="http://www.stlouischildrens.org/">St. Louis Children's Hospital</a>. The money raised will go to fund cancer research at these two hospitals. These are both wonderful institutions, and I've had the honor of serving patients at both hospitals as a pharmacist. The best calls I ever get at work are from cancer patients who are calling to tell me that they no longer need my services because they are in remission. That is always such amazing news, and how I wish I got more of those calls. All too many times it goes the other way. Instead of a happy patient on the phone, and I have a saddened family member on the phone telling me that their loved one's disease has gotten worse and they are stopping treatment and going to hospice care. Both phone calls have brought me to tears for two very different reasons. One for joy, and the other for the briefness of life.<br />
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I'm only $50 away from my fundraising commitment. If you'd like help me chip away at that by making a donation towards creating a world without cancer, here's the link: <a href="https://stlouis.pedalthecause.org/donate_cart.jsp?MemberID=44016">Pedal the Cause Donations</a>. Thank you so very much for your support.<br />
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I've had a number of family members who found themselves grasped in the clutches of cancer. Two grandparents, an aunt and an uncle, my husband's grandfather. I ride for them. I ride for my patients. Here's to a world without cancer.Stephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10902794344155774480noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2354346757464010200.post-1246787463241898302014-09-18T13:39:00.000-07:002015-04-10T08:35:32.986-07:00Six months of Weight MaintenanceIt's been six months since I hit my goal weight with Weight Watchers. I'm doing a few things differently, so I thought I would share the changes that I've made. I had read somewhere that the first six months of weight maintenance are the most critical for making good habits stick to prevent gaining back the weight that had been lost.<br />
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That was my weight on Sept. 5th, and this morning it was 152.6. I've noticed that my weight can fluctuate 2-4 pounds in the course of a week, so I'm happy with where I'm at. Well, most of the time I'm happy. There are some days that I'd like to see the scale at 147, because that would be the 100 pounds-lost-milestone for me, but there's no real health reason for me to keep chasing that number. If it happens, it happens. If it doesn't, I've still lost 97 pounds from my highest weight ever.<br />
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The biggest hurdle I've was our trip to Hawaii. Seven days of eating whatever I wanted. Not so good. I was at 158 when we got home, and it took me a couple of months of get back down to 150. Those eight pounds don't sound like much, but they made a big difference in how easy it was to get my pants zipped. I sold or donated all of my fat clothes, so if I don't keep my weight where it is it means buying more clothes. I'd rather not spend money on replacing a wardrobe that I didn't have the self control to fit into.</div>
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I joined a gym in April after my weight jumped up to 154, and I added weight training to my routine. I did almost no weight training while I was loosing weight. My primary form of exercise had been cycling or using an elliptical, so weight training was definitely new for me. I kept tracking my food with Weight Watchers for a while, but I canceled my account in August. I started using <a href="http://www.myfitnesspal.com/">My Fitness Pal</a> in July, because I was staying hungry all day trying to stick to Weight Watchers. With the weight training that I was doing, I found that I couldn't get in all the protein that I needed and stay within my daily points allotment. So far, so good with My Fitness Pal. I love that it's free to use, whereas Weight Watchers was costing me about $15 a month. That's not much, but $15 is $15. I'm still weighing or measuring everything that I eat. </div>
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I've learned that I have a problem with self control in buffet situations, so I try to avoid them. Baked goods are a weakness of mine, so I rarely bake. Another thing that I've learned is that I have a problem with sugar. Carb-o-holics meetings, anyone? Once I start eating something sweet, it is hard to walk away. I can keep a bag of chocolate candies in my house for months and not touch it, but once I cave - I'll eat two or three handfuls. Ugh. Some days, I pray for self control.</div>
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My nighttime snack looks a lot different now that it did with Weight Watcher's. Now I'm eating Greek yogurt, a serving of some type of nut butter (with no added sugar of any kind), and almond milk. No more nightly chocolate or Weight Watcher's popsicles. I let myself have an indulgent dessert 2-3 times a month, and I've totally quit buying chips unless James asks for them. I don't like the chips that he eats, so there's no temptation there. I eat sliced cucumber when I want chips. I'm paying a lot more attention to the amount of protein that I eat at each meal, because it helps me stay full. I've started eating <a href="http://www.questnutrition.com/?gclid=CjwKEAjwheqgBRD5vOfR45az5AESJABy4m8-RttGhjSVZG-88ZVopou53FRjx8oYFKEwwgzyu9cYoRoCtj3w_wcB">Quest Bars</a> for an afternoon snack, and I'm limiting my fruit intake to 1-3 servings a day. Sugar is sugar, even if it's coming from a fruit, and it won't keep you full like healthy fats and protein will.</div>
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When we do go out for unhealthy food, I'm more picky about what I choose to indulge in. Burgers? Smashburger, please on a pretzel bun with goat cheese. Pizza? A Chicago style pizza from Pi or something from Bellacino's. Ice Cream? Blue Bell from the Russell Stover store. Thankfully, none of these places are near my house. Bellacino's is the closest, but it is still 15 minutes away. I've learned that I cannot eat calorie laden food like that every weekend and expect to maintain my weight. I'm trying to limit those indulgent meals out to twice a month. My go-to fast food places are Chick Fil A, Jimmy John's, and Jason's Deli. There are plenty of meal options at all three of those places for under 500 calories.</div>
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Weight maintenance is a battle, but it's worth it. For the first time in my life, I can leg press more than my body weight. I can manage an outing to the zoo with the two kids by myself without being physically exhausted afterwards. If I don't take care of my body and eat healthy foods, I'm left with a body that won't allow me to serve my family well. My kids deserve a mom that can take them on bike rides, swim, and run around the park with them.<br />
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Stephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10902794344155774480noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2354346757464010200.post-43339745411491357472014-09-11T06:00:00.000-07:002014-09-11T06:00:07.396-07:00Happy Birthday, JamesI love you more every year.<br />
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Thank you for providing for us, so that I may devote most of my time to the children. Thank you for taking cake of the kids in the evenings from time to time so that I am free to pursue my hobbies and friendships.<br />
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Thank you for your steadfastness in waiting for these two gifts from God. I love watching you interact with the kids.<br />
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Lily is thankful for you too. Because, let's face it. You're her favorite human. </div>
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I love our time together, whether on a trip or at home. Our nights at Busch are always fun. I love it when you wear your baseball cap backwards. It always takes me back to this night -</div>
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Can you believe that was 14 years ago? Twenty years old. A year away from being married. You had already captured my heart, but it was this night that my love affair with this city -and the Cardinals- began.</div>
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Stephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10902794344155774480noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2354346757464010200.post-89068003528742017732014-09-08T18:25:00.002-07:002014-09-08T19:33:35.836-07:00Celebrating Samuel's Adoption DayLast Friday marked the second anniversary of the finalization of Samuel's adoption. Friday was a work day for both me and James, so we celebrated on Saturday. It was a time for me to reflect on the faithfulness of God in answering our prayers for children, and to pray for Samuel's birthmom. Her children call me Mom, and there is where the tragedy and beauty of adoption intertwine.<br />
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We gave Samuel a little gift to open on Saturday morning. </div>
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He was given a Mr. and Mrs. Potato Head set. I had a Mr. Potato head when I was a kid, and I had a lot of fun with mine.<br />
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He and Eva Kate both loving playing with these. He calls them both "Dumpy." The only explanation I've been able to come up with for that name is that he made a connection to Humpty Dumpty because of the way they are shaped.<br />
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Eva Kate's favorite accessory is the eye glasses.</div>
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After dinner, we let the kids have a cupcake - or rather half of one because these were big cupcakes.<br />
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We went to the Saturday night service at our church so we could have Sunday morning free to go to the botanical garden. Thanks to my husband's employer, we got into the main garden and the children's garden for free. We'd never been to the children's garden before because of the extra cost, so it was fun for all four of us to get to check it out.<br />
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The Climatron is probably my favorite place at the garden. The daytime temperature inside is kept between 64-85 F and the average humidity is 85% - which is heavenly in the middle of February. It houses a lot of tropical plants, and this summer it has also housed an amazing array of Lego sculptures.<br />
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The butterfly was my favorite.</div>
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Over 300,000 Legos were used in the sculptures.</div>
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These are a few photos from the children's garden. Very fun. Samuel was a little scared to walk across the rope bridge, but after being cheered on a little, he loved it.<br />
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We went to Mission Taco Joint for lunch, and it was really good.</div>
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I tried the portobello mushroom, grilled fish, and duck tacos. My favorite was the mushroom taco, which I wasn't expecting.<br />
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They make all their corn tortillas daily on site, and we got to watch a few of them being cooked.<br />
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We all had a really fun day together, and I'm so thank that Samuel is our son.</div>
Stephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10902794344155774480noreply@blogger.com0