tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13683858840484239992024-03-12T19:02:37.271-04:00A Heart for HomemakingChristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08714132452232161624noreply@blogger.comBlogger139125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1368385884048423999.post-6669221930731082002015-10-02T06:00:00.000-04:002015-10-02T06:00:09.225-04:00Creed of Babies with Down Syndrome<div align="center" style="background-color: white;">
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS; font-size: x-large;"><strong><u>Creed of Babies With Down Syndrome</u></strong></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: comic sans ms; font-size: medium;">My face may be different<br />But my feelings the same<br />I laugh and I cry<br />And I take pride in my gains<br />I was sent here among you<br />To teach you to love<br />As God in the heavens<br />Looks down from above<br />To Him I'm no different<br />His love knows no bounds<br />It's those here among you<br />In cities and towns<br />That judge me by standards<br />That man has imparted<br />But this family I've chosen<br />Will help me get started<br />For I'm one of the children<br />So special and few<br />That came here to learn<br />The same lessons as you<br />That love is acceptance<br />It must come from the heart<br />We all have the same purpose<br />Though not the same start<br />The Lord gave me life<br />To live and embrace<br />And I'll do it as you do<br />But at my own pace</span><br />
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For His Glory,<br />
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<br />Christenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08714132452232161624noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1368385884048423999.post-61598658955948378562015-09-30T20:55:00.000-04:002015-09-30T20:55:54.161-04:00Jamberry Fundraiser<br />
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As a family we are partaking in a fundraising walk for where Savannah goes and Josiah went for therapy. PCCD is an AMAZING place and we are so thankful for all they have done and continue to do. Helping raise funds is one small way to give back.<br />
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It's late in the game, the walk is this Sunday. I had a freak accident and had to have surgery on my foot, so I can't train for the 5k (I wanted to do that rather then just the family walk) and then Joseph lost his job so I didn't think we could afford to register. I have given up on the 5k, but we are walking together as family and Joseph just got a new job, so we could afford to register. On top of all the craziness, I messed up the registration and we don't have a link for people to sponsor us. Augh! lol! :)<br />
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SOOOO I thought it would be FUN to throw a <b style="color: #674ea7; font-size: x-large; text-decoration: underline;"><a href="http://christenkieffner.jamberry.com/party/?uid=49673826-ba6f-4e38-92fa-01c900b37fce" target="_blank">Jamberry Fundraiser! </a></b><br />
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Jamberry offers fundraisers where they donate 10% of all sales to your organization of choice. For us that would be <a href="http://www.theprofessionalcenter.org/" style="text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">The Professional Center for Child Development.</a> As a thank you I am also donating 40% of my commission. My commission is used to help pay for our kids therapy and medical costs.<br />
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Here are some NEW fall designs:<br />
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<span style="color: #674ea7; font-size: large;">What is Jamberry?? </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.32px;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.32px;">I am SO glad that you asked! They are heat activated, vinyl nail wraps that adhere to your nails for up to 2 weeks on your fingers and up to 6 weeks on your toes. Did I mention that there are over 300 designs to choose from! Prepare to become addicted!</span><br />
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OH and NO dry time! I LOVE that! I can do a few nails, then if a little one needs me I can just come back and finish later. How AWESOME is that??<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Naomi and her Independence Day nails.</td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.32px;">Want to see something neat? This is how much was used of a sheet of regular sized nail wraps for just ONE manicure. Your usage will vary with the length of your nails...and how close you can cut them to your actual nail length (which takes a little practice). If you have leftover middle parts, they can be cut for mix and match manicures, statement nails, or pedicures! $15 for 2-3 Manis and 2 pedis. Yes, please!</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.32px;">Who wants to buy an application kit? I basically give you one when you book a party with me! As soon as the first order of your party is placed, I’ll send you a goodie bag filled with a file, orange stick, Jamberry rubber tool, alcohol swab, a sample of our Nourish hand creme AND half a sheet of Jams! When you have Facebook party you can still go about your life. No need to clean and prepare for guests. Just sit back and have fun!</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.32px;">If you "like" my Facebook pages, you will be kept up to date on specials and info.</span><span style="color: #674ea7;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.32px;"> </span><span style="font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.32px;">https://www.facebook.com/ChristenJamberrynails </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.32px;">Thank you for considering making a purchase. I will share pics and tales of our adventure this weekend at the trot!</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.32px;">Oh and one last note: </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.32px;">Happy Down Syndrome Awareness Month! :)</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.32px;">For His Glory,</span><br />
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<br />Christenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08714132452232161624noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1368385884048423999.post-8031038299118756352015-09-26T11:06:00.000-04:002015-09-26T11:06:51.956-04:00It's Done! Open Heart Surgery<br />
It's done...it's DONE! Savannah had her open heart surgery and we are actually home now! Praise the Lord! (Actually I'm finally finishing this 7 months later. Woah! Were did the time go?!?) (Ha! I'm adding the finishing touches and Lord willing submitting it a year after her surgery! ;) )<br />
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It was a roller coaster ride. It kind of reminded me of Josiah's 4 months in the NICU. One moment things look good, then not... back and forth you go. It was also a roller coaster of emotions. Part of me was glad we where finally having the surgery, she will get well and thrive (Lord willing). Then the other part of me didn't want her (or us) to go through it.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidwvcC2AkCX_qpTjrJ07uOm8Y5GhifJuUx1RulUISErxtIG_96tNTvaVeBUzmHDvBNNvt0pzZ-TXdRL0AApwxIHbTxefgbsapohhJKs_ZsG5-UIHSqWogioEWK4R2xw6oNkXHkW0p4XNI/s1600/photo+1+(15).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidwvcC2AkCX_qpTjrJ07uOm8Y5GhifJuUx1RulUISErxtIG_96tNTvaVeBUzmHDvBNNvt0pzZ-TXdRL0AApwxIHbTxefgbsapohhJKs_ZsG5-UIHSqWogioEWK4R2xw6oNkXHkW0p4XNI/s1600/photo+1+(15).JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Waiting before surgery.</td></tr>
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But there we were, facing the fact that we where waiting for them to take her to the OR for surgery. We were tired, hungry and putting the life of our daughter in the hands of a surgeon we had just met. Though whether we think about it or not, our children's lives are always in God's hands and He can call them home whenever He wants!<br />
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While we where waiting, someone on the medical team mentioned they were all excited for her surgery...that her case was highly anticipated. Though at first we were confused we eventually found out that the cardiologist surgeon was highly sough after and a bunch of hospitals were "fighting" for him and Tufts won! lol! She was his first case at Tufts and everyone was excited to work with him. Him was awesome by the way! He went above and beyond his normal duties to care for her, Coming in daily to see her, calling when he wasn't there, and even called our pediatrician after coming home to check on her!! :)<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbkinMmm2TbaxGb4Od8NsMYctFS6Pbcrx3cBYnnP4NPdALPUimiQZTDV-gaWbQVp0dtupV2Y_5x-AnWL_iVH2MD56oBZ5MD90xN9y8dsq3wghNOn6hydeXxJ6p4l1bcBbpWhcEjpLseMw/s1600/photo+3+(10).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbkinMmm2TbaxGb4Od8NsMYctFS6Pbcrx3cBYnnP4NPdALPUimiQZTDV-gaWbQVp0dtupV2Y_5x-AnWL_iVH2MD56oBZ5MD90xN9y8dsq3wghNOn6hydeXxJ6p4l1bcBbpWhcEjpLseMw/s1600/photo+3+(10).JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Right after surgery.</td></tr>
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<blockquote>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21.466667175293px;">"Surgery went great! Praise the Lord! They are finishing stitching her up now and will bring her up to the ICU to get settled. They will keep her sedated for the evening. Thank you for your prayers! I will update when I know more. Thank you Pastor Jeff Haavisto for sitting with us."</span></blockquote>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJH5gmoutSatkmUNQsl11SyqJ5iek4bktWhyphenhyphen4rpW2G-ROwcXqQyP7vsIMvPB4a1bYpLTUMsgcKcnEw-UH4zIbYdrU_3gdL6s7vUVZ0-5_6bMljFVqC_VOrbsxMRqBaIHJiaQLEZ1QpMl4/s1600/photo+4+(3).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJH5gmoutSatkmUNQsl11SyqJ5iek4bktWhyphenhyphen4rpW2G-ROwcXqQyP7vsIMvPB4a1bYpLTUMsgcKcnEw-UH4zIbYdrU_3gdL6s7vUVZ0-5_6bMljFVqC_VOrbsxMRqBaIHJiaQLEZ1QpMl4/s1600/photo+4+(3).JPG" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Later in the day after surgery.</td></tr>
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<blockquote>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.32px;">"The web here refuses to let me in to blogger. Soooo I will have to wait and to share details and pictures. I just wanted to say she made it through the first night just fine. Her blood pressure did go up at one point. but they got it down. They had to hook her up to the pacemaker at one point, what is was off of it this morning, </span><i class="_4-k1 img sp_fM-mz8spZ1b sx_5371b4" style="background-color: white; background-image: url(https://fbstatic-a.akamaihd.net/rsrc.php/v2/yx/r/pimRBh7B6ER.png); background-position: 0px -340px; background-repeat: no-repeat; background-size: auto; color: #141823; display: inline-block; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; height: 16px; line-height: 19.32px; vertical-align: -3px; width: 16px;"><u style="left: -999999px; position: absolute;">smile emoticon</u></i><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.32px;"> They took the breathing tube out and attached her to a CPAP, so her lungs are partially working on their own. She was just groggily and awake and was miserable. I'm glad she is back asleep. Thank you for all her prayers and kind words!"</span></blockquote>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm7es2NDvxHhRzkwy6oAzVrIH-DbBV1YyE1OXc8PJk7t6ri_D7OkTl6rlfLS2D5L87Nn3iwMUvhTvVEIbjnWAO__vmE8TJwvikEuxb7qaAL4viHXYtND5HDDe5ddMmT0gXM-iEGKj_zqs/s1600/photo+1+(16).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm7es2NDvxHhRzkwy6oAzVrIH-DbBV1YyE1OXc8PJk7t6ri_D7OkTl6rlfLS2D5L87Nn3iwMUvhTvVEIbjnWAO__vmE8TJwvikEuxb7qaAL4viHXYtND5HDDe5ddMmT0gXM-iEGKj_zqs/s1600/photo+1+(16).JPG" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Still sedated that morning after.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS3wKXgZFQsIwDeBX-Kzll6UPmghJ-7_35j4S9atPpKQZRsCMYilwXz0TpJvZxBAfGhmJqmkHE2X9uSfE_vNI0R0QV_lTUB4Fc4vmtiFfYQvPjVScuzXWj66atCJkYVwzQvADuvbgQETQ/s1600/photo+2+(15).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS3wKXgZFQsIwDeBX-Kzll6UPmghJ-7_35j4S9atPpKQZRsCMYilwXz0TpJvZxBAfGhmJqmkHE2X9uSfE_vNI0R0QV_lTUB4Fc4vmtiFfYQvPjVScuzXWj66atCJkYVwzQvADuvbgQETQ/s1600/photo+2+(15).JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Selfie" the morning after surgery.</td></tr>
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<blockquote>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.32px;">"Today has been rough so far. She's been awake often. Ya! But was uncomfortable and crying a lot earlier. Though she was just awake and staring, not all that responsive. Not sure which is worse for me. They wanted to take the chest tubes out (they let the fluid from swelling drain out), but that is not going to happen now. They were able to take the catheter out though. Please be praying, I spoke up this morning that she looked swollen and her breathing was really retracting a</span><span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #141823; display: inline; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.32px;">gain. They agreed and upped her meds to help her body drain the fluid out, which will help the breathing. it's working she looks better and her breathing doesn't sound so "wet." BUT the air bubble that's next to her lung has gotten bigger, not smaller. We are waiting for the surgeon to get out of the OR and with his permission they will sedate her and insert a tube into the side of her chest, so Lord willing the air will escape. We had to do that for Josiah so his lungs wouldn't collapse, while in the NICU. This is bringing back emotions from Josiah."</span></blockquote>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih1y94XillCc8H5eqb__zpXQOmovfWDjaCv4XgOGTgE969qts7sCN2g171dQGJpgcxMRt2ziKpbKU7VJFk1RD4MZlG6iSJhY53MQqeWEKTwLx0L1xWYbHi_Gwso-mi_KNF02Bsypy3kLY/s1600/photo+2+(16).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih1y94XillCc8H5eqb__zpXQOmovfWDjaCv4XgOGTgE969qts7sCN2g171dQGJpgcxMRt2ziKpbKU7VJFk1RD4MZlG6iSJhY53MQqeWEKTwLx0L1xWYbHi_Gwso-mi_KNF02Bsypy3kLY/s1600/photo+2+(16).JPG" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Thursday after her breathing tube came out.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJSjublVXK6wH0nPmG84lK1rezdJei92iARTD4byzLKAf7nLGktd5egNJDnzqXsm2R-aURC52a3yE0p-S_hkenEC3u8gjYDFM8VPv9zA-jfii0HBqg5Mllec9PXROkLjyHuRGpn9i67AY/s1600/photo+1+(18).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJSjublVXK6wH0nPmG84lK1rezdJei92iARTD4byzLKAf7nLGktd5egNJDnzqXsm2R-aURC52a3yE0p-S_hkenEC3u8gjYDFM8VPv9zA-jfii0HBqg5Mllec9PXROkLjyHuRGpn9i67AY/s1600/photo+1+(18).JPG" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Daddy's holding my foot. :)</td></tr>
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<br />
Savannah hates her legs and feet covered, including when she sleeps, she'll kick the blanket off. The nurses learned that pretty quickly!! Even while sedated she would fuss and squirm a little and they discovered it was because they kept trying to cover them. To this day that make she chuckle...she is already SO opinionated! :)The picture of daddy holding her foot is special :) It was her way of comfort and tjrough the drugs her was her way of acknowledging that she knew daddy (or mommy) was there! When she heard your voice her little foot came up and she would relax a bit when you would hold it. It was incredibly hard not being able to hold her and comfort her through the pain!</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho8ucufGmdswN8o32esaO5OBoKaoI0FznBou4kR5wlt1TTw6VlqHAMNs33MU-5d-cisuvBNRzXL3LEvKXLQtPSnSZzexJagLaYp6_EUz_3usFN4QJRE-ahqCZLofR0y1p4Yy0zi8FCswM/s1600/photo+2+(17).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho8ucufGmdswN8o32esaO5OBoKaoI0FznBou4kR5wlt1TTw6VlqHAMNs33MU-5d-cisuvBNRzXL3LEvKXLQtPSnSZzexJagLaYp6_EUz_3usFN4QJRE-ahqCZLofR0y1p4Yy0zi8FCswM/s1600/photo+2+(17).JPG" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Miserable, swollen, and not doing well today.</td></tr>
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<blockquote>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.32px;">"wow, it's taking forever to deal with the tube! It's been over an hour and they are still working on her, not sure what's going on..."</span></blockquote>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifxTmVetnwoTfMQ2N44TsUSzSX_mm7eVj3uxZOawUYoKLxtXjz-vfVCZwEfenYwJAKpq-oYnM3F-0nhZWXY386dCtZNlZTBuC17e3sa1PSgwFhv3Dwc3HYRVsvVBUL4Cit_Ib43bP0EAc/s1600/photo+3+(12).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifxTmVetnwoTfMQ2N44TsUSzSX_mm7eVj3uxZOawUYoKLxtXjz-vfVCZwEfenYwJAKpq-oYnM3F-0nhZWXY386dCtZNlZTBuC17e3sa1PSgwFhv3Dwc3HYRVsvVBUL4Cit_Ib43bP0EAc/s1600/photo+3+(12).JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A new tube was added today, to remove air and fluid, so my lungs wont collapse.</td></tr>
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SOOO, Joseph came to visit and shortly after he arrived they announced that they indeed needed to put in an extra tube into her lung to help drain trapped air out (okay again memories of Josiah and his lung issues come flooding back). We where not allowed in her room nor the PICU at all while they did the procedure. We where told it wouldn't take very long (half hour I believe), so go grab a bite and they would come get us. WELL....it took over an hour. We thought perhaps they had come for us and we had been in our room eating (you can't stay with your child in the PICU), so we went into the PICU to find out. Well her room was still full of people and we were told they weren't done yet and as soon as we stepped out an alarm starting going off, with lights flashing, and the intercom announcing a code red in the wing that the PICU is in. I'm all of a sudden super nervous and starting to freak that it's Savannah and her heart is failing or something. It turns out she was completely fine, they had an issue and it took longer then expected and a code red is fire...code blue is heart (duh! Hah! I do know that, but in the moment we completely forgot). There happen to be smoke somewhere on the floor and they had to shut it down for a short bit. :)<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpBOJRwUeIRhHzIpk_oRkwmWFGT18rDZi3zU8w4orZRx3XVFR2VpNwmq4Zfej-6l8zc6M1wVDaivvb9S5MUeVmLbhuul1Sb6Fhp9X3H2aBU3dGJ2ie3-fIRuUaCe7TAKGakjKK-6aux1U/s1600/photo+3+(11).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpBOJRwUeIRhHzIpk_oRkwmWFGT18rDZi3zU8w4orZRx3XVFR2VpNwmq4Zfej-6l8zc6M1wVDaivvb9S5MUeVmLbhuul1Sb6Fhp9X3H2aBU3dGJ2ie3-fIRuUaCe7TAKGakjKK-6aux1U/s1600/photo+3+(11).JPG" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Look at the bow the nurses put in my hair. :)</td></tr>
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.32px;">"I didn't sleep well after yesterday. She looks a lot better. The swelling has gone down. They just took the pace maker wires out (they go in through the skin and lay on the heart) and spent the morning discusses the game plan and readjusting her. She is finally sleeping and all is quite. Last night's x-ray looked good, but they have done 2 more. Her breathing is still "tugging" (picture below the ribs, her upper stomach caves in when she breath.) it shows there is still some </span><span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #141823; display: inline; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.32px;">air pockets and fluid. It keeps changing. The nurse says her stats (CPAP) look good again, yet just told me her x-ray didn't look great so they are looking at. To sum it up, heart is doing great! Respitory not so much! They started feeds through the tube and are waiting to make sure there is no "milking" (a nick in the gland?). I believe if all is well, they are going to take 3 of the 4 tubes out of her so she will be more comfortable. Sorry if this is confusing. Info literally keeps changing even as I type. Overall heart-doing great. Breathing-not so much. Thank you for your kind words and prayer! When your here you forget there is a world outside.</span></blockquote>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsL_pwXbsjxMe3UTjUmHMtx_02dFEkNin0V0W0Sv_32lPq4ZIGeQ9mv0x9tza8TTZH-xsoKZ2bWYI6PUPvWrmQK0QG6UpCRZ0FjIdfLQ1AOXVBZY0jeMSFmz8wdQO9oFa_EI9-1UhEEio/s1600/photo+2+(18).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsL_pwXbsjxMe3UTjUmHMtx_02dFEkNin0V0W0Sv_32lPq4ZIGeQ9mv0x9tza8TTZH-xsoKZ2bWYI6PUPvWrmQK0QG6UpCRZ0FjIdfLQ1AOXVBZY0jeMSFmz8wdQO9oFa_EI9-1UhEEio/s1600/photo+2+(18).JPG" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Friday, awake and doing better.</td></tr>
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<br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.32px;">"Yesterday was another long day. Yet it was better. There was just a lot of adjusting and changes so she was uncomfortable and cried or looked stoned. They took the 3 chest tubes out. It was crazy to watch. They are good size tubes that go into her and are really far up into her body!! She is awake when they took them out and stitched up the holes. All the changes though where steps towards healing and getting closer to going home. She wound up having more chest x-rays then I </span><span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #141823; display: inline; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.32px;">could keep count. At one point the x-rays looked worse and that was a huge concern. So they redid them, and it looked fine (it was blankets originally causing the issue). Praise the Lord!! She was still really tugging when she breathed, but we where/are hoping it was just "splinting" (not taking deep breaths due to pain). She spent a good part of the evening crying in pain, so they had to give her a double dose of meds. But she did great through the night! They took the last tube out this morning and took her off the high-flow and put her on low oxygen (a very good sign)."</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpiRS0kPGsVepi6LQp2Mxn7Sad0lE5kHjQm7Da1Rngzlnb2t55mmS3PmCcvL7OidNU90AtVvbxT2HqNke5M6VZKMKXxZN7IKP1SZg4KhyqOdmc0o6mvPN8D8-GoZOTRs0CCqjkxJXvkTs/s1600/photo+1+(17).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpiRS0kPGsVepi6LQp2Mxn7Sad0lE5kHjQm7Da1Rngzlnb2t55mmS3PmCcvL7OidNU90AtVvbxT2HqNke5M6VZKMKXxZN7IKP1SZg4KhyqOdmc0o6mvPN8D8-GoZOTRs0CCqjkxJXvkTs/s1600/photo+1+(17).JPG" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tube's out...drugged up once more.</td></tr>
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #141823; display: inline; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.32px;">"I got to hold her!!! and am going to attempt to nurse her today! </span><span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #141823; display: inline; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.32px;"><i class="_4-k1 img sp_fM-mz8spZ1b sx_5371b4" style="background-image: url(https://fbstatic-a.akamaihd.net/rsrc.php/v2/yx/r/pimRBh7B6ER.png); background-position: 0px -340px; background-repeat: no-repeat; background-size: auto; display: inline-block; height: 16px; vertical-align: -3px; width: 16px;"></i></span><span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #141823; display: inline; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.32px;"><i class="_4-k1 img sp_fM-mz8spZ1b sx_5371b4" style="background-image: url(https://fbstatic-a.akamaihd.net/rsrc.php/v2/yx/r/pimRBh7B6ER.png); background-position: 0px -340px; background-repeat: no-repeat; background-size: auto; display: inline-block; height: 16px; vertical-align: -3px; width: 16px;"><u style="left: -999999px; position: absolute;">smile emoticon</u></i></span><span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #141823; display: inline; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.32px;"> We had WAY to much fun at rounds today talking about her. </span><span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #141823; display: inline; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.32px;"><i class="_4-k1 img sp_fM-mz8spZ1b sx_5371b4" style="background-image: url(https://fbstatic-a.akamaihd.net/rsrc.php/v2/yx/r/pimRBh7B6ER.png); background-position: 0px -340px; background-repeat: no-repeat; background-size: auto; display: inline-block; height: 16px; vertical-align: -3px; width: 16px;"><u style="left: -999999px; position: absolute;">smile emoticon</u></i></span><span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #141823; display: inline; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.32px;"> Because she's doing well and we could be silly and light hearted. </span><span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #141823; display: inline; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.32px;"><i class="_4-k1 img sp_fM-mz8spZ1b sx_5371b4" style="background-image: url(https://fbstatic-a.akamaihd.net/rsrc.php/v2/yx/r/pimRBh7B6ER.png); background-position: 0px -340px; background-repeat: no-repeat; background-size: auto; display: inline-block; height: 16px; vertical-align: -3px; width: 16px;"><u style="left: -999999px; position: absolute;">smile emoticon</u></i></span><span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #141823; display: inline; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.32px;"> Lord willing we are coming home tomorrow! </span><span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #141823; display: inline; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.32px;"><i class="_4-k1 img sp_fM-mz8spZ1b sx_5371b4" style="background-image: url(https://fbstatic-a.akamaihd.net/rsrc.php/v2/yx/r/pimRBh7B6ER.png); background-position: 0px -340px; background-repeat: no-repeat; background-size: auto; display: inline-block; height: 16px; vertical-align: -3px; width: 16px;"><u style="left: -999999px; position: absolute;">smile emoticon</u></i></span><span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #141823; display: inline; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.32px;"><i class="_4-k1 img sp_fM-mz8spZ1b sx_5371b4" style="background-image: url(https://fbstatic-a.akamaihd.net/rsrc.php/v2/yx/r/pimRBh7B6ER.png); background-position: 0px -340px; background-repeat: no-repeat; background-size: auto; display: inline-block; height: 16px; vertical-align: -3px; width: 16px;"><u style="left: -999999px; position: absolute;">smile emoticon</u></i></span><span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #141823; display: inline; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.32px;"> We had WAY to much fun at rounds today talking about her. </span><span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #141823; display: inline; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.32px;"><i class="_4-k1 img sp_fM-mz8spZ1b sx_5371b4" style="background-image: url(https://fbstatic-a.akamaihd.net/rsrc.php/v2/yx/r/pimRBh7B6ER.png); background-position: 0px -340px; background-repeat: no-repeat; background-size: auto; display: inline-block; height: 16px; vertical-align: -3px; width: 16px;"><u style="left: -999999px; position: absolute;">smile emoticon</u></i></span><span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #141823; display: inline; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.32px;"> Because she's doing well and we could be silly and light hearted. </span><span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #141823; display: inline; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.32px;"><i class="_4-k1 img sp_fM-mz8spZ1b sx_5371b4" style="background-image: url(https://fbstatic-a.akamaihd.net/rsrc.php/v2/yx/r/pimRBh7B6ER.png); background-position: 0px -340px; background-repeat: no-repeat; background-size: auto; display: inline-block; height: 16px; vertical-align: -3px; width: 16px;"><u style="left: -999999px; position: absolute;">smile emoticon</u></i></span><span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #141823; display: inline; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.32px;"> Lord willing we are coming home tomorrow! </span><span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #141823; display: inline; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.32px;"><i class="_4-k1 img sp_fM-mz8spZ1b sx_5371b4" style="background-image: url(https://fbstatic-a.akamaihd.net/rsrc.php/v2/yx/r/pimRBh7B6ER.png); background-position: 0px -340px; background-repeat: no-repeat; background-size: auto; display: inline-block; height: 16px; vertical-align: -3px; width: 16px;"><u style="left: -999999px; position: absolute;">smile emoticon</u></i></span>"</blockquote>
<span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #141823; display: inline; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.32px;"><i class="_4-k1 img sp_fM-mz8spZ1b sx_5371b4" style="background-image: url(https://fbstatic-a.akamaihd.net/rsrc.php/v2/yx/r/pimRBh7B6ER.png); background-position: 0px -340px; background-repeat: no-repeat; background-size: auto; display: inline-block; height: 16px; vertical-align: -3px; width: 16px;"></i></span></blockquote>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiezRsWKRn1Ffq0-eq9Oq2UWm6ZWRQQjf43RTyXrEWbf6URoNvDtMdfgR0cknIqY8f4pngir17rzyikh5wMmGXdufh11dmAUlGy8TwfJMmki9U71BMDMrorWsz9h0d2kiQN1DhtAjvw9XE/s1600/photo+1+(20).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiezRsWKRn1Ffq0-eq9Oq2UWm6ZWRQQjf43RTyXrEWbf6URoNvDtMdfgR0cknIqY8f4pngir17rzyikh5wMmGXdufh11dmAUlGy8TwfJMmki9U71BMDMrorWsz9h0d2kiQN1DhtAjvw9XE/s1600/photo+1+(20).JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Daddy took a picture of me holding her for the first time. Cried my way through it, so did she. So much pain!</td></tr>
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Overall Savannah's surgery took place September 23, 2014 and we got to go home Sunday afternoon, September, 28th 2014. Praise be to our God for her safe surgery and recovery, for her life and health! Thank you to Pastor Paul and Peggy for coming to see us before we went home. That meant the world to us! Thank you to our church family that continually prayed for us and brought us meals! Thank you for everyone's love, prayers, and support as I updated you on FB. Last but not least, thank you to everyone at Tufts...our surgeon, cardiologist, respiratory specialists, anesthetists, nurses, doctors, cafeteria staff, all the employees that clean the hospital, and everyone else that I missed. You all made Savannah and I stay as comfortable, safe, and enjoyable as possible!<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="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDsruT1X3D1Mc1xfzlnx5hHtcG1F29WTpM3AU3VTI7KypZ4-hWoaKosuNtVGg-whfj2p_C0sY1kCopIXnOfthifwbu2qgjB0VemwCzWIXD-ffeVlxPoxcQdshevIWzQQdSJCI4gMWtJgw/s1600/photo+2+(19).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDsruT1X3D1Mc1xfzlnx5hHtcG1F29WTpM3AU3VTI7KypZ4-hWoaKosuNtVGg-whfj2p_C0sY1kCopIXnOfthifwbu2qgjB0VemwCzWIXD-ffeVlxPoxcQdshevIWzQQdSJCI4gMWtJgw/s1600/photo+2+(19).JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Holding her again, she's feeling much better!</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="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyN6tRC15vWgwYTSqQiabInDDM09d3btInuU4dGWyCgPDb6Qk_dorILcn1zpAN3oCMdXz0S_0kVXrEc7CiaCWS5B3a9tkIqkjFgbJcI-jeI391PpfOvuv1-L1RwiCyXJa9dFfBHVZIODc/s1600/photo+3+(14).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyN6tRC15vWgwYTSqQiabInDDM09d3btInuU4dGWyCgPDb6Qk_dorILcn1zpAN3oCMdXz0S_0kVXrEc7CiaCWS5B3a9tkIqkjFgbJcI-jeI391PpfOvuv1-L1RwiCyXJa9dFfBHVZIODc/s1600/photo+3+(14).JPG" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We get to go home today! Praise God!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
For His Glory,<br />
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Christenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08714132452232161624noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1368385884048423999.post-22840075458287210122015-03-18T22:12:00.000-04:002015-03-18T22:12:16.456-04:00The Day I knew...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjax-GEl77Pgaln4Vlqgp0k2LoGm8KMK9VXEb4jr9ryIfCwHkh-twEEu9fzSQxm8aW7RZ1-XBPopzRs5XIRl8UQrVbaj9ngrOlutHbjlH_YctbrDQr47WMwxcRmIyamYTMDDd5tJ2w7uQo/s1600/Down+Syndrome+butterfly.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjax-GEl77Pgaln4Vlqgp0k2LoGm8KMK9VXEb4jr9ryIfCwHkh-twEEu9fzSQxm8aW7RZ1-XBPopzRs5XIRl8UQrVbaj9ngrOlutHbjlH_YctbrDQr47WMwxcRmIyamYTMDDd5tJ2w7uQo/s1600/Down+Syndrome+butterfly.jpg" height="200" width="200" /></a></div>
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The date was April 11, 2014....it was the day our amazing, sweet Savannah was born.<br />
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She was my first baby to come late, she was born about week later then her due date. She was also my longest birth! Looking back it makes sense that it took so long and that her head was tilted at a funny angle so that she couldn't come out until we could adjust her.<br />
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We can attribute it to her low muscle tone.<br />
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Looking back it makes sense that they had to immediately cut the cord and couldn't put her on my chest...that she was so very, very quite...that she was purplish in color.<br />
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It WAS her low muscle tone. She needed to be warmed and examined before giving her to me.<br />
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Looking back it makes sense why they asked for my husband to wait for the pediatrician to come and examine her and why they asked permission to bring big sister Dakota to the nurses station, when he did show up.<br />
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That day I knew, after I got an uneasy feeling when the doctor and nurses whispered while examining her and it felt like everyone held their breath over what reaction my husband and I would have to their news...<br />
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When the doctor started talking about physical features that combined was not normal...<br />
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That day I knew as I looked down at that precious, wide awake, beautiful, quite, blessing of a bundle...<br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>What it felt like to have a child with <span style="color: #0b5394;">Down</span> <span style="color: #ffd966;">Syndrome</span>.</b></span></div>
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That diagnosis that so many people fear and dread. That diagnosis that so many people test to try and determine before birth. That diagnosis that so many (90% or more) people kill their unborn child over...over fear of it.<br />
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Later in the quite of the room as I looked down at our beautiful little girl...I thought, so this is what it feels like to have a child with<span style="color: #0b5394;"> DOWN</span> <span style="color: #ffd966;">SYNDROME...</span>it's not so terrifying...it's not something to dread. Savannah is our daughter that God entrusted to us and I am at peace with that gift. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTjbXLrHMCUucPzO4WjuyEZ0UcCjXr6lWYluiX23a0KPQ6Wdaz5QNC7tsYj8-Mb2K01ul9f_Oo2db51RRDTOIfdY7haL7fKK55i4EiAcXpTj9vBkGpNWas40eOggj_u5suONs4pzmmyBc/s1600/DS+Princess.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTjbXLrHMCUucPzO4WjuyEZ0UcCjXr6lWYluiX23a0KPQ6Wdaz5QNC7tsYj8-Mb2K01ul9f_Oo2db51RRDTOIfdY7haL7fKK55i4EiAcXpTj9vBkGpNWas40eOggj_u5suONs4pzmmyBc/s1600/DS+Princess.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
Why?! Because...</div>
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I will praise You, for I am <span style="color: #674ea7;">FEARFULLY</span> and <span style="color: #741b47;">WONDERFULLY</span> made; marvelous are Your works, and my soul knows very well. Psalm 139:14</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGLt3n00HhyGmwd2Huulz1BZWZGC2R2wuEw4Oh6btuuerKWaF5lLsoP8F0zjoDBSfNGJFLP3M1dBaMzzayDFL6JBfrU1pF4SAqQlro7zDURvhQXjYiqaFKr4kqg6FEo1PO5sqvFrxes1k/s1600/lotsofsocks15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGLt3n00HhyGmwd2Huulz1BZWZGC2R2wuEw4Oh6btuuerKWaF5lLsoP8F0zjoDBSfNGJFLP3M1dBaMzzayDFL6JBfrU1pF4SAqQlro7zDURvhQXjYiqaFKr4kqg6FEo1PO5sqvFrxes1k/s1600/lotsofsocks15.jpg" height="101" width="320" /></a></div>
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Saturday is <a href="http://www.ndsccenter.org/how-will-you-celebrate-world-down-syndrome-day-2015/">WORLD Down Syndrome Day.</a>..will you help me bring awareness? </div>
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Do you know anyone with Down Syndrome? I would love to hear about them and what your plans are (if any) for Saturday.<br />
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For His Glory,</div>
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<br />Christenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08714132452232161624noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1368385884048423999.post-41106089211316200992015-03-02T06:00:00.000-05:002015-03-02T06:00:03.690-05:00WELCOME TO HOLLANDA poem about Down Syndrome...<br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I am often asked to describe the experience of raising a child with a disability - </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">to try to help </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">people who have not shared that unique experience to </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">When you're going to have a baby, it's like planning a fabulous vacation trip - to Italy. You </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">buy a bunch of guide books and make your wonderful plans. The Coliseum. The </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Michelangelo David. The gondolas in Venice. You may learn some handy phrases in Italian.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It's all very exciting.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">After months of eager anticipation, the day finally arrives. You pack your bags and off you go. </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Several hours later, the plane lands. The stewardess comes in and says, "Welcome to </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Holland."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"Holland?!?" you say. "What do you mean Holland?? I signed up for Italy! I'm supposed to be </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">in Italy. All my life I've dreamed of going to Italy."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But there's been a change in the flight plan. They've landed in Holland and there you must </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">stay.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The important thing is that they haven't taken you to a horrible, disgusting, filthy place, full of </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">pestilence, famine and disease. It's just a different place.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So you must go out and buy new guide books. And you must learn a whole new language. </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And you will meet a whole new group of people you would never have met.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It's just a different place. It's slower-paced than Italy, less flashy than Italy. But after you've </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">been there for a while and you catch your breath, you look around.... </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">and you begin to notice </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">that Holland has windmills....</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">and Holland has tulips. Holland even has Rembrandts.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But everyone you know is busy coming and going from Italy... and they're all bragging about </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">what a wonderful time they had there.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> And for the rest of your life, you will say "Yes, that's</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">where I was supposed to go. That's what I had planned."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And the pain of that will never, ever, ever, ever go away... because the loss of that dream is </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">a very very significant loss.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But... if you spend your life mourning the fact that you didn't get to Italy, you may never be </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">free to enjoy the very special, the very lovely things ... </span></div>
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<span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">about Holland.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">c1987 by Emily Perl Kingsley. All rights reserved.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">For HIS Glory,</span></div>
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<br />Christenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08714132452232161624noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1368385884048423999.post-88880476382159044342015-02-20T06:00:00.000-05:002015-02-20T06:00:01.352-05:00Jamberry Mystery Hostess Party<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpg_Mt14DBYKAV-pHpB5HwOfy8t2Eazhn34td8zf1owQwuILjlv3Bqo1VvQHFppXlXCfjWJFZ-vqV4IX-brpUWY29ZsAVaAHO23aZgCIRXin5zuKDVOT2EuoaUzB_D47rHEvu4a_rG-qo/s1600/15536052124_444e16b639_m.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpg_Mt14DBYKAV-pHpB5HwOfy8t2Eazhn34td8zf1owQwuILjlv3Bqo1VvQHFppXlXCfjWJFZ-vqV4IX-brpUWY29ZsAVaAHO23aZgCIRXin5zuKDVOT2EuoaUzB_D47rHEvu4a_rG-qo/s1600/15536052124_444e16b639_m.jpg" /></a></div>
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I hope the Winter Season finds you well! I have been super busy recovering after Savannah's surgery (she cried almost all day for 2 weeks, then had to find a new routine) and Josiah has had a bunch of therapy evaluations and changes. Add homeschooling and being a mom/wife/housekeeper and well you know, like gets pretty crazy!! :)<br />
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I have to share as I type this I'm listening to Savannah babble away, what a wonderful (praise the Lord) change! :) I also have an update half-way typed up.<br />
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In case you didn't know, I am a consultant for Jamberry Nails. Yay! I LOVE my Jamberry nails! I am trying to grow my business, so I can raise funds to pay for Savannah and Josiah's medical and therapy bills. My husband now has a job...praise the LORD!! We are working hard at paying off all our debt and then saving up a down payment for a house (Lord willing), so I would love to be able to chip in a pay Josiah's weekly therapy bill and Lord willing, pay any other medical/therapy that gets thrown at us.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5WYQbu7imobtYrCcYi3giSoxFSieoVmz-gZZ4TKNhUgVvKET32jGosJtJSmSto_K__yD_Iw5ZtqoxYsikp9Cn0RGuwiM2qbsl1JLiYYJ4FolNYjdx9TIIA-AyXiRUOXi1U6wVQEN_Q7s/s1600/15138812293_fdfffcd726_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5WYQbu7imobtYrCcYi3giSoxFSieoVmz-gZZ4TKNhUgVvKET32jGosJtJSmSto_K__yD_Iw5ZtqoxYsikp9Cn0RGuwiM2qbsl1JLiYYJ4FolNYjdx9TIIA-AyXiRUOXi1U6wVQEN_Q7s/s1600/15138812293_fdfffcd726_b.jpg" height="145" width="400" /></a></div>
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Sooooo....drum roll please ;)....I'm having a Mystery Hostess Party! You can enter in now through the end of the month for your chance to win ALL the hostess benefits! Through the end of February the theme is Going, Going, Gone. There are a ton of wraps and lacquers that are going away, so get them while you can!!<br />
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Love Jamberry? Are you curious and want to give it a try? Well here's your chance to win FREE shipping, products and 1/2 price items.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXrdgw_briw6EfpB0-0F8cP4NvGfCOm-l3k0F2cLqakdJ5XdwQV7Bohfzp9evykpnjXrJxYFUsHAata8STpSYvqtuKbrLSH00fUid8HVJw-S3fzJp6sFU_quPMxCxBvGGTN47qHWhU2Mw/s1600/15835949574_0c971d415e_z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXrdgw_briw6EfpB0-0F8cP4NvGfCOm-l3k0F2cLqakdJ5XdwQV7Bohfzp9evykpnjXrJxYFUsHAata8STpSYvqtuKbrLSH00fUid8HVJw-S3fzJp6sFU_quPMxCxBvGGTN47qHWhU2Mw/s1600/15835949574_0c971d415e_z.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
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How does it work?<br />
-<a href="http://www.christenkieffner.jamberrynails.net/profile/"><span style="color: #741b47; font-size: large;">Place an order</span></a> and get 5 entry points.<br />
-Like my<span style="color: #741b47; font-size: large;"> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/ChristenJamberrynails">Facebook Page</a> </span>and get 2 entry points.<br />
-<a href="http://www.christenkieffner.jamberrynails.net/profile/"><span style="color: #741b47; font-size: large;">Subscribe to my email list</span></a> and get 2 entry points.<br />
-Head on over to the<a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/1553098041626847/"><span style="color: #a64d79; font-size: large;"> party on Facebook</span></a> to play some games and learn more about Jamberry and myself.<br />
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Go ahead and enter via rafflecopter... the winner will be announced Friday night 2/27 .<br />
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<a href="https://www.blogger.com/%3Ca%20class=%22rcptr%22%20href=%22http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/59f12fe62/%22%20rel=%22nofollow%22%20data-raflid=%2259f12fe62%22%20data-theme=%22classic%22%20data-template=%22%22%20id=%22rcwidget_a805qgl0%22%3Ea%20Rafflecopter%20giveaway%3C/a%3E%20%3Cscript%20src=%22//widget-prime.rafflecopter.com/launch.js%22%3E%3C/script%3E"><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Going Going Gone Mystery Hostess Rafflecopter Giveaway</span></a><br />
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FYI, I can always mail you a free sample if your interested. You can also host a Jamberry party in home and/or through Facebook. I would love to throw you a party! Contact me if your interested.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzZvD6xWuJhzTQHlWv7ebcnvHNXNDgp6CiSJPj3a903FfIEJyUydA3immUV5JCHxtkSO9x1DIXlHj-AEr1sAcvPPCmRWpO6POY5b8dVIrRokxMHekK2F6tOmDI0HnQeXWhSW3bVO4x0t8/s1600/16123698936_1f4df33759_z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzZvD6xWuJhzTQHlWv7ebcnvHNXNDgp6CiSJPj3a903FfIEJyUydA3immUV5JCHxtkSO9x1DIXlHj-AEr1sAcvPPCmRWpO6POY5b8dVIrRokxMHekK2F6tOmDI0HnQeXWhSW3bVO4x0t8/s1600/16123698936_1f4df33759_z.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
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Want to give Jamberry as a gift, but don't have time to order and have it shipped? You can always order a gift card though my website!<br />
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<br />Christenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08714132452232161624noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1368385884048423999.post-55867156640207455922014-09-22T14:09:00.001-04:002014-09-22T14:09:44.543-04:00Open Heart Surgery Date Set<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It's been a long week and a half. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">There was all kinds of changes for Josiah turning three and all kinds of "ups" with him. We had, had all "downs" you could say with Savannah.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">After talking with the cardiologist and finding out they set Oct. 7th as her surgery date, we discussed her health at that point.....it's not great. They have upped her surgery to this Tuesday, Sept. 23.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">-She is still struggling with labored breathing. It's gotten worse, the lasik isn't keeping up with it as much.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">-Her weight gain has been <b>REALLY</b> slow and has once again plateaued. We tried to increase the calories again but her tummy couldn't handle it and ultimately she couldn't keep it down. So...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> 1. Risk of aspiration.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> 2. Back to square one with calories and no-little weight gain.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">-We are heading into "sick season" and she's at a higher risk of getting sick (has to do with having Down Syndrome) and with her heart right now, depending on the illness it can be deadly to her. Last Sunday at church we found out THREE different families had phenomena and another family had the respiratory virus that has just hit New England form out West. All of that would be DEADLY to Savannah!!! If she where to get a cold...they would have to push the surgery out for another 6 weeks!! Her heart is failing....her lungs are failing...she can't take another 6 weeks they tell us.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Spending time with Daddy, telling him a story.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> They had us come in this past Monday for her pre-op appointment. That was a lot of work and am <b>SO THANKFUL</b> that Daddy stayed home with the big kids!! We went to the lab for blood work, then for an x-ray (she has to sit while we hold her arms straight up. It's very uncomfortable, but was able to stand there and looks at her and calm her down...Thank you Lord), then an Echo was done. At that point she had, had it...she was poked, stretched, then sticky tabs where pulled off her body...she screamed then finally went to sleep, which was perfect. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Next we had another sonogram done of her heart. We used the half hour to talk with the Anesthesiologist about the whole thing. We then had to get more blood work done (so cruel!!), this time they took her from her head...I walked out of the room...I couldn't handle that. By that point she wouldn't stop screaming. I met with the surgeon and discussed the surgery with him, while she screamed. :p Finally they took us up to the ICU to see it, meet the nurses and was given my instructions for the night before surgery. At that point she was giving "hate look" to everyone...I have never seen her give looks like that. lol!</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHV132AOf2mXqtF-EsS21FA1Kz6uxVTyYpdEp9T6Yl9B1xVncClFJUxAiBAmtxHS2YOT_iMGnJh5SoiWU9ZGSwc3XMiKACaU1C28wPiGQO8jSNb_4zJ5T-w8UXCtQ9u4yCLhF1MP4z9WU/s1600/photo+1+(14).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHV132AOf2mXqtF-EsS21FA1Kz6uxVTyYpdEp9T6Yl9B1xVncClFJUxAiBAmtxHS2YOT_iMGnJh5SoiWU9ZGSwc3XMiKACaU1C28wPiGQO8jSNb_4zJ5T-w8UXCtQ9u4yCLhF1MP4z9WU/s1600/photo+1+(14).JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A cutie in Daddy's arms.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In awe of Daddy.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My 5 month daughter is having open heart surgery.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My daughter is having OPEN HEART SURGERY.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">MY DAUGHTER IS HAVING OPEN HEART SURGERY.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I've said it out loud...I've whispered it...I've cried it.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Once again I am handing it over to <b>CHRIST</b>. Fear and worry does nothing. but drain today of it's joy. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> God is in control...I am NOT. No matter the out come...not mater what happens...good or bad. God is in control! HE created her...HE loves her more then we do...HE had entrusted her to us, but ultimately she is HIS child, not ours. There is NOTHING I can do...so I will PRAY...pray for the surgeons and medical team, the hospital, against germs and infections, for strength for her body and heart, for peace and strength for our family, and for grace. Then I will again hand my fear and worry over to HIM...the AUTHOR of LIFE.</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">DISCLAIMER: I am about to describe a summary of the surgery and what to expect after. </span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">If you can't handle that type of thing, then don''t read and further. :) </span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> The night before (as in tonight) we have to scrub her down with a special soap they gave us and again in the morning. We have to be there for 6 am in Boston. They are going to cut down the soft bone on the rib cage (the bone that connect the ribs in the middle), they will then pull back her ribs and in order to fix her heart they will take a dime size piece of her heart to patch up the hole (he said it's just like patching a hole in clothes), he will literally tie off the artery that is still open. I don't think he is going to touch the smaller hole in her lower chamber and he mentioned that typically there is a hole in the upper chamber that they can't see and if that's the case he will stitch that hole up.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> I don't know how they keep the heart pumping...I kind of tuned out at that point. I know she will have a pic in a main vein and a breathing tube in. He will then wire the rub cage back together. The surgery should take about 6 hours.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Lord willing, she will spend about a week in the ICU before coming home. They said the first few days there will be ups and downs with her health, until her heart "gets it" and then she should take off health wise. :) When we come home you have to be very careful how you hold her, due to her bones healing. I'm nervous about that. But once she stabilizes she should take off health wise, grow and have way more energy!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">For His Glory,</span><br />
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<br />Christenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08714132452232161624noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1368385884048423999.post-64286074539427376652014-09-18T21:53:00.002-04:002014-09-18T21:53:58.034-04:00God's Mercy towards our Birthday Boy<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheiKm5JuXZ6UTdXTrl1GoBeh4I2KEB5TJ0PbGH1O5oae9IBHvVETnUSwhWfZcxB8a2wLBFwi4xb1H6xP6p1cgdbj3fvtpgsLDW6eyE6GjmyEaGu-m5Nxv4VO6Q2-8R3VYk6L7q2iDbbqQ/s1600/photo+(24).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheiKm5JuXZ6UTdXTrl1GoBeh4I2KEB5TJ0PbGH1O5oae9IBHvVETnUSwhWfZcxB8a2wLBFwi4xb1H6xP6p1cgdbj3fvtpgsLDW6eyE6GjmyEaGu-m5Nxv4VO6Q2-8R3VYk6L7q2iDbbqQ/s1600/photo+(24).JPG" height="320" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I'm 3!</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9DCmM8JlVcwkCdvoPwXNUAixLfrYO0p-6GnR5vv1swYvlHfJEbIzSSHDYasLFFlr4Nnf73m5NXmQeBISu29Nsq642PPkhu4v6aGVb9_Kjb1bwoUMW4AmrDqWc_wzzFhGfGgAsxRwbXl0/s1600/photo+3+(7).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9DCmM8JlVcwkCdvoPwXNUAixLfrYO0p-6GnR5vv1swYvlHfJEbIzSSHDYasLFFlr4Nnf73m5NXmQeBISu29Nsq642PPkhu4v6aGVb9_Kjb1bwoUMW4AmrDqWc_wzzFhGfGgAsxRwbXl0/s1600/photo+3+(7).JPG" height="320" width="239" /></a><br />
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It's hard to believe 3 years ago I suddenly went into labor and Josiah was born...we had no idea if he would live or die. He wasn't breathing, but praise be to God, he finally started breathing and they rushed him to the NICU. God has saw fit to allow us to raise this precious little boy for 3 years now!! I'm still in awe.<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">As the 3 years have gone by I am more and more in awe of God's mercy towards us with Josiah!</span></b><br />
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<b>The First thing I learned was h0w merciful God has been in regards to Josiah's health. </b><br />
We were told due to his premature lungs he would have all kinds of breathing issues, including severe asthma. As of this day there is NO SIGN of asthma!! Thank you Jesus! Thank the Lord I found out after the matter, but was later told they had prepped the ICU for after his all day surgery. They did not expect him to handle it well particularly his lungs... to everyone's surprise he was able to go to a typical room/floor. Even when he had the flu he did not need to be hospitalized.<br />
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<b>The second thing I have learned is how merciful God has been in regards to his cleft lip/palate.</b><br />
Josiah had his big clinic last Friday at Children's Hospital and at one point I was so humbled I wanted to weep. Most of the kids there were there for cleft lip/palate follow ups. You could TELL they had surgery for cleft lips...Josiah on the other hand...not so much!! Sure if you look you can see it's different looking, his nose is some what crooked, etc. I can't tell you enough how humbled I was to see such a HUGE difference!! No it doesn't matter if you can tell or not...but the fact that God allowed Josiah to be barely noticeable...I was speechless...I just assumed the other kids looked like him. Also his tooth that is behind the front row, to everyone's surprise is an extra! That's a good thing! :) Better to have extra , then less I was told. Thank you Jesus!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rocking Dakota's sunglasses. :)</td></tr>
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<b>Last but not least, I learned how merciful God has been with Josiah's therapy.</b><br />
<b> </b>While in NH we had Early Intervention for him. They started with O.T. then we had a long struggle with literally teaching him to eat (so many factors I never thought about), swallow tests and more feeding therapy, then finally some physical therapy to try and get him to walk. Praise the Lord, he was walking by about 2 and learned how to walk on the uneven ground outside this past spring. :) But then there was a gap after we moved . After Savannah was born with Down Syndrome we finally got on Early Intervention in this area...Praise God! After evaluations we finally started working on speech therapy, but still have a long way to go, though he is saying a few words! With turning 3 means big changes, he "ages out of E.I." So we started the process of seeing about possibly getting him therapy through the school system and after talking to Savannah's therapist, we decided to try and get an evaluation at a private place and started with North East Rehab.<br />
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Since we still hadn't heard from the school system for further evaluations, where we go for E.I. agreed to allow him to stay in his little 2X2 group through the fall, so he could continue to work on sign language and communicating with kids his age. He LOVES it! We have to pay out of pocket, but I am still thankful there won't be another gap and delay for him! Then Thursday when I took him to his evaluation at North East, to my (and his E.I. therapists) surprise (and delight) was told he qualified and would <b>start right away </b>on therapy. We expected <b>months</b> of waiting and go from place to place for evaluations. God took it one step further and they are also approving him for some much needed O.T and Physical Therapy! <b>Praise God!!</b> I FINALLY feel like we are getting help for Josiah and Lord willing, can get him caught up and strengthened physically.<br />
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<b> Some helpful things I learned (which I'm so excited to have answers):</b><br />
The specialist in Boston pointed out he makes A LOT of sounds in the back of his throat. This is bad and will eventually damage his vocal chords, which is a big concern. We don't want to discourage ANY sounds he makes, but instead get really excited and encourage sounds in the front of the mouth. She doesn't think his palate or extra tooth are causing the issues in speech, yet if he hasn't made huge improvements within 6 months she wants to reexamine that sooner then a year. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">showing you what the dental team did. :)</td></tr>
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During his evaluation at North East ( I can't tell you how excited I was after meeting his new therapist) she was talking about kids the have weak muscles (make an o face...those muscles) when drinking from a straw stick it far back in their mouths and bite down. Josiah does this!! We had no clue it was due to his weak muscles! Because of that his swallowing becomes uncoordinated and it again comes out his nose. She has a device to work on that. His soft palate needs to be strengthened and he is very nasally. I found out when he is blowing on his food, he's actually blowing out his nose, not his mouth (it's hard to tell his face is all scrunched up)...so she has a device that will gently pinch the nose closed so he can't use it and will learn to use his soft palate and be aware of sounds from his mouth. SOOO freaking excited about all of this!! :)<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Whoops, missed his mouth. ;)</td></tr>
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I just want to say that even if God saw fit to not show mercy in any or all of those areas, HE is still a merciful, loving, God. I am a sinful wretch and do not deserve any of it and am so thankful for His sweet blessings and mercy!<br />
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No, that is not lipstick! He got into the girls red paint, I guess the sponge brush felt cool on his lips. lol!!</div>
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I thought this song was perfect, though I couldn't find Aaron Keyes singing it.</div>
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For HIS Glory,<br />
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<br />Christenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08714132452232161624noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1368385884048423999.post-34474559913977686622014-08-29T15:09:00.001-04:002014-08-29T15:09:03.139-04:00Raising Funds for Therapy and Surgery<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;">Some therapy items from E.I.</td></tr>
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I can't believe 3 years ago I was in the hospital on bed rest wondering if I would make it to 24 weeks...if Josiah would live...if I would be okay. God was/is merciful and our miracle baby is going to be 3 in a few short weeks!!<br />
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With turning 3 though means aging our of Early Intervention. As in THE DAY he turns 3, no more therapists coming to the house, no more speech therapy group, no more free "rented" resources from them. Early Intervention has been there since the beginning. From occupational therapy (strengthening particularly his core/ upper body), to nutritionists, weight check ins, feeding & swallowing test, feeding therapy, to eventually teaching him to crawl/walk before moving from NH. Though he's still not talking, I have to remind myself he's come ALONG way since birth!<br />
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Savannah's therapist does certain message exercises to struggle her muscles orally to help her feed better, which will in turn help her when it comes to talking (babies with Trisomy 21 struggle with that). I am VERY frustrated that no ever mentioned, did or taught me to do that with Josiah. He didn't orally eat so they knew his muscles needed to be strengthened eventually so he could eat. We have learned that's one reason for the delay in speech...his muscles are too weak. So WHY didn't anyone work with him or teach me to, from the beginning??!? I had no clue back them.<br />
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Here's is a video of me sort of doing one of the messages. I'm not doing it properly because I was trying to get her to laugh for the camera. :)<br />
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So where does that leave us? We are waiting on his evaluation with the public school. We have an apt at the end of October to hear what they have to say. I am also calling private therapy locations that the E.I. therapist recommend to book evaluations. He has a clinic on the 5th with the surgeons and will need a letter form them for the insurance and then we have to pursue trying to cover his therapy.<br />
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So in the mean time, God has shown His mercy again, Josiah's E.I. therapy group is able/willing to keep him on through the fall session as a community kid!! The downfall is we have to pay for them completely out of pocket and he will go from 3 days of therapy a week to 1. BUT there won't (shouldn't be at least) be a gap in his speech therapy while we work on finding him some where else to go. :)<br />
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Then as you know the plan is for Savannah to have open heart surgery. Right now we are looking at the second week of October but we shall see. I am working on finding out what the insurance covers, making sure she is covered for it, and if they/I need anything.<br />
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That being said I am looking to help my husband out with raising funds to pay for Josiah's speech therapy and any "tools" we will now need to buy, plus help cover any medical bills from Savannah. I am doing that by selling Lilla Rose and Jamberry Nails.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiApTMhevz7opXC-4C-8srRdvXboOKUkGMER7gQ4-IHN7vAXOOhCM4dAIThds_iN3ksluui7ghWTu4qpFxOnl5aklQbfjQiLAmRo5BupL-4VUGMTK4aRcb3nCwGKrM7TrXCXxBWdvLJyus/s1600/lillarose1_zpsd3fd2f29.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiApTMhevz7opXC-4C-8srRdvXboOKUkGMER7gQ4-IHN7vAXOOhCM4dAIThds_iN3ksluui7ghWTu4qpFxOnl5aklQbfjQiLAmRo5BupL-4VUGMTK4aRcb3nCwGKrM7TrXCXxBWdvLJyus/s1600/lillarose1_zpsd3fd2f29.jpg" height="160" width="320" /></a></div>
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You can "like" my lilla Rose Facebook page to keep up to date with new styles and sales, here:<a href="https://www.blogger.com/%C2%A0https://www.facebook.com/LillaRoseChristen"> https://www.facebook.com/LillaRoseChristen</a><br />
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My website is: <a href="http://www.lillarose.biz/christen%C2%A0">http://www.lillarose.biz/christen </a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm6qL6Ibeicrzp7FoXiKf1QLaq19BW8x0h0yVZLucu78INQCkBhmOTSnlhdQtRSyCJEzfiu2Fx_WG4lVKh3zA_rf-I16kMhFAC5QlAws7gLqJ8pqyHCppe-X9olnfcdHzsAUmbzhYFDhM/s1600/jamberry+nails.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm6qL6Ibeicrzp7FoXiKf1QLaq19BW8x0h0yVZLucu78INQCkBhmOTSnlhdQtRSyCJEzfiu2Fx_WG4lVKh3zA_rf-I16kMhFAC5QlAws7gLqJ8pqyHCppe-X9olnfcdHzsAUmbzhYFDhM/s1600/jamberry+nails.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
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You can also "like" my Jamberry Nails Facebook page to keep up to date, here: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/ChristenJamberrynails">https://www.facebook.com/ChristenJamberrynails</a><br />
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My website is:<a href="http://christenkieffner.jamberrynails.net/"> http://christenkieffner.jamberrynails.net</a><br />
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I have an open party going on until 8/31 if you would like to place and order. :)<br />
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Thank you for reading all my ramblings and explanations. If you have any questions feel free to ask! :)<br />
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For His Glory,<br />
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<br /><img align="left" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54490/118/8CDB1F938ACDD01E1E7BDFFFF2926C50.png" style="border: 0;" /><br />
<br />Christenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08714132452232161624noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1368385884048423999.post-51306926220529533322014-08-21T20:03:00.003-04:002014-08-21T20:03:57.054-04:00Lilla Rose Sale and GIVEAWAY<br />
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<span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.lillarose.biz/christen">Lilla Rose</a> </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">is having an awesome sale going on.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">1. There are several NEW designs and they are 10% off!!!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">2. Soon to be retiring designs are 20% off!! Grab them while you can.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">3. Every purchase you make you will be entered into a drawing for a design of your choice.</span><br />
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<img border="0" height="567" hspace="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEiYwTBS95j-jrn8gvNcwzdTAeUmT1i7JuhiMbyU0S-IF0gEXgN23hLnx1MJgEwbFE6r18Fmk2EXs80JHTh4A8mkeoqTt7parPXYh2CkfJg5DwKMcinjtktN1K7NAyYHEQ8nawobCr4YbHshdOEQTUgp_YSKzh5eEu1GViPixYRtbcMMuQ=s0-d-e1-ft" style="display: block; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" vspace="0" width="640" /><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEigr77szKQGliKkebKcpvI-NJa56X-QiH-osTm3q8OqSzztRd7U339CZkHCZzuiZY2R8xfkTpQeuwiAMg0Jh-a_tpNpfiOIJj_lasTN8j_8xbelINGct0wFRhCwxERQsv6OHTPadOF0Rrzhib-3CfA3Hf5IloshfhuMMsd8SArIN3jjSw=s0-d-e1-ft" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="177" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEigr77szKQGliKkebKcpvI-NJa56X-QiH-osTm3q8OqSzztRd7U339CZkHCZzuiZY2R8xfkTpQeuwiAMg0Jh-a_tpNpfiOIJj_lasTN8j_8xbelINGct0wFRhCwxERQsv6OHTPadOF0Rrzhib-3CfA3Hf5IloshfhuMMsd8SArIN3jjSw=s0-d-e1-ft" width="640" /></a><br />
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<img border="0" height="289" hspace="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEiGCzjGuCerHrK19dIolZUXFA2bYCoEp4M5VyWlV2NrwUK17ayslPotW0xVblne8Dnn2tZKCBn6nCf-Lkpn-Zu41UejCZWTF2ZakPukC_7712l-R2LOMibSdgDrDX6BpG07bdvzoZMuiXjm9zr4-bj1XFaTjc5rcrLpGnAdTBdAD6RdyQ=s0-d-e1-ft" style="display: block; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" vspace="0" width="640" /><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Any profits I make on sales will be used to provide Josiah with speech therapy, since he will no longer qualify for E.I. come next month. Thank you for helping us with this expense, we so appreciate it! :)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">For His Glory,</span><br />
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<br /><img align="left" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54490/118/8CDB1F938ACDD01E1E7BDFFFF2926C50.png" style="border: 0px;" /><br />
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<br />Christenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08714132452232161624noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1368385884048423999.post-3260190762988213012014-08-21T09:21:00.000-04:002014-08-21T09:21:13.263-04:00Heart Surgery(?) and Sickness<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPQGXHE7BULUI3Neu5EHxfpIb5OSMgIfLM6noMqG4BwIYOu1y3-h1RJah1s8T5Q1kE3HHWsb1pix_a7D2ksC-rg_y1gDR7AOmnuZ87TD7d3oJhYDsdcLIil9Dy6L8qblbzJX3Ii6PlSD8/s1600/photo+3+(6).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPQGXHE7BULUI3Neu5EHxfpIb5OSMgIfLM6noMqG4BwIYOu1y3-h1RJah1s8T5Q1kE3HHWsb1pix_a7D2ksC-rg_y1gDR7AOmnuZ87TD7d3oJhYDsdcLIil9Dy6L8qblbzJX3Ii6PlSD8/s1600/photo+3+(6).JPG" height="320" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hello World!</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">I can't believe it's been about 1 1/2 months since Savannah had her originally tube placed! I've had several people ask me for updates...it's hard when things can change several times a week.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMfgH7iGYyC4lbcX7qj71GDWYPIeFtBE5uPQChyCrTSjMrcqoH_aEZc5OddTylD0KBSb4HRH_4IEspccRd6F_Lle5RqgrHQz20YP-XFmwc6jAInUG4YE7xAhO7JKFRhLU7i28ky4kGAik/s1600/photo+2+(6).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMfgH7iGYyC4lbcX7qj71GDWYPIeFtBE5uPQChyCrTSjMrcqoH_aEZc5OddTylD0KBSb4HRH_4IEspccRd6F_Lle5RqgrHQz20YP-XFmwc6jAInUG4YE7xAhO7JKFRhLU7i28ky4kGAik/s1600/photo+2+(6).JPG" height="320" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">blurry picture of the feeding machine from Naomi :)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWOcU016BQrww00IyOQNU1OVatqTSm3Rx2f3C534P87ww0e49AAmf9Zv8z7193TzpzvF3fwuZbAZsUcqYMrMtq0JS0kGZt4Ao94CHioFZbww_Yi7g7-U7l8M6Mc3Z_XXmWRBeR7i71knw/s1600/photo+4+(1).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWOcU016BQrww00IyOQNU1OVatqTSm3Rx2f3C534P87ww0e49AAmf9Zv8z7193TzpzvF3fwuZbAZsUcqYMrMtq0JS0kGZt4Ao94CHioFZbww_Yi7g7-U7l8M6Mc3Z_XXmWRBeR7i71knw/s1600/photo+4+(1).JPG" height="239" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Getting a tummy full.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">So far Savannah has been good about not pulling her tube out. She's only pulled it out 3 times. The first and last were about 3 weeks in and (she accidentally pulls it out by sucking on her fingers then her finger gets caught on the tube) she pulled it out a few days before we where going to change it anyway. The 2nd time though, she only had it in for about two days, due to the arm bands being WAY to big and causing them to fall off. Besides she hates the arms bands, since she can't sooth herself. A friend who is a genius by the way, *wink* suggested newborn baby mitts. Genius I tell you, genius!!! She can still sooth herself by sucking on the mitts, but her fingers don't get caught.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY_Gy0myN9dlciYOatgJ_LipAvnKtj9VpicR_xB0IDAdPQDsXVsNlqVqPs6YEh92mwMsHkRSGXDTEdhaTzbKMe0_9dOAPg-SEtz8JM3IfxtejrxibHB0xASI8p_XJg235kCWGG23y__ws/s1600/photo+1+(6).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY_Gy0myN9dlciYOatgJ_LipAvnKtj9VpicR_xB0IDAdPQDsXVsNlqVqPs6YEh92mwMsHkRSGXDTEdhaTzbKMe0_9dOAPg-SEtz8JM3IfxtejrxibHB0xASI8p_XJg235kCWGG23y__ws/s1600/photo+1+(6).JPG" height="239" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Loving my mitts. ;)</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"> Last Monday the 11th we went into Boston to see the cardiologist, to find out if the surgeon wanted to schedule surgery or not. Much to my mixed feelings, we found out that they DO indeed want to schedule open heart surgery. :( She said they would be calling me to schedule the surgery, that the surgeon wanted to schedule it on 2-4 weeks!! I was not expecting them to do it SO soon! She suggested that I push for 4 weeks to give Savannah more time to grow before surgery.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEc9yuWJPJEUaKDtRz75PVzldXWH2QTNoFkFUHQcaGEnlRUSbt6Ex4iZxM9rQYJtR-VCGqU2u077I87N_jgxo2oio9JuwMNwRjkFa9wp8XxcqQt94YKxpwpRW_La8hyAdhIUCyIDP05gI/s1600/photo+4+(2).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEc9yuWJPJEUaKDtRz75PVzldXWH2QTNoFkFUHQcaGEnlRUSbt6Ex4iZxM9rQYJtR-VCGqU2u077I87N_jgxo2oio9JuwMNwRjkFa9wp8XxcqQt94YKxpwpRW_La8hyAdhIUCyIDP05gI/s1600/photo+4+(2).JPG" height="320" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hey mom, here's my foot!</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">It's been a crazy two weeks...Josiah and Naomi got sick from being at the doctors (they both put a toy in their mouths.) They then passed the germs on to Savannah! I also realized that 4 weeks would be the second week of September, which is when I scheduled us to start school. Eek! So I have also been in "full steam ahead mode." We started school the next day, but I am still prepping, organizing and scheduling, since I wasn't finished with that yet.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDoxij-ENn4PZvszcWnMVuUga5y8kqhJnD1ypMFrNjUBOH0oOaK6mosk_9GCPBF9MMbMm2z00ckDS_Q-wS2Akek9YpOmY_nj9CVP-N1MUwLl9AYa-x2e13MAczJNp4GXSxfFJlaeqRb2U/s1600/photo+5+(2).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDoxij-ENn4PZvszcWnMVuUga5y8kqhJnD1ypMFrNjUBOH0oOaK6mosk_9GCPBF9MMbMm2z00ckDS_Q-wS2Akek9YpOmY_nj9CVP-N1MUwLl9AYa-x2e13MAczJNp4GXSxfFJlaeqRb2U/s1600/photo+5+(2).JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sick, breathing hard, just want Mama!</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"> By the end of the week I still hadn't heard from anyone about scheduling her surgery and was getting frustrated! If they were scheduling surgery in two weeks that would be here before you know it and I have three others kids to make arrangements for, plus I would like to know what to expect regarding surgery and recovery. So I called the cardiologist (since I had no idea who the surgeon is and how to even reach him) and found out that the board of surgeons hadn't even met yet, so they hadn't discussed her case! What!!? That's not what I was lead to believe!!</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sick, sleeping on Mommy.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> They called me back Friday after talking with the surgeon and cardiologist. I found out Dr. Warren is her surgeon, he wasn't able to meet with the board of surgeons, but that they are meeting THIS week and will call me NEXT week with an exact date for surgery. To help me out and give Savannah more time they agreed to shoot for the second week of October, unless she takes a turn for the worse. So we have crossed out the 2nd week and were told to tell family and friends...Lord willing we will have an exact date next week.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZn49A5Tnr7l25IC5y3ljr3ourWharEwpFqjHr2gJDSuabWsmdkk_WX_9dbP8epINYgbY54kMfGfo02fiHjsgeEzRMCwnnmY-0VXWosg6BfrFO4JY1qU9gukIinF_k-P0shAhi9Pxva3I/s1600/photo+3+(5).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZn49A5Tnr7l25IC5y3ljr3ourWharEwpFqjHr2gJDSuabWsmdkk_WX_9dbP8epINYgbY54kMfGfo02fiHjsgeEzRMCwnnmY-0VXWosg6BfrFO4JY1qU9gukIinF_k-P0shAhi9Pxva3I/s1600/photo+3+(5).JPG" height="320" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Crazy early morning shot, by Naomi. :)</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">No, I still don't have any details on the surgery it's self, expected time in the hospital, and recovery time.We did see the cardiologist again yesterday and were told to keep an eye on her breathing do to the combination of being sick and her heart. Lord willing we are seeing her again on Sept. 2nd.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">For HIS Glory,</span><br />
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<br />Christenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08714132452232161624noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1368385884048423999.post-2574851702866596752014-07-14T13:07:00.001-04:002014-07-14T13:07:06.706-04:00A Different Kind of Flower<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisWjaZIJrT_nt1CTkfrglfpbMcWoQTfmab_XPGOZl1CZ4KzkP051o_Ywfkps9Cpk4NP-w0mL_zJztaE5lOjJPVHirpVb9-wwiA3ijbl9y1GxW-vqt2PUa4Sajf8hEQAVPgANa3UUov0iA/s1600/photo+%25281%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisWjaZIJrT_nt1CTkfrglfpbMcWoQTfmab_XPGOZl1CZ4KzkP051o_Ywfkps9Cpk4NP-w0mL_zJztaE5lOjJPVHirpVb9-wwiA3ijbl9y1GxW-vqt2PUa4Sajf8hEQAVPgANa3UUov0iA/s1600/photo+%25281%2529.JPG" /></a></div>
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<span class="size10 Helvetica10" style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, adobe-helvetica, 'Arial Narrow'; font-size: large; line-height: 16px; min-height: 16px;"><b>For my sweet Josiah...</b></span></div>
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<span class="size10 Helvetica10" style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, adobe-helvetica, 'Arial Narrow'; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; min-height: 16px;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
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<span class="size10 Helvetica10" style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, adobe-helvetica, 'Arial Narrow'; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; min-height: 16px;"><b>A Different Kind Of Flower</b></span></div>
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<span class="size10 Helvetica10" style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, adobe-helvetica, 'Arial Narrow'; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; min-height: 16px;"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="size10 Helvetica10" style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, adobe-helvetica, 'Arial Narrow'; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; min-height: 16px;">She had been so depressed after the birth. Depressed and guilty and </span></div>
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<span class="size10 Helvetica10" style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, adobe-helvetica, 'Arial Narrow'; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; min-height: 16px;">angry. She had been so good all through the pregnancy; it just wasn't </span></div>
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<span class="size10 Helvetica10" style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, adobe-helvetica, 'Arial Narrow'; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; min-height: 16px;">fair. Her baby wasn't perfect. Her baby had a cleft. </span></div>
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<span class="size10 Helvetica10" style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, adobe-helvetica, 'Arial Narrow'; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; min-height: 16px;"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="size10 Helvetica10" style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, adobe-helvetica, 'Arial Narrow'; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; min-height: 16px;">The front door closed in the other room. She knew her husband was home. </span></div>
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<span class="size10 Helvetica10" style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, adobe-helvetica, 'Arial Narrow'; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; min-height: 16px;"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="size10 Helvetica10" style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, adobe-helvetica, 'Arial Narrow'; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; min-height: 16px;">He was later today than usual. Looking up, she saw him come into the room. </span></div>
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<span class="size10 Helvetica10" style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, adobe-helvetica, 'Arial Narrow'; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; min-height: 16px;"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="size10 Helvetica10" style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, adobe-helvetica, 'Arial Narrow'; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; min-height: 16px;">He held out to her a gorgeous bouquet of roses. But wait, among the roses </span></div>
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<span class="size10 Helvetica10" style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, adobe-helvetica, 'Arial Narrow'; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; min-height: 16px;">was one lone orchid. It was a beautiful orchid. With splendid color and </span></div>
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<span class="size10 Helvetica10" style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, adobe-helvetica, 'Arial Narrow'; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; min-height: 16px;">plump. Lush petals, different from all the other flowers in the bouquet. </span></div>
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<span class="size10 Helvetica10" style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, adobe-helvetica, 'Arial Narrow'; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; min-height: 16px;"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="size10 Helvetica10" style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, adobe-helvetica, 'Arial Narrow'; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; min-height: 16px;">She looked at her husband and stroked the errant bloom. </span></div>
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<span class="size10 Helvetica10" style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, adobe-helvetica, 'Arial Narrow'; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; min-height: 16px;"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="size10 Helvetica10" style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, adobe-helvetica, 'Arial Narrow'; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; min-height: 16px;">"What's this?" she asked him. </span></div>
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<span class="size10 Helvetica10" style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, adobe-helvetica, 'Arial Narrow'; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; min-height: 16px;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: #e9e8cf;">
<span class="size10 Helvetica10" style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, adobe-helvetica, 'Arial Narrow'; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; min-height: 16px;">"Honey," he said as he sat beside her, "this flower is our son. Every</span></div>
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<span class="size10 Helvetica10" style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, adobe-helvetica, 'Arial Narrow'; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; min-height: 16px;">other baby in the nursery had rose-bud lips. But his lips were open, like</span></div>
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<span class="size10 Helvetica10" style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, adobe-helvetica, 'Arial Narrow'; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; min-height: 16px;">the petals of this orchid. Everybody else had a rosebud, but we had the only</span></div>
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<span class="size10 Helvetica10" style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, adobe-helvetica, 'Arial Narrow'; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; min-height: 16px;">orchid in the bunch. I just wanted you to see how beautiful an orchid is,</span></div>
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<span class="size10 Helvetica10" style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, adobe-helvetica, 'Arial Narrow'; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; min-height: 16px;">even among the rosebuds." </span></div>
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<span class="size10 Helvetica10" style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, adobe-helvetica, 'Arial Narrow'; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; min-height: 16px;"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="size10 Helvetica10" style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, adobe-helvetica, 'Arial Narrow'; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; min-height: 16px;">She smiled. The orchid was beautiful after all. How could she ever had </span></div>
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<span class="size10 Helvetica10" style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, adobe-helvetica, 'Arial Narrow'; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; min-height: 16px;">missed the beauty of the orchid among the rosebuds? </span></div>
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<span class="size10 Helvetica10" style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, adobe-helvetica, 'Arial Narrow'; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; min-height: 16px;">- Joanne Green </span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcBKwWrc1P6IysO5C-e6cIk4F2soPOf7cMLN_5nj0KTu0k03dGiDdgbQFEYdLBvEuwZNSB99xwWQ9lJB1_-MMaDgPZ1l3rCDRCDzyMP4xFu80Ld7tTOvXeInpNvCB7XGE-R4XeswkhOV8/s1600/Josiah.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcBKwWrc1P6IysO5C-e6cIk4F2soPOf7cMLN_5nj0KTu0k03dGiDdgbQFEYdLBvEuwZNSB99xwWQ9lJB1_-MMaDgPZ1l3rCDRCDzyMP4xFu80Ld7tTOvXeInpNvCB7XGE-R4XeswkhOV8/s1600/Josiah.jpg" height="308" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Josiah at this point. :)</td></tr>
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For His Glory,<br />
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<br /><img align="left" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54490/118/8CDB1F938ACDD01E1E7BDFFFF2926C50.png" style="border: 0;" /><br />
<br />Christenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08714132452232161624noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1368385884048423999.post-84872656082678731932014-07-05T11:02:00.003-04:002014-07-05T11:02:59.303-04:00An update at Tufts Medical<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1IP1ExFNjtECkCPOicjxCgaXMtGG4I9r-nPlGSSyDlg9FJFeDzQi9N_Xv3p2ZBJRnH5rf3HvEmm5pvefQEpe76yiKeWLY9QHhH221DWM7fWimlv_GGlTePJetnzo4MxhjJAeNJJlFDaM/s1600/photo+3+(3).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1IP1ExFNjtECkCPOicjxCgaXMtGG4I9r-nPlGSSyDlg9FJFeDzQi9N_Xv3p2ZBJRnH5rf3HvEmm5pvefQEpe76yiKeWLY9QHhH221DWM7fWimlv_GGlTePJetnzo4MxhjJAeNJJlFDaM/s1600/photo+3+(3).JPG" height="239" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Well we finally made it to Tufts Wednesday afternoon and I
didn’t get lost! Woo-hoo! Though it’s good thing I had the written directions,
not sure where GPS was trying to bring me. ;)</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">We immediately went to cardiology and Dr. Zilberman was
there, so nice to see a familiar face. There are 3 cardiologists through Tufts
floating in <st1:city w:st="on">Lawrence</st1:city>;
he was the first one we saw and my favorite. He helped me get <st1:place w:st="on">Savannah</st1:place> and our stuff up to the inpatient
floor and made sure they knew what we are here for, etc. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCWQvGNtJCEeKVBFQINnVw-jtl1ooLD0n7OgqRUXjGBPjJddRr1w4aghecbmkzdLmCMxT8giH0wZRCNKGpSX_vna8ot6ug0w4HnRzfLTP9LAm8fzJxRNsPE0xMnRdyw8ViVXdhpsBIzlc/s1600/photo+1+(4).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCWQvGNtJCEeKVBFQINnVw-jtl1ooLD0n7OgqRUXjGBPjJddRr1w4aghecbmkzdLmCMxT8giH0wZRCNKGpSX_vna8ot6ug0w4HnRzfLTP9LAm8fzJxRNsPE0xMnRdyw8ViVXdhpsBIzlc/s1600/photo+1+(4).JPG" height="239" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On the monitor waiting...</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Let me tell you, they move quickly here! Wow! They got
everything done within the first hour or two! I was told they wanted to take
blood to test her iron, electrolytes, etc (due to the diuretic she’s on), put
an IV in and an NG Tube, plus a chest x-ray to see the tube and fluid amount. I
was TOTALLY unprepared when they came in the room to put the IV and NG Tube in
back to back, listening to them talk, I didn’t think they were going to do it
in the room. They suggested I leave the room…I selfishly wanted to I wouldn’t hear
her scream. But I couldn’t leave her! Honestly, I know its minor compared to SO
many things. But it was incredibly hard to hear her scream and gag as they
didn’t everything!</span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiufBxlT30D2gp-en2cDSkCSckr7u9YmmSZG26NbowmTig4GinaXvbFRqwIMND0qoLH6Rs0hB1mgKFtuLbJux_Fq-AYVHkhk3sEPk0F203_rKbvIoZA5aXhaPQ7WRkvcmb0b_Q9alTjqeE/s1600/photo+1+(5).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiufBxlT30D2gp-en2cDSkCSckr7u9YmmSZG26NbowmTig4GinaXvbFRqwIMND0qoLH6Rs0hB1mgKFtuLbJux_Fq-AYVHkhk3sEPk0F203_rKbvIoZA5aXhaPQ7WRkvcmb0b_Q9alTjqeE/s1600/photo+1+(5).JPG" height="239" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Exhausted after all that screaming, but it's in!</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">After they got the IV and tube in and the x-ray done we
spent the next few hours meeting various specialists from departments that are
helping her. What are really liked was this morning they had what’s called a
“family medical circle,” and the various doctors and specialists come in and
stand in a circle in your room (then we sing and chant…j/k <span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span>)
, they go over everything making sure they are all on the same page (Tufts is a
training hospital so they train meds students that way). We go over any
question I or one of them might have, set goals for the day and what our game
plan is for <st1:city w:st="on">Savannah</st1:city>
over all. I was able to take notes and ask any questions I might have.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnvOID6T-j2koeO4iC_5qzJSIE2M7IczIO6nIq4pXwJ-CI18sX77l8WU1eohL9S_6wfAqvvt3akh-m7KUrSXVbjwe-qeLUvyJmEP275kQJx4AhC7kN7zctqOcBenXo6KpDtmMFYc2hseA/s1600/photo+2+(4).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnvOID6T-j2koeO4iC_5qzJSIE2M7IczIO6nIq4pXwJ-CI18sX77l8WU1eohL9S_6wfAqvvt3akh-m7KUrSXVbjwe-qeLUvyJmEP275kQJx4AhC7kN7zctqOcBenXo6KpDtmMFYc2hseA/s1600/photo+2+(4).JPG" height="320" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mom, there's something down my nose!</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">She had a hard time with the first tube feeding. I wound up
holding her through it as she gagged, cried and made faces. The next feed she
gagged when I nursed her, but was better with the tube feeding. We are all
excited and I am thankful to the Lord that she is doing great with both nursing
and tube feeding. I can’t imagine either one must be comfortable with a tube
down your throat! This is why I didn’t want her to have to go through having an
NG tube. She is struggling though with getting tired a lot faster when I nurse,
plus she isn’t nursing nearly as long. We will be discussing that today.
Praying that it’s just due to the tube in the nose and will improve after it’s
removed.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzK1TPUopdI8IwS6IAl5y59VSrmpXJqQnzlInWn5KdqmTlsjkZtkatnPgDcyMZarx4LLCFbll8OWibK7_Nxf9xSvKmqz0VcYAGlck5mBn3yl2f14fPH15DtXnl3-XL1B5_JQ7u65xuFMk/s1600/photo+3+(4).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzK1TPUopdI8IwS6IAl5y59VSrmpXJqQnzlInWn5KdqmTlsjkZtkatnPgDcyMZarx4LLCFbll8OWibK7_Nxf9xSvKmqz0VcYAGlck5mBn3yl2f14fPH15DtXnl3-XL1B5_JQ7u65xuFMk/s1600/photo+3+(4).JPG" height="320" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Look how cute I am! My nurses just love me! :)</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">We have her on a schedule (basically the same as Josiah),
every three hours she gets fed 2oz via tube while I nurse her before hand. Skip the 3am feed so we can get some sleep
(midnight is going to be hard though). I will meet with nutrition and come up
with a ratio for 24 calories before going home. Whether it’s directions for
straight formula or fortified breast milk, so that I’m prepared. I’m training
to listen with a stethoscope before each feed to check that the tube is still
in the stomach.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Her lab results where great! She is not anemic at this time
and everything else is within normal range. We have to keep an eye on fluid
levels in her lungs due to the increase in fluids. Last night her oxygen was
dipping a bit, but it’s gone back up (Thank you Lord) and she is off the
monitors now! <span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfsVwfW_rkKjcCtPOkIyTM5jrgGpI4P6UGWYF6qnZotARC2De5jDYcf4z4VBCDmyG20gnW-9XCS___SHczoiAnlYwwaLmGyvWR8DoFMtPQGA5zG6Fs3Ltz6EiVLyx0VEJ0XNHjPyYS7Ys/s1600/photo+2+(5).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfsVwfW_rkKjcCtPOkIyTM5jrgGpI4P6UGWYF6qnZotARC2De5jDYcf4z4VBCDmyG20gnW-9XCS___SHczoiAnlYwwaLmGyvWR8DoFMtPQGA5zG6Fs3Ltz6EiVLyx0VEJ0XNHjPyYS7Ys/s1600/photo+2+(5).JPG" height="320" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Missing my family and the noise, so I'm hanging with mommy.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-size: large;">They are still talking and planning for open heart surgery.
The cardiologist all agree her congenital heart failure is not really showing
signs that it will completely close on its own. Yet they say they have been
completely surprised before, so we shall see. Though we are praying she will be
spared surgery, we are thankful to the Lord for knowledgeable surgeons and
previous parents paving the way for us! The Lord is so good and we are grateful
no matter how HE chooses to heal her heart!
I know I was asked about her heart…she needs to gain weight for two
reasons (other then just growing). She has to weigh 10 lbs before they will
attempt surgery. Also gaining weight and getting bigger will help her heart not
strain so much and can help aid it in closing the hole. Weight gain issues are
common in babies with Down Syndrome. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">I believe that covers all the main areas that I know so far
I am waiting for our “family medical circle” today, I will know more then, but I
do know the nurse is preparing us to go home today (though we haven’t gotten
the official orders yet)! I am exhausted at this point, but SO thankful to the
Lord, that everything is going well!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">For HIS Glory,</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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<img align="left" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54490/118/8CDB1F938ACDD01E1E7BDFFFF2926C50.png" style="border: 0;" /><br />
<br />Christenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08714132452232161624noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1368385884048423999.post-38139975609510168452014-07-02T22:52:00.000-04:002014-07-02T22:52:15.706-04:00God be my Strength<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNkIepsU1Exeq1H6ioK9VpFeOtAy78JRIJQ0rLqjsFSFCRnLpkjgSnW_a2JRBASGhd_iy8rvz0cXqpX0nRuee9d8l9EYf8cTQ51pJpbdvkZs84Oz4rWYb_xT-RLs0oA91WKf-MjiCjXSI/s1600/savannah.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNkIepsU1Exeq1H6ioK9VpFeOtAy78JRIJQ0rLqjsFSFCRnLpkjgSnW_a2JRBASGhd_iy8rvz0cXqpX0nRuee9d8l9EYf8cTQ51pJpbdvkZs84Oz4rWYb_xT-RLs0oA91WKf-MjiCjXSI/s1600/savannah.JPG" height="320" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cooing and smiling at mom!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Yesterday we had Savannah's Cardiologist appointment...I was not looking forward to it. I knew weight gain had been slow. I even contemplated canceling the appointment and rescheduling it for a later time, in order to give her more time to gain weight...but I didn't.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">I met the third and last cardiologist. She was very nice, I liked her immediately! I appreciated how she treated me as an equal and spent time explaining everything and answering any questions I had.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">She explained that she is concerned about Savannah's weight gain and how the lack of weight gain actually put more strain on her heart. She showed me her chart and how she has slowly fallen off the chart for her age. As she put it, "she's wasting away." Though Savannah HAS gained some weight since birth! She is at 8.4lbs at this time...that is way below what she should weigh though.</span><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="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYToP-VvopX0P8WvtFvn5DQ-cCpIhhzonAyeT0nQ9eHHRI6dMz0CXJ6kHRN82gGQxhEHKgvXnsQyuWqwKBzJxRgwx2iaQq2VHzmHKU2C8I8GN5rsdcDfCGzNyocmAkG_3eQ5IEuzfuy7E/s1600/photo+2+(3).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYToP-VvopX0P8WvtFvn5DQ-cCpIhhzonAyeT0nQ9eHHRI6dMz0CXJ6kHRN82gGQxhEHKgvXnsQyuWqwKBzJxRgwx2iaQq2VHzmHKU2C8I8GN5rsdcDfCGzNyocmAkG_3eQ5IEuzfuy7E/s1600/photo+2+(3).JPG" height="320" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It's our little "peanut"</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I asked about waking her several times through the night. You see Savannah started sleeping through the night! Every mother's dream, right?! Nightmare for me though!! Besides who in their right mind would wake a sleeping baby?! ;) She is so exhausted from just breathing (it's a workout on it's own, nursing even more so), that she sleeps a lot. Waking her would not allow her body to get the rest it needs and breastmilk alone does not supply enough calories. She burns so many calories that we really need her to take a bottle with fortified breastmilk (which I, hate, hate, HATE...I don't want her on formula, even just a little), but she wont take a bottle even for the therapist and she's not getting enough through the syrenge! I would have to feed her all day with it. Which I do spend the majority of my afternoons doing just that.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Needless to say, unless she took a bottle there is nothing else I can do except have an NG Tube placed. The NG Tube is the issue I feared and dreaded the most (besides OPEN HEART SURGERY) and now we are facing that. Josiah use to rip his out ALL the time in the NICU! Augh!! At least she can still eat if it gets pulled out until a nurse can put it back in.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">We found out Friday that the health insurance will not continue covering for the VNA nurse to come out for weight checks. The doctors are NOT happy and disagree with that decision. So her coming home with an NG Tube should get that started again, since it WILL be medically necessary (we hope!).</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">So the cardiologist asks if I will need time to get all my "ducks in a row" before. I like of course! I have 3 other kids I have to get situated. I start to tell her that next will be REALLY difficult to find help, but if she gives me a few days, I can probably figure something out. Her response..."No I mean this needs to get done. As in I want her admitted tomorrow (Wed.)." Umm...Does she have kids?!? HAHAHA! All I can still do is laugh at that! She wants me to be at the hospital for a few days and all I'm given is ONE afternoon to get this ready!! :p </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ4_2SFJJbLdEgfkhP9VhZ_ukF0aIGMG8PSh8se_uvpC3wAdkFKV2IQpYNfO3hterJqKxXFz87cyMkGSR5JC58gGrhyzwBDP7jAn-SCkEiqT0qP2vzqqBVFJd-ewHP_6dvc7EbfAQwMpg/s1600/photo+1+(3).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ4_2SFJJbLdEgfkhP9VhZ_ukF0aIGMG8PSh8se_uvpC3wAdkFKV2IQpYNfO3hterJqKxXFz87cyMkGSR5JC58gGrhyzwBDP7jAn-SCkEiqT0qP2vzqqBVFJd-ewHP_6dvc7EbfAQwMpg/s1600/photo+1+(3).JPG" height="320" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hanging out with Naomi. :)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">SOOOOO needless to say, I'm just as stressed about getting everything situated as I am about the procedure!! God has provided help for at least today and I'm getting ready to head into Boston. All I can do is hand this over to GOD, HE is in control and is my strength, my help, and my comforter.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">The adventure begins....</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">For HIS Glory,</span><br />
<br />
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<img align="left" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54490/118/8CDB1F938ACDD01E1E7BDFFFF2926C50.png" style="border: 0;" /><br />
<br />Christenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08714132452232161624noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1368385884048423999.post-65886179318818391442014-06-12T16:07:00.005-04:002014-06-12T16:07:48.652-04:00Postponing an NG Tube<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCAUaw4R5lXDZp2xmPxZxDcODbgFNtxVli9OjPhkJcRGiTFqU70WcMzF_coPPEupbmuiUsJURq58sK-6IEE9wXaQGcsFl03GMa7U0_fyWIyPdjx701EcoaPbXZUqmcgwPxbhtjWO7lGDg/s1600/photo+2+(2).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCAUaw4R5lXDZp2xmPxZxDcODbgFNtxVli9OjPhkJcRGiTFqU70WcMzF_coPPEupbmuiUsJURq58sK-6IEE9wXaQGcsFl03GMa7U0_fyWIyPdjx701EcoaPbXZUqmcgwPxbhtjWO7lGDg/s1600/photo+2+(2).JPG" height="320" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Excited about the good news! :)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">There is BIG news after <st1:place w:st="on">Savannah</st1:place>’s Cardiologist appointment today!! I
thought it would be easier to write it on my blog (more room).</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">(For my sweet readers I haven’t been on in almost a year!!
In that time I had a sweet baby girl, but I will update you all on that later.)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><st1:city w:st="on">Savannah</st1:city>
weighed in at 8.5 lbs!!!! That means she at least gained an ounce in one day
(the doctor’s scale is usually lower then the visiting nurse’s, so it might be
more). The cardiologist was VERY happy to say the least! She kept thanking me
for my hard work.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">For those that don’t know, Savannah plateau on her weight
gain, then started to drop (she was labeled failure to thrive, like Josiah) and
we found out she need’s to weigh at least 10 lbs for her open heart surgery,
yet she was having a hard time getting to 8 lbs.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">The cardiologist wanted me to pump and supplement my milk
with formula, since you can’t physically make more than 20 calories and they wanted
her to get at least 24. She is burning too many calories when she breaths due to
the hole in her heart (it’s like a work out every time she breathes). </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Soooo…I saw a feeding specialist twice and we tried various
ways to get her to take fortified breast milk. Various bottles, a new device
they use (it sort of looks like a rubber medicine cup), and an SNS system (it
hangs around my neck and I tape a tube to me, so when she nurses it drips into
her mouth for her to get both.) Any hoo, she is so smart and doesn’t want
anything but mom and has refused all of our efforts. </span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU5I_WY8a8kDfDavbW0bveWA0L-yK2GN_lxLuzHWupBGUumePdnehe68ZUosOZ-2nIENTUKFi1Oek7mu78zrAms2yJdWiuqvn2_5tOYhm9BRd734DQ6HuE4oqqEabmkr_rYxukDOXPyyY/s1600/S.+Cup.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU5I_WY8a8kDfDavbW0bveWA0L-yK2GN_lxLuzHWupBGUumePdnehe68ZUosOZ-2nIENTUKFi1Oek7mu78zrAms2yJdWiuqvn2_5tOYhm9BRd734DQ6HuE4oqqEabmkr_rYxukDOXPyyY/s1600/S.+Cup.JPG" height="239" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Attempting Rubber Cup</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">I have been trying over
and over again for about 3 weeks. I finally decided to use a syringe to feed
her with. I figured if she takes her medicine that way, why not milk?! It’s
slllooowww going and I spend a good chunk of my day just slllooowwlyyy
squirting 1 oz in her. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQIBRDNeiHiEBi8738aa50g5jM1uIuEouHo5ecJAJyUNc04RlCejhuvyPxGVvknA-tdadgi7pWVtHl4mSUNhoyJ2eJiotZPaRnkySO0qu7UmOhXMJEIPL1BQkx9m15yMPNhyAo9-S10l8/s1600/S.+Syrenge.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQIBRDNeiHiEBi8738aa50g5jM1uIuEouHo5ecJAJyUNc04RlCejhuvyPxGVvknA-tdadgi7pWVtHl4mSUNhoyJ2eJiotZPaRnkySO0qu7UmOhXMJEIPL1BQkx9m15yMPNhyAo9-S10l8/s1600/S.+Syrenge.JPG" height="320" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Syringe Feeding</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">But between nursing and that, it’s working!! Praise the
LORD!! She has gained weight! She averaged out at 34 grams a day (they want at
least 30 a day). That being said, <st1:place w:st="on">Savannah</st1:place> does NOT need an
NG feeding tube put in!! </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">The cardiologist said she would go ahead and present her
case the surgeon board next Tuesday and so we could move ahead with setting up
her surgery in a month or two (so that right there is good, they wanted to do
it immediately at 3 months originally). Then she decided to send us in for a
cardiogram so we could she where the hole in her heart was at (same or
smaller).</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">MORE good news….the hole has gotten SMALLER and is trying to
heal itself!! Praise be to GOD!!!!! Joseph and I have been asking the Lord to
spare her the surgery, yet we trust HIM if He chooses to heal her heart through
the surgery.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">That being said I don’t have to go back for another 3 weeks.
Our nurse will continue to come twice a week to weigh her. If she continues to
gain we then don’t have to go back for another 2-3 weeks and….we can plan of
PUSHING THE SURGERY OUT until she is 5-6 months (as long as she continues to
gain.). If that happens we will at that time look at heart out again and
possible push it out further or even cancel it all together, if the Lord heals
it on it’s own.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwU05mT2NWXlJQjSTM-_6Luz3N-NTa3oMA3idCNtmBN33XBE0Zggufo_QgFOyGZTJgSopVnlm3UtIHGq8s2XIJtGxSlCSO5MXEmw-BJ8et3FE-rxmEMAqK5p8lkbFNZY-5D8ev-pS3-ss/s1600/photo+1+(2).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwU05mT2NWXlJQjSTM-_6Luz3N-NTa3oMA3idCNtmBN33XBE0Zggufo_QgFOyGZTJgSopVnlm3UtIHGq8s2XIJtGxSlCSO5MXEmw-BJ8et3FE-rxmEMAqK5p8lkbFNZY-5D8ev-pS3-ss/s1600/photo+1+(2).JPG" height="320" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Trying to smile at mom.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">We want to thank everyone for their continued prayers! And
ask for weight gain and healing for our sweet Savannah Rose. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">For HIS Glory,</span></div>
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<img align="left" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54490/118/8CDB1F938ACDD01E1E7BDFFFF2926C50.png" style="border: 0;" /><br />
<br />Christenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08714132452232161624noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1368385884048423999.post-13115055952818239362013-12-11T07:00:00.000-05:002013-12-11T07:00:03.178-05:00Choosing Gratitude Day 30<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii7o-PBSpUoFbfeg-968r0FvqiksD1lKJAY7_kCQfnZLrF5hsmpidHAuhmGLR_bSKnPxY7LMjGZjqIV5dA7Z0xbJlK7In8BJGyKwkZNN9Y61XvshellUYz5v6bWgxTZAEdBsvFpCtuImY/s1600/gratitude4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii7o-PBSpUoFbfeg-968r0FvqiksD1lKJAY7_kCQfnZLrF5hsmpidHAuhmGLR_bSKnPxY7LMjGZjqIV5dA7Z0xbJlK7In8BJGyKwkZNN9Y61XvshellUYz5v6bWgxTZAEdBsvFpCtuImY/s1600/gratitude4.jpg" /></a></div>
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<h2 style="background-color: white; color: #e3ad29; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px 0px 5px;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
Day 30</span></h2>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div>
<h3 style="background-color: white; color: #71a83b; line-height: 14px;">
<span style="color: #71a83b; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><a href="http://lists.reviveourhearts.com/lt.php?c=5922&m=7299&nl=154&s=0a87d6a73322a8109a55970018e87af9&lid=1179&l=-http--www.biblegateway.com/passage/--Q-search--E-Galatians5:16-24;--A-version--E-47;" style="color: #71a83b;" target="_blank">Galatians 5:16–24</a></span></h3>
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">As you launch out on a new lifestyle of </span><br />
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">gratitude, use today to set some goals </span><br />
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">for what you want God to accomplish in </span><br />
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">your heart, being specific about the </span><br />
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">ways you intend to practice ongoing </span><br />
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">thankfulness. For example, if you want </span><br />
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">to become more deliberate about </span><br />
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">writing thank-you notes, how many </span><br />
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">would you like send in a typical week or </span><br />
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">month? What Scriptures do you plan to </span><br />
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">memorize and meditate on in relation </span><br />
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #b45f06;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">to </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">thankfulness? Whom will you ask to </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #b45f06;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #b45f06;">hold you accountable for specific areas </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #b45f06;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #b45f06;">where you need to grow in the grace of </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #b45f06;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #b45f06;">gratitude?</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Whatever mechanics it requires to get </span><br />
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #b45f06;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">it </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">up and running will soon fall away to </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #b45f06;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #b45f06;">the freedom of pursuing it with </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #b45f06;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #b45f06;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">passion. </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Are you ready to experience </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #b45f06;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #b45f06;">the life-changing power of Christian </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #b45f06;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #b45f06;">gratitude? Then let the Lord help you </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #b45f06;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #b45f06;">decide what your next steps should be.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #b45f06;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Write a simple prayer, expressing to </span><br />
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #b45f06;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">the </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Lord your desire to develop a </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #b45f06;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #b45f06;">radically grateful lifestyle. Thank Him </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #b45f06;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #b45f06;">for His supernatural grace that will </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #b45f06;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #b45f06;">enable you to “abound in thanksgiving.”</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #b45f06;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #134f5c; font-size: large;">I am still praying and asking the Lord to show ME specific ways in which HE wants me to focus on expressing gratitude.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #134f5c; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #134f5c; font-size: large;">I know I want to be more diligent in showing much more gratitude to my kids and husband! I want to also be conistent in thanking the women who have become mentors for me...I appreciate all their prayers and words of wisdom.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #134f5c; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #134f5c; font-size: large;">I also want to have a few key verses memorized so I can dwell on them. That is so important! </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #134f5c; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">What goals are you setting for yourself to maintain an attitude of gratitude?</span><br />
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<span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Thank you for joining me on this journey of digging deeper into gratitude! You can purchase Nancy Leigh Demoss's book, </span><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><u>Choosing Gratitude</u> </span><span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">at Revive Our Hearts.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">For His Glory,</span><br />
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<br />Christenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08714132452232161624noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1368385884048423999.post-57272478914275632092013-12-10T07:00:00.000-05:002013-12-10T07:00:04.741-05:00Choosing Gratitude Day 29<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii7o-PBSpUoFbfeg-968r0FvqiksD1lKJAY7_kCQfnZLrF5hsmpidHAuhmGLR_bSKnPxY7LMjGZjqIV5dA7Z0xbJlK7In8BJGyKwkZNN9Y61XvshellUYz5v6bWgxTZAEdBsvFpCtuImY/s1600/gratitude4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii7o-PBSpUoFbfeg-968r0FvqiksD1lKJAY7_kCQfnZLrF5hsmpidHAuhmGLR_bSKnPxY7LMjGZjqIV5dA7Z0xbJlK7In8BJGyKwkZNN9Y61XvshellUYz5v6bWgxTZAEdBsvFpCtuImY/s1600/gratitude4.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span class="il" style="background-color: #ffffcc; color: #222222;">Day</span> <span class="il" style="background-color: #ffffcc; color: #222222;">29</span></span></h2>
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<span style="color: #71a83b; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><a href="http://lists.reviveourhearts.com/lt.php?c=5921&m=7298&nl=154&s=0a87d6a73322a8109a55970018e87af9&lid=1172&l=-http--www.biblegateway.com/passage/--Q-search--E-Deuteronomy6:1-12;--A-version--E-47;" style="color: #71a83b;" target="_blank">Deuteronomy 6:1–12</a></span></h3>
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">If you’ve been blessed with children, </span><br />
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">you know that <span class="il" style="background-color: #ffffcc;">gratitude</span> doesn’t come </span><br />
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">naturally for them. But few things are </span><br />
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">more remarkable (and unusual) in </span><br />
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">children today than when they’re </span><br />
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #b45f06;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">known </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">for their thankful, contented </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #b45f06;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #b45f06;">spirit.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">While teaching and instruction have </span><br />
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">their place in growing <span class="il" style="background-color: #ffffcc;">gratitude</span> in our </span><br />
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">kids, the best teacher of all is our </span><br />
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">example. Do your children hear you </span><br />
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">thank your husband when he tackles a </span><br />
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">home repair job? Do they hear you </span><br />
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">express <span class="il" style="background-color: #ffffcc;">gratitude</span> to the Lord and to </span><br />
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">others for both little and big things </span><br />
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">throughout the <span class="il" style="background-color: #ffffcc;">day</span>?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span class="il" style="background-color: #ffffcc; color: #b45f06;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span class="il" style="background-color: #ffffcc;">Gratitude</span> is more effectively caught </span><br />
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">than taught. How contagious are you, </span><br />
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">especially at home?</span></div>
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Sit down and talk with your children </span></div>
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">about the high value God places </span></div>
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">on <span class="il" style="background-color: #ffffcc;">gratitude</span>. Tell them how they’re </span></div>
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">going to start seeing some </span></div>
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">“gratitudinal” changes in you. If you </span></div>
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">don’t have children of your own, think </span></div>
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">about who God has placed in your </span></div>
<div style="line-height: 14px;">
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">sphere of influence. What are you </span></div>
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">teaching them about <span class="il" style="background-color: #ffffcc;">gratitude</span> by your </span></div>
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">lifestyle?</span></div>
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #134f5c; font-size: large;">Honestly I'm not sure how well or not, I demonstrate gratitude to my kids. I know I teach it to them, but how well do </span><span style="color: #741b47; font-size: large;"><b>I</b> </span><span style="color: #134f5c; font-size: large;">demonstrate it, is a whole other thing!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #134f5c; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #134f5c; font-size: large;">I don't think I express it enough to my husband, because I have caught myself thinking, "Oh, I should voice my gratitude to him about such and such." I don't think I do it enough!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #134f5c; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #134f5c; font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 14px;">I like today's challenge and want to sit down with kids...talk about what God says about gratitude (do ALL things without complaining, they hear it often...but do they see it?)...inform them that I what to demonstrate it a lot more...and ask them to help keep me accountable around the home.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #134f5c; font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 14px;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #134f5c; font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 14px;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #134f5c; font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 14px;">Do you have children that you can demonstrate gratitude for? How will you apply this challenge to your life?</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #134f5c; font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 14px;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #134f5c; font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 14px;">For His Glory,</span></span></span>
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<img align="left" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54490/118/8CDB1F938ACDD01E1E7BDFFFF2926C50.png" style="border: 0;" /><br />
<br />Christenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08714132452232161624noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1368385884048423999.post-49817440769084099652013-12-09T08:34:00.004-05:002013-12-09T08:34:55.058-05:00Choosing Gratitude Day 28<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii7o-PBSpUoFbfeg-968r0FvqiksD1lKJAY7_kCQfnZLrF5hsmpidHAuhmGLR_bSKnPxY7LMjGZjqIV5dA7Z0xbJlK7In8BJGyKwkZNN9Y61XvshellUYz5v6bWgxTZAEdBsvFpCtuImY/s1600/gratitude4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii7o-PBSpUoFbfeg-968r0FvqiksD1lKJAY7_kCQfnZLrF5hsmpidHAuhmGLR_bSKnPxY7LMjGZjqIV5dA7Z0xbJlK7In8BJGyKwkZNN9Y61XvshellUYz5v6bWgxTZAEdBsvFpCtuImY/s1600/gratitude4.jpg" /></a></div>
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<h2 style="background-color: white; color: #e3ad29; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px 0px 5px;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
Day 28</span></h2>
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<span style="color: #71a83b; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><a href="http://lists.reviveourhearts.com/lt.php?c=5920&m=7297&nl=154&s=0a87d6a73322a8109a55970018e87af9&lid=1165&l=-http--www.biblegateway.com/passage/--Q-search--E-Philippians1:3-11;--A-version--E-47;" style="color: #71a83b;" target="_blank">Philippians 1:3–11</a></span></h3>
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">If expressing gratitude is to become a </span><br />
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">way of life for us, we can’t treat it as </span><br />
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #b45f06;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">an </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">optional exercise. If it never gets </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #b45f06;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #b45f06;">beyond our wish list, if it nestles down </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #b45f06;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #b45f06;">with all the other nice things we hope </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #b45f06;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #b45f06;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">to </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">get around to someday, the </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #b45f06;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #b45f06;">“someday” of gratitude will never roll </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #b45f06;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #b45f06;">around on our calendars.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">So I want to encourage you to think of </span><br />
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">gratitude as being a debt you owe, the </span><br />
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">same way you’re called upon to pay </span><br />
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">your monthly bills. Start a list </span><br />
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">designated as “Gratitude Accounts,” </span><br />
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">specific listings of individuals to whom </span><br />
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">you owe a debt of thanks. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #b45f06;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">By doing this, </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">you can make it a point </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #b45f06;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #b45f06;">today to make a phone call just to </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #b45f06;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #b45f06;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">thank </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">a friend for the way she’s shown </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #b45f06;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #b45f06;">her concern for you during a difficult </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #b45f06;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #b45f06;">time. When the Lord opens a window of </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #b45f06;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #b45f06;">opportunity for you to jot a quick thank-</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #b45f06;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #b45f06;">you note this evening, you’ll have a </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #b45f06;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #b45f06;">ready-made list of people to choose </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #b45f06;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #b45f06;">from.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">We all have gratitude accounts. There </span><br />
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">just aren’t many of us who keep them </span><br />
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">paid up. Make sure you’re becoming </span><br />
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #b45f06;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">the </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">type of person who stays current </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #b45f06;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #b45f06;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">on </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">your bill.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #b45f06;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I do try hard to stays "current on my gratitude bill." I don't want to take anyone for granted! Thinking about it the most people I take for granted to my family.Why is it so easy to forget to show our own family members gratitude?!</span><br />
<span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">My goal is to be more aware and "current on my bill" towards my family.</span><br />
<span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">How are you with your gratitude accounts?</span><br />
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<span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">For His Glory,</span><br />
<span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<img align="left" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54490/118/8CDB1F938ACDD01E1E7BDFFFF2926C50.png" style="border: 0;" /><br />
<br />Christenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08714132452232161624noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1368385884048423999.post-45041035912412110952013-12-07T13:12:00.001-05:002013-12-07T13:12:30.100-05:00Choosing Gratitude Day 27<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii7o-PBSpUoFbfeg-968r0FvqiksD1lKJAY7_kCQfnZLrF5hsmpidHAuhmGLR_bSKnPxY7LMjGZjqIV5dA7Z0xbJlK7In8BJGyKwkZNN9Y61XvshellUYz5v6bWgxTZAEdBsvFpCtuImY/s1600/gratitude4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii7o-PBSpUoFbfeg-968r0FvqiksD1lKJAY7_kCQfnZLrF5hsmpidHAuhmGLR_bSKnPxY7LMjGZjqIV5dA7Z0xbJlK7In8BJGyKwkZNN9Y61XvshellUYz5v6bWgxTZAEdBsvFpCtuImY/s1600/gratitude4.jpg" /></a></div>
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<h2 style="background-color: white; color: #e3ad29; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px 0px 5px;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
Day 27</span></h2>
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<h3 style="background-color: white; color: #71a83b; line-height: 14px;">
<span style="color: #71a83b; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><a href="http://lists.reviveourhearts.com/lt.php?c=5919&m=7296&nl=154&s=0a87d6a73322a8109a55970018e87af9&lid=1158&l=-http--www.biblegateway.com/passage/--Q-search--E-1Timothy4:11-16;--A-version--E-47;" style="color: #71a83b;" target="_blank">1 Timothy 4:11–16</a></span></h3>
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">As we near the end of this gratitude </span><br />
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">challenge, take a little quiz today to </span><br />
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #b45f06;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">see </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">where you’re growing and where </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #b45f06;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #b45f06;">you still need work.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Try answering these questions candidly</span><br />
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">—not just yes or no, but with </span><br />
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">supporting details that come to mind:</span><br />
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div>
<ol style="background-color: white; line-height: 14px;">
<li style="margin-left: 15px;"><span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Do I often complain about my circumstances, feeling like I deserve better?</span></li>
</ol>
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<li style="margin-left: 15px;"><span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Do others hear me voice more complaints and negative comments than words of gratitude about the typical events of daily life?</span></li>
</ol>
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span style="line-height: 14px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<ol style="background-color: white; line-height: 14px;">
<li style="margin-left: 15px;"><span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Would others describe me as a thankful person?</span></li>
</ol>
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span style="line-height: 14px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<ol style="background-color: white; line-height: 14px;">
<li style="margin-left: 15px;"><span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">What evidence is there that I have a grateful or an ungrateful spirit?</span></li>
</ol>
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span style="line-height: 14px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<ol style="background-color: white; line-height: 14px;">
<li style="margin-left: 15px;"><span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">How often do I begin statements with these words: “I am so thankful that . . .”?</span></li>
</ol>
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span style="line-height: 14px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<ol style="background-color: white; line-height: 14px;">
<li style="margin-left: 15px;"><span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Do I more frequently display a pessimistic, negative outlook or a positive, grateful perspective?</span></li>
</ol>
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span style="line-height: 14px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<ol style="background-color: white; line-height: 14px;">
<li style="margin-left: 15px;"><span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Am I reserved or eager when it comes to expressing appreciation to others?</span></li>
</ol>
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span style="line-height: 14px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<ol style="background-color: white; line-height: 14px;">
<li style="margin-left: 15px;"><span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">My most recent expression of gratitude was …</span></li>
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span style="line-height: 14px;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">If you haven’t done so already, </span><br />
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #b45f06;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">consider </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">taking this gratitude challenge </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #b45f06;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #b45f06;">into an accountability setting, letting </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #b45f06;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #b45f06;">others help you stay true to your </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #b45f06;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #b45f06;">commitment, while being there to offer </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #b45f06;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #b45f06;">your support to them as well.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #b45f06;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">How did you do? I did pretty good! Still have work to do though. ;) I have tried to focus on all the good and blessings God has so graciously gave me (and my family) through out everything.</span><br />
<span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I have a friend/mentor that helps keep me accountable. It's not always easy.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Do you have an accountability partner?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">For His Glory,</span><br />
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<img align="left" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54490/118/8CDB1F938ACDD01E1E7BDFFFF2926C50.png" style="border: 0;" /><br />
<br />Christenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08714132452232161624noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1368385884048423999.post-28264029624286577612013-12-06T15:15:00.002-05:002013-12-06T15:15:45.001-05:00Choosing Gratitude Day 26<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii7o-PBSpUoFbfeg-968r0FvqiksD1lKJAY7_kCQfnZLrF5hsmpidHAuhmGLR_bSKnPxY7LMjGZjqIV5dA7Z0xbJlK7In8BJGyKwkZNN9Y61XvshellUYz5v6bWgxTZAEdBsvFpCtuImY/s1600/gratitude4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii7o-PBSpUoFbfeg-968r0FvqiksD1lKJAY7_kCQfnZLrF5hsmpidHAuhmGLR_bSKnPxY7LMjGZjqIV5dA7Z0xbJlK7In8BJGyKwkZNN9Y61XvshellUYz5v6bWgxTZAEdBsvFpCtuImY/s1600/gratitude4.jpg" /></a></div>
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Day 26</span></h2>
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<span style="color: #71a83b; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><a href="http://lists.reviveourhearts.com/lt.php?c=5918&m=7295&nl=154&s=0a87d6a73322a8109a55970018e87af9&lid=1151&l=-http--www.biblegateway.com/passage/--Q-search--E-Ezra3:8-13;--A-version--E-47;" style="color: #71a83b;" target="_blank">Ezra 3:8–13</a></span></h3>
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">On October 3, 1863, at the height of </span><br />
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #b45f06;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">the </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Civil War, President Abraham </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #b45f06;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #b45f06;">Lincoln issued a Proclamation of </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #b45f06;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #b45f06;">Thanksgiving, calling the nation to </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #b45f06;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #b45f06;">observe a “day of Thanksgiving and </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #b45f06;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #b45f06;">Praise.” This proclamation eventually </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #b45f06;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #b45f06;">led to the establishing of our national </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #b45f06;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #b45f06;">day of Thanksgiving.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">The document began by listing multiple </span><br />
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">blessings the nation had experienced </span><br />
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">through the course of the year, even in </span><br />
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">the midst of a severe conflict. It called </span><br />
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">the American people to recognize the </span><br />
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Source of those blessings and to </span><br />
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">respond collectively to the Giver in </span><br />
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">gratitude, repentance, and intercession.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Today, try crafting your own </span><br />
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #b45f06;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">declaration </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">of thanksgiving. Use some </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #b45f06;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #b45f06;">of the insights the Lord has been </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #b45f06;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #b45f06;">growing in you these last few weeks. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #b45f06;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #b45f06;">Incorporate some of the Scriptures that </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #b45f06;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #b45f06;">have particularly touched you. And </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #b45f06;">dedicate your life to what these words </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #b45f06;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #b45f06;">of yours are saying.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Then share what you’ve written with </span><br />
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">your family or a close friend. Be an </span><br />
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">igniter of gratitude by encouraging </span><br />
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">those you love and care about to </span><br />
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">cultivate a thankful heart.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #134f5c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful.</span><span style="font-size: 14px;">Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.</span><span style="font-size: 14px;">And whatever you do in word or deed, </span><em style="border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: top;">do</em><span style="font-size: 14px;"> all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him. Col. 3:15-17</span></span></blockquote>
<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I'm still writing my declaration of thanksgiving, but wanted to share the above verses. We are to find joy and be thankful in everything. I don't know about you, but I have MUCH to be thankful for!!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Now it's your turn to write your declaration of thanksgiving. What are some particular verses that help you?</span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">For His Glory,</span><br />
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<img align="left" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54490/118/8CDB1F938ACDD01E1E7BDFFFF2926C50.png" style="border: 0;" /><br />
<br />Christenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08714132452232161624noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1368385884048423999.post-413359495433410562013-12-05T16:43:00.000-05:002013-12-05T16:43:05.988-05:00Choosing Gratitude Day 25<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii7o-PBSpUoFbfeg-968r0FvqiksD1lKJAY7_kCQfnZLrF5hsmpidHAuhmGLR_bSKnPxY7LMjGZjqIV5dA7Z0xbJlK7In8BJGyKwkZNN9Y61XvshellUYz5v6bWgxTZAEdBsvFpCtuImY/s1600/gratitude4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii7o-PBSpUoFbfeg-968r0FvqiksD1lKJAY7_kCQfnZLrF5hsmpidHAuhmGLR_bSKnPxY7LMjGZjqIV5dA7Z0xbJlK7In8BJGyKwkZNN9Y61XvshellUYz5v6bWgxTZAEdBsvFpCtuImY/s1600/gratitude4.jpg" /></a></div>
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Day 25</span></h2>
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<span style="color: #71a83b; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><a href="http://lists.reviveourhearts.com/lt.php?c=5917&m=7294&nl=154&s=0a87d6a73322a8109a55970018e87af9&lid=1144&l=-http--www.biblegateway.com/passage/--Q-search--E-Deuteronomy8:1-10;--A-version--E-47;;" style="color: #71a83b;" target="_blank">Deuteronomy 8:1–10</a></span></h3>
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Historians have differing perspectives </span><br />
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #b45f06;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">in </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">relation to the first Thanksgiving </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #b45f06;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #b45f06;">celebrations in America, but we know </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #b45f06;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #b45f06;">some details are true. We know the </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #b45f06;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #b45f06;">Pilgrims’ journey from Holland to </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #b45f06;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #b45f06;">England to the New World was </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #b45f06;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #b45f06;">frightfully difficult, with sickness and </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #b45f06;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #b45f06;">storms on the arduous, weeks-long </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #b45f06;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #b45f06;">voyage. We know once they arrived, </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #b45f06;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #b45f06;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">the </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">task of carving dwellings out of the </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #b45f06;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #b45f06;">forest quick enough to hold back the </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #b45f06;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #b45f06;">advancing effects of winter was a losing </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #b45f06;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #b45f06;">race against time. Nearly half of those </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #b45f06;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #b45f06;">who made the trip didn’t survive the </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #b45f06;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #b45f06;">stay.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">And yet with sheer survival the order of </span><br />
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">each day, and with fears for their </span><br />
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">families an all-consuming worry, their </span><br />
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">writings and recorded history are filled </span><br />
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">with demonstrations and attitudes of </span><br />
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">thanksgiving.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Each Sunday—in lean times as well as </span><br />
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">relatively plentiful—they gathered for </span><br />
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">prayer, meditation, the singing of </span><br />
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">hymns, and a sermon. It was their </span><br />
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">regular practice to stop and give </span><br />
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #b45f06;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">thanks </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">to God at the outset of each </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #b45f06;">week.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #b45f06;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #b45f06;">Use your prayer time today to think </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #b45f06;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #b45f06;">back over the history of God’s </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #b45f06;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #b45f06;">faithfulness in your life, your family, </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #b45f06;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #b45f06;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">and </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">your church. Make a list of </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #b45f06;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #b45f06;">desperate situations or seasons when </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #b45f06;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #b45f06;">you have witnessed His providential </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #b45f06;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #b45f06;">protection and provision.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #b45f06;"><br /></span></span></div>
<span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Ha! This would have been a good one on Thanksgiving. ;) </span><br />
<span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Hmmm...I'd have to say my family is in the middle of a desperate situation/season. :) But God has been faithful though this hard time. Here are some ways:</span><br />
<span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">-God has eventually provided the funds for things we NEED. Giving my husband or I a little work here and there.</span><br />
<span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">-He has provided us a place to live (even if it is my parent's finished garage. ;) ).</span><br />
<span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">-There is something wrong with the van (actually at least 3 things), but he has kept it running.</span><br />
<span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">-Plus family is going to help pay to get it fixed as a Christmas gift to me!</span><br />
<span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">-God always provided the gas for the van that was NEEDED.</span><br />
<span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">-He kept Josiah and I safe and alive through my difficult pregnancy and his premature birth.</span><br />
<span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">-Plus He provided loving care for both girls while I was in the hospital.</span><br />
<span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">What are some ways God has provided and protected you? I would LOVE to hear, it would be such an encouragement!</span><br />
<span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">For His Glory,</span><br />
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<img align="left" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54490/118/8CDB1F938ACDD01E1E7BDFFFF2926C50.png" style="border: 0;" /><br />
<br />Christenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08714132452232161624noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1368385884048423999.post-80598368593620735202013-12-04T13:09:00.001-05:002013-12-04T13:09:38.245-05:00Choosing Gratitude Day 24<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii7o-PBSpUoFbfeg-968r0FvqiksD1lKJAY7_kCQfnZLrF5hsmpidHAuhmGLR_bSKnPxY7LMjGZjqIV5dA7Z0xbJlK7In8BJGyKwkZNN9Y61XvshellUYz5v6bWgxTZAEdBsvFpCtuImY/s1600/gratitude4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii7o-PBSpUoFbfeg-968r0FvqiksD1lKJAY7_kCQfnZLrF5hsmpidHAuhmGLR_bSKnPxY7LMjGZjqIV5dA7Z0xbJlK7In8BJGyKwkZNN9Y61XvshellUYz5v6bWgxTZAEdBsvFpCtuImY/s1600/gratitude4.jpg" /></a></div>
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Day 24</span></h2>
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<span style="color: #71a83b; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><a href="http://lists.reviveourhearts.com/lt.php?c=5916&m=7293&nl=154&s=0a87d6a73322a8109a55970018e87af9&lid=1137&l=-http--www.biblegateway.com/passage/--Q-search--E-Ruth2:1-13;--A-version--E-47;" style="color: #71a83b;" target="_blank">Ruth 2:1–13</a></span></h3>
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Ruth was a woman with a humble heart</span><br />
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">—a trait that’s a companion virtue of </span><br />
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">gratitude. She didn’t claim her rights. </span><br />
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">She didn’t insist that Boaz provide her </span><br />
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #b45f06;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">a </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">living by letting her glean in his </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #b45f06;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #b45f06;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">fields. </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">And because she relinquished </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #b45f06;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #b45f06;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">her </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">demands for certain expectations, </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #b45f06;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #b45f06;">she was able to be genuinely thankful </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #b45f06;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #b45f06;">when she actually did receive the </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #b45f06;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #b45f06;">blessing of his generosity.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Too many of us live with a chip on our </span><br />
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">shoulder, as if the world owes us </span><br />
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">something. “You ought to do this for </span><br />
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">me. You ought to serve me. You ought </span><br />
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">to meet my needs.” But the humble </span><br />
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">heart—the grateful heart—says, “I </span><br />
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #b45f06;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">don’t </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">deserve this, and it’s an amazing </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #b45f06;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #b45f06;">act of grace that you should minister to </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #b45f06;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #b45f06;">my needs.”</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Ruth just went out to serve with a </span><br />
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">humble, thankful heart. And as a </span><br />
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #b45f06;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">result, </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">God made sure her needs were </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #b45f06;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #b45f06;">met. He’ll do the same for you.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Who do you know who consistently </span><br />
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">exhibits a grateful spirit? What is it </span><br />
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">about them that makes them so </span><br />
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #b45f06;">remarkable? What can you learn from </span></span><br />
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">their example?</span></div>
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<span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">A particular story came to mind as I was reading this. I wont get into details but this woman was upset at something that happened, she clearly had a "chip on her shoulder" and felt she was owed certain things. I'm not condemning her, I have always just felt she seemed so angry and bitter over the situation.</span><br />
<span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I don't want to be like that! I want to be GRATEFUL and SHINE the JOY of GOD. </span><br />
<span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Two women came to mind that seem to exhibit a grateful spirit in particular. They seem "gentle" and joyful (though I know they have their own struggles) all the time.</span><br />
<span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Do you know anyone like this? If so what have you learned by their example?</span><br />
<span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">For His Glory,</span><br />
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<img align="left" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54490/118/8CDB1F938ACDD01E1E7BDFFFF2926C50.png" style="border: 0;" /><br />
<br />Christenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08714132452232161624noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1368385884048423999.post-5578440888058511322013-12-03T13:02:00.001-05:002013-12-03T13:02:53.995-05:00Choosing Gratitude Day 23<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhtxUomvyZisliR3DAi4rjvMZkPfGJ5OIKZxId_KUu12iqSwCO7CjPy9CdKadDJUPjGRkDijhes2TyuqhTN_3ysh_AUETRD64gd5PccpQjlpwMErqKLDkrwlz-6R5nvzokZuaJQyQB8xo/s1600/gratitude4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhtxUomvyZisliR3DAi4rjvMZkPfGJ5OIKZxId_KUu12iqSwCO7CjPy9CdKadDJUPjGRkDijhes2TyuqhTN_3ysh_AUETRD64gd5PccpQjlpwMErqKLDkrwlz-6R5nvzokZuaJQyQB8xo/s1600/gratitude4.jpg" /></a></div>
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Day 23</span></h2>
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<span style="color: #71a83b; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><a href="http://lists.reviveourhearts.com/lt.php?c=5915&m=7292&nl=154&s=0a87d6a73322a8109a55970018e87af9&lid=1130&l=-http--www.biblegateway.com/passage/--Q-search--E-1Timothy6:6-10;--A-version--E-47;" style="color: #71a83b;" target="_blank">1 Timothy 6:6–10</a></span></h3>
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">All of us, in some way, possess some </span><br />
<span style="color: #b45f06;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">sense of entitlement toward God. So </span></span><br />
<span style="color: #b45f06;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">often our expectation or demand for </span></span><br />
<span style="color: #b45f06;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">“more” towers over the plenty we </span></span><br />
<span style="color: #b45f06;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">already possess. That’s because we </span></span><br />
<span style="color: #b45f06;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">forget that God doesn’t owe us </span></span><br />
<span style="color: #b45f06;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">anything. We are debtors.<i> We</i> are the </span></span><br />
<span style="color: #b45f06;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">ones who owe. We think we deserve </span></span><br />
<span style="color: #b45f06;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">more (or different or better) than we </span></span><br />
<span style="color: #b45f06;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">have, and therefore we forget or </span></span><br />
<span style="color: #b45f06;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">minimize the blessings God has already </span></span><br />
<span style="color: #b45f06;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">given and continues to give.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #b45f06;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Not content with food, clothing, and a </span></span><br />
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">roof over our heads, we whine if we </span><br />
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">don’t have a certain kind of house, a </span><br />
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">certain kind of car, a certain kind of </span><br />
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #b45f06;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">job, </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">a certain kind of marriage, and </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #b45f06;">certain kinds of friends living in a </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #b45f06;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #b45f06;">certain kind of neighborhood and </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #b45f06;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #b45f06;">income bracket. It’s time we let </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #b45f06;">gratitude be our ticket to freedom.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #b45f06;">What kinds of “wants” are you defining </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #b45f06;">as “needs”? Ask God to show you any </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #b45f06;">ways you may have become blinded to </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #b45f06;">His grace. Highlight them. Confess </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #b45f06;">them. And trade them in on the bounty </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #b45f06;">God promises to the grateful.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #134f5c; font-size: large;">I know what I WANT for a home...but am just so thankful that we have a safe place to live and have been together as a family.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #134f5c; font-size: large;">I know how I WANT to eat and feed my family...but am just thankful that we have not gone hungry, that God has provided us FOOD. *smile*</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #134f5c; font-size: large;">I do struggle with what I WANT for a marriage...though that is not always wrong! Wanting to change every. little. thing. about my husband and marriage and being discontent is wrong. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #134f5c; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #134f5c; font-size: large;">Where my marriage is at is also NOT God honoring though! There is nothing wrong with WANTING and WORKING on myself and my marriage (following scripture, seeking the Lord, and through HIS strength), while praying for my husband at the same time. *smile* Does that make sense??</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #134f5c; font-size: large;">What "wants" are you defining as "needs"?</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #134f5c; font-size: large;">For His Glory,</span></span></div>
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<br />Christenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08714132452232161624noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1368385884048423999.post-9299533967028758732013-12-02T07:00:00.000-05:002013-12-02T07:00:04.278-05:00Choosing Gratitude Day 22<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQk-eS0QViBGnRTGW3LqaBOrdFKTLqZyFAkK-58t6knD8WA7WkYfs6lSj7D5wHAndQ9vqItIYmIDRf_po2JmlJEbMQTQiSwL41z5cvjH8eDYkJIr6JKDdOW2vOg6Y9KYWhgjF-4sJve9A/s1600/gratitude4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQk-eS0QViBGnRTGW3LqaBOrdFKTLqZyFAkK-58t6knD8WA7WkYfs6lSj7D5wHAndQ9vqItIYmIDRf_po2JmlJEbMQTQiSwL41z5cvjH8eDYkJIr6JKDdOW2vOg6Y9KYWhgjF-4sJve9A/s1600/gratitude4.jpg" /></a></div>
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Day 22</span></h2>
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<span style="color: #71a83b; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><a href="http://lists.reviveourhearts.com/lt.php?c=5914&m=7291&nl=154&s=0a87d6a73322a8109a55970018e87af9&lid=1123&l=-http--www.biblegateway.com/passage/--Q-search--E-Proverbs30:7-9;--A-version--E-47;" style="color: #71a83b;" target="_blank">Proverbs 30:7–9</a></span></h3>
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">You may have heard some preachers </span><br />
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">and teachers leave the impression that </span><br />
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">God intends for every Christian to be </span><br />
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">materially rich. Others go too far the </span><br />
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">other way, proudly wearing poverty </span><br />
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<span style="color: #b45f06;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">like </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">a cloak of self-righteous sainthood. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #b45f06;">Today’s proverb puts a proper </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #b45f06;">perspective on the whole thing. The </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #b45f06;">Word is teaching us to focus more on </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #b45f06;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #b45f06;">being grateful for where we are—not </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #b45f06;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #b45f06;">only because to do otherwise would be </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #b45f06;">sinful and proud, but also because we </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #b45f06;">don’t know what the Lord may be </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #b45f06;">saving us from by not giving us </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #b45f06;">everything we might want.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Even if we possess much less than </span><br />
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">others have, if our hearts are full of </span><br />
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">gratitude, neither money nor the lack </span><br />
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<span style="color: #b45f06;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">of </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">it can shake our contented </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #b45f06;">dependence on God.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Ask the Lord to show you if there is any </span></div>
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">root of discontentment or “love of </span></div>
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">money” in your heart. Ask Him to </span></div>
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">provide just what He knows you need—</span></div>
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">enough to keep you from being </span></div>
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<span style="color: #b45f06;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">tempted </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">to sin to get your needs met, </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #b45f06;">but not so much that you no longer </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #b45f06;">need to rely on Him as your Provider. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #b45f06;">Take some time to thank Him for His </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #b45f06;">practical, material provision in your life.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #134f5c; font-size: large;">Again what a timely post. With Black Friday/Small Business Sat., and now Cyber Monday upon us...this is a great reminder!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #134f5c; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<span style="color: #134f5c; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 14px;">It's also a great reminder for me personally with money being incredibly tight and my husband still not having a job, I can struggle with contentment.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #134f5c; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 14px;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="color: #134f5c; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 14px;">Honestly I LOVE finding a bargain, so I've struggled with discontentment during all these fabulous deals (on things we could use/need), but really can't afford it. </span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #134f5c; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 14px;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="color: #134f5c; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 14px;">I'm thankful that we have a safe place to live and some area to call "our own" during this time. I'm thankful that He faithfully provides food, heat, gas for the car, and that the cars still runs (it's making a funny noise). </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">What about you are you struggling with discontentment or "love of money"? What practical things/provisions are you thankful for?</span><br />
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<span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">For His Glory,</span><br />
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<br />Christenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08714132452232161624noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1368385884048423999.post-3610805750664330502013-12-01T07:00:00.000-05:002013-12-01T07:00:01.533-05:00Choosing Gratitude Day 21<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQk-eS0QViBGnRTGW3LqaBOrdFKTLqZyFAkK-58t6knD8WA7WkYfs6lSj7D5wHAndQ9vqItIYmIDRf_po2JmlJEbMQTQiSwL41z5cvjH8eDYkJIr6JKDdOW2vOg6Y9KYWhgjF-4sJve9A/s1600/gratitude4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQk-eS0QViBGnRTGW3LqaBOrdFKTLqZyFAkK-58t6knD8WA7WkYfs6lSj7D5wHAndQ9vqItIYmIDRf_po2JmlJEbMQTQiSwL41z5cvjH8eDYkJIr6JKDdOW2vOg6Y9KYWhgjF-4sJve9A/s1600/gratitude4.jpg" /></a></div>
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Day 21</span></h2>
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<span style="color: #71a83b; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><a href="http://lists.reviveourhearts.com/lt.php?c=5913&m=7290&nl=154&s=0a87d6a73322a8109a55970018e87af9&lid=1116&l=-http--www.biblegateway.com/passage/--Q-search--E-Proverbs21:2-9;--A-version--E-47;" style="color: #71a83b;" target="_blank">Proverbs 21:2–9</a></span></h3>
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">When you read the above passage, you </span><br />
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">could probably guess which verse I </span><br />
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">wanted to highlight: “It is better to live </span><br />
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">in a corner of the housetop than in a </span><br />
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">house shared with a quarrelsome wife” </span><br />
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">(v. 9). And, yes, I am serious about </span><br />
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #b45f06;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">the </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">dangers posed by tongues that are </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #b45f06;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #b45f06;">contentious, combative, and </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #b45f06;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #b45f06;">discontented.</span></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; line-height: 14px;">
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">But while heeding this as a warning, </span><br />
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">let’s also turn it into a positive. If one </span><br />
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #b45f06;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">of </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">the blessings of gratitude is that it </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #b45f06;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #b45f06;">makes us generally happier people, it </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #b45f06;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #b45f06;">follows that gratitude makes those who </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #b45f06;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #b45f06;">live with us happier too.</span></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; line-height: 14px;">
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">The restorative power of a grateful </span><br />
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">heart and tongue is more potent than </span><br />
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">we can imagine, as is the destructive </span><br />
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">potential of being bitter and difficult to </span><br />
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">live with. “Gracious words are like a </span><br />
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and </span><br />
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">health to the body” (Proverbs <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_1389487154" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">16:24</span></span>). </span><br />
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Let’s make sure our words have that </span><br />
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">kind of effect.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; line-height: 14px;">
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Ask God to guard your heart—and your </span><br />
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">tongue—today. Anytime you hear </span><br />
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">yourself saying words that are </span><br />
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">contentious, complaining, or critical, </span><br />
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">rather than gracious, gentle, and godly </span><br />
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">… stop. Ask Him to forgive you. And </span><br />
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">seek forgiveness from those to whom—</span><br />
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">or in whose presence—you spoke.</span><br />
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I don't know about you, but this came at a timely convicting moment. *smile*</span><br />
<span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">My husband had just said to me earlier (in a sweet way), why I always (lately) have annoyed/angry tone with him. </span><br />
<span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I wanted to say, </span><br />
<span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">"because I AM angry with you! There's an internal struggle going on and it can come out in my tone, without meaning too. You are leaving for over a month, during Christmas, taking our 3 year old against my wishes...and you don't seem to care!!" </span></blockquote>
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<span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">But I didn't say it. I really don't know that it would have been helpful, so I didn't say anything.</span><br />
<span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">But even if I am angry/hurt doesn't mean I can let my tongue "rule" in an angry manner! Is that glorifying to God? Is that how God tells me to behave? No!</span><br />
<span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Is it okay to speak to our children in any manner/tone that we want...even if we are angry/annoyed/tired? No! </span><br />
<span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Why? Because there are MANY verses telling us not to. We are to guard our heart and tongue.</span><br />
<span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I ultimately cannot control how others behave/think and they are accountable to God in the end for their actions. But the same is true for me (and you)...we are accountable for ourselves. Do you really want to stand before God and say, "Well my kids made me so mad or my husband's actions where so hurtful and thoughtless...so that why I responded that way." No, of course not! It's not acceptable to God.</span><br />
<span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Let's take time to : </span><br />
<span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Ask God to guard your heart—and your </span><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">tongue—today. Anytime you hear </span><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">yourself saying words that are </span><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">contentious, complaining, or critical, </span><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">rather than gracious, gentle, and godly </span><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">… stop. Ask Him to forgive you. And </span><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">seek forgiveness from those to whom—</span><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">or in whose presence—you spoke.</span></span></blockquote>
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<span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">For His Glory,</span></div>
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<img align="left" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54490/118/8CDB1F938ACDD01E1E7BDFFFF2926C50.png" style="border: 0;" /><br />
<br />Christenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08714132452232161624noreply@blogger.com0