tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-74446953653491768522024-03-13T09:10:30.682-07:00As For Me And My HausHauswifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04184102377607825756noreply@blogger.comBlogger20125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7444695365349176852.post-82373499460834363992010-08-24T11:55:00.000-07:002010-08-26T17:44:59.389-07:00Princess Sweetpea's Birthdaypalooza Celebracione!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJEZaCFCli-qqdGvKBw1ijQFads6b3n4Z_8SyzyFvAK_Ip_r8_XSVS-NQPdcVtkW6EXuRuTFKNFxNNzseJRZfs7tilKCi4zj-R6s0mvT5tOLENFnh1LhjzKz5isP3G0EGEHLoQkic8PYsx/s1600/PrincessCake02-de%5B1%5D.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 313px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5509036075506956770" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJEZaCFCli-qqdGvKBw1ijQFads6b3n4Z_8SyzyFvAK_Ip_r8_XSVS-NQPdcVtkW6EXuRuTFKNFxNNzseJRZfs7tilKCi4zj-R6s0mvT5tOLENFnh1LhjzKz5isP3G0EGEHLoQkic8PYsx/s400/PrincessCake02-de%5B1%5D.jpg" /></a><br /><div align="center">Four years and four days ago,<br />our miracle baby was born!<br /><br />This long awaited princess<br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5509027888557712850" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju4AX4A5B0YhUvESSTJ3xhkTVWk_80KCGIH1-381bTNYo6HognP33ioNfxXYabc2YSCAf5QNdEb9nAWL1Gcxsm21aCVk3SuTDuNN0_oqIAZ1frgSkun4KU7H3H2hZ1LS_UjyqT7az3tf9r/s400/evangeline+baby.jpg" /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiacHIpXPh2QNPxJnNydBD7abk-Kb5Ji6lKdjkrDZwP0Av9bl-grXN21mFmtrWc2ogr40nCZqofcVFqGjrtDeSv0b61Wm4cOuYaGUw86BA7muPW9IMnQL6WPBTCrGPr2wD0ZOcD8JjuUre/s1600/IMG_0169.JPG"></a><br />is such a delight in our lives<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_-VL8qu1T-pZn3plRnuOGohCeUpvWbc_gPi7FiwTmd5XpiCx0hmK67s23P9c0p3RK-BiPyspoXTAKpl2Bzk5HBychRDXSSQ5t0dRSQ5Yd6apmx5fm8nsozfBoBo5aCq4834TzJc_bfsSW/s1600/IMG_0099.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5509029745942628722" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_-VL8qu1T-pZn3plRnuOGohCeUpvWbc_gPi7FiwTmd5XpiCx0hmK67s23P9c0p3RK-BiPyspoXTAKpl2Bzk5HBychRDXSSQ5t0dRSQ5Yd6apmx5fm8nsozfBoBo5aCq4834TzJc_bfsSW/s400/IMG_0099.JPG" /></a><br />with her love of snuggling and sweet affectionate nature,<br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5509027899772120338" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSunz6KC_mMRkCj1l5ZjklvZ5qhTjC9WbUrhtvpF_IHFsGwBytAI5s12X7Fwxx6_e69uO26l4vy-Jmxsqf1mk6se-pesUK2rDe6UHB_99eCqo34vW9i_EmusZ6NQGg_I2xh-u5O66uLpAb/s400/Evangeline1.jpg" /><br />her zany sense of humor,<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlV5_Bq80P8Djfz7lLnxJ2pBldgVm2qPOtvsVkPImUL46V_BHDU_nAv2ldIRmpZRzFP1yPn9Asi6knGRocOZkqs7_SpS3nEKfITz0NEJaD3MzSDdHwb929IEggBKTwARjlYtpU3UzDNySy/s1600/IMG_9898.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5509027914371921074" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlV5_Bq80P8Djfz7lLnxJ2pBldgVm2qPOtvsVkPImUL46V_BHDU_nAv2ldIRmpZRzFP1yPn9Asi6knGRocOZkqs7_SpS3nEKfITz0NEJaD3MzSDdHwb929IEggBKTwARjlYtpU3UzDNySy/s400/IMG_9898.JPG" /></a><br />and how she brings fun and sunshine into everything she does!<br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 298px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5509027902993071746" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkgvGC1ULaOM2QDIWyNcyiZ1GeAfw3PsgYAH8kd6X9_o2u9BOT5WgCJuhmizB9D9V6SYyL5X4CNQm9Gpsee18dYpe6zi_hDvhi2jtm_MMzMq50je-T5vboV-xRQY7AjQs0LclnxPm37JFu/s400/Evangelineseamonster.bmp" /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLtd3CkguoDYiiMw246G7rKZqb0cLKS-_ZTVdnb0IvWTD5flQn-NeP6rzupudhlnPtxrdr4viec-4MnWKYBugTv1JWuzumSPLbEphPMeSkdd6ol0sTR015yV0fUqPwDl01T0fuQdnnjyxK/s1600/Evangelinesingingbeach.bmp"></a><br />HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO SWEETPEA!<br /><br />WE ARE CRAZY ABOUT YOU!<br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 298px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5509027905646599794" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLtd3CkguoDYiiMw246G7rKZqb0cLKS-_ZTVdnb0IvWTD5flQn-NeP6rzupudhlnPtxrdr4viec-4MnWKYBugTv1JWuzumSPLbEphPMeSkdd6ol0sTR015yV0fUqPwDl01T0fuQdnnjyxK/s400/Evangelinesingingbeach.bmp" /><br />In this picture she is dancing all over the beach singing, <br /><br />"I'm not nakeeeee any moooooore!"..<br /> <br />because three minutes earlier she was dancing all over the beach<br />singing <br /><br />naked.<br /><br />See what I mean? She brings the fun!</div>Hauswifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04184102377607825756noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7444695365349176852.post-78306703637534324572010-08-19T12:45:00.000-07:002010-08-26T17:44:10.399-07:00It's Happy Cupcake Day!Three years ago, after travelling for more than 30 hours, Haus and I (along with Sweetpea) arrived in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia and met our beautiful baby girl, Cupcake!<br /><br /><div align="center"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 266px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5507136799134586226" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5s89QT3iHRL1fnUtGcWxbNI9pinj3RL8vhDnLh22GHVuszVoLy2dGQQJ42yPZ7gX4USHdjmNC_IEtMgY73rMVZIeurE8H5KxGxFX7ZI_HQ9U2fbwKy9YLumn8fWFVHmiVtNs3qnscVd_Z/s400/019.jpg" /><br />Meeting Papa<br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5507136804826035266" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKWzxd1DOfkmxJktii4I3QlF-kyMhOq0c3d-v1upWIDcfFkw7XF7Bah84cUEUHNOxDWgnSxLFh40fvxYJtDkyxhxGaBjNonyicWzOTzC8S6a5ARhOeSt0ii4bz-Fxct-3Tqh9wakWe183C/s400/021.jpg" /><br />Meeting Mama<br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5507137255714564626" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS4FbJU8cgoxgsggYw2s9V2mj-XJRmYW5ewssKbcEGRBpGezJY2EyqmwSeO1V7puxcZvoFh0MHWkjHyebt4g-7IVMiu94XIexbv1UihEGlkABy9ZbynNYHZpXW12-9GrFX3i4nk_vJBGry/s400/026.jpg" /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVIZr8w3MhA9WrLE-r3U8Gto674vvQfzGT2IH9Xe7xZ414T0dW1yJUmrzc3ot3nxFzdultpowAM6JXn7uWK09dnTfE7IAA-P_VYagppSxGtA08dGfIsw7cL96MjSLXTi1YXn6xTcidlMBc/s1600/044.jpg"></a> With Almaz, the angel who handled all the details in Ethiopia<br />and loved on our girl until we could get there<br />to bring her home to her Forever Family!<br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5507137268813144594" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoikxGH3bp1y0Q-zKZ8CrYg5wnDqyAczbBNA4USkgvf7nunb8pxwhiEkGUeHxtUqbIw60ZP9AGXuyEowp6hvp7drlC9bN6uDlE1ThBHd8OR8vD6jmvKrz-jC3w_peEAIH_ui7_wd_3CPYB/s400/037.jpg" /><br />Playing with Papa<br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5507137256939204866" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC1U3-bxAThhej5RpFk20eYUzo22StPFvoQGkKsBLOqhzuV7i5FpqZrfqXptSaFFTKOMZXge-j-d6IldnsR978I24EFDBhHwr5-tkkUvtdX2ZuZ_ePofEgMGFUHrtp_PwxM1piYSKs_6z2/s400/038.jpg" /><br />and with Mama<br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5507137269779792738" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiholxZyxboS3HtU98hrfqYI2sC5fxmohRxpJ0JQerkL_zWVJIUweq7pm1TKEuvPgogAtsebnn1a_moxkZ3-_AtwdTHWPoYmZTVQoK9An1w06YgsQh7Gdd_PWvBq8qMcb16l04HbQrFeir/s400/043.jpg" /><br />In what has seemed like a flash, this beautiful, timid little princess<br /><br />became this sassy,<br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5507205506764155650" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtHc96D6M0ScUAS5N97YIMwCa-eDIVK9r5xJRniducG2ug2sXpbmDCY3GewCHnoDXRX6ExCqEtoMq0V2-RsvNfphWZOLUSTrxdtsDfGkwtRqMpngK3FZuCmG07Nc51Uk9VFmo76govrBbv/s400/IMG_8163.JPG" /><br /><br />personality filled<br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5507205523255034242" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6r125wChh-_AsblntVZ3vdFFhyphenhyphenwbipvExmrhadmb6hgnVz9sIF3LEEQbXFzbFwZDUAP7p45FeNFUQF5BCkINdpfVcE5dEG1E2hSXfgWSd_KmmKH5S5BqDuWyZnBs7_np4T9QC3YJl7Fbq/s400/IMG_0245.JPG" /><br /><br />sweetheart!<br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5507205515488381522" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI8jGJSog36tLw9LcpCeuyvl9s6le5iFuHoOBDdzGsOKKSJvkUDNqxWJgXFaLhl-7UXXxSD1LAaFVF-nFMI3ZM5HCZlZ23pf6JAp-ajJ3ZfW6lzQbVXGsd_RAhk6f9776oAsLQKmioEfcI/s400/IMG_9922.JPG" /></div><br /><br />We are SO thankful to God for the blessing of our precious baby girl!Hauswifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04184102377607825756noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7444695365349176852.post-23162658320704291842010-08-16T12:37:00.000-07:002010-08-26T17:43:20.069-07:00The Big Four-Oh!Last week included a milestone day for me.<br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 354px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 339px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5504243549250305186" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd6JbsDQfslM2Z_lW2K_ltUeovqKRD2w9Xp1tanlLaRBOYM4B0nhAul_8zOZfyFYTRzcnnRHB1BeFEBFIvjWyrnqICEHY4sXXPcw4Z10Su9MyDB-iEcHHNuepY6PwHzbbj3fErDhZeeT1h/s400/40istock.jpg" /> <img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506075326097315410" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQrYULmOfyRaJTsNQ4_5QlXGboScOPWF3HaqvVPGXuSC14i39kUirWes4337qHmtZiyC__cN2UMsVgDr9z4x_tBJvM4vIp0dDE1Uu5S2EqvcpIeZu89r4XrXLpcfFT1Tppezx221yyHuO2/s400/IMG_0305.JPG" /><br /><br /><div align="center">It started out with a bang when I stepped out of bed,<br />tripped over a gift placed there to be the first thing I saw on my special day,<br />landed solidly on my belly with an OOOOF!,<br />banged my chin hard on the ground,<br />and knocked over 3 vases in the process!</div><br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 290px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5505008250384909762" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHo14mG9RRvDic6s4I62p-SvBomDLOgB_lPZb3Bz7XWL1kxfH3TIJgDr_HWhMUl-tlDDpj69lErYcgGXpgmNFk3qIoLEDs-VdBCNyreWCFJhoy_v8LUDeRVkzBPHe4Unx7suYJ_jGzpfkc/s400/tada.jpg" /><br /><br />Celebrating 40 with my own special flair!<br /><br />Hey, at least I'm used to spectacular face-plants and as a bonus, it wasn't in public.<br /><br />Otherwise, it was an absolutely splendid day! I had breakfast at the beach. Favorite. Spent the day at the spaaaaaaaaahhhh. Massage, facial, steam room, slices of cucumber on my eyes, the whole enchilada. Favorite. Delicious dinner at a fancy-schmancy place. Favorite. And, a bunch of my girlfriends stole me away, made me wear a sparkly tiara and we enjoyed a lovely harbor cruise and dinner. Super favorite!<br /><br />Seriously, ladies, where would we be without our girlfriends? I think I'd have quit a long time ago without mine! My girls encourage and exhort me. They make me laugh, oftentimes at myself. They know my life, joys, struggles, strengths and weaknesses. They know me, see me, and still love me! They tell me when I'm off-base or flat out wrong, when I need to grow up, when I must turn my heinie around and apologize, and help me to forgive myself when I blow it. They wrap their arms through mine, cheerlead, and help me get through the hard stuff of life. And, they let me be and do that for them as well. Shoot, I love my girls!<br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506075356836247746" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx5DRlbmL0nKnnV93jfs7fzMVD8FU7HuecCviRZAe6Ozeva52wqAuAECAOtJCKQGY3lROtYq2mqel9R6DmAzBqlYeM_Goi0_S727osjXG1miY7xyY8oIL8SLS3Ehef9SjJgAN7aL7WJmZC/s400/IMG_0312.JPG" /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5504235828006750018" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaJyu-Lm5fQ7I-HdHCFlzbJ7n3svLJxniViL2iCaDfoPdjQDhI4VK4NhUu9knm1pwIRdEe4MyN3k2V09vu-0-yu5z6YMHEE7jyVSAZwKCzCPFakg4BxvIX-SVc8ToRUXfQALNRbKszEc5t/s400/fabulous_at_forty_bumper_sticker-p128249594051674669trl0_400.jpg" /><br /><br />In between laughs, they asked what I wanted this next year. What is God doing? How is my heart? Good questions.<br /><br />This next year, I want to go to Ethiopia (hopefully in June) and serve. I want to finish writing a book I've been working on for a while. I want to sing more. I want to build more friendships with women, to be an encourager of my sisters in Christ. I want to be a better woman, wife, and friend. I want to be changed by God, to learn where I'm blind, to see my sins and weaknesses, and to give them to Him who has the power to transform. I want to seek out those I've wounded and repent of my wrongdoing. I don't want to reach Heaven having not made amends with those I've sinned against. I want to learn to trust God with every facet of life, to be more in love with Jesus, and to live in constant communion with Him. I want more of Jesus.<br /><br />This is the verse for this year, maybe this decade:<br /><br /><div align="center"><em>"The LORD your God is with you,<br />He is mighty to save.<br />He will take great delight in you,<br />He will quiet you with His love,<br />He will rejoice over you with singing."<br /><br />Zephaniah 3:17</em></div><br /><br />How rad is that?<br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 384px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 313px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5504235359928505186" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNx1P1xL7SbSwUNwbggNezPnAKJ-489unfWZOSXao9syfEJtG7W-Z63Eyl5HYD-waiI3MU9uo9Rvg7hFyKbB1pDSRIkhyphenhyphenG7R4cTtDVHyxL5AhCaDqNZB_J0GWudP-CLIniF5gSUo2FCtyA/s400/40sparkler.jpg" /><br /><br />The biggest gifts of my life:<br /><br /><div align="center"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506083858901271762" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3HJkmJBSWkCfOV6i1pMzonSXHq_PXkZ6dDEoyfdcs0RhQwflLRfVrXhgjSW8lpzwhhtANnuOhiTwAkE0Crz82owHvgL6ZrgDHQUiNmdm6CcyNJVk0ZiyzgR1V6Zx2wBsBhBINMBXAiKZA/s400/IMG_0443.JPG" /><br />Muffin<br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506082569853827218" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiQG3q4BNeM0Q3M0fblYSPs3K1piaGpDZDRoXb-k2lQnlz_MdqhZLxfAJV0uDAN5ZEvvU44ZDMMmUiQlnssEAiTNlLMg_E3JJgTrPMvCrXANEgMRC9CLploBL4LLa5IQUs6uv5HNwSUY7s/s400/IMG_9974.JPG" /><br />Meatball<br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506075351518268626" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRBbDC0DYwt8i5QRhZvyGDJy3Vgx5UPu5U4D6CYWGPS52RGUi22zWjCEEw_kzv2CLiOUaw4-vZJo-T4nqoSCeh4XbeF3Bn8rVdEWXFiT1jGZ5cOCbLU4lz7R2REUeGAjlZotoCnCg9RMey/s400/IMG_0216.JPG" /><br />Pookie<br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506082583212126098" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuNLfvOlTQoYd51XypDh2gKlxEfsLu_gVxyptGngPyf85vT4OFw97FZmEwcDljIlk7wMzuPGSUqfzC9Q0DU3Op2hc_kCbwCkB1XZy6ExoHuhzWehjr9Z6KOmuzBdSpcL1NUUFDlF11W3OD/s400/IMG_0346.JPG" /><br />Sweetpea<br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506082576394743218" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLHJcnvE0QTx3ngr1OPO0rHDfgP_JW8jRllATPEZDMPZLJKebnvYToHHK7g3jR-vQOo3rOD316KIKIj6gaEIt0aQcjuzJlR3wfLcjf7L6FO1KhQWwrdSKOy3AMWiYNRL-l_OERKdPaXlJ_/s400/IMG_0177.JPG" /><br />Cupcake</div><br /><br />Ok, so here I go... Into a new decade...<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3aPDqW3XjD0myUn2mG7HbYYeM4YJCfAFcmsw9g2hMM80E5_kh7iBfyMZ9bxB-_Ovq9ovnfeLL7MetP_0krgqmTFRBeJ47bua2aTHfy_16I2jKfhvQr20_Op82VlHU4XF8IKJDdhgiOSwr/s1600/40.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 250px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 250px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5504235347196739794" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3aPDqW3XjD0myUn2mG7HbYYeM4YJCfAFcmsw9g2hMM80E5_kh7iBfyMZ9bxB-_Ovq9ovnfeLL7MetP_0krgqmTFRBeJ47bua2aTHfy_16I2jKfhvQr20_Op82VlHU4XF8IKJDdhgiOSwr/s400/40.jpg" /></a><br /><br />Here's what I think. Life is rich with blessings. Friends are such a gift. God is so very, spectacularly, beyond-my-wildest-imagination good. He has been with me every single step of the way through the big, big highs, and the stinky, rotten lows. He delights in me. Sings over me. Rejoices over me as His beloved. And laughs with me when I trip and fall flat on my face with an OOOOOF! So, come what may...<br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506075338324102546" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP0in08WSFWKOfosSasTBUD2iVnHpNnS5qqp9oy5X2fPwJe0FiWnIQEtCynlLdH9I9Crc_iQgZC2wvtFgFogT9StzafDYgyCwe_SWXypyu0tLIedhSWrZ932SQ8rgXUA-bDo-5_tYU9anD/s400/IMG_0231.JPG" /><br /><br />Bring it on!Hauswifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04184102377607825756noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7444695365349176852.post-23024072835494024722010-07-12T10:35:00.000-07:002010-07-12T10:43:02.751-07:00Escaping the VampireEvery girl longs to be loved.<br /><br />Not just loved, but deeply, passionately, and epically loved.<br /><br />We long for a Hero (especially if he's dangerous!). We crave being swept up in delicious romance. We want to feel beautiful, sought after, protected, and most of all, to be loved with wild abandon. We need real love, the kind that is heroic, and fierce, and sacrificial. It's the foundation for every fairy tale little girls ask to hear over and over again, and every romance novel and chick flick we consume over and over again as grown women.<br /><br />Even if we don't want to want it, we do. Even if our hearts know that we could never deserve such love, we still want it. Even if we've had our hearts crushed seemingly beyond repair, our yearning for real and wild love remains.<br /><br />What's worse is that the world tells us that desire for love, romance, passion, a Hero, is somehow evidence of our brokenness. <br /><br />But, it is not! <br /><br /><div align="center">The need for passion, romance, and above all, LOVE<br />is not a weakness or flaw,<br />but is an essential strength of women.<br /><br />God intentionally created women with<br />a limitless desire for love <br />as an expression of Himself.<br /><br />That deep longing is meant to flourish and be satisfied.</div><br /><br />I know some of you women are thinking, "Are you kidding me?! Those desires are the bane of my existence! They've caused me pain and suffering every single day! There is no fairy tale! My life is proof of that! If I could have that part of me surgically removed, I would!"<br /><br />And yet... The need remains.<br /><br />The <em>"Twilight"</em> Series. A whole generation of teen girls are consumed by it. Actually, it's more than just teenage girls, it's their moms, too, who are throwing <em>"Eclipse"</em> parties and wearing t-shirts for Team Edward or Team Jacob. It's a captivating series full of excitement, danger, fantasy, romance, and passion all wrapped up in an epic love story. <br /><br />Bella is easy to relate to. She's awkward and doesn't really fit in. She feels unloveable. Edward is mysterious and different. He's not only not only alluring, but he's vulnerable, noble, selfless, sacrificial, and he desires Bella almost beyond his control. But, their love is forbidden fruit. He is a vampire. Loving Edward means embracing death.<br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 260px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5491624266889895074" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA6O41nwWfuTfkBhu-fEcnQ6_XHjWJ1eHWP-ONdi1raIY__fDj8sEAr1vAeATf9kOY2UxRu7GXLI27d205UFGHmTzqrbjr8XH-q3KocLyYeJKujO72b4eEjjoJZ59ETpZwJhaFr-R_XsyR/s400/escapingthevampireHighRes+(2).jpg" /><br /><br /><em>"Escaping the Vampire, Desperate for The Immortal Hero</em> is for every girl and woman in love with Edward Cullen! It is NOT a finger-wagging chastisement about the Twilight series. It's not a condemnation if you happen to like vampire stories. Rather, it delves into the issues of our hearts and is an invitation to enter into a deep and meaningful romance with the One True Immortal Hero who wove the desire for passion and real love into the deepest part of your soul and who longs for your heart.<br /><br /><em>"Escaping the Vampire"</em> is filled with life stories of other young women, some which will make you laugh and some which will make you cry. Some of the topics are: temptation (the lure of "forbidden fruit"), the entrapment of lies, our struggle with beauty, "perfection", self-worth, our need for forgivness, and the Dad Issue. One of my favorite sections is The "Yuck" List. The "Just Breathe" sections are fantastic, too, because they give you a chance to pause, think, and journal, and Kim brings up some great conversational questions, so I highly recommend reading it with a friend or a group! Throughout this study are great Bible verses and references, quotes, and places to pause and pray. You can't help but feel like you're sitting down for a cup of coffee with Kim and some great friends. <br /><br /><iframe src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?lt1=_blank&bc1=000000&IS2=1&nou=1&bg1=FFFFFF&fc1=000000&lc1=0000FF&t=afmamh0a-20&o=1&p=8&l=as1&m=amazon&f=ifr&asins=1434700615" style="width:120px;height:240px;" scrolling="no" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" frameborder="0"></iframe><br /><br />Kimberly Powers, author of <em>Escaping the Vampire</em>, is the executive director of <a href="http://wttym.org/Walk_the_Talk_Youth_Ministries/Home.html">Walk the Talk Youth Ministries</a>. She is also my sweet cousin!<br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5491624289035003938" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFcH5qwXwc9JauUxMgik4m8BuE40S7XlQ_7iiRI637bNFYkg3vYBv_aYhLmhMdtmY28o43pQKaBWjL-QmbjZ17Rx8JoB8Rg6ssVuupwsXt1FzfhNTmsgAqMl7xHfSCDaNWoLEws06kswDa/s400/IMG_1651+copy.jpg" /><br /><br />Kim has a fire in her heart for young women and a unique ability to inspire teen girls to find out who they are in Christ. We recently spoke on the phone and she shared with me her passion for introducing girls to God, leading them into security in the Father, showing them that they can be <em>found</em> in Him, and leading them towards intense healing and restoration. Just ask her about all the girls she's watched experience the fullness of Isaiah 61's "beauty for ashes" and you will be moved to tears.<br /><br />If you're interested in having this sparkling, bubbly lady come speak at your church, or youth conference, or event, contact her at <a href="http://wttym.org/Walk_the_Talk_Youth_Ministries/Home.html">WTTYM</a>. She regularly speaks on "Searching for Twilight" and does conferences for girls on topics such as "In Search of a Princess" and "Embrace" for college-aged women.<br /><br />You can watch Kim's June 28th interview on the <a href="http://www.cbn.com/media/player/index.aspx?s=/vod/700Clubi_062810_WS&search=700ClubInteractive kimberly powers&p=1&parent=0&subnav=false">700 Club Interactive</a> or hear her March 18th <a href="http://www.listen.family.org/daily/A000002527.cfm">Focus on the Family interview</a>.<br /><br />kimberly@wttym.org<br /><a href="http://www.facebook.com/EscapingTheVampire">Escaping the Vampire's Facebook Page</a><br /><br /><u>How YOU can get involved with <a href="http://wttym.org/Walk_the_Talk_Youth_Ministries/Home.html">WTTYM</a>:</u><br />1. PRAY!<br />2. Pray for <em>Escaping the Vampire</em><br />3. Financially support this awesome ministry!<br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 265px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5491624271807983234" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiELhEAb02U-BVqswB8LgN-jcAWVQbJNU0n0yhDu8WXd75qzvsnAOoKsONfEE1LOMKWvPYXSMuUkwve9pY2mZk-g97sa6vz9efxqG54MLzpcjFLIXd831LZA3cU9qvXI2kfdUR1pYgngE9V/s400/family2007crop.jpg" /><br />Kimberly & her husband Tim live in Virginia with their two sons, Landon and Logan.Hauswifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04184102377607825756noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7444695365349176852.post-14948070235532939722010-06-15T09:25:00.000-07:002010-06-15T09:31:11.476-07:00Haus of CookiesMuffin & Meatball are eschewing the teenage principle of<br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 310px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5483031885284200770" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHAmVkWx_MePuqogIVX2VFUjA53KkeOrinN2snIC331wnZPeyN1ttfBQenszGWHQa0gN9wOgy4gnSziLi4jRfMmcpMoypEWFrPTg6yY2x62TmaNY-kmr5YXt0A5RS02IBspPU6Oh1PYYaU/s400/hard-work.jpg" /><br /><br />and have been working like fiends to raise money for summer camp!<br /><br />Cookies for Camp, AKA Haus of Cookies is open for business!<br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 259px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5481926115084219154" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp_e-SxUEuHV8cSycct4q_MxTQGxCUgJYFDyVCQfzKiT-gw42TCe8vQWk7I-AChhSJlkdTKII8v1S_5frDTii7LTTo7kCctphUJNtrdgCmIPN_89mnnKI83s-slDaXwRSLgtRabm5sh9Kk/s400/cookies.jpg" /><br /><br />They are making and selling chocolate chip, oatmeal scotchies & snicker doodles, so now my kitchen smells like Willy Wonka's 24/7. <br /><br />I must admit, though, that I cannot vouch for how they taste. So far, they've made over 60 dozen and I just want you to know that because of the battle of the<br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 274px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5483035186885844290" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSt15CAp2DLwuIRR_TRuSNhGi0_NCgSez6ZaxbDrHLoQV-zlbneZBAd9COQHBdVx_qWsKDVTPB-3EUG7UE-W_f9DE51mCfT_17n6ocjXJLSeVYLGOiEqUbh_0lxDMir8Gw_p0ryBC0f-Yz/s400/FatLady-Botero.jpg" /><br /><br />I have eaten nary a one!<br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 312px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5481929898613044242" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYGG6Tk10Jkfs6FMpr6N2bVdVsbzMRy8v7-3vyQcqaFRjNtxwi1VIqdS2LRsdpm1xjJOPsD8qzMlNXP1324eL3fxVcZm2vSDKA90rfomKSFhtbRkC46yTXU2TV3riOeZLCHds7QyI4SyDL/s400/1ApplauseCard.png" /><br /><br />Thank you. Thank you very much.<br /><br />They are also hiring themselves out to:<br /><br />Babysit<br />Walk/ bathe dogs<br />Wash cars<br />Do laundry & fold<br />General office help<br />Household chores<br />Garden clean up<br />Garage clean up<br />Help serve at parties<br />Clean up after summer events<br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5483036578325458658" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhdHz1Z7LiLiPh82wSTS7oChuaO0Kzjil4fkuIxFqn2WHSihbNBsmyN7QQBesQfGZCDLnj2wciQl2wDBYFUDqNYeZFtm4WSsOzBIsEijXdFqiWlAGXcFDWSBE7tSRJk82aToVTiwPmWl_P/s400/hire+me.jpg" /><br /><br />YOU NAME IT! They’re willing to clean it or do it! (Can you tell I'm so proud of them?)<br /><br />And, as a bonus, they're totally CUTE!<br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5481928497969936866" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhPcGDFBzBmW2cv6r-1BpOac0Hqkn7RVLw9GNjzmgt2-u9laVw4NrZpkwlOY8RNAjD3u-xH2AOtNIZbNF_-RNHpThN-myB7IV6M-nodMPIcH4-JZ4QX6wrpnHmaoXastmsYdWA2Gg3yr8l/s400/IMG_9340.JPG" /><br /><br />OK, local friends, who has a job for these two adorable, hard-working teenagers?Hauswifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04184102377607825756noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7444695365349176852.post-56907580518018646612010-06-08T09:20:00.000-07:002010-06-08T09:25:29.566-07:00A Slammin' Saturday NightLast Saturday night, Sweetpea got a doozie owie.<br /><br />Long story short, her right middle finger got slammed in a glass door which...<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwUY4eJm4kzkhgFNtD8wWZD9S50uPax2961O4DdT-9f5TdBFAFCzNo86lE9M0RtBUtwqWjsZs9j3O-CyTV54BnuQjy9mivNRp0yIFYu35tPsjcaZgNyhjc3JpIu6_fEhL8p6d9BLEmKPBu/s1600/guillotine.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwUY4eJm4kzkhgFNtD8wWZD9S50uPax2961O4DdT-9f5TdBFAFCzNo86lE9M0RtBUtwqWjsZs9j3O-CyTV54BnuQjy9mivNRp0yIFYu35tPsjcaZgNyhjc3JpIu6_fEhL8p6d9BLEmKPBu/s400/guillotine.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480238663927606322" /></a><br /><br />acted like a guillotine leaving her with a compound fracture between the last knuckle and the nail. We learned later was very nearly an amputation! <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8qUDfOff4B664s3PXPKDNNcurhuU4fpGWMjdRU9tKf3IkVu0X6nh1rMKamndgPk2rtCKCoW-YNVKxCGtS1uOIP5WUvgUh_jnhaCPHLWBS7UctC7EGlhj5M3OBaSWMeJl4ACohzXT9zC1c/s1600/1evieowie.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8qUDfOff4B664s3PXPKDNNcurhuU4fpGWMjdRU9tKf3IkVu0X6nh1rMKamndgPk2rtCKCoW-YNVKxCGtS1uOIP5WUvgUh_jnhaCPHLWBS7UctC7EGlhj5M3OBaSWMeJl4ACohzXT9zC1c/s400/1evieowie.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480236912611756914" /></a><br /><div align="center">Zonked out waiting for x-ray results <br />with her Nana Blankie and her two teddybears</div><br /><br />Poor little sweetie! I'm not going to share all the disgustivo pictures that Haus took of her finger all bloody and sticking out at a horribly unnatural angle because EEWWWWWW! (It's a Man Thing.) But, here's the sad x-ray.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfnKclT7z2GY71xF-OpmdnDOTXm3pBdaElweo621jg3-yUtMcZdORTGXqZGN3ZnJiAgaYq8G4HLhNJG1PJaZqlBMDoI1ePunoiuOoJmvh8gVEUCrOdrMOXtuo-at4sdatlZhxPKvV6H_In/s1600/1evieowie2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfnKclT7z2GY71xF-OpmdnDOTXm3pBdaElweo621jg3-yUtMcZdORTGXqZGN3ZnJiAgaYq8G4HLhNJG1PJaZqlBMDoI1ePunoiuOoJmvh8gVEUCrOdrMOXtuo-at4sdatlZhxPKvV6H_In/s400/1evieowie2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480236918051255778" /></a><br /><br />As usual, Sweetpea was incredibly charming and hysterical at the ER, cracking up the nurses and the doctor. The surgery was brutal, though. I'm still beating myself up about not listening to the Holy Spirit when I knew He told me to choose sedation. Holding her through it was punishment to last a lifetime.<br /><br />Right at the worst part, when the surgeon was stitching through her fingernail causing pressure against the severed bone (which the local anaesthetic didn't numb) and intense pain, she shouted at him, <br /><br /><div align="center">"FIRST of all, that HURTS me!<br />And, SECOND of all... <br /><br />AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!"</div><br /><br />Oh, my little love cannot help being funny, even in the worst pain of her life!<br /><br /><div align="center">"I want you to STOP that immediately!<br />And, I want to go HOME <br />ABSOLUTELY immediately!"</div><br /><br />It was "super no fun", but she did beautifully. Her finger is thankfully intact, although looking remarkly Frankensteiny. Prayerfully, her fingernail was not damaged too severely and will grow back. <br /> <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4q_um3FkzNvg4vximorNEIigEDdAreJcDtBeAKxOwsm8uUvnC8EHQcKn2kH8Bz623OTcFPZrzZTH02KIbl0IzSsB0CPQ_o8mKae_h_17QS1p18mvwEWB68aNiTMA4aeNbrEno_7AfaSDW/s1600/1evieowie3.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 295px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4q_um3FkzNvg4vximorNEIigEDdAreJcDtBeAKxOwsm8uUvnC8EHQcKn2kH8Bz623OTcFPZrzZTH02KIbl0IzSsB0CPQ_o8mKae_h_17QS1p18mvwEWB68aNiTMA4aeNbrEno_7AfaSDW/s400/1evieowie3.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480236923136399506" /></a><br /><div align="center">Very excited about her cool bandage.<br /><br />(Funny for the Naughty Files: <br />In the morning, she was so excited to show off to her baby sister.<br /><br />"Cupcake! Look! This is my owie! <br />The doctor did a surgery <br />and it really dammit hurt!")</div>Hauswifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04184102377607825756noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7444695365349176852.post-53730023706895660642010-06-05T18:05:00.000-07:002010-06-05T18:19:26.500-07:00Cupcake's New Braids<div align="center">WELCOME to the scary hair experiment!</div><br /><br />Being a novice at styling my precious little Cupcake's hair, I thought I'd try a fairly complicated, huge-time-investment, but potentially long-lasting hairstyle that very well may end in disaster! I'm wild that way.<br /><br />Anyway, you mamas of African babes can commiserate with me about how high maintainance our sweeties' beautiful hair can be. Cupcake's is fine and soft (versus thick and coarse), so intricate hairstyles are a little frustrating because they just don't last very long.<br /><br /><div align="center">Enter the BRAIDS or DREADS idea.</div><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwKmSVOhnDnqSpqEqTSCJZakkHzajeMlo-N-gL8aG99QCJwfuVOuWwRdhbrYQ0JclicU5boN44AI2bdqsWhA94R6UTaI84nhZjPA3LbNGQ0umKoo1xFBPZbF8spPjO7ZWwyKmMaMLahNSO/s1600/a-bright-idea.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwKmSVOhnDnqSpqEqTSCJZakkHzajeMlo-N-gL8aG99QCJwfuVOuWwRdhbrYQ0JclicU5boN44AI2bdqsWhA94R6UTaI84nhZjPA3LbNGQ0umKoo1xFBPZbF8spPjO7ZWwyKmMaMLahNSO/s400/a-bright-idea.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5479454634001537634" /></a><br /><br />Since I'm a closet OCD, A-type personality, I then spent hours on the internet researching as well as asking tons of detailed questions of whomever would give me the time of day. Some people were afraid of the white lady wanting to touch and inspect their beautiful cornrows, dreads, or braids and would scamper away. But I run fast and I'm not afraid of tackling.<br /><br />I foolishly thought that I could complete the entire thing in one sitting, but after 3 hours on Day One and only barely half-way done, my hands begged for mercy. And Cupcake was completely over being duct taped to her toddler chair, too.<br /><br />On Day Two, I braided another few inches before calling it quits. That's when I realized that I should've been taking pictures. Duh!<br /><br />OK, so we're starting quite a ways in, but don't worry, you'll catch up quickly. You're a fast learner.<br /><br />Remember to always start with cleany-clean hair (Über important!) that's been conditioned well and picked out. <br /><br /><iframe style="WIDTH: 120px; HEIGHT: 240px" marginheight="0" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=afmamh0a-20&o=1&p=8&l=as1&asins=B000XLR2X4&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" frameborder="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no"></iframe><br /><br /><iframe style="WIDTH: 120px; HEIGHT: 240px" marginheight="0" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=afmamh0a-20&o=1&p=8&l=as1&asins=B003IIQUEG&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" frameborder="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no"></iframe><br /><br />Here's a "Before" pic from the church picnic. (Terrible photo, but she's adorable anyway.)<br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5478968214872079010" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ7oN_ULVNansHe5YZC7wn8MjU9gMa76-kYdSw9fQIh4ptCntbGdLwo2k2HlAk8DH6gVfMK8do8-CET-PNZPh6hHa5bzqFbMyp4QLuQcDYvI1kidEgRHd7k2KvS5TcMTaTZ78AjZxmRyDl/s400/RR+fro.jpg" /><br /><br />Cupcake is so cute. She loves her hair and will occasionally pass by a mirror, appreciate her beauty, and say to herself,<br /><br /><div align="center">"I'm wockin' da fwo!"<br />Translation: "I'm rockin' the 'fro!"</div><br /><br />So, here are pictures starting on our final day (PraiseGodAlmighty!) of braiding.<br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5478968221622820402" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJZ6ju65lHREK8xEeZUCZm6yadmTvp_XAXHrF__L1-mH7P14ayGD8lJFYPw6eYAoCUrWrvQ6Ylw1s7aTE6EU1UQsrYgZWlgm73aP7e5v2ohUMKxa_lXuIM0YmBsADtRIfzRYkRalyp9LRP/s400/RR1.jpg" /><br /><br />This is what I did with the unfinished part until we were done. Ponytail. Twistie curls. Easy peasy.<br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5478968232971574418" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOEOmmKGD-1OCk800BnTrIbFV6Pm0MTuzGx-3TqaYsDoZ3w5gAGtl7i4-szLw551CK3eTnW5pchePINaFOQrEdMWARQAzxQxm8x-o2WOukS0sVdvOxYx5SEfo-_QnHDPizoGhHGFM56e0_/s400/RR2.jpg" /><br /><br />This is the product I used. I highly recommend that you use a really good hair product, especially when you're doing a detailed hairstyle. It'll make the finished style look way better and it'll last a lot longer. Plus, Loc Butter smells awesome!<br /><br /><iframe style="WIDTH: 120px; HEIGHT: 240px" marginheight="0" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=afmamh0a-20&o=1&p=8&l=as1&asins=B000OUJ04S&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" frameborder="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no"></iframe><br /><br />Step 1: Part the hair down the middle front to back. Straight parts are a must. (Read: Do what I say and not what I do. I actually have Straight Part Inability Disorder, SPID for short.)<br /><br />Step 2: Part a row to braid and clip back the rest. These rows are about 1/2 inch wide.<br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5478968243945819106" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiamz-3MsQchGCDGdZlSG3tTldVCvacUpGOEBZPwgTR1dREqfligxxBUglEK78l2NlT8FS9e05mUjJGFYBI3ux0rklMee6odXaB2qecQ2D5eiAevSKsqUci7YCeBfYx13RyaVWjSGhR_lp/s400/RR3.jpg" /><br /><br />Step 3: Separate a section in your row. Again, I'd mention the importance of straight parts here, but you know the drill. Use a dab of the Loc Butter and braid away.<br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5479424536997733810" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWlGnxKWNhlLIoWuOGmW4caao0iQj7IOhIhXTknpSYqbBas2AMB8LGS1OmmDgtr_oG28x95oN-VTn46eDj2fqZQRvb8O-fgUAxnvBRjLG8SeOVecJvOW8knRXe8I9VWcagqu4bUnu4K8EL/s400/RR4.jpg" /><br /><br />At the end of each braid, twist a little curlie cue just because they're sweet.<br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5479424554616276626" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikrXW7vcaYzt0uzATnZ5wcI30ktKjzOPZiwOaYd3Zyojn6E77beBTQmX40ZJgLsqOkBcZF-VM_AC6ob9Wu1SmnM08SmeM2rM7zySVu-hPXSyJ5I5SaD6mZN79La8mrfk1yWscbsym8ubpb/s400/RR5.jpg" /><br /><br />Step 4: Repeat until you want to impale yourself.<br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5479425645474625298" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7WRgVR1WsZz8X_h6ptMVs0w3lWzWIK-fzI1uHUHkh9emSo0Z-OP5YK50zHeCzmSf9nFa1wRmn5HGwnT0wN6j3iyiOE2yY6EBb9BAvM8MoiCz_TmU_1VdHjpeJii-U4y3-O_ddBlYJ-nmW/s400/RR6.jpg" /><br /><br />Step 5: Resist the urge to just shave the rest of your munchkin's head when your hands start to cramp up into claws. Remember the stylist who told you she would only charge $350 and pat (as well as you can) yourself on the back for choosing the Do It Yourself Method. <br /><br />*Tip: Do NOT consume alcohol at any point during the hair styling process. Stay strong.<br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5479425675950756722" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3vfcecaTs5NY8Ac0dKnuIGwVFQYOLs8B0GLhQQ1-AN0sNAMrKyFwRLjK9cT5szBtwyvGVtdCHlMFt3Wx0RBve1V0gwl6cAKY06L959PEwHdnfWrMAGjL79ofyOFWss42yhdeSdoSqhVlZ/s400/RR7.jpg" /><br /><br />Step 6: Gather up into cutie patootie ponytails. Let your little one basque in the beauty!<br /> <br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5479425683583459218" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYpHXLfW5HbS48nJ7i6QYuRwhB3jFxjozoFsk3cZuZnaJE2USWHqmUT-AaxXAxvP4rJBB2-gNfPEnH9RsvXZETLL61HTytginfq89ZCx8lzuvappvJI1-f9IFPIh5c-PBOprz6HziDi7xl/s400/RR8.jpg" /><br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5479428742762546802" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvB_yX7irqD-ZiohyBtzZ6qYoSNcOHk9AA1xzYYlFZqtpTWkaSRGj6-ustVmYRRiXKVSxxZltiUGSxcmao5rmh4i7YrXmHKxDFK30lmciXHfcCC1VaMmostgVii9LeABDTmUXAIn-1np5r/s400/RR9.jpg" /><br /><br />New morning hair routine: Spritz heavily with leave in conditioner. Scoop up about a quarter-sized amount of coconut oil (organic, unrefined, unbleached, un-everything) and run it over every strand and her scalp. Ponytails. Done. 3 minutes tops.<br /><br /><iframe style="WIDTH: 120px; HEIGHT: 240px" marginheight="0" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=afmamh0a-20&o=1&p=8&l=as1&asins=B000PI4J3G&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" frameborder="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no"></iframe><br /><br />Style time: 9 1/2 hours over 3 days and nary a cuss word was uttered. <br /><br />I'll let you know how it fares.<br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5479428747408259074" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcK5wUxZOna-73HUsXhu4EuMcx7PNK5zL4E1JyStne68iM2ohLUBcuj_DbRIwfTgLxEWK9QZR9lETieZwne4km1bA9shvdhKJ5uqAKxOYwIxQ9r0fMIWm_iYrJHzPatQC1XJkcUJhQFehp/s400/RR10.jpg" /><br /><br />Is she killer cute, or what?!Hauswifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04184102377607825756noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7444695365349176852.post-31826426065641069682010-06-05T15:25:00.000-07:002010-06-05T15:28:37.436-07:00Cupcake's Twisties Hairstyle<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpzoLOKE3wuFSsk9mKoy9Cthh3l7v-ABDjJ9lXuApPA4sn95b8v5e6GeQyRmSlunUV-WV0M0q4ljO26oNZWrAVWJkoENBB1pdTZuAOXgJVCiaIrtegHy0viOvpeGxSSKVTe-zw2Pb2i53D/s1600/RRtwisties11.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpzoLOKE3wuFSsk9mKoy9Cthh3l7v-ABDjJ9lXuApPA4sn95b8v5e6GeQyRmSlunUV-WV0M0q4ljO26oNZWrAVWJkoENBB1pdTZuAOXgJVCiaIrtegHy0viOvpeGxSSKVTe-zw2Pb2i53D/s400/RRtwisties11.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5478966728082273986" /></a><br /><br />*As always, start with clean, well-conditioned hair. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo7eJq2Iz4qzx6sL_gZdb7d_YzLrz-ZDSV5L6D2w5BmBY5qrSQRi_MmVTY9t_TeD6wfzRXf0oX-_MQn0ZgyuoiztLJ1aL3bVLvuFu3maDVSdSFAVOsfpZfgavOIloS9P_hx-VqcZ_vc0xY/s1600/RRtwisties10.bmp"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo7eJq2Iz4qzx6sL_gZdb7d_YzLrz-ZDSV5L6D2w5BmBY5qrSQRi_MmVTY9t_TeD6wfzRXf0oX-_MQn0ZgyuoiztLJ1aL3bVLvuFu3maDVSdSFAVOsfpZfgavOIloS9P_hx-VqcZ_vc0xY/s400/RRtwisties10.bmp" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5478966642275551762" /></a><br /><br />Step 1: Part the hair and pony tail. OK, don't flip out. You can do this... Start by dividing the hair into three sections from side to side. Then divide each of those sections into five (or more if you're really brave) sections from front to back. Ponytail as you go using a little Carol's Daughter Hair Milk or Loc Butter in each section.<br /><br /><iframe src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=afmamh0a-20&o=1&p=8&l=as1&asins=B000V1YEI2&fc1=000000&IS2=1<1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="width:120px;height:240px;" scrolling="no" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" frameborder="0"></iframe><br /><iframe src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=afmamh0a-20&o=1&p=8&l=as1&asins=B000OUJ04S&fc1=000000&IS2=1<1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="width:120px;height:240px;" scrolling="no" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" frameborder="0"></iframe><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYWkLjKjXvXdjm-ebFuhbyWKw7brCA3vJCcJ-chbVrqRxvdhmpNcQG_8ux0UUL9mSv04guHpbUDDnrONzGQNXaDuZDSoKHjqhDZQpDHCZan9joQ8O5zpwfpGppOhK-Q6T0Bmg6fqFmvx4I/s1600/RRtwisties9.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYWkLjKjXvXdjm-ebFuhbyWKw7brCA3vJCcJ-chbVrqRxvdhmpNcQG_8ux0UUL9mSv04guHpbUDDnrONzGQNXaDuZDSoKHjqhDZQpDHCZan9joQ8O5zpwfpGppOhK-Q6T0Bmg6fqFmvx4I/s400/RRtwisties9.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5478966636117146178" /></a><br /><br />Step 2: Starting on one side, twist the back section and the front section and band together at the middle section. Repeat on the two outside sections on each side, but not the very middle section.<br /><br />*Twists are made by separating a pony into two parts, twisting both hair sections in one direction (let's just say right), and then wrapping the opposite direction (left) to make a rope. Did I explain that well? Where's a web cam when you need one?<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjosBFDe2epsakUG8GqPmUnVFEFRAwSD9uqtPdRZJBWcwynLTaY3gXhNGMhfQz3nOacVfUyfxbxHKKqREF8wb0xas-4JTDD6F77Y9Hqd6Tq_6sFyIW33p6Aqn3XjcyTqpaxNUecpZmQILI6/s1600/RRtwisties7.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjosBFDe2epsakUG8GqPmUnVFEFRAwSD9uqtPdRZJBWcwynLTaY3gXhNGMhfQz3nOacVfUyfxbxHKKqREF8wb0xas-4JTDD6F77Y9Hqd6Tq_6sFyIW33p6Aqn3XjcyTqpaxNUecpZmQILI6/s400/RRtwisties7.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5478966626790197954" /></a><br /><br />You should now have two ponytails on each side of the head (ignoring the middle row) that are gathered at the middle section. If you're confused, join the club... I mean, you're welcome to email me and I'll try to walk you through it. <br /><br />Step 3: Comb out the outside two ponytails (the ones by the ears) thoroughly and then twist each and band together with the next one in.<br /><br />Are you following?<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5LDDUn9LbwT7tq7wzhX2xhyuoSgQXgwE0kw8e1N4nwmgZsDd-XJY0-oWCyrbC3-VSGEqVyBr_w35wL1XwPjmNW38VnpIIFsdGaJgEZwE2_7izUrQZTfAkQXbRNQhcClElhjUw4wLZshnK/s1600/RRtwisties6.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5LDDUn9LbwT7tq7wzhX2xhyuoSgQXgwE0kw8e1N4nwmgZsDd-XJY0-oWCyrbC3-VSGEqVyBr_w35wL1XwPjmNW38VnpIIFsdGaJgEZwE2_7izUrQZTfAkQXbRNQhcClElhjUw4wLZshnK/s400/RRtwisties6.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5478966617761520674" /></a><br /><br />Step 4: Comb those ponytails out thoroughly and twist each.<br /><br />You should now have five ponytails. Four making a diamond around the one in the dead center.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7vD7OEH4oDMq4j62ub4oHoMDDyhfPkFYnezZOhPs9RZ4tainU6AaxKBdyd9BPSWWOd6dUyW94n0c2I7u4MNNhvPGEMmGvdTGliH-sNzLXisG5-HGa5I5B1Wu6rfgYv4cdJQ6RDtiSl3g9/s1600/RRtwisties8.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7vD7OEH4oDMq4j62ub4oHoMDDyhfPkFYnezZOhPs9RZ4tainU6AaxKBdyd9BPSWWOd6dUyW94n0c2I7u4MNNhvPGEMmGvdTGliH-sNzLXisG5-HGa5I5B1Wu6rfgYv4cdJQ6RDtiSl3g9/s400/RRtwisties8.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5478966627123739954" /></a><br /><br />Step 5: Gather all four twists to the center and comb out the final ponytail thoroughly. Hang in there. You're almost done. Put on another <a href="http://www.charlieandlola.com/">Charlie & Lola</a> episode and you'll be home free!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1TsiF7N2BXx_ykzjTTyAPvhZDi9J1BIV9SBow9ePvgL0TNgQhnrnSl2cq-ZfiFTfYhlZePrHfpn3t37jCtIDIXLqe3RK6etU4gOne6e0Iudlm2awepE0oaShoF29J3vE_F-uLCAaqQgpV/s1600/RRtwisties5.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1TsiF7N2BXx_ykzjTTyAPvhZDi9J1BIV9SBow9ePvgL0TNgQhnrnSl2cq-ZfiFTfYhlZePrHfpn3t37jCtIDIXLqe3RK6etU4gOne6e0Iudlm2awepE0oaShoF29J3vE_F-uLCAaqQgpV/s400/RRtwisties5.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5478966179566512674" /></a><br /><br />Step 6: Curlie cue tiny little sections (with a dab of Hair Milk on each) to make a cute little ribbon pile of hair on top!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp4owRy7FQ9Cc3HnkjmzTZLHiblyf5dHnxNoIdpBNI22T6lOA3w1Heu0vOP6O2BofQ5fJrmoLfLMlamQpEgmwuW9bNklB2XIhGv3QgZeo4p2MGEKe-DGH0J_lBrgsHGjgXC2yxQA6XSYCN/s1600/RRtwisties4.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp4owRy7FQ9Cc3HnkjmzTZLHiblyf5dHnxNoIdpBNI22T6lOA3w1Heu0vOP6O2BofQ5fJrmoLfLMlamQpEgmwuW9bNklB2XIhGv3QgZeo4p2MGEKe-DGH0J_lBrgsHGjgXC2yxQA6XSYCN/s400/RRtwisties4.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5478966174128202306" /></a><br /><br />And SHAZAM! There you have it!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBunHDpxVlJrbc1JKH8KPz583HkcQlp4un7j9JPrJyKACsgUKfBFrzzvCWwfm9ZePiVgROywWCMSiu2_FlTBJkXGJ28zAhWUjYdVLg9zpY5Vj2gzY2_Gng3b-SsU6yvkTKq9tLnrmJKn9Y/s1600/RRtwisties3.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBunHDpxVlJrbc1JKH8KPz583HkcQlp4un7j9JPrJyKACsgUKfBFrzzvCWwfm9ZePiVgROywWCMSiu2_FlTBJkXGJ28zAhWUjYdVLg9zpY5Vj2gzY2_Gng3b-SsU6yvkTKq9tLnrmJKn9Y/s400/RRtwisties3.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5478966167194511618" /></a><br /><br />This style lasted on Cupcake for about 2 weeks.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiqdKUmhfl82pDGj0s-apjicIBDXgFu7bFVGe00csSfYkszTipiALay2ms0ewd_DEkNFYRRAp5TUpHIawVgw7KUu8yvFazWSX2sYJ6jSD9wzpOdlLJ8dvkCEl9p8hwa_fOb2LL1K87Gylh/s1600/RRtwisties2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiqdKUmhfl82pDGj0s-apjicIBDXgFu7bFVGe00csSfYkszTipiALay2ms0ewd_DEkNFYRRAp5TUpHIawVgw7KUu8yvFazWSX2sYJ6jSD9wzpOdlLJ8dvkCEl9p8hwa_fOb2LL1K87Gylh/s400/RRtwisties2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5478966163423189474" /></a><br /><br />And, personally, it's one of my favorites! (And so is my Cupcake!)<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQTGAj8f5B5HflH-ucLlIktcGDwWJ7WJCFioYI5XYjXrt7ChHLqA0IxwbnQqK8n0bG5L_Habdmxtcq6oLoT3hSFAeh60TQX-C7rA44XOQbzensXvejeXh2ZaHMCcFjDcv1VN6pO5nkhn_h/s1600/RRtwisties1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQTGAj8f5B5HflH-ucLlIktcGDwWJ7WJCFioYI5XYjXrt7ChHLqA0IxwbnQqK8n0bG5L_Habdmxtcq6oLoT3hSFAeh60TQX-C7rA44XOQbzensXvejeXh2ZaHMCcFjDcv1VN6pO5nkhn_h/s400/RRtwisties1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5478966157933948946" /></a><br /><br />Style time: 1 hourHauswifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04184102377607825756noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7444695365349176852.post-70920232979772628792010-06-05T15:15:00.000-07:002010-06-05T15:19:39.071-07:00Hairstyle IdeasFirst, keep in mind that I'm learning how to care for and style my Cupcake's hair purely by trial and error. <br /><br />Second, a couple of product recommendations: <br /><br />Carol's Daughter Hair Milk is very moisturizing, works great and smells even better. The only caveat is you've got to be careful not to use too much or you'll have a goopy mess on your hands!<br /><br /><iframe src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=afmamh0a-20&o=1&p=8&l=as1&asins=B000V1YEI2&fc1=000000&IS2=1<1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="width:120px;height:240px;" scrolling="no" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" frameborder="0"></iframe><br /><br />Style #1 is pretty easy... I wish I could get those parts even and razor-sharp! If anyone has a trick or suggestion, please fill me in! <br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 266px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5478957970035531298" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB67f0118Ea9YBgJBxjQyGyqIESOcqnMngBiokJaHK3IBUOo1otx8BaNYqCy4Uh0Sj4okq71z6B70BhFPyJSZWNPLIBHQDmp1miaZF1R31gZg1XQILNHJimAJKaRw6TUs__M4hUUWVech0/s400/RRhair1.bmp" /><br /><br />*Always start with clean hair. Wash thoroughly. Leave conditioner on for 5-10 minutes and rinse. Cupcake loves wearing a cute shower cap. <br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 333px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5479393918899598882" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeOdJIaELIp56zS1b-cceigcbkfaFH6X68I5W-15mVvnRLpHhsPJvecAEuuXrKomHQIbTLRCsDeoZufe9ePKVbvUc7BlFpXmvxH4pEIK6t9jz6EPD_59mn1LevpxpBlxDWOX4JCkO88K9F/s400/Showercaps.jpg" /><br /><br />How cute are these? <a href="http://www.shinyshack.com/category.php?catid=167&cn=Shower-Caps">Shiny Shack </a>carries them.<br /><br />I love Carol's Daughter products. We just got CD's "A Magical Beauty" hair set. How adorable is that?<br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 257px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5479392080120169330" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQdLGwVTHnSlZVeNvWHcOBWuW5FJFiLPOwNDq-mzW5Hp4ElrqW6SZuDeJd5TasZz4utJrWeAtHOerc7JgY1YHfBYJWK8ejqwtCziExn88mo_bPtcRQ0_Q9Jq1ZkOc5QzfEs6YS2vqDv6x8/s400/carols-daughter-magical-beauty-collection-300x257.jpg" /><br /><br />Step 1: Part the hair into equal sections and ponytail. You can do it. Just think "pie". Then, flip each ponytail inside out (separate in the middle and tuck the hair through) so that the braids lay down flat. (You can skip the flip - That should be a rap song! - if you put a few cute beads on the end of each braid.)<br /><br />Step 2: Braid each pony and then twist the end. Voila! Easy peasy!<br /><br />Cupcake wore this style for about 2 weeks. I think for little ones with coarser and thicker hair it would last even longer.<br /><br />Styling time: Approx. 40 minutes, but I work slowly. <br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5478957972847286578" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHAbIO_k9qJ1_vy0OP_NKslovsagaaQ7B93nqoplgz2AxK_SUZlCPboYjOotKoChXij_jZNilcxuHo8L3GClGa6oAbyjvc7Az52OwrActw8OLzDEn0pdARRsCYN35i04Q1QJPdZZXcJ_9G/s400/RRhair2.jpg" /><br /><br /><br />Style #2 is much easier than it looks.<br /><br />*Again, always start with squeeky clean, well conditioned hair. I always style Cupcake's hair when it's wet partly because it's easier and looks smoother and partly because of my rebellious nature. :)<br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 266px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5478957980610009602" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIbVaOONQ1mCoTEMGXs0eSoQ1SKuevZ9kd_rDWTFGWUpbod7h5Adica2rfxB5-Re69OfGveY-4YufjikGPXj0rS7o1H1OsAOMutoBukv9hmnlcVqQYX2sjc2AaIKMuW6Uo03gbOpuk-Pps/s400/RRhair3.bmp" /><br /><br />Step 1: Part the hair. Start by dividing down the middle from ear to ear. Then part each half into five (or more if you have the chutzpah for it!) sections front to back. Ponytail each section. Add Hair Milk as you go so everything stays silky smoothe.<br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5478957988298964002" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilIluaDBr1A7O5YsXgUogqgY5GbsGgGkxjdq2tyW0s4yqCtJmx0IvfQsEMDuU9vuTehiZHRJHS84w91cG7MnQhfqB7rJWxo7XvA4qwt7THYDzW0vp2iureVl5gFUnmxTpB_zKcaBU2zMuk/s400/RRhair4.jpg" /><br /><br />Step 2: Starting at the front from one side gather one ponytail to the next and band together. Repeat until you have one large ponytail at the other side of the head.<br /><br />You can also braid or twist each section to the next, comb out thoroughly and then repeat. The hairstyle lasts a lot longer that way.<br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 266px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5478957995948668578" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBvNyJIM-EPaMsm9GSDfwtTKwgqzBhV5s66RfLXbKVLr2ZCQkHASEXCast0Eb8Fg9ko4SWolw6Xj-QwBJkjaIYbKrz8KHvYLbdqNRs3iFJ3jzcj7wtaj1gCCDYiL37ms-XhndkXQSIml2c/s400/RRhair5.bmp" /><br /><br />Step 3: Repeat in reverse on the back side.<br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 266px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5478958666635210082" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJFsyWNez9m6IUYTXM0oESPpuvmatcinkEUBE9c_R3mwUfr2lmHRaQ-s18mJwwqxgLt0ChIQA7vwX5tScCmyArUVOz6tovbV1TffGB0scaK1QipyauhlnU3txsWCUELIl01nNN2TRSyGMS/s400/RRhair6.jpg" /><br /><br />Step 4: Braid or twist the last section and end with a little curlie cue.<br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 266px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5478958668573233106" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuV1GXH5m2gUsOWsWhT9YUqGHLdRiQiltIKCUL2DJY_9MXmrBj8ZLUIYIzqEvRASHHnTfplghX82dLuIjLYfxSvRqmLRfWlFxvCkcOamEuPh8Jwr2JlRtNNl3abdi8hwNstMR9gUQd47t2/s400/RRhair7.jpg" /> <br /><br />Ta da! Presto Cutie-o!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIMaeVVwThE2fqOJl3fO9a6nXGSR-xKtkW0811sC5sbJwxTlSMODtpQ8AHb4r5Yp4Ci0ZzEaw37W27YvurMvtSJZ-6wPQwR8sfGCuiHb1fVHnCbpgyvs98NL1E7L8skI7CPCeuupbHxKgz/s1600/RRhair8.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5478958673126926610" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIMaeVVwThE2fqOJl3fO9a6nXGSR-xKtkW0811sC5sbJwxTlSMODtpQ8AHb4r5Yp4Ci0ZzEaw37W27YvurMvtSJZ-6wPQwR8sfGCuiHb1fVHnCbpgyvs98NL1E7L8skI7CPCeuupbHxKgz/s400/RRhair8.jpg" /></a><br /><br />And, a big THANK YOU to our hair model, Cupcake! Isn't she a sweetie?<br /><br />Style time: Approx. 30 minutesHauswifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04184102377607825756noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7444695365349176852.post-23979739685200478172010-06-03T05:00:00.000-07:002010-06-03T05:00:05.220-07:00An Oldie But Goodie... Vanidad Goeth Before La CaídaJust for laughs... here's a rerun of a funny that happened last year.<br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 380px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5478425540659892226" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqD_7-4giGNZKs4wbSo9ltgobRaxWu37FOE7vVmP7JDIHJebqrSo-CgOE2aUNbENU1vZ5bZHSNqpDARHNBsNPdRbgbDJaCIO03BebasBYrMvQLnba8vsq4c1-OtnLzCJnB3kGl6oFTm5DY/s400/cancun_016p.jpg" /><br /><br />Out to dinner in Cancún with my muchacho caliente, our waiter shyly asked me <img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 276px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5478426884192376642" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz6j35a4BWWghOtglwhmFPRBUfgU7jra3KsUytZRLO6IrExcOpaf8d_2DdLP029ZIcbJgc9xHcDviCQ_bzk2fvAaR_2bihYq-mnA1288JIifGRPakVVJQjWyUPGrqiILdbikeYwX94BBoI/s400/waiter.jpg" /><br /><br />"Are you a model?"<br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 265px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5478425553726632802" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4XqCZSqWEZWQMckl8YTF9zgagB6sSnwSqZ_bJVTmdwEypw0KVCv4YdSQej6bWRI6-3RXNXiGTBIOzFvaD6NlTxGjBiaGSIkuZKg-tL_3EKoJVonogxZ1Ry90ukdGOA6aCjUJGL9sGoZTS/s400/model.jpg" /><br /><br />which put a little blush on my cheeks and some wind in my sails...<br /><br />"Oh no, no, no... Gracias, señor!"<br /><br />Then he put his hands out in the "I once caught a fish this big" position about nine inches on either side of his hips<br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 290px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5478426878881607794" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj-X2aowBwnbAPuzrqZdB3wLM2tSkxSJshLQYhQRQOXYgm85G5_mJNMjegTaqUGVUyT0fxCy4F9pc3JkTBWmFBjWGJy2bcj7nCvkzgFcm76hLqVE0RAAd9SG0P6jLis56vsgeyeKXeGrgS/s400/ioncecaughtafish.jpg" /><br /><br />and asked...<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />"Plus size?"<br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 302px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 397px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5478425554500049186" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWRx21evlRbPsvVgyLsapg2oRDAeFTSsdsnAr1uYTtjZHj3KBapKpDWmQKHcM1fyDrjvmBKVpB7GatlB5X3_YOIlYP4txEsFF6v3VI_plDcpC264NUwaiLb3HyBD5ICIRmRFEkS_sxTYdy/s400/shock.jpg" /><br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 254px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5478425545112700514" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-r3hvYnK85wNTtUd_626R4uNHf-4vfRIWuBqBuWu0lfQlIMqD4UnqeGg86kjeWVXVqPCfeCkLb-x4jlomUqZrBmhOu_LFiubUhWtiueXXGwUNH9MSsP057p2OhKySgA-huDoSThBDcBjl/s400/crying.jpg" /><br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 265px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5478426888803835602" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiDRhevln32bpENrVddNHrskOl29LGgSYVsLnY-1bOWIIrudXanNUVA4LWfrjIqjDMj1PRNP712ow_UTj7kxmABHFWXTWP_LVdrVt_J2xcotORtah3s4W-LQG3KL8kR1sW1nzs-TkekV33/s400/waiter2.jpg" /><br /><br />I didn't cry. Although it would have been awesome to make a huge scene bursting into tears and running out of the restaurant just for fun...<br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 284px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5478427629558879202" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHEBbdRbh6bxCLTa7X86fATxWBqVHTKc7qu9vrPkIaMIz8P4U2-IFsY3FS0h9mX9r6eL8JLgFo2ztVd5DLWKLNQNI6DnOXDzZswIyxNOox3EIG0Qi3b77NQy2Ysk4vuwaKzlK2GM-sHIVa/s400/mexicohat.jpg" /><br /><br />Seriously, though,<br /><br />I'm boycotting that whole country now.<br /><br />Forever.<br /><br />That'll show 'im.Hauswifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04184102377607825756noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7444695365349176852.post-32647276431792823642010-06-01T16:00:00.000-07:002010-06-02T23:36:33.232-07:00The BrideThere's been a lot of discussion lately about whether or not ditching Church in favor of an "It's Just Me And God" philosophy is really the wisest thing.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.vineyardusa.org/site/about/people/lance-pittluck">Pastor Lance Pittluck</a> proposed that all the people he knew who got burned or burnt out and left Church all-together (not joined another fellowship of believers) and chose to work out their faith alone, pretty soon found themselves fading out of relationship with Christ Jesus entirely. Have you known people who walked away from the Church? What happened to them? What was their life like 10 years later?<br /><br />Pastor Ray Hollenbach opened up a discussion about the same issue on his excellent blog, <a href="http://takingtheyoke.blogspot.com/">Students of Jesus</a>.<br /><br />And, truthfully, that kind of talk really bakes my noodle, because here's the thing.<br /><br /><div align="center">The Bride is kind of a... you know what!</div><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 265px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477882426747259106" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxGWTaglFVyEZmdOBs1Zww2CfACvH03ZnjOGAP05zkeWy5WggXHcfLaiS6MJJw7Gf3kn-tkuw6SvTYSjTmcDRbLWSkRu7XqM2jKPdT7i4HNdkjvY7Z0-sdvrqTwjYaq7EIcNyBp9iSij4u/s400/bride2.jpg" /><br /><br />OK, I know I'm not supposed to say that, but it's true.<br /><br />I've never known meaner, more horrible, more despicably cruel people than the lovely Bride of Christ. Have you? Maybe it's just me and a few friends who've shared their experiences, but those emotional and spiritual scars many of us have from head to toe... They're from the razor-sharp talons and scorching tongues of various members of that resplendent Bride. Devastating relationship explosions, betrayals, back-stabbings, slanderous gossip, intentional injuring, etc... Guess who's usually at the epicenter of such disasters?<br /><br />You got it! Christians!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHhMZAPXh0NFlfBQMdlJsmBjdLBWaCI_scHAKdaOsIpe0ZAe-4QqlkjgSac2jXEbP0wxygvcq-05KfiV9Y3nAyvUKcN0MCiWxABhSYaTahnVshqLRnPjGJgD_e90pyiSxWLh46ljdHdHdN/s1600/stickouttongue.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 298px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477888079072113906" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHhMZAPXh0NFlfBQMdlJsmBjdLBWaCI_scHAKdaOsIpe0ZAe-4QqlkjgSac2jXEbP0wxygvcq-05KfiV9Y3nAyvUKcN0MCiWxABhSYaTahnVshqLRnPjGJgD_e90pyiSxWLh46ljdHdHdN/s400/stickouttongue.jpg" /></a><br /><br />I bet you know what I'm talking about. And, it's safe to say that you've likely been through it a time or two as well.<br /><br />Christians are rotten. Seriously, they're a horrible group of people. They make up their own rules and call it "righteousness", they condescend, lie, manipulate, condemn, form cliques, reject, cheat, steal, seek glory and fame for themselves, are full of pride, and all the while twisting Scripture to justify their actions. They use the Bible as a weapon of mass destruction. Christians shred the whoowee out of others. They're just plain mean.<br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477877931939016658" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimE2OiijLfe45-pfD-a2LbDitBdgiTyffeuxijpoS_HMfrMuH_Uk4o1JtGY5CHgM-kUuxioJmIoL6CcgqxkCXf7IeX0gBTzS58IPtJpQpeEQGU1set-ROGg7fcKnlTWEe7pHx2aMPCwrvw/s400/bride.jpg" /><br /><br />What a beauty, huh?<br /><br />Here's what's amazing to me... Jesus loves His Bride. He is deeply passionate about Her.<br /><br />Think about that. It's crazy love. Not convinced? Read Song of Solomon. <br /><br />What's more, we Christians, all of us, not just the viler and meaner ones, are still in process of being shaped and molded to better reflect our Lord. The Bride will not be fully radiant and dazzling until She stands before Him.<br /><br />So, what do we do with the Church until then? What should we do with all Her horrible people, disfunction, abuse, and misrepresentation of God Himself? What should we feel about those wretched, hateful Christians (especially remembering that I am one of them)?<br /><br />I have a sneaking suspicion that it's the hard answer.<br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477883211629760114" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj90Ql41ViUsZkXR8pG2xInopDiPhDbhKG_hj77opRRXVeaMovUUSjF1EzG-IMYoWxkQaufXch-a0x77uBx1b_gYdlKbj89JFIujTfPYIppBQPStJhvn83UuQrpQFFmL73ZC6EsPXsYw-fG/s400/bride3.jpg" /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz2Ekj-x0GkxiNqEkEaracAzVIMKyyu9q0VyepTPgStW8eNjQm82YZZ5YwirBjlXbhNVg_aziloXHGIqxFIfZYu4g4-nfCWeBaoBNyG4hSmGw4veOLL06iAMbg1Xnq0OzP9eCrOQ5yTO9Y/s1600/bride4.jpg"></a><br /><br />I think it might be about forgiveness. Compassion. Love. I think it might be about not giving up on living in relationship and community with other believers even though we are guaranteed to get burned. <br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477887152359582818" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz2Ekj-x0GkxiNqEkEaracAzVIMKyyu9q0VyepTPgStW8eNjQm82YZZ5YwirBjlXbhNVg_aziloXHGIqxFIfZYu4g4-nfCWeBaoBNyG4hSmGw4veOLL06iAMbg1Xnq0OzP9eCrOQ5yTO9Y/s400/bride4.jpg" /><br /><br />What do you think?Hauswifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04184102377607825756noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7444695365349176852.post-18907291200896413412010-06-01T14:45:00.000-07:002010-06-02T23:35:36.903-07:00Smelly Good<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP-LT2i7EQ4WGrAcqELdZOuni5ARP49ITjdnaXxsmXncHv-LX5onyGxboGvWwzeiN3X48pdsekxRl-afTOukOvUaqUZu8p6fQoTdEuZ0O-jn4JTpSpleDW-5cynIqOiDlvBPR4kuALuZHk/s1600/thymes1-lh.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 342px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP-LT2i7EQ4WGrAcqELdZOuni5ARP49ITjdnaXxsmXncHv-LX5onyGxboGvWwzeiN3X48pdsekxRl-afTOukOvUaqUZu8p6fQoTdEuZ0O-jn4JTpSpleDW-5cynIqOiDlvBPR4kuALuZHk/s400/thymes1-lh.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477924053284862530" /></a><br /><div align="center">I love being a mother.<br /><br />Sweetpea, "Mama-mama-mama, come smell this. <br />It smells beauuuutiful, <br />like princess baby powder lilac whipped cream perfume!<br />It's your bathroom smelly-good spray that I put on my pillow. <br />Oops! No, don't sniff over there. <br /><br />That's why I needed the smelly-good... <br /><br />'Cause it's actually my barf from yesterday."<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMBp6iSg0Ue01GBFkCwIKyQMP3tII22b5EB7fmooxOSgMDcyE0zIKlEbHPhkW3M91guKTNy-VHjowxity_r5T6cficHIwMtDveFhyrF0zjVMiN3PRpUTtmk1rS0TabvbwOSTbQLr2hEUme/s1600/disgust.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 295px; height: 340px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMBp6iSg0Ue01GBFkCwIKyQMP3tII22b5EB7fmooxOSgMDcyE0zIKlEbHPhkW3M91guKTNy-VHjowxity_r5T6cficHIwMtDveFhyrF0zjVMiN3PRpUTtmk1rS0TabvbwOSTbQLr2hEUme/s400/disgust.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477923323506105250" /></a><br /><br />Awesome.</div><br /><br />(P.S. - I actually use <a href="http://www.thymes.com/">Thymes</a> Eucalyptus. You can get it <a href="http://www.thymes.com/Collection.aspx?nodeid=2001">here</a>. And, it does smell beauuuuutiful!)Hauswifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04184102377607825756noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7444695365349176852.post-42085443233612311822010-05-28T09:11:00.000-07:002010-06-02T23:34:50.873-07:00All The Wrinkled Ladies<object width="580" height="360"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/XaruNs_7okY&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0&color1=0x3a3a3a&color2=0x999999&border=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/XaruNs_7okY&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0&color1=0x3a3a3a&color2=0x999999&border=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="580" height="360"></embed></object>Hauswifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04184102377607825756noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7444695365349176852.post-20373623378119001782010-05-28T07:55:00.000-07:002010-05-28T07:55:13.033-07:00Friday Funny<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipO0zaf_hk8Ev4dHFJLm9XEiI93bl2n4r24HGUjANBpthwxCKd0dgfrsXmpkO5At-OWIJJpAO1h2mkFIzKqxNdA-avDOEwzXYXV1f8yUmkn9pAAVAiJKIbT6HbUyBYUbkyicw_UtBQzxwX/s1600/princess+bootie.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 392px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipO0zaf_hk8Ev4dHFJLm9XEiI93bl2n4r24HGUjANBpthwxCKd0dgfrsXmpkO5At-OWIJJpAO1h2mkFIzKqxNdA-avDOEwzXYXV1f8yUmkn9pAAVAiJKIbT6HbUyBYUbkyicw_UtBQzxwX/s400/princess+bootie.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476169589698743234" /></a><br /><br />Sweetpea's 3 1/2 year old prayer, <br /><br /><div align="center">"Dear God, <br />I love You. <br /><br />Since You are the King, and I am a princess, <br />will You please give me <br /><br /><em>a million sparkling jewels?</em> <br /><br />I don't have any at all right now. <br />Thanks. <br />I love You again. <br />Amen."</div><br /><br />Cupcake, "Dat's a good idea, Sweetpea! Dat would totally WOCK!"<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHBUIdnSrI3UMVoOP2DSF8N3eu0j5d8KWsktJH_JON4NJe730SXCqcr_HHsu_ZUmV3MgykTz9sjYAaFL8-6rVypl3OdDPqFIxvvuBm-FToXPZrFDDkygnpOZxYJ6hids_FsNc5e4n72xFj/s1600/jewels.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 296px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHBUIdnSrI3UMVoOP2DSF8N3eu0j5d8KWsktJH_JON4NJe730SXCqcr_HHsu_ZUmV3MgykTz9sjYAaFL8-6rVypl3OdDPqFIxvvuBm-FToXPZrFDDkygnpOZxYJ6hids_FsNc5e4n72xFj/s400/jewels.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476167229633714850" /></a><br /><br /><div align="center"><em>"See what kind of love the Father has given to us, <br />that we should be called <br />children of God; <br />and so we are." ~1 John 3:1a</em></div>Hauswifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04184102377607825756noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7444695365349176852.post-49382652610935098392010-05-25T14:10:00.000-07:002010-05-25T14:24:35.814-07:00One Fleshedness... Not For The Faint of Heart<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475294487750389746" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNJbvixpD1NXfSqF5r0CBAnu02S2Y9qVdZpF4OSngWWLqODsRNduDRhE2Ntfjx-ru8ZvfcDCByV4Gxfb5Tn5nXnah2nuM973FujGS5493xF_c9fYSkDG7kCCfElMw4T1XeKIUC4O_N5rJL/s400/wedding+hands.jpg" /><br /><br />Haus and I were out in the desert last weekend with family for our cousin's wedding.<br /><br />It was so beautiful! The bride and groom were absolutely stunning, especially set against the dramatic backdrop of the lush palm trees and fierce desert mountains. Their joy was just as breathtaking.<br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475239605421265538" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgejt1thQcnW8p1_UU_ltqUmlxGJT3OaL6pAZrISTERVZBPBZOCDlyzvygO_UIVhOaqJMCCY5tNKynRVGJJw_iYfWLfjb_0rHMx8BovDV-0X9kIs_rzuNU0OM2DmxHQpHTHoVRqUae9_OM5/s400/Erin+Don.jpg" /><br /><br />Family and friends looked on with emotion and smiles. The vows. The kiss. The dance. Tender words and tears. Funny toasts. Memories. Laughter. Love.<br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475246067680448914" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix08dc_pGOdQuBXS4a3r5EWiS-EJiCg-UhqJh1BfxuXFYbiDWLSTgEKEauSohXPyXlo6mCVT5wHeST0emoH5Vyof6q4IC6IPW1rjvGRRkQzPRrubQv19Mn3qtiYCu3SJVF8eq7lfsCFDys/s400/IMG_9817.jpg" /><br /><div align="center">Mother, Auntie Jean, Grams, Papa, Poppy, and Uncle Don</div><br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 254px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475246083413399090" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8w8DOO2axgLrTWaYuisOVOXyVg6xyrkH_vHxC0gwuDyTTmBeaZ9BUXtLQIpeL6QfjZZIk_yR1lY2J0qEdRqyRGw8sPiSpLf31YxK8aCu02cGonpddlPk7MaBMpn0sAf8wYhtoeoEyWWEG/s400/IMG_9851.jpg" /><br /><div align="center">Me with cousins Candy and Coco</div><br /><br />It was a time of rejoicing for this lovely couple who left behind their singleness to become "one flesh".<br /><br />Isn't one-fleshedness such a strange and wonderful thing? Marriage, the reflection of Christ and the Church, is both infused with beauty and fraught with pain. <br /><br />The friendship, togetherness, shared laughter, tears, silliness, inside jokes, creeping separateness, misunderstandings, disagreements, hurt, blaming, forgiveness, make-up sex, appreciation, losses, thrills, babies, miscarriages, financial gain, the bottom falling out, exhaustion, vacations, friends, sudden deaths, sleepless nights, anniversaries, celebrations, silence, peace, grace, and on and on.<br /><br />It's an epic journey filled with dangers, battles, sacrifices, victories, tragedy, doldrums, and intrigue. Why did no one tell us this? Did they and we just didn't listen? Maybe it's just me, but it seems that most young couples dive head-first into marriage blissfully unaware of the depth of the wonder and happiness, the challenges and suffering ahead of them.<br /><br /><strong><div align="center">Have you ever wanted to stand up during a wedding and shout, <br /><br />"NOOOOOOO!<br /><br />DON'T DO IT!"</strong></div><br /><br />I have. <br /><br />I suspect many have. Those who've been broken and come a hair's breadth away from divorce as we have (more than once) have likely barely withstood calling out like Galdalf the Grey, <br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 332px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475293721513825218" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMW4mFYsszCQheF5CGkJKKWULxaVJYKBeDDZ_c1L3ooEUhQhlUHoAHHqbzK1BcGCrWoDFrjg45HejCnvEpgAZaIlEAo6x9TXB3Q0IOH9hEvjZDq8sjdb2Pvt-0gpaG-k5rlaKHdPHdmlqL/s400/Gandalf_bw.jpg" /><br /><br /><strong><div align="center">"Fly, you fools!"</div></strong><br /><br />And yet, with all of marriage's struggles and sweetness, the mysterious one-fleshedness, the agony and the ecstasy of it, is worth it. <br /><br />It is so worth it.<br /><br />Watching my cousins, the bride and groom gazing deeply into each other's eyes with excitement and happiness, my heart could not help but respond to their joy with my own for them. <br /><br />Have a happy life, sweet cousins. Love each other well. Pray together. Endure together. Rejoice together. Never stop choosing sweetness and love. Even when it gets impossibly hard. That's when it's about to get so much better and richer than before.<br /><br />Remember, marriage is not for the faint of heart.<br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475243600528385058" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIG7N4MxIff1de7aX7SIWhHjcTwA52l7WMk6YZTWf8kOxjnmP0Kf7qdCEejNp2j45Nx-XI6xcxiOucgjfgQeV6Kj_syZIe9-DU-xphPvyYEOHC7VuJ1fVTkwp6WKCEsqxWTZt2Xkhq2-PX/s400/IMG_9837.jpg" /> <br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 360px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475293729064278130" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB-dFdb1sONi6W3186PDBACHZXug_GkieEv62LT1MvFQbRh6z-bczlltrwygM5k-Oe7DSJfeKZSB72_8ojXJ12m-h2TiVBcBq9P841b3SExiw6aAubZ0AEle3SOzYOFkhbCFm3o23f3g-A/s400/old-couple.jpg" /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9WXCk50cdT308fBRcrVhQ2mv4K305SxzEIeAUeNDGll-RFXvCQCzC4992qYxikn-zrxTMT55BWgphg9XTYZcisClIWqosxpRlvIT389iGpwnrYQ0n9I-sJWPUWZw6cTehVFje_9FiCBF8/s1600/IMG_9854.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475243607365027858" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9WXCk50cdT308fBRcrVhQ2mv4K305SxzEIeAUeNDGll-RFXvCQCzC4992qYxikn-zrxTMT55BWgphg9XTYZcisClIWqosxpRlvIT389iGpwnrYQ0n9I-sJWPUWZw6cTehVFje_9FiCBF8/s400/IMG_9854.jpg" /></a><br /><div align=center>Here's Haus, doing what we did for the rest of the wedding weekend. <br />A whole lot of nothing. Together. Nice!</div>Hauswifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04184102377607825756noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7444695365349176852.post-3174310836058235952010-05-24T12:40:00.000-07:002010-05-24T12:42:07.703-07:00Sweetpea Found the Scissors<div align="center">This is one very, very bad toddler haircut!<br /><br />Sweetpea cut the top to about 3 inches, the sides to about 1 inch, a small patch in the back to about 1 inch, and the very front to 1/4 inch!<br /><br />And, now we've got seriously homely blackmail photos<br />for her teenage years!<br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5474917347769201570" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPORK1p1RY82wjvRL_sXtiafDL3TdkQyykG1sEIx9N1q4O9A8d1DZN-diXg3tX_IBhJNbV3EueZaxnQnYe-pjA2ApyJlCPevyfXBomtrG3qrbsxvG7ThnnRc0uoNUELeXXcpvlFqKKjjy8/s400/IMG_9859.jpg" /><br /><br />I've never been a big fan of "The Mullet" and definitely not on my little princess!<br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5474917369659082674" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUdLmZ_Asp1kPpBOcSL88U7LV4uyA3hflq6ZCxRFjS9RYwO-9Vplt1sZkOTX-eTEORD6VCC5-0KhzO4FGMmddzrtFDuctl3WYcZWXxX-B-lEi9H2ysA-2aY9xvjcbAu0DJg-YQquKSPfqk/s400/IMG_9861.jpg" /><br /><br />The worst part is the very front where she cut "bangs"!<br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5474917358879709826" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglw0jFbZZw5VnD5CD4UqW0eo43PpaR7_dJcKWMwEVP6VZnLA_Qr96GE1sWFQtKusUmuahKs-csSUJt23WTJsbJA0QVs1PEf1dbq2J2cIAUwbFsyy_NV8O0CC6crxy3W1pKMBhmTuDOn1TW/s400/IMG_9860.jpg" /><br /><br />Bye bye curls! That's one very disturbed face in the mirror.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_RwSepG6PPEYxQ9TO-snZGfeWzI-IrJ5AEfdBu3rJSnUvBGkXsu9WZlYLcGYpy83R8QdiFLmSfLvmhR604VBnFLB4wPA-YyP1j2-u2SvMeDRSHxOqkZU50aksY4Qzz3Cl-Jnhe6Cirw62/s1600/IMG_9867.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5474917378165040418" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_RwSepG6PPEYxQ9TO-snZGfeWzI-IrJ5AEfdBu3rJSnUvBGkXsu9WZlYLcGYpy83R8QdiFLmSfLvmhR604VBnFLB4wPA-YyP1j2-u2SvMeDRSHxOqkZU50aksY4Qzz3Cl-Jnhe6Cirw62/s400/IMG_9867.jpg" /></a><br /><br />I ended up cutting the back about the same length as the sides and evening it out. I layered the top a little where she chopped the crown to about 3 inches.<br /><br />The very front I just left alone because there's not really anything to be done but just let it grow out.<br /><br /><br />As I was cutting her hair, she looked into the mirror and said, <br />"Well, little lady,<br />I certainly hope you've learned a valuable lesson today. <br />Are you ever going to do that again? <br />Ummm, no-sirree-bob! <br />Got it? <br />Check!"<br /><br /><br />The finished 'do turned out pretty cute.<br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5474915158051414642" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY9dCoHUs5k50zcMQfMjJvQ4Z7N1rZCL6rAJpfFTaTgSAMxix64gGdV4SRtEE08p2-m-mAsDpBuMl7k6k-aHxgTEHQafLWpuzh3FEOfEYpbr3sAcZbvSNNjQwU3z2NUMD_Iv41VKXufwZp/s400/IMG_9869.jpg" /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5474915180642751298" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsypDOR7G75HEWiyx7wCxGW5-W0rP64CTuWSl8zKia4ZrzX1u0xKpXawkIk2hBFtxC3EKof-Uo2ylwLwITMmJULV3iMkcOhNojB7Li9UVVq2Cai9yet-kXp36xLXVoE42sEV272Z4refh3/s400/IMG_9871.jpg" /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5474915173515940322" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-IIhE77XQCfkeKe5Vt2pUzuBTL7wxB-Tzr_ZZ6dSj2IPO6iHSF7JxKx5vFrEV65BD2jnE7tdmuhQyogN9usyxmDZRTjQte_BN0z9yZ3D9TjGuol9VWCtRdVC_F89IP75SxLtC-dk3Eiq9/s400/IMG_9870.jpg" /><br /><br />And, the truth is, when you've got a sparkling personality<br />and a crazy-funny sense of humor like Sweetpea does...<br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5474915191337165554" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcIO8hFts-ACIPlDZDpO5pCdA9qPDs_8VdIuGx-5NBIFkSic9mqHRtO37jPd5eWvBsipyhyphenhyphenVHzNYoIvH5vQ1uPjDDA_xt6ZsUDQWY9Ihzpsba2kgqS3tGgrAP_CG_BSrufFDmhtOIDTh7o/s400/IMG_9877.jpg" /><br /><br />you can pretty much pull off whatever 'do you want!</div>Hauswifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04184102377607825756noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7444695365349176852.post-46215362622842907942010-05-21T10:40:00.000-07:002010-05-21T12:23:55.323-07:00If Not Us, Then Who?<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixUuKusGmYJWh7UQgZVi6nJJd7b2yv_F9D5SdPdpFsXaIZ8i8j1OBFUo-D8r0lQVGCrU8lREf6fuB2Cf8oq6U0TFL3GYpILSl94tlTZQTJsRNb_ue-wyfAmADeJMGU3tzyO7UGwzskvp29/s1600/africa+world+face.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 399px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5473773212022891938" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixUuKusGmYJWh7UQgZVi6nJJd7b2yv_F9D5SdPdpFsXaIZ8i8j1OBFUo-D8r0lQVGCrU8lREf6fuB2Cf8oq6U0TFL3GYpILSl94tlTZQTJsRNb_ue-wyfAmADeJMGU3tzyO7UGwzskvp29/s400/africa+world+face.jpg" /></a><br />There he goes again.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.cbn.com/media/player/index.aspx?s=%2Farchive%2Fclub%2F700club052010_ws">Pat Robertson on CBN</a> cautioned people against adoption<br /><br />because<br /><br /><span style="color:#000099;"><em>"If they have demonic influences, if they have some propractor (sic) of the dark arts in their background, you never know what's going to come out of it, and you also can't tell if they've been brain damaged as a child."</em><br /></span><br />Holy moly, Pat!<br /><br />OK, let's break this down.<br /><br />1. "Demonic influences."<br /><br />You don't have to be born in Africa or Haiti to be born into demonic influences. Christ came to deliver us from evil, to pay for our sins and our heritage of sin being sons and daughters of Adam & Eve, and to break the power of the Enemy and his stronghold over this earth. He came to bring restoration. He came to bring redemption over all manner of sin. Yours. Mine. ALL of ours. To believe that ANYone is beyond redemption because of some spooky voodoo or scary foreign witchcraft, which may or may not have been a child's biological relatives' particular sin is to not actually fully believe in the Gospel of Jesus Christ!<br /><br />2. "You don't know what's going to come out of it."<br /><br />That is 100% correct. You do not. If you want a perfectly calm, safe existence, by no means should you live according to Holy Scripture. The Bible not only tells us we MAY go through trial, tribulation, and suffering, it absolutely GUARANTEES it! You are never going to know what manner of pain and trouble following The Call of God is going to cost you. Never. But, you are PROMISED that it's gonna hurt.<br /><br />If you buy into<br /><br /><div align="center"><strong>James 1:27 "Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world."</strong></div><br /><br />the cost will be high. You are not going to know what's going to come out of it, but, GOD will be glorified!<br /><br />3. "You can't tell if they've been brain damaged as a child."<br /><br />I know a precious, beautiful "brain damaged" child who was born in Ethiopia and adopted into <a href="http://www.teamalexander.blogspot.com/">Team Alexander</a> who has spread the Gospel like wildfire by his family's faith through the suffering of his condition and the triumph God is bring in the midst of it!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyNpdzDo9i9C9SD3Mxy-vmy5cJvT53BH3FFYSTx22Kot-RsA-6fxFL6wt7-tFMTeWuCNUdceNl1esgDLvExMVaoPYN3xf9Xl-HiMg2XgRvIIGmPrroacCjl44M1G689jjwPgYUVyxxZalC/s1600/abe+emily"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5473759102034025314" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyNpdzDo9i9C9SD3Mxy-vmy5cJvT53BH3FFYSTx22Kot-RsA-6fxFL6wt7-tFMTeWuCNUdceNl1esgDLvExMVaoPYN3xf9Xl-HiMg2XgRvIIGmPrroacCjl44M1G689jjwPgYUVyxxZalC/s400/abe+emily" /></a><br /><div align="center">This is precious Abe and his mama, Emily, a sweet sister in Christ.</div><br /><br />All of this was in reference to the <a href="http://www.christian-alliance-for-orphans.org/summit/">Christian Alliance for Orphans Summit VI</a> in Minneapolis last month. Haus and I had hoped to go this year, but were unfortunately unable to make it. Oh, how I wish we had gone!<br /><br />Pat Robertson is way off the mark on this point. He misses that we, as people, are ALL stained by evil and sin and need the redemption and restoration of Jesus! He misses that we, in Christ, are ALL adopted!<br /><br />Let me tell you something that is going to make some people squirm and others leave me nasty remarks,<br /><br /><div align="center"><strong>If you don't "get" adoption, you don't really "get" salvation.</strong></div><br /><br />Lisa Harding is absolutely right when she says, "People have said, 'oh, aren't they lucky? You rescued them from, you know... whatever. And, I think 'Are you kidding?!?' I'm the lucky one. I get to be their mom and I get to be daily rescued from my selfishness and my impatience and things that are just as disease-ridden in my soul. So, yeah, I guess I'm the lucky one."<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYSzxdT36bMNJL9QAdM4BDtFicaeOxgPIuL4skRQfcBD5O4PcJMrCpNmsxj8Ibs47TcyLC2rdq-2Yopk-P-SXamc4xXFiam1YqTOvnH8sBNj64H5r212VygqOOsxFNEolKFOKBsdZVe2YD/s1600/rayray+mama.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5473760155494050450" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYSzxdT36bMNJL9QAdM4BDtFicaeOxgPIuL4skRQfcBD5O4PcJMrCpNmsxj8Ibs47TcyLC2rdq-2Yopk-P-SXamc4xXFiam1YqTOvnH8sBNj64H5r212VygqOOsxFNEolKFOKBsdZVe2YD/s400/rayray+mama.jpg" /></a><br /><div align="center">This is my precious Cupcake and me on our Gotcha Day!</div><br /><br />Haus and I don't know if we are going to adopt again. We've wrestled back and forth not yet coming to a solid conclusion. Would the cost be high? Yes. But, the question that comes up over and over again is<br /><br />If not us, then who?Hauswifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04184102377607825756noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7444695365349176852.post-20603154885891910272010-05-17T10:00:00.000-07:002010-05-17T10:44:13.767-07:00A Word About Birth Mothers<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQcXfPgsgpiEVvCMwuAuDoGXu783oXSDU862JFLEiX5L6-cyOVs3LpL66aco5zII-LlI_KnK08dzmzvybhT402e1IKWtSKCKhKfYv592_p5UwfNiZmgwpi0zjBPCw8TnJAoxs82rgwHQoa/s1600/pregnant-belly-footprint-243x300.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 243px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQcXfPgsgpiEVvCMwuAuDoGXu783oXSDU862JFLEiX5L6-cyOVs3LpL66aco5zII-LlI_KnK08dzmzvybhT402e1IKWtSKCKhKfYv592_p5UwfNiZmgwpi0zjBPCw8TnJAoxs82rgwHQoa/s400/pregnant-belly-footprint-243x300.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472274595189415106" /></a><br /><br />Every now and then I hear parents refer negatively about their child's birth mother and it really grinds me. It ticks me off to hear people who have been blessed beyond measure by a little bundle of joy dismissively, condescendingly, or even cuttingly talk about his or her birth mother, this woman who brought that little sweet one into the world. Do they not think about what suffering she likely went through? The unbelievable loss and grief? The tremendous blessing and gift she gave them?<br /><br />This time of year always makes me a little more emotional. Grateful. Reflective. <br /><br />Ten years ago today, Pookie's birth mother went into labor more than three weeks early. She called and we hopped on a plane as fast as we could, hoping to be in the delivery room as planned.<br /><br />Those hours of flying and then driving in the middle of the night to the hospital were filled with... excitement, anticipation, worry about Pookie and his birth mother, grief for her, joy for me. That bittersweetness was overwhelming.<br /><br />Is overwhelming.<br /><br />Pookie's birth mother. <br /><br />She knew about him first. Loved him first. Chose LIFE for him. Chose us as his Forever Family. Chose me to be his mama. She felt him move inside her belly. Watched him on the ultrasound. Knew he was a "he" first. And, she welcomed him into the world.<br /><br />I didn't. Our plane got delayed and I missed the birth of my sweet boy.<br /><br />Looking back, I'm so glad for her that that moment was hers and hers alone.<br /><br />She got to hold Pookie first. Kiss his sweet face, his tummy, his little toes. She had those moments with our boy to herself. <br /><br /><br />To say, "I love you. I always will."<br /><br /><br />To say, "Goodbye, my love." <br /><br /><br />When we arrived at the hospital and tip-toed in to their room, she greeted us with kisses and tears and said, "Come, meet your son."<br /><br />I am so grateful.Hauswifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04184102377607825756noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7444695365349176852.post-14845688290941676182010-05-14T13:55:00.000-07:002010-05-14T18:05:24.713-07:00Insecure Much?<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 266px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5471171045093665986" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA7vAhBDaZVZs7EcU31e8E1EcxNsUQiPe_gHXPhaustqKE1GQO4DyMfDp7OLi_IyviOEA2NCs96TRwcr88em_8LFE87zUQdG5cNLRu0MJCPOoK4NAfwu5VWZ8sF6HhJt9-sjrFioxKhlOm/s400/solonginsecurity.jpg" /><br /><br />Beth Moore. Don't you want to have a one-on-one coffee date with her? She seems like the bosom friend type. I just know we'd get along great.<br /><br />My friend, <a href="http://findingrest.blogspot.com/">Karen</a>, gave me this book. I know! Isn't that uncool?! Nice hint, K! Jeez Louise!<br /><br />(I'm just giving Karen gas for fun. She is actually one of those people who is always others-centered and thoughtful. She's the kind of person that you can be really, really, real with. She doesn't shy away from the raw stuff of life and doesn't expect anyone to be Paul or Penny Perfect. I absolutely love people like Karen with whom my soul can relax.)<br /><br />OK, so this book that Karen got to me because she apparently thinks I'm hobbling through life crippled by anxiety, self-consciousness, and disquietude in spirit...<br /><br />Pfff! *snort* As if!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCypd87hnOk3IDD-KjieKZZl36rFPv4frnOfk28cE4sKcewDOs-xKMCq24MFTLiwAihCnD4e4YrpBMhpVx3DinS2orrv1N7juPKhtEqHphjNgwyHwGeAvcsZZG5lkbhvpQCgaScjAfMl3H/s1600/eye+roll.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 268px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCypd87hnOk3IDD-KjieKZZl36rFPv4frnOfk28cE4sKcewDOs-xKMCq24MFTLiwAihCnD4e4YrpBMhpVx3DinS2orrv1N7juPKhtEqHphjNgwyHwGeAvcsZZG5lkbhvpQCgaScjAfMl3H/s400/eye+roll.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5471228407043198258" /></a><br /><br />Turns out, she's right.<br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 341px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5471179346342567954" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPCwBD8wsKED9qrE2_yMORVW8xqnfb-Q8EpvID7dg3KvGojIf3Rh7RVyDp8T0oybm4tNtdoUnPSrDROfoGsdhTjZJSTcNmC3QU5AdDmHNqQ3Qx2CVUphsNNUzvW4uKHqWfMw86Ep9gRWsl/s400/shocked_woman.jpg" /><br /><br />Wow. <br /><br />I didn't know I was insecure. Seriously. I have always felt pretty confident, you know? Solid in the Love of God the Father, OK about myself, loved by family, and generally safe in friendships (barring a few yucky ones, but most of those have been healed over the years, praise Jesus!). But, reading <em>So Long, Insecurity</em> was like getting harpooned.<br /><br />For me, it went like this: Read. Enjoy. Read more. Gasp! Ouch! Put it down. Walk away. Think. Pray. Walk back. Repeat.<br /><br /><em>"Some of us never seek healing from God for our insecurities because we feel like we don't fit the profile. We think insecurity only looks one way - mousy, maybe even inept - and that's not exactly who we see in the mirror. At least not once the mascara's on. And it certainly is not the woman we present to the public. Insecurity's best cover is perfectionism. That's where it becomes an art form."</em><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit-euOUlLR1JDEeebZClKCRXH_ACfYeDOeyv4CwXe5WO6Qdk1csYvM36yORcZe-TLBOiFuwJTI0mSkBhM8Sa9n3TjJWsSd0j2Isx8mvACFiM8wRxEiuQL1SfRtgm3lBQzvxE0avnEzjNul/s1600/hand+over+face.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 372px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit-euOUlLR1JDEeebZClKCRXH_ACfYeDOeyv4CwXe5WO6Qdk1csYvM36yORcZe-TLBOiFuwJTI0mSkBhM8Sa9n3TjJWsSd0j2Isx8mvACFiM8wRxEiuQL1SfRtgm3lBQzvxE0avnEzjNul/s400/hand+over+face.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5471230525377838610" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGaGe_cp7QkeIRre1-iCWCcT2UAwOqLjHuavRkUOiIRRGyZkqsM79aq9Zqxz2Z-FjLqY4DXj2IaaTE3OYuNX_wc4-8edqCDqkiRgbWRb8tnbsA4C_be9g5nPQ-xeQlWaGCkWdr1uWT5HRJ/s1600/bullseye.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 289px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5471208081860796578" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGaGe_cp7QkeIRre1-iCWCcT2UAwOqLjHuavRkUOiIRRGyZkqsM79aq9Zqxz2Z-FjLqY4DXj2IaaTE3OYuNX_wc4-8edqCDqkiRgbWRb8tnbsA4C_be9g5nPQ-xeQlWaGCkWdr1uWT5HRJ/s400/bullseye.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><em>So Long, Insecurity</em> is filled with rich wisdom about the sources of our insecurity, how it plays out in our daily lives, and how to be free of it. <br /><br />It's a messy book. It totally wrecked me - in a good way... The kind of wrecking that needed to happen. I highly recommend that you don't sit down to it without a box of tissues and a plan to redo your makeup when you're done.<br /><br />But, read it. You'll be glad you did. I am.<br /><br />Thanks, Beth! Thanks, Karen!Hauswifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04184102377607825756noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7444695365349176852.post-85025402711558717062010-05-11T14:00:00.000-07:002010-05-11T16:42:25.996-07:00First Post! It's a Haus Warming Party!<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 383px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 383px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5468197230803254866" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7W2pM1WDriqNlqdjBLS-JIRWRK1njGZ-2gL6GnaO6rR2etq59LUickSMAPhX4IgZtHOUX6umiHKyqrn76jPgEABAa20hls1We9GC-Nog0d2ERMC7M8g5YKBa2Swx_QK3rr6h6Y5usMT7B/s400/balloons.jpg" /><br /><br /><br /><div align="center"><strong><span style="font-size:130%;">Hello and Welcome! </span></strong><br /><br />Have a cookie!</div><br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5468203704611926994" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOw-3z6wzK4BN4EQAmnq0RVRmtFXlaEBUMj5OP7BkNqSCsikgNc3l0wfJWXoaSD3JT7vsD4ye2VwnrTn3zir-Bm8Q1FAHs6CgAany1CaB5to_arc7XJVdtLGTXyN8dsmZIxMFw6fRaJi_V/s400/cookie.jpg" /><br /><br />Hi. How are ya? Let me introduce myself. I'm Hauswife. I love Jesus, my family, the beach, reading, live music, long walks, deep talks, turkey burgers, Perrier, and Caffeine-free Diet Coke. I'm a middle child AND a PK (that's a Pastor's Kid), so I'm your basic people-pleaser. My main superpowers are hearing and quiet vomiting.<br /><br />I'm enjoying my Happily Ever After with my big hunk o' man, Haus. We've been married for about 186 years and are just barely, hopefully, sort of, maybe, starting to learn how to really love each other well. (We'll talk more about that later.)<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4FiNHgaMDStiOaUgr-8vr6BsRr4zBPgOOl27xLTTHxjiGA-dEGBStZXHwMtWn7qGXXNbJ6qG8e-HtJLJwAHdVQa13QW0-Jbpx61TH0deYRVmnj-bmo5180Wan6Ze2Zb6IXbRo8LFudCKE/s1600/dromo.bmp"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470064084453214530" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4FiNHgaMDStiOaUgr-8vr6BsRr4zBPgOOl27xLTTHxjiGA-dEGBStZXHwMtWn7qGXXNbJ6qG8e-HtJLJwAHdVQa13QW0-Jbpx61TH0deYRVmnj-bmo5180Wan6Ze2Zb6IXbRo8LFudCKE/s400/dromo.bmp" /></a><br /><br /><div align="center">This is us, ready for go-cart racing. Yes, we are this lame.</div><br /><br />Haus and I have five completely perfect children: Muffin, Meatball, Pookie, Sweetpea, and Cupcake. They rock. The Lord blessed us with three by birth, and two by adoption, but it doesn't matter a whit. All five are "ours" and we love 'em.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9KxRDDIgjywd7IRFvAV-O6QzV720noY1sysKFEaUM0aGNjVbCHhR63ZPgPVr4CQZZlknEq0pug4sPWppk6-PKwS9G9zxMIGHq_XYxyyKLnNqJiMIWKoukTK9tihmuu3T0xsQEe4A0tszd/s1600/valentinekids.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470057670576667842" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9KxRDDIgjywd7IRFvAV-O6QzV720noY1sysKFEaUM0aGNjVbCHhR63ZPgPVr4CQZZlknEq0pug4sPWppk6-PKwS9G9zxMIGHq_XYxyyKLnNqJiMIWKoukTK9tihmuu3T0xsQEe4A0tszd/s400/valentinekids.jpg" /></a><br /><br />Part of our brood are two Scottish Terriers: Hamish Argyle and Haviland Aberdeen. Those of you who know Scotties know that they really own us. They only obey when they actually agree. We Scots are known for our stubbornness! As the saying goes "You can take me wee dug oot of Scotland, but you canny take Scotland oot me wee dug!"<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOm45smBwmbyekC6MWv4JWxc91LQM12fMWTXshEo00NpH6fkCAgC9FYK81SCjNsJIXnlYy-U__JWQ9aWJZGxgdfadK0rfh2ADFB_6SUdQ5VCKnB5Nbn8emxSXTMNqG2Rk7_0w0rNCL3phn/s1600/IMG_9462.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470061337761201442" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOm45smBwmbyekC6MWv4JWxc91LQM12fMWTXshEo00NpH6fkCAgC9FYK81SCjNsJIXnlYy-U__JWQ9aWJZGxgdfadK0rfh2ADFB_6SUdQ5VCKnB5Nbn8emxSXTMNqG2Rk7_0w0rNCL3phn/s400/IMG_9462.JPG" /></a><br /><br />Also, we're one of those "homeschool families", so it goes without saying that we're all pretty weird.<br /><br />Things you should know off the bat:<br /><br />We're gonna have some fun. I mean, we'll get serious about a lot of stuff, but we're gonna laugh, too. Life's too crazy not to sit down and have a good laugh, right? Also, we're gonna be real. I bet you're like me. You're probably turned off by disingenuousness and long for authenticity in your life, work, relationships, and in yourself. If not, you can stick it up your no-... *ahem* Sorry. That brings up another issue... Haus Rule #1 is the Golden Rule. We're gonna be nice here, right? No flaming, friends. No potty language. Don't make me come over there, grab you by the ear, and wash your mouth out, 'cause I will!<br /><br />So, what are we doing here? Well, we're talkin' about:<br /><br />Pursuing an ever deepening relationship with Jesus<br /><br />Adoption and Orphan care<br /><br />Ethiopia<br /><br />Wifing and mothering (and learning along the way!)<br /><br />Book & product reviews<br /><br />Homeschooling & field tripping<br /><br />Also, the occasional embarrassing admission of regular ol' tripping in public places, as is my reputation.<br /><br /><br />Please, feel free to comment and say "hi" back! I love comments as long as you're not a spammer wanting to sell me cheap prescriptions or a Hoveround, or want me to come check out Senior Living options for Mom. I already get my scrips from Costco, I'm mobile, and both of my folks are doing just dandy, thanks.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2HwPqMQI4Rc0PPX11S7wQc-ePyP6HmpCiivbU-0YLw4qyyH9JC6VHsMJPGaf-fBHgkGkRnIv1gUQPxZ70Xy9SM_ScDO8cs1RL7JoX2SrWCUYUayyTLkTIDJkk9cWB-86j4BS9T8BdaOcr/s1600/flipflop.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 280px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 280px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470083123641524098" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2HwPqMQI4Rc0PPX11S7wQc-ePyP6HmpCiivbU-0YLw4qyyH9JC6VHsMJPGaf-fBHgkGkRnIv1gUQPxZ70Xy9SM_ScDO8cs1RL7JoX2SrWCUYUayyTLkTIDJkk9cWB-86j4BS9T8BdaOcr/s400/flipflop.jpg" /></a><br /><br />So, welcome to my haus. I'm pleased to meet you!Hauswifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04184102377607825756noreply@blogger.com14