tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13733272721282419522024-03-05T07:32:54.858-06:00Home So HappyMadeleinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13379234553753636953noreply@blogger.comBlogger50125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1373327272128241952.post-45039456025995199852011-07-08T14:32:00.005-05:002011-08-02T22:36:19.693-05:00A daughter's secret power....."What was the secret of such a one's power? What had she done? Absolutely nothing; but radiant smiles, beaming good-humor, the tact of divining what everyone felt and everyone wanted, told that she had got out of self and learned to think of others; so that at one time it showed itself in deprecating quarrels, which lowering brows and raised tones already showed to be impending, by sweet words; at another, by smoothing an invalid's pillow; at another, by soothing a sobbing child; at another, by humoring and softening a father who had returned weary and ill-tempered from the irritating cares of business. None but she saw those things. None but a loving heart could see them. That was the secret of her heavenly power. The one who will be found in trial capable of great acts of love, is ever the one who is always doing considerate small ones."<br />F. W. Robertson.<br /><br /> "He who is faithful in little, will be faithful in much."<br /> ~Luke 16:10Madeleinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13379234553753636953noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1373327272128241952.post-57403293180360716062011-07-06T00:49:00.004-05:002011-08-21T22:24:29.178-05:00<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgjjH24RSp_V5ElJdIoNRkZElaiU_MaFvkLcCmHD9k53-g9VCcXLOVOufaJOUSVsfc1aoL_8HISBtRuNbN90vFdIaEpEhJvVpggle_YIX513nLp_vov0CZx1zlbhdBfYT1xj0l-qBKgTez/s1600/bwillust012.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 332px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5643512642126249170" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgjjH24RSp_V5ElJdIoNRkZElaiU_MaFvkLcCmHD9k53-g9VCcXLOVOufaJOUSVsfc1aoL_8HISBtRuNbN90vFdIaEpEhJvVpggle_YIX513nLp_vov0CZx1zlbhdBfYT1xj0l-qBKgTez/s400/bwillust012.jpg" /></a>
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<br /><div align="center">Whoso hearkens unto me shall dwell safely, and shall be quiet from fear of evil.
<br />Proverbs 1:33</div>
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<br />"Divine love is rendered conspicuous when it shines in the midst of judgments. Fair is that lone star which smiles through the rifts of the thunder clouds; bright is the oasis which blooms in the wilderness of sand; so fair and so bright is love in the midst of wrath. When the Israelites provoked the Most High by their continued idolatry, he punished them by withholding both dew and rain, so that their land was visited by a sore famine; but while he did this, he took care that his own chosen ones should be secure. If all other brooks are dry, yet shall there be one reserved for Elijah; and when that fails, God shall still preserve for him a place of sustenance; nay, not only so, the Lord had not simply one Elijah, but he had a remnant according to the election of grace, who were hidden by fifties in a cave, and though the whole land was subject to famine, yet these fifties in the cave were fed, and fed from Ahab's table too by His faithful, God-fearing steward, Obadiah. Let us from this draw the inference, that come what may, God's people are safe. Let convulsions shake the solid earth, let the skies themselves be rent in twain, yet amid the wreck of worlds the believer shall be as secure as in the calmest hour of rest. If God cannot save his people under heaven, he will save them in heaven. If the world becomes too hot to hold them, then heaven shall be the place of their reception and their safety. Be ye then confident, when ye hear of wars, and rumours of wars. Let no agitation distress you, but be quiet from fear of evil. Whatsoever cometh upon the earth, you, beneath the broad wings of Jehovah, shall be secure. Stay yourself upon his promise; rest in his faithfulness, and bid defiance to the blackest future, for there is nothing in it direful for you. Your sole concern should be to show forth to the world the blessedness of hearkening to the voice of wisdom."
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<br /><div>~Charles Spurgeon</div>
<br />Madeleinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13379234553753636953noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1373327272128241952.post-16623661226139714892011-06-26T22:55:00.007-05:002011-06-27T11:31:20.899-05:00Do We Embrace the World?<div align="left"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWbcjvh8LzX5M7SXm6IY6_tYC7s-zLhsPXGZRKTunPpR7-8wTcLA0hBXRNrQVEts7oxpjh7TIxDd9Qb0o7FFl25PqgSLgNjVn89p98z_DGeQHmERbHFog8bURuFddPABxQjYg-O0882PeR/s1600/smithred1.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 277px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5622734961322723234" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWbcjvh8LzX5M7SXm6IY6_tYC7s-zLhsPXGZRKTunPpR7-8wTcLA0hBXRNrQVEts7oxpjh7TIxDd9Qb0o7FFl25PqgSLgNjVn89p98z_DGeQHmERbHFog8bURuFddPABxQjYg-O0882PeR/s400/smithred1.jpg" /></a> </div><br /><div align="center">"Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God."<br />James 4:4<br /></div><br /><div align="left">Dear Sisters,<br /><br />I am ecstatic to find the amount of like-minded, sweet hearted, Christian, young ladies that are spreading truth without fear in "blogging land". It's a delight to see sisters building up their siblings, daughters honoring their parents, talented artisans developing their gifts and thoughtful, mature women living and learning life. This is what prompted me to join such a community, the lovely, wholesome, God-honoring words of righteousness, sweet pictures and delightful humor. I love reading posts that encourage and edify me to live in a deeper understanding of Christ's power, but of late I have been saddened by a wave of blogs and posts that do not glorify God, that tear down purity and honor and create desires that young women should not have or want. These posts are enemies of the Lord's work, they tempt and destroy years of faithfulness in the hearts of our brothers and sisters. What is so sad is that many of these authors are proclaiming Christ while advocating the world and it's fleshly desires. The world and the Spirit are not one~ they are enemies, opposites more different than night and day. When we talk, look, act, write, sing and photograph like the world; what is different? Nothing; we are one and the same. In Matthew 5:13 God says, "You are the salt of the earth: but if the salt has lost it's flavor, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under the foot of man." When there is no difference between the unsaved and the flavorless "Christian", we are useless, good for nothing, and lukewarm. This quote of Matthew Henry gives some insight:<br /><br />"We have fair warning to avoid all criminal friendships with this world: "You adulterers and adulteresses, know you not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God?" Worldly people are here called adulterers and adulteresses, because of their perfidiousness of God, whilethey give their best affections to the world. Covetousness is elsewhere called idolatry, and it is here called adultery; it is a forsaking of him to whom we are devoted and espoused, tocleave to other things; there is this brand put upon worldly-mindedness—that it is enmity to God. A man may have a competent portion of the good things of this life, and yet may keep himself in the love of God; but he who sets his heart upon the world, who places his happiness in it, and will conform himself to it, and do any thing rather than lose its friendship, he is an enemy to God; it is constructive treason and rebellion against God to set the world upon his throne in our hearts. Whosoever therefore is the friend of the world is the enemy of God. He who will act upon this principle, to keep the smiles of the world, and to have its continual friendship, cannot but show himself, in spirit, and in his actions too, an enemy to God. You cannot serve God and mammon."<br /><br />Dr. R.C. Sproul Jr. also elaborates on this subject,<br />"Too often we train our children to make their way in the world. I want to train my children to make war on the world.” In the days that have passed I have been asked by several different people not what such training would look like, not how my children make war on the world, not what are the weapons of their warfare, but what do I mean by “the world.” That expression, the world, is in fact used in different ways in the Bible. Sometimes it refers to the whole of the created order. Sometimes it refers to the whole of humanity, as in John 3:16. Other times, however, it refers clearly to the city of man, to the army of the serpent. When John warns us that “If anyone loves the world the love of the Father is not in him” (I John 2:15) he is not suggesting that God’s love for the world in John 3:16 means that the love of the Father is not in the Father. Here “world” refers to the world system, that realm of darkness out of which we have been called.<br /><br />It is a sure sign of our worldliness that warring with the world is seen as someone nonspiritual, rather than the zenith of spiritual maturity. We have come to believe that we love the world in a John 3:16 sense by loving the world in a I John 2:15 sense, and the devil just laughs.<br /><br />I understand the temptation. The very first time I broke open the Word publicly, when I was 9, I followed in the same path. At Bible camp I had been chosen by my cabin to be counselor for the day. My duties included leading evening devotions. My brilliant theme? What if, I wondered, the biblical account of creation, and the scientific theory of evolution could both be true?!?!? And so that evening I shared by insights with my little troop. My hope was that not only might I not offend anyone but I might help my charges not to offend others in the future.<br /><br />CS Lewis, in his brilliant Screwtape Letters, warns us against the temptation of Christianity and… It doesn't matter what we add. Vegetarianism, socialism, nudism, libertarianism, if added to the Christian faith will swallow the Christian faith. He was right. But there is another danger, Christianity minus… We are always looking for ways to keep the faith, and lose its hard edges. Nowhere is this more so than our desire to hold on the faith, and jettison the truth that we will be hated by the world. Every generation we find new ways to try the same folly. Hipster Christianity is just a younger demographic of the same spirit that wafts through Willow Creek and Saddleback. Let us remove the offense, and keep, what exactly?<br /><br />What the world hates about us isn’t our conservative politics. It isn’t our disapproval of their sexual escapades. It isn’t our insistence in disbelieving Darwin. What the world hates about us is Jesus in us. If they don’t hate us, John is telling us, Jesus isn’t in us. There is no safe,reasonable, palatable Christian faith. There is only faith and unbelief. If the world does not hate you, fear for your soul. If the world does hate you, blessed are you for great is your reward in<br />heaven."<br /><br /></div><br /><div align="center">"As you love your souls, beware of the world: it has slain its thousands and ten thousands. What ruined Lot's wife?-the world. What ruined Achan?- the world. What ruined Haman? - the world. What ruined Judas? -the world. What ruined Simon? -the world. What ruined Demas? -the world, and "what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world and lose his own soul?"<br /><align="left">- 6000 Sermon Illustrations</ALIGN="LEFT"></div><br /><div align="left"><br />In Psalm 101:3 David says, "I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes: I hate the work of them that turn aside; it shall not cleave to me."<br />Cleave? What does to cleave mean? Here is the definition: "to cling closely, steadfastly, or faithfully to somebody or something. to unite aptly ; to fit, to adhere, to stick, to hold on to, to be united in interest or affection; to adhere to with strong attachment." Are we united in interest or affection with the work of them that turn aside? Do we set evil before our eyes? In blogging, not only are we setting our posts before our own eyes- we are setting them before the world to read and glean from. What will the many souls, searching our blogs find? Will they find God's wisdom and knowledge or man's pleasure?<br /></div><strong></strong><br /><div align="left"><strong>Our Music</strong>: Is it full of praise and glory to Him who made our ears to hear, or is it sensual in rhythm or lyrics? Do we embrace or entertain ourselves with the world's sensual music? Do the lyrics of the songs back up Scripture? Does it promote biblical thoughts concerning; purity of heart, courtship, marriage and treating men and boys as brothers in Christ?<br /><br /><strong>Our Writing</strong>: Do we write in a direct, mature way- not using terms and slang that the world admires? "Like, whatever"...."Sweet,dude"..."like, that was totally random?" (Providence and Randomness do not coincide.)... "This post rocks"...."what a rock star!" (Do the lives of rock stars glorify God with their lifestyles, if not should we be praising someone with this phrase?) Are these terms full of loveliness and discretion?<br /><br /><strong>Our Speech</strong>: Does each sentence, word and exclamation mark honor HIS name? Are we viewing men and boys in a right and pure way? Are we focusing on our outward appearance, more than our heart appearance?("As a ring of gold in a swine's snout, so is a beautiful woman who lacks discretion."Prov. 11:22) Is our heart striving to "fit it" with the crowd? All of these questions are vastly important in regards to matters of the heart. The Lord says we are to, "keep our heart with all diligence; for out of it spring the issues of life." (Proverbs 4:23) Our heart is precious in God's sight. We were bought with a price, therefore let us gratefully bless the buyer by delighting in His commands.<br /><br /><strong>Our Videos:</strong> Is the visual entertainment we post and link to, full of grace and glory. Do the people interacting on screen praise God or blaspheme Him? Do the clothing and attitudes of the men and women portray modesty, humility, innocence and a quiet and gentle spirit?<br /><br /><strong>Our Pictures:</strong> When others see our photos do they think of the world? Do we look like what we claim to be-Christians? Is there a true look of unsophistication, simplicity and virtue to our pictures? Do they focus on me, myself and I, or do they lift up our families and friends and godly men and women of faith? We recently went to a conference where we heard Taryn and Mirren Martin of <a href="http://biblicaldiscipleship.org/">Biblical Discipleship Ministries</a>. They exhorted, "If you took everything off your blog about yourself, how much would be left?" This has been convicting to me in all areas of my life.<br /></div><br /><div align="left">These are hard issues to evaluate, I would love if you girls would keep me accountable. If you see anything on my blog or in my life, that is questionable or does not glorify God, please let me know. I would love to have your counsel. </div><br /><div align="left">Love, Maddie<br /></div><br /><div align="center">"Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever<br />things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure,<br />whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be<br />any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things."<br /></div><br /><div align="center"><br />Philippians 4:8 </div><br /><div align="left">Here are a couple of external<br />sites and resources that relate to this subject:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.gracegems.org/">Grace Gems:</a> A free daily devotional of Puritan writings.<br /><a href="http://bluebehemoth.com/album/58332/">Identity Theft:</a> A two part message by Doug Phillips Esq.<br /><a href="http://www.spurgeon.us/">Charles Spurgeon's writings</a>- The Prince of Preachers<br /><br />P.S. ~<br />Today, I visited <a href="http://tomorrowsforefathers.com/gracenotes/?option=com_content&view=article&id=70&Itemid=88">Grace Malley's blog</a>, it was encouraging and uplifting, it made me want to go out and tell others of Christ and His goodness. Check it out and tell me what you think. :)<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOKh78KH9MVo-yF4hOguyem7YTA67ZKoAVTiWgYU809oajiy07Fl-Sj9b3EiUr5MAUp7zrlSVZvncUEKu8KU9krhQ72id4mdI0Gt7np21WzLtAcTbN1Xr5n_QN9RyE8RGicL2mvCr8M1kN/s1600/looking+glass+river.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5622733820027261106" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOKh78KH9MVo-yF4hOguyem7YTA67ZKoAVTiWgYU809oajiy07Fl-Sj9b3EiUr5MAUp7zrlSVZvncUEKu8KU9krhQ72id4mdI0Gt7np21WzLtAcTbN1Xr5n_QN9RyE8RGicL2mvCr8M1kN/s400/looking+glass+river.jpg" /></a> </div>Madeleinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13379234553753636953noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1373327272128241952.post-21396762267418593172011-06-13T13:38:00.005-05:002011-06-13T19:44:33.233-05:00What is Discipline?<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi10iCzB3cNzC1VAkrjiVByIDqN0N32-mZskBJhQ5L1G7a27ctZ9yqPjIhBKG15XucNlPinB8RhnVpOjuwW7tv4F83gTizPHhRWG9XgokGs549Ik8856OftXeT6Al36GAOCxHsH-w8WCZ5R/s1600/vintage-women-4.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 334px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5617791794363761154" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi10iCzB3cNzC1VAkrjiVByIDqN0N32-mZskBJhQ5L1G7a27ctZ9yqPjIhBKG15XucNlPinB8RhnVpOjuwW7tv4F83gTizPHhRWG9XgokGs549Ik8856OftXeT6Al36GAOCxHsH-w8WCZ5R/s400/vintage-women-4.jpg" /></a> When I was twelve years old Mama bought a book of poetry by Amy Carmichael called <em>Mountain Breezes</em>. While reading through the collection she found and loved one called, What is discipline? Soon, we had all memorized it as a family. I cannot tell you how many times I have found myself quoting a line or phrase of this wonderful poem. At night I enjoy quoting it to myself that I might not forget it. It has, in a way, become a family reminder of our duty to God, home and each other.<br /><br />This is one of my favorite verses and it happens to go right along with the poem.<br />"For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it."<br />Hebrew 12:11<br /><br />WHAT IS DISCIPLINE?<br /><br />"When I refuse the easy thing for love of my dear LORD,<br />and when I choose the harder thing for love of my dear LORD,<br />and do not make a fuss or speak a single grumbling word;<br />That is discipline.<br /><br />When everything seems going wrong and yet I will not grouse,<br />When it is hot, and I am tired, and yet I will not grouse,<br />But sing a song and do my work in school and in the house;<br />That is discipline.<br /><br />When Satan whispers, "Scamp your work"-to say to him, "I won't,"<br />When Satan whispers, "Slack a bit"-to say to him, "I won't,"<br />To rule myself and not to wait for others' "Do" and "Don't";<br />That is discipline.<br /><br />When I look up and triumph over every sinful thing,<br />The things that no one knows about-the cowardly, selfish thing-<br />and when with heart and will I live to please my glorious King;<br />That is discipline.<br /><br />To trample on that curious thing inside me that says "I,"<br />To think of others always-never,never or that "I,"<br />To learn to live according to my Savior's word, "Deny";<br />That is discipline."<br /><br />~Amy CarmichaelMadeleinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13379234553753636953noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1373327272128241952.post-91510884441069324222011-05-10T13:19:00.008-05:002011-06-27T11:41:34.180-05:00"Is 'me' a noun?"<A href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3f0HZookWTIZIrHg6frsruRjwzW6SfXuqUBmAntC8hwagCUjnyPnxjVVpHBoJIxf0HiE2figaqos4GoFDaQKBu-fiHVHOf9bdKdFxDz18nmk1t24tZ3qPaSLNBNJqx-7Rf2ZhiyPXLUo6/s1600/4-22-11+411.JPG"><IMG style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id=BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5605166964181271458 border=0 alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3f0HZookWTIZIrHg6frsruRjwzW6SfXuqUBmAntC8hwagCUjnyPnxjVVpHBoJIxf0HiE2figaqos4GoFDaQKBu-fiHVHOf9bdKdFxDz18nmk1t24tZ3qPaSLNBNJqx-7Rf2ZhiyPXLUo6/s400/4-22-11+411.JPG"></A><br /><br />The girls and I were reading a book this morning. There were the general giggles and exclamations when we saw the cute and quirky pictures from: <br /><br /><A href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwWJUkHveorpsw2sLTYDk-4IyuP6-4KUUe9RUJcqnN09rHVD3P7p7mUpGdu_8WbEj9B5c6mJUDjAgD8SIMwPbls1DEGIT3GcvWql5pNzv_LoQDDBaskDooJhRoikeQcRLR-OYqPVNTt-kc/s1600/mink-a-fink-a-skating-rink-what-is-a-noun.jpg"><IMG style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 312px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id=BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5605164087914721250 border=0 alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwWJUkHveorpsw2sLTYDk-4IyuP6-4KUUe9RUJcqnN09rHVD3P7p7mUpGdu_8WbEj9B5c6mJUDjAgD8SIMwPbls1DEGIT3GcvWql5pNzv_LoQDDBaskDooJhRoikeQcRLR-OYqPVNTt-kc/s400/mink-a-fink-a-skating-rink-what-is-a-noun.jpg"></A><br />When we finished, Bella said,"Maddie, Is 'me' a noun?" She pointed to herself and looked questioningly at me.<br />"Yes, Bella, you are a proper noun."<br />"I'm one too," screamed Lizzie. "Look I'm a noun verbing on a noun." She began jumping around. Then Wiggy, for no reason except that she likes to jump, copied Lizzie. Ah, looks like I've got a host of frogs (nouns) in my room (noun)!!<br /><br />I love when they understand a concept!<br />What books do you enjoy reading to your sisters and brothers?Madeleinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13379234553753636953noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1373327272128241952.post-67762170877273118282011-05-09T21:54:00.010-05:002011-05-10T14:47:44.588-05:00My B.F.F.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaNSoFg44im8NmyyaWUw2jkahWrEpapxorRclTNRuTVoCLBxYEV8y3R8gkXZc29nh8I9q61qyJO467Gpn5HIE8xpWbt0vTGAeoTlN7DbwJGOoXsKGdj6q8vQAkJEF5GK4CrV5clEAoYRBP/s1600/Momo+and+Wiggy.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5604939880430551714" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaNSoFg44im8NmyyaWUw2jkahWrEpapxorRclTNRuTVoCLBxYEV8y3R8gkXZc29nh8I9q61qyJO467Gpn5HIE8xpWbt0vTGAeoTlN7DbwJGOoXsKGdj6q8vQAkJEF5GK4CrV5clEAoYRBP/s400/Momo+and+Wiggy.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><align="center">"You painted no Madonnas<br /><align="center">On chapel walls in Rome;<br /><align="center">But with a touch of diviner<br /><align="center">You lived one in your home,<br /><align="center">You wrote no lofty poems<br /><align="center">That critics counted art;<br /><align="center">But with a nobler vision,<br /><align="center">You lived them in your heart.<br /><align="center">You carved no shapeless marble<br /><align="center">To some high soul design<br /><align="center">But with a finer sculpture<br /><align="center">You shaped this soul of mine<br /><align="center">You built no great cathedrals<br /><align="center">That centuries applaud;<br /><align="center">But with a grace exquisite<br /><align="center">Your life cathedraled God.<br /><align="center">Had I the gift of Raphael<br /><align="center">Or Michelangelo<br /><align="center">O what a rare Madonna<br /><align="center">My mother's life would show."<br /><br />~Thomas Fessenden<br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLiQTzead5mZxtdE_10VoncAutnbSBqi6gou5TOAS8GHZaBPefilUoY61Otz5WmiFtwxJjxzcgfdL5Ewkho52E7KS9qZaWH3E-_pUi0Ia1k8Pi6K7zq60d3XQPQTExrsdNKkz-a9TEPcMD/s1600/mama.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5604931470531357602" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLiQTzead5mZxtdE_10VoncAutnbSBqi6gou5TOAS8GHZaBPefilUoY61Otz5WmiFtwxJjxzcgfdL5Ewkho52E7KS9qZaWH3E-_pUi0Ia1k8Pi6K7zq60d3XQPQTExrsdNKkz-a9TEPcMD/s400/mama.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div align="center">"Said a mother to me one day: 'When my children were young I thought the very best thing I could do for them was to give them myself. So I spared no pains to talk with them, to teach them, to pray with them, to be a loving companion and friend to my children.'</div><br /><align="center">~ selected<br /><br /><align="center">This quote<strong> is</strong> Mama, she gives herself to us, her children. Daily she places her own desires in the back of her mind and joys in our hopes. She is my constant friend, sister in Christ, encourager, confidant, book report listener, corrector, adviser, soup-mixer, (I'm sorry I ever tried those navy beans) girlfriend, fellow book-lover, kindred spirit, my example of a quiet and gentle spirit, laugh-til-midnight-in-bed-buddy, and my talk until it hurts gal, my best friend in the world.</div><br /><br /><align="center">I LOVE YOU SO MUCH,<br /><br /><align="center"><span style="font-size:180%;">Mama!<br /></span><br /><br /><align="center">{Happy Mother's Day} :)<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTbuQOJFudBjl_5fpxT4ELSxnKj1g7NnrGPq4grE7x_ctfFeML4m6MRBy4p94bJ2SHyHZW6X9JIqvECw-XNgywNjaCChqrIEYkaoOrYXZcc0YM7TZQtoC_dL4xSyqFh7tMv0RzxjUySi5c/s1600/Mads+and+Mums.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5605172797689855554" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTbuQOJFudBjl_5fpxT4ELSxnKj1g7NnrGPq4grE7x_ctfFeML4m6MRBy4p94bJ2SHyHZW6X9JIqvECw-XNgywNjaCChqrIEYkaoOrYXZcc0YM7TZQtoC_dL4xSyqFh7tMv0RzxjUySi5c/s400/Mads+and+Mums.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div align="center">"Women know<br />The way to rear up children (to be just)<br /><align="center">They have a merry, simple, tender knack<br /><align="center">of tying sashes, fitting babies' shoes,<br /><align="center">And stringing pretty words that make no sense,<br /><align="center">And kissing full sense into empty words;<br /><align="center">Which things are corals to cut life upon<br />although such trifles."<br /><br /><align="center">~Elizabeth Barret Browning<br /><br /><align="center"><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqronkxxqP5lqn3BQtk1X1xwNnvtMr0lAnOL-1GW337itpm_NslDzH065C14soxv8caFKFPfg_d9ZrqoRvk1mQdZ8omXbw99VkhkSIADAKPYreGxXkpFkjqdvc_1X66deKBYDNVVCCtsMp/s1600/Bella+and+Mom.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 336px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5604930688165429618" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqronkxxqP5lqn3BQtk1X1xwNnvtMr0lAnOL-1GW337itpm_NslDzH065C14soxv8caFKFPfg_d9ZrqoRvk1mQdZ8omXbw99VkhkSIADAKPYreGxXkpFkjqdvc_1X66deKBYDNVVCCtsMp/s400/Bella+and+Mom.jpg" /></a></><br /><br /><br /><br /><align="center">Proverbs 31:27-31<br />"She watches over the ways of her household, And does not eat the bread of idleness. Her children rise up and call her blessed; Her husband also, and he praises her: "Many daughters have done well, But you excel them all." Charm is deceitful and beauty is passing, But a woman who fears the LORD, she shall be praised. Give her of the fruit of her hands, And let her own works praise her in the gates. "<br /><br /><div align="center"></div></div></div>Madeleinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13379234553753636953noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1373327272128241952.post-43365504809666536372011-03-23T11:22:00.011-05:002011-04-07T12:16:04.104-05:00Poems and Ponderings<div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXg5FxUw4C-BvZPvIa2SfwJ-bONxKdpNtmi4YOKWHoMCMhAnGapttYnnByUzfToaqGfdfn4xxciEYLfmAE545PdJP7udWbBjTgkN_Ow-7mAGj68sz_dHwKs98GoclQNdKJOuFWMo41dqyv/s1600/egsoap.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 274px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5587317299229303890" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXg5FxUw4C-BvZPvIa2SfwJ-bONxKdpNtmi4YOKWHoMCMhAnGapttYnnByUzfToaqGfdfn4xxciEYLfmAE545PdJP7udWbBjTgkN_Ow-7mAGj68sz_dHwKs98GoclQNdKJOuFWMo41dqyv/s400/egsoap.jpg" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:180%;">What Love Have I?</span></div><br /><div align="center"> </div><br /><div align="center">What Love have I to shed abroad?<br />What love grows in this worthless sod,<br />unless The Gardener add seed,<br />and pluck the wayward, fleshly weed,<br />sprinkle His pure righteousness<br />covering dry sinfulness?<br />What love grew I alone?<br /><br />What love have I to shed abroad?<br />What love can I shine long and broad<br />from an extinguished flame,<br />doused by my own foolish rain?<br />Unless my heart’s desire<br />be lit with God’s immortal fire.<br />Fanned to blaze bright with glory,<br />telling His eternal story.<br />What love shine I alone?<br /><br />Alone? Not I!<br />My Lord did die,<br />grafting His own Love scarred hands<br />Into my barren, fruitless lands.<br />A love that withers not, nor fails;<br />touched not by winds or driving hails<br />now His forever yield.<br /><br />And the cold and deadly flame?<br />My Lord has wrought a happy change.<br />Warmer, wider does it seek<br />to cheer the faint and aid the weak,<br />brightens home and lightens labor.<br />I have no love but through my Savior.<br />His Love He shed for me. </div><br /><p align="center">~Madeleine Wynn~<br />3/22/2010 </p><br /><p align="center"><br /></p>Madeleinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13379234553753636953noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1373327272128241952.post-16147622151001637442011-03-22T21:47:00.004-05:002011-03-22T22:27:01.425-05:00True and False Beauty<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyw3EhJwheJkkhsiXPlxran0ajAkkGW2cidnFBJ5vrd4mP38OkT9Z06bhFU17aOJyFR4ZBiZnnFvNtSIOQ6Y__FGrUQ20UngJOFhwKRCnu87ngaMDNgUY17_f9IxiXIASdpM27wovCzux0/s1600/waterhouse_the_missal.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 228px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5587106306161487410" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyw3EhJwheJkkhsiXPlxran0ajAkkGW2cidnFBJ5vrd4mP38OkT9Z06bhFU17aOJyFR4ZBiZnnFvNtSIOQ6Y__FGrUQ20UngJOFhwKRCnu87ngaMDNgUY17_f9IxiXIASdpM27wovCzux0/s400/waterhouse_the_missal.jpg" /></a><br />"Hearing a young lady highly praised for her beauty, Gotthold asked, 'What kind of beauty do you mean? Merely that of the body, or that also of the mind? I see well that you have been looking no further than the sign which nature displays outside the house, but have never asked for the host who dwells within. Beauty is an excellent gift of God, nor has the pen of the Holy Spirit forgotten to speak its praise; but it is virtuous and godly beauty alone which Scripture honors, expressly declaring, on the other hand, that a fair woman which is with out discretion is as a jewel of gold in a swine's snout (Proverbs 11: 22) Many a pretty girl is like the flower called the Imperial Crown, which is admired, no doubt, for it's showy appearance, but despised for it's unpleasant odor. Were her mind as free from pride, selfishness, luxury and levity, as her countenance from spots and wrinkles, and could she govern her inward inclinations as she does her external carriage, she would have none to match her. But who loves the caterpillar and such insects, however showy their appearance, and bright and variegated the colors that adorn them, seeing they injure and defile the trees and plants on which they settle? What the better is an apple for its rosy skin, if the maggot have penetrate and devoured its heart? What care I for the beautiful brown nut, if it be worm eaten, and fill the mouth with corruption? Even so external beauty of person deserves no praise, unless matched with the inward beauty of virtue and holiness. <em>It is therefore, far better to acquire beauty than to be born with it.</em> The best kind is that which does not wither at the touch of fever, like a flower, but lasts and endures on a bed of sickness in old age, and even unto death.'<br /><br />~ taken from <strong>6000 Sermon Illustrations</strong>, an alphabetical collection from leaders and writers of the ages, by Elon Foster<br /><br />"Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman who fear the Lord, she will be praised."<br />Proverbs 31:30Madeleinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13379234553753636953noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1373327272128241952.post-48161311964227517462011-03-07T22:46:00.005-06:002011-03-18T12:41:22.140-05:00A Peep Behind the Scenes.....<div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilr53PouVEXDz8JMyoCPF_AFpypy_J37LJwWwKu6aPb91fH4dvUfWUfTUlI-TGJJp3bYVZRkcZUJgr7BDaHEa5vHYeQ3GrURyyBjCSLwCw9vchTGXK-7j6_7Cyb7CUKZSo4VdrNef_KpXN/s1600/Peep%252520Package.png"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5581568092009603634" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilr53PouVEXDz8JMyoCPF_AFpypy_J37LJwWwKu6aPb91fH4dvUfWUfTUlI-TGJJp3bYVZRkcZUJgr7BDaHEa5vHYeQ3GrURyyBjCSLwCw9vchTGXK-7j6_7Cyb7CUKZSo4VdrNef_KpXN/s400/Peep%252520Package.png" /></a><br />On a recent trip my family listen to this audio drama. We were fascinated! I've read the book and enjoyed it thoroughly- now to be able to hear it dramatized in an exciting, fast-paced, refreshing way was wonderful. I loved each of the colorful characters and, of course their accents. Even, six year old, Lizzie and five year old, Bella, listened and were engrossed. I was greatly convicted of my need to share my faith in God openly without restraint and fear. Rosalie's innocence and quiet modesty was a gentle example of what girls should strive for in our world today. </div><br /><div>Lamplighter's description:<br />"You will be transported back in time to the world of the traveling theatre. Written in 1878, A Peep Behind the Scenes quickly sold over 2.5 million copies. Now, over a century later, it comes to life as a powerful audio drama! You will meet Nora, who, enticed by the lure of fame and blinded by the romance of the theatre, soon grasps the reality of what life is like behind the scenes; Augustus, who thrives in the very small world of himself; Rosalie, whose faith shines bright in a very dark world; Betsy Ann, convinced that nobody loves her because nobody ever did, until she meets the Good Shepherd, Who goes to extremes to seek and to find those are lost. Once you hear this seven-episode epic drama, you will be compelled to share it with family, friends, and neighbors, here and around the world! A Peep Behind the Scenes audio drama-an unforgettable experience!"<br />~ Taken from Lamplighter publishing.com </div>Madeleinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13379234553753636953noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1373327272128241952.post-26123013544506962692011-03-07T22:16:00.007-06:002011-03-07T23:30:42.301-06:00Death: Victory and Joy!<div align="justify">Each night before bed, Daddy gives us a bedtime snack of Charles Spurgeon from his <em>Morning and Evening</em> devotionals. What an amazing man of God! We sink into our beds overcome with hope and awakened to the mercy of our Heavenly Father. Some of my favorite quotes are about death. Martin Luther wore a ring with a skull on it and told his children, "to think on death often." I wish to share a few of Spurgeon's thoughts regarding death, heaven and the joy beyond.</div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb81ysrrEdNdofpTxZ4cTtU3JjMe4IZaqprWIsW_KfJefzIgHBupkWTsK-BWvRbtcMImWag071RLed-4c_ozTtWEyPY3g4buvZjdad3JzJVJrv0slZObtUYzS4RBJGczRe3rvLIdjGjO3U/s1600/humbert-de-mollard-louis-adolphe-the-visit-of-the-doctor-to-the-patient-c-1840-50.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5581576761940518914" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb81ysrrEdNdofpTxZ4cTtU3JjMe4IZaqprWIsW_KfJefzIgHBupkWTsK-BWvRbtcMImWag071RLed-4c_ozTtWEyPY3g4buvZjdad3JzJVJrv0slZObtUYzS4RBJGczRe3rvLIdjGjO3U/s400/humbert-de-mollard-louis-adolphe-the-visit-of-the-doctor-to-the-patient-c-1840-50.jpg" /></a><br />"Now, recollect there is no pain in death, the pain is in life: when a man dies there is an end of life’s pain: death is the pain killer, not the pain maker."<br /><br />"Some look with intense delight to the prospect of the Saviour’s coming, as a means of escape from death. I confess I have but slender sympathy with them. If I might have my choice, I would prefer, of the two, to die. Let it be as the Lord wills; but there is a point of fellowship with Christ in death which they will miss who shall not sleep; and it seems to me to have some sweetness in it to follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth, even though he descend into the sepulchre."<br /><br />"Oh, if we could not die, it would be indeed horrible! Who wants to be chained to this poor life for a century or longer?"<br /><br />"When you are in good health any form of religion may satisfy, but a dying soul wants more than sand to rest upon. You will want the Rock of Ages. Then let me assure you, that in light of the grave, all confidence, except confidence in the blood and righteousness of Jesus Christ, is a clear delusion."<br /><br />"I never yet heard regrets from dying men that they had done too much for Christ, or lived too earnestly for him, or won too many souls, or given too much of their substance to the cause of God: but the regrets all lie the other way, God save us from them for his mercy’s sake."<br /><br /></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify">- Charles Spurgeon </div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify">Quotes from: <a href="http://www.spurgeon.us/mind_and_heart/alphalist.htm">Spurgeon.us </a></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div>Madeleinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13379234553753636953noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1373327272128241952.post-34962090427593992512011-02-07T13:37:00.005-06:002011-02-07T22:29:23.785-06:00Poems and Ponderings<div align="center">My Daddy is the wisest and godliest man I know. He inspires me through his daily dying to self and inexhaustible love for us. He and Mama are both wonderful communicators, so some of the best moments of my life are spent in deep and earnest conversations with him. Growing up under my earthly father's tutelage I have learned of my heavenly Father's righteousness and mercy. Daddy has taught me theology, politics, art, science, nature and, most importantly, soul matters. We catch snatches of good talks just about everywhere: in the car, on the way to the store, cleaning his office, on special Daddy/Daughter dates, round the kitchen table and before bed. Anywhere and anytime.<br />This Christmas I wrote a poem explaining the joy these heart to heart talks have brought to my life.<br />I based the poem on a picture I bought a few weeks earlier<br /><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidMQTTzoObyDdzEao1hyLsY_k20un0Tk-YsRb2lH3qrq66QQwVxJtZdtP41SFCmyxEY8ezGSqMtSQrsNkPoC_XVbrVhLMypevsV7naa7pvsHXVMy5hKh7S4MUG16tJJq2ld0lqhz34Rs4X/s1600/aic__e11025_8srgb.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 396px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 244px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5571044275435515058" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidMQTTzoObyDdzEao1hyLsY_k20un0Tk-YsRb2lH3qrq66QQwVxJtZdtP41SFCmyxEY8ezGSqMtSQrsNkPoC_XVbrVhLMypevsV7naa7pvsHXVMy5hKh7S4MUG16tJJq2ld0lqhz34Rs4X/s400/aic__e11025_8srgb.jpg" /><br /><p align="center"></a><span style="font-size:78%;"><em>The Herring Net by</em> </span><em><span style="font-size:78%;">Winslow Homer<br /></span><br /></em><br />Telling Daddy<br /><br />He guides the oars of wisdom<br />through waters of my soul.<br />He, in the stern<br />I, eager in the hold.<br /><br />We fish.<br />Each wish,<br />each dream,<br />each scene,<br />leaps from the deep,<br />I cannot keep<br />them in.<br />I talk to him.<br /><br />I set them out,<br />we sift them through,<br />just us two.<br />He explaining life in Christ,<br />of laying down my<br />self and rights.<br />Suddenly, the waves and wind<br />look small.<br />Duty is not hard at all.<br />Little things I know to do<br />turn golden in my eye<br /><br />I leave a different person<br />than I came.<br />Wiser from his wisdom,<br />advancing the Kingdom,<br />trawling an inheritance<br />of the happiest kind.<br /><br />~Madeleine~<br />12/24/2010<br /></p>Madeleinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13379234553753636953noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1373327272128241952.post-38412469565609203312010-11-20T16:14:00.004-06:002011-04-07T12:17:35.612-05:00<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEjgANOoh-GbqYWgCQBadLzf8Tc8ZIJ1p9wJVMnlJxQRoJwjtYvMPflaF12_CR2ATQgQ4AoTWjYSJCPgmXG-Yt8p8JMdX8egk0G-fsXFu0PgeBYiMkl1S9Z6eQlvZUfV0yjgLNvEBvxSET/s1600/norman_rockwell_07.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 365px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5537980243573932658" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEjgANOoh-GbqYWgCQBadLzf8Tc8ZIJ1p9wJVMnlJxQRoJwjtYvMPflaF12_CR2ATQgQ4AoTWjYSJCPgmXG-Yt8p8JMdX8egk0G-fsXFu0PgeBYiMkl1S9Z6eQlvZUfV0yjgLNvEBvxSET/s400/norman_rockwell_07.jpg" /></a><br /><div>The other day was hair cut day and Bella and Louisa were formally introduced to the world of hair salons......... it was hilarious! We trooped into Pro Cuts looking like a bunch of drowned rats because it just happened to be raining. :) Standing at the door; dripping on the welcome mat, smiling and signing six names on the waiting list was just the beginning. Mama and I found enough empty seats to accommodate the gals and tried to quiet the loudest member of the group.....who was ecstatic over the fact that two of her younger sibling were going to be given a trim.<br />Lizzie : "Mama, this is going to be so wonderful. I am sure that Bella and Lou will hold still, cause if they move it wouldn't be good- would it?"</div><div>I turned to see a look of horror masking Louisa's (age three) face. </div><div>"Lou, what is wrong?" </div><div>Blank look and hands grasping the edge of the chair with a grip of steel.</div><div>"What they ganna do wiv those scissors, Adgie?</div><div>"Oh, those scissors, they are going to cut your hair with them. It won't hurt."</div>"Weally? For sure."<br />"For sure. Watch- they're going to cut mine now, see how much fun I'm having."<br />Me; sitting under the all too common treatments of the haircutting department. Snip, snip, snip..... endeavoring to appear excited.<br />The next Pro Cut's lady in line to cut my family's hair calls out, "Next!"<br />Louisa is led to the chair with fear and trembling. I smile at her. "Doing good, Wiggy. Isn't it great?"<br />A slight nod at me and a stare for the woman wrangling her hair.<br />Bella and Lizzie are placed in various chairs surrounding mine. ( What other girl gets to see three of her sisters having their hair cut at the same time while having hers cut, too.)<br />Bella; quietly shy, waits for the first snip of the scissors and grins at me from her red leather throne.<br />"Tilt your head to the left, honey."<br />"Yes, ma'am." Bella whispers, her face partly concealed by her hair- still watching me.<br />Then there's Lizzie, six years old- going on twenty! Discussing all the tools and implements used in the process. Questioning and laughing, fearful? Lizzie? Ha! She's an old pro at this whole hair cut thing, been through it a million times. ( well, maybe once.)<br />"Did you know that Bella... that's Bella over there, has never had her hair cut? It's her first time here. I've had mine trimmed before, when I was a little girl, only four. When did your first get your hair cut? What is that comb slanted for? Is it made to slant with my head? Speaking of heads, do you know, I had to have six stitches in my head once? I didn't even cry........ Isn't that so big?..........."<br />Lou sits like a statue through the whole proceeding, but as soon as the hand of the woman is lifted from her, she takes off like a rocket, lands next to Mama and proceeds to eat her sucker (given to her by the haircutter) with evident coolness.<br />"Louisa, say thank you!" Mama says.<br />"Thank you," lick, lick."<br />Each of us finish and head to the car. Well, we have passed another life milestone, now what's for dinner!Madeleinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13379234553753636953noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1373327272128241952.post-3290505885778840882010-11-16T21:09:00.007-06:002010-12-01T00:07:12.162-06:00Poems and Ponderings<div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglC8Siqw_BsSEfeIPl1xodsfh60-Jrvep6ryj65jaBE8FjukTZehMfJnQifExZVlPXS4z5sHvIGZx81drHPME5VC73KlyTWQxrjtcsFFHzEgyt2_Rzo0iQ2dxqgGgYvqGClUpnjcecKO2N/s1600/John_Everett_Millais_-_Autumn_Leaves_001.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 280px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5540353042651975026" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglC8Siqw_BsSEfeIPl1xodsfh60-Jrvep6ryj65jaBE8FjukTZehMfJnQifExZVlPXS4z5sHvIGZx81drHPME5VC73KlyTWQxrjtcsFFHzEgyt2_Rzo0iQ2dxqgGgYvqGClUpnjcecKO2N/s400/John_Everett_Millais_-_Autumn_Leaves_001.jpg" /></a><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">~I Like The Fall~</span><br /></div><br />I like the fall,<br />The mist and all.<br />I like the night owl's<br />lonely call-<br />and wailing sound<br />of wind around.<br /><br />I like the gray<br />November day,<br />and bare, dead boughs<br />that coldly sway<br />against my pane.<br />I like the rain.<br /><br />I like to sit<br />and laugh at it-<br />and tend<br />my cozy fire a bit.<br />I like the fall-<br />the mist and all.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Dixie Willson<br /></span><br /></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">~Autumn~</span><br /><br /><br />The morns are meeker than they were;<br />The nuts are getting brown;<br />The berry's cheek is plumper,<br />The rose is out of town.<br /><br />The maple wears a gayer scarf,<br />The field a Scarlet gown.<br />Lest I should be old-fashioned,<br />I'll put a trinket on.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Emily Dickinson </span></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div>Madeleinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13379234553753636953noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1373327272128241952.post-83371135998942641072010-11-10T21:43:00.003-06:002010-11-10T22:07:22.909-06:00Two new favorite movies!<object width="450" height="278"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/xntQXIBRWVw?fs=1&hl=en_US"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/xntQXIBRWVw?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="450" height="278"></embed></object><br /><br /><object width="450" height="278"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/xEJVpa4Q9Vg?fs=1&hl=en_US"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/xEJVpa4Q9Vg?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="450" height="278"></embed></object>Madeleinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13379234553753636953noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1373327272128241952.post-31017808708930495232010-10-21T12:21:00.035-05:002011-04-07T12:19:49.654-05:00A Summary of Many MonthsIn which we visit a Castle.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIfgC2nxZdl_YC7_M34RTuuC2kAcQkqStVSwt7twE8H4OEVJlHRpPHOnORFQlZdDwUgTx-hypX5NCPKUAaPdYiYRpJXMq7TL26yvVqrPSC42XRlOMDsXVrfQWB8O0CNqhVQKvNoKaiA4s8/s1600/IMG_9774.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 225px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5530600480572024578" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIfgC2nxZdl_YC7_M34RTuuC2kAcQkqStVSwt7twE8H4OEVJlHRpPHOnORFQlZdDwUgTx-hypX5NCPKUAaPdYiYRpJXMq7TL26yvVqrPSC42XRlOMDsXVrfQWB8O0CNqhVQKvNoKaiA4s8/s400/IMG_9774.JPG" /></a><br /><br />This lovely castle/mansion/ mission was built during the 1800s and was a delight to my old-fashioned heart. We were able to tour and see various rooms and three stories of this mansion. There was an endless supply of pictures I could post, but I will not overdo it.<br /><br />The Kitchen:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAMS9uQAauBxjcCXzQzLQE_-rXfkf8z25MhTxn2DJza-hUilpBTJPBpiQJtPeSJURzuesHLHMn8kYUx-4MF1EIMVAf9mw72FIhwHp_6r0G0rG3yRhcT8cU01Z3migGMkVdnGHOwTlT9dmI/s1600/IMG_9766.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 225px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5530600476255767746" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAMS9uQAauBxjcCXzQzLQE_-rXfkf8z25MhTxn2DJza-hUilpBTJPBpiQJtPeSJURzuesHLHMn8kYUx-4MF1EIMVAf9mw72FIhwHp_6r0G0rG3yRhcT8cU01Z3migGMkVdnGHOwTlT9dmI/s400/IMG_9766.JPG" /></a><br /><br />The Dining Room: (wouldn't you love to set yourself down at a feast such as this!)<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirXQDFcKsQZEbEj7IkusfrCMhQcvXHy__GDXXb4rQgFZo-2ZKpMb9B8Ols-mZ4HIJXG8s-a1SLzzcs98fGfotYp-aySm_46JJhY04bMPLFKNV8DIqHNvaD1MbhJLNXI93HMo8xxAbQqApZ/s1600/IMG_9753.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 225px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5530599108160306690" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirXQDFcKsQZEbEj7IkusfrCMhQcvXHy__GDXXb4rQgFZo-2ZKpMb9B8Ols-mZ4HIJXG8s-a1SLzzcs98fGfotYp-aySm_46JJhY04bMPLFKNV8DIqHNvaD1MbhJLNXI93HMo8xxAbQqApZ/s400/IMG_9753.JPG" /></a><br /><br />The Library: (this one has everything a girl needs- a large supply of books and your very own Knight in Shining Armor.)<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVwdmh-y9zsICkwbI7UFOgQ4t694Ms6Z99XMZ_AlgaABA5-mp14OyADYgmeDouovdARcnLxAivuYmKDdHV5rL6BkBaVzrh0dLwZcjHyD-eYPKKmfdGHwDXyzevV7pLpQRQojtnHggvl3OY/s1600/IMG_9793.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 225px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5530605398562625138" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVwdmh-y9zsICkwbI7UFOgQ4t694Ms6Z99XMZ_AlgaABA5-mp14OyADYgmeDouovdARcnLxAivuYmKDdHV5rL6BkBaVzrh0dLwZcjHyD-eYPKKmfdGHwDXyzevV7pLpQRQojtnHggvl3OY/s400/IMG_9793.JPG" /></a><br /><br />Next we headed to Pikes Peak. The view was amazing. Please notice the clouds swallowing up the landscape, they looked even more surreal from the tip top.<br />Psalms 36:4,5<br />"Thy mercy, O Lord, is in the heavens; and Thy faithfulness reacheth unto the clouds.....<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDf-OjCr8wuM6yk7kF6utvNUnE45wKUvtaIWUOUwc_ua1gY2ZJsC1QL9B1TW3oX9hsrY_C4vohu5H0GqnoVn5QoAGinJecbl9DB5hBzhTUyFGS7MC-jvdXPms75TgrjUPKMw8ZG9ULGx_q/s1600/IMG_9666.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 225px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5530596525150301202" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDf-OjCr8wuM6yk7kF6utvNUnE45wKUvtaIWUOUwc_ua1gY2ZJsC1QL9B1TW3oX9hsrY_C4vohu5H0GqnoVn5QoAGinJecbl9DB5hBzhTUyFGS7MC-jvdXPms75TgrjUPKMw8ZG9ULGx_q/s400/IMG_9666.JPG" /></a><br />... Thy righteousness is like the great mountains, Thy judgements a great deep. O Lord You preserve man and beast."<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuDquAtpUZJ8PjYlnU4oEZxLJXnf-4DW-JcY7cdzQX3EyjfTxc-D9XM6sidP0ACY3Qoxy_gsjyk6QWdIv3iTMRBKcvKTlPqQUSMmwL33YUyhDAmfLV85XojhU4ySOLrIRjoREOLl03gR95/s1600/IMG_9657.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 225px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5530596516620957890" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuDquAtpUZJ8PjYlnU4oEZxLJXnf-4DW-JcY7cdzQX3EyjfTxc-D9XM6sidP0ACY3Qoxy_gsjyk6QWdIv3iTMRBKcvKTlPqQUSMmwL33YUyhDAmfLV85XojhU4ySOLrIRjoREOLl03gR95/s400/IMG_9657.JPG" /></a><br /><br />"Hey! Look this paper says that the if you aren't back on the train in fifteen minutes they will leave you on the top. Huh! Let me see that!" (They really told us this and you can be sure we were on the train fifteen minutes <strong>before</strong> it left :P)<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4-JsNLt9lPTDkEPuH9WZGldc9yqCi3W0Dsi8G3uevS6Cv5lNTJ7cdlg-XJfvOhAZRFkN3H87rLcZ8ifSxEzdad8PRvZyrOUB6Gzc3nxMGFdWHcrG1yYVVIPD5h_4ZhDl3fn9AXsb83DWQ/s1600/IMG_9582.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 225px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5530595306008943154" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4-JsNLt9lPTDkEPuH9WZGldc9yqCi3W0Dsi8G3uevS6Cv5lNTJ7cdlg-XJfvOhAZRFkN3H87rLcZ8ifSxEzdad8PRvZyrOUB6Gzc3nxMGFdWHcrG1yYVVIPD5h_4ZhDl3fn9AXsb83DWQ/s400/IMG_9582.JPG" /></a><br />We then rode to a haunting reminder of the past, some Indian ruins called The Cliff dwellings. They were a favorite of pretty much all involved,<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjjPn8D32wbM3eEeCxi_0Hx4mod89wW5QmtjYxD0H4vVzL6teK-DPLiyfoTqzox1y8BLnG6vVpOKRs93jL4tGIEpaDWWzTHenxKO4jRgO7m0i3lF-Pf1Dl4-gVNE_sz5d-5Dk0iEOQPtMc/s1600/IMG_9503.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 225px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5530590547222785842" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjjPn8D32wbM3eEeCxi_0Hx4mod89wW5QmtjYxD0H4vVzL6teK-DPLiyfoTqzox1y8BLnG6vVpOKRs93jL4tGIEpaDWWzTHenxKO4jRgO7m0i3lF-Pf1Dl4-gVNE_sz5d-5Dk0iEOQPtMc/s400/IMG_9503.JPG" /></a><br /><br />except Louisa who was incredibly scared an Indian brave was going to come shrieking up to scalp her any moment. ( I am not joking about this, I guess it comes from watching too many Roy Rogers' movies.)<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTmIWRgWJN2R87Ek1s11t_O24A_GnrgISw8XzgghZnVTOGlh9SlGfElHAG80kHI9mdAuOrPfjh0OD1acHtYB2W_gNGGpwX1nwqJaYDw1H5cA3eDYstl0-WwRoSCIyjO3IeKMrItdW72KyC/s1600/IMG_9511.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 225px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5530595298684378306" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTmIWRgWJN2R87Ek1s11t_O24A_GnrgISw8XzgghZnVTOGlh9SlGfElHAG80kHI9mdAuOrPfjh0OD1acHtYB2W_gNGGpwX1nwqJaYDw1H5cA3eDYstl0-WwRoSCIyjO3IeKMrItdW72KyC/s400/IMG_9511.JPG" /></a><br />Mama and Bella peering into a home that once belonged to a family with an elderly person, notice the supports on either side of the doorway for aid.<br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinsgmYJUT7H2C0d4gO2uFXTkK83qRyNVDcO2pWp_ZIp0t8i57N2hrYSgFmorZKT-w9R1GRKVpdK1JT-5lBjEiRhc5_VlqKbTtaesZ3vmz_CDfybehwYQ23s_1Jp7CPBcwoumD_LSVX2NM5/s1600/IMG_9544.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 225px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5530594010094875058" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinsgmYJUT7H2C0d4gO2uFXTkK83qRyNVDcO2pWp_ZIp0t8i57N2hrYSgFmorZKT-w9R1GRKVpdK1JT-5lBjEiRhc5_VlqKbTtaesZ3vmz_CDfybehwYQ23s_1Jp7CPBcwoumD_LSVX2NM5/s400/IMG_9544.JPG" /></a> All of us kids "hanging out"!<br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBP6c5tlOmf6a0fpGTfqMIKZrPX4NiUhz8jPd1SbIiCvrwJnUAMDQvncT63ItJCI6P2kTPsQuCH9fX5tutCFSaXD1SHvZ1P8sr30ijkqHGhe8dxzopwrXB5KSfBjmPUW4XhgMSFAydcNEC/s1600/IMG_9558.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 225px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5530594006795008258" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBP6c5tlOmf6a0fpGTfqMIKZrPX4NiUhz8jPd1SbIiCvrwJnUAMDQvncT63ItJCI6P2kTPsQuCH9fX5tutCFSaXD1SHvZ1P8sr30ijkqHGhe8dxzopwrXB5KSfBjmPUW4XhgMSFAydcNEC/s400/IMG_9558.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI2PsnE6neqx0GtMJt9Y9u57j3JrRz8SJV-1bRausjyQ1B0UzE5gDBPcKN9ahuZ0gCFoivPPkrVBo-HkBLX2KTpyL-QfEbwqghOxCV2HvkJGw7yRgq5NzpYIrbyQ1mazqrgC4Eb4FE5NTo/s1600/IMG_9555.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 225px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5530592743468714018" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI2PsnE6neqx0GtMJt9Y9u57j3JrRz8SJV-1bRausjyQ1B0UzE5gDBPcKN9ahuZ0gCFoivPPkrVBo-HkBLX2KTpyL-QfEbwqghOxCV2HvkJGw7yRgq5NzpYIrbyQ1mazqrgC4Eb4FE5NTo/s400/IMG_9555.JPG" /></a> While I admire the intricate stonework, Louisa finds the perfect hiding spot, "No injuns will find me here."<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDyWSHdUWutIrPgSmud_LH2MJ8w8BneQTK2JI65uJh8ysPJriqO5-xiLGW34z4OYiHTUYkBJLkn3gMbOLlmplR6EE-GSsA8_aPXXJ_bXJdsmtpSZPCSTbQyHIZE-4zofxsZOU-uy9y28QL/s1600/IMG_9551.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 225px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5530592740661544978" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDyWSHdUWutIrPgSmud_LH2MJ8w8BneQTK2JI65uJh8ysPJriqO5-xiLGW34z4OYiHTUYkBJLkn3gMbOLlmplR6EE-GSsA8_aPXXJ_bXJdsmtpSZPCSTbQyHIZE-4zofxsZOU-uy9y28QL/s400/IMG_9551.JPG" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivJ_8dobjEeeoaB_CUZ5PCwPLlhVzwaL9z7tVYPa77wjr8xwJZ4i0aV4o0174_WdIhFXEu6yhDiCgVqkxtFXwCGPjlJHLcaAL6VZnO8pxy2fcdwpaZfKg-9rilR6xUX1tEp5NwWigRwOSr/s1600/IMG_9546.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 225px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5530591533539196066" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivJ_8dobjEeeoaB_CUZ5PCwPLlhVzwaL9z7tVYPa77wjr8xwJZ4i0aV4o0174_WdIhFXEu6yhDiCgVqkxtFXwCGPjlJHLcaAL6VZnO8pxy2fcdwpaZfKg-9rilR6xUX1tEp5NwWigRwOSr/s400/IMG_9546.JPG" /></a><br />The Threesome.<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc9b5absdOwzrPGWa97YhqJXn_k4xTKpbrPIujfYDbgmCrYFvUrRMOlkYwemqV16jga43S5Ktx9PECar2Xeay_qKiZY5TdwDqtu3SCzl18fTL6-7gZsEeQL30NmptJkx5OvvHUFZ5KNbvF/s1600/IMG_9516.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 225px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5530591531102497602" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc9b5absdOwzrPGWa97YhqJXn_k4xTKpbrPIujfYDbgmCrYFvUrRMOlkYwemqV16jga43S5Ktx9PECar2Xeay_qKiZY5TdwDqtu3SCzl18fTL6-7gZsEeQL30NmptJkx5OvvHUFZ5KNbvF/s400/IMG_9516.JPG" /></a><br />That morning we went to, where else......<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ5_2a-xzeedNmhXpkuPFc6WRrRTXiqEYmwNLuGTrDIEMsaZX66GxeOGXOn1WE858d3vFO75EJNFLnVtFezM12RPfSetmoSbQ6nC2pt3MaSJ_fXXCvKO3KBuVq9DR7yGZX_yg3Hj1k_ZAi/s1600/IMG_9468.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 225px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5530585082523047746" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ5_2a-xzeedNmhXpkuPFc6WRrRTXiqEYmwNLuGTrDIEMsaZX66GxeOGXOn1WE858d3vFO75EJNFLnVtFezM12RPfSetmoSbQ6nC2pt3MaSJ_fXXCvKO3KBuVq9DR7yGZX_yg3Hj1k_ZAi/s400/IMG_9468.JPG" /></a><br />We visited Focus on the Family's Visitors Center and had a fantastic time. Even us big kids (Dad included) were impressed. The sets were very realistic.<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ4izWwvksiOg8yWO7_r5_ultUH25ZVhF1hUFc3l8DvJRckOYe8pKTK5n9NjbB8VvJalJxiQ6jiaWsiqIwibQfzpV9sdS9FPRPOQRX6xduKt6QP71Ibm1q2j9BpZZeIOJWmlP-7ZT0hVL6/s1600/IMG_9405.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 225px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5530581169262857890" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ4izWwvksiOg8yWO7_r5_ultUH25ZVhF1hUFc3l8DvJRckOYe8pKTK5n9NjbB8VvJalJxiQ6jiaWsiqIwibQfzpV9sdS9FPRPOQRX6xduKt6QP71Ibm1q2j9BpZZeIOJWmlP-7ZT0hVL6/s400/IMG_9405.JPG" /></a><br />The actual bell that was rung at the opening scene when the Whit's End door is opened!<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPLGgEtRQEghnENAECsnbGa_CAst-xumi90c0m7yw-Wpig1ckFxqb-k-mUNuaEGFjqP5o1qgv92Oryfx29L6HcuEpHL6CoYe4NdHFO8wtzxJ4W-7Mxw99kNSdD0IEZnYeI5XnqZeS-174Q/s1600/IMG_9416.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 225px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5530582957047031890" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPLGgEtRQEghnENAECsnbGa_CAst-xumi90c0m7yw-Wpig1ckFxqb-k-mUNuaEGFjqP5o1qgv92Oryfx29L6HcuEpHL6CoYe4NdHFO8wtzxJ4W-7Mxw99kNSdD0IEZnYeI5XnqZeS-174Q/s400/IMG_9416.JPG" /></a></div><br /><br /><div><br />As Lizzie was going to go down the long, long three story slide, she met Eugene heading down. He was so nice and agreed to pose for a snapshot, he's a bit shorter than I supposed.<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitHw7dU08c9y68ibvm23h-oRNl_QhHTEvZ75HEnR0h7FsHlG788KCNgqKKS6CzNFgjSKbf-JP-HlA0NjcCznTRqo-hqCrjx6itzrKF-QhL9IRu3EbUXXYsQ6YKBoLoQ2n4cqsEv4rhMLZS/s1600/IMG_9401.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 225px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5530579929219571186" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitHw7dU08c9y68ibvm23h-oRNl_QhHTEvZ75HEnR0h7FsHlG788KCNgqKKS6CzNFgjSKbf-JP-HlA0NjcCznTRqo-hqCrjx6itzrKF-QhL9IRu3EbUXXYsQ6YKBoLoQ2n4cqsEv4rhMLZS/s400/IMG_9401.JPG" /></a> The girls met the cutest little girl at the Garden of the gods RV camp, they played for hours together.<br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKxfCPQpMvdkB8v0fPYarEEwOaBzXBmKU-9CO3GcH1F5fKy3qCd7PIgzrHCJBqSayvKAhn4mUGgIeiRo_Q_x3v4byLiQomhnDCGu5vl8KR3Z19xkO0RB9Z0d2GcndRZEQWcmZMI1kIldnN/s1600/IMG_9332.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 225px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5530579917864231538" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKxfCPQpMvdkB8v0fPYarEEwOaBzXBmKU-9CO3GcH1F5fKy3qCd7PIgzrHCJBqSayvKAhn4mUGgIeiRo_Q_x3v4byLiQomhnDCGu5vl8KR3Z19xkO0RB9Z0d2GcndRZEQWcmZMI1kIldnN/s400/IMG_9332.JPG" /></a>Big screen movie night at the camp. The viewing is projected onto a large sheet while we kickback in our lounge chairs. We invite all our neighbors and pop in some of those good ole' family films that we love-one of which is FIREPROOF.<br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh81AfB0bzMNv1FR_dDSUAAZDu93iKV4lONjc2iBbLuOjw7tROkTo444bwNfCTElNuYLPAzToX4pbfgYBcjcNQwh3RUD_TD13JuZR8z6UHXndKA1n03KDpsIo0ZnKVH_XKtyiiCK2S4jdP7/s1600/IMG_8475.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 225px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5530570310704501186" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh81AfB0bzMNv1FR_dDSUAAZDu93iKV4lONjc2iBbLuOjw7tROkTo444bwNfCTElNuYLPAzToX4pbfgYBcjcNQwh3RUD_TD13JuZR8z6UHXndKA1n03KDpsIo0ZnKVH_XKtyiiCK2S4jdP7/s400/IMG_8475.JPG" /></a><br />Bella's birthday shebang! Please observe Lizzie's dirt with a little face on it. ha, ha. ( the little girl in the middle practically latched onto us and was integrated into the celebration. She even had cake and ice cream. :)<br /></div><div><div> </div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihcyIO5NjChJmBug6me100QlycNsXJCiuXVyz3Ilvl9Kys-L4ziqkEmegaSthWTB_DsuUiBES_X-XyzHLoLZQVEVtzMjptFp5H432FF1UQzmPe-fzSncLPM1jhMaNBTK18uZ6iK_jup-Sp/s1600/IMG_8406.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 225px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5530570303257231314" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihcyIO5NjChJmBug6me100QlycNsXJCiuXVyz3Ilvl9Kys-L4ziqkEmegaSthWTB_DsuUiBES_X-XyzHLoLZQVEVtzMjptFp5H432FF1UQzmPe-fzSncLPM1jhMaNBTK18uZ6iK_jup-Sp/s400/IMG_8406.JPG" /></a><br />Nana (my Mom's mom) made the girls matching capes and skirts. The theme of the party was Queen Esther, thus the crown on Bella's head.<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirjd9tnr9XZyGvmhDOjieYuBsKacCZ71PGpdmiTKXUjeWrg4j0l4h_O_0S53LwzSB_4b3_UiqaOsZ8zeJlLIWejg0svL5gx8aRFNGoQJSKwD4d6A18_8pzRyWIUzz3LU6RRNcleTg1kyxh/s1600/IMG_8398.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 225px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5530569298047845842" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirjd9tnr9XZyGvmhDOjieYuBsKacCZ71PGpdmiTKXUjeWrg4j0l4h_O_0S53LwzSB_4b3_UiqaOsZ8zeJlLIWejg0svL5gx8aRFNGoQJSKwD4d6A18_8pzRyWIUzz3LU6RRNcleTg1kyxh/s400/IMG_8398.JPG" /></a> The BIRTHDAY GIRL all dressed up in her finery, also Lizzie and Louisa in the background preening. I cannot believe Bella is five years old, she is such a sweetie!<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVmfoNn32gyQYVT0ZHkrM309QMeyKY_xc6rQJPMouEFuZv05hcz_1PxemqSILpD6fp9VkIBNLCKY_zg7m5t6bM2XwFYST9yJbnKUBofA4OIwDgwwIp0JWIgZ2zgTFYKz3-9Ypm2sUtz1V1/s1600/IMG_8384.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 225px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5530568095913433634" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVmfoNn32gyQYVT0ZHkrM309QMeyKY_xc6rQJPMouEFuZv05hcz_1PxemqSILpD6fp9VkIBNLCKY_zg7m5t6bM2XwFYST9yJbnKUBofA4OIwDgwwIp0JWIgZ2zgTFYKz3-9Ypm2sUtz1V1/s400/IMG_8384.JPG" /></a><br />Ah, here comes the cake......Nana baked.<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglTgL9gd9XsDelCkaQHTtVDM_FXNYszUpGw38vZpkI2Ph5rdwRUAYSegJDiPIjrsh5FVUcuVZQP9lJowir798eu0Fzh_t4V3FU0Sf-vgagL8ZbWsVntUxCSNFf9mX-cYuf-4C5QHTDXASe/s1600/IMG_8378.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 225px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5530568091711682194" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglTgL9gd9XsDelCkaQHTtVDM_FXNYszUpGw38vZpkI2Ph5rdwRUAYSegJDiPIjrsh5FVUcuVZQP9lJowir798eu0Fzh_t4V3FU0Sf-vgagL8ZbWsVntUxCSNFf9mX-cYuf-4C5QHTDXASe/s400/IMG_8378.JPG" /></a> To top off the fun trip, Bella won a bag of cotton candy in a drawing at the local train ride and<br />she shared the treat with her sisters. ( I am afraid that stuff in not very healthy for you, something <strong>that</strong> blue has to have at least a pound of artificial ingredients.) </div><br /><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3Rydkd8v5K8tMqfEEf9Es_UCr3FMbuEBxlidROi-Yn5fFksSx76JPMQUbSAYTQz54QF3SH3zwuATZcq5EhivjvvcBvKVlrtgoXNLy3voWz5XlCVPiuEhjT3-UaDGePDTR5tJ7prxCWmEm/s1600/IMG_8357.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 225px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5530566219346923154" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3Rydkd8v5K8tMqfEEf9Es_UCr3FMbuEBxlidROi-Yn5fFksSx76JPMQUbSAYTQz54QF3SH3zwuATZcq5EhivjvvcBvKVlrtgoXNLy3voWz5XlCVPiuEhjT3-UaDGePDTR5tJ7prxCWmEm/s400/IMG_8357.JPG" /></a><br />Nana and Katie, laughing<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCwJJeRQX1fSJ5fU5N490HZHWJjPZAXsqdNGdxOPI0VEclFenq8N0SJo98g9PxmwpHSmrGKpNaUwalxZwHIzwWs4WArhTDKbfQNYqp3l-J86uIBNokD7TcCcpXbpkcNHLoHFHM8KQR-OoN/s1600/IMG_8324.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 225px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5530566208255245778" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCwJJeRQX1fSJ5fU5N490HZHWJjPZAXsqdNGdxOPI0VEclFenq8N0SJo98g9PxmwpHSmrGKpNaUwalxZwHIzwWs4WArhTDKbfQNYqp3l-J86uIBNokD7TcCcpXbpkcNHLoHFHM8KQR-OoN/s400/IMG_8324.JPG" /></a> GIGGLE<br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnONNoHTsk0d5urr8ERaBWnRtT_GKMspbKkRtSxV3mltP-E1ALd_aUhRlwLm4vKGBlRM9cBIjJ5ifoicwMpNieeD4BRGAgfhK5lg1gJJL2icNKxwpGeZ0TK3jClN5c3MHoTNCWgf5ljMCg/s1600/IMG_8279.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 225px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5530559135416303730" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnONNoHTsk0d5urr8ERaBWnRtT_GKMspbKkRtSxV3mltP-E1ALd_aUhRlwLm4vKGBlRM9cBIjJ5ifoicwMpNieeD4BRGAgfhK5lg1gJJL2icNKxwpGeZ0TK3jClN5c3MHoTNCWgf5ljMCg/s400/IMG_8279.JPG" /></a><br />We had the privilege to go to the Baby Conference in July. Mama and I love dressing the girls alike and so this day was white dress day. I have a great time listening to men of God expound Scripture and debate the precepts surrounding it. Some of the best times were in the hallways of the conference center where I met so many godly young women and formed ties that can be used for His glory.<br /><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz9ne7BlFpa3v4o9OJRK4JVk2D0m9GURIy4LPD9hClmdm66o9Zc1GGeG8xX32vwBNRdbWxLyakN9CpEYDgkyRrTbPvsvSilnQm9ljqOBKoav8rpmhM3oKhp6vuTAL4BFF-VmEs9NOsoQ77/s1600/IMG_8146.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5530556365827757922" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz9ne7BlFpa3v4o9OJRK4JVk2D0m9GURIy4LPD9hClmdm66o9Zc1GGeG8xX32vwBNRdbWxLyakN9CpEYDgkyRrTbPvsvSilnQm9ljqOBKoav8rpmhM3oKhp6vuTAL4BFF-VmEs9NOsoQ77/s400/IMG_8146.JPG" /></a></p><br />Dad and Jonathan were able to get a picture with one of our media heroes, Mr. Duggar! We love those Duggars....they are the greatest.<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSDAT5j2xGXp9LS4pah8U5l4aV-3JrfK9z0fyli_Lpx74Ju4a8YMaVbASi1nhBaQbDNK7LXsXYXpdwS8XCSl7_yfJACqUrTIY5Wx7IpBG7IwMstaQ20Ggi31xa3VzVP5sZ2H-hXMDlT1DT/s1600/IMG_8134.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5530556357120292786" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSDAT5j2xGXp9LS4pah8U5l4aV-3JrfK9z0fyli_Lpx74Ju4a8YMaVbASi1nhBaQbDNK7LXsXYXpdwS8XCSl7_yfJACqUrTIY5Wx7IpBG7IwMstaQ20Ggi31xa3VzVP5sZ2H-hXMDlT1DT/s400/IMG_8134.JPG" /></a><br />Yay! Mama, the girls and I with Mrs. Duggar, who won the "Mother of the Year" award.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF8mytx2ChWPkwNuEEq5WbinV9heTHz7wah1pCjS_c58ud-cK7MqjRt2new3QfkmjSoJUm7s_MSeeMeMuTRK-KRLC2K5KpjlTl7KKX2fZg9x-EhZQVp5EiHFFUrqGwbb_iRDwffpmJZbOS/s1600/IMG_0447.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5540366747155606050" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF8mytx2ChWPkwNuEEq5WbinV9heTHz7wah1pCjS_c58ud-cK7MqjRt2new3QfkmjSoJUm7s_MSeeMeMuTRK-KRLC2K5KpjlTl7KKX2fZg9x-EhZQVp5EiHFFUrqGwbb_iRDwffpmJZbOS/s400/IMG_0447.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br />Back at home we went to our local Rodeo. Ride em' Cowboys. We were duded out in our western duds, the weather was perfect and we managed to nab a front row seat. <a href="http://smallhouselotsalove.blogspot.com/">Shelbi</a>, <a href="http://lilbrothersaregreat.blogspot.com/">Savannah</a> and I were immersed in the cowboy culture enough for all year long and all in one night! Ha. Especially when the bulls came out- I could have fled. ( I hate bull riding.)<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiWbS_mpo0V-bWITQdwoGD9OX1_CiT_r35RNqhLE7L_RVUz7bAsR9pGd65JB8pijOMMAFXJ6oCCOQFdgxzVdaH_6clf3dIqpvLomI7pEH6tGhuCqvIu4L3n1YCONeHEhc0KRMoNwuDN8fR/s1600/IMG_8552.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 225px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5530571392013965282" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiWbS_mpo0V-bWITQdwoGD9OX1_CiT_r35RNqhLE7L_RVUz7bAsR9pGd65JB8pijOMMAFXJ6oCCOQFdgxzVdaH_6clf3dIqpvLomI7pEH6tGhuCqvIu4L3n1YCONeHEhc0KRMoNwuDN8fR/s400/IMG_8552.JPG" /></a><br /><br />So, thhhhattt'ssss all folksss. From us gals on the ranch, so long.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFdu-KHnbf1Ny4yKv0reWfoNDPOLnJ3KZOUyhumy4pXIeMLUiULgh9Lbs0U8sxBnMoaE4S5lQC_vqA1K5wCnBsGfu4eaLn_DhQ_R6mmkGWcNdpEFLBAIp_kjDmy5GOp1h5FrdYEFYtUvBj/s1600/DSCN0581-1.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5540372028364094050" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFdu-KHnbf1Ny4yKv0reWfoNDPOLnJ3KZOUyhumy4pXIeMLUiULgh9Lbs0U8sxBnMoaE4S5lQC_vqA1K5wCnBsGfu4eaLn_DhQ_R6mmkGWcNdpEFLBAIp_kjDmy5GOp1h5FrdYEFYtUvBj/s400/DSCN0581-1.JPG" /></a><br /><div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Madeleinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13379234553753636953noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1373327272128241952.post-54430378171941039752010-09-16T14:19:00.006-05:002010-11-10T18:16:27.965-06:00Self Esteem or Christ Esteem?<span style="font-size:130%;">How God describes mankind.......according to Psalm 14 :</span><br /><p>We are;<br /></p><p>Fools,</p> saying there is no God,<br /><br />corrupt,<br /><br />abominable,<br /><br />not good,<br /><br />going aside in our own way,<br /><br />filthy,<br /><br />no good,<br /><br />working iniquity,<br /><br />stupid,<br /><br />eating up God's people,<br /><br />not calling upon the Lord,<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">and according to Romans 3:</span><br /><br /><br /><br />not righteous,<br /><br />not understanding,<br /><br />not seeking after God,<br /><br />going our own way,<br /><br />unprofitable,<br /><br />doers of evil,<br /><br />people with throats as open graves,<br /><br />deceitful,<br /><br />poisonous,<br /><br />full of cursings,<br /><br />bitter,<br /><br />swift to shed blood,<br /><br />destructive,<br /><br />miserable,<br /><br /> people who never know peace,<br /><br />having no fear of God.<br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">What God is...........</span><span style="font-size:130%;">according to Psalm 103:</span><br /><br /><br /><br />Holy,<br /><br />full of benefits<br /><br />forgiving of iniquities,<br /><br />healing our diseases,<br /><br />redeeming us from destruction,<br /><br />crowns us with loving kindness,<br /><br />tender,<br /><br />merciful,<br /><br />satisfying,<br /><br />renewing our youth,<br /><br />executes righteousness and justice,<br /><br />makes himself known,<br /><br />merciful,<br /><br />gracious,<br /><br />full of compassion,<br /><br />has mercy in plenty,<br /><br />he will not always chide,<br /><br />will not keep his anger forever,<br /><br />has not dealt with us according to our sins,<br /><br />not rewarded our iniquities,<br /><br />great in mercy toward those who fear Him,<br /><br />a father to the God-fearing,<br /><br />pities His children,<br /><br />knows our frame,<br /><br />remembers we are dust,<br /><br />has everlasting mercy on those who fear,<br /><br />merciful unto children's children,<br /><br />keeps His covenant with commandment keepers.<br /><br /><br /><br />Doesn't this make your heart want to sing! Christ is all- all we need and should want. Whenever I find passages such as these I am broken, broken that I cannot do more. Joyful that <strong>He</strong> has done so much.<br /><br /><br /><br />"Remember not the sins of my youth, nor my transgressions, according to your mercy remember me for <strong>your</strong> goodness sake, O Lord."<br />Psalms 25:7<br /><br /><br /><br />What a pleasure it is for me to remember that Charles Spurgeon said,<br /><br /><br /><br />"Nearness to God bring likeness to God. The more you see God the more of God will be seen in you."<br /><br />Isn't that amazing- as Christians, Christ has taken all our attributes and placed them in His tomb while placing us on the mounts of His love so all can see <strong>His</strong> beauty written on our souls.<br /><br /><br /><br />"The man who is deeply discontented with himself is probably growing fast in the full likeness of Christ."<br /><br />~ Charles SpurgeonMadeleinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13379234553753636953noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1373327272128241952.post-3675560143666556192010-09-15T23:44:00.004-05:002010-09-15T23:57:02.511-05:00Living Love at Calvary<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKF1mv0MVFHxi2GbrXIYrJIBupLkrRjbvfK1GPG6mBjCZM59DJWj5sipWlGBchyef_3sSUNPoGZiQFaMkMDw938zySHHTW7bwwbUtxkBjOqqw4a5OtMNF-kjREB5dFdvB8bSBm8GFXgka6/s1600/D3DBD00Z.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5517369053658459266" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKF1mv0MVFHxi2GbrXIYrJIBupLkrRjbvfK1GPG6mBjCZM59DJWj5sipWlGBchyef_3sSUNPoGZiQFaMkMDw938zySHHTW7bwwbUtxkBjOqqw4a5OtMNF-kjREB5dFdvB8bSBm8GFXgka6/s400/D3DBD00Z.jpg" /></a> "If monotony ties me, and I cannot stand drudgery; if stupid people fret me and the little ruffles set me on edge; if I make much of the little trifles of life, then I know nothing of Calvary Love."<br />~Amy CarmichealMadeleinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13379234553753636953noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1373327272128241952.post-56382046049896891362010-09-15T22:40:00.005-05:002010-09-15T23:37:45.343-05:00Do YOU really LOVE?Please take.......<br /><a href="http://www.wayofthemaster.com/lovetest.shtml"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 243px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 72px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5517351573836326498" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2lAu1hBdL_-JOWwKr_esWAD4Vok3HJI3C6dilPPeYHe78m14TMiSn4tOuPJd6IF1Jt18vo7FcoTjsDcZW79IJk3rk5Bxn1qeEBpqaLfiaapdWWyw7rsCXK9NVuX3asp4NMCPp4iTlVDmB/" /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 330px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 287px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5517358286831628386" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQZ6a3UQB3e30gF7MWBr_vXz1JSicXwdNur2ADj4kCDKESPyhPQ0H0zxpo7zsaY4oCc9a5KoA2yRN6DkVxsoNp8UkdiXP3oZfh5wlW0kVqEbwTsn3j4509U3Ha8c_ns9fOsXgip1pDG3by/s400/lovetest.jpg" /></a><br /><div>I did.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Boy, I felt like crying.</div><br /><div>Why haven't I been more bold? Why haven't I told the many people I come in contact with of Christ's amazing love, of the law and how it affects our lives. Why?</div><div> </div><div>I was a coward. By God's mercy, as a family, we are now telling others of the gospel. Please click <a href="http://www.livingwaters.com/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=flypage.tpl&product_id=141&category_id=8&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=199&lang=en">here</a> to see the resouce we use to reach people for Christ in a friendly way. These are great conversation starters. I have given out at least a hundred since we bought them. </div><div> </div><div>I thank the Lord for showing our family that we can speak of the glory of the Lord in the gates.</div><div> </div><div>"That I may show forth all Your praise in the gates..... I will rejoice in Your salvation."<br />Psalm 9:14</div><div></div><br /><div>"The word of God I think of as a straight edge, which shows up our own crookedness. We can't really tell how crooked our thinking is until we line it up with the straight edge of the scripture."</div><div> </div><div>~Elisabeth Elliot</div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div>Madeleinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13379234553753636953noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1373327272128241952.post-23503348411134594942010-09-12T13:26:00.006-05:002010-09-12T15:19:40.024-05:00For all she does...<div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYxxO_Rxk_VP7d2KP_2Svbh5cNJ0iV7cjkPt9LnEEkq6127TGLTiugxtYEOhPeboAa7zqRmNgrjHlaPFuIKo7BCxReZm4z06Vds5yIUzsQdVuK7C82snjRbVHo59VytzDxcfCVFxHTJGfZ/s1600/IMG_8914-1.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 409px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 237px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5516102860006358386" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYxxO_Rxk_VP7d2KP_2Svbh5cNJ0iV7cjkPt9LnEEkq6127TGLTiugxtYEOhPeboAa7zqRmNgrjHlaPFuIKo7BCxReZm4z06Vds5yIUzsQdVuK7C82snjRbVHo59VytzDxcfCVFxHTJGfZ/s400/IMG_8914-1.JPG" /></a></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center">"To my mother I tell the truth. I have no thought, no feeling that I cannot share with my mother, and she is like a second conscience to me, her eyes like a mirror reflecting my own image."</div><div align="center">~William Gerhardi</div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;"></span> </div>Madeleinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13379234553753636953noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1373327272128241952.post-74000834499981448172010-09-08T22:26:00.003-05:002010-09-08T22:38:47.309-05:00Ace Wonder Movie TrailerThis is going to be a great movie, I can't wait for it to come out!<br />The Moore's have really outdone themselves this time.<br />It looks like Gator is going to keep us laughing, again.<br />Click <a href="http://acewondermovie.com/blog/">here</a> to keep up with all the behind the scenes activities.<br /><br /><object style="BACKGROUND-IMAGE: url(http://i1.ytimg.com/vi/hLfembM7gOM/hqdefault.jpg)" width="480" height="295"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/hLfembM7gOM?fs=1&hl=en_US"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/hLfembM7gOM?fs=1&hl=en_US" width="480" height="295" allowscriptaccess="never" allowfullscreen="true" wmode="transparent" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"></embed></object>Madeleinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13379234553753636953noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1373327272128241952.post-92006300629995139902010-09-08T13:28:00.014-05:002010-09-12T22:08:03.155-05:00Honey in Our Homes<div align="left"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMDyjuopxHLkZyJYMDuFwiDC9N08eFk3Z-jVtmgrHyCL8qo3UVpIIV7kQCGH_R7LirSK3kNHoMWEznotTRMO-dfHm9uDau9bzipSvt6InyCkfJXMKj3dhnQ8DDZLyvQyOU2d7zr9JHdyKc/s1600/rockwell_crackersinBed_2.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 287px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5514614418748698402" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMDyjuopxHLkZyJYMDuFwiDC9N08eFk3Z-jVtmgrHyCL8qo3UVpIIV7kQCGH_R7LirSK3kNHoMWEznotTRMO-dfHm9uDau9bzipSvt6InyCkfJXMKj3dhnQ8DDZLyvQyOU2d7zr9JHdyKc/s400/rockwell_crackersinBed_2.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div align="left">Have you felt the wonder?</div>Lying back,<br />feet curled under you,<br />eyes dancing over those<br />all absorbing lines<br />of a book.<br />Reading.<br />There is nothing<br />in the whole world<br />like it.<br /><br />Nothing.<br /><br />Movies, radio, and television cannot take the place of crisp, white paper, and words. Words that lie before you, expecting you to discover and uncover, to delight in and imagine what the author buried in the lyrical sands of time.<br /><br />You have been pulled into a distant place, a world of your own! You feel dreamy, hopeful, numb, chilled, elated, defeated, merry, angry, stifled, daring, gentle, humored, tearful, and skillful all in one afternoon. Whenever I finish a good book I suddenly realize it is as if I have come to know a new friend. I am looking, with fresh eyes, at words strung together forming a work of art. (think- pearl necklace.)<br /><br />Today, I want to introduce you to a work of art written by Gladys Hunt, who loves books.... need I say more?<br /><br />The book, <strong>Honey for a Child's Heart,</strong> is written for families, mothers, fathers, boys, girls, children, and babies. Why?<br />It is about the importance of books. What they do for you; soul and body and how they affect families.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Honey-Childs-Heart-Gladys-Hunt/dp/0310242460"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5514612966139886498" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtDhhj043AlROowMT2snzY7ck_xUiijZ4w4P8zsTLAutvK_fJ98oYLUPFsoEQi2vefQHZwETgsE4F_S3gpZj8nKQN7vcOwajZC9gSisH7tIKwb8D_GnQiut-M9vUM9LAWBS_wDhY-QBmlE/s400/51fozmuJYSL__BO2,204,203,200_PIsitb-sticker-arrow-click,TopRight,35,-76_AA300_SH20_OU01_.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><p>I loved it. Mrs. Hunt put in words what I have thought a thousand times. She has made a memorial of why christians and books should be always entwined. She has written it all with a perspective that the Bible is the most important book. All books should be read with an understanding that the guidebook is The Book of Books. The "Honey" in her book is the Word of God.</p><p>This book influenced me before I could even read.<br />Mama read <strong>Honey for a Child's Heart</strong> when I was a toddler and she understood fully why she loved reading aloud to me.</p><p>In her preface, Mrs. Hunt has written these words:</p><p><em>"Books are like people: fascinating, inspiring, thought-provoking, some laugh, some meditate, others ache with old age, but still have wisdom; some are disease-ridden, some deceitful; but others are a delight to behold, and many travel to foreign lands; some cry, some teach, others are lots of fun, they are excellent companions, and they have individuality--Books are friends. What person has too many friends?"<br /></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgwZuR31_m5SOHpacGJXoHzpiAiN4n7mLoQdU3kiJ3ed8KQRzIXBaa9IdhYTGYhhnmDFwa0OZwiwqBJ8MGmgzz0x8wV5AKsPubeZ1i8N_9oZ6KPz-1j23MK2JNU0tLPytp_-kKy6UPoUmn/s1600/NR_Land%2520of%2520Enchantment_sm.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 232px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 321px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5514738023159943666" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgwZuR31_m5SOHpacGJXoHzpiAiN4n7mLoQdU3kiJ3ed8KQRzIXBaa9IdhYTGYhhnmDFwa0OZwiwqBJ8MGmgzz0x8wV5AKsPubeZ1i8N_9oZ6KPz-1j23MK2JNU0tLPytp_-kKy6UPoUmn/s400/NR_Land%2520of%2520Enchantment_sm.jpg" /></a><br />In the first chapter Mrs. Hunt says, </em></div><div align="left"><br /><em>"A good book is a magic gateway into a wider world of wonder, beauty, delight, and adventure. Books are experiences that make us grow, that add something to our inner stature. Children and books go together in a special way. I can't imagine any pleasure greater than bringing to the uncluttered, supple mind of a child the delight of knowing God and the many rich things He has given us to enjoy. This is every parent's privilege, and books are his keenest tools. Children don't stumble onto good books by themselves, they must be introduced to the wonder of words put together in<br />such a way that they spin out pure joy and magic.......<br />What I am saying is simply this: As Christian parents we are<br />concerned about building whole people-- people who are alive; emotionally, spiritually, intellectually. The instruction to "....train up a child in the way he should go...." encompasses so much more than teaching him the facts of the Gospel. It is to train the child's character, give him high ideals and to encourage integrity. It is to provide largeness of thought, creative thinking, imaginative wondering-- an adequate view of God and His world. He can never really appreciate the finest without personal redemption. But many a redeemed person lives in a small, insecure world because he has never walked with God into the larger place which is His domain. We have books and The Book at our disposal to use wisely for God's glory."</em></div><div align="left"><blockquote><p></p><p><em>Later, she explains that reading aloud is one of the most important things you can do for your family. </em></p><p><em>"If families don't read books together, how do they know each other's<br />friends? That's exactly how we feel about it. Reading aloud as a family has bound us together, as sharing an adventure always does. We do know the same people. We have gone through emotional crises together as we felt anger, sadness, fear, gladness, and tenderness in the world of the book we were reading. Something happens to us which is better experienced than described-- a kind of enlarging of heart-- when we encounter passages full of grand language and nobility of thought...At the age of seventy, Laurence Housman writes about the contribution<br />reading made in his family in <strong>The Unexpected Years</strong>: "These family readings formed so satisfying a bond between older and younger that I can hardly think of family life without it; and I marvel when I hear of families in whose upbringing<br />it has had no place."<br /></em></p></blockquote></div><br /><p><em>I have felt this joy, a joy, as Mrs. Hunt says, that must be experienced rather than described. We have read together; hanging around the table in our kitchen, breathlessly listening from the couches of our family room or even squished in the car on our vacations- leaning forward to catch each word. There are smiles and wiggles of delight when yet, another book is pulled from the special spot we keep the "read-alouds". I do not know how many times I have said or heard, "Please. just one more chapter?"<br /></em></p><em><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5514651569778903890" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibrXd2qDtHhonYvaeA-4xxt3lPrK2aZBC3heKeBaBYFeC6g115jsUm0n88IT8qPYHqAhoaUgwgHxZzzpJTOdL3sI1E1lPgcg6i1Y3GRAyKaxtXKyKFKTW0TNEYU1IGdWhCeyh27zhvGok5/s400/2006BH9456~About-Fairies-Two-Girls-Reading-a-Book-19th-Century-Posters.jpg" /><br />After we have shared stories there is a common bond in our minds surrounding the books we have enjoyed together. Whenever I see </em><a href="http://www.lamplighterpublishing.com/prodinfo.asp?number=RCRC"><em>The Robber's Cave</em></a><em> lying quietly on the shelf; a sudden image fills my mind's eye and I see my family and I, bending over the pages; living the adventure and learning together through this excellent novel. This is what family reading time is all about, learning about each other and the Lord throughout the books and each of the characters along the way.<br /><br /></em><p><em>This is not only accomplished by the parents of a family, but by any of the family members. I read aloud to Lizzie, Bella, Louisa and Katherine regularly. By regularly I mean that I read when I have time. This does not mean that I have a set time to read aloud, it means that when I happen to pass a book shelf and have nothing to finish at the moment I call, "Who wants to hear a story?" or "Come and hear about Winnie the Pooh!" or "Ah, now this is a wonderful story about a rabbit named Peter-one of my favorites. Do you want me to read it to you?" I rarely have put the book away unread. At least two children will be snuggled up next to me,chattering between page turns and asking truly relevent questions.</em></p><p><em>These are some of our best "sissy" one-on-one times; the green couch in our family room has been a cushioned host to enumerable readings and explainations of some pretty hilarious subjects. In turn, it is exciting to see Lizzie, who is stumbling through hard words herself, reading to the younger girls with zeal unequaled. Sometimes, while cooking in the kitchen, I will overhear these readings and will be laughing at the innocent comments raised and enjoyment of all involved.<br /></em></p><p><em>Mrs. Hunt says, </em></p><p><em>"Characters seem more real when a story is read with some gift of expression. Maybe it is because a whole family is identifying with the characters and this strengthens the bonds one feels...I have mentioned two of the by-products of reading aloud: family closeness because of a shared experience and the bond of appreciation of good writing. The third factor has been alluded to: the opportunity of teaching what is true and good.<br />Cruelty, evil, and greed come into clear focus against kindness, truth, and honor in a well-written story.<br />The best teaching we have done in our family has been through reading the Bible and good books aloud together. It is really not such a profound concept. How would you best be enlightened to some truth- by being told that it was wrong to be nasty and thoughtless to others, or to meet and come to love some character in a story and then feel her hurts when someone is unkind and says cruel things? We sometimes talk about the characters we meet in our stories and about the motivation behind their deeds. We discuss worthy ideas and try to hang important concepts into a larger framework of truth. The Christian parent who uses both The Book and books has a distinct advantage. The Bible spells out the precepts, the teaching of God's plan for man. It also tells us about real people-- their faith, their sins, their courage, their disbelief-- and we see the fruit of each in what follows in their lives. Good books fulfill our human need for adventure and wider experience, but they also provide support for the kind of character development of which the Scriptures speak. Again , I recall a quote by Paul Hazard: " I like books that set in action truths worthy of lasting forever, and of inspiring one's whole inner life." What a pleasure to share that kind of book with a child!"<br /></p></em><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdRJfpb2i_lYi-bqt-YvzDyfXFypCKU7WvAsrvktQ4i7DD6IuXQ93G-tFKSixZmhx-hgSfudMm79S_DPeM8Ex1ehhqF5ZMlqmUe6JVA96O9Cm8gNTfiGjQjxgrJN4tQTldYjj5oG3c_7J5/s1600/AB8523~Art-and-Literature-Posters.jpg"><em><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 301px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5514653000339061570" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdRJfpb2i_lYi-bqt-YvzDyfXFypCKU7WvAsrvktQ4i7DD6IuXQ93G-tFKSixZmhx-hgSfudMm79S_DPeM8Ex1ehhqF5ZMlqmUe6JVA96O9Cm8gNTfiGjQjxgrJN4tQTldYjj5oG3c_7J5/s400/AB8523~Art-and-Literature-Posters.jpg" /></em></a><br /><br /><p><em>Here are some books we love to read aloud again and again. What books have you enjoyed reading with your family? Please, please I want to know!!!</em></p><br /><br /><p><em>The Bible- This is one we read</em> Everyday!</p><br /><p><strong><em>The following are some secular books that have morals woven in them:</em></strong></p><br /><p><em>A. A. Milne Books ( Pooh and Piglet)</em></p><br /><p><em>Beatrix Potter (Peter Rabbit)</em></p><br /><p><em>Little Bear Series</em></p><br /><p><em>Treasure Island</em></p><br /><p><em>Kidnapped</em></p><br /><p></p><br /><p><em><strong>Here is a list of some of our favorite God-honoring stories:</strong></em></p><br /><p><em>Christian Mother Goose</em></p><br /><p><a href="http://www.lamplighterpublishing.com/prodinfo.asp?number=RCWK"><em>The White Knights</em></a></p><br /><p><a href="http://www.lamplighterpublishing.com/prodinfo.asp?number=LPTWI"><em>The Three Weavers</em></a></p><br /><p><a href="http://www.lamplighterpublishing.com/prodinfo.asp?number=RCPOTS"><em>Prisoners of the Sea-Florence M. Kingsley</em></a></p><br /><p><a href="http://www.visionforum.com/search/productdetail.aspx?search=coral+island&productid=51704"><em>Coral Island-R.M. Ballentyne</em></a></p><br /><p><a href="http://www.visionforum.com/search/productdetail.aspx?search=Gorilla+Hunters&productid=51710"><em>Gorilla Hunters-R.M. Ballentyne</em></a></p><br /><p><a href="http://www.visionforum.com/browse/productdetail.aspx?categoryid=0&browseby=author&authorid=229&page=2&productid=51740"><em>Fighting the Flames-R.M. Ballentyne</em></a></p><br /><p><a href="http://www.visionforum.com/browse/productdetail.aspx?categoryid=0&browseby=author&authorid=229&page=1&productid=51716"><em>Pirate City-R.M. Ballentyne</em></a></p><br /><p><a href="http://www.visionforum.com/browse/productdetail.aspx?categoryid=0&browseby=author&authorid=229&page=1&productid=51730"><em>Island Queen- R.M. Ballentyne</em></a></p><br /><p><a href="http://www.lamplighterpublishing.com/prodinfo.asp?number=RCBOF"><em>A Basket of Flowers-Christoph Von Schmid</em></a></p><br /><p><a href="http://www.visionforum.com/search/productdetail.aspx?search=making+brothers+and+sisters+best+friends&productid=83524"><em>Making Brothers and Sisters Best Friends- Malley Siblings</em></a></p><br /><p><a href="http://www.christianbook.com/wisdom-the-millers-proverbs-for-children/mildred-martin/9781884377143/pd/764353"><em>Wisdom and the Millers-Mildred A. Martin</em></a></p><br /><p><a href="http://www.rodandstaffbooks.com/item/20-503/?list=Miller_Family_Series"><em>Prudence and the Millers- Mildred A. Martin</em></a></p><br /><p><a href="http://www.rodandstaffbooks.com/item/20-505/?list=Miller_Family_Series"><em>Missionary Stories with the Millers-Mildred A. Martin</em></a></p><br /><p><a href="http://www.christianbook.com/the-duggars-20-and-counting/michelle-duggar/9781416585633/pd/585633?event=AFF&p=1142345&"><em>The Duggars, Twenty and Counting</em></a></p><br /><p><a href="http://www.lamplighterpublishing.com/prodinfo.asp?number=RCSBNL"><em>Shipwrecked but not Lost</em></a><em>- Hon. Mrs. Dundas</em></p><p></p><p><a href="http://www.christianbook.com/choice-stories-for-children/ernest-lloyd/9781881545996/pd/545997"><em>Choice Stories for Children</em></a><em><br /><br /></em></p><p></p><br /><br /><p></p><br /><br /><p></p><br /><br /><p></p><br /><br /><p></p>Madeleinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13379234553753636953noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1373327272128241952.post-40834445292443377462010-08-30T13:15:00.006-05:002010-09-03T15:43:38.369-05:00<div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYd8flUJ9_fRk2TxRgwYUlHfYFJ4kqQc4PxT2VopHsI4ZjYmiTgQRlIf-MiKcFqufei1oOHiyN2jcIU1xAiTn1kcCilaiae4AnuP1BgZTf_wPZFDgI4OQSqw4UOm2TueahHsvzwRGURRuc/s1600/IMG_8606-2.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 225px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5511276161350360370" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYd8flUJ9_fRk2TxRgwYUlHfYFJ4kqQc4PxT2VopHsI4ZjYmiTgQRlIf-MiKcFqufei1oOHiyN2jcIU1xAiTn1kcCilaiae4AnuP1BgZTf_wPZFDgI4OQSqw4UOm2TueahHsvzwRGURRuc/s400/IMG_8606-2.JPG" /></a> "Before you can teach children, you must get the silver key of kindness to unlock their hearts, and so secure their attention."</div><div align="center">~ Charles Spurgeon</div><div align="center"> </div><br /><div align="center"></div><p align="center">Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, much mercies, kindness,<br />humbleness of mind, meekness and longsuffering.</p><p align="center">Col. 3:12<br /></p>Madeleinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13379234553753636953noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1373327272128241952.post-78843569744361931952010-08-08T22:28:00.007-05:002010-08-30T13:14:00.754-05:00<div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVz1OTms_WvRxX6vX4K7VLZsmNOELKAL1MaJ0bdhc4IG9Oy9U7lWIdbAOjwOKzIxB48bnfqMb5AulPfHGC2UjcTr1_7FcuYjfyBpQRe1ACWxfVKy-aJUpiJugfgAbFf3RvOXxhkzzse9h-/s1600/IMG_8650-3.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 225px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5511253914372171394" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVz1OTms_WvRxX6vX4K7VLZsmNOELKAL1MaJ0bdhc4IG9Oy9U7lWIdbAOjwOKzIxB48bnfqMb5AulPfHGC2UjcTr1_7FcuYjfyBpQRe1ACWxfVKy-aJUpiJugfgAbFf3RvOXxhkzzse9h-/s400/IMG_8650-3.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div align="center">"One day in the country is worth a month in town."</div><br /><div align="center">~ Christina Rosseti</div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><br />"Let the field exult, and all that is in it, then all the trees of the forest will sing for joy before the Lord for He is coming..."<br />Psalm 96:12,13</div>Madeleinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13379234553753636953noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1373327272128241952.post-25986596801973994522010-08-04T12:12:00.008-05:002010-08-30T18:08:15.777-05:00How we've grown!It all started with a young, God fearing couple that met and married.<br /><br /><br /><br />A girl was born...... me.<br /><br />(I personally think Daddy got into this old fashioned photo-op, he appears a very bad-guy-ish, desperado character. I mean, take a gander at those eyes and haughty stance.)<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvLQkjZC-gn1iw-vRHR3Ktluh1nKCiaB_hI0Y9dPodn6x9gf8vsypHs_67dKlgCG4Q_6fyMqUHVSHodzEF-qpDyo-FcbRJlCy627CAIS0_qpoURFmb0RsPnOMn3aEQcrzr_ZowNUvH5uOU/s1600/IMG_7948-1.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501609084937534066" style="WIDTH: 319px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvLQkjZC-gn1iw-vRHR3Ktluh1nKCiaB_hI0Y9dPodn6x9gf8vsypHs_67dKlgCG4Q_6fyMqUHVSHodzEF-qpDyo-FcbRJlCy627CAIS0_qpoURFmb0RsPnOMn3aEQcrzr_ZowNUvH5uOU/s400/IMG_7948-1.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Then, when I was nine, we adopted Jonathan (who was seven) from Ukraine and then Mama had Elizabeth. (Alright, I am doubled over laughing right now, Jonathan looks like the Artful Dodger. The hat is hil-ar-i-ous! He can barely see under it.)<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDbVO7Gq6iVeefByxynmddp3Bxzumr7lXtggLCFT_lORx9AvpWUacqRyWUIIF9Dime4Tek-KS9cYgmgnlDvVhfICoqCb-AfUc45xHHeWt9HxEEewUuM0Pa7O2NCNH5Y5OXIW69orgD3PqO/s1600/IMG_7944.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501609930394929794" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDbVO7Gq6iVeefByxynmddp3Bxzumr7lXtggLCFT_lORx9AvpWUacqRyWUIIF9Dime4Tek-KS9cYgmgnlDvVhfICoqCb-AfUc45xHHeWt9HxEEewUuM0Pa7O2NCNH5Y5OXIW69orgD3PqO/s400/IMG_7944.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />In December of 2007 we adopted Bella and Louisa from Guatemala and God blessed us with Katherine in 2009. Presenting our present day family......<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ0ZNpZKywNaUSNWu2xh-b-ynFwijh-i5Fc-mX4lIHZg2ViM8YPi4kK9ZuMrdxJxdmCUnEiQJeEEbPkg9JeOlhnp4mSeUjRmvMhQx61Sfc3lDKd1dNJSA2GLrckbGkW7qfdljZo9p2XBWj/s1600/IMG_7940-1.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501625595923612226" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 334px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ0ZNpZKywNaUSNWu2xh-b-ynFwijh-i5Fc-mX4lIHZg2ViM8YPi4kK9ZuMrdxJxdmCUnEiQJeEEbPkg9JeOlhnp4mSeUjRmvMhQx61Sfc3lDKd1dNJSA2GLrckbGkW7qfdljZo9p2XBWj/s400/IMG_7940-1.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />When I look back over these pictures I realize, in wonder, what happiness the Lord has given us and I look foward to what memories and adventures He has planned in the upcoming years.Madeleinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13379234553753636953noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1373327272128241952.post-77596560466683340962010-06-16T23:03:00.027-05:002010-07-28T19:09:48.171-05:00Life Happens~ While You're Havin' Fun!Summer; that lovely time of year that yields a host of varieties to our lives.<br />Summer; that season that goes so fast you lose track of what you've done and where you've been.<br />Summer; a time for:<br />"spotting" fawns,<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmQiCQP3guOQmrqjAfQq5dwW5IbsTtNVDloFRulUWsthYydlDh5llYLEHt1hSGfFuk8vgWH48XA3uv51B_gXnbSkRoy_h1IbCTnAvnV7k7J0QKAhAMq1Anubz_e6g5aNAULj15uj5bOEgL/s1600/IMG_5590.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499074199515322690" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmQiCQP3guOQmrqjAfQq5dwW5IbsTtNVDloFRulUWsthYydlDh5llYLEHt1hSGfFuk8vgWH48XA3uv51B_gXnbSkRoy_h1IbCTnAvnV7k7J0QKAhAMq1Anubz_e6g5aNAULj15uj5bOEgL/s320/IMG_5590.JPG" border="0" /></a> glorious moonlight,<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHx5IhJUqdVRssV91sm31H1K1aYwKVokmVg9idI8Cf8EU-Tk4zbJNBnEYRw7p5sFfnThjzuDJIJLMqMKZxgyWfgfxqfIhWYgXKPRwey-pbJFoKj-23TsowbFsVScav5dTXSWudgVxSYNOL/s1600/IMG_2836.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499072766649354338" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHx5IhJUqdVRssV91sm31H1K1aYwKVokmVg9idI8Cf8EU-Tk4zbJNBnEYRw7p5sFfnThjzuDJIJLMqMKZxgyWfgfxqfIhWYgXKPRwey-pbJFoKj-23TsowbFsVScav5dTXSWudgVxSYNOL/s320/IMG_2836.JPG" border="0" /></a>loving sisters,<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNdGHlk1ZaI3uZQk1ea0XeVC9OYKVsJnDdGWx4VtkorA1E0R8ZGE0qxthhM7IB0Hq7MSzammymbNLOP_IFLQZ0HEWky50EqbE9DDu9A4Z1uMeTaY3vuWU9xS0wH1T6K3051Dm-_oFUk3La/s1600/IMG_5417.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499071545441736610" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNdGHlk1ZaI3uZQk1ea0XeVC9OYKVsJnDdGWx4VtkorA1E0R8ZGE0qxthhM7IB0Hq7MSzammymbNLOP_IFLQZ0HEWky50EqbE9DDu9A4Z1uMeTaY3vuWU9xS0wH1T6K3051Dm-_oFUk3La/s320/IMG_5417.JPG" border="0" /></a> sidewalk chalk portraits,<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz62fJybC7XN89oLy3cdxWhI3miWtTxdJ-MXRt58BFckDzzA1O4BgQpgmc7QHW2mFAIkGaAMZIC2FVtOkMlUgndiwj4HDR3LRzNjEJEF8c0MkrJ52xpMmU3vlYTZLCOgFfHTvZnN3DdwKG/s1600/IMG_5343.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499069181895227826" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz62fJybC7XN89oLy3cdxWhI3miWtTxdJ-MXRt58BFckDzzA1O4BgQpgmc7QHW2mFAIkGaAMZIC2FVtOkMlUgndiwj4HDR3LRzNjEJEF8c0MkrJ52xpMmU3vlYTZLCOgFfHTvZnN3DdwKG/s320/IMG_5343.JPG" border="0" /></a>eyepatches ( um, actually- lens covers),<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnz6rM2eQd3CGmo4XxR921XDdt2cfbvojqSkR6tXYjIC0pG45MrQQwPhY95KNB3AO9my6OR2m6R3SEzsME5uh9cJ-AjiX8HBCMdmnMgIqyz6nmgXEzehiIMYvPlm_BxTcgRKAsgmX99v-v/s1600/IMG_5430.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499069178589218706" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnz6rM2eQd3CGmo4XxR921XDdt2cfbvojqSkR6tXYjIC0pG45MrQQwPhY95KNB3AO9my6OR2m6R3SEzsME5uh9cJ-AjiX8HBCMdmnMgIqyz6nmgXEzehiIMYvPlm_BxTcgRKAsgmX99v-v/s320/IMG_5430.JPG" border="0" /></a>itty buglings,<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh33S965k6d4xNZ3ZohZtaYADn6XWkSYUJInVEVFaHfolZEJzSQM7A5hPfQle5ANiLx8qlOj_MR9j2gVbgnk_V8PFWPoR8a9rNimA-ufh5NjITYedkKQC-rHeiiYvkdRIpDv5tu7bkMmiav/s1600/IMG_4942.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499064803457173250" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh33S965k6d4xNZ3ZohZtaYADn6XWkSYUJInVEVFaHfolZEJzSQM7A5hPfQle5ANiLx8qlOj_MR9j2gVbgnk_V8PFWPoR8a9rNimA-ufh5NjITYedkKQC-rHeiiYvkdRIpDv5tu7bkMmiav/s320/IMG_4942.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />giggling girlfriends,<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgss1KPs8py9D8SjRMNc1jqQwspPJ7xY0TIIbSqrJz8kfSeoTYuj7uOqFedi7OznUPjT6_5xK384bqN6Dfc_91ASqjd0NKjx7FLjQZ3swE4K-56sGAX3gx4mg7Vy-ZyGMKHcPTtVzRg8O5e/s1600/IMG_1769.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499063196485338466" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgss1KPs8py9D8SjRMNc1jqQwspPJ7xY0TIIbSqrJz8kfSeoTYuj7uOqFedi7OznUPjT6_5xK384bqN6Dfc_91ASqjd0NKjx7FLjQZ3swE4K-56sGAX3gx4mg7Vy-ZyGMKHcPTtVzRg8O5e/s320/IMG_1769.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />hydrangeas divine,<br /></div><div><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfgHV5f0SzYI_YO6Daqd3YwuNrCIV_3mqpsJDYje0DdyWsU_2hxYRRXxra9DKsEhceDquRa_-rL1SEWfii27RM-mmWrnz4sVNrV7TZh7J3YskvJ3rxIblZ5UzEgQ06qOlMiVCK8HGtKySz/s1600/IMG_4965.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499065837427604386" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfgHV5f0SzYI_YO6Daqd3YwuNrCIV_3mqpsJDYje0DdyWsU_2hxYRRXxra9DKsEhceDquRa_-rL1SEWfii27RM-mmWrnz4sVNrV7TZh7J3YskvJ3rxIblZ5UzEgQ06qOlMiVCK8HGtKySz/s320/IMG_4965.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div>huggin' brothers, ( also best friends, as in this case)</div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioRGPNhuYllmAfI5nmRvYHDpXFIZFjAGadSzgv1Fj2fpZV-aq93oHVFSG2qk5K7zNF3_DrgxowDr-yonXJ8q8MWNq6WEPxzol5jyKjd_gSviKt4K0R0UuTEBDOprDxm-E7b1wrAszgUI0T/s1600/IMG_0039.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499059953380498258" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioRGPNhuYllmAfI5nmRvYHDpXFIZFjAGadSzgv1Fj2fpZV-aq93oHVFSG2qk5K7zNF3_DrgxowDr-yonXJ8q8MWNq6WEPxzol5jyKjd_gSviKt4K0R0UuTEBDOprDxm-E7b1wrAszgUI0T/s320/IMG_0039.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />spoonfeeding sissys', ( I don't know which one had more fun?)<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAfXpr-iOFNWHhwjm4d4iYjawNIZ1hMY9dFUO2HZGVR0nM8yxMp55CGjVbAsDMEKBneVgqN1d5OnT-LtR4ciMU3blPUn8pVWDx3CZysjiRpOvj3bTF7crpKLQputU3wHiSbWY8i8sfdrqK/s1600/IMG_0186.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499056237214994946" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAfXpr-iOFNWHhwjm4d4iYjawNIZ1hMY9dFUO2HZGVR0nM8yxMp55CGjVbAsDMEKBneVgqN1d5OnT-LtR4ciMU3blPUn8pVWDx3CZysjiRpOvj3bTF7crpKLQputU3wHiSbWY8i8sfdrqK/s320/IMG_0186.JPG" border="0" /></a> sunlit catnaps,:)<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicdzIMBcvBSds9wc9wyo707XIpjwB6CXicWOVNdMrdfc2nrrvztSrbgoABRJyfgBHysvDJ3nKfewxOxSVKNUiAVaFUv6XOF0rNoeAwcsTlmgjB47WYV8mT9sj5aQF2PkfFoIL_8QLz9TW3/s1600/IMG_5095.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5498797073004636546" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicdzIMBcvBSds9wc9wyo707XIpjwB6CXicWOVNdMrdfc2nrrvztSrbgoABRJyfgBHysvDJ3nKfewxOxSVKNUiAVaFUv6XOF0rNoeAwcsTlmgjB47WYV8mT9sj5aQF2PkfFoIL_8QLz9TW3/s320/IMG_5095.JPG" border="0" /></a> bathtub chubbies,<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifLcmtQXyS-jIvXUxvZsLsr1TtuZ-sMto7j_5lieFQINmpHmTK3mcIRKW6r2q1FVPq0lVyK2Tkkkbm-BA0bBe0ctZR19TTi-MUQIRKAVGIM6Yc9JHPzfdgPlXtLepOm3q4ecOBIdQviToZ/s1600/IMG_4918.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5498786054987976354" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifLcmtQXyS-jIvXUxvZsLsr1TtuZ-sMto7j_5lieFQINmpHmTK3mcIRKW6r2q1FVPq0lVyK2Tkkkbm-BA0bBe0ctZR19TTi-MUQIRKAVGIM6Yc9JHPzfdgPlXtLepOm3q4ecOBIdQviToZ/s320/IMG_4918.JPG" border="0" /></a></div>grad parties,<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh17awbVs8T9UY-6FQHic1ftf8XFf2XB18jGiQ3LLgEIxSuP0njs6omCX_yOSdLV1J0MERYWQ2LEx5RkN6sPF_yns_PrRqoV-exdyVUbN6S3GG7irukZgQ6wvVnD3-DOF_9ttNyU-cB9V4L/s1600/IMG_4909.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5498784822818930594" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh17awbVs8T9UY-6FQHic1ftf8XFf2XB18jGiQ3LLgEIxSuP0njs6omCX_yOSdLV1J0MERYWQ2LEx5RkN6sPF_yns_PrRqoV-exdyVUbN6S3GG7irukZgQ6wvVnD3-DOF_9ttNyU-cB9V4L/s320/IMG_4909.JPG" border="0" /></a> chocolate ice-cream (no comment!),</div><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5498783462157432642" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyvMjSBJARfxEdBcUUDuLeHy9RiL6T29sEwIaSLAbzGhdvB4qCFP17Z5FvLJtQjCJ1XXGRl9gGaXZdSe17gF_409gVV0apzA50U_DpBwwljnm-GUkNZmSLpmYGIv1fFPi18VaTae9YmhN-/s320/IMG_2826.JPG" border="0" />special grandpas', (love makes the world go round...... and round, and round.....)<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6W-FNaSads50F7lLL5NcPtsgnD-Jpp4S2Hej5EopBklCvJJL9wyHC1VZXBs-vlJtRn60LIghnE7MpCrpxD35XkeGQUNYoXlJ8hzJjdOiTtX_d_WyO5CKSs5GjgLhTNXv7v-RU8sm7OZ-u/s1600/IMG_1649.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5498778477254785154" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6W-FNaSads50F7lLL5NcPtsgnD-Jpp4S2Hej5EopBklCvJJL9wyHC1VZXBs-vlJtRn60LIghnE7MpCrpxD35XkeGQUNYoXlJ8hzJjdOiTtX_d_WyO5CKSs5GjgLhTNXv7v-RU8sm7OZ-u/s320/IMG_1649.JPG" border="0" /></a> SWINGSETS!!! ( How could we live without those?),<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuKAwiwhdbe4QPxORh0ZByECQGoqLqIE89tOtDlAhM7x7-f3whj_kUr5UDsVTIu9Y5_itBe4D1tb1VLi-6hocOPTFXytptO6QMjDhdFpjxwXmfpFTpPohaYzOrz3fJc9chFeHfJw49YqEG/s1600/IMG_1575.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5498772960888323698" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuKAwiwhdbe4QPxORh0ZByECQGoqLqIE89tOtDlAhM7x7-f3whj_kUr5UDsVTIu9Y5_itBe4D1tb1VLi-6hocOPTFXytptO6QMjDhdFpjxwXmfpFTpPohaYzOrz3fJc9chFeHfJw49YqEG/s320/IMG_1575.JPG" border="0" /></a> and last of all, swimming buddies, (who also happen to be excellent splashers and dunkers. :P What a coincidence!)<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnl2SMnV82hAwdUyVMCqz9koNhJFLYnCfcHXdvhy7eOxChyphenhyphen3H-sYs32PF1T6ifhCE_pRHGDuIZKU_F1yX02_IL1c_HpPBJN_kVu05ZeCVY0GCz4WAWMwvMXuMlxmmB0IQmruu1rrwSqWia/s1600/IMG_5485.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5483591255244788818" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnl2SMnV82hAwdUyVMCqz9koNhJFLYnCfcHXdvhy7eOxChyphenhyphen3H-sYs32PF1T6ifhCE_pRHGDuIZKU_F1yX02_IL1c_HpPBJN_kVu05ZeCVY0GCz4WAWMwvMXuMlxmmB0IQmruu1rrwSqWia/s320/IMG_5485.JPG" border="0" /></a> "Skipping down the cobblestones, lookin' for fun and feelin' groovy.<br />La, la, la laaa laa la la. Feelin' groovy....."<br /><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT5RTyOyCnKNuTjZn_3zbVmqE-H2fE9QCln5ZyATaj1lJORlQJ9VFV4Ur57feXUmK6nd7NXGWdoajdC6IZsRIM5ucaF05UmwxXxTLr-2MYyIpi1U1XLpCrHPnuucLkqhpmGBbJ38OXfTNS/s1600/IMG_5205.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5483591263750606546" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT5RTyOyCnKNuTjZn_3zbVmqE-H2fE9QCln5ZyATaj1lJORlQJ9VFV4Ur57feXUmK6nd7NXGWdoajdC6IZsRIM5ucaF05UmwxXxTLr-2MYyIpi1U1XLpCrHPnuucLkqhpmGBbJ38OXfTNS/s320/IMG_5205.JPG" border="0" /></a>This is just a peek of my summer, thus far! I haven't had time to load all the millions of snapshots that I would love to show. I am catching up slowly, but surely.... so please have patience- the rest will be shown. Ah, so many great memories, so little time. </div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Madeleinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13379234553753636953noreply@blogger.com3