tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-82063496144701140982024-03-13T23:30:05.505-04:00Holland HappeningsHolland HappeningsAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09059773834331356101noreply@blogger.comBlogger746125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8206349614470114098.post-64682747642195207992018-08-16T16:44:00.002-04:002018-08-16T16:44:38.699-04:001st Day of School 2018-2019<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hASwhmpKNKs/W3XfZEQDUjI/AAAAAAAAD-Y/87J2d7EaW5MCu5zJIEHDKyvKgAE14fhXwCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_4027.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hASwhmpKNKs/W3XfZEQDUjI/AAAAAAAAD-Y/87J2d7EaW5MCu5zJIEHDKyvKgAE14fhXwCLcBGAs/s320/IMG_4027.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My sweet girl is starting 4th grade! She absolutely loves school! She is such a sweet student. I'm so thankful to be her teacher! She is doing Heart of Dakota Preparing Hearts for His Glory. She loves math. I love that she loves math and I hope that will continue!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jonathan begins his first year of middle school! Jonathan will be the first to tell you that he doesn't like school. While this may be true, there are things that he actually does enjoy. He has always enjoyed science and history. He's always been quite good at math. He is absolutely loving have a desk in his own room. He sits at his desk is able to work without being disturbed.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is Aaron's first year of high school. HIGH SCHOOL! I have two in high school this year. How did that happen? Aaron is taking World Geography, Earth Science, Algebra, Logic, Spanish, World Religion and Culture, and Literature/Grammar/Composition. This year should be quite a challenge for him. He says that his favorite course so far is Logic.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OWTeQifKWtU/W3XfZz2EC3I/AAAAAAAAD-k/ugAoYyqG0zMQV5nBt3KFT147uPmt7AlCACLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_4035.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OWTeQifKWtU/W3XfZz2EC3I/AAAAAAAAD-k/ugAoYyqG0zMQV5nBt3KFT147uPmt7AlCACLcBGAs/s320/IMG_4035.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">11th grade, people! What in the world? Martin is taking English 11, Geometry, US History, Bible, Spanish II, Chemistry, Economics, and Finance. He doesn't particularly love school, but he's an excellent student. He is meticulous and conscientious about his work. He is becoming more and more responsible every day. Rich and I both rely heavily on him and he never lets us down. He is learning to drive and is very close to getting his drivers license. I'm praying that all of my children will grow in knowledge and wisdom this school year. </td></tr>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09059773834331356101noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8206349614470114098.post-80868346265524459002018-08-16T12:27:00.002-04:002018-08-16T12:27:51.316-04:00The Lava Tubes<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Living out west in the great state of Arizona brings with it lots of opportunity for adventure! Before Rich started at GCU and after we got mostly moved in and settled, we decided to take a daytrip to Flagstaff for a fun family fieldtrip! We left the Valley and headed north. We were amazed at how a short 2 1/2 hour drive north brought us to a completely different climate and ecosystem! We left the desert for the gorgeous northern Arizona mountains and forest! It was 35 degrees cooler in Flagstaff!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our adventure for this day was to explore the lava cave! The cave was completely dark. We had to have plenty of flashlights!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ctGNqHliddI/W3Wi7EnleWI/AAAAAAAAD9o/Sm2e9ugBxjw9JXcIzhUVoeX5cyHkGwoXQCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_4012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ctGNqHliddI/W3Wi7EnleWI/AAAAAAAAD9o/Sm2e9ugBxjw9JXcIzhUVoeX5cyHkGwoXQCLcBGAs/s320/IMG_4012.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We had so much fun! The cave is about a mile long. We rested several times along the way. The path is fairly rocky and wet in some areas, so we had to be very careful. It was about 42 degrees inside the cave! That was a nice break from the 110 degree weather we had been experiencing in the desert!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Several times we rested, took pictures, and turned our flashlights off to experience darkness.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We had so much fun exploring the cave. None of us had ever done anything quite like this before. I'm so thankful for this family of mine. The children were thanked us repeatedly for bringing them on this little day trip. (I love a grateful heart!) And it was just fun to be together!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The views on the way and back from Flagstaff were incredible! The landscape of Arizona is so different than anything we've ever known. What a joy it is to experience a different area of God's creation!</td></tr>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09059773834331356101noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8206349614470114098.post-7021368526038199512018-08-07T14:48:00.000-04:002018-08-07T14:48:06.993-04:00Monsoon Season<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-73N4npfAAKo/W2nl7XGDAeI/AAAAAAAAD9Q/WnS8DJgR7isQBeGc4O2J3LLuS2pazP_lACLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_3997.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-73N4npfAAKo/W2nl7XGDAeI/AAAAAAAAD9Q/WnS8DJgR7isQBeGc4O2J3LLuS2pazP_lACLcBGAs/s320/IMG_3997.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is a picture that I took from my dining room window during the dust storm.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is an aerial shot of the dust storm taken by Lyons Roofing. https://www.facebook.com/LyonsRoofingAZ/?fref=mentions</td></tr>
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One of the many things that is new to us is the Arizona Monsoon Season. </div>
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AZDOT defines the monsoon season:</div>
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<span class="ILfuVd yZ8quc"><b>Arizona's monsoon season</b> begins in
June and continues through September. With it comes higher humidity,
which can lead to thunderstorms, heavy rain, lightning, hail, high
winds, flash flooding, dust storms and extreme heat.</span></div>
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<span class="ILfuVd yZ8quc"> In the 3 weeks that we have been in the Phoenix area, we have experienced two large dust storms. As the first one was coming toward us, Martin and I were out driving around. He saw it in the distance and immediately identified it as a dust storm coming our way. It was so unusual looking that I didn't know what to think of it. We made it home just in time, though. I've heard that if you are out driving and caught in one, you have no choice but to pull over because there is no visibility!</span></div>
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<span class="ILfuVd yZ8quc">In many ways, it just felt like a strong thunderstorm with dust instead of rain. However, the winds were in the 70-80 mph range, so in some areas there was a lot of damage. </span></div>
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<span class="ILfuVd yZ8quc">We are slightly giddy when we think about the cooler temperatures that will be coming our way in October! The average high in October is only 89 degrees! I've always imagined that if we ever made a huge move that it would be somewhere with a cooler climate like Alaska or Montana. I still giggle that we moved to a warm climate. It's so completely not what we had imagined for ourselves. Nevertheless we are on a great adventure together and we are going to enjoy the journey! </span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09059773834331356101noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8206349614470114098.post-82171762535489016072018-08-05T15:44:00.000-04:002018-08-07T14:48:59.682-04:00Arizona<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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This summer we moved to Arizona. We could never have predicted that we would make a move like this one. When we moved to Martinsville a little over 3 years ago, we had planned that to be our forever home. Before that we planned that the home we bought in NC would be our forever home. Clearly I was wrong.<br />
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I wish that I would have blogged over the past 3 years of our time in Martinsville planting Uptown Church. I learned so much through that process. I learned more about myself, about others, and about Jesus and His church. Planting a church is hard and exhausting work. There was little time for blogging. <br />
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After moving to Martinsville to plant the church, our financial situation changed and became more and more difficult to bear. In the meantime, Rich got a call from GCU informing him of an opening that fit his credentials, he applied, interviewed, received an offer, accepted the offer and we now live in Goodyear, AZ. Leaving our sweet congregation in Martinsville was heartbreaking, but we had no doubt that this job was God's sweet provision for our family.<br />
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The children were all up for this crazy adventure, but they also have experienced sadness and heartache in leaving everyone we know and love to travel and live over 2000 miles away. We have been here in AZ for almost 3 weeks now. We are almost finished with unpacking and are settled in. The Holland homeschool will resume this coming Monday and at the same time Rich will be headed off to GCU for his first day. This will be the first time since April of 2008 that Rich has had to leave our house to go to work. It will be a huge adjustment for all of us to go about our day without him close by!<br />
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Since we are so far away from our loved ones, I am going to revive this blog and tell of our Holland Happenings once again. There is much to see on this side of the continent and I hope that we will be able to go on many adventures while we are here. <br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09059773834331356101noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8206349614470114098.post-30411520693131985162015-10-02T11:35:00.001-04:002015-10-02T11:35:41.789-04:00Dad<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XEPY_KqbtL0/Vg6gq5yL-kI/AAAAAAAADxg/Es8MyWtXnFg/s1600/IMAG0002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XEPY_KqbtL0/Vg6gq5yL-kI/AAAAAAAADxg/Es8MyWtXnFg/s320/IMAG0002.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">This has been a whirlwind of a couple of weeks. Many of you have kept us in your constant prayers and for that I am thankful!<br />We found out about 2 1/2 weeks ago that my Dad has kidney cancer. I think it's fairly safe to say that most everyone understands the weight and devastation that is associated with the word cancer.<br />We also found out that my Dad was only born with 1 kidney. So, not only had cancer completely taken over his 1 healthy kidney, he didn't have another one to take up the slack. There was no way to save any part of his other kidney as three quarters of it had been taken over by the cancerous tumor. The tumor had also spread into the vessel. The only option he had was to have the entire kidney removed and to then start dialysis immediately after surgery.<br />I cannot begin to express the deep sadness and fear that crept into my heart. Fear of the unknown. Fear can completely take over if one is not careful.<br />This past week, I left my husband and children to travel to where my parents live so that I could be there for my Dad's surgery. We have been inundated with prayers and offers for kidneys. I'm not even kidding about that! It seems like every time we turn around, someone else is offering a kidney! Dad will not be eligible for a transplant until he remains cancer free for 2-5 years. So, while kidney transplant is an option, we have a little while before that will be on the horizon.<br />I am thankful to report that his surgery went even better than expected. The surgeons removed the entire kidney plus all of the tissue and fat around it. They were able to easily removed the tumor from the vessel. It was a successful surgery.<br />The hard road has just begun for my Dad, however. He has about a six week recovery ahead of him just from the surgery. He also has to be on dialysis for the rest of his life or at least until he gets a transplant...if that even becomes a possibility.<br />My Dad had not retired yet, so this medical situation has forced him into retirement. While, he will admit that he does indeed want to retire...he certainly didn't want to retire like this. My parents have some major adjustments to make and a pretty large learning curve ahead of them as they try to figure out the diet that he must be on as a dialysis patient.<br />As for me...I couldn't stay as long as I would have liked to stay. My children need me too.<br />I am so thankful that the surgery went well, but I am sad that I can't be of greater help to them as the walk this hard road.<br />I'll end with my favorite thing that my Dad said after surgery this week.<br />"I'm just glad I woke up!"<br /><br /></span></td></tr>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09059773834331356101noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8206349614470114098.post-6417515603348803462015-02-10T08:00:00.000-05:002015-02-12T14:18:50.229-05:00The Journey to Decision - Part 2<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HeXKD8RabPU/VNlSV_NTMWI/AAAAAAAADtQ/vo_CvIQ6znE/s1600/cropped-Main-St-MVilleV4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HeXKD8RabPU/VNlSV_NTMWI/AAAAAAAADtQ/vo_CvIQ6znE/s1600/cropped-Main-St-MVilleV4.jpg" height="117" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">If this is your first time hearing about our move to Virginia to plant a church, you may want to check out previous posts:</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://6hollandhappenings.blogspot.com/2015/01/changes-ahead.html">Changes Ahead</a></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://6hollandhappenings.blogspot.com/2015/01/journey-interrupted.html">Journey Interrupted</a></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://6hollandhappenings.blogspot.com/2015/01/the-journey-to-decision-part-1.html">Journey to Decision - Part 1</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b>The Journey to Decision - Part 2</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Rich and I were on the same page. Our yes was on the table. We were both spending time praying about whether or not we should actually go to Martinsville. We didn't want to just be the warm bodies that went and joined the mission there just because we could. We wanted to be certain that God was calling us to that specific mission.<br />It was an ongoing discussion in our family. We talked about it numerous times each day. Our discussion each night as we ate supper was always centered around whether or not we should go. The more we talked about it - the more our hearts began to be drawn to the church plant in Martinsville. Our hearts were changing and growing to love the people in Martinsville and to be burdened for those whom we had not yet met.<br />Decision time was at hand. We were coming upon a time when we really needed to give our answer. We told the children to keep praying about it and that we would have one final meeting where each one in our family would have a vote. We were given instructions to be ready to vote and give a reason for our vote. Rich and I had been praying for quite some time that God would speak to us through our children and that He would unite our hearts together.<br />The final meeting day came and Rich gave everyone the opportunity to share their thoughts and then we would make our final decision.<br /><b>Rosalie </b>said that her vote was - yes - but that she really loved her bed. (We were able to inform her at that point that we would actually be taking her bed with us and all of her stuff - she was very relieved!)<br /><b>Martin</b> said the same thing he had been saying all along. Yes, we should go - its our job to take the gospel to Martinsville!<br /><b>Aaron - </b>the one who had remained quiet about it during most of our conversations, had expressed sadness over saying goodbye to friends said, You will probably be surprised to know that my vote is also Yes. We should go. It will be hard, but I think it is what God is calling us to do.<br /><b>Jonathan - </b>Look, this is the kid that asked to be duct taped to the wall and sold with the house. While we were praying for a unified family vote - we were willing to let his vote slide.<br />When it was Jonathan's turn to speak - he said - I'm all mixed up in my mind. One part says that yes we should go - but the other part says that we should stay. (I promptly let him in on the secret that the parts of my mind were telling me the same thing! Its so hard to leave what you know and love!)<br />Rich and I also gave our votes and shared our hearts with the children. We know that this is a hard thing to do - but God has given us a heart to love the people of Martinsville and we need to go and take the gospel!<br />At that point, Rich called for the vote. <b>Jonathan</b>, without missing a beat, said "Why are we taking a vote we already know the vote is 6 to 1!!!"<br />I said, "Buddy, there are only 6 of us, what do you mean?"<br />He said, "I already told you I had two votes!"<br />We all had a good laugh over that one! I am convinced that it is God's great kindness that unified our hearts - even down to the most stubborn one of us.<br />This decision was not easy for us. We are mourning what we are going to leave behind. However, we rejoice in knowing that there is work to be done in Martinsville and that we get to be a part of that.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">If you haven't already, we would love for you to join us in praying for the church plant in Martinsville. You can click<a href="http://missionmartinsville.com/partnership/"> here</a> to sign up to partner with us to pray!</span></td></tr>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09059773834331356101noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8206349614470114098.post-81801754277097802652015-01-19T09:42:00.001-05:002015-01-19T14:56:56.047-05:00The Journey to Decision - Part 1<div style="text-align: center;">
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Rob asked Rich and our family to go to Martinsville in November of 2013. I have already mentioned that our immediate thought concerning a move to Martinsville was, "No! We live here!"<br />
At first, we were unable to even wrap our heads around a move to Virginia. We are settled here. We are so content with all areas of our lives. I have fallen into a fantastic routine homeschooling the children. I am teaching choir again and loving it. The older two children are in the homeschool band. All of the children have good friends, love our church, and love our small group. They have community here too! Why would we mess that up? What in the world could possess us to leave all of that behind to go to a part of Virginia that we have no association with whatsoever and start over?<br />
For about six months after Rob asked us to go, we didn't give it much thought. Rich still met with Rob occasionally and discussed the possibility, but I had already pushed the thought aside and moved on. Rich started meeting with Rob more regularly the following summer and I could see a change begin to happen in Rich's heart. I could see his heart starting to love this mission. It terrified me! In many ways, I fought it. I fought against my heart changing in the same way.<br />
Our pastor put out a challenge asking the congregation if our "yes" was on the table no matter what. He asked, "Are you willing to say yes, even before you know in advance what you are saying yes to." When the challenge was given, my first response was, "NO! My yes is absolutely not on the table because if I put my yes on the table, then God is going to make me move!"<br />
I really did think that. I even avoided praying about going to Martinsville because I was so afraid of being yanked out of my very happy and comfortable life.<br />
I couldn't go on like that forever, though. I had a difficult discussion with Rich one evening and realized that avoiding dealing with it wasn't going to make it go away. So, the next morning I got down on my knees and cried. I cried out to the Lord and told him how devastated and sad that I was that I might have to leave the church and community that I love. I cried to him for an hour. I admitted that I was fearful of the unknown and rather enjoyed the safety of where I was.<br />
I cried, I repented, and I submitted. God gave me the courage and peace that I needed to put my yes on the table before I knew what the implications of saying yes would be.<br />
A couple of days of processing later, I told Rich that my yes was on the table.<br />
At that point, we brought the children into the conversation. We both prayed that God would speak to us through our children. God did just that.<br />
Each night when we would gather for our family meal we would discuss the possibility of moving to Martinsville. Martin almost immediately said, "God told the church to go into all the world and preach the gospel - well, we are the church - so we should go!"<br />
Aaron struggled a lot with the idea of going.<br />
Jonathan told us that we could duct tape him to the wall and sell him with the house because he wasn't going to go.<br />
Rosalie didn't say a whole lot about it, but God used her to give us a message at a time when we needed it most. We were worried about the financial burden of moving, selling our house, and especially moving to an economically depressed area. At just the right time, Rosalie spoke up. She said, "I think we should go. God will take care of us in Martinsville too."<br />
Rich and I both teared up at that point. In God's kindness to us, he answered our prayers to speak to us through our children and gave us just the message that we needed to hear!<br />
If you haven't signed up to pray for the church plant - you can still sign up to partner with us to pray. You will get regular updates on how you can be praying! Click the link below!<br />
<a href="http://missionmartinsville.com/partnership/">Uptown Church</a><br />
<br />
The Journey to Decision - Part 2 coming later this week!</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09059773834331356101noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8206349614470114098.post-75223408005309314312015-01-13T10:00:00.000-05:002015-01-19T09:44:46.250-05:00Journey Interrupted<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5wsXy8iXysw/VIdquqFgrII/AAAAAAAADp0/HBMDJuhHd_8/s1600/cropped-Main-St-MVilleV4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5wsXy8iXysw/VIdquqFgrII/AAAAAAAADp0/HBMDJuhHd_8/s1600/cropped-Main-St-MVilleV4.jpg" height="117" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">So, it has been officially announced that we are leaving NC to plant a church. I am going to use my blog to journal some of what we have been going through and how we came to this decision. The following are just some of my thoughts about packing up and moving after being here for almost 12 years! About 11 years and 9 months ago we moved to Wake Forest, North Carolina so that Rich could acquire a PhD in Philosophy of Religion. We had an almost 1 year old son and had to sell our home and sell or get rid of about half of what we owned, so that we could fit into about half of the square footage of the home that we sold. We left vocational church ministry so that Rich could pursue the PhD, which would lead him on a different, but excellent path. We added 3 more children to our family. After about 5 1/2 years, Rich graduated and he began teaching for several institutions on line and also had several opportunities to teach in the classroom. About a year and a half after that, we made the decision to stay in Wake Forest. We bought a house and after living in this area for 7 years, I finally felt like I lived here! We found a church that we love. In many ways, we feel that this is the church for which we had been looking for more than 15 years. We fully committed, dug our heels in, and saw biblical fellowship being lived out. We were finally "home".<br />We felt completely content and grateful for how the Lord was working in our lives and the lives of our children.<br />Then one day in November of 2013, our world was rocked.<br />Rob Connelly pulled Rich aside at church one Sunday evening and asked Rich if our family would go to Martinsville, VA to plant a church.<br />My first reaction was…"well, no! We live here!"<br />However, over the course of a year, lots of meetings between Rob and Rich, God completely changed our hearts.<br />So, we are doing the unthinkable.<br />We are selling our home, moving to a part of Virginia that is completely unfamiliar to us, to be the church in Martinsville, VA.<br />Why?<br />Because the church needs to take the gospel to the ends of the earth. We are the church.<br />Because God has made it very clear to us that He wants us to go.<br />We prayed that He would put up barriers or road blocks if we should not go.<br />We prayed that He would unite the hearts of our family.<br />God did not put up barriers.<br />God completely united our hearts.<br /><br />Please pray for us. This is not at all what we expected to be doing. Our journey…the one we thought we were on…has been interrupted. Our course has changed from what we expected! We are excited about what God is going to do in Martinsville. We are sad about having to say goodbye to friends that have become our family.<br /><br />I would like to invite you all to find out more about the church plant and how you can be praying for us! Click on the link below:<br /><a href="http://missionmartinsville.com/">Mission Martinsville</a></span></td></tr>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09059773834331356101noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8206349614470114098.post-72064091145045679162015-01-11T16:39:00.002-05:002015-01-19T09:45:06.319-05:00Changes Ahead!<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8Dqj9lrdw6M/VLLs_bnSHGI/AAAAAAAADsA/7tlvzq8PNjE/s1600/IMG_0426.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8Dqj9lrdw6M/VLLs_bnSHGI/AAAAAAAADsA/7tlvzq8PNjE/s1600/IMG_0426.JPG" height="212" width="320" /></a>There are big changes in store for us this year and we are
excited to share the details of the huge decision we
made. After
a year of praying and seeking counsel we finally made the decision to pack up our home and move to Martinsville, VA to help plant a new church. This wasn’t exactly on our radar screen
when we started 2014 … We have come to love our community, friends, church
family, small group and life here in NC; we are quite comfortable here; and in
many ways we thought we’d live here forever. While we were in the midst of
praying about the opportunity in Martinsville, our pastor put out a challenge
asking the congregation if our “Yes” was on the
table. He challenged us to trust God and follow his leading in our lives, and
be willing to follow, even if it might make us uncomfortable. “Is your ‘yes’ on
the table, before you know exactly what you are saying ‘yes’ to?” So, all 6 of
us in our family decided to accept this challenge (one night we even wrote “yes”
on white index cards and laid them on the dining room table), and the result
was a firm conviction that God was leading us to go to Martinsville.</div>
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There are so many unknowns that we face as we prepare to
sell our house, and move to a place we’ve only ever just visited. We need your prayers for this mission! By the way, you can
visit <a href="http://www.missionmartinsville.com/">www.missionmartinsville.com</a>
and sign up to receive updates and partner with us in prayer. As you can
imagine, we are endeavoring to fully rely on God
even though we are nervous about the unknowns of moving to a new community. We
are walking in faith and would love for you
to pray for us as we go on this journey!</div>
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We are certain that we are yielding
to God’s will for our family even though we know that moving and planting a new
church will be full of challenges. We are expecting God’s
grace and mercy to cover us through the challenges. We are certain that as you
partner with us to pray – that your prayers will make a difference. The reason
that we are selling our house, uprooting our family, and moving (to a place I
never even knew existed before 2014) is because we believe God is calling us to
be missionaries in Martinsville. We are going because God has called us to go
and we are relying on him as we enter the unknown.</div>
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Rich will continue to serve in his various teaching
positions, including Assistant Professor of Apologetics and Theology at Liberty
University Baptist Theological Seminary while also serving as one of the Pastors
/ Elders of the church in Martinsville. </div>
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I will be sharing more with you about this mission as we begin preparations to move to Martinsville. We have a lot to do in the next few months to get ready!</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09059773834331356101noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8206349614470114098.post-6670888136159302702014-11-13T06:00:00.000-05:002014-11-13T06:00:09.474-05:00Birthday Take 2<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pEZIzKYMwWU/VFk9zxcwwDI/AAAAAAAADok/c1TFjy6daCs/s1600/IMG_0204.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pEZIzKYMwWU/VFk9zxcwwDI/AAAAAAAADok/c1TFjy6daCs/s1600/IMG_0204.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">We made a last minute decision to take a day trip to VA to so that we could be with GraceAnn for her birthday celebration. Since GraceAnn and Jonathan were born within days of each other we made it a double birthday party. </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rT9KCBhF7Ls/VFk9v8gjotI/AAAAAAAADoE/bYjhKNNam9s/s1600/IMG_0198.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rT9KCBhF7Ls/VFk9v8gjotI/AAAAAAAADoE/bYjhKNNam9s/s1600/IMG_0198.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The cousin twins</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yuuAFh48ZUk/VFk9wff1KCI/AAAAAAAADoM/mqCXe8b5Lc0/s1600/IMG_0189.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yuuAFh48ZUk/VFk9wff1KCI/AAAAAAAADoM/mqCXe8b5Lc0/s1600/IMG_0189.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Minecraft cake!! </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tKJwd0Bpc-8/VFk9zym68EI/AAAAAAAADoc/mXiGqPZyjdM/s1600/IMG_0205.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tKJwd0Bpc-8/VFk9zym68EI/AAAAAAAADoc/mXiGqPZyjdM/s1600/IMG_0205.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">And we have more legos! What else would you get an 8 year old boy?<br />Fun times!</span></td></tr>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09059773834331356101noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8206349614470114098.post-33550347257525425812014-11-12T06:00:00.000-05:002014-11-12T06:00:03.987-05:00Hillridge Farms<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-o6GGaMPLMho/VFk73p-UKBI/AAAAAAAADmc/dJLjpsQcsJE/s1600/IMG_0152.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-o6GGaMPLMho/VFk73p-UKBI/AAAAAAAADmc/dJLjpsQcsJE/s1600/IMG_0152.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">This was my 11th year in a row going to Hillridge Farms. The first year we came Martin was only 2! </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Wo7Q1XoFl1I/VFk73OlLRGI/AAAAAAAADmU/jRDojmGT_pU/s1600/IMG_0155.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Wo7Q1XoFl1I/VFk73OlLRGI/AAAAAAAADmU/jRDojmGT_pU/s1600/IMG_0155.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Fun at the duck races. Aaron won every time.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RwbCZhQBDlk/VFk74ojFu0I/AAAAAAAADmk/v8tXlhpgff4/s1600/IMG_0158.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RwbCZhQBDlk/VFk74ojFu0I/AAAAAAAADmk/v8tXlhpgff4/s1600/IMG_0158.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">I insisted that Martin play like he's never played before. He's starting to pull back from playing because he's getting older. I understand it, but at the same time…I want him to still be a kid! He had a great day! (until he lost his leatherman tool…but that's another story - no worries, though - there is a happy ending)</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Oa0S-Na2tZA/VFk7-u7uEhI/AAAAAAAADm4/Q0T1KGchG6k/s1600/IMG_0163.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Oa0S-Na2tZA/VFk7-u7uEhI/AAAAAAAADm4/Q0T1KGchG6k/s1600/IMG_0163.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">What can be more fun than playing in a house of corn?</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">We had another fantastic day at Hillridge Farms! I am one blessed Mom!</span></td></tr>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09059773834331356101noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8206349614470114098.post-24284632954459191142014-11-11T06:00:00.000-05:002014-11-11T06:00:00.169-05:00Jonathan's 8th Birthday<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ahtVvelClg8/VFk5regIDMI/AAAAAAAADlY/HalLxfUr-EU/s1600/IMG_0125.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ahtVvelClg8/VFk5regIDMI/AAAAAAAADlY/HalLxfUr-EU/s1600/IMG_0125.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">I cannot believe my 3rd child is 8! Please stop the clock! These precious children are growing up so fast! Jonathan is such a spirited little guy. He is strong willed, stubborn, full or energy, and he loves reading the Bible. He has a wonderful 8th birthday and here are some pictures of what we did that day!</span></td></tr>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KjdUGcNF1z0/VFk5rtUfhkI/AAAAAAAADlc/wYhzwjGqLPw/s1600/IMG_0128.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KjdUGcNF1z0/VFk5rtUfhkI/AAAAAAAADlc/wYhzwjGqLPw/s1600/IMG_0128.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UYaj8exjav4/VFk5ttgt7TI/AAAAAAAADlw/wGHedAuxGuc/s1600/IMG_0134.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UYaj8exjav4/VFk5ttgt7TI/AAAAAAAADlw/wGHedAuxGuc/s1600/IMG_0134.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Of course - we opened presents as soon as everyone was awake! He got lots of legos, a new dinosaur, and a new Bible. His old Bible was barely hanging on even after repairing it with duct tape. He was so excited to receive a new one!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DUNil3Dq6ko/VFk5updVofI/AAAAAAAADl4/qOPouySuj84/s1600/IMG_0139.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DUNil3Dq6ko/VFk5updVofI/AAAAAAAADl4/qOPouySuj84/s1600/IMG_0139.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Camouflage is Jonathan's favorite thing to wear and he got this very awesome camouflage jacket!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dnc_W1vJG4U/VFk5wz7GBxI/AAAAAAAADmA/cErDy7v-Flc/s1600/IMG_0143.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dnc_W1vJG4U/VFk5wz7GBxI/AAAAAAAADmA/cErDy7v-Flc/s1600/IMG_0143.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Martin lit the candles of the cake that Jonathan helped decorate!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-H6vG6ZJMTPo/VFk5yDA182I/AAAAAAAADmI/1FuYtPC9HBs/s1600/IMG_0146.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-H6vG6ZJMTPo/VFk5yDA182I/AAAAAAAADmI/1FuYtPC9HBs/s1600/IMG_0146.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">For those of you who follow our family traditions…<br />This year, Jonathan chose to have a birthday breakfast instead of birthday lunch with Daddy. He went to the Waffle House. He also chose Ravioli and Sauce for his birthday Dinner at home. </span></td></tr>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09059773834331356101noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8206349614470114098.post-13992708501168457612014-11-10T06:00:00.000-05:002014-11-10T06:00:02.718-05:00Homeschooling Co-op<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--_2MJWvKnHc/VFk4bBUny1I/AAAAAAAADk0/dfY5TKROFaY/s1600/IMG_0088.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--_2MJWvKnHc/VFk4bBUny1I/AAAAAAAADk0/dfY5TKROFaY/s1600/IMG_0088.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">On this super rainy October day, our co-op painted pumpkins. </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yhgysmvE84I/VFk4gt-eV-I/AAAAAAAADlE/-tNnDK7RDmM/s1600/IMG_0094.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yhgysmvE84I/VFk4gt-eV-I/AAAAAAAADlE/-tNnDK7RDmM/s1600/IMG_0094.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">We also had group piano time!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--5NGxTeGVAE/VFk4e8kSB6I/AAAAAAAADk8/3KkJLdDlzGA/s1600/IMG_0095.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--5NGxTeGVAE/VFk4e8kSB6I/AAAAAAAADk8/3KkJLdDlzGA/s1600/IMG_0095.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Our smallest member of co-op!!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6KVHdws0FUs/VFk4g-5SrOI/AAAAAAAADlI/VC3BNVn5uwo/s1600/IMG_0096.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6KVHdws0FUs/VFk4g-5SrOI/AAAAAAAADlI/VC3BNVn5uwo/s1600/IMG_0096.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Such creativity in our group!</span></td></tr>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09059773834331356101noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8206349614470114098.post-56673215166654299372014-11-07T06:00:00.000-05:002014-11-07T06:00:06.926-05:00Homeschooling Moments<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JRXv92wuWjg/VFkz9oNVZDI/AAAAAAAADj4/OTuS0pNH6VY/s1600/IMG_0087.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JRXv92wuWjg/VFkz9oNVZDI/AAAAAAAADj4/OTuS0pNH6VY/s1600/IMG_0087.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">We are 13 weeks into our homeschool year and I am very happy with our progress. I have been taking pictures here and there of the things that we are doing, so this post is a collection of moments that we've had over the last few weeks. Martin and Aaron do a lot of their work independently now, so I am spending a great deal of time with my younger two and giving them a good solid start. Rosalie is learning how to read. She loves handwriting and anything hands on. She loves the art projects that we do the best!</span> </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WEmI5vfYO5A/VFkz8I4G4kI/AAAAAAAADjo/50fh0WOyntU/s1600/IMG_0084.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WEmI5vfYO5A/VFkz8I4G4kI/AAAAAAAADjo/50fh0WOyntU/s1600/IMG_0084.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Jonathan is doing very well in the 2nd grade. His reading has really taken off this year. He enjoys the hands on projects as well. His favorite part is doing the experiments that go with our science lessons.<br />I'm so thankful for these two!</span></td></tr>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09059773834331356101noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8206349614470114098.post-85226845237845651202014-11-06T06:00:00.000-05:002014-11-06T06:00:05.271-05:00A Family Trip To Busch Gardens<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-f_XoPxIHMJ8/VFkfm6Q38tI/AAAAAAAADgw/IUgR96otZJg/s1600/IMG_0020.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-f_XoPxIHMJ8/VFkfm6Q38tI/AAAAAAAADgw/IUgR96otZJg/s1600/IMG_0020.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">We had the opportunity to visit our VA family in September and got to go to Busch Gardens for the day while we were there. We had such a fun day!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mR_XFgGdeok/VFkfl4lZHZI/AAAAAAAADgo/_zECHHGZoJY/s1600/IMG_0021.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mR_XFgGdeok/VFkfl4lZHZI/AAAAAAAADgo/_zECHHGZoJY/s1600/IMG_0021.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Rosalie and Jonathan</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-K69ZgDUBwqQ/VFkfnW1oBZI/AAAAAAAADg0/PzXoWSaPFUc/s1600/IMG_0022.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-K69ZgDUBwqQ/VFkfnW1oBZI/AAAAAAAADg0/PzXoWSaPFUc/s1600/IMG_0022.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Aaron and Lauren</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-O7BrcpJDfyI/VFkfqmGjOeI/AAAAAAAADhI/JVe6cHeROJE/s1600/IMG_0025.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-O7BrcpJDfyI/VFkfqmGjOeI/AAAAAAAADhI/JVe6cHeROJE/s1600/IMG_0025.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">We went on a Friday toward the end of September - we hardly had to wait in a single line! It was fabulous!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FzvQt0AAl9E/VFkfy36XA8I/AAAAAAAADhs/NRB00Y39a8M/s1600/IMG_0034.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FzvQt0AAl9E/VFkfy36XA8I/AAAAAAAADhs/NRB00Y39a8M/s1600/IMG_0034.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">We call these three the triplets. Jonathan, GraceAnn, and Rosalie are inseparable when they are together. I love how much they love each other.</span></td></tr>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09059773834331356101noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8206349614470114098.post-56734268860340933522014-11-05T06:00:00.000-05:002014-11-05T06:00:08.987-05:00Homeschool Co-op Fall Leaves<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jGVMY1Ir9dU/VFkxxHebWZI/AAAAAAAADi0/h6RCFgXgszQ/s1600/IMG_0040.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jGVMY1Ir9dU/VFkxxHebWZI/AAAAAAAADi0/h6RCFgXgszQ/s1600/IMG_0040.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">We started a homeschooling Co-op this year that we are absolutely loving! The purpose of the group is scripture accountability, community, and worldview. We are working through a worldview book together, studying scriptures, memorizing scripture, and building friendships. We also do crafts, P.E., and fun field trips. This week we made a fun fall craft in addition to the scripture and worldview study.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">It was fun to see how different each of the leaves turned out!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Some of them contained detailed patterns like the one above.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iA_UGBcSc6Q/VFkx5S64IJI/AAAAAAAADjU/Cxvb1LKTue0/s1600/IMG_0046.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iA_UGBcSc6Q/VFkx5S64IJI/AAAAAAAADjU/Cxvb1LKTue0/s1600/IMG_0046.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Some of them started out with a detailed pattern and then just threw a bunch of glue in the middle and dumped beans down on top of the glue. </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2P9G3TQWGNI/VFkx6vI11rI/AAAAAAAADjc/7rJvI-pF604/s1600/IMG_0051.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2P9G3TQWGNI/VFkx6vI11rI/AAAAAAAADjc/7rJvI-pF604/s1600/IMG_0051.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">And there were some that finished really quickly. They glued a few beans on and saw how time consuming it was and then called theirs done! It was a lot of fun! And it certainly wouldn't have been fall unless we included a fun fall treat. We had pumpkin chocolate chip cookies!</span></td></tr>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09059773834331356101noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8206349614470114098.post-2757877904799938642014-11-04T15:02:00.000-05:002014-11-04T15:02:01.573-05:00First Field Trip of the Year<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OyOMsScMx_k/VFkv7DqhAFI/AAAAAAAADiA/CHXbe4Jhry0/s1600/IMG_1433.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OyOMsScMx_k/VFkv7DqhAFI/AAAAAAAADiA/CHXbe4Jhry0/s1600/IMG_1433.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">We went to a local ranch at the end of August to learn about horses. We had such a fun time!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NpO8V2vLndo/VFkv-q7D10I/AAAAAAAADiQ/Fuviae36j2E/s1600/IMG_1437.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NpO8V2vLndo/VFkv-q7D10I/AAAAAAAADiQ/Fuviae36j2E/s1600/IMG_1437.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Jonathan LOVES horses, so it was amazing for him to be able to be so close that he could touch them!!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XsvH6dXFYNI/VFkwCdaZmUI/AAAAAAAADic/7vUrh2MoPb8/s1600/IMG_1442.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XsvH6dXFYNI/VFkwCdaZmUI/AAAAAAAADic/7vUrh2MoPb8/s1600/IMG_1442.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">And this picture … it's just for fun and memories! While we were there Martin held sweet baby Joy. Precious!</span></td></tr>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09059773834331356101noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8206349614470114098.post-49715221151964091642014-08-13T07:16:00.001-04:002014-08-13T20:11:01.258-04:00Praying the Scriptures <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xMTcDJ2GaTs/U-tGDUM7eZI/AAAAAAAADfw/YZ5M6cIbmn4/s1600/IMG_1350.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xMTcDJ2GaTs/U-tGDUM7eZI/AAAAAAAADfw/YZ5M6cIbmn4/s1600/IMG_1350.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Right before school began this year, Rich and I spent some time thinking about and choosing a specific scripture passage for each of our children. The idea is that we wanted to choose a passage that specifically dealt with areas of struggle in their hearts and minds. Once we chose the scriptures for each child we committed to praying those specific scriptures over them hoping to invoke change in their hearts. We also hoped that it could be a tangible way for them to see the Holy Spirit working in their lives. In just a matter of days, I have seen God moving in a mighty way - not only in their lives, but in mine as watch how He is working.<br />I want to share one specific way that I have seen the power of the Holy Spirit working on Jonathan.<br />I chose Romans 12:9-10 for Jonathan.<br /><b>"Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good. Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another."</b><br />The area where I was hoping to see growth in Jonathan was to love others well and think of others first before he does whatever he wants to do for himself.<br />For the past 10 days, since I started praying these scriptures over him, he has started carrying his Bible around with him everywhere as if it were the greatest treasure he has ever received. He has called the entire family together numerous times for family Bible reading time and prayer(he reads to us and prays for us) He has started reading his Bible everyday on his own without any prompting from me. If that is not powerful enough on its own, the other night when I was praying with him at bedtime, he looked up at me with eyes full of tears and said, "Mommy - I just want to get all of the bad things out of my head!"<br />I admit that I didn't make the connection right away with the scriptures that I had been praying over him and that statement that he made. However, this morning when I was praying for him, it hit me like a ton of bricks. God is working in Jonathan's heart to abhor what is evil! God is moving in the hearts of my children - and in my own heart!</span></td></tr>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09059773834331356101noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8206349614470114098.post-7152034458770693342014-08-09T13:53:00.002-04:002014-08-09T21:56:25.460-04:00A New School Year! 2014-2015Here we go again. A fresh start to a brand new school year. You may or may not know that I LOVE starting a new school year! Before children I was either going to school or teaching school…and I loved the beginning of a new school year then as well. Now, the stakes are even higher … because I am educating my own children! I suppose it could be that it's because I am starting my 9th year of the Holland School that our first week of the 2014-2015 school year went so smoothly. Or perhaps it is because I am not chasing a toddler down while holding a baby on my hip. Whatever the case, it was a fantastic week! I am thankful!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3iqXG0hrE3U/U-ZYNVy5FrI/AAAAAAAADfY/ewRI5oRWLSo/s1600/IMG_1351.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3iqXG0hrE3U/U-ZYNVy5FrI/AAAAAAAADfY/ewRI5oRWLSo/s1600/IMG_1351.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Rosalie is somewhere between Kindergarten and 1st grade. We did some light Kindergarten last year that included some math, handwriting, and learning to read. This year she will continue to work on those things and finish up what we didn't finish last year. We are calling it Kindergarten in order to keep it simple! She is doing <a href="http://www.heartofdakota.com/byd-little-hearts-packages.php">Beyond Little Hearts For His Glory</a> along with Jonathan this year. They will do Science, History, Bible, Art, Music, and Read a-louds together and they will work on their own level in handwriting/copywork, math, and Language Arts. She is already reading pretty well and she loves math! </span></td></tr>
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Jonathan is in 2nd grade this year! It takes me about 2 1/2 hours 4 days a week and about an hour 1 day a week to complete each box in the guide. It is my goal to be very thorough with Jonathan and Rosalie this year. The past couple of years has been very intense with Martin and Aaron and I have managed to get them both to the point where they are able to do most of their work independently. So, this year I can focus more on my younger two.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ou5Zb25lyFk/U-ZYMFOMqKI/AAAAAAAADfI/oVmpGtRdxu8/s1600/IMG_1357.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ou5Zb25lyFk/U-ZYMFOMqKI/AAAAAAAADfI/oVmpGtRdxu8/s1600/IMG_1357.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Aaron is in 5th grade this year and will have a significant increase in work load from last school year. The curriculum that we are using for 5th grade is: <a href="http://www.6hollandhappenings.blogspot.com/2012/08/creation-to-christ-curriculum-choices.html">Creation to Christ</a>. When we start our school day at 8:00 AM, he and Martin both begin working through each of the boxes in their guide. At 10:30 when I finish with the younger two, I meet with each of the older ones and have them show me all of the work they have completed up until that point and I spend time working through the boxes that require a teacher. </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sVW0cvJkOLc/U-ZYPxtP1II/AAAAAAAADfg/qwZX0a9R09U/s1600/IMG_1362.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sVW0cvJkOLc/U-ZYPxtP1II/AAAAAAAADfg/qwZX0a9R09U/s1600/IMG_1362.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Martin is in 7th grade!! It's so hard for me to believe that he is in 7th grade! He is almost completely independent in his learning now. There are still several things that I do with him each day including looking through all of his work to make sure it was completed correctly as well as lessons for which he may need instruction, narration, dictations, etc. He is doing <a href="http://www.heartofdakota.com/revival-to-revolution-packages.php">Revival to Revolution</a> this year. We are doing the guide as written except for the writing program. We are choosing to do IEW US History Lessons instead of the creative writing that is scheduled. We also chose videotext for math this year. He will spend the next two years doing: <a href="http://videotext.com/shop-videotext/">Algebra 1 and Algebra 2</a>. I went with videotext because I believe the approach will work well for him after having completed the Singapore Elementary Math and because we are at the point now where he needs more than me to be his teacher for math. Videotext provides lessons on DVD. He did incredibly well for his 1st week of 7th grade. Martin is a diligent worker and I am so thankful for his hard work and great care that he takes to complete his work!</span></td></tr>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09059773834331356101noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8206349614470114098.post-78844103124023165682014-06-07T10:50:00.001-04:002014-06-07T10:50:31.049-04:00Family Vacation #7<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xas9R_ZNGIs/U5MiU0pNsGI/AAAAAAAADag/ROM_R4MEyJc/s1600/IMG_1057.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xas9R_ZNGIs/U5MiU0pNsGI/AAAAAAAADag/ROM_R4MEyJc/s1600/IMG_1057.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Many, many months ago I made reservations to for my Mom and I to take Rosalie to Cinderella's Royal Table for breakfast with the princesses. </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-egzcLssvvOM/U5MiVUjYKHI/AAAAAAAADak/2x0bd2s9h68/s1600/IMG_1059.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-egzcLssvvOM/U5MiVUjYKHI/AAAAAAAADak/2x0bd2s9h68/s1600/IMG_1059.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">We wanted to make sure that we got there in plenty of time and it ended up that we were the very first ones in line and Rosalie was declared Princess of the Day. She was given a special sticker, was first in line to meet Cinderella and a Royal announcement was made that Rosalie would lead everyone up the Royal staircase. It was so much fun!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qBJN7Ebw19E/U5Milvv9x_I/AAAAAAAADbY/mcsbXkk1NCQ/s1600/IMG_1076.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qBJN7Ebw19E/U5Milvv9x_I/AAAAAAAADbY/mcsbXkk1NCQ/s1600/IMG_1076.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Rosalie's favorite Disney Princess is Princess Aurora !</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qZRDWzsrBrY/U5Mir2PKPSI/AAAAAAAADbo/d-1lgUL_rvI/s1600/IMG_1079.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qZRDWzsrBrY/U5Mir2PKPSI/AAAAAAAADbo/d-1lgUL_rvI/s1600/IMG_1079.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Rosalie was about to meet Ariel … she was so excited!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-oFW6pUa1xS4/U5Mi2XX85kI/AAAAAAAADcQ/aY12YSISmj4/s1600/IMG_1090.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-oFW6pUa1xS4/U5Mi2XX85kI/AAAAAAAADcQ/aY12YSISmj4/s1600/IMG_1090.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">We had an amazing time at the Princess Breakfast! I'm so glad that we did this with Rosalie while she was this age. It was so much fun - the food was outstanding - and very special memories were made.<br /><br />I don't have any other pictures of this day - but do want to journal about it. This particular day at Disney was interesting. The Magic Kingdom was open for 24 hours. I didn't realize that would be the case when I made reservations for the Princess Breakfast. We had to go to the parks on this day because of the reservations for the breakfast. If I had known that it was a 24 hour day - I wouldn't have made reservations for that day. It was CRAZY! We spent the morning at the Magic Kindgom. Mom and I did the breakfast with Rosalie while Rich, Dad, and the boys did the Hall of Presidents and Tom Sawyer Island. Then we headed back to Epcot to do what we had missed the last time we were there. By the afternoon we were all pretty exhausted and Rich was starting to feel terrible.<br />So, by 4PM we headed back to our house and went swimming. We decided to take Martin and Aaron back to MK later that night to ride some rides. Rich stayed at home with the two youngers. Well, it was a madhouse. I've never seen so many people in my life! Every restaurant was filled, every line had a 70 minutes wait and the walkways were packed with people.<br />We ended up walking around for a short while and then getting some ice cream and heading back home.<br />So, our last day in the parks was a little chaotic and way too busy for me.<br />Our last day in Florida was a quiet one. We went to downtown Disney and finished up some shopping that the children wanted to get done. We went swimming and out to eat and then started packing for the trip home. Great Trip! </span></td></tr>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09059773834331356101noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8206349614470114098.post-33315838592800427122014-06-07T10:29:00.003-04:002014-06-07T10:29:46.516-04:00Family Vacation 2014 #6<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Ulo-FZUxenc/U5MfDPfCZtI/AAAAAAAADX0/ybQkvtgeczQ/s1600/IMG_1009.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Ulo-FZUxenc/U5MfDPfCZtI/AAAAAAAADX0/ybQkvtgeczQ/s1600/IMG_1009.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">On Day 6 of our vacation we headed to Animal Kingdom and Epcot.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1Uxhx-n4nSY/U5MfD27j_UI/AAAAAAAADX8/RoMy6s0o1DI/s1600/IMG_1011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1Uxhx-n4nSY/U5MfD27j_UI/AAAAAAAADX8/RoMy6s0o1DI/s1600/IMG_1011.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Rosalie and Jonathan loved the dinosaur play area!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-I9r8sHijRyM/U5MfPP2G9FI/AAAAAAAADYk/qWbikwkZ3Jg/s1600/IMG_1019.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-I9r8sHijRyM/U5MfPP2G9FI/AAAAAAAADYk/qWbikwkZ3Jg/s1600/IMG_1019.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The weather was fantastic. The entire time we were there it was sunny and warm with low humidity! We loved Expedition Everest - Jonathan and Rosalie didn't ride it - but Rich, Martin, Aaron, and I rode it and loved it! I rode it the last time we came with a very terrified Aaron - I'm pretty sure that's why I didn't enjoy it last time. This time it was fantastic! We rode it once using fast pass - and since the lines weren't very long we rode it again! We also LOVED the Kali River Rapids ride - and we certainly did get wet - but it was such a fun ride! We all loved it! (well, the ones of us that rode it loved it! Mom, Dad, and Rosalie chose not to ride it)</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tXA_g1ugZSM/U5MfSVmjtXI/AAAAAAAADYs/47gCvy3BlVI/s1600/IMG_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tXA_g1ugZSM/U5MfSVmjtXI/AAAAAAAADYs/47gCvy3BlVI/s1600/IMG_1024.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">After a few hours at Animal Kingdom we headed over to Epcot. </span></td></tr>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-w6fQUWoFa4A/U5MfS0RX0yI/AAAAAAAADYw/bIE97u92srI/s1600/IMG_1030.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-w6fQUWoFa4A/U5MfS0RX0yI/AAAAAAAADYw/bIE97u92srI/s1600/IMG_1030.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-m2TraxruoiI/U5MfVqoZmqI/AAAAAAAADY8/c7nJQ6VZEGQ/s1600/IMG_1032.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-m2TraxruoiI/U5MfVqoZmqI/AAAAAAAADY8/c7nJQ6VZEGQ/s1600/IMG_1032.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">While I'm not the biggest fan of waiting in line to meet characters … the wait for these characters was only 5 minutes, so we had to go meet them and give them a hug.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cI0TFSM2gRM/U5MfXq7MU6I/AAAAAAAADZE/qdPisBKIDjE/s1600/IMG_1034.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cI0TFSM2gRM/U5MfXq7MU6I/AAAAAAAADZE/qdPisBKIDjE/s1600/IMG_1034.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">You many have noticed that one our kiddos is missing … well… apparently when you turn twelve, you are too old to get a picture taken with Mickey Mouse. Who knew?</span></td></tr>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-b3VhKhuK6hA/U5MfZKT2r_I/AAAAAAAADZM/1xlNPoKTbDY/s1600/IMG_1044.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-b3VhKhuK6hA/U5MfZKT2r_I/AAAAAAAADZM/1xlNPoKTbDY/s1600/IMG_1044.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PNftfLQKalk/U5MfcSAf-xI/AAAAAAAADZU/TRmFp3XmXZw/s1600/IMG_1046.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PNftfLQKalk/U5MfcSAf-xI/AAAAAAAADZU/TRmFp3XmXZw/s1600/IMG_1046.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">This young 5 year old couldn't wait to give Minnie Mouse a hug - I love the expression while she was waiting her turn!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vJdzTt8yYjs/U5Mfb0_2EtI/AAAAAAAADZQ/RQdSqrNTRVE/s1600/IMG_1052.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vJdzTt8yYjs/U5Mfb0_2EtI/AAAAAAAADZQ/RQdSqrNTRVE/s1600/IMG_1052.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">It was another great day at Disney!<br />For dinner, Mom and Dad took Aaron, Jonathan, and Rosalie to get a burger while Rich, Martin, and I traveled around the world showcase sampling lots of different foods. Our favorite was definitely the food in Morocco!<br /></span></td></tr>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09059773834331356101noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8206349614470114098.post-30782546707452551722014-06-04T18:50:00.002-04:002014-06-04T18:50:53.048-04:00Family Vacation 2014 #5<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ulHuLIy4Ro8/U4-dWJbBLeI/AAAAAAAADXI/CUOLGgt8Yrc/s1600/IMG_0973.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ulHuLIy4Ro8/U4-dWJbBLeI/AAAAAAAADXI/CUOLGgt8Yrc/s1600/IMG_0973.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">On day 5 of our vacation we headed to The Magic Kingdom!<br />The weather was beautiful and sunny and it was such a fun day for all of us!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UgPxDPpmuYE/U4-dUgEjJUI/AAAAAAAADW0/7P-lUCcSDfM/s1600/IMG_0974.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UgPxDPpmuYE/U4-dUgEjJUI/AAAAAAAADW0/7P-lUCcSDfM/s1600/IMG_0974.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">We arrived bright and early and were waiting to be let into the park!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OP3YIKWeknY/U4-dUwcU1vI/AAAAAAAADW4/7-CpYx6RygI/s1600/IMG_0978.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OP3YIKWeknY/U4-dUwcU1vI/AAAAAAAADW4/7-CpYx6RygI/s1600/IMG_0978.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4lAI9ZlA3VI/U4-dV4tIivI/AAAAAAAADXE/7-SYKM--vJI/s1600/IMG_0980.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4lAI9ZlA3VI/U4-dV4tIivI/AAAAAAAADXE/7-SYKM--vJI/s1600/IMG_0980.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">It was such an exciting day for Rosalie - since she doesn't remember our last trip!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aEX0CI21Fqc/U4-ddk95dII/AAAAAAAADXc/4Sh4JqKMPZ8/s1600/IMG_0981.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aEX0CI21Fqc/U4-ddk95dII/AAAAAAAADXc/4Sh4JqKMPZ8/s1600/IMG_0981.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">We headed to Splash Mountain and Thunder Mountain Railroad first - and there were hardly any lines at all! Rosalie was terrified for most of the Splash Mountain rides because some brothers of her pointed out the huge drop and told her to watch the boats go down the HUGE hill. So, she spent the entire ride scared to death about the hill at the end. Oh Well. She rode everything without question the entire week - she wasn't scared, and most of the time wanted to ride them again. That hill on Splash Mountain just looked intimidating, I suppose.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/---iHK-awuh0/U4-dd8xAVlI/AAAAAAAADXg/X4C0oC7dKU4/s1600/IMG_0984.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/---iHK-awuh0/U4-dd8xAVlI/AAAAAAAADXg/X4C0oC7dKU4/s1600/IMG_0984.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">We headed over to the Buzz Lightyear ride a little later - you know they all loved that one! What kid doesn't want to shoot at stuff?<br /><br />A funny story:<br />After lunch we headed to the newest area of MK. We got in the line for what we thought was the Ariel ride. Lines had been moving quickly all day long - not long waits anywhere, really - and even when we had to wait longer than usual … the lines still kept moving. This line - was not moving - there wasn't a good airflow at all in the line. After waiting about 35-40 minutes - longer than any line we'd waited in all week, it was our turn - and they took us into a room to meet Ariel - the Little Mermaid. We were stunned. We had no idea that we were waiting to meet Ariel. We thought we were in line for a ride. The Disney cast member was trying hard to stay composed and not laugh out loud at us - when we all said - "What? This is what we were waiting for?" But no worries, folks…I acted quickly by shoving Rosalie toward Ariel. (I was seriously thankful that our 4th child was a girl!) The boys were mortified and quickly got behind any adult they could find. There is no way they were getting anywhere near the Sea Princess.<br />It's a memory, though … and now one that we all laugh about!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VP8r89r1Owc/U4-dXdADyUI/AAAAAAAADXQ/7kE4Zd72L74/s1600/IMG_1004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VP8r89r1Owc/U4-dXdADyUI/AAAAAAAADXQ/7kE4Zd72L74/s1600/IMG_1004.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">We stayed at the Magic Kingdom all day long. We decided not to park hop - because there is just so much to do at MK. We headed over to tomorrowland around the time that everyone was finding their perfect spot for the fireworks. Mom and Dad did the same thing! They didn't want to miss the fireworks show. We were more interested in riding rides, however. So, we headed over to tomorrowland. We got a fast pass to ride space mountain - and while we were waiting we got on the people mover to relax and pass time. Little Miss fell asleep while we were riding it! Too funny!<br />I took Martin, Aaron, and Rosalie to ride the astro orbiter…which had about a 20-25 minute wait - and Rich took Jonathan on the Buzz Lightyear ride twice! When we got off astro orbiter we went back on the Buzz Lightyear ride again. No waits! Then Martin, Aaron, and I went over and rode Space Mountain. Rich, Rosalie, and Jonathan found a place to sit down in tomorrowland to watch the fireworks. By the time we got off of Space Mountain the fireworks were just beginning, so we sat down and enjoyed the fireworks. Once they were over, we sent M & A back on Space Mountain before the rush of people came back into tomorrowland after the fireworks show was over. <br />We waited for M & A to ride it - yes they got in line and rode it by themselves. I was a little nervous about that, I admit … but they were fine, or course.<br />As we were leaving tomorrowland, we were right in front of the castle when they showed the entire castle projection show AGAIN! So, we got to ride a ton of rides without waiting in lines - AND - we got to see the projection show too! WIN-WIN!<br />By this time it was getting close to 11PM - and we were DONE!<br />Fantastic day at The Magic Kingdom!</span></td></tr>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09059773834331356101noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8206349614470114098.post-23914554550466991622014-05-29T06:00:00.000-04:002014-05-29T06:00:06.830-04:00Family Vacation 2014 #4<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-W63AyFuXtFk/U4OFo_QZXiI/AAAAAAAADVo/PW8LD8QF50E/s1600/IMG_0951.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-W63AyFuXtFk/U4OFo_QZXiI/AAAAAAAADVo/PW8LD8QF50E/s1600/IMG_0951.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">These pictures are kind of dark - but I had to write a post about this day! We made reservations at T-Rex at Downtown Disney. It was AMAZING! We had so much fun eating at this restaurant! It is definitely a fun boy restaurant - but the girls had just as much fun! There is a meteor shower every 15 minutes and the dinosaurs all around the restaurant start moving and making noises. </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-b9lNr4SMgpw/U4OFqrPbgwI/AAAAAAAADVw/UsjedLm5Is4/s1600/IMG_0953.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-b9lNr4SMgpw/U4OFqrPbgwI/AAAAAAAADVw/UsjedLm5Is4/s1600/IMG_0953.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">We had lunchtime reservations - so it was a little less crowded than at dinnertime. The staff encouraged us to walk around and explore the restaurant. </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KFbJNNVKWm8/U4OFrosb1rI/AAAAAAAADV4/sEQfJcPfrvI/s1600/IMG_0954.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KFbJNNVKWm8/U4OFrosb1rI/AAAAAAAADV4/sEQfJcPfrvI/s1600/IMG_0954.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">We had not planned on eating here until after we got there - and there were only two reservations left for the entire time we were there! We grabbed one of them and are so glad we did! I guess most people who plan there Disney vacations make their dining reservations way in advance. We were so excited that we were able to go!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-w3k8CT03RZQ/U4OFzJxWcVI/AAAAAAAADWQ/3a8C0tXW7MU/s1600/IMG_0965.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-w3k8CT03RZQ/U4OFzJxWcVI/AAAAAAAADWQ/3a8C0tXW7MU/s1600/IMG_0965.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Why, yes that is Martin hanging out of a dinosaur's mouth!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mnYY3zFCnbs/U4OFziPubQI/AAAAAAAADWU/-JAj11KsyXA/s1600/IMG_0967.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mnYY3zFCnbs/U4OFziPubQI/AAAAAAAADWU/-JAj11KsyXA/s1600/IMG_0967.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">And I think this one is Aaron. It's hard to tell!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--MXgMGSBh_4/U4OF0eq6MRI/AAAAAAAADWg/Wl0mu70Bkto/s1600/IMG_0968.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--MXgMGSBh_4/U4OF0eq6MRI/AAAAAAAADWg/Wl0mu70Bkto/s1600/IMG_0968.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">If you ever have the chance to do a Disney vacation - T-Rex is a MUST! So much fun!<br />They also have a Build-a-Dino workshop in the back of the T-REX store. We came home with two new dinosaurs. Rosalie and Jonathan decided to spend some of their money on their own build-a-dino. </span></td></tr>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09059773834331356101noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8206349614470114098.post-23953345223955712592014-05-28T06:00:00.000-04:002014-05-28T06:00:06.526-04:00Family Vacation 2014 #3<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GUxKhtVWb7k/U4OD6Et_meI/AAAAAAAADU0/Qs9AsCYI8Dg/s1600/IMG_0935.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GUxKhtVWb7k/U4OD6Et_meI/AAAAAAAADU0/Qs9AsCYI8Dg/s1600/IMG_0935.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">LEGOLAND!!!!!</span><span style="font-size: small;"> You know we had to go to Legoland this time! It was another wonderful weather day in sunny Florida and we had a blast exploring Legoland for the first time!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The lego creations were amazing!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ojwsxSOD6uw/U4OD_5kmIOI/AAAAAAAADVM/ejn-dPm23P8/s1600/IMG_0944.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ojwsxSOD6uw/U4OD_5kmIOI/AAAAAAAADVM/ejn-dPm23P8/s1600/IMG_0944.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">We found out that Rosalie has some pretty good driving instincts! She was surrounded by little boy drivers and was the only one out there that could keep her little car moving! We had so much fun watching her drive!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2K0Cn1c5S3Y/U4OEAr0xzFI/AAAAAAAADVU/ebcxJFDVr-s/s1600/IMG_0947.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2K0Cn1c5S3Y/U4OEAr0xzFI/AAAAAAAADVU/ebcxJFDVr-s/s1600/IMG_0947.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Legoland is a cute little park with lots of fun rides! We really enjoyed our day there - and the adults were happy that the hours were only 10-6. We were only on our 2nd park day and already getting tired!<br />Rosalie rode all of the roller coasters - and loved them. We made Jonathan ride them - and he was okay with it - got off of them and said they were awesome, but wouldn't get back on it. Good times!!</span></td></tr>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09059773834331356101noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8206349614470114098.post-46938556587074190362014-05-27T06:00:00.000-04:002014-05-27T09:10:53.660-04:00Family Vacation 2014 #2<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wW0ngd_hvUI/U4OCDd742sI/AAAAAAAADUg/pApMylcI3Qo/s1600/IMG_0928.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wW0ngd_hvUI/U4OCDd742sI/AAAAAAAADUg/pApMylcI3Qo/s1600/IMG_0928.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">This is what we did on days that we didn't go to the Disney Parks. It was nice to have days off between park days - walking around the parks is hard work!!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9lhGb9ZGzbA/U4OCDWWMPrI/AAAAAAAADUs/TKoZe2veu78/s1600/IMG_0927.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9lhGb9ZGzbA/U4OCDWWMPrI/AAAAAAAADUs/TKoZe2veu78/s1600/IMG_0927.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The water was pretty cold at the beginning of our vacation, but by the end the days were getting warmer and the water was great! We were only a couple of miles from Disney property - and really enjoyed this nice home! If you are like us and enjoy going to Disney - but don't want to pay such high rates to stay on property - we've used the same <a href="http://www.closesttodisney.com/">company </a>twice and have been so happy with the places that we've stayed. I completely understand the convenience of staying on property - and would love to do that sometime - but we loved having such a large house with room to spread out and the private pool was great too!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">On our 2nd day of vacation after the pool fun, Rich and I were able to go out on a date! It was such a fun night of great food and live entertainment! We are so thankful that my parents were with us and took care of the children for us, so that we could get away!</span></td></tr>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09059773834331356101noreply@blogger.com0