tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-66783831617562930322024-03-13T14:39:00.990-07:00Repentance-n-FaithBecca M.http://www.blogger.com/profile/01193678219249318692noreply@blogger.comBlogger31125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6678383161756293032.post-42127402051486421292018-10-10T15:10:00.003-07:002018-10-10T15:33:25.373-07:00The Bakery<span style="font-size: large;">Cakes used to be my jam. Now, I am testing out recipes nearly everyday for anything I can find on Pinterest that I have ingredients for in my house, including jam. This is what happens when you have two 9 year-olds, homeschool, unlock a passion within them for creating something out of nothing, and have a penchant for creating 10,000 dishes to clean each day.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-csQeWSOroBE/W75uQX6GGAI/AAAAAAAACx4/XDnhNG4_aPYpPE0slKuS1BAOxAljJlhfwCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_2660.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-csQeWSOroBE/W75uQX6GGAI/AAAAAAAACx4/XDnhNG4_aPYpPE0slKuS1BAOxAljJlhfwCLcBGAs/s320/IMG_2660.jpg" width="240" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">We turn it into math and science class as well. How does yeast work? If you need 3/4 cup and you only have a measuring cup for 1/4, what do you do? Do you think the bagel dough will stay the same size when they are submerged in the water? What about when they bake?</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">My kids are amazing, realizing they are not limited by anything but their imaginations (and available ingredients).</span><br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ueq-BVPCbcg/W75uQSpyKxI/AAAAAAAACx8/Y8V3Cqn09x8YkN8Bavun9jt4s9lDajCHwCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_2661.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; clear: right; color: #0066cc; float: right; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ueq-BVPCbcg/W75uQSpyKxI/AAAAAAAACx8/Y8V3Cqn09x8YkN8Bavun9jt4s9lDajCHwCLcBGAs/s320/IMG_2661.jpg" width="240" /></a><span style="font-size: large;">So far, some of the best recipes we have tried:</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> ~ dinner rolls (best I've ever had, seriously!),</span><br />
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ueq-BVPCbcg/W75uQSpyKxI/AAAAAAAACx8/Y8V3Cqn09x8YkN8Bavun9jt4s9lDajCHwCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_2661.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><span style="font-size: large;"> ~ bread,</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> ~ graham crackers (not their favorite),</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> ~ pumpkin dessert,</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> ~ pumpkin chocolate chip cookies,</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> ~ canned Italian plums/prunes,</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> ~ grape jam,</span><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> ~ strawberry jam, and</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> ~ applesauce.</span><span style="font-size: large;"><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><br /></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">We currently make the dinner rolls a couple times a week because they are that good!</span><br />
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HY57uIc8PwI/W75uH06i_UI/AAAAAAAACx0/HFgiEhKaf-cqHo4bWQR8L_z1p7r21Q2swCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_2667.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #0066cc; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HY57uIc8PwI/W75uH06i_UI/AAAAAAAACx0/HFgiEhKaf-cqHo4bWQR8L_z1p7r21Q2swCLcBGAs/s320/IMG_2667.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Last night, we tried <a href="http://vegweb.com/recipes/chewy-breadmachine-bagels" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">cinnamon raisin bagels</a> and devoured them. They were so good we made them again today (along with a baby bagel for the child obsessed with babies, see above) and the proof of deliciousness lies in the fact there are none left already.</span>Becca M.http://www.blogger.com/profile/01193678219249318692noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6678383161756293032.post-51756839640664441652018-10-05T17:45:00.002-07:002018-12-24T09:36:49.680-08:0010 Things Every New Hunter Should Know<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 24px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rxOt-7H0ZiE/XCEY87YlZDI/AAAAAAAACzI/T9J_KkSYdSoCxhsb0fr1IH5QEGiqF2l2QCLcBGAs/s1600/10Things_Hunting.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1143" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rxOt-7H0ZiE/XCEY87YlZDI/AAAAAAAACzI/T9J_KkSYdSoCxhsb0fr1IH5QEGiqF2l2QCLcBGAs/s320/10Things_Hunting.jpg" width="228" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KuAAQSzwH3o/W7gC62ZnTsI/AAAAAAAACw0/-g-t2OBdHXUSs5hef-M5nZFi8ZBHiiENQCLcBGAs/s1600/D-Hunting.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: transparent; clear: left; color: #0066cc; float: left; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"></a><span style="font-size: 21.33px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">In
the last three years, the world of hunting has taken off in terms of clothing,
gear, strategies, and complaints—coincidentally also the time frame when I walked
into this new-to-me domain so that may not be true to anyone other than me. I
blew any sense of a budget on the latest and greatest products and attire while
simultaneously capping any boundary I had on time and availability. I
wondered many things, and still do, as I contemplate the complexities of each
hunt but here is a list of 10 things in random order (with a couple name drops)
that I would have found useful when I first crossed over to … that side.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 21.33px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">1.<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 9.33px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"> </span></span></span><u><span style="font-size: 21.33px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Research Your
Opponent</span></u><span style="font-size: 21.33px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">. As a former legal assistant
to a trial attorney, I will be the first to tell you that a majority of
pre-court time is spent in research. It is the grunt-work of the
profession to not only know the case, their client, the judge, but also the
opponent. Clearly a hunter is on the same level as an attorney, except
for the one small fact that a hunter generally does not make an income from
this. It is wildly important for a hunter to know about the animal he is
hunting.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 21.33px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Unless dumb luck has been your secret
ace-in-the-hole up until now, it helps to know a thing or two about their
habits, the topography of their habitat, their diet, and their distinguishing
characteristics. Start studying what you can whenever you can. In
Washington state at least, the Department of Fish and Wildlife produces a
yearly synopsis of the kill counts in each GMU (also good to learn popular
acronyms, i.e., Game Management Unit), how to hunt each species, etc. I
also dedicated way too much time after my kids were put to bed (early, on
purpose) watching documentaries and searching for hunting advice on <a href="http://www.youtube.com/" target="_blank">YouTube</a>.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 21.33px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">2.<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 9.33px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
</span></span></span><u><span style="font-size: 21.33px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Capitalism is
No Stranger to Hunting Camps</span></u><span style="font-size: 21.33px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">. I love
that in America (and elsewhere) we are fortunate enough to have a plethora of
options for nearly every item we could ever want or need. My husband and
I disagree greatly on what he refers to as a “need” for an exorbitantly
expensive item where he could see a mole inside the eardrum of a deer 500 miles
away. While I do care if a deer has such obvious deformities, I would
care more to clothe my kids. There are limitless options if you feel like
blowing paychecks, but here are my three favorite items aside from weapons that
are used every hunting trip: binoculars with a pouch or strap to prevent
flailing all over while hiking, rangefinder (read reviews on accuracy!), and
GPS with private/public property locator (<a href="https://www.onxmaps.com/" target="_blank">onXmaps</a> is a personal favorite).</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 21.33px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">3.<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 9.33px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
</span></span></span><u><span style="font-size: 21.33px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Treat Yo’ Self</span></u><span style="font-size: 21.33px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">. This rather new adage makes prep work better than a
sugar donut with morning coffee. For men, there are hundreds of stores
and brands with 4 bajillion options for socks, gloves, hats, and everything in
between. For a typical man, it is (finally) a much different shopping
experience to happily sift through all of the options, with great competition
among brands to be the best. For women, well there is the hope that more
quality brands will surface. For now, a couple I am familiar with are <a href="https://www.cabelas.com/">Cabela’s</a> and <a href="https://www.proishunting.com/#" target="_blank">Prois</a>’. Both have their pros and cons but I personally love
the humor and verbiage used by <a href="https://www.proishunting.com/#" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Prois</a> in their materials, it is quite endearing
actually (scroll through their website and you will likely find yourself
smiling). Make sure to try it on though and practice hiking in the
dressing room when it is really quiet—not for the entertainment of the staff,
but so you can test out if the clothes make noise while you move because there
is nothing more fun than swooshing through the forest glades when trying to be
stealth.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-size: 21.33px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 9.33px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 21.33px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 21.33px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">Evidence
points strongly that most advanced hikers wear layers, it is no different than
hunters. Hunters are hikers with special skills, after all. It
would do you well to have warm weather, chilly weather, rainy weather, and
straight up Arctic weather clothing options. My experience being as cold
as an ice cube in a cotton undershirt while also mastering dripping sweat down
my back and experiencing a completely soaked shirt, um, not exactly pleasant.
Wicking is winning, people. Sheep are friends, go with the wool.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 21.33px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">4. <u>Research to the nth degree</u>. Again, with the research, I know--what <span style="font-size: 21.33px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">can I say but it is in my blood. Seriously though,
know the area you plan to hunt. We had a weekend away sans kids but could
not decide where to hunt beforehand. It certainly would have been
advisable to know which mountains are overrun with bovines (and their less than
pleasant fresh mound of droppings), the elevations of each (for high elevation
bucks), which side the deer like to bed on, what time of day, where the water
and food sources are, if there are wolf packs in that area, etc. If you
can study that ahead of time, you will be that much more prepared.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: 21.33px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Or
buy game cameras; they are the best. If near an area you can check
regularly, it is beyond handy to watch activity and track the times of day your
prey are in/passing through the area you want to traverse.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 21.33px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">5.<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 9.33px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
</span></span></span><u><span style="font-size: 21.33px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Patience</span></u><span style="font-size: 21.33px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">. I should have delayed until the end of the list to
add this one, but I was not able to wait. Similarly, this also creates problems
when hunting because bucks are elusive little introverts. I would imagine
elk are easier as they travel in herds, I have yet to try that though. (Another
example of exerting great patience until the correct season begins.) When
watching a half hour long hunting show on tv, it is remarkable how I never
quite picked up on it when they said they were unsuccessful for x number of
days when 97/100ths of the show is killing and eating their spoils. It is
so very different when you have dedicated the time to go and realize one
hunting trip may not be enough even after hiking for a good 10 hours in a given
day.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 21.33px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">6.<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 9.33px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
</span></span></span><u><span style="font-size: 21.33px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Quiet Food</span></u><span style="font-size: 21.33px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">. If I were to create a brand of healthy snacks for
hunting, it would be named ‘Crunch Less’ and it would be wrapped in paper
towels and teddy bears, be the consistency of gummy worms, and contain the
healthiness of apples. When trying to be covert in nature, nothing but
chipmunks seem as loud as a plastic baggie with trail mix. Also, keep in
mind that if your traveling companion triggers your Misophonia, you may want to
avoid packing carrots because they are loud (plus, you really don’t want to be
any sort of trigger happy while hunting).</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 21.33px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">7.<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 9.33px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
</span></span></span><u><span style="font-size: 21.33px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Attitude is
Key</span></u><span style="font-size: 21.33px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">. Now, I am not saying you cannot
successfully put food on the table when you find yourself getting annoyed to
exasperation. If nothing is crossing your path, even with steaming fresh pellets
squishing beneath your new boots, your attitude (and knees) can make or break
the rest of the hunt. The shows on television are the highlight reels
after the drudgery that no one else wants to bore themselves watching.
Not every state or area is wrought with options. I find myself gaping
sometimes that a 3x3 is passed over for a “Monster Buck”. My reality is
not that reality, and I need to be okay with that.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 21.33px; line-height: 22.66px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">8.<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 9.33px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
</span></span></span><u><span style="font-size: 21.33px; line-height: 22.66px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Mathematics is over-rated</span></u><span style="font-size: 21.33px; line-height: 22.66px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">. Grocery shopping for food is essentially hunting for
the best deal, $1.97/pound is a great price for chicken. Back when my husband
brought home his first deer, even with the savings of us butchering it
ourselves, I gave a rough calculation that it cost about $8,000/pound.
Math holds no bounds in our house—it makes homework for our kids a challenge,
but with real world word problems.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 21.33px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Okay,
kids: The hunting clothes cost $1,272.53, the licenses cost $138.87, the
weaponry comes to about $3100.00. If the 92-pound buck is butchered, how much
does each pound weigh? <s>Is it financially worth it to hunt to put food
on the table?</s></span></div>
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<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 17.33px; margin-bottom: 10.66px; margin-left: 60px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: -36px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: 21.33px; line-height: 22.66px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">9.<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 9.33px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
</span></span></span><u><span style="font-size: 21.33px; line-height: 22.66px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Health</span></u><span style="font-size: 21.33px; line-height: 22.66px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">. Jokes
abound about getting in “hunting shape” to get the “hunting body” back.
Keep in mind, this paragraph likely holds no value if you are a
rifle/muzzleloader sit and shoot, blind hunter, or tree stand hunter. For
the rest of the crew, there’s an insane amount of hiking and walking involved.
Not just any hiking, but vast expanses are crossed with trepidatious tip-toeing
and monitored steps. Your hunting partner will greatly thank you if you
have exercised in preparation for hunting.</span></div>
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: 21.33px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">The
first trip out ever with my husband, I thought the chipmunks were squawking to
the beat of my heart pounding out of my chest. My labored panting
sufficiently hid my investigation into the matter. Just think of a mountain
like a stair climber, throw 500,000 sticks and twigs on it, and poop for good
measure because you want to not only look for fresh signs below but also at the
wilderness around you (as well as behind to ensure a cat is not about to take out
the weakest link). Don’t even get me started on the hike down the mountain
after meeting exhaustion face to face, because if you had bad knees before,
they will want to climb out from behind their caps and sock you across the head
out of pissed off agony.</span></div>
</div>
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<br /></div>
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: 21.33px; line-height: 22.66px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">10.<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 9.33px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"> </span></span></span><u><span style="font-size: 21.33px; line-height: 22.66px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Slicing and Dicing</span></u><span style="font-size: 21.33px; line-height: 22.66px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">. Last but not least, prepare
yourself for the possibility that your hunting trip will be fruitful.
Know what you need to do as soon as you pronounce death on your target (think
tags), then think about preservation of the meat. It helps to know what
you should do first and how to do it in the field so you are not sitting there
at o’dark thirty pondering if you should bathe it in water to cleanse the
innards (you should not, so please refrain!), all while inviting predators far
and wide to follow the scent.</span></div>
</div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><br />Becca M.http://www.blogger.com/profile/01193678219249318692noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6678383161756293032.post-73596070746765313692018-05-20T20:47:00.001-07:002018-05-20T21:20:08.333-07:00What comes after forgiveness?<span style="font-size: large;">Let's say you have forgiven someone an offense, then what? Wipe your hands of them? Dust off your feet and be on your way? Run back to them and go back to the exact same relationship? Refuse to talk about the issues and enter back into relationship? Say 'good riddance' and flee from them? Ensure a repentant heart is involved and work to see if trust can be rebuilt as you cautiously enter back into relationship?</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">In some circumstances, fleeing may be advised, but we are still called to exhibit love. Love comes in many different forms and can be shown in various ways, though. Sometimes, love is best given at a distance depending on the situation and what offenses have been forgiven.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Again, reconciliation is not a given but <a href="https://repentancenfaith.blogspot.com/2017/08/biblical-forgiveness.html" target="_blank">forgiveness is</a>; only you know your situation and what it takes to keep your self, your spouse (if you have one), and your kids (if you have them) safe, protected, and loved. An anonymous person once said: </span><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="color: #b45f06;"><span style="font-size: large;">Reconciliation is never a one way street when it comes to relationships.
The one who has offended you must see how they have offended you and
understand how that offense has hurt you, and they must come to you
with humility. They must also accept the fact that maybe their
offense was so egregious, that no matter how sincere they are in their
explanations that you may never trust them. But you must set your healthy boundaries with
the gentleness of a dove. And then if they honor your boundaries and
keep them, then I think reconciliation might be a possibility. </span></span></blockquote>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">So what does love look like from a distance if reconciliation is not, at the very least, in the near future? </span><span style="font-size: large;">Honestly, a lot is situational. What I can tell you, though, is it ought to begin with prayer.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Sometimes prayer directed at the person doesn't come for a long time depending on what has occurred; but when true forgiveness between you and God has happened and the situation(s) have been released through forgiveness, I would be shocked if there wasn't a different kind of love for that person that you then wished for them. Whenever you have a thought that includes them, take hold of that opportunity and bring them before God, remember that no one and no relationship is without hope. Paul dubbed himself chief among sinners, and yet God saved him and used him in powerful ways for His glory.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">One thing you might want to try, especially if you have kids, is to start a prayer accountability calendar. Each month, everyone in your family individually chooses a person outside of your family unit to pray for and commit to praying for them that month. Have a square or different color that each member can mark off for the days they prayed for their person. If nothing else, it is an easy way to engage the whole family in prayer while also teaching them to pray for others without telling them. It would also be a great opportunity to pray for those who you are not currently in relationship with; the specific relational prayers obviously need not include your children within earshot but they will know if you are following through if you are marking off your checkboxes.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">For a long time, the power of prayer was lost on me. It wasn't until the Lord re-worked and stripped away some major areas of pride in my life that He taught me what it is, how to do it in many various capacities, why it is important, how beneficial it is, and how much it is a necessary constant as we walk through this life. Some days, weeping alone to Him would constitute my communication as it was all I could bear. And He sustained me and our family through all of the trials we have encountered in these last couple of years.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Prayer is and should be your first thought when you are dealing with relationships that have figurative bumps and bruises. To that end, I hope that anyone reading this would come to a point in their life that they would be praying for those that have opposed them. The reality is, there is a VERY narrow road, not many, not many at <i>all </i>will be praising God in Heaven when He comes again. Someone claiming the name "Christian" does not a Christian make; not living according to the fruit that evidences a right relationship with Him ought to reconsider their relationship with Christ, especially if multiple people are telling them something is not right with what they claim versus their life choices.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">But let it not be that you didn't care enough about their hearts while you were on earth and Jesus was preparing your heart to be with Him; that is a very dangerous paradox to cling to. Every person will face judgment day, including you. Including me. Including the person(s) who wronged you. That should concern us all.</span>Becca M.http://www.blogger.com/profile/01193678219249318692noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6678383161756293032.post-81417860105988449272018-01-05T06:30:00.000-08:002018-05-20T21:16:48.116-07:00When Loyalty and Tradition Trump the Word<span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: large;">Historians and wise people teach us the past. For good reason.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "nimbus sans l" , "arial" , "liberation sans" , sans-serif;">Those who cannot remember the past are </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "nimbus sans l" , "arial" , "liberation sans" , sans-serif;"> condemned to repeat it.</span></span></blockquote>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "nimbus sans l" , "arial" , "liberation sans" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #b45f06; font-size: large;">~George Santayana</span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #54595d; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "nimbus sans l" , "arial" , "liberation sans" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px;"> </span></blockquote>
<span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: large;">There is a reason we study what has occurred throughout history. In this day and age, we have been abundantly blessed with the ability to study to our hearts content nearly any subject, even mere matters that pique our interest.</span><br />
<span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: large;">It concerns me to see in many areas of life a stagnant oppression to loyalty over Truth. </span><br />
<span style="color: #000014; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: large;">Our church for example has compiled an entire printed volume of the rich history it claims. There are traditions as well as long-standing members (and some of their descendants) that have been a part of the foundation of this church. We started attending our church after searching for an exegetical preaching style, there is a rich long-standing history of such preaching; the traditions and foundations of an organization are not bad, but sometimes need fresh eyes on them. In a church and as a church like ours in a time of transition, it very well might be a time to reevaluate or risk clinging white-knuckled to a loyal tradition. Time to reevaluate the leadership goals, the pastoral goals, the effective leading and equipping of the saints, the way in which we approach our youth and how to get to their hearts, the children of the church (for them to know their value in Him and the knowledge to be more than the subject of a memorized verse), or possibly the way in which missionary support is provided. Praise the Lord, our church is setting up the structures to ensure that the traditions it maintains are in right-standing.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: large;">Personally I love tradition, the creeds, the history, the structure. It's comforting to know it has been there all along and it's comfortable as a backdrop in my daily walk. However, as I, myself, have been walking through my own transition in my walk with Christ I have seen in myself how my tradition kept me from truly pursuing the Lord in my heart. It grew my knowledge, comfort, and voice but I had missed my own heart in my empty, vain walk where I claimed the name of Christ as my own but lacked assurance. While not an identical scenario as what our church faces, I think it similar.</span><br />
<span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: large;">How often though do all of us do the same though? Do we cling to a person and revere them to the point of Sainthood, refusing to hear truths about them that are uncomfortable? Do we uplift or enable someone to sin instead of encouraging them to repentance? Do we, with tight fist, evade any negative comments about a "Christian" leader because you might know him personally or like him as a person? Do we want to keep reading the same "Christian" author and avoid harsh (but true) criticisms of what she teaches? Do we hear the truth about someone but ignore it so we can keep sinning in the same way ourselves? Bringing it down quite a few levels, do we want to keep watching the same tv show at night even though the episodes have consistently showcased more and more evil? Do we want to read a certain book even though there are detailed bedroom scenes?</span><br />
<span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: large;">So I ask, how much do we selfishly cling to the things we want to believe instead of challenging them against the Truth of the Bible?</span><br />
<span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: large;">It may be time for you to reevaluate your life. Does the truth you see align with God's Truth?</span>Becca M.http://www.blogger.com/profile/01193678219249318692noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6678383161756293032.post-67918691153263541952017-10-16T06:00:00.000-07:002018-05-20T21:12:50.846-07:00The Second Hunt<span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: large;">We did it again, we had an overnight babysitter and took off to go hunt again.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: large;">We packed up our car late at night and took off around midnight on a Thursday. Yes, midnight. We looked at each other with smiles in our eyes and careless laughter as we embarked on our second hunting vacay in as many weeks.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: large;">At about 2 am when we switched drivers, we were excessively less jovial. In fact, we were downright solemn. I was anyway. I'm sure the pillow, blanket, and snoring from the passenger seat kept the full weight of the boringly, long drive from sending me over the edge. It's amazing how someone can be so peacefully at rest while another one enviously watches them through side-eye glares.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: large;">I wasn't actually ticked off, but I was a bit jealous even though I had just woken up to take over the driving responsibilities. Come 3 am and I was beginning to question our last minute strategy to leave and drive through the night. Come 4 am when we arrived, I was really wondering where our sanity went as we got our gear on to go for a 5 hour hunt. <i>Gah.</i> If you will remember, coffee and I really enjoy our morning time together. This was not exactly an option the local coffee shop took upon themselves to accommodate my inane cravings. </span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: large;">Yet, we carried on as though our brains were fully functioning. By carried on, I mean we attempted to carry on. My legs weren't moving like they should. Sleep deprivation and hiking were clearly not a positive combo, nor one that I would recommend. Plus, we weren't even able to talk the whole drive there, what a waste of all those quiet hours in the car without the blissful earplug worthy <i>little</i> yaps from the backseat.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: large;">We moved a lot slower this time though and proceeded with a wait and see tactic where we parked our behinds down where we thought they would magically appear. Looking back, it may not have been the wisest strategy. Dusty took a picture of me though, "How sweet", you say. I had other thoughts after I saw it.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: large;">If there was a deer that kicked me in the stomach and spit on my face I would not have noticed nor cared. I was in my own blissful hibernation. Eventually I woke up and it was at this moment that it struck me: We. Are. Old. Traveling all night at 30+ with 4 kids and expecting to stay up the entire day was nothing short of madness. We were nuts. Nothing else to it. And we were already up on the mountain, so we decided to embrace it.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: large;">We trekked up to the spot where we had witnessed our one proof of animal existence (aside from the random bird or furiously angry chipmunks) from our prior hunting trip. One chipmunk climbed up a tree to get to our eye level as we were sitting near a cliff, stared at us while squawking furiously, this lasted for a good couple of minutes straight before we told it to stop, because reasoning with woodland creatures is what happens when you're old. I can still imagine his little fist shaking at us. He was seriously mad, too. The deer must pay them off in some way for sounding the alarm when they see humans, because that little sucker was loud. Dirty little bribes happening in the underbrush.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: large;">We hiked, and hiked, and hiked some more. </span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: large;">Then we drove to go eat and HAVE COFFEE. Finally. Priorities were being set in their proper place again. We stopped at the local hunting shop first to chat with the owner and he shared that the deer still have not come back to the area since the fires and the smoke. Sigh. He told us where he did see some awhile ago so we wasted no time and headed straight there.</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: large;">After, of course, we got a coffee for the road.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: large;">Our trip took a bit of a turn as my hunting partner literally blazed his. own. path. As in, I hunkered down in the truck to sleep. He searched and searched while I slept and slept.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: large;">When that was over we went driving to see if we could spot any from the road as I was still content in my seat. It was at this time that Dust started to yawn. Keep in mind, we were still 4 something hours away from home and hadn't left yet. We had "been up" for longer than any normal person ever should be. Staying the night was not an option because of the deadline we had for our babysitter.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: large;">The drive back started well enough. By well enough, I mean the first 23 minutes where the truck didn't traverse over the turtles or truck gates rattling me awake went well enough.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: large;">I asked Dust how he was doing and he openly shared that his eyes seemed glued shut. Guess it was my turn. I was surprisingly awake, and am assuming I can attribute it to my continual cat naps throughout the day. So I drove pretty well all the way home until the last hour when we switched again.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: large;">After the first 4 minutes of his newly acquired shift he realized he was still too tired to drive, we switched again. We finally made it home--Dusty made a beeline for the bed while I chatted with our babysitter about how it went for her.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: large;">The next morning was a soccer game at 9, it honestly felt like I was ripped from bed at 3 am by a tiger shark.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: large;">On Saturday, we spent a good deal of time nursing our wounds, sleeping, and utilizing screens for the kids.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: large;">Moral of the story: We are old. Really old. We will never do that again. </span></span>Becca M.http://www.blogger.com/profile/01193678219249318692noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6678383161756293032.post-20023505642746363372017-10-09T06:00:00.000-07:002017-10-09T06:00:03.657-07:00The Hunt<br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: large;">Recently, I went bow-hunting for the first time with my husband. It was such an exciting trip to go on... we were going for two nights sans kids... aka sans schedules! There was a glorious hope involved for freedom from work, feeding and re-feeding and more feeding of 4 little chicklets, freedom from a schedule determined by my chicklets needs to eat/survive/sleep, freedom for alone time sparked by a really long drive where we could talk uninterrupted for a cool 4 hours (I'm sure that was the most anticipated event for Dusty, too).</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: large;">To say I was excited was an understatement, I was near giddy.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: large;">I learned a whole lot about hunting in our 48 hour camping trip. First, the camper we took ended up being for looks, and for terrifying me on the drive that the back tire might catch the edge of the road and pull us down the cliff that was not even a yard away from the white line. I will say, the camper was nice for the exhausted freefall into it both nights as I prepared for a glorious couple hours of sleep because we "had to get up the mountain before the deer". Sure, okay.</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: large;">Boy, does </span></span><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: large;">4 am comes early when you have just driven for 4 hours, hurriedly unpacked and set up the trailer in 30 minutes, tried on and wore my hunting gear for the first time, and zipped out to hunt the night before for a couple hours, and had dinner at 9 (but let me say, it really was delicious, because again, we were eating dinner at 9... with no one screaming at us or throwing food at the waitress). Coming off the dinner, we were headed to the one grocery store in town so we could grab food for the morning, but more importantly, creamer because, hello, it will be the crack of dawn, and coffee is a must on a normal day.</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: large;">The one grocery store in this remote little town decided that closing time already happened before we arrived. I will freely admit this was my biggest concern the whole trip. Getting attacked and eaten by a black bear, falling off the cliff while driving there--these had nothing on the fact that I wasn't going to have a good cup of coffee in my hands for our <i>early </i>morning jaunt in the woods, nor any food for breakfast. I was assured we would go out for breakfast after and all would be well again in my world, so we pressed on and decided to get a Starbucks cold drink and mix that in with our black coffee. I would advise munching on watered down coffee grounds rather than ever doing that again. But we paired it well with our dried out turkey sandwiches from the "deli" section. A breakfast for kings. Kings who don't plan well.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: large;">We arrived at our morning hunting spot, sat down on some really comfy rocks, and began to glass. Glass, in hunter's wife lingo, means you pull out your brand new binoculars that your husband bought hoping you would have something to do with your time instead of talk as you are supposed to be really "quiet" when you hunt because the animals have exceptional hearing.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: large;">My husband knows me well, he knows I love puzzles and used it to his advantage by telling me that glassing is essentially like taking the <i>entire </i>mountainous hillside and dividing it into itty bitty puzzle pieces that you spend all too long analyzing in hopes of seeing some antlers stick up higher than the grasses. In reality he was right, it was just more like one of those 50,000 piece puzzles of a polar bear in a blizzard.</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: large;">Luckily, Dusty spotted a bush swaying back and forth and although I wasn't able to see any hint of what type of animal, I imagined by the raucous nature that it was some sort of beastly creature that would not welcome us invading his space with weapons.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #0b5394;">By the looks of it, we were a good day and a half hike away from The Bush. Apparently, we were going to risk it anyway. We drove to a closer location to start the hike. Now, "hike" in hunter's wife lingo, means extremely deliberate and calculated stepping, all while staring at where your next step would be and simultaneously keeping my eyes on my husband because if he stops, I stop. That is all while also looking around to prevent a potential bear attack or possibly that a buck would be staring me in the face because I most assuredly would have gotten that close with how quiet I was. Except my breathing, it was horrendously loud. Looking back, the wheezing may have scared away the deer. It took me awhile to recognize that sometimes Dust stopped to generously give me time to catch up and not because he heard something. Take note that the word generously is the key takeaway from that revelation. Love him.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #0b5394;">I had heard of hunters training in the gym for hunting season, and I'll openly admit that I scoffed. Until this trip. I had no idea just how much stamina is involved with hunting. There's an overly tired body that wakes up entirely too early and is fueled by mostly coffee and protein bars that has to scale a mountain in a couple hours time *quietly*, hopefully have the strength after that to pull back your bow in order to achieve the purpose of the whole trip, dissect your victim, and traipse down the mountain with it (and possibly your wife) on your back. It was nothing short of impressive to me understanding the level of endurance involved.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #0b5394;">There was a lot of looking down while hiking which I wasn't expecting. If there was a twig that would crack, I stepped around it if I could. If there was a rock that might slip, I stepped around it if I could. If there was deer or bear droppings, I stepped around those if I could. In fact, on that hike there was a lot of poop. I had been expecting a weekend free from others' excrement but found myself getting overly excited when I would see those fresh brown berries because it felt like the deer were close. I almost imagined the steam rising because it was <i>that fresh</i>. I'm a Mom, I'm used to fresh.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #0b5394;">The first hunt we saw a lot of signs. The next 2 hunting sessions were not as exciting in terms of fresh evidence. Yet, when we took a break to eat something,<i> </i>we saw our one and only legal buck. It got spooked and took off, and we unfortunately couldn't track it down after a solid 2 1/2 more hours of hiking. I had been expecting to see a lot of deer, almost so much so that we would have our pick of the choicest rack. That was far from reality since we ended up only seeing one during our entire trip. It felt very much like a game of luck. So not a game really at all. Just pure luck. If a deer was to my left and I was looking to my right I very well could have missed him.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #0b5394;">Another thing that surprised me was how far we could travel in a mere 2 hours of hiking without stopping. I haven't really worked out consistently for a good couple of years now and I just deliberately traveled with my legs as my vehicle for 2 hours up a steep incline. And I made it. We actually made it to The Bush that first day but the deer, or mountain lion, or mammoth beast had left already. And let's not forget that if it took a couple hours to get up there, one still must come down.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #0b5394;">With hunting,
there's always another ridge to scale. Seriously, looking up at
a behemoth of an incline only to peer over the ridge and see another
looming hillside is a bit discouraging... it's like a constant nature delusion that you think this is the top after 40 more carefully placed
steps and it's not. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #0b5394;">We headed back down soon after that as I was starting to get concerned my muscles would lock up and he'd have to pack me out. Packing out, in hunter's wife lingo, so I'm told, is a concerted effort by those in your hunting party to help you divvy up your proof of hunting prowess and assist you in heaving 100 or so pounds of a carved up animal onto your already heavy pack down the steep hillside to your vehicle. This would have been most unfortunate for Dusty to have to pack out his pack, me, my pack, and a buck. I'm almost certain he would have been fine. Since I did decide to not take a ride down, l</span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #0b5394;">et me tell you, trekking down a mountain in exhaustion is a lot louder than the concentrated movements when anticipation of running into a buck is a possibility.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #0b5394;">What I also didn't realize was how little down time there would be during The Hunt. When I imagined hunting, I foresaw a hike to a destination where we would sip our coffees, eat some snacks, and wait for a buck to walk right in front of us. I also expected that afterward there would be cuddling by the fire as we talked about our hopes and dreams, sipping our decaf coffees, after we had time to meander through the shops in town while drinking coffee. (Again, please take note that my expectation here may better explain the intense desire earlier to have creamer as coffee clearly plays a major role in my life.) There was none of that. Any of that. My expectations and reality were world's apart.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #0b5394;">We had a blast though, other than me breaking down in anxiety-racked tears on a logging road (logging road is hunter's wife lingo for a rocky, rutted 5 foot wide span of dirt and boulders that would better be termed a wider than average hiking trail) with a cliff as he backed up (on a cliff) and away from 3 Jeeps (1 of which nearly tipped over as they tried to "climb" the side of the mountain to "give us room to pass" <i>on a cliff</i>) (another story for another time though). It was so much fun to hang out with each other alone, with no schedule, learning about a hobby that interests my husband so much.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #0b5394;">We made it back and would do it again in a heartbeat! I would anyway, I might need to double check with Dusty whether or not he came to the same conclusion.</span></span>Becca M.http://www.blogger.com/profile/01193678219249318692noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6678383161756293032.post-65788606681951229652017-10-08T11:29:00.002-07:002018-05-20T20:54:12.461-07:00Sunday Grace<span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: large;"><br />They say sometimes you win some</span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: large;">Sometimes you lose some</span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: large;">And right now, right now I'm losing bad<br />I've stood on this stage night after night<br />Reminding the broken it'll be alright<br />But right now, oh right now I just can't</span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: large;">It's easy to sing<br />When there's nothing to bring me down<br />But what will I say<br />When I'm held to the flame<br />Like I am right now</span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: large;">I know You're able and I know You can<br />Save through the fire with Your mighty hand<br />But even if You don't<br />My hope is You alone</span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: large;">They say it only takes a little faith<br />To move a mountain<br />Well good thing<br />A little faith is all I have, right now<br />But God, when You choose<br />To leave mountains unmovable<br />Oh give me the strength to be able to sing<br />It is well with my soul</span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: large;">I know You're able and I know You can<br />Save through the fire with Your mighty hand<br />But even if You don't<br />My hope is You alone<br />I know the sorrow, and I know the hurt<br />Would all go away if You'd just say the word<br />But even if You don't<br />My hope is You alone</span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: large;">You've been faithful, You've been good<br />All of my days<br />Jesus, I will cling to You<br />Come what may<br />‘Cause I know You're able<br />I know You can</span></div>
<div class="xpdxpnd" data-mh="-1" style="line-height: 1.24; margin-bottom: 13px;">
<span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: large;">I know You're able and I know You can<br />Save through the fire with Your mighty hand<br />But even if You don't<br />My hope is You alone<br />I know the sorrow, I know the hurt<br />Would all go away if You'd just say the word<br />But even if You don't<br />My hope is You alone</span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: large;">It is well with my soul<br />It is well, it is well with my soul</span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: large;">Songwriters: Bart Marshall Millard / Benjamin Glover / Crystal Lewis / David Arthur Garcia / Tim Timmons</span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: large;">Even If lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Music Services, Inc</span></div>
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Becca M.http://www.blogger.com/profile/01193678219249318692noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6678383161756293032.post-62229153021186081532017-10-06T06:00:00.000-07:002017-10-06T06:00:14.164-07:00Rearranging Deck Chairs<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TXNIWQeApc0/WdPoV75EmqI/AAAAAAAAAq8/tfQZ-l4lVqctcOzreJOfsjt2-3YjoRyIgCLcBGAs/s1600/titanic%2Bchairs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TXNIWQeApc0/WdPoV75EmqI/AAAAAAAAAq8/tfQZ-l4lVqctcOzreJOfsjt2-3YjoRyIgCLcBGAs/s320/titanic%2Bchairs.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #0b5394;">We heard an amazing sermon last year that was incredibly solid. We have been blessed with an amazing church where the preaching from the pulpit is the truth of the Bible.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #0b5394;">There were a couple of one-liners that struck a cord with me.</span></span><br />
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="color: #b45f06;"><span style="font-size: large;">Confession is not the same as conversion.</span></span></blockquote>
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<span style="color: #b45f06;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></span></blockquote>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #0b5394;">I had lived most of my life without knowing with my heart what conversion entailed. Sure, I had confessed. I had confessed with blind eyes, silent ears, and a proud heart. This is not the confession of the Bible. It is a false confession that was meant to selfishly appease my conscience.</span></span><br />
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="color: #b45f06;">Repentance without Christ is like rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic.</span> </span></span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #0b5394;">My understanding of what the word repent meant had been head knowledge only. It was a false assurance I told myself to satisfy my sinful ways. What I failed to realize was that repentance without Christ is futile. There is no salvation in empty repentance.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="color: #b45f06;">We might affirm Christ but do we know Him?</span> </span></span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #0b5394;">Again, you can't fully repent without Christ, so do you have a right understanding of Christ? Do you know the Savior from the Bible? Have you concocted your own version of Him to meet your needs or justify your sin?</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #0b5394;">If you are not sure, I would encourage you to start in Genesis 1:1 and begin a read-through plan of the Bible. I'm participating in our church's Bible read-through this year and each book, chapter, verse, and word is weaving together a more complete understanding of who the true Christ is. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #0b5394;">In order to repent, you must know to whom you are repenting. In order to confess, you must know the true understanding of repentance.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #0b5394;">This standard can also translate to other areas of life, although in a lesser degree of importance. In order to rightly confess, or repent your sin against another, you should know in your heart and mind what you have done; there should be a heart knowledge involved if you are in a situation where an apology is necessary. </span></span><br />
Becca M.http://www.blogger.com/profile/01193678219249318692noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6678383161756293032.post-2382852041980468802017-10-04T06:00:00.000-07:002017-10-04T06:00:04.352-07:00Baby Steps<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DIUgXLHomE8/WdPg5tuEJmI/AAAAAAAAAqs/FRAxDU2jHB03u2_fz08qA1M96jEJLiuFACLcBGAs/s1600/babysteps.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1378" data-original-width="1378" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DIUgXLHomE8/WdPg5tuEJmI/AAAAAAAAAqs/FRAxDU2jHB03u2_fz08qA1M96jEJLiuFACLcBGAs/s320/babysteps.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: large;">A constant reminder for me lately has been about baby steps. Not in the sense that I miss having newly toddling babies at my feet. More that the greatest lessons I have been learning have come and gone through baby steps.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: large;">When I look back at what we have been through in the last couple of years, I see the baby steps leading me to where we are at now. The Bible constantly talks about baby steps: in trust, in faith, </span></span><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: large;">in finances, </span></span>in trials, etc. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: large;">In our lives, we have had a barrage of opportunities to recognize and see the continual progress we have made in many different areas of life. Bit by bit, my faith has been determined and founded; the persistence of one tiny step forward toward the goal has been foundational in my understanding of the sovereignty of God. The trust I place in God has been instrumentally established as a result of the journey we are walking. Our marriage has been at times a day by day practice, working on one thing at a time while we each work to change and recognize destructive behaviors in ourselves so that we might better contribute to our covenant relationship. The financial path we have traveled has been full of ups and downs but when we abide by the truths of the Word, we see that to be wise with our money is to be wise through baby steps: to earn wealth bit by bit, when we are wise with a little than we can be trusted with a lot.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: large;">When we get overwhelmed with life, it is Biblically wise to take it step by step. Take everything one step at a time. You may falter, you may fall, but keep getting back up and strive to take that next step. And when you look back, you can see just how far you have traveled and grown. </span></span></div>
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Becca M.http://www.blogger.com/profile/01193678219249318692noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6678383161756293032.post-90804959066101085662017-09-24T07:00:00.000-07:002017-09-24T07:00:10.309-07:00Sunday Grace<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qQrmKqzM4uE/WajlJY84jyI/AAAAAAAAAos/tFUMH_o7KgIYUdmSbpjXmQrUv-NvL6x2gCLcBGAs/s1600/deer%2Band%2Bwater.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qQrmKqzM4uE/WajlJY84jyI/AAAAAAAAAos/tFUMH_o7KgIYUdmSbpjXmQrUv-NvL6x2gCLcBGAs/s1600/deer%2Band%2Bwater.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-size: large;">"He will keep in perfect peace</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-size: large;">all those who trust in Him, whose</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-size: large;">thoughts turn often to the Lord."</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-size: large;">-Isaiah 26:3</span></span></div>
Becca M.http://www.blogger.com/profile/01193678219249318692noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6678383161756293032.post-16538843813755629792017-09-21T06:00:00.000-07:002017-09-21T06:00:16.716-07:00Beautiful Babies<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-F_M8w_tRrIQ/Wbcl0SY1CpI/AAAAAAAAAqQ/ZMjyDQCO7lQ1yjlY_5rn9ccFG-6rfzukQCLcBGAs/s1600/baby%2Boutline.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="585" data-original-width="500" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-F_M8w_tRrIQ/Wbcl0SY1CpI/AAAAAAAAAqQ/ZMjyDQCO7lQ1yjlY_5rn9ccFG-6rfzukQCLcBGAs/s400/baby%2Boutline.jpg" width="341" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">My children are really adorable, the world tells me so. But I won't let them be limited to that. The world's standard of beauty will not define how I raise my kids.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I refuse to teach them that beauty is the ultimate standard to attain to. That if you have beauty you are one step ahead of the rest of "them". That if you have the right look, body, clothes or type of makeup, that you will get further in life. I have seen the detrimental effects in adults who grew up with that idealization. It creates many footholds for sin to enter in with relation to jealousy, comparison, pride, lust, covetousness.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Instead, I will encourage them to use their voices, to expand their knowledge and their abilities. I will encourage them to not conform, to be their own person. I will not try to box them into my own definitions or criticisms. I want them to fly one day and they won't if I clip their wings with my words.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">So will I complement them? Yes, but rarely on physical aspects. I will focus my encouraging words to heart issues: the kind thing they did that day, the thoughtful action they showed their sibling, how they asked to pray for someone hurting, how hard they tried at something, that they pulled out their Bible for devotions, that they had great attitudes even though they lost their game, that they are willing to learn, that they apologized, that they changed their behavior.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">There are obviously too many to list, but enough to focus on that I don't need to be so shallow as to only show them I think their worth is limited to external features.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">If your kids have flown out of the nest already, this still applies to how you compliment them and any grandchildren you may have in your life. Let your legacy be that you care for their heart.</span>Becca M.http://www.blogger.com/profile/01193678219249318692noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6678383161756293032.post-64345929058471241942017-09-20T06:00:00.000-07:002017-09-20T06:00:23.432-07:00Marriage Prerequisite<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9pQnQMHLtaI/WbcWnnYuy3I/AAAAAAAAAp8/h9RAd4Zay-A0ZaOgV27V__cmG-vUuW60wCLcBGAs/s1600/badlyloadeddishwasher1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9pQnQMHLtaI/WbcWnnYuy3I/AAAAAAAAAp8/h9RAd4Zay-A0ZaOgV27V__cmG-vUuW60wCLcBGAs/s1600/badlyloadeddishwasher1.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">(Insert about 15 more spoons, a couple kid plates, and 7,000 sippy cup pieces and you pretty much have our dishwasher....)</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">One of the things I wish I had known before I had gotten married was how my husband-to-be loaded the dishwasher. One of the things I wish I had known before I had kids was how they would load the dishwasher.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I kid you not.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I prided myself in being thee ultimate in loading so as not to leave any dishes remaining on the counter. I put some in, took some out, rearranged, and spent entirely too much time figuring out the best dynamics so the dishes fit well, utilized the space, and still got clean. It's a science.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">But when it's not me who does the dishes I'll find cups spaced out, maybe a bowl thrown in here or there, plates not in a row but strewn in haphazardly, or sippy cups laying on their sides. No rhyme or reason to the degree of difficulty and time it should take to property load. I mean, C'MON!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">What really stupefies me is when I open the dishwasher and find that we basically just steam cleaned all of the little pegs inside, plus 3 dishes.</span><br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FkqeZ8vwTI4/WbcWnvBE-gI/AAAAAAAAAqA/DbluT8wOYQMXQ69nhGmfaV3zBQ2Y9ITSwCLcBGAs/s1600/dishwasher.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="860" data-original-width="860" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FkqeZ8vwTI4/WbcWnvBE-gI/AAAAAAAAAqA/DbluT8wOYQMXQ69nhGmfaV3zBQ2Y9ITSwCLcBGAs/s400/dishwasher.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I know I should just put those 3 clean spoons away and smile. Because really, I know that when my husband loads the dishwasher, it is a gift of service he is giving to me to lighten my load (pun intended). When I have taught (and taught and guided) my kids on how to load and unload the dishwasher, I am teaching them a basic skill and responsibility (just like folding towels--help me!).</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">My moral of the story, I'll just continue my run of staying out of the kitchen after dinner as I consider the likelihood that Dusty is probably writing his own Marriage Prerequisite post about me and my "issue" with dishwashers.</span>Becca M.http://www.blogger.com/profile/01193678219249318692noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6678383161756293032.post-58394335919578669802017-09-19T07:00:00.000-07:002017-09-19T07:00:05.571-07:00Our Adoption Story<span style="font-size: large;">{This post was originally written in May of 2009, before our babies were in our arms that year.}</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Okay, warning that this is a bit long. Enjoy!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">It all started since before I can remember; it being, of course, the desire to adopt. Before Dusty and I were married, the love and passion held for adoption had started … in both of us.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Once we were married and settled, the thoughts of growing our family began to take root. Dust wanted to try naturally first and to adopt next but I was adamant about wanting to adopt first. The reason being that I wanted our adopted children to know that they were chosen; it wasn’t an option because we couldn’t have kids naturally. I really didn’t want adoption to be a second choice for the growing of our family or maybe just that I wanted to show that adoption really doesn’t have to be seen as a backup, basically that you don't just have to adopt because you can’t have your children naturally. (That being said, <b>of course </b>I completely understand why parents do adopt in those situations, but this is our story of how we came to adopt and the reasons leading to it. One of the reasons why I actually love adoptions so much is because I feel such pain for parents who want so badly to have kids and can’t naturally… and then realize that all of that love is just as prevalent when they choose to adopt!)</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">We entered our third year of marriage and I had baby on the brain for about 6 months when we were presented with a business opportunity that would allow me to stay-at-home (or at least work part-time) with kids. As that had always been a holdup for us starting our family in the past, we started talking seriously about expanding our duo. One day Dust said to me, “Why don’t we just try for both (adoption and natural) and hope for 'twins'?!” That sounded like the best idea as I have always wanted twins.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">So we started the process for both in the summer of 2008. We got pregnant the month after we sent our first application in to our agency! It was a blessing beyond belief that I did not have a terribly difficult first trimester as I had about a bajillion paper chases to tackle with the adoption.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">The process of adoption is a strange one that a person cannot understand unless they have actually been through it. It is much the same as how the hormones affect a pregnant woman. You have your ups and downs, your in-betweens, your days where you feel like weeping, and your days you feel ecstatic. On the days I was low, I was encouraged by a positive pregnancy note. On the days I was feeling low with the pregnancy, I was encouraged with progress of the adoption. It has been a great way to pass the time and also a stress reliever to have each to look forward to. In fact, I find that adoptive parents react much the same as pregnant woman to questions and situations. One of the most common pregnancy complaints it seems I hear is “I hate it when people touch my belly, especially strangers.” Of course it’s all relative to your attitude that day (and lack of hormonal spikes) that get you through the awkward situations. With adoption, there are quite a few ignorant people out there, and to no fault of their own (obviously throwing the benefit of the doubt out there), they ask some pretty inane questions that can either be taken as extremely rude or with the potential to educate people on adoption. The responses and fluctuations in emotions that the adoptive parents retaliate with are much the same as the pregnancy-induced, shall we say, passion.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I read on a fellow adoptive parent’s blog this quote:</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">“Adoption is totally different than pregnancy because you feel for this baby who is already here, that you cannot hold or comfort. The strain when your child is already there somewhere, is so different. It's a mom thing that is anxiety and trust in a way like you've never experienced. I am so thankful for that time of waiting because I feel like I understood far earlier that God is 'loaning' my kids to me from him and that he is in control, not me.”</span></blockquote>
<span style="font-size: large;">I love the fact that we are not bearers and creators of our children, but rather are the people chosen by our Heavenly Father to watch over, to guide, protect, and raise our children in a way that is holy and pleasing to Him! I absolutely love that, especially because, for us, going through both types of situations really does grant us the awareness that both our children are “loaned” to us. We were assigned by God to raise them, whether or not they came directly from our genes.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">We found out in February that we were having a girl and couldn’t believe that we would be having a boy and a girl! In March, we were given our referral (this is the point at which we are matched with our child: our very first picture of him, medical history, and any information that the agency has will be sent to you to decide if you “accept” your referral) of our little IZ. He was born in January in Ethiopia and brought into care at our agency’s orphanage when he was about a week old. We took all of about a minute to respond and “accept” our referral!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">March 19 was one of the most exciting days I have ever experienced, as well as quite an emotional one. We were informed at our last doctor visit that our prior ultrasound revealed that our Baby Girl’s umbilical cord was not attached properly to the placenta and that we needed to go back in for another ultrasound to see how she was doing. That ultrasound was on March 19, and we found out that she weighed more than average and that it did not look as though the cord would present any problems. What a relief! We went and celebrated with a Costco mocha then headed home, I was exhausted after working myself up emotionally over the potential issue with Baby Girl. I sat down at the computer to look at any emails that had come in. I saw that we had received an email from someone from our agency, and I got extremely excited and called Dusty over. Okay, I yelled at him to get over here because of the “E-MAIL FROM OUR AGENCY!!!!” Keep in mind, we had been expecting our referral any day, and I had been checking my phone methodically every 5 minutes, or every minute just waiting for that call. So we opened the email together and read about our little boy. We received two pictures of him, one at a week old and one at one month old. And that’s when the tears started flowing! I could not believe I was staring into the precious face of my little child. The feelings that flow through you at such a time are indescribable. I haven’t experienced birthing a child yet, so I don’t know the emotions that are associated with that, but wow, I just was in shock. Dust kept smiling at me because I could NOT stop crying! Even now, as I’m writing this, the tears are just flowing thinking back to that special day when I saw my son for the first time! What a blessing to see pictures of both of your children on the same day, even when you can’t hold either of them.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">After I somewhat had gotten a hold of my emotions, somewhat being a very vague description of sniffling, snuffling, sobbing (still), and wiping tears away, Dust proceeded to tell me that our agency had first called him to let him know about our referral that morning. He didn’t want me to know about the phone call because he wanted me to see his picture first and not anticipate the email. I’m not one for surprises, but that was the best surprise ever!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Going through these last couple of months has been trying in that I know who my child is, where he’s at, and that he’s not with me. We were told by a traveling family that he cries when he’s hungry… which makes me cry because I can’t be the one to feed him. I will have missed out on 6 months of his life (Lord-willing that is all, as you really never know timeframes with international adoptions).</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Dust and I had started the discussion of names: ones we liked, potentials, ones we didn’t like, etc. Now, as easy of a task as this is for some people, we were really not agreeing on anything—but we had time to figure it out! We knew for sure we would be naming one boy, so I was rattling off names I liked and said the name “Isaiah”. Dust perked up and said, “I really like that name.” I tentatively said, “Is that it? Is that the name of our son?????” And we just smiled and knew. And of course, more tears (it comes to be expected with me in any situation). Isaiah means “Salvation of God” or “Yahweh is salvation” and how true that is! We had actually named a child of God, the child that God was going to loan to us!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">The point we are currently at in our adoption is rightly deemed the worst waiting of your life. It is the time when you know who your child is and you just have to wait for the process to happen until you can go and pick your child up and hold him forever! We are in the middle of this stage. We have our Ethiopian court date on June 8 and if we pass, then travel is approximately 6 weeks later to go pick up our son and take him to the visa appointment. June 8 will be a VERY nervewracking day around our house because it is the day that when we pass... Isaiah will officially be our son! And that means I can finally post pictures of him! The Ethiopian government is very nervous about child trafficking and any internet pictures of waiting children and they have actually taken referrals away from families who have posted pictures prematurely (how sad!!).</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Governments in foreign countries work differently than in the United States (obviously) and on a schedule that is all their own. The courts in Ethiopia actually shut down during their rainy season (which ends up being about a 6 week period of closures starting around August). There are many reasons why a family may not pass court on their first try, and we ask for prayer that we’ll make it through on the 8th: one of the reasons being as simple as lack of electricity so no cases are even heard; another that a government issued letter (that has to be in the file to pass) has not been submitted timely; or even that a Judge decides just to not show up that day. There are many things that could go wrong, and they’re all out of our hands. Just as in pregnancy I cannot imagine how one could not believe in an Almighty God who created us so intricately, I also cannot imagine the lack of belief in God when you need the trust and peace knowing you are going through an adoption with God guiding you through!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Once we pass court, Isaiah is officially our child! And then we just get to go pick him up… well, I will need to stay home with Baby Girl while Dust picks him up and takes him home!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">We are currently (over-anxiously) awaiting the arrival of both of our children. We have been told we’re crazy for inviting the chaos to come, but know that it was all part of God’s plan for our lives and that we’ll be able to handle it all (maybe not graciously at times, but we’ll handle it nonetheless). We have been blessed beyond belief in our adoption and pregnancy and are so grateful that God is choosing to grant us virtual twins to raise (they will end up being about 6 months apart)!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">The Lord has led us both in separate ways to adoption and I am so glad He did, I feel we were let in on a secret understanding of just a little bit how God feels about us as His adopted children!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">After we have both of our kids home I have my work cut out for me… not only in the raising of our new children, but also in convincing Dust that 3 natural and 3 adopted children may be just a bit too much to think about! :) At least for now… we’ll have to wait and see how big our family will get, you can’t ever put a limit on God, especially if He calls you to it!</span>Becca M.http://www.blogger.com/profile/01193678219249318692noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6678383161756293032.post-44204190733710190872017-09-18T06:00:00.001-07:002017-09-18T06:00:18.650-07:00My Idol<span style="font-size: large;">Honest moments here. For a long time I had a certain idol in my life. It was pervasive and constant and always around me. I liked it's presence, I wanted to be around it, I enjoyed the attention I got back from it. I turned to it first for advice, consolation, strength, and love.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Except that "it" was a person, my husband.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">For a long time in my marriage, I was fearful of what I would do if Dusty ever died.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> I
just could NOT imagine my life without him all while I was cutting God out of it and replacing Him slowly with my husband.
God honors marriage, He does, but not when it overtakes the place in
your heart specifically designed for Him!</span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">This acronym from childhood always plays in my head:</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>J</b> - Jesus</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>O</b> - Others</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Y</b> - Yourself</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">I
was not submitting to JOY in my life, I had tweaked it to YOJ. I desired earthly pleasantries and joys instead of looking for my joy from Heaven. I selfishly created Dusty into an idol which did neither of us any good.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Needless
to say, since then I have correctly placed my husband (in my life and
in my heart) right where he needs to be, number 2. My
awareness of my idolatry brings me back to the 10
Commandments--commandments which I will always fall short of but will
strive ever so hard to (impossibly) perfect.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="color: #b45f06;"><span style="font-size: large;">"You shall have <b><i>no</i> </b>other gods before Me. You shall <i><b>not </b></i>make
for yourself an idol in the form of anything in Heaven above or on the
earth beneath or in the waters below." </span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">Exodus 20:3-4b (NIV), <i>e</i></span><i>mphasis added</i></span></span></blockquote>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Even
your husband can become your idol. Be daily aware of how Satan will try
to slip things past you until you start eliminating God and raising up <u>your</u> idol above HIM (whatever or whomever that may be).</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Do <b><u><i>NOT</i></u></b> let what was meant to be a Godly union be twisted by </span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">Satan by shoving God aside in your life. Be aware that anything and anyone can fill that slot if you allow it. It was my fault that happened, and it is well within my control to ensure it doesn't happen ever again.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">I have a stronger marriage now than before as I have recognized and applied what God desires for a marriage. I have learned what unconditional love looks like from God so I can then apply it toward my husband. I have learned to turn to God first and then my husband after. I have learned to begin my day with God and then will communicate with my husband. I have learned to seek God for comfort in what life throws at me, so I can turn to my husband and share how I have been comforted. I have leaned on God so I don't lean on my husband expecting him to save me.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">The sanctification process has taken years to uncover and develop, I was not a quick study. I am very grateful that God blessed me with grace to get me to the point I am today. He has truly guided my steps so I see that I should have no other gods before Him.</span></span>Becca M.http://www.blogger.com/profile/01193678219249318692noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6678383161756293032.post-62222244968600379912017-09-17T07:00:00.000-07:002017-09-17T07:00:00.502-07:00Sunday Grace<br />
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<span style="color: #073763;"><span style="color: rgb(0 , 0 , 0); font-size: large;">How beautiful on the mountains</span><span style="color: rgb(0 , 0 , 0); font-size: large;"><br />are the feet of those who bring good news,</span><span style="color: rgb(0 , 0 , 0); font-size: large;"><br />who proclaim peace,</span><span style="color: rgb(0 , 0 , 0); font-size: large;"><br />who bring good tidings,</span><span style="color: rgb(0 , 0 , 0); font-size: large;"><br />who proclaim salvation,</span><span style="color: rgb(0 , 0 , 0); font-size: large;"><br />who say to Zion,</span><span style="color: rgb(0 , 0 , 0); font-size: large;"><br />"Your God reigns!" </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-size: large;">Listen! Your watchmen lift up their voices;</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-size: large;">together they shout for joy.</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-size: large;">When the LORD returns to Zion,</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-size: large;">they will see it with their own eyes.</span></span></div>
Becca M.http://www.blogger.com/profile/01193678219249318692noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6678383161756293032.post-83677611188797245432017-09-15T06:00:00.000-07:002017-09-15T06:00:06.143-07:00R and F, baby!<span style="font-size: large;">Are you curious why the title for the blog anyone? Why the repentance AND faith? Let me explain why....</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">It seems to me in our modern day evangelical state of witnessing, our prayers of acceptance of faith in Jesus into our lives (the "Sinner's Prayer") can be quite deceptive. Before you attack, listen to my explanation. In and of itself, the acknowledgment of yourself as a sinner is not what the Bible says is needed for salvation, but it IS most certainly a step.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I would like to point you to Jesus' ministry of witnessing to people, it was nothing if not riddled with absolute love, all while presenting the necessity of continual repentance for breaking ALL of God's commandments. This stems from the entire Old Testament and the Israelites and this branches into our lives, not only in the ways we sin but showing us that we have been granted opportunity upon opportunity to also learn from Jesus' words and learn from the past mistakes of others.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Jesus would always lovingly let people know that they have done wrong, they aren't inherently good people, and that they need to repent. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">If you polled random strangers to ask if they think they are a good person, almost everyone will answer that they think they're a good person. A "good person" does not need a Savior. Why would a "good person" need Jesus? Why wouldn't a "good person" go to Heaven, when they feel they are good enough? Who needs to humble themselves if they're a "good person", or throw off all pride to get down on their knees to ask for forgiveness? How in the world is a "good person" bad when their relevant truth and beliefs don't tell them that?</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">(As an aside, <a href="http://www.needgod.com/index.shtml" target="_blank">here is a fun little quiz to take</a> to see if you ARE good enough according to God's standards... and if you ARE good enough to go to Heaven.)</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">The sinner's prayer acknowledges your sin and need for a Savior which is great, but please ensure that they are not empty words, you need to follow it up with a fully repentant life-your heart will guide your actions and your thoughts when you truly seek God. </span><br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">You view sin differently after you repent, you don't enjoy living in sin, you cannot stand sin, you pass it by and don't even look over your shoulder with longing, you're excited about renewing your mind with Godly things, and you just plain <b>hate </b>sin! We all know that even Satan professes Jesus' name, so next time you hear someone say the Sinner's Prayer please further encourage them to go onto the next step for true forgiveness of their sins.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">In light of all that, I ask you, when you became a Christian and as you daily walk with God, if you have had a different outlook on sin and it's effects on your life and your relationship with your Creator, your grace-grantor, your GOD? And if not, I think you know the next step to take.</span>Becca M.http://www.blogger.com/profile/01193678219249318692noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6678383161756293032.post-56063319138001915252017-09-14T07:30:00.000-07:002017-09-14T07:30:16.907-07:00Personal Struggles<br />
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MIFFtpbnnjk/WaSY-8fLhzI/AAAAAAAAAno/geElJWoS5BsjE2hrIkj5sMKGSFgvrOaDwCLcBGAs/s1600/Tozer_JC.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="514" data-original-width="1600" height="204" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MIFFtpbnnjk/WaSY-8fLhzI/AAAAAAAAAno/geElJWoS5BsjE2hrIkj5sMKGSFgvrOaDwCLcBGAs/s640/Tozer_JC.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">My mind has wrestled itself now for quite some time on one specific issue. I can't completely grasp the concepts surrounding it so I am failing at understanding it. So let's dive in.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Two of my favorite theologians are A.W. Tozer and J.C. Ryle. They would be deemed "conservative" Christians in today's terminology. I liken them more to unashamedly Biblically based. They both speak the truth of the Bible without mincing words. Very direct. Very truthful. Very convicting. Very Biblical. (Some say Facebook holds little value or purpose but I look forward to reading their quotes every morning and I end up 'liking' about 95% of them. If you wish to follow them as well, here are the links: <span style="color: blue;">https://www.facebook.com/AWTozeramanofGod/</span> and h<span style="color: blue;">ttps://www.facebook.com/JCRyleQuotes/<span style="color: black;">.)</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">A majority of the quotes have to do with: being a true follower of Jesus, it is a very narrow road, the truth of the Bible will separate and divide, you need to stand up for God's truths even if it's not popular or loved ones ridicule, etc. These wise words reinforce that it will be a lone journey between you and God of living your life in right standing according to His Word. It is refreshing to hear those reminders. I wrote someone a letter awhile ago and stated that never in my journey through this life would I have imagined that the hardest stances I would have to take would be against those I was closest to. I had assumed and expected we were believing the same truths of the Bible, living those out, living life differently than the world, and living with similar motives.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">I was wrong, and that was a hard lesson to learn. I rather enjoyed my naivete of choice to not clearly see the errors and sins surrounding me (both in my own life and in those around me). </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">I knew I sinned, but I didn't realize I was wretched to the core. That my thoughts were so corrupt, that I even had evil intentions. It took for my pride to be stripped away before the ugliness of sin in my life was made known to me.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>Now</i>, I know I sin, I know my sins. I'm aware of a lot of them thanks be to the Holy Spirit residing in me and cleansing me daily. And I'm praying that more and more they are revealed for the ugly vileness that they are. I repent of what I know and don't, but overall for how wretched I am. I am nothing without Christ. And if I'm not actively moving away from sin and toward God, then I am not living a repentant life.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">But that isn't the case for all who attend church. We started making stands to put up protective barriers around ourselves, our marriage, and our children, yet we were attacked for that. The slander that has been relayed has been hurtful and disheartening, especially during a period of time when the Holy Spirit was preparing a dwelling place in our hearts and cleansing us from the inside out. It was emotionally exhausting, which then made it incredibly disheartening to hear words, attacks, angry looks, passive aggressive facebook posts, whispered comments... the attacks kept coming from those who knew not the fullness of the situation.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ppahaAt2pg4/WaSZSTkABrI/AAAAAAAAAns/PPWuRFK5jbYMiPyReEFYb7-PkkN8cQqrgCLcBGAs/s1600/jc%2Bryle5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="412" data-original-width="736" height="179" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ppahaAt2pg4/WaSZSTkABrI/AAAAAAAAAns/PPWuRFK5jbYMiPyReEFYb7-PkkN8cQqrgCLcBGAs/s320/jc%2Bryle5.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">We have been advised by the Bible to let our light shine. Truly wise people know there are two sides to every story and to not make a judgment call based on only one side. But it seems majority opinion floats on the boat of which side they have heard from first. A judge would be flogged and ridiculed if that was how they led their courtroom. So our character should shine through and people should be able to discern if something they are hearing about us doesn't jive with what they know to be true about us.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">And that is where my struggle lies. I struggle with where that all falls into place when dealing with this in this life, on the one hand I am okay with the negativity now surrounding my name, because Jesus said this walk would not be easy but on the other hand, it's still hard... and how do you also be a light? If this walk is supposed to be so narrow, then how can it also be that you will be such a light for others if what is being said about you is not true? How can you live as a light while your name is being torn to pieces by those who claim to love you? </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xgEOSo5F3A0/WaSZX1jyGYI/AAAAAAAAAnw/bInp2XonekcQZc-0jHT_j3qQ8Td20euigCLcBGAs/s1600/jc%2Bryle2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="177" data-original-width="236" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xgEOSo5F3A0/WaSZX1jyGYI/AAAAAAAAAnw/bInp2XonekcQZc-0jHT_j3qQ8Td20euigCLcBGAs/s1600/jc%2Bryle2.jpg" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">I remain conflicted, but eager to learn so I pray for continued unity with my husband, peace, wisdom and direction.</span>Becca M.http://www.blogger.com/profile/01193678219249318692noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6678383161756293032.post-77472473108717276712017-09-13T07:00:00.000-07:002017-09-13T07:00:00.389-07:00Spray paint your lawn<span style="font-size: large;">In my husband's industry, he works with his teams to design, build, and maintain outdoor landscapes. We feel as though we have seen all the gizmos and gadgets, the tricks of the trade, the smart ideas, and the not-so-smart ideas. For me, there is one that has always taken the cake. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Grass Paint.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Yes, it's a thing. It's not that I can't see the use in it, we have even recommended it in the past where it was a worthwhile investment for our customers as they celebrated a special occasion at their place.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">It is the metaphor I associate with it that intrigues me. When I see grass paint, it represents the covering over of what something truly is to look more presentable. To me, it symbolizes the cloak of the modern day pharisees within our churches. God knows our hearts, and He will not be mocked. So when we put on a fake persona of holiness, speak Christianese to those around us, or live with hatred of others in our hearts; know that you may hide it well from those sitting next to you in church, but you have already been found out.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">What grass paint is designed to do is literally paint your grass a rich, green color. Imagine taking off your shoes to step onto that beautiful patch of lawn to relax only to be stabbed repeatedly in the feet by the hardened blades beneath. It adds a facade of beauty to what is ugly. The blades have not changed at their root, they are still the same, but are masquerading now as healthy and beautiful.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">So to it can be with our lives. It is a dangerous position to actively put yourself in and choose to live by the world and not truly for God. Your heart can be ugly while your outward persona is beautiful and desirable. Please check yourself and examine your own life against the Bible to ensure you are not merely living behind a cloak.</span>Becca M.http://www.blogger.com/profile/01193678219249318692noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6678383161756293032.post-45403722262370126002017-09-12T07:00:00.000-07:002017-09-12T07:00:00.863-07:00Attachment in Adoption<span style="font-size: large;">{This post was written years ago; a mere three months after our oldest two were both home in our arms.}</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">For a child who has been adopted into a family, it takes a bit of time before their attachment to the mother solidifies. Bonding happens quickly, but attachment takes time.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">They say that if you double the amount of time (for a baby, it is different for older children) in less than ideal care (foster care, orphanage, etc.) then that is approximately the length of time it will take for your child to bond with the primary caregiver (usually the Mom)! So... we are 3 months into our attachment with IZ: some days I do really well, others are harder when Gabs needs more attention. In the very beginning, we followed the advice of (many) others who had gone before us and limited interaction, holding, feeding, changing diapers, etc. to only Dust and me to really ingrain who his primary caregiver now is! It is hugely important to establish this at the getgo! Now, in the process of doing so, we had to hurt people's feelings... unintentionally of course, but it was in the best interest of our son so it had to be done. When you think about IZ being only 6 months old and already having 4 primary caregivers that were taken away from him, it could make ya cry! His sense of trust has not been established.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">When you think about a typical newborn, they are placed immediately in the Mother's arms to smell her and feel her. That smell establishes so much in that little newborn, especially a sense of trust and love that will stick with them for the rest of their lives... that is their mother (their primary caregiver). So what happens when a child doesn't stay with their birth mom? Here's a story I found that (is quite long, and also) quite self-explanatory. So to give credit where credit is due, this was garnered off of <a href="http://www.a4everfamily.org/">a4everfamily.org </a>(I'll be posting more from their site in the future).</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Imagine for a moment…</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large; font-weight: bold;">You have met the person you've dreamed about all your life. He has every quality that you desire in a spouse. You plan for the wedding, enjoying every free moment with your fiancée. You love his touch, his smell, the way he looks into your eyes. For the first time in your life, you understand what is meant by "soul mate," for this person understands you in a way that no one else does. Your heart beats in rhythm with his. Your emotions are intimately tied to his every joy, his every sorrow.</span><span style="font-size: large; font-weight: bold;"><br />The wedding comes. It is a happy celebration, but the best part is that you are finally the wife of this wonderful man. You fall asleep that night, exhausted from the day's events, but relaxed and joyful in the knowledge that you are next to the person who loves you more than anyone in the world…the person who will be with you for the rest of your life.</span><span style="font-size: large; font-weight: bold;"><br /><br />The next morning you wake up, nestled in your partner's arms. You open your eyes and immediately look for his face.</span><span style="font-size: large; font-weight: bold;">But IT'S NOT HIM! You are in the arms of another man. You recoil in horror. Who is this man? Where is your beloved?</span><span style="font-size: large; font-weight: bold;">You ask questions of the new man, but it quickly becomes apparent that he doesn't understand you. You search every room in the house, calling and calling for your husband. The new guy follows you around, trying to hug you, pat you on the back,...even trying to stroke your arm, acting like everything is okay.</span><span style="font-size: large; font-weight: bold;"><br /><br />But you know that nothing is okay. Your beloved is gone. Where is he? Will he return? When? What has happened to him</span><span style="font-size: large; font-weight: bold;">?<br /><br />Weeks pass. You cry and cry over the loss of your beloved. Sometimes you ache silently, in shock over what has happened. The new guy tries to comfort you. You appreciate his attempts, but he doesn't speak your language-either verbally or emotionally. He doesn't seem to realize the terrible thing that has happened...that your sweetheart is gone.</span><span style="font-size: large; font-weight: bold;"><br /><br />You find it difficult to sleep. The new guy tries to comfort you at bedtime with soft words and gentle touches, but you avoid him, preferring to sleep alone, away from him and any intimate words or contact.</span><span style="font-size: large; font-weight: bold;"><br /><br />Months later, you still ache for your beloved, but gradually you are learning to trust this new guy. He's finally learned that you like your coffee black, not doctored up with cream and sugar. Although you still don't understand his bedtime songs, you like the lilt of his voice and take some comfort in it.</span><span style="font-size: large; font-weight: bold;"><br /><br />More time passes. One morning, you wake up to find a full suitcase sitting next to the front door. You try to ask him about it, but he just takes you by the hand and leads you to the car. You drive and drive and drive. Nothing is familiar. Where are you? Where is he taking you?</span><span style="font-size: large; font-weight: bold;"><br /><br />You pull up to a large building. He leads you to an elevator and up to a room filled with people. Many are crying. Some are ecstatic with joy. You are confused. And worried.</span><span style="font-size: large; font-weight: bold;"><br /><br />The man leads you over to the corner. Another man opens his arms and sweeps you up in an embrace. He rubs your back and kisses your cheeks, obviously thrilled to see you.</span><span style="font-size: large; font-weight: bold;"><br /><br />You are anything but thrilled to see him. Who in the world is he? Where is your beloved? You reach for the man who brought you, but he just smiles (although he seems to be tearing up, which concerns you), pats you on the back, and puts your hand in the hands of the new guy. The new guy picks up your suitcase and leads you to the door. The familiar face starts openly crying, waving and waving as the elevator doors close on you and the new guy.</span><span style="font-size: large; font-weight: bold;"><br /><br />The new guy drives you to an airport and you follow him, not knowing what else to do. Sometimes you cry, but then the new guy tries to make you smile, so you grin back, wanting to "get along." You board a plane. The flight is long. You sleep a lot, wanting to mentally escape from the situation.</span><span style="font-size: large; font-weight: bold;"><br /><br />Hours later, the plane touches down. The new guy is very excited and leads you into the airport where dozens of people are there to greet you. Light bulbs flash as your photo is taken again and again. The new guy takes you to another guy who hugs you. Who is this one? You smile at him. Then you are taken to another man who pats your back and kisses your cheek. Then yet another fellow gives you a big hug and messes your hair.</span><span style="font-size: large; font-weight: bold;"><br /><br />Finally, someone (which guy is this?) pulls you into his arms with the biggest hug you've ever had. He kisses you all over your cheeks and croons to you in some language you've never heard before.</span><span style="font-size: large; font-weight: bold;"><br /><br />He leads you to a car and drives you to another location. Everything here looks different. The climate is not what you're used to. The smells are strange. Nothing tastes familiar, except for the black coffee. You wonder if someone told him that you like your coffee black.</span><span style="font-size: large; font-weight: bold;"><br /><br />You find it nearly impossible to sleep. Sometimes you lie in bed for hours, staring into the blackness, furious with your husband for leaving you, yet aching from the loss. The new guy checks on you. He seems concerned and tries to comfort you with soft words and a mug of warm milk. You turn away, pretending to go to asleep.</span><span style="font-size: large; font-weight: bold;"><br /><br />People come to the house. You can feel the anxiety start to bubble over as you look into the faces of all the new people. You tightly grasp the new guy's hand. He pulls you closer. People smile and nudge one other, marveling at how quickly you've fallen in love. Strangers reach for you, wanting to be a part of the happiness.</span><span style="font-size: large; font-weight: bold;"><br /><br />Each time a man hugs you, you wonder if he will be the one to take you away. Just in case, you keep your suitcase packed and ready. Although the man at this house is nice and you're hanging on for dear life, you've learned from experience that men come and go, so you just wait in expectation for the next one to come along</span><span style="font-size: large; font-weight: bold;">.<br /><br />Each morning, the new guy hands you a cup of coffee and looks at you expectantly. A couple of times the pain and anger for your husband is so great that you lash out, sending hot coffee across the room, causing the new guy to yelp in pain. He just looks at you, bewildered. But most of the time you calmly take the cup. You give him a smile. And wait. And wait. And wait.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">This makes me cry every time I read it, but I think that attachment is such a huge issue in adoption that not everyone knows about or thinks twice about.</span>Becca M.http://www.blogger.com/profile/01193678219249318692noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6678383161756293032.post-27996792998035133202017-09-11T07:30:00.000-07:002017-09-11T07:30:13.383-07:00MIV - Most Influential Verse<span style="font-size: large;">Once the Holy Spirit began to reside in my heart, the cleansing began on an entirely new level. By cleansing, I don't mean a simple, "Oh, let me purell my hands because I just touched the garbage can", I'm talking "Let me scrub and scour myself clean inside and out as my entire core is corrupt."</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">There were specific areas in my life that all pointed back to specific sin issues of pride encompassing my heart where the Holy Spirit was to dwell. I thought I had my life altogether: our marriage, our family, our extended family, our business, our friends, etc. After all, these were clearly a direct result of us working hard. Except that they weren't. I didn't see it then. I chose not to see it. I chose to live in sin. I chose daily to uplift my pedestal so I couldn't even see God in my life. This isn't to say I was living a non-"Christian" or immoral life; I went to church, I said the right things, I <i>knew</i> enough of the Bible to defend my stances. To the world I was a Christian; to me, I was a Christian. This life on earth was relatively easy and I intended to coast my way into eternity. Until....</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span>
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="color: #b45f06;"><span style="font-size: large;">Do not be deceived: <b>God</b> <b>cannot</b> <b>be</b> <b>mocked</b>. A man reaps what he sows.</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #b45f06;"><span style="font-size: large;">~ Galatians 6:7 </span></span></blockquote>
<span style="font-size: large;">I had stumbled upon this verse in context; I kid, clearly it was not stumbling but a very directly timed read for me. It brought me down. It shoved me off my self-concocted pedestal where I crashed hard. You see, I had heard of God's sovereignty, I had read about it in the Bible, I had studied verses about it, I had claimed it as my own, I had stated I knew it--and while my head and mouth were hot with conviction, my heart was cold.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">This verse represents a true acknowledgement as the life of a sinner in need of a Savior. It represents just HOW SOVEREIGN our God truly is. He will NOT be deceived. You may live your life claiming His power over you, but you are mocking Him if you think you're good enough on your own merit. God will see right through our pride, as much as we can veil it and hide it from prying earthly eyes; He will not be deceived. He can see right through our half-truths, our underhanded comments, our jealous eyes. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">If your heart does not align fully with God and His sovereignty, I fear you are in danger of reaping what you are sowing. The Bible makes it very clear that the way is narrow. I guarantee you, the Holy Spirit <i>will </i>cleanse His home, you will not be left in your sinful state but will be taught (HARD) to strive to live a ceaseless repentant life solely to glorify God through every circumstance.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Are you also claiming the world as your god? Are you in love with your life and your material blessings? Are you patting yourself on the back for doing good deeds in His name? Are you singing loudly in church while silently critiquing the person standing in front of you?</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">I don't doubt that the Holy Spirit's timeline is different for all true believers in their sanctification process, but I also don't doubt that the pride that hinders a truly right relationship with God will be cleansed away bit by bit (not fully, as the Bible says none of us are perfect), but your life will be utterly transformed.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Again, please hear what the Word says, <b>God cannot be mocked.</b> He knows everything. He <i>knows</i>.</span>Becca M.http://www.blogger.com/profile/01193678219249318692noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6678383161756293032.post-63765301150690861902017-09-10T07:00:00.000-07:002017-09-10T07:00:12.084-07:00Sunday Grace<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Jh9IIdVMhNo/TBUDyzxH81I/AAAAAAAAAVs/lH1U1slOEeo/s1600/eagle.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482292292818039634" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Jh9IIdVMhNo/TBUDyzxH81I/AAAAAAAAAVs/lH1U1slOEeo/s320/eagle.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 246px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a><span style="font-size: 130%;"><br /></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-size: large;">Do you not know?<br /> Have you not heard?<br /> The LORD is the everlasting God,<br /> the Creator of the ends of the earth.<br /> He will not grow tired or weary,<br /> and his understanding no one can fathom.</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-size: large;">[B]ut those who hope in the LORD<br /> will renew their strength.<br /> They will soar on wings like <span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">eagles</span>;<br /> they will run and not grow weary,<br /> they will walk and not be faint.</span></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br />
<span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-size: large;"> ~ Isaiah 40:28, 31</span></span></div>
</div>
Becca M.http://www.blogger.com/profile/01193678219249318692noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6678383161756293032.post-7056130762327813902017-09-08T07:30:00.001-07:002017-09-08T07:44:56.269-07:00Blessings Indeed<blockquote>
<span style="color: #b45f06;"><span style="font-size: large;">"Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them." -Psalm 127:5a</span></span></blockquote>
<span style="font-size: large;">Children, they are a blessing indeed. Solomon's Psalm seems so well forgotten in this day and age where technology, media, and people constantly guilt us with messages that "YOU time" is most important, what matters to YOU is what should hold ultimate value in your life, YOUR feelings rule above morality and truth. While some of those, within reason, are not in and of themselves bad (boundaries, knowing who we are and whose we are, etc.), we need to keep in mind that our standard isn't ourselves. The Bible is the living, breathing Word of God that we are blessed enough to have available at our every whim. So I encourage you to read the entire Psalm that this verse originates.</span><br />
<blockquote>
<span style="color: #b45f06;"><span style="font-size: large;">Unless the Lord builds the house, the builders labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the guards stand watch in vain. In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for food to eat--for He grants sleep to those He loves.</span></span></blockquote>
<br />
<blockquote>
<span style="color: #b45f06;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #b45f06;"><span style="font-size: large;">Children are a heritage from the Lord, offspring a reward from Him. Like arrows in the hands of a warrior are children born in one's youth. Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them. They will not be put to shame when they contend with their opponents in court.</span></span></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="color: #b45f06;"><span style="font-size: large;">Psalm 127 </span></span></blockquote>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">When you think about a builder, you may think about the final stages of construction and them pounding in that final nail to exhibit their accomplishments. We need to take the time to consider that a builder is not solely a finisher. A builder literally builds the house. He researches his plans, where to buy the right size of materials, he researches the price needed to come in at budget (or hopefully under!), he researches the wood, the strength needed for the beams, etc. Then he purchases the materials and secures a work force. A builder has the ability to start with a concept and create a masterpiece; so, too, with us when we are building our families.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">We can birth or adopt or foster many kids in our house and claim that our quiver is full. We can bide our time with them and then fling them off as arrows into the world wishing the best for them--all the while completely oblivious to what life should look like as a true Christian. We can claim that they are a blessing without counting the cost and providing a stable environment rooted in the teachings of His Word. We can help them to knowledgeably learn without ever truly understanding in their hearts.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">When I hear the word 'vain', my mind drifts to vanity, a useless series of thoughts that ultimately lead to nothing, I did not know that the root of the word stems from devastation. The Hebrew word for vain is shav'/shav and stems from the word show'/showah/shoah. Strong's Concordance defines it, in part, as follows:</span><br />
<blockquote>
<span style="color: #b45f06;"><span style="font-size: large;">to rush over; a tempest; by implication, devastation:-- desolate, destroy, destruction, storm, wasteness.</span></span></blockquote>
<span style="font-size: large;">Strong's Concordance defines vain as:</span><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="color: #b45f06;"><span style="font-size: large;">shav' (vain) stemming from show' meaning that the uselessness is to be seen "in the sense of desolating; evil (as destructive), literal (ruin) or moral (especially guile); figurative idolatry (as false, subjective, uselessness (as deceptive, objective), false, lie lying, vain, vanity.</span></span></blockquote>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">With that meaning in mind, let's journey back to the first couple lines in Psalm 127.</span><br />
<blockquote>
<span style="color: #b45f06;"><span style="font-size: large;">Unless the Lord builds the house, the builders labor in <b>vain</b>. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the guards stand watch in <b>vain</b>. In <b>vain</b> you rise early and stay up late, toiling for food to eat--for he grants sleep to those he loves.</span></span></blockquote>
<span style="font-size: large;">It is no longer a passive setting in which we ought to read this. It is very active with very real consequences to follow. There is a personally invited destruction if we do not have the Lord as our builder; a secret acceptance, if you will, in the background of our homes encouraging a hidden life that does not silence evil, idolatry, destruction, or ruin. If God is not our cornerstone, the house will crumble. There has been an all too common thread among how my generation was raised to outwardly present a Christian life. I cannot passively raise my children "in Christ" without expecting that I am inviting destruction and ruin upon my household.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">B</span><span style="font-size: large;">ack to the builder, we remember that he starts with the small things. He starts with a piece of paper and slowly adds to his list things to do in order to build a house. Like the man in Proverbs, it says:</span><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #b45f06;">"Dishonest money dwindles away, <i>but whoever gathers money little by little makes it grow.</i>" (Proverbs 13:11 NIV, emphasis mine)</span> </span></blockquote>
<span style="font-size: large;">So also is this true with us as Christians, so also is this true with us as parents. We have our cornerstone, we have the Word, now we need to be diligent in training them from birth to truly follow the Lord <b>AND </b>His commands, to seek out in all they do to honor HIM and bring HIM glory. No other goal should come higher than this in raising our kids. If our children can fully grasp this concept, then morality naturally follows.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Let's start with a plan as well, the Bible, and begin to teach our children the real Truth.</span>Becca M.http://www.blogger.com/profile/01193678219249318692noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6678383161756293032.post-88556880068270974622017-09-07T07:30:00.000-07:002017-09-07T07:30:06.445-07:00Dating Advice<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uXaGars1Iwc/Wam5JMs8p8I/AAAAAAAAApo/ngWXZdSRrPwpU61nk38MIpeyQRAyI0JkACLcBGAs/s1600/hearts.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="232" data-original-width="268" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uXaGars1Iwc/Wam5JMs8p8I/AAAAAAAAApo/ngWXZdSRrPwpU61nk38MIpeyQRAyI0JkACLcBGAs/s1600/hearts.jpg" /></a></span></div>
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<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Lately, I have come across many women who are in challenging marital stages in their lives. Oddly enough, they are usually relating to a relative (or spouse) with personality disorders. But through that, I have come to analyze my station in life. There was likely a .2 percent chance in my twenties that I would have the wherewithal to foresee all of what we have been through.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">When my husband and I were dating, we spent nearly every second together. We enjoyed each other immensely. We were best friends. He was a Christian, and I knew it by his actions, his heart, his words. I loved that about him. I was confident he would lead our marriage by Biblical standards if we got married.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">And we did get married. And he did lead us. But I have sinned. He has sinned. Through it all, we seem to eventually conquer our issues though. Some issues are quickly resolved, while others are so deeply ingrained that it is taking years to heal. But I rest assured that through it all, I see in him (and I pray he sees in me) that he learns from them, grows from them, acknowledges them, and effects appropriate change.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">So whenever I am asked for advice or my thoughts on a dating relationship, I share what I know will be an indicator of the future stature of someone's marriage. A marker of a true Christian.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">You need to live your life with a repentant heart.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">You need to ensure your spouse-to-be lives with a repentant heart.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">A proud heart can easily destroy a marriage. I love what the Bible says about repentance. It is the acknowledging of sin and the complete about-turn in your life to turn away from sin. It is fleeing in the opposite direction of sin.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">The majority of references of repent in the New Testament mean (according to Strong's Concordance):</span><br />
<blockquote>
<span style="color: #b45f06;"><span style="font-size: large;">To think differently; afterwards (reconsider); change the mind.</span></span></blockquote>
<br />
<blockquote>
<span style="color: #b45f06;"><span style="font-size: large;">Implying pious sorrow for unbelief and sin and a turning from them unto God and the gospel of Christ.</span></span></blockquote>
<span style="font-size: large;">And I can truly say my marriage will survive because I am married to a man with a repentant heart. Again, I pray he sees the same in me.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">I pray that dating couples be aware, truly aware, of what it takes to live a life of Biblical repentance and to flee from a potential mate who is not living in that accord.</span>Becca M.http://www.blogger.com/profile/01193678219249318692noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6678383161756293032.post-10656961990045066872017-09-06T08:18:00.002-07:002017-09-06T08:18:52.025-07:00YOLO - A twisted version<br />
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-27CgxvU4cO8/Waj28Fg6nJI/AAAAAAAAApU/BeFoeNM9Cy8dGZIq5_OEQzbLN-VEKCj-ACLcBGAs/s1600/yolo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="200" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-27CgxvU4cO8/Waj28Fg6nJI/AAAAAAAAApU/BeFoeNM9Cy8dGZIq5_OEQzbLN-VEKCj-ACLcBGAs/s1600/yolo.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">YOLO. You Only Live Once.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Not even 10 years ago this acronym surfaced and took off with young people. I knew it to be slang for excusing behavior you wanted to pretend you had no need or desire to take responsibility for.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">The thing of it is, though, is that we do only live once. During our one chance to be on this earth, we are called to be salt and light in this world.</span><br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="color: #b45f06;"><span style="font-size: large;">You
are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how
can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to
be thrown out and trampled underfoot.</span></span></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="color: #b45f06;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #b45f06;"><span style="font-size: large;">You
are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden.
Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put
it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the
same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your
good deeds and glorify your Father in Heaven.</span></span></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #b45f06;">~ Matthew 5:13-16</span></span></blockquote>
<span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">This set of verses trails on the ever popular Beatitudes (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=matthew+5&version=NIV" target="_blank">Matthew 5:1:3-12</a>). The blessings that ensue are blessings you can see in those around you--when I consider who I know that portray those qualities, it is those who have suffered through trials and come away from their anguish on the other side, truly beholden to God and His sovereignty. It is not limited to only those, and these verses should bolster in us encouragement toward being bold in our faith, we will be blessed--maybe not in this lifetime on earth, but our reward is in Heaven. There is no greater blessing than that, Heaven will make any persecution or suffering worth it!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span class="text Matt-5-16" id="en-NIV-23251" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: large;"><span class="woj" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;">When
we break it down to mere points, the conclusion becomes obvious. We
need to be living our Christian lives with a YOLO mindset. We
only have one life to affect those around us and point them to Christ.
We only have one life to proclaim His Name. We only have one life to
prepare our hearts for eternity.</span></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<span class="text Matt-5-16" id="en-NIV-23251" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: large;"><span class="woj" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;">In the same chapter, the two verses immediately preceding the salt of the earth set of verses, we read:</span></span><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="color: #b45f06;"><span class="text Matt-5-16" id="en-NIV-23251" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: large;"><span class="woj" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;">Blessed
are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds
of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great
is your reward in Heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the
prophets who were before you.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #b45f06;"><span class="text Matt-5-16" id="en-NIV-23251" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: large;"><span class="woj" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;">~ Matthew 5:11-12 </span></span></span></blockquote>
<span class="text Matt-5-16" id="en-NIV-23251" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: large;"><span class="woj" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"> </span></span><span class="text Matt-5-16" id="en-NIV-23251" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: large;"><span class="woj" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;">I
don't bring this up to give you a false sense of assurance that if you
get verbally attacked for defending the Word that you have arrived: that
you're in, that you're golden, that your reward is waiting. It is meant
to give you a foundation for the truth you are upholding. Our goal in
this life is to give God glory in everything we do and say... can you
say you are upholding this in your life?</span></span><br />
<br />
<span class="text Matt-5-16" id="en-NIV-23251" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: large;"><span class="woj" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;">I have failed many times to be bold in my life, but it helps to remind myself that I do have one life to live so why would I <i>not</i>
be bold in my faith; if I claim it defines me and cleanses me from the
inside out, if I claim that God is my Father and I seek to give Him
glory, have I not, then failed as His herald if I shy away from speaking
truth? I have succumbed to fear too often and kept quiet, hiding away
what God has done in and for me. I have been through trials in the
last couple years and God has guided me through them all. Through
those trials, I have found my worth in Christ and a lot of the fear that
crippled me has been washed away with my newfound value as one of His.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span class="text Matt-5-16" id="en-NIV-23251" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: large;"><span class="woj" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;">But... know your worth. Know your disposition. Who you are matters as we seek to honor God with our lives. If you are terrified of speaking in public, open air preaching is likely not the avenue you should lean toward. It is important to understand we all have our roles, we are not all called to the same area in ministry but we are all called to it.</span></span><br />
<span class="text Matt-5-16" id="en-NIV-23251" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: large;"><span class="woj" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"></span></span><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="color: #b45f06;"><span class="text Matt-5-16" id="en-NIV-23251" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: large;"><span class="woj" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="text Rom-12-4" id="en-NIV-28250">For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function,</span> <span class="text Rom-12-5" id="en-NIV-28251">so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.</span> <span class="text Rom-12-6" id="en-NIV-28252">We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith;</span> <span class="text Rom-12-7" id="en-NIV-28253">if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach;</span> <span class="text Rom-12-8" id="en-NIV-28254">if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.</span></span></span></span></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="color: #b45f06;"><span style="font-size: large;">~ Romans 12:4-8 </span></span></blockquote>
<br />
<span class="text Matt-5-16" id="en-NIV-23251" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: large;"><span class="woj" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;">So I will try to remember YOLO, and my role as a herald for Him is a necessity if I claim Him as my own, which I do.</span></span>Becca M.http://www.blogger.com/profile/01193678219249318692noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6678383161756293032.post-22970330449151779752017-09-05T07:30:00.000-07:002017-09-05T07:30:05.475-07:00My Vision has Improved<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">When I was in my twenties, I looked at life and the people around me with a very limited lens. My lifeview had not been shaped with a lot of reality or life.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">I never realized how little I knew about the people around me. How their experiences had affected them. What they were dealing with. How their relationship with Christ had gotten to the point it had (for better or worse).</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">I liked my world. My little bubble. I saw a filtered surface and never bothered to dig past that.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">But then I started opening my eyes. At times, my eyes were pried open and drained of all the tears blocking my vision so I could see the hurt in this world.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">My Grandma was always a person I revered. I still do. But through the years, my rose-colored glasses fell off as I looked at her and realized: she is a woman; she is flawed; she sins. She also prays for every single one of her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren all the time. She reads her Bible daily. She hosted and conducted Bible studies. She is a woman pastors have gone to for advice. She is a godly woman. But she's also a woman. A woman who has experienced life. She knows the ups and downs of this life and come out with God as foremost. But it was a strange reality when "Grandma" was more than just Grandma. She was her own person and I finally saw her as just that.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">Another
relative became a person to me when I found out he
emotionally abused his wife for years. I never knew his wife had put up
with life as an abused spouse. I never
understood the extent of the damage done to her</span>.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">All of my life before my thirties, I looked at life and the people around me with a very limited lens. I never realized how little I knew about the people around me. How their experiences had changed them. What they were dealing with. How their relationship with Christ had gotten to the point it had (for better or worse).</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I saw friends go through divorce. I saw marriages endure and push past affairs. I saw single friends struggle with being single. I saw that <i>every</i> marriage has its challenges and that you really never know what happens (or doesn't) behind closed doors. I saw the importance in finding a church to call home and really immerse yourself in it. </span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">I saw my husband in a different light. He was a human, he was flawed just like me. </span></span>I saw the plight of pastor's wives everywhere to deal with a husband who is emotionally, spiritually, and physically on call at all times. I saw
women in a different light. I saw the hurt behind so many eyes, the
struggle of living imperfectly in our "perfect" society, the anger at
how women are portrayed, the insecurity behind scantily clad women. I
saw it.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">I saw. I saw life. I realized it's not cut and dry. We are evolving and our thoughts and vision change as we experience life. </span>
<span style="font-size: large;">I also saw my own life radically change. I never knew my world as I knew it could be so shaken.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I also saw Jesus in a completely different light. At one time, I sought out the advice of a trusted friend who ended up counseling and guiding me through my thoughts and feelings on my new journey. She spoke truth, we prayed... we have remained open and honest in our friendship about our struggles. I began to often go to my secret alone spot and sit there praying and reading the Bible.</span><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">I had dealt with my first real tragedy. I was so hurt and confused, but I was at peace. I turned to comfort through Jesus (and chocolate to be honest). I'm not sure you ever really know how you will react to hardships, and I am sure I have more coming. It was my first victory in my real fight against the world though and I was relieved looking back what occurred, for little did I know I was establishing a pattern in my life of Who to turn to when tragedies strike.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">But those tragedies would not be my last....</span>Becca M.http://www.blogger.com/profile/01193678219249318692noreply@blogger.com0