tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-57514353374986640602024-03-13T10:40:15.423-04:00The Gang's All Here!The Gang's Momma!http://www.blogger.com/profile/12478478224173323982noreply@blogger.comBlogger1138125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5751435337498664060.post-30981572213659885692016-01-12T08:37:00.000-05:002016-01-12T09:01:21.208-05:00Bloom Where You Are Planted {Grandma Rose}<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XaRHl6zguKM/VpPZ83fKB8I/AAAAAAAAE8g/8YnF5H4oc4A/s1600/scanpiazza2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XaRHl6zguKM/VpPZ83fKB8I/AAAAAAAAE8g/8YnF5H4oc4A/s400/scanpiazza2.jpg" width="232" /></a></div>
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Today, my Grandma Rose went home to be with Jesus, to worship Him forever alongside of the love of her life, my Grandpa Sam. She had a long, full life and I was so very blessed to call her my grandmother.</div>
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Grandma Rose was born in the midst of some very hard, spare years in both America's story and her family's story. She was one of 7 children and lost her mother at a very young age. She grew through the years into a beautiful young woman with a gentle and kind spirit. She caught the eye of my Grandpa Sam at a young age and their love story is one that I had tremendous privilege to see in person, even well into their final years together.</div>
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As I sit and process her passing, the memories are tumbling. </div>
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Snippets of the great tenors and Italian arias wind through my mind. </div>
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Smells of deep red marinara sauce and fried chicken cutlets come alive. </div>
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Her incredibly soft arms are brushing mine while I sit next to her at the table,</div>
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listening to the loud, boisterous laughter between the aunts, uncles,</div>
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cousins, in-laws and "outlaws" that were always welcome at their table. </div>
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Thanksgiving feasts of turkey, stuffed shells and lasagna </div>
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spread along the two long tables in their basement.</div>
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Sitting at her old-fashioned dressing table, pretending to be </div>
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a grown-up "fancy" lady while playing with her hats, pins, and pearls.</div>
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Perhaps one of my favorite memories that I replay the most often, even now, is one that took place in her kitchen almost every time I was with them. Grandpa Sam used to pretend to spar with her as she washed the dishes or folded kitchen towels. He was a huge boxing aficionado and he would dance around her, punching the air and saying "Come on, Ro! Have a go with me. Give me your best shot." Her blushing brush-offs and sweet, almost embarrassed and yet tolerant smiles brought me such peace and enjoyment as a kid. Even at that young age, I remember LOVING how they brought us in to their love story with his winks at me when he snuck up on her in the kitchen. With how she rolled her eyes when I would giggle at her "Oh, Sam" responses. As an adult <i>(now that I've learned so much more of their story before they became the patriarchs of this big family we are now)</i>, I see so much more. I didn't know it then though. I didn't know how much those moments would come to mean. I just knew I felt loved. By watching their love. </div>
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Grandma Rose wasn't one of those hot-house roses, fragile and easily overcome by the elements. She wasn't green-house born and raised, withering easily for lack of water or care. No, my Grandma Rose was a Knock Out Rose. Yes, she was a beautiful woman. A knockout as they said back in the day. But I'm talking about <a href="http://www.starrosesandplants.com/plants/series/knock-out-family-roses">these beauties</a>. Knock Out Roses are known for their full, lush blooms and for being very low maintenance. They don't require specialized care, perfect soil or optimum sunlight to thrive. They are drought-hearty and their roots spread wide, allowing them to spread and grow well in almost any place they are planted. They bloom where they are planted and then some.</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LHOCG0swUMA/VpPkw5-GMXI/AAAAAAAAE80/f9KpT1qZDEE/s1600/KnockOut%2BRoses.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="237" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LHOCG0swUMA/VpPkw5-GMXI/AAAAAAAAE80/f9KpT1qZDEE/s320/KnockOut%2BRoses.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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My grandmother was that variety of woman that bloomed regardless of her surroundings. She had a hard childhood. A really hard one. She and her siblings were forced to cling tenaciously to each other, to intertwine their roots and hang on for dear life. And hang on they did. Back then, there was very little special care available to that scrappy immigrant family. They just had to dig in and do life together. When they married, she welcomed my grandfather's even larger family as her own. Together, along with her siblings and his, their love and commitment crafted even deeper roots and lush, full family trees. Their tenacity yielded our close-knit, loving extended family. It was, <a href="http://whitneygang.blogspot.com/2015/09/my-tapestry.html"><b>as I've said before,</b></a> a wonderful way for a child to grow - connected to generations before me.<br />
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Grandma Rose wasn't as loud and boisterous as others in our family were. Usually, she'd be found working quietly in the kitchen, watching the kids playing in the yard from the window over her sink. Or quietly joining the conversations from her spot behind the long counter. She was gentle. Soft-spoken. Humble. Honest. The perfect straight-woman to Grandpa's light-hearted antics. She was steady. Reliable. Comfortably predictable and constant. Along with my Grandfather, her quiet, persevering root system spread its life to three beautiful daughters onward to 10 grandchildren and now to 19 great-grandchildren. Those blooms are beautiful and plenteous and growing still.</div>
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We didn't know it when we named her, but our little Mei Mei's personality couldn't really be more opposite from the great-grandmother for whom she is named. But I DID know that the beauty of a Rose, that the joy and life it gives, takes many different varieties so it felt like the perfect fit at the time. In the years since Mei Mei has been home, I've learned that my grandmother and her little namesake share some very similar hard beginnings to their stories. Difficulties that my grandmother overcame and used as a root system to build the life she shared with my grandfather. My grandmother's story and my daughter's story began worlds and generations apart from one another. Nevertheless, their roots are deeply intertwined now. That is the miracle of family, is it not? It is my dearest dream that our Mei Mei will push that root system even deeper, spread it further, and continue the legacy of beautiful, plenteous blooming. That she will carry her name proudly and feel rooted to the heritage into which she is now grafted. No matter the hardships she has faced or will face as she grows.</div>
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For several years now, my best friend has been suggesting to me that I fill the front garden with Knock Out Roses because nothing else has grown well there. This Spring, I will do that. I will plant several rose bushes in honor of The Knock Out Rose that my Grandma was. I will remember and I will tell my children that so very often the most beautiful blooms come out of the hardest of hardships.</div>
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<i>Good bye Grandma Rose. Thank you for your gentle, loving ways.</i></div>
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<i>Thank you for digging in and doing the hard stuff and creating</i></div>
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<i>this beautiful family we love. Give Grandpa Sam a huge hug for me.</i></div>
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<i>And maybe just a fun, soft little punch in the arm.</i></div>
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<i>I know you have it in you! I love you.</i></div>
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The Gang's Momma!http://www.blogger.com/profile/12478478224173323982noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5751435337498664060.post-30372027283693574332015-12-21T08:08:00.000-05:002015-12-29T08:06:36.800-05:00Merry Christmas From The Gang!<div style="text-align: justify;">
It's a beautiful chilly Sunday afternoon here at The Gang's Headquarters. Most of the gang is here, sprawled out watching football or Octonauts, coming down off the sugar high that is characteristic of our traditional Cookie Decorating Day. We're waiting for Shaggy and the lovely Miss A to arrive for family pictures and a late dinner together. It's the first quiet, peaceful afternoon we've had together for far too long. </div>
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With the pace we've been keeping and the many "out of the ordinary" additions to the calendar that have come these last ten days, we only just this weekend got around to making holiday treats. Normally, I spread the baking out over three weeks so it works out that I'm replenishing the batches continuously. Like, a slow steady month-long IV drip of butter and sugar. It's glorious! This year, I just couldn't get that routine up and running and The Gang has been letting me know of the lack of holiday treats around here. No one has ever accused me of doing things half-heartedly and in the last 48 hours, LadyBug and I have made 3 double and 1 triple batch of The Gang's favorites. There's Christmas bark, Butter Pecan Turtle bars, German Christmas Cookies <i>(now fully frosted and beautifully decorated)</i> all filling up my cookie bins and my fridge at once. It's glorious! All that was missing were Shaggy's favorite White Chip Orange Craisin Cookies and I could hang up my apron. </div>
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It should have been no surprise to me that by lunch-time today, I was operating in auto-pilot. As in, everything I've made in the last two days has required a lot of brown sugar. A. LOT. Turns out, auto-pilot may just have produced my new favorite cookie of all time!!!! Since they turned out so incredibly tasty and rich, I thought I'd give a present to all of you and share the <i>{BRAND SPANKIN' NEW}</i> recipe!</div>
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<b><i><span style="font-size: large;">White Chip Orange Craisin Cookies</span></i></b><br />
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1/2 c. butter, softened</div>
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1/2 c. butter-flavored shortening, softened<br />
<i>(This is tweak #1 - the original recipe calls for 1 c. butter)</i></div>
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1 1/2 c. dark brown sugar, packed</div>
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<i>(This is where autopilot came in - the original recipe called for white sugar.</i></div>
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<i> So I set about tweaking the recipe from this "mistake." This TASTY mistake!)</i></div>
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2 eggs</div>
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1 tsp. vanilla</div>
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1 1/2 tsp. orange extract</div>
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<i>(This is tweak #2 - the original recipe doesn't call for any.)</i></div>
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1 Tbsp. orange zest or dried orange peel</div>
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2 c. flour</div>
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1 tsp. baking powder</div>
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1/2 tsp. salt</div>
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1/4 tsp. baking soda</div>
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2 c. oats</div>
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1 c. craisins</div>
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1 c. white baking chips</div>
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Preheat your oven to 375.</div>
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Cream together the butter, shortening, and sugar. When fluffy, add eggs and beat in vanilla and orange extracts.</div>
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Slowly add the orange zest, flour, baking powder, salt and baking soda. Blend till all dry ingredients are incorporated.</div>
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Fold in oats, craisins, and white baking chips. Batter will be thick and heavy. And SUPER YUMMY!</div>
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Bake at 375 for 10-12 minutes until edges are dry but do NOT overbake these goodies.</div>
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True confession time: the original recipe on which this one is based is an old W#*ght W@tchers favorite that called for things like "light butter," a sugar/sugar substitute blend, and egg whites. NOT that that particular version ever really got made around here.... because, well, "light butter?" As if. I mean, I might have made it the W#*ght W@tchers way once, a looooong time ago. But never again. Ever. And now? With the change-out from white sugar to lovely dark rich brown sugar? Oh.MY.LANDS. I ain't NEVER goin' back, sister friend. NEVER.</div>
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So, there ya have it. Thank you, auto-pilot! You are my new bestie bestie, as Mei Mei says. About everyone. Ha!<br />
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<b><i><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;">Merry Christmas</span></i></b></div>
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<b><i><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;">from The Gang's Momma and her gang!</span></i></b></div>
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The Gang's Momma!http://www.blogger.com/profile/12478478224173323982noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5751435337498664060.post-87082428620544836592015-10-27T08:30:00.000-04:002015-11-18T16:51:07.803-05:00Another "Thumbs UP!" {a review of The Palest Ink}<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<span style="text-align: start;">I have thoroughly enjoyed being part of </span><a href="http://kaybratt.com/" style="text-align: start;">Kay Bratt's</a><span style="text-align: start;"> book review team for the last couple years. We even have our own snazzy name - she calls us "Kay's Review Krew." So when I was contacted about reading and reviewing another book connected to her series called </span><b style="text-align: start;"><i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Scavengers-Daughters-Tales-Book-ebook/dp/B00B5KQNZU/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8">The Scavenger's Daughters</a></i></b><span style="text-align: start;">, I was ELATED. </span><b style="text-align: start;"><a href="http://smile.amazon.com/Palest-Ink-Kay-Bratt/dp/1503946169/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1445869324&sr=8-1&keywords=The+Palest+Ink">It's available THIS WEEK</a></b><span style="text-align: start;"> for purchase and I highly encourage you to rush right over to Amazon and get your copy now.</span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SAi-pw4bzz8/Vi4_cZxz_aI/AAAAAAAAE7w/Dbms_zdpRlk/s1600/The%2BPalest%2BInk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="370" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SAi-pw4bzz8/Vi4_cZxz_aI/AAAAAAAAE7w/Dbms_zdpRlk/s400/The%2BPalest%2BInk.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b><i><a href="http://smile.amazon.com/Palest-Ink-Kay-Bratt/dp/1503946169/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1445869324&sr=8-1&keywords=The+Palest+Ink">The Palest Ink</a></i></b> is a pre-quel that expertly peels back the layers to the father figure from The Scavenger's Daughters, Benfu. Each chapter gives the reader another peek into the character of the man who dedicates his whole adult life to investing in the treasured daughters whom he finds and brings to his home. The experiences of his life BEFORE he became The Scavenger are woven together in this book in such a way that the reader can say, "Oh, that is why he understands the plight of loneliness so well." The reader FEELS the sense of isolation and other-ing that his daughters grapple with in the other books, when reading of the solitary confinement he experiences in his re-training camp. That sense of "coming home" that happens when his daughters bloom and grow under his and Callie's care is rooted in this book's unfolding of the deep contentment and connected-ness they find together as Callie nurses him to health after he escaped his brutal living conditions. All of the things that happened to him, that formed his convictions and his principles that we see as the benevolent and loving father are deeply established as a response to the life changes that were thrust upon him as a young man during the Cultural Revolution. I completely appreciated and enjoyed how well Kay wove those themes together and tied them up so neatly, as she reached back to "flesh out" this character that I grew to love in <b><i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Scavengers-Daughters-Tales-Book-ebook/dp/B00B5KQNZU/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8">The Scavenger's Daughters series</a></i></b>.</div>
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In addition to weaving Benfu's past so expertly for the reader to understand his future more deeply, Kay did a wonderful job of detailing the harsh realities of the early days of the Cultural Revolution in ways that were both honoring to the Chinese people and educational to the reader. I was always very interested in this particular era of world events and did a lot of reading as a student but it was thrilling to this self-proclaimed history geek to learn more and to put "faces" to the events about which I had learned. I loved learning, via this fictional medium, more about the thoughts and feelings of those who embraced Chairman Mao's ways and about those who were leery of the changes he brought. In particular, I found the elimination of creative expression, poetry, fine arts and music to be far more difficult to imagine as I read this story than even when I was learning about it in school. It's more personal to me now, given that I'm parenting two beautiful creative little girls who are similar to many of the characters about whom Kay writes. To think that they might have lived like that makes this story all the more poignant. Truly, to me, it makes all of these books that Kay has crafted more meaningful and poignant.</div>
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If you haven't read the other books of <b><i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Scavengers-Daughters-Tales-Book-ebook/dp/B00B5KQNZU/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8">The Scavenger's Daughters series</a></i></b>, you ought to purchase them all when you go buy <b><i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Palest-Ink-Kay-Bratt-ebook/dp/B00U88YMOO">The Palest Ink</a></i></b>. Then settle in with a warm blanket and spend your cold winter evenings immersed in the beautiful world of Benfu and Callie. You won't regret it for a minute!!!!!</div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">**I was given a complimentary copy</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.**</span></div>
The Gang's Momma!http://www.blogger.com/profile/12478478224173323982noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5751435337498664060.post-31493386810952628882015-09-29T14:36:00.001-04:002015-10-26T10:57:20.123-04:00My Tapestry<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sepPrVVH6ik/VgqWRHIxR8I/AAAAAAAAE7I/J3x43wvVFcQ/s1600/scanpiazza0001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sepPrVVH6ik/VgqWRHIxR8I/AAAAAAAAE7I/J3x43wvVFcQ/s400/scanpiazza0001.jpg" width="277" /></a></div>
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See that babe in arms? That's my Uncle Johnny. He passed away yesterday, leaving a legacy of kindness, gentleness, and love of family. He was the last of my grandfather's siblings to pass away, the youngest son in a big, loving, Italian family.<br />
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Of course, none of them were perfect, but every single memory I have of these great-uncles and great-aunts is just that: GREAT.</div>
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Outbursts of laughter around overloaded tables.</div>
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Good-natured teasing and bickering.</div>
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Stories of stark but happy childhood.</div>
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Bear hugs & kisses until you were gasping for breath.</div>
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And yes, food. LOTS and LOTS of food at every single gathering.</div>
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OH! THE! FOOD!</div>
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Not a bad way to grow up. Not at all.</div>
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By now, you all know I'm hopelessly sentimental when it comes to matters of family and legacy. Uncle Johnny's passing has provoked a myriad of memories all rife with emotion today. Anchoring all of those feelings is an overwhelming gratitude, I'm so incredibly grateful for the great big tapestry that both sets of my grandparents' generation wove for me and my generation.<br />
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<b><i><span style="font-size: large;">This tapestry has been many things</span></i></b></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-size: large;">for many people in our family.</span></i></b></div>
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A work of art, giving testament to the family's status and standing in society. A witness, if you will, of that which they have achieved together.<br />
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A rich backdrop, giving color, depth, and texture to our collective coming story as new immigrants to this country. Bringing their history to their present.<br />
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A thick and stable rug to stand upon, when building a life together. A plush but firm "take your stance" kind of setting point.<br />
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A soft landing place, a net of sorts that was wide and secure into which they could fall when hard times rocked them off their feet.<br />
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A warm wrap into which they could burrow when life felt cold and brutal.<br />
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Today, we mostly think of intricate tapestries as works of art to be hung on a wall. But a true family-woven tapestry wasn't always meant to be just gazed at and admired. Admittedly, we aren't as familiar with the many uses that a hand-woven, artfully crafted tapestry can have in today's world. We don't need one piece to do all those things anymore. We have Wayf@ir for rugs and T@rget for sweaters, right? But if you look back in history, family tapestries had many functions beyond their artisan beauty. <br />
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It strikes me that my family tapestry has both beauty and function that is sadly becoming more and more rare in this culture in which we live. I'm proud to declare that I will stay anchored to both families who wove this tapestry before me. I will continue to teach my children well in the art of weaving their rows to grow it strong and beautiful for generations to come.<br />
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<i>Uncle Johnny, say hi to Grandpa Sam for me. Enjoy your reunion and your time to worship Jesus to the strains of heavenly Italian opera with him. You are missed here. All of you.</i><br />
<br />The Gang's Momma!http://www.blogger.com/profile/12478478224173323982noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5751435337498664060.post-58341427143894610192015-09-14T12:27:00.002-04:002015-09-14T12:28:16.799-04:00Allllllll-most Fall {and a recipe!}<br />
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Yesterday was a cool and breezy day full of little hints of autumn. Football was on the tv screen. BBE spent the whole afternoon prepping our fire pit and side yard for LadyBug's "end of summer" bonfire with friends. The Boss was working in the master bath, prepping for our big re-do <i>(pictures coming soon)</i> that starts on Tuesday. I had spent all Saturday afternoon filling the freezer with yummy casseroles for those weekday afternoons full of junior high football games and other Mommy taxi duties. Yes, fall is definitely in the air these days!</div>
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I was really looking for something easy to make for the family, given that I'd cooked for 4-5 hours straight on Saturday. I knew left-overs one!more!time! wouldn't cut it for the Gang, no matter that I felt wiped out. I also think I might be brewing a cold, so I was pretty motivated to simplify my day. This recipe was JUST the ticket! It's been going around the interwebs in a few different forms, with a few variations. It sounded really delish and easy to pull off so I gave it a whirl for The Gang this Sunday. It felt like just the right "introductory" fall meal. </div>
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True to form, I couldn't just leave the recipe alone, so I'm sharing here what I did. Feel free to make it your own. It was indeed very easy and all The Gang members, including Shaggy and Miss A who joined us for Sunday dinner, gave it a huge thumbs up! I hope you all enjoy it as much as we did. The kids are eating it now, as I type this, for a delicious left-over lunch.</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>Slow Cooker Chicken and Dumplings</i></b></span></div>
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Ingredients:</b><o:p></o:p><br />
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<o:p> </o:p>4 boneless, skinless chicken breast, in 1-2” chunks</div>
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(or 6 skinless chicken thighs)<br />
2 Tbsp. butter, chunked<br />
1 medium onion, chopped<br />
2 cans cream of chicken soup<o:p></o:p></div>
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1 can chicken broth<o:p></o:p></div>
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2 cubes chicken bouillon<o:p></o:p></div>
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1 12 oz. bag frozen mixed veggies, steamed and drained well<o:p></o:p></div>
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Cornstarch and cold water (if needed)<br />
1 roll (10 per pkg) refrigerated biscuits, quartered<br />
Flour to coat biscuits<br />
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Directions:</b><o:p></o:p></div>
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<li>Lightly spray a crock pot with baking spray. Place chicken
in bottom of crock. Over the chicken, dump the butter, onion, soup, broth and
bouillon.</li>
<li>Cover crock pot and cook on low for 4-6 hours. If using
frozen chicken, cook on high for same amount of time then reduce to low for the remaining time.</li>
<li>Around the 3 or 4 hour mark, add steamed, drained veggies
and stir well. Re-cover and allow to cook for an additional hour or two.</li>
<li>While you are waiting for serving time, quarter the biscuits
and toss them to coat in all-purpose flour.</li>
<li>About 30-45 minutes before serving, thicken the mixture with
cornstarch and cold water (shaken together well) if it’s too loose and
soup-like.</li>
<li>Drop flour-coated biscuits onto the top surface of the
chicken mixture and cook with lid on for another 30 minutes. (For a single batch of these proportions, you might not need the whole roll of biscuits.) Do not stir!</li>
<li>Once the biscuits are puffing and the broth is really bubbling well around them, it''s ready to serve. Be careful, those biscuits are HOT HOT HOT inside! Enjoy this hearty dish with your family!</li>
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I'd be interested in hearing what you did to change it up for your family's taste buds. I'm thinking that I might do a combo of white wine and chicken broth, with a dash or two of rosemary or dill added in with the liquids next time for a little added burst of flavor. There's just something about those flavors that really speaks "fall" to me.</div>
The Gang's Momma!http://www.blogger.com/profile/12478478224173323982noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5751435337498664060.post-17141233142122448782015-09-01T19:23:00.001-04:002015-09-01T20:15:08.105-04:00Why Break With Tradition?!<span style="text-align: justify;">It's time for the annual First Day of School post. And for the "</span><b style="text-align: justify;"><i><u><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eMZ_A1IP1yg">First Time In Forever</a></u></i></b><span style="text-align: justify;">," you all get the added treat of updated peeks at my gorgeous gang. I know, it's been a while since you've seen their faces 'round these parts o' the blogosphere!</span><br />
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<i><i>{You are more than welcome for THAT ear-worm... </i></i></div>
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<i><i>it's blasting in the kitchen right now and I succumbed. </i></i></div>
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<i>I am weak. I admit it. And now I'm laughing at you</i></div>
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<i>because you are hearing Ana in your head just like I am.}</i></div>
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Anyhoo.</div>
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Our "bonus daughter" had a VERY momentous First Day yesterday. She returned to us late Friday night from summer at home with her family in Beijing. She's still a bit jet-lagged and trying not to be anxious about all the SAT prep work she has ahead of her and layered on top of her Honors course load. In spite of it all, she made it to the bus on time and is officially a SENIOR!!!!!!</div>
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<span style="text-align: start;">Today, we sent our LadyBug back to the public school bright and early. For those not following me on F@cebook, she came home in January to do cyber-schooling after some health issues that made the public school pace and routine pretty hard to manage. It was a great season of refreshment and retreat for her and she is confident that she is ready to handle her JUNIOR year. Seriously, how did this sneak up on me like this?</span></div>
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Next to head out the door was Li'l Empress. This girly of ours was so ready for her new school year to start. She's super excited to be in the upstairs of her building - it's a milestone that all the rising third graders wildly anticipate in our little school community. Yes, I said it. THIRD. GRADE.</div>
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After Li'l Empress climbed happily on her bus, Mei Mei and I ran inside to finish getting ready for the morning. Then we were OFF to the elementary school for their annual Back To School Celebration. It's always so fun to meet the new teachers, say hi! to the old teachers, and catch up with friends after the long summer apart. I'm particularly thrilled that Li'l Empress is going to be with her sweet little buddy "S" again this year. She's a sweet friend and so very encouraging and kind to all her classmates. It goes a LOOOOONG way for my girl to have that security and confidence in her friendships.</div>
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As soon as Li'l Empress' class was escorted into the building to start the day, my little Mei Mei fell apart in a puddle of tears. She kept saying over and over, "I miss my sissen" and wiping her tears with her Beebee. She was a soggy mess by the time we got to the van. It was decided that a little pit stop at the local Chick-Fil-A was in order, to cheer our spirits and distract both of us from missing our Li'l Empress.</div>
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Then, suddenly, it was time. Yes, that's right, the day has arrived. Mei Mei began her first day of PRE-SCHOOL today. Oh, my heart. This girl was a STITCH to listen to once I told her it was time to get ready for her drive to school. Giggling to herself while I dressed her. Wiggling in her seat trying to eat lunch. Covering her mouth in "OH!'s" of anticipation and looking over my shoulder on the 5 minute drive to see if we were "dere yet?"</div>
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Until we walked into the building. Upon which time she started muttering under her breath, "I not want go pee-kool, Momma" over and over like some tribal chant. I exercised HERCULEAN effort to not crack up and to take her anxiety as seriously as she wanted me to, but man, it was hard. SUCH a HOOT.</div>
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Oh, and yes, Yes, that IS in fact the very same dress that <b><i><a href="http://whitneygang.blogspot.com/2010_09_01_archive.html">Li'l Empress wore on her very first day</a></i></b> of pre-school. I'm totally a sap like that and I am so excited that she chose it from the line-up. And that I'm still smarter than my kids most of the time to make her THINK she chose it. Yeah. I still got it, baby!</div>
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I hung out with her for about 20 minutes, chatting with the teachers and helping her feel comfortable. It was fun to point out to her all the things that Li'l Empress enjoyed when she was a student there. Once she was sufficiently distracted and feeling comfortable, I headed out and the teachers reported that she only cried for about five minutes. And I didn't cry at all. :)</div>
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It sure helped to have her little buddy in the classroom - he's the youngest son of the director from our adoption agency AND LadyBug babysat for him and his big brother all summer long. Here she is watching for his car to pull up to the drop-off door. Both his mom and I got the story later that they held hands when they walked together and that he is her new "bess fren." So cute!!!!!</div>
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When we headed back to pick her up at the end of the afternoon, her very first words to us were "I had SUPER! FUN! today! Mom!" She had all kinds of great stories to share and pretty much was wiped out and ready for bed by 6:30.</div>
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You might have noticed that BBE has no First Day pictures. That's because the poor kid got hit with a a nasty tummy bug that kept him up most of last night. Prayers that no one else gets it here would be so appreciated. We have BIG family plans for the holiday weekend and we've been looking forward to them for the whole summer long!</div>
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So there you have it. The Traditional First Day wrap up. Thanks for hanging in there for it all. Hopefully soon I will have something incredibly wise and deep and important to write about. Till then, all these cute pictures of my kids make me happy. And it's my blog, so that's all that really matters, right?<br />
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Hope your First Days were momentous and memorable too. Here's to a GREAT 2015~2016 school year!!!!!</div>
The Gang's Momma!http://www.blogger.com/profile/12478478224173323982noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5751435337498664060.post-6698520453572977622015-08-31T08:30:00.000-04:002015-09-01T18:08:18.944-04:00Summer Fun... {A wrap up and a recipe!}<div style="text-align: justify;">
We started and ended our summer with some pretty significant parties. There's not much this Momma loves more than a big celebration of friends and family. And we've had LOTS of fun entertaining this summer, now that the deck and pool area are finished and the landscaping is grown in. The grass is lush and we still, even months later, are raving to ourselves about how restful and refreshing it is in our backyard. We have our own mini-retreat center after years of battling weeds, ugly rocks, ground-boring bees, and drab, colorless aesthetics. I'm so proud of the hard work that The Boss and my blue-eyed boy put in together to create this haven for our friends and family. </div>
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Freshly washed and ready for the first big event back in May!</div>
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LadyBug had a Sweet 16 Bonfire and Night Swim party</div>
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on the Friday of Memorial Day weekend.</div>
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We "upped" the awesome factor by throwing</div>
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over 200 glow sticks into the pool once it was totally dark.</div>
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It was SO pretty!</div>
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BBE filled 11 hanging baskets with wave petunias in brilliant</div>
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red and purple for her party and for the second event,</div>
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my mom's 70th b'day celebration just two days later.</div>
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All these weeks later and the petunias are still hanging in there!!!!<br />
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<span style="text-align: justify;">So at the OTHER end of the summer fun was the Pool Party</span></div>
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<span style="text-align: justify;">we hosted for the local-to-us members of our <b><a href="http://livinghopeadoption.org/">adoption agency</a></b> community. </span></div>
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<span style="text-align: justify;">It was a great mix of old friends and new,</span></div>
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<span style="text-align: justify;">including some beloved staff members from the agency.</span></div>
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Everyone brought their own meat to grill for dinner plus a dessert or side dish to share. I'm telling you this because I made this amazing potato salad that MUST be shared before potato salad season officially winds down. I made it last week for a family event at my parents' house and it was such a hit that I had to try it again. Yes, I made it up. It's a tweak on The Boss's favorite Red Bliss Potato Salad but with a couple twists.</div>
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<b><i><span style="font-size: large;">Blue Cheese & Bacon Potato Salad</span></i></b></div>
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5 lbs red potatoes, washed and cut in bite-size pieces.<br />
Boiled in salted water till fork-tender</div>
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and then set aside to cool to room temperature.</div>
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Equal parts of blue cheese dressing and light mayonnaise.</div>
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For 5 lbs of potatoes that is about 1 cup of each.</div>
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I particularly like this brand of dressing as it's yogurt based </div>
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and so smooth without being too thick or rich for mixing.</div>
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**I am NOT being paid to endorse any of these brand name products.**</div>
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Oh, how I wish I were.</div>
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About 1 c. (give or take to preference) of crumbled bacon</div>
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1 medium Vidalia sweet onion, diced</div>
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1 (4-6 oz.) container of blue cheese crumbles</div>
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Parsley to mix in to taste AND parsley to garnish on the top.</div>
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Mix it all together very well, making sure that</div>
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the salad is a little thicker than you wish for it to be when</div>
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serving time actually comes. It will loosen up when refrigerated.</div>
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This is one of those salads that DEFINITELY tastes better</div>
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when it sits in the refrigerator overnight for the flavors to blend. </div>
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It pairs really well with any beef you might be grilling, </div>
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but it's also super yummy with Balsamic Vinaigrette Marinated Chicken!</div>
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Next up will be The Gang's annual "First Day of School" post. I can hardly believe summer is over and my gang is all heading off to school already. ESPECIALLY, <i>{gasp}</i> our little Mei Mei. She's heading off to the sweet little pre-school that Li'l Empress attended when she was 3 and 4. I'm under no illusions that this will be an easy transition for her but we've been talking it up big for the last three weeks and her tour of the building and intake assessment will hopefully still be in her memory banks as a positive experience.<br />
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One can hope, right? <i>Right?!</i> Sigh... I'm not even sure I believe that. But I'm telling myself that over and over, particularly when she melts down over me leaving her side to run to the grocery store or meeting a friend for lunch. EVERY time. Pray for us, ya'll. Just pray.</div>
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The Gang's Momma!http://www.blogger.com/profile/12478478224173323982noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5751435337498664060.post-89903681373779611012015-07-31T14:06:00.001-04:002015-08-31T19:27:18.128-04:00Here I Lay My Ebeneezer<br />
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I had a really cool experience today. The Boss and I took Mei Mei to our local Intermediate Unit location to have an Occupational Therapy assessment performed. Back in June, her speech therapist and I noticed some fine motor skills and a couple processing issues that have been lagging behind. Nothing is super alarming, but when these particular skills are taken in relation or proportion to the progress that she is continuing to make in the other areas of her development, it is worth checking out.</div>
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We are preparing to send her to pre-school in the fall and this time of year when her IEP is being renewed, we are especially mindful of all of the areas of development that need our continued attention. The new IEP and the results of this evaluation will also be super useful in determining exactly HOW much she has caught up in the areas that sometimes fly under the radar <i>(ya know, when one is the youngest of 6 kids in a very busy, active household.being made in other areas)</i> and how to get her moving forward in other skills.</div>
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The OT also gave us a sensory profile to complete while they worked together at a separate table. <i>(Have you ever filled one of those out?! Oh, man they are so cool. I was really getting into it, thinking about the answers for Mei Mei and then how I'd answer for Li'l Empress. Times like this make me feel like I ought to go back to school and get another degree!)</i> Anyhoo.... As I was reading the questions and ranging out the answers, I was also listening to Mei Mei interact with the evaluator and giggling at how our girl has grown in the two years since she's been home.</div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><i>Full interactive conversation.</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><i>{Almost} complete sentences.</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><i>{Almost} completely understandable to a stranger.</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><i>And big dashes of her own little {okay, who am I kidding, HUGE!}</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><i>personality thrown in just to keep the evaluator on her toes.</i></b></span></div>
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It was pure delight to observe and think on for those moments. I know I'm biased, but the evaluator commented several times about "how much fun" this kid is. Make no mistake, she had to be brought back to task quite a few times and reminded to use her polite kind words to express herself. But she really was so much fun to watch.</div>
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I sat there for a few seconds as it was wrapping up, just immersed in gratitude. I'm so thankful for the moments when God stops me in my hustle bustle to show me where we've been and where we are heading. It was so much MORE than the assessment of skills in that moment, it almost felt "holy" - like my very own <b>"</b><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/resources/dictionaries/dict_meaning.php?source=3&wid=S7820" style="font-weight: bold;">Ebenezer.</a><b>"</b></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>1 Samuel 7:12 (NIV)</b></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>“Then Samuel took a stone and set
it up</b></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>between Mizpah and Shen. He named it Ebenezer, </b></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>saying, “Thus far the Lord has
helped us.”</b></span></i></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">"Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing"</span></i></b></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">by Robert Robinson, 1757</span></i></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; text-align: start;">Come, Thou Fount of every blessing,</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; text-align: start;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; text-align: start;">Tune my heart to sing Thy grace;</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; text-align: start;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; text-align: start;">Streams of mercy, never ceasing,</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; text-align: start;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; text-align: start;">Call for songs of loudest praise.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; text-align: start;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; text-align: start;">Teach me some melodious sonnet,</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; text-align: start;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; text-align: start;">Sung by flaming tongues above.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; text-align: start;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; text-align: start;">Praise the mount! I'm fixed upon it,</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; text-align: start;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; text-align: start;">Mount of Thy redeeming love.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; text-align: start;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; text-align: start;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; text-align: start;">Sorrowing I shall be in spirit,</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; text-align: start;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; text-align: start;">Till released from flesh and sin,</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; text-align: start;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; text-align: start;">Yet from what I do inherit,</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; text-align: start;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; text-align: start;">Here Thy praises I'll begin;</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; text-align: start;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; text-align: start;">Here I raise my Ebenezer;</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; text-align: start;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; text-align: start;">Here by Thy great help I've come;</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; text-align: start;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; text-align: start;">And I hope, by Thy good pleasure,</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; text-align: start;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; text-align: start;">Safely to arrive at home.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; text-align: start;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; text-align: start;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; text-align: start;">Jesus sought me when a stranger,</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; text-align: start;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; text-align: start;">Wandering from the fold of God;</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; text-align: start;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; text-align: start;">He, to rescue me from danger,</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; text-align: start;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; text-align: start;">Interposed His precious blood;</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; text-align: start;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; text-align: start;">How His kindness yet pursues me</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; text-align: start;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; text-align: start;">Mortal tongue can never tell,</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; text-align: start;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; text-align: start;">Clothed in flesh, till death shall loose me</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; text-align: start;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; text-align: start;">I cannot proclaim it well.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; text-align: start;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; text-align: start;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; text-align: start;">O to grace how great a debtor</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; text-align: start;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; text-align: start;">Daily I'm constrained to be!</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; text-align: start;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; text-align: start;">Let Thy goodness, like a fetter,</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; text-align: start;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; text-align: start;">Bind my wandering heart to Thee.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; text-align: start;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; text-align: start;">Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it,</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; text-align: start;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; text-align: start;">Prone to leave the God I love;</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; text-align: start;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; text-align: start;">Here's my heart, O take and seal it,</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; text-align: start;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; text-align: start;">Seal it for Thy courts above.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; text-align: start;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; text-align: start;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; text-align: start;">O that day when freed from sinning,</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; text-align: start;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; text-align: start;">I shall see Thy lovely face;</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; text-align: start;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; text-align: start;">Clothed then in blood washed linen</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; text-align: start;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; text-align: start;">How I'll sing Thy sovereign grace;</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; text-align: start;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; text-align: start;">Come, my Lord, no longer tarry,</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; text-align: start;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; text-align: start;">Take my ransomed soul away;</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; text-align: start;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; text-align: start;">Send thine angels now to carry</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; text-align: start;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; text-align: start;">Me to realms of endless day.</span></span></div>
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<o:p></o:p>The Gang's Momma!http://www.blogger.com/profile/12478478224173323982noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5751435337498664060.post-43293179720334540452015-07-08T12:14:00.003-04:002015-07-27T15:10:39.874-04:00Revving High<div style="text-align: justify;">
Driving home from the dermatologist the other day, I was choosing winding country roads to avoid the summer construction on the main thoroughfares. About 5 minutes into my meandering way, I found myself behind a candy-apple red new Porsche Boxster. It was stunning. Sleek. Shiny. And oh! so! RED! It was GORGEOUS. Really, just drool-worthy even for a non-car girl like myself.</div>
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As we were driving, I noticed that the sedan in front of the Porsche was holding very tightly to the 35 mph posted limits. Driving sedately and carefully around all the curves and over the hills. I also noticed that the Porsche was revving pretty high. At the intersections, the driver was gunning it while he waited for the sedan to move through the stop signs.</div>
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I found myself empathizing with the Porsche and its driver. It's an obviously high-performance machine, built for speed and power and finesse. The driver was being responsible and choosing to obey the laws of the road. He could have easily pulled out and whipped past that bland, tan sedan with a burst of power that would leave us both in his dust. But he chose to hold the course and rein in what is obviously incredible <i>(and untapped)</i> horsepower. I could almost feel their combined frustration and restraint in my staid Mom-mobile behind him.</div>
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In that moment of empathizing with an inanimate object and a total stranger, I think I heard the Lord suggest to me that this must be exactly how Mei Mei feels most days in our life together. I almost laughed out loud at the analogy but the more I've thought about it, the more I realize it to be true. She's by far and away the highest horsepower of the 6 of my Gang members. She's revving on high all! the! time! Except when she's asleep. She is exuberant! She is excited! She is high highs and low lows! Reining her in is hard work. Teaching her to follow the rules of the road brings me to my knees, figuratively and literally, more times than I ever remember with even my "high revving" soldier boy. Frankly, for this "older" momma, that is sometimes exhausting! It's kind of hard to be that honest about it but for those of you who are blessed to know Mei Mei in person, you know exactly what I'm talking about and are likely nodding your head with a big ole smirk right now.</div>
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This analogy that the Lord dropped in my heart gave me a fresh dose of compassion for my girl that sometimes is sorely lacking. Frankly, it's embarrassing to admit that, too - my compassion is far too often flagging when it comes to the all-consuming task that parenting her can be. I struggle sometimes with how BIG! this girl makes everything to be. It's inconvenient to "go there" with her in her great! big! feelings and great! big! expressions. It sometimes gets in my way, thwarts my agenda, pushes my plans to the side. See? Embarrassing character flaw, for sure. In the wake of that reminder, I've been counting it as God's graciousness in showing me this word picture, complete with the sounds of revving engines in a quiet countryside,</div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; text-align: start;"><i>Romans 2:4 "Don’t you realize how patient he is being with you? Or don’t you care? Can’t you see that he has been waiting all this time without punishing you, to give you time to turn from your sin? His kindness is meant to lead you to repentance." ~ from The Living Bible</i></span></blockquote>
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And though it's a few days late, I can't leave the post without celebrating Mei Mei's birthday. She's an astounding FOUR YEARS OLD now. As tired as I find myself to be at the end of every day, her spunky, <i>(mostly)</i> joyful, and exuberant spirit is a gift to our family than cannot be measured. She is funny, sassy, mischievous, and ALL! IN! with whatever she does. We are so thankful, and yes, humbled, at the privilege of parenting her. Even on the days that the big! feelings! are great big cranky feelings. I cannot imagine our home without her and I'm grateful that the Lord sustains me with encouragement for the task. Especially when it comes in the shape of a gorgeous red Porsche.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-d5J0FCc6Hos/VZ1JSGMzBnI/AAAAAAAAE00/J8WjDwYsiKQ/s1600/IMG_9638.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-d5J0FCc6Hos/VZ1JSGMzBnI/AAAAAAAAE00/J8WjDwYsiKQ/s400/IMG_9638.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><i><b>Happiest of Happy Birthdays to Our Mei Mei!</b></i></span></td></tr>
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<br />The Gang's Momma!http://www.blogger.com/profile/12478478224173323982noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5751435337498664060.post-24040872126181696212015-04-20T09:11:00.000-04:002015-04-30T12:24:20.560-04:00My Letter to The Children's Place<div class="tr_bq">
I can't believe that this is what is bringing me back to ye olde blogosphere, but here it is, warts and all.</div>
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Thank you for taking the time to consider feedback from your customers. I am a long term shopper of The Children's Place, having found your products when my oldest son <i>(now 20)</i> was only about 2 years old. For the most part, I've been very satisfied with the quality and the variety of offerings you carry for children. I'm not at all happy that the <i>(local to me)</i> store has closed but I'm making due on that angle. I'm writing to you today because I was so disappointed by my experience when shopping the piles of graphic tees for young girls at your <i>(alternative to the local to me)</i> location.</blockquote>
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All the tees that have little girl faces on them were very Caucasian-looking girls <i>(wide eyes, long flowy hair, typical "white girl" features, etc.)</i>. There were NO "girls of color" featured on any of the tees stacked in the displays at all. I fully realize that this might be true of just this season's offerings, as in the past I've been happy to find one tee or so every couple seasons. But yesterday was the final straw for me - I have to speak up. I find this lack of diversity in your product lines very alarming in this day and age.</blockquote>
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When I inquired to an employee who was working the floor, she encouraged me to speak up. She and her fellow employees <i>(who were lovely and very friendly and helpful. AND were beautiful African American ladies who shop there also!)</i> stated that they too had noticed the lack of diversity. As a mom to two gorgeous Chinese daughters, I feel that the products I buy for my children should be representative of the vast differences that exist in our culture, that we should be applauding the differences by showing beauties that are far more representative of the many families who shop at stores like The Children's Place. As I stood in that store observing the clientele, I noticed many families of varying ethnicities. I heard mommas speaking Spanish, Korean, and English. It was a truly diverse crowd in there trying to find great bargains and outfit their kiddoes for spring. The products on your shelves and racks need to do a much better job of addressing those demographics!</blockquote>
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Moving forward, I hope that you will please consider a more wide-angled approach that will honor the diversity and the beauty of ALL of your customers! Again, thank you for hearing me out and allowing a venue for customers to share this sort of feedback.</blockquote>
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Sincerely,<br />
The Gang's Momma</blockquote>
The Gang's Momma!http://www.blogger.com/profile/12478478224173323982noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5751435337498664060.post-25971574761941846492015-02-02T15:05:00.001-05:002015-02-02T15:05:21.832-05:00DIY: Family Photo Wall<div style="text-align: justify;">
Last year, shortly after the holidays, I spied a cute re-vamp of a family's photo collection and tucked the idea away in my mind for future reference. Then in June, when The Boss lost his job and we had lots of projects lined up that were free or really inexpensive to fill some of his time, I pulled out the idea again from the recesses of my brain and got him going on it while I was using the days to sort through end-of-the-year school papers for each kid. He took a ton of frames from storage and various spots all over the house and spray-painted them all a high gloss black. This part of the project was totally free, as we had the paint <i>(we always have glossy black spray paint, it's a staple!)</i> and the frames were mostly sitting in storage unused and dusty. They turned out beautifully and it was a quick and easy way to create a unifying theme for the big project I had brewing in my head. I started a file folder of all of our most current favorite pictures of the Gang and started printing and tucking away other things I wanted to round out the project.<br /><br />However July got really busy with some other pressing projects and then so many other issues took over <i>(many of which I'll share in my coming series of gang member updates)</i>. Finally, during Christmas break, when The Boss was working from home and the bigger kids were free to watch the two little girls, he and I dug in and finished the project. Here's a peek, with a progression of the two days' worth of work.</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-B2MUEG2RxWY/VM_QB-Q_DXI/AAAAAAAAExw/e8F_io9uB0Q/s1600/001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-B2MUEG2RxWY/VM_QB-Q_DXI/AAAAAAAAExw/e8F_io9uB0Q/s1600/001.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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This is how the big wall started out. I loved the simplicity of that large twig wreath over the couch but other members of the Gang made fun of it regularly. I moved it to the front living room and the proportions there are much better for the new space but some gang members still mock it. Sigh.</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WdMtA2Rg5Xc/VM_Qbl5I5ZI/AAAAAAAAEyY/e2SyojYtSw4/s1600/For%2BCanvas%2BPrint.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WdMtA2Rg5Xc/VM_Qbl5I5ZI/AAAAAAAAEyY/e2SyojYtSw4/s1600/For%2BCanvas%2BPrint.jpg" height="267" width="400" /></a></div>
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I had this family photo from November 2013 put on a large canvas, thanks to a great coupon code from my sister to <b><i><a href="http://www.easycanvasprints.com/">Easy Canvas Prints</a></i></b>. It was a new idea to me, though I'd seen others do it and I'm really pleased with the way it turned out. I am thinking of other projects now that I can do to update and freshen our walls around here!</div>
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This was the starting point, using our family photo as the anchor. We had previously placed all our favorite pictures into the newly sprayed black frames and tried really hard to get a good mix of shapes and sizes and orientations of the pictures. To give us a better perspective of what the final product would be, we laid the pictures out on the floor in front of the couch, arranging and re-arranging with help from LadyBug, who has an incredibly artistic eye. Her suggestions and tweaks were almost always "spot on!"</div>
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We just built on the anchor line and filled in with a combination of posed and candid shots. We also included some of our favorite artwork from our different trips to China that have meaning for us. But something was not quite right. It just felt, even with the couple pieces that we were still fitting into frames, that something was off-balance.</div>
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Baby BlueEyes came in from playing with the little girls and agreed that something was "missing." Right away, he said, "Hey, what about the 'Our Family' quote you have up in the dining room? That's black and white and it's a perfect size for the big empty space you can't quite fill."</div>
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Well, what do you know? He was right! It's a perfect fit for the space! Apparently, HE has a great eye for aesthetics as well. I'm still impressed by his suggestion!</div>
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Later that day, I headed down to our local crafting store and found the script-style letter "W" to add to the top of the arrangement. And there you have it! Our Family Photo Wall is done. Well, almost done. I've got about three or four other pictures I want to print and add. I'll just move the picture of my handsome soldier boy up a little bit. But that's the beauty of this arrangement. We have a good amount of wall space still to work with AND we have things placed in a way that I know exactly what I can add and where.</div>
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I got so excited by all the work we finished that day that I took some extra time that weekend to find frames for all our updated cousin and extended friend & family pictures, too. I love having all the people we love best in pictures where the kids can see them and stay connected that way. Some of the annual Christmas cards we got were just stunning and lent themselves well to framing, too. There's a really inexpensive idea for you - at no extra charge! Take those Sh#tterfly cards of your sister's kids or your best friend's family and frame them! Youarewelcomeverymuch :)</div>
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I'm so pleased with the project and the whole thing cost us less than $100, canvas, mats and lettering included. Even when I go and print the three or four pictures I am working on, this will still come in under a hundred dollars. SO exciting to have current pictures of our gang - I seriously still find myself looking at the wall and sighing in happiness.</div>
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<br />The Gang's Momma!http://www.blogger.com/profile/12478478224173323982noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5751435337498664060.post-1272892444088725942014-10-03T08:08:00.000-04:002014-10-07T09:49:36.356-04:00DIY {Card Catalog Upcycle}<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<span style="text-align: start;">At the end of August, I was out walking in our neighborhood with LadyBug and came across this gem sitting at the end of a drive-way, waiting for the trash service to come by. I hustled back to the house and asked The Boss to heft it home. I had a PLAN!</span></div>
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That afternoon, I posted a picture on my F@ceb00k wall and started a guessing game with my friends to see who might be able to "see" what it could become like I was seeing it in my head. I guess I drove a couple friends crazy - I even got some private messages IMPLORING me to spill the beans to them! What fun my friends are!!!<br />
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The Boss had some sanding and glue-ing to do, as the laminate on the top and back were a little water-damaged. But in short order, he finished that step and turned it over to Baby BlueEyes to remove all the hardware and clean out the drawers. Like how he saved the tedious part for the kid?! Ha!!!</div>
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We had some dark primer in the basement. There was some skepticism about whether it was still good because we are pretty sure it was from painting our kitchen beadboard, back in 2010. It went on smoothly enough so I think we're good. All those little drawers standing up with their new primer remind me of little soldiers for some reason.</div>
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After The Boss did a TON of reading about creating a faux vintage look, he started by painting a base coat of the milk-chocolatey brown that we used in our dining room back in 2009. Are you sensing the theme here? Yup. Upcycling on the cheap, using what we have on hand as much as possible. That's the goal!</div>
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The next coat was a thinned-out glaze of black with plenty of brush-strokes left to create a washed, worn kind of finish. This part is always hard for The Boss. He's such a perfectionist and the uneven, randomness of this look really stresses him out. NOT enough to hand the paintbrush over to me, but enough to make him doubt himself and second-guess my vision <i>(that he already, admittedly, struggles to see the way I see it)</i>. </div>
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<span style="text-align: center;">I am, oddly, NOT a perfectionist in these kinds of projects. I have a general ballpark in which I want the look to fall but if it's close, it's okay with me. I like the lack of symmetry and the quirks of hand-finished work. It is definitely NOT how I operate in most other areas of my life. Which might add to his stress, now that I think about it. </span></div>
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Once a couple coats of a polyurethane were applied to seal and protect it from the wear and tear of all our big and little Gang members, it was ready for some after-market add-ons. The Boss spent almost an hour at L0we's the other day, texting pics of various leg styles and lengths to me. We settled on these and he spent his day off <i>(from his part-time job at T@rg3t)</i> finishing the legs to match the cabinet. Pretty impressive work, if you ask me!</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tp18IjM2YHE/VC3dZccSqpI/AAAAAAAAEuc/UE6L9j4uHIw/s1600/Making%2Bthe%2BLegs%2BMatch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tp18IjM2YHE/VC3dZccSqpI/AAAAAAAAEuc/UE6L9j4uHIw/s1600/Making%2Bthe%2BLegs%2BMatch.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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He brought it in to the house and added the legs while Mei Mei looked on. Her first response when she saw it standing up was, "Oooooh, WOW!" My thoughts exactly, sweet girl! Look at how perfectly those legs blend in color, shape and size! And being the detail-nerd that I am, I'm also excited about how closely the knobs of the table match the turn-work on the legs. I know, NO ONE would notice that. But I do. And I love it!</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UNqjzf_4SN8/VC3dZFmRw4I/AAAAAAAAEuU/eYFMCZga6Ug/s1600/Legs%2BOn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UNqjzf_4SN8/VC3dZFmRw4I/AAAAAAAAEuU/eYFMCZga6Ug/s1600/Legs%2BOn.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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What's even more perfect than the spot-on match is that the legs and the hardware to attach them are THE ONLY expenses we incurred to finish this project. I love me some cheap upcycling!!!!</div>
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The Boss and Mei Mei sat down and put all the brass hardware back into each drawer. And re-tacked each card-plate in the original holes. Well, to be more accurate, Mei Mei cheered daddy on and sang songs from Frozen while Daddy worked the hardware. Heh. </div>
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The excitement was growing - I started cleaning the spot I planned to put it. Oh, man. There was a lot of dust back there... I think someone needs a re-definition of the chore card labelled "Dust Downstairs." Harumph...</div>
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Finally, it is DONE and in its new home. I could NOT possibly love it more. Really. It's so much better than I pictured it. It's absolutely my new favorite piece in the whole house.</div>
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The Gang's Momma!http://www.blogger.com/profile/12478478224173323982noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5751435337498664060.post-82234497650257287772014-09-15T17:10:00.001-04:002014-09-15T17:33:21.160-04:00Family Day {6}<div style="text-align: center;">
Six years ago today, in a dusty hot Civil Affairs office in Xi'an,</div>
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a beautiful squalling baby girl was handed to me.</div>
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<span style="text-align: start;">Six years ago, my arms finally got to embrace</span></div>
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<span style="text-align: start;">what my heart had been holding for months.</span></div>
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<span style="text-align: start;">YEARS, if you really know my story.</span></div>
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Six years ago, this lovely, spunky, sensitive, little firecracker</div>
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changed me forever as only the gift of life can change.</div>
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I'm so grateful for the gift she is to our home. To our family, immediate and extended. I love the way her little mind works, always thinking, always processing. She's intuitive and inquisitive. She's loving and expansive. She's a treasure and it's such an honor to parent her.<br />
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It's a beautiful day for our family to look back and remember. It's even more exciting to hug her tight and revel in the forever that stretches ahead of us. We are blessed. Beyond measure, we are blessed.</div>
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The Gang's Momma!http://www.blogger.com/profile/12478478224173323982noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5751435337498664060.post-47490201884416558192014-09-03T08:27:00.000-04:002014-09-03T08:27:00.464-04:00"Uh Uh"<div style="text-align: justify;">
As Mei Mei gets increasingly more verbal, you know, with actual discernible words and phrases, we are regularly amused by the things that come out of her mouth. One of my favorite things lately has been her non-word communication. By that, I mean her little "Hmmmm?" when she hasn't heard us clearly the first time. Or the "Uh HUH!" when she whole-heartedly agrees with a suggestion. Or the humming she does to her babies when she's talking to them and putting them down for their naps.</div>
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Well, yesterday, she pulled a new one out of her bag o' tricks.</div>
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She spent most of the morning happily playing between The Boss's phone, the iPad, her baby dolls, and the table coloring or "typing" like Mommy. Around 11:30, I noticed that she looked pretty tired so I put lunch on a fast track. I treated her to "chippies" on her plate <i>(potato chips)</i> but reminded her that she had to sit in one of her two booster seats for her meal while I worked on the school calendar. Neither of those options suited her AT! ALL! so she put herself in the corner and boo hoo'd for about 5 minutes. I repeated her choices to her and proceeded on with my work, just quietly and gently reminding her after about 10 more minutes that she had chippies on her plate and she was free to eat them when she made a choice about the two seats. The pull of the salty, crunchy, yumminess finally won; she climbed into her booster seat with a big, aggravated sigh to let me know she was totally put out with me.</div>
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I watched over her plate, reminding her to eat the hot dog and the chippies equally. When the chippies were finished FAR sooner than the hot dog, or the carrots for that matter, I told her that there would be no more chippies until some bites of the dog or carrots were finished. She quickly shook her head and said, "Uh Uh" in strong disagreement with my instructions. I calmly repeated my directive and walked over to the sink. She kept repeating "Uh Uh" through her copious tears and shaking her head in between trying to lick the salt off her fingers and her plate.</div>
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When it finally appeared that she just could not shake her despair, that exhaustion had taken over all sense of logic, I calmly cleaned her up and changed her diaper. All the while, she was frantically shaking her head and telling me "Uh Uh" over and over. I was trying hard not to laugh at how CLEARLY and ridiculously her tired little self was behaving. That would only serve to escalate her needlessly.</div>
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I carried her up the stairs and rocked her quietly in the chair, praying for her and NOT singing. See, when I started to sing <i>(as per our normal pre-nap snuggle routine)</i>, she started with the "Uh Uh" again. I was fine with that, so I rocked silently.</div>
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But every few seconds, with lids drooping heavier by the second, she'd get out a sleepy little "Uh Uh." Each one more slowly drawn out than the last. Until there was barely a whisper of one last "Uh." </div>
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That is, until I laid her down in her bed. Upon which she burst out one final "Uh Uh" more vehement than them all.</div>
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I am so proud of myself. I held the laughter in till I made it to the hallway and shut her door.</div>
The Gang's Momma!http://www.blogger.com/profile/12478478224173323982noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5751435337498664060.post-55523896948300021772014-09-02T09:41:00.000-04:002014-09-02T10:12:01.087-04:00First Day of School!!<div style="text-align: justify;">
There's been a LOT of firsts for this Gang this summer. And today marks what we hope is the last of the firsts for a little while. It will be nice to settle in to a familiar routine for all of us, but particularly for Li'l Empress and Mei Mei who seem to be having the hardest time (not surprisingly) with all the new stuff going on in our lives.</div>
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Last night, Shaggy and Miss A showed up to wish the Gang well on their respective first days. And to meet the newest member of our Gang. Yes, we have a new Gang member. We are welcoming a Chinese exchange student into our home. She came by last night with her parents to meet us and drop off some of her belongings. She moves in today with the rest of her stuff. She's a junior at the local Christian high school and we are all excited about what this relationship will hold for our families. Please pray with us for her transition. It's her first time in an American school, living with an American family, and a big one at that. We want this to be a great positive experience for us all! I'll share more about her as we get her settled, after I ask her permission to do so.</div>
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Without further ado, here's all the Gang that headed out the door. ALL three of them by 8 a.m. I might add. Sheesh, that feels really stinkin' early, for all of us!</div>
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Today is LadyBug's first day of HIGH SCHOOL!</div>
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Yes, my baby girl is a 10th grader.</div>
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She was very nervous about the HUGE building</div>
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she has to navigate but super excited to see all her</div>
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BFF's again. I'm so glad she has so many friends</div>
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who will muddle through it with her.</div>
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Baby BlueEyes starts middle school today.</div>
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I am positive he's going to shock his friends</div>
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with how much he's grown over the last three months.</div>
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He wasn't nervous at all that I could tell.</div>
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I love his confidence!</div>
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He was, however, very sad about saying good-bye to these two munchkins.</div>
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He kept telling them how much he'd miss them today.</div>
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I got a little choked up. He's such a great big brother!</div>
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Li'l Empress has been worrying and nervous for three days</div>
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about going to school without her big brother.</div>
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She did great all morning long, even saying good-bye to him</div>
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without tears. Until the bus pulled up.</div>
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There's no picture of her waving as she climbed up</div>
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because I was peeling her off of me and strongly</div>
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encouraging her that she would be safe</div>
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with the new driver on the new bus without her brother there.</div>
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By the time I met her over at the school for their Welcome Back</div>
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festival, she was working on her smile and feeling more settled.</div>
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This part of the "first day" is familiar to her now so she was able</div>
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to enjoy the hugs from friends that she hadn't seen all summer long.</div>
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Her teacher is new to us as a family but has been at their school</div>
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for a very long time. And every report I've heard has been a positive one.</div>
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We are excited to have her on our "team" for Li'l Empress's journey this year!</div>
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And thank you, Jesus, for this precious friend.</div>
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This is her little BFF from church and though they aren't</div>
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in the same class this year, she's absolutely still a gift from God</div>
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for our Li'l Empress. SUCH an encourager - seriously, it chokes me up</div>
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how sweet and compassionate she is.</div>
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When they were heading into the building in their separate lines,</div>
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"Little Miss I" gave Li'l Empress a "thumbs up" and</div>
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shouted, "Good luck today!"</div>
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How cute is that?</div>
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So now The Boss and I are hanging out with Mei Mei and trying to decide what to tackle first. No surprise, after our long holiday weekend with friends, I've got lots of daily tasks on which I should catch up. And tons of pool towels to wash and fold. Hopefully that will keep my mind busy so I don't think about how ridiculously short this summer felt. And how crazy quiet it is in this house right now.</div>
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Share your first day links in the comments. With my slower paced day (cuz gosh, when's the last time I only had one kid to take care of?!) I'll come by and say hi!</div>
The Gang's Momma!http://www.blogger.com/profile/12478478224173323982noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5751435337498664060.post-60592459013819385962014-08-27T08:14:00.000-04:002014-08-28T07:35:04.544-04:00"Muffins For Dinner?! YAY!"<div style="text-align: justify;">
I have so much to share about the goings' on of the last three weeks - but until I gather the pictures and the words to share the new stuff, here's a great idea for a yummy Summer dinner I made for The Gang.</div>
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Fair warning, I tweaked this from <a href="http://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/cheddar-zucchini-wedges">another recipe</a> so it's not entirely original to me. I had four big zucchinis in the fridge that were graciously shared with me and one of them needed to be used immediately. So I washed it down, cut off the mushy ends, and slice it length-wise into four "spears." Then I de-seeded it and ran each spear through the food processor using the grating blade. A 14" long zucchini yielded about 3 1/2 cups of shredded zucchini.</div>
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<b><i><span style="font-size: large;">Ham and Cheese Crust-less Zucchini Quiche</span></i></b></div>
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1 large, chopped onion<br />
1/4 c. butter<br />
2 cloves garlic, pressed<br />
4-1/2 c. baking mix (Bisquick)<br />
2 tsp. dried parsley<br />
1 tsp. dried basil<br />
1/2 tsp. dried thyme<br />
6 eggs<br />
1/2 c. milk<br />
3 c. shredded zucchini<br />
1-2 c. chopped ham, to preference<br />
3/4 c. sharp cheddar cheese, shredded<br />
1/2 c. parmesan, shredded (optional)<br />
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In large skillet, saute the onion and garlic in butter till soft and slightly golden. Add shredded zuke and continue to saute on lowered heat till the zuke has softened and is starting to release its juices. Set aside to cool slightly.<br />
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In large bowl, combine parsley, baking mix, parsley, basil, and thyme. Beat together the eggs and the milk and pour over dry ingredients. Lightly mix till just moistened. Add the zuke, ham, and cheese and finish mixing gently till all of it is incorporated. Don't over mix!<br />
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Pour into 2 generously sprayed deep dish pie plates, or 2 9x13's, or a deep 11x14. Bake at 400 for about 18-22 minutes until they are golden brown and have raised gently. They will be moist and dense inside but a knife inserted in the center should come out clean to be sure they are done.<br />
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This time around, I poured it all into 22 sprayed muffin cups. <i>(Yes, I was just shy of the full 2 dozen but I liked that they were nice and high and full when they were done. It's a trade-off, I guess!) </i>I used my Pampered Chef muffin stones and they turned out moist and lightly golden all around. Li'l Empress thought I was kidding when I told her we were having muffins for dinner and Mei Mei shocked me into tomorrow by downing 1 1/2 of them. She - of the great veggie boycott! We let them dip the bites into their choice of mustard and served it all with a side of salad and broccoli.
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It's another healthy way to get some good veggies into your kids and they really are delicious. I've got two really big ones zucchinis left and I'm getting a hankering for <b><i><a href="http://whitneygang.blogspot.com/2010/08/summers-bounty.html">my other Summer Favorite</a></i></b>. Anyone else have a good zucchini recipe - other than zucchini bread! - that they want to share? Share some of your favorites in the comments!</div>
The Gang's Momma!http://www.blogger.com/profile/12478478224173323982noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5751435337498664060.post-14632650836821324882014-08-06T09:13:00.000-04:002014-08-06T13:18:21.672-04:00Field Trip to the Frontier<div style="text-align: justify;">
Last week, we took a few days to drive to the Shenandoah River Valley to see The Boss's parents. The Boss and Baby BlueEyes were planning to help Grandpa clear some brush and cut some trees into firewood. The girls and I had big plans to read, watch movies and do our nails.</div>
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However, knowing that those three sedentary activities would NEVER occupy Mei Mei long enough to actually be relaxing for anyone, I reached out to one of my adoption groups to see if any of my on-line friends would be interested in a meet-up. It took a little back and forth but finally, my friend and I settled on the <b><i><a href="http://www.frontiermuseum.org/">Frontier Culture Museum of VA</a></i></b>. I'm not being paid to say this, but GUYS! If you are ever in the vicinity of Staunton VA <i>(just south of Harrisonburg)</i>, get yourselves there for a day. It will take a full day and you should wear good walking shoes and bring a good amount of water. But it is SO worth the admission fee and the effort. What a BEAUTIFULLY maintained and managed piece of living history this place was.</div>
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The museum traces the history of the three or four main people groups that left their Old World to make a life in the Americas. Beginning in the 1600's with the enslavement of West Africans and moving through the English, the Irish, and the Germans, each exhibit is a real, working depiction of that slice of history. MANY of the structures across of the huge "campus" <i>(for lack of a better word)</i> are original to the region that they depict, having been disassembled and shipped to the site. There were interpretive historians on site to weave stories and give us a glimpse of daily life at each major exhibit <i>(except the West African site. That kid was a little bit of a dud. :) )</i>. There were animals roaming in the pastures and ducks and geese in the paths squawking for our attention <i>(which BBE happily gave. In spades! Oh my word.)</i> We were all completely captivated.</div>
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Here's just a few pictures of our great day. Sadly, I didn't get any pictures of the <b><i><a href="http://www.frontiermuseum.org/exhibits/1700s-west-africa/">West African exhibit</a></i></b>. It was super dark in the huts. Plus the younger kids were a little unsure of themselves in the new setting with new people. Plus plus, my new friend and I were talking our faces off getting to know each other while the kids explored. Most of the photo credits go to LadyBug.</div>
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The 1600's English farmhouse was the second exhibit on the walking path.</div>
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The dining room, work room and family room all in this one space.</div>
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This beautiful side board is an original piece.</div>
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From the 1600's!</div>
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Yes, I was drooling. It was full of lovely earthenware dishes</div>
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and cookware. More drool.</div>
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The kitchen was quite small and off the main living space, behind the stairs.</div>
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It was quite drab compared to the adjoining rooms.</div>
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The front of the 1700's Northern Irish farmhouse.</div>
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It's an original home structure, from Ulster.</div>
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The side building attached there on the right is the Weaving Room.</div>
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Each family had to produce a regular quota of cloth to pay their rent to the English landlords. </div>
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This sheep was fantastically large.</div>
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And sat in the shade of the pasture like a dog.</div>
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Here's my gang with our super-fun travel mates!</div>
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The 1700's German farmhouse had many pieces of lovely furniture</div>
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with hand painted finishes. Quite familiar to this PA history buff :)</div>
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<span style="text-align: center;">This trunk was huge and very intricately painted with</span></div>
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a faux wood grain finish, very typical of that era.</div>
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This is the 1820's farm that is mostly still the original structure.</div>
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It's typical of the farms in the post-Revolutionary era in this</div>
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part of Virginia and surrounding colonies.</div>
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Just a few of the HUUUUGE sunflowers</div>
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in the garden of the first farm house.</div>
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The gardens of this log cabin were fantastic!</div>
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This is a farm typical of Virginia in the 1850's .</div>
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It was a massive home, with several outbuildings</div>
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and barns to support the family. </div>
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The two little peanuts that are responsible for</div>
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this field trip so the Mommas could take the friendship</div>
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from on-line support to real-life relationship.</div>
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I love what the adoption community has added to our lives!</div>
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A great day was had by all and we came away with a lot of great memories and some wonderful insight into the rich history of Virginia spanning several hundred years. Really, if you are in the vicinity, you MUST go! And take lots of pictures. I'll bet it is simply breathtaking in the fall with all the colors changing.</div>
The Gang's Momma!http://www.blogger.com/profile/12478478224173323982noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5751435337498664060.post-47867294276562106202014-08-05T09:05:00.002-04:002014-08-05T14:29:55.952-04:00Recipe for Comfort<div style="text-align: justify;">
Last week turkey kielbasa was on a GREAT sale at my local grocery store. So I threw some cabbage in my cart and let my mouth water over the plans to make one of my all-time favorite comfort foods: Polish Haluski <i>(pronounced ha-loosh-kee)</i>. When I was growing up in North-East PA, this dish was on every single buffet line of all our church dinners and special events. There's a large Polish community in that part of Pennsylvania and lots of yummy recipes have made their way into this Irish-Italian cook's kitchen!<br />
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Traditional Haluski doesn't have kielbasa in it <i>(or really any meat for that matter)</i> but I love me a one-dish meal so I take liberties. It's been unseasonably cool here in our neck of the woods, and this dish was just perfect for Saturday's family dinner.</div>
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Here's the link to the recipe I used as a reference <b><i><a href="http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Haluski---Cabbage-and-Noodles/Detail.aspx?event8=1&prop24=SR_Thumb&e11=haluski&e8=Quick%20Search&event10=1&e7=Home%20Page&soid=sr_results_p1i4">(Haluski - Cabbage and Noodles)</a></i></b>, but really, it's a "cook by touch" meal for me. The recipe was just a refresher as it had been so long since I'd made a huge batch like I did on Saturday.</div>
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First, boil and drain a 16 oz. bag of extra-wide egg noodles. Toss them with a light sprinkling of olive oil to keep them from sticking. Pour the noodles into a deep casserole dish that has been generously sprayed to prevent sticking.</div>
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Thinly slice all the kielbasa <i>(or even smoked sausage)</i> that you are using for your meal and brown it up gently in a lightly sprayed, deep skillet. If you are using light kielbasa or turkey kielbasa, it's wise to add a bit of olive oil to the pan to prevent sticking or scorching. It also helps to generate some drippings and thus some depth of flavor. You can also use a touch of chicken broth if you prefer. When the meat is nicely browned and the bottom of the pan is darkened up, pour the slices and the drippings over the noodles and let them sit together for a while longer.</div>
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Then, add equal amounts of olive oil and butter back into to your deep skillet. Saute an onion that has been roughly chopped until the pieces are soft and translucent. Add several cloves of freshly pressed garlic. I tend to have a heavy hand with the garlic for this meal, but you do what tastes right for you. Generously salt and pepper the mixture as the garlic softens. While you are cooking the onions, be sure to get up all the dark bits of flavor that are clinging to the bottom of the pan from cooking the meat.</div>
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Add a head of cabbage that has been roughly chopped. My sister-in-law recently used bags of pre-shredded coleslaw mix and I think that is just BRILLIANT! A time-saver for sure if you don't mind the slight addition of expense.</div>
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Once all the cabbage is softened and beginning to turn a lovely golden color, it's time to put it all together. Pour the cabbage and onion mixture over the noodles and kielbasa. Be sure to get all the good flavor that is sticking to the pan, even if you have to go back to the stove and add a touch of new butter or olive oil to the empty pan to deglaze it a bit. That flavor and the added moisture is crucial to a great haluski!</div>
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Mix the whole kit and kaboodle together very well. If you are prepping it right at dinner time, then you can go ahead and serve it as soon as you mix it all up if you wish. Or, sprinkle it generously with black pepper and cover the whole casserole tightly. I sprayed the inside of my foil to prevent sticking. Bake the casserole for 30 minutes at 325, so that the flavors can all blend and absorb into the noodles.</div>
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I particularly like to make this meal early and utilize the "delay start" feature on my oven. The flavors and ingredients get to hang out all day together since nothing in it will spoil if left in the waiting oven. I set it and then forget it till dinner time!</div>
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I typically serve this meal with a big green salad and some hearty bread. Though, certainly the bread is not necessary with all those noodles.</div>
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One of the reasons I love this dish so much is that it is really easy to prepare and is made from very simple ingredients but it packs a major delish-factor-punch for everyone. Another reason, if I chop the cabbage small enough and take extra time to pull out the "ribs" of the outer leaves of the cabbage that tend to taste too strong for my littles, is that they are also getting some awesome nutrients that they don't normally choose on their own to take in. See, they all THINK they don't like cabbage. But this meal goes a long way toward proving their little theory wrong. {grin}</div>
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An added bonus to this particular Saturday night dinner is that my son's sweet girlfriend looooves ethnic dishes like this one. She's Latvian and grew up eating haluski and she really enjoyed sharing this dish with our family.</div>
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So tell me, what ethnic dishes or comfort food dishes are you looking forward to the most, as the summer winds down and your style of cooking changes with the weather? Leave me a comment or even a link and I'll come by to say hi!</div>
The Gang's Momma!http://www.blogger.com/profile/12478478224173323982noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5751435337498664060.post-31040854721034181422014-07-28T09:30:00.000-04:002014-07-28T09:30:00.502-04:00Different is Good, Right?<div style="text-align: justify;">
I mentioned last week that this summer both LadyBug and The Boss have some extra time on their hands. Unfortunately, The Boss's recent "extra time" is the sort that none of us ever really want to embrace. Due to a departmental re-organization, he has been on "summer vacation" with the kids and I since early June. It's been quite a strange summer. Most weeks feel like an endless string of Saturdays around here, as The Boss's presence at home during a week day tend to "take us all down a notch or two" as far as routine is concerned. There are definite plus's to that environment for The Gang, especially on the heels of the very difficult and high tension winter we all just survived. I'm trying to stay focused on the plus's but I have to admit, it's not easy most days.</div>
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Ironically, the Thursday before he was released from his position, we were sitting on the couch, catching our breath at the end of a fairly "routine" day. I said something to the effect of, "Gosh, I feel like we are really settling into a good new groove. Like our new normal is here and is do-able. It's kinda nice, isn't it?"</div>
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I'm not superstitious or anything even close but golly, you can bet I'm never uttering words like THAT again around here. Sheesh.</div>
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Anyway, as I was saying, there are some "upsides" to having Daddy home for the summer. We got the gift of extraordinary quality time together as a family before we sent our boy off to Basic Training. There's never going to be another opportunity to have all 8 of us home quite like this again, now that both boys are launching off into the next stage of their grown-up lives.</div>
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~ Father's Day, June 2014 ~</div>
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~ Time to leave for Basic Training ~</div>
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<span style="text-align: start;">Letting go of Dr. D <strike>was</strike> is really hard on both The Boss and I. But knowing that he was moving on to do something he has always dreamed of doing and seeing the excitement and joy in his eyes as he prepared to go really has made it easier. He was born to do this life he is pursuing and while we miss him terribly</span><i style="text-align: start;"> (like, "I hate seeing his empty bed, parked truck, and my empty couch" kind-of-terrible!)</i><span style="text-align: start;">, we are incredibly proud of the man he has become and the path he has chosen. More substantive letters would be nice, but hey, I know better than to expect a novel! :)</span></div>
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Oh, how I miss this afternoon sprawl!</div>
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The Boss was also able to finish the renovation of our deck in record time, since it didn't have to be squeezed in on weeknights and weekends only. We are so grateful that we had planned this project in advance - both because of the good timing for him to do it and the finances required to complete it. I'm tellin' ya, if you don't follow the Dave Ramsey plan for budgeting and managing your money, our gang is a PERFECT testimony of why you should! We don't do it perfectly but losing his income didn't not derail this project financially. And that's particularly awesome considering that we had demo'd the deck in early May when we had some help available to do so. Living without a deck and all that mess out there all summer would have been SUCH a huge and ugly problem for this pool lovin' gang.</div>
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Isn't it so inviting?</div>
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Come on by, the iced tea is cold and the pool is warm!</div>
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And of course, the "Honey Do" list has gotten a lot of attention since the deck was completed. Little niggling tasks that we have been meaning to "get around to," things that we have needed to repair, re-decorate, or refresh, and so on. Those smaller projects are all getting checked off the list as the days go on. He is a putter-er by nature so while he does miss the routine and structure of a work day <i>(eh, who am I kidding, he doesn't miss it yet),</i> he is really enjoying the time to do all this physical labor and spruce up the house and the yard.<br />
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Finally, I'm getting to tackle some projects that I've had on my mental To Do list for a long while now. I mean, Daddy is BETTER than a babysitter and he's free for afternoon swim parties. So I've tucked myself away a couple times to sort through mountains of school papers and projects from the last two school years. I purged my closet and dresser. I went through my jewelry box for the first time in probably 3 years. I even got to go through 4 bags of hand-me-downs within three days of receiving them - a record in this zoo lately! I've been sorting, streamlining, cleaning out, and yes, I'm back to writing. A slow and easy start, but I'm back.<br /><br />The extra bonus of the swim time with Daddy is that Mei Mei is really acclimating to the pool quite well and coming along in leaps and bounds in her ability to trust Daddy and the big sibs in the water. AND she has slept through the night pretty much every single night for more than 3 weeks now. All that sleep has drastically improved her day-time behavior (and mine). AND her language is just exploding recently. She lightens the mood around here daily with the new things she is learning to say and the mimicry she pulls out at the funniest moments! We can't get over what a difference we are seeing in her, now that her surgeries are over and her body has come to its resting place of her new normal. It's really quite remarkable and I know The Boss has enjoyed being here to see the daily little transformations that are yielding a happier more settled and peaceful little Mei Mei.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eTsSQOcwudY/U9GZ741hPiI/AAAAAAAAEmw/27f0zQEPaOI/s1600/IMG_8587.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eTsSQOcwudY/U9GZ741hPiI/AAAAAAAAEmw/27f0zQEPaOI/s1600/IMG_8587.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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Mei Mei turned THREE at the beginning of the summer.</div>
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Actually, the night before Dr. D left.<br />This is her cheesey smile on her new Kai Lan bike.</div>
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So. It's a different summer than we had imagined or planned for ourselves. And a very different kind of productivity than we had envisioned. But we're finding the new groove to it and I'm working on appreciating the time we have as a family as much as I can without worrying too much about the job leads and paychecks and insurance issues. THAT kind of worry messes with my momentum in serious ways. I'm finding it to be an hourly choice to alternatively focus my attention. It's not easy and while I do enjoy that he and I are getting these tasks done with unusual <i>(for us)</i> timing and focus, I do have to work to not camp in the worry-tent. I guess I can be thankful for that - it's keeping me sharp and on my spiritual knees at the very least.<br />
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It's different. I'm working to find the good in this kind of different.<br />
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The Gang's Momma!http://www.blogger.com/profile/12478478224173323982noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5751435337498664060.post-5193627482844946532014-07-25T13:23:00.000-04:002014-07-25T14:34:09.823-04:00The Art of Distraction<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
Li'l Empress very often struggles to express difficult or negative emotions with her words, resorting instead to copious amounts of tears, feelings of anxiety and rejection, and a bit of a "poor me" complex. We've been getting some great help and tools to equip her to grow in this area of her emotional development. And in the process, I have realized that some of my parenting tools are a tad stale. I also have discovered that I don't use "distraction" as a tool often enough. </div>
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Earlier this week, she had come to The Boss and I with a very minor offense and was on the cusp of turning it into a full-blown melt down in which she was being wronged in the very wrongest possible way, from which she would likely never, ever, ever recover. Ever.<br />
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Ummm. Yeah. Okay. Really?</div>
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<br />In a flash of brilliance that I can ONLY attribute to the grace of the LORD ALMIGHTY <i><span style="font-size: x-small;">(Cuz I was feeling far less than brilliant. Ya feel me?)</span></i> I asked The Boss to stop his job hunting for a moment and do an image search for the infamous <b><i><a href="http://www.grumpycats.com/">Grumpy Cat</a></i></b>. Just that quick change of focus and the resulting images was enough to completely overcome any offense she was nursing.<br />
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So I had her pick her favorite, grumpiest face. I explained that she spends too much of her day looking like that over the littlest stuff. That THAT face should be reserved for really big stuff. We went on to have a fairly hilarious discussion of what things warrant THAT face. And I had The Boss print her favorite picture of the crabby kitty.</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-x6zbc8hQYLw/U9E6CyND_xI/AAAAAAAAElM/Z1ZzL2T8ne8/s1600/IMG_8700.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-x6zbc8hQYLw/U9E6CyND_xI/AAAAAAAAElM/Z1ZzL2T8ne8/s1600/IMG_8700.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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Then I cut apart the pizza box from dinner.</div>
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(Don't judge. I ran errands and grocery shopped all afternoon.</div>
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You want that I should cook TOO?)</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hr3XRquy6aU/U9E6Ci9WaeI/AAAAAAAAElI/AdJNpElinoo/s1600/IMG_8701.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hr3XRquy6aU/U9E6Ci9WaeI/AAAAAAAAElI/AdJNpElinoo/s1600/IMG_8701.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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I pulled out the markers, the glue, and the scissors.</div>
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There was cutting, gluing, and affixing to an old paint stick.</div>
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Took me five minutes.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5xz1A1RV2OA/U9E6C8Q9QTI/AAAAAAAAElQ/rOvrbO6IdsY/s1600/IMG_8702.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5xz1A1RV2OA/U9E6C8Q9QTI/AAAAAAAAElQ/rOvrbO6IdsY/s1600/IMG_8702.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">credit: found on the <a href="http://img2-1.timeinc.net/people/i/2013/specials/year-end/best-worst/grumpy-cat-600x450.jpg">internet</a></td></tr>
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This side says, "A little LESS of THIS, PLEASE."</div>
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And this side says, "A little MORE of THIS, PLEASE."</div>
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I've used our new sign about four times in the last two days. She might have to work really hard to fight the smile that the feline provokes in her. But at least she's not fighting with her sister. Or fighting more tears. Oh, thankyoujesus.<br />
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So what funny or distracting parenting tool have you found to change the mood in your home? Fill me in here in the comments or write your own story of summer drama and creative interventions and share the link. I'll be sure to come by and learn from your flashes of brilliance, too!</div>
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<br />The Gang's Momma!http://www.blogger.com/profile/12478478224173323982noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5751435337498664060.post-27280136447051034812014-07-24T13:30:00.000-04:002014-07-24T14:18:27.216-04:00DIY: Shabby Chic Photo Gallery<div style="text-align: justify;">
LadyBug and I have been working <i><span style="font-size: x-small;">(albeit at a decrepit, arthritic snail's pace, I admit)</span></i> on some inexpensive re-do's in her room to update it and to reflect more of her love of all things vintage. Last fall, she and The Boss turned a solid white, kind of boring bookshelf into great multi-purpose storage for her room.</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6HzNIZz9nvs/U9Eq4_hgzxI/AAAAAAAAEjY/6zUhcp6WNRM/s1600/IMG_7785.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6HzNIZz9nvs/U9Eq4_hgzxI/AAAAAAAAEjY/6zUhcp6WNRM/s1600/IMG_7785.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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The first pass of sanding it down.</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Fam_e9M8Td4/U9EslHXEGVI/AAAAAAAAEjk/dja3M-6Lgmg/s1600/IMG_8741.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Fam_e9M8Td4/U9EslHXEGVI/AAAAAAAAEjk/dja3M-6Lgmg/s1600/IMG_8741.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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The finished product.</div>
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Pretty, functional and a loooong way toward finishing off her desired look. But we both knew we just weren't done yet. Curtains to replace her former little-girl-esque sheers are STILL not hung. Updated wall hangings have been added slowly over the last 8 months. Storage that is both <a href="http://whitneygang.blogspot.com/2013/07/diy-shabby-chic-storage.html" style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">pretty and functional</a><b style="font-style: italic;"> </b>had already been tackled last summer. I love watching her sense of style unfold and taking our time with this room is proving to be a great way to get to know her better.<br />
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There was a huge blank space on the wall above her bed that we just kept meaning to get to. Now that summer is here and both she and The Boss have some extra time on their hands, I put an idea out there for her to consider. She got on board really quickly and we got down to it. I had first seen a similar project using big huge French doors and black and white photos in a DIY design magazines and used the idea of it to inspire LadyBug's creativity after she and I saw something similar on <b><i><a href="http://eastcoastcreativeblog.com/knock-it-off-diys">our new favorite DIY show</a></i></b>.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-l-5z7NS0uw8/U9Ev6EgkUPI/AAAAAAAAEjw/nUe2ToaY7Do/s1600/IMG_8699.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-l-5z7NS0uw8/U9Ev6EgkUPI/AAAAAAAAEjw/nUe2ToaY7Do/s1600/IMG_8699.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i><a href="http://teamwilliegoestochina.blogspot.com/">My great friend</a></i> came through with FREE frames to get us going.</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rvFV3y3aNzg/U9Ev_eVmD6I/AAAAAAAAEkA/5ua9MiV5dOU/s1600/IMG_8712.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rvFV3y3aNzg/U9Ev_eVmD6I/AAAAAAAAEkA/5ua9MiV5dOU/s1600/IMG_8712.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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What a cutie pie!!!!</div>
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After The Boss safely removed all the glass and cleaned up the splinters,</div>
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LadyBug painted them both with a light coat of creamy off-white latex</div>
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that we already had in storage.</div>
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Then LadyBug sanded very strategically and sparingly</div>
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to achieve that vintage look she loves.</div>
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Shaggy's girlfriend came up for the afternoon</div>
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to join in the creative process.</div>
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Incidentally, <b><i><a href="http://akidablog.wordpress.com/">she has her own blog</a></i></b>. You should check it out!</div>
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Your tummy will thank me, I promise.</div>
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The girls flipped the dried and sanded frames over</div>
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and used a staple gun to attach chicken wire to the back.</div>
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Even BabyBlue Eyes got in on the action.</div>
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They used hammers to sink a few of the stubborn staples</div>
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and to nestle the ends of the wire more tightly against the frames.</div>
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These girls aren't just a pair of pretty faces, my friends!</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-L-asXYqrVrc/U9EwOoCmSeI/AAAAAAAAEko/MF2JICds5pw/s1600/IMG_8735.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-L-asXYqrVrc/U9EwOoCmSeI/AAAAAAAAEko/MF2JICds5pw/s1600/IMG_8735.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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The Boss hung the frames on the empty wall.</div>
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And LadyBug got busy with the clothespins</div>
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and cute pics of her BFF's that she's been saving for a while now.</div>
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Once she's home from her youth retreat, I'm pretty sure that space</div>
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will fill up fast with quotes, more pictures, and other momentos.</div>
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I can't wait!</div>
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I love the finished look.</div>
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It completes that space so perfectly</div>
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and is so complementary to the already-existing</div>
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cottage-y feel her room has.</div>
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BEST of all? This great project only cost us</div>
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LESS THAN $20 with materials to spare!!</div>
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Now if I could just figure out the curtain dilemma.<br />
But that's another post for another day, my friends.<br />
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SO. What crafty things are you doing this summer? I'd love to hear about it in the comments. Feel free to even leave a link and I'll come on by.</div>
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The Gang's Momma!http://www.blogger.com/profile/12478478224173323982noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5751435337498664060.post-90875140688758328762014-07-11T12:14:00.001-04:002014-07-16T08:46:51.149-04:00Good Bye Kitty<br />
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It's a super sad day for The Gang. Today, The Boss took our diva kitty girl, Maggie, to be put to sleep.</div>
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It's been a long hard road for her these last 10 months. She started having seizures back in September of last year. Each month they've gotten progressively more intense and more difficult from which to recover. Around January or so, she started losing control of her bladder with almost every seizure. And then in March or April, she started to have lingering temporary paralysis of her hindquarters after almost every one. By May we knew we were looking at having to make a pro-active decision about ending her life humanely. In addition to the sadness of the condition and the unsanitary nature of losing control of her faculties, we knew that the increase in frequency during day time hours likely meant she was having seizures at night and when we weren't around to witness them. That's no way for my girl to live.</div>
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This week, she had what seemed to be the "mother" of all seizures to date. It was terrifying for us all to watch. And we said, "enough."</div>
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But it made it NO easier to actually pack her up into her crate and send The Boss out the door to the local SPCA to carry out our joint decision. In fact, since Tuesday, she's been so "normal" and affectionate and interactive that we really were second-guessing ourselves right up until he walked out the door this morning.</div>
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Please indulge me while I take a look back at my diva kitty girl. She was a gift to our little growing family and tolerated the many changes of 17 years with grace. Such a tolerant kitty - two big moves, four additional kids, and countless bonnets, blankets, and stroller rides. She never understood that she was "too big" to be a lap cat and though she permanently stopped lounging in my lap shortly after I got pregnant with LadyBug, she was a regular on The Boss's lap every night after the gang headed off to bed. These last months, she couldn't always make it up to the couch but settled at our feet or on the low ottoman for some late night foot-warming. She will be missed.</div>
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First days home, in June 1997, at only 8 weeks old.</div>
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Her favorite perch when "play time" with Shaggy and Dr. D</div>
<i>(almost 3 and 18 mos at the time)</i><br />
got to be too much stimulation and she needed a kitty nap.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VEey_XhceWE/U8AKrWy26lI/AAAAAAAAEic/O3nTWcr_XU4/s1600/IMG_8641.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VEey_XhceWE/U8AKrWy26lI/AAAAAAAAEic/O3nTWcr_XU4/s1600/IMG_8641.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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One of her favorite perches in this past year,</div>
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tucked away in a corner but still in the middle</div>
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of The Gang's activity.</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LvsKgEpk21k/U8AKtiMwgkI/AAAAAAAAEi4/rsRmNqvJKGg/s1600/IMG_8647.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LvsKgEpk21k/U8AKtiMwgkI/AAAAAAAAEi4/rsRmNqvJKGg/s1600/IMG_8647.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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A tearful good-bye for this momma.</div>
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Beautiful girl, you will be missed.</div>
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April 26, 1997 - July 11, 2014</div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">I can't believe this is what jumpstarted my blogging brain again. But at least SOMETHING has. Man, the drought of coherent thought around here has been a drag. Stay tuned, I have some catching up to do in this "family scrap book" of mine and some give-aways coming up soon, too.</span></div>
The Gang's Momma!http://www.blogger.com/profile/12478478224173323982noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5751435337498664060.post-38152391300422899692014-04-23T12:57:00.000-04:002014-04-23T12:57:44.714-04:00Your Mom<div style="text-align: justify;">
"Your Mom" jokes are all the rage here at The Gang's house. Shaggy brought them home with him from his YWAM experience, changing it up to make the "your mom" ending super-hyper spiritual, Christian-ese. They are usually quite funny and creative. However, Li'l Empress hasn't quite gotten the hang of them yet. This happened this morning over breakfast.</div>
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Li'l Empress sniffed and grimaced while she asked</div>
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<b>"What smells like rotten egg in here?"</b></div>
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Baby BlueEyes (oh-so-lovingly) responded quickly,</div>
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<b>"<i>You</i> smell like a rotten egg,"</b></div>
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Just as quickly, Li'l Empress started to shoot back,</div>
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<b>"<i>Your MOM</i>.... "</b></div>
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And just as quickly, she trailed off in a whisper, looking around uncertainly,</div>
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<b>"... is cute."</b></div>
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Do you think this means that the "think before you speak" message is starting to become the rage, too?<br />
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One can hope.<br />
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One can always hope.</div>
The Gang's Momma!http://www.blogger.com/profile/12478478224173323982noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5751435337498664060.post-69106902432746246452014-04-09T12:35:00.005-04:002014-04-09T12:39:26.283-04:00Bitter Winds is Available NOW!<div style="text-align: center;">
By now, you all know that I'm a crazy <b><i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Kay-Bratt/e/B0027DQNYA/ref=sr_tc_2_0?qid=1397057860&sr=8-2-ent">Kay Bratt</a></i></b> fan.</div>
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I love her books. I love her heart for the children of China.</div>
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I love being friends with an author. I know, I'm a geek :)</div>
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So it's not going to be any surprise to you that I'm happy to share</div>
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about her newest release, available as of yesterday,</div>
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in the series called <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Kay-Bratt/e/B0027DQNYA/ref=sr_tc_2_0?qid=1397057860&sr=8-2-ent"><b><i><u>Tales of the Scavenger's Daughters</u></i></b>.</a></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iatlDDaOu4s/U0Vo_-phTpI/AAAAAAAAEgo/QahwAeBCu-Y/s1600/BitterWinds.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iatlDDaOu4s/U0Vo_-phTpI/AAAAAAAAEgo/QahwAeBCu-Y/s1600/BitterWinds.jpg" height="320" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You can order your own copy <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Bitter-Winds-Tales-Scavengers-Daughters/dp/1477848991/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1397057693&sr=8-1&keywords=kay+bratt+the+scavengers+daughters">HERE!</a></td></tr>
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<b><i><u><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Bitter-Winds-Tales-Scavengers-Daughters/dp/1477848991/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1397057693&sr=8-1&keywords=kay+bratt+the+scavengers+daughters">Bitter Winds</a></u></i></b> is the third in the sequential story line of Benfu and his family. The story this time focuses on the relationship between twins Lily and Ivy. Lily is blind and desperate to prove to her family that she is capable of growing independence befitting her adulthood. This need for independence is most greatly hampered by strong-willed Ivy who, for all intents and purposes, acts as Lily's guide, interpreter, and protector. She, of all the sisters, particularly seems to relish the role of "big sister." As the girls set off on a bit of an adventure, which Ivy is pretty opposed to from the start, things happen that jeopardize not just Lily's independence but ultimately her very freedom and well-being. The misunderstanding sets of a series of events that forces Ivy to face some hard memories and then some hard truths about who she is, who they are as sisters, and where they are "heading" in their lives. I won't ruin the story line for you but I really enjoyed the revelations that they faced about themselves as unique individuals separate from their twin-ship as well as the things they learned and ultimately cherished about their equally unique bond of sisterhood. The way they come back together as strong, independent, and ultimately healthy individuals greatly enhances not just their relationship but that of their whole family, too. That message of strong family ties built amidst hard, heart-wrenching tragedy and self-sacrifice really resonated with me.</div>
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Along the way, almost as a back story connecting much of the the details that support the girls' escapades, is woven an expansion of Li Jin's <i>(or Dahlia's)</i> story from <b><i><u><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Tangled-Vines-Tales-Scavengers-Daughters/dp/1477808817/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1397057693&sr=8-3&keywords=kay+bratt+the+scavengers+daughters">Tangled Vines.</a></u></i></b> She's come into Benfu's fold, learning to embrace her role in the new-to-her family that has longed for years to have relationship with her. She brought with her a son and a companion named Sami from the days before she was found by Linnea. But she also brought along a huge heart for serving the disenfranchised and a big vision for creative practical ways to do that. The unfolding of the community that she builds while she is learning to live in this <i>(again)</i> new-to-her expanding family is really well written. On a personal note, I had the privilege of visiting the "complex" or compound of <a href="http://www.livinghopeintl.org/">Living Hope International's</a> Beijing home back in April when we adopted our Mei Mei and when I read the descriptions of the shelter that Li Jin creates and crafts into a community, I completely relate to what is happening in her heart and mind. I keep picturing the physical surroundings of the <a href="http://www.livinghopeintl.org/">LHI</a> home when I'm reading and it's really a fun way to connect with the story.</div>
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Throughout the whole book, Kay does an excellent job of creating vivid pictures with her words. The little glimpses into everyday life in the bustling streets of China. The peeks into lives of street vendors and Benfu's whole "common folk" family. These all are things that keep me reading and make me want MORE of this mysterious land from which my daughters came. Her descriptions and understanding of Chinese culture draw me in to that mystery but also make me acutely aware of the common ground between the regular every day there and the regular every day here. I'm so grateful for what I learn about a culture different than mine when I read these books. But I'm also really thankful for the reminders I get along the way. Family is family, where ever you go. There's pain, there's difficulty, there's hardship. But there's also great joy and love. There's someone who has your back - even if you think you are the strong one who has always had their back. Those lessons are timeless. They are also the biggest reason I find this whole series so meaningful. I can't wait for more stories about Benfu and Callie's beautiful daughters!</div>
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">*I was provided with a free,</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Advance Reader's Copy</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">in exchange for a fair review of this book.</span></i></div>
The Gang's Momma!http://www.blogger.com/profile/12478478224173323982noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5751435337498664060.post-75325556969552413532014-04-08T08:01:00.000-04:002014-04-08T08:01:00.221-04:00Miss Particular<br />
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The control issues that our Mei Mei experiences affect a lot of our daily life. It's exhausting sometimes, but we're taking the philosophy that we're building trust and confidence. So that if she's feeling uncertain and a choice about something small makes her feel more peaceful and secure in our interactions, we give that latitude.</div>
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It's bigger than the old adage "choosing your battles" with this kiddo. It's more about helping her feel that her voice matters and that her feelings count. So that when and if we arrive at a bigger issue where there can be no choice, she feels safe and trusts us. More than any other time in my parenting, I feel as if this kiddo has us on a huge learning curve and we're all kind of finding our way together in this particular lesson.</div>
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We know how ridiculous her need for choices can get, we all try to make them non-issues when we can. As I sit her typing this, she's "helping" her big brother put away the dishes and he's cracking up because she insists the forks go in the spoon slot. He's really good-natured about it and he knows he'll have to fix it when she tires of the task. We've come a long way, baby.</div>
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Thank goodness for this and for the other light-hearted funny moments that make the learning enjoyable along the way. These are the moments that keep us all sane.</div>
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Yesterday, while The Boss was getting a plate for her strawberries, he was grumbling a little bit about how picky she is and how a bowl would be just as good as a plate, even though all the bigger kids had plates with their berries. He walked back over to the cupboard and pulled out a plate and walked back to Mei Mei.</div>
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When he set the plate full of berries on the island for her, he said, "I'm going to change your name to Miss Particular, Mei Mei."</div>
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Without skipping a beat, Li'l Empress piped up <i>(in her cheery, eager-to-please voice)</i>, "I am gonna keep my name the same, right Daddy?"</div>
The Gang's Momma!http://www.blogger.com/profile/12478478224173323982noreply@blogger.com0