tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28312688443133768882024-03-05T14:43:49.724-06:00In My Own Words...Our journey through faith, adoption, and life in general.*Ashley Lou*http://www.blogger.com/profile/18208771070612413745noreply@blogger.comBlogger348125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2831268844313376888.post-65432357216789081242014-03-25T08:36:00.001-05:002014-03-27T14:21:10.104-05:00#Ashleys31RAOK recapSaturday was my birthday (<i>singing ensues...</i>)<br />
<br />
Several weeks ago, I had <i>what has turned into</i> quite the awesome idea.<br />
<br />
I created a Facebook event, <i>so it would be legit</i>.<br />
<br />
I created a #hashtag. <i>Because of my ongoing adoration of all things #hashtag</i><br />
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I invited every.single.friend on Facebook....despite how annoying that may have been.<br />
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And I asked them only one thing.<br />
<br />
Because you have all been so blessed by my presence on this Earth<i> I kid, I kid</i><br />
<br />
Celebrate my birthday by joining my mission to spread kindness. Do one...<i>or as many as you want</i>... random act of kindness <i>RAOK</i> on March 22.<br />
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And do you want to know what happened?<br />
<br />
HUNDREDS of <strike>Random</strike> Completely Intentional Acts of Kindness<br />
<br />
People looking for opportunities to spread love and joy and kindness. Small things. Big things. Anonymous things. Face-to-face things.<br />
<br />
And I was overwhelmed.<br />
<br />
I mean. Seriously. Overwhelmed.<br />
<br />
A small coalition. All over the country. Just being kind to one another.<br />
<br />
<i>We could really be on to something!!!</i><br />
<br />
My personal goal was 31 different <strike>random</strike> completely intentional acts of kindness for my 31st birthday. One friend argued that if I counted based on the number of "touches", then probably the number was much higher...But nevertheless, my goal was 31 different acts of kindness!!<br />
<br />
It was exhausting and exhilarating all at the same time. We were <i>eyes peeled</i> everywhere we went looking for any additional opportunity to spread love.<br />
<br />
It was so perfect. I can't recommend any better way to spend your birthday!<br />
<br />
And when you get your village involved?<br />
<br />
What you find is that they are creative and boldly generous people...paying for groceries and meals for large families...giving flowers out at random, only to find that that person had just experienced great loss...seeing true gratitude at small gestures like bus tickets and a bottle of water...loving on each other...strangers...friends...neighbors. These are the world-changers.<br />
<br />
It's a magical feeling.<br />
<br />
Thank you to my friends, family, new friends, and strangers who all joined with me to show kindness on March 22nd. You have given me the most awesome birthday ever...so add that to your acts of kindness list!!<br />
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Here is the list of what my family ventured out to accomplish--along with several pictures (<i>reader beware</i>)<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>And we're off!</i></td></tr>
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<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Thank you cards for military</span><br />
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<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Cards for hospitalized children</span></div>
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<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Coffee gift card for security officer</span></div>
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<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Coffee/breakfast for homeless</span></div>
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<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Donation to local mission</span></div>
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<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Change on the meters</span></div>
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<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Stuffed animals for traumatized kids</span></div>
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<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Change at Laundromat</span></div>
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L<span style="text-align: left; text-indent: -0.25in;">arge tip and inspirational note for waitress</span></div>
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<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> Donation to adoptive family garage sale
fundraiser</span></div>
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<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> Change hidden on playground</span></div>
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<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Quarters in gumball machines</span></div>
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<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Popcorn/$1 taped to Redbox</span></div>
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<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Bus passes given to people waiting at Bus stops</span></div>
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<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> Moved wayward carts to store</span></div>
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<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> Donation to Ronald McDonald House</span></div>
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<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Inspiration notes left in books</span></div>
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<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">$1 left in children’s books</span></div>
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<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Donated $5 to boy scouts raising $ for camp</span></div>
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<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Flowers and notes on random cars</span></div>
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<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Notes of encouragement and prayer left on cars
at the hospital</span></div>
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<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Gift basket left in surgery waiting room at
hospital</span></div>
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<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Paid for the meal for the car behind us in the
drive-thru</span></div>
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<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> Held the
door open for people all day, whenever the chance was there</span></div>
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<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> GS cookies hidden at Library</span></div>
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<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> Left "You are beautiful" notes on mirrors in various bathroom locations</span></div>
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<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> Loaded groceries for elderly shoppers and returned carts for them</span><span style="font-size: 7pt; text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span></div>
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<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-size: 9px;"> </span>Made dog beds out of old pillows and donated to SPCA</span></div>
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And this thing just keeps spreading! Love, kindness, generosity. These are the things worth making a stand for. Thank you to everyone who made a stand for kindness this week!</div>
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In completely unrelated news. I got bangs.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-96F2MW14p2k/Uy5BhTTdH5I/AAAAAAAACWs/k1TAvuWvAkk/s1600/1947973_10202273068081643_135251738_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-96F2MW14p2k/Uy5BhTTdH5I/AAAAAAAACWs/k1TAvuWvAkk/s1600/1947973_10202273068081643_135251738_n.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>My short arms keep me from being able to jump on the "selfie" bandwagon. <br />You're welcome.</i></td></tr>
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<br />
<a href="http://smithfamilylowdown.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54491/72/92326732CCBA904BF71962E302D6B130.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a>*Ashley Lou*http://www.blogger.com/profile/18208771070612413745noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2831268844313376888.post-64994493284097899982014-03-12T09:49:00.000-05:002014-03-12T09:52:08.818-05:00An Open Letter to Teenage Girls: Just Hang On.<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Dear Beautiful, Strong, Confident Young Women (<i>you might not believe it...but it's who you are</i>),</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">I know it may seem like I couldn't possibly understand...try to bear with me. It wasn't that long ago that I walked those same hallways. Only yesterday that I was dealing with so many of the horrific painful struggles that you are dealing with today.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">And I can't help but think it's not fair...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Not fair that every bad choice you make in this season of finding yourself? is potentially broadcast to the world.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Not fair that society has opened up entire new worlds of vulnerability and destructive opportunities.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Not fair that-- as you're blossoming into adults and traversing all that <i>this season</i> requires of you-- you're also required to think about how every decision you make today might affect your life in 15 years...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">But listen.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Life has ALWAYS been that way. I am sure if our mothers could have blogged, they would have blogged their bewilderness over our feather pens, knee-high socks and mary-janes...Our music and dance styles....</span><br />
<i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Please don't ask. You don't want to know.</span></i><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i><br /></i>
So when I ask to trust me that this season is fleeting? Well, that's nothing new.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Which is why that's not what I'm going to do.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Instead? I'm going to tell you a story.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">This is a story about a girl who walked through some hard stuff. Humiliating stuff. Painful stuff. Vulnerable stuff.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">The stuff of private letters being passed through the halls. The stuff of inadequacy. The hurts of not being wanted...<i>Oh, how we just want to be wanted</i>...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">This is a girl who lived in a small pond... in a house made of glass. Where nothing was hidden and no-one was safe. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">This girl who felt like she was trapped in a room with all her imperfections and mistakes and shortcomings screaming at her from the walls closing in around her.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">This girl who wanted what she <i>thought</i> everyone else had. Perfection.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">This girl...who thought that <b>this</b> was her story. That if she couldn't succeed here? She'd never succeed anywhere.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">But this girl, with all this insecurity? Came out of the forest that is <i>High School</i> and found herself stronger, wiser, confident, and sure of the person she wanted to be...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">And at the end of the day, that is what you're doing.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">You're deciding each day what<i> </i>kind of human being you are going to choose to be in this life.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">How are you going to treat other human beings?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">What is going to be important to you?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Who are you going to be?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">And what legacy are you going to leave?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">It may feel impossible to find your way in the dark place that High School can be....</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">But remember...<i>.this is a shadow</i>... a small shadow of a small tree in a small forest that feels immense today.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Because the life you are intended to live will put all those insecurities on a back shelf of memories that made you stronger.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Because the person you have the chance to be is brave and courageous and would never allow another person to determine how you feel or what you accomplish.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Because, God isn't looking at your circumstances...<i>At this season of your life,</i> thinking to himself.<br />"Oh no, I picked the wrong girl"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Who's to say that this very thing isn't the propeller that pushes you into the next great season of you life? Who's to say that your <i>most beautiful thing </i>isn't right around the next corner...if you can only hold on.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">So here I am, a gangly and homely 14 year old girl who desperately wanted acceptance...begging you to hang on. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Hang on for dear life. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">And discover yours along the way.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
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<a href="http://smithfamilylowdown.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54491/72/92326732CCBA904BF71962E302D6B130.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></span></a>*Ashley Lou*http://www.blogger.com/profile/18208771070612413745noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2831268844313376888.post-32109616334879722552014-02-14T11:15:00.001-06:002014-02-14T11:15:10.179-06:00The Path<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">You see...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">When you say "Yes" to God. It doesn't always end up the way you thought it would.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">We learned that lesson the only way one truly learns it-- <a href="http://smithfamilylowdown.blogspot.com/2011/11/difficult-news.html">the hard way</a>-- years ago.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">And after that season had passed and we could see the whole piece of our lives mural that God was working on? </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Those rough brush strokes and black paint made sense. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">But this truth remains... That refining fire?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Is still going to burn.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">So in the last 18 months as we journeyed with faith and frustration and worry and doubt and longing and love, we've guarded our hearts.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">But we continued to say Yes.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">We waited for God to do whatever He had in mind to do.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">And we were still.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">It was painful. And hard. And frustrating. And I wanted more control. <i>Any control</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">But we remained. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Still.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">So when the call came this time.... the one that we always were sort of waiting on.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">It simply confirmed our initial suspicions. The thoughts that had lingered as we walked out the last 18 months.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">We had been called to be advocates. To pray and love from afar. And to fight for her story. her truth. Her best plan.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">We had not been called to be her family.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">*******************</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">But there it remains.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">That desire. That love. That longing.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">We ARE someone's family.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">This desire in our hearts for a home filled with laughter and noise and brothers and sisters growing up together.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">That gnawing in our souls that the need is still great. <i>And while this path isn't for everyone, we are confident it is for us.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">The passion for children to be tucked in at night, kissed and hugged, loved with the love that only a family can give.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">These things? did not come from the natural order of life.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">They came from the refining fire.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">So while we can barely see the next step in front of us.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">We are confident we're still on the right path.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-style: italic; line-height: 26px; text-indent: -6.559999942779541px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">“I am the LORD your God, who teaches you what is best for you, who directs you in the way you should go.”-Isaiah 48:17</span></span><br />
<a href="http://smithfamilylowdown.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54491/72/92326732CCBA904BF71962E302D6B130.png" style="background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 0px !important;" /></a><br />
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<br />*Ashley Lou*http://www.blogger.com/profile/18208771070612413745noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2831268844313376888.post-50225634511790431292013-06-21T23:23:00.002-05:002013-06-21T23:23:34.702-05:00Lost.<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Have you ever been lost?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">You know, truly and completely uncertain about your surroundings or which way to turn to get where you want to be...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">It can be debilitating.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">It can be confusing.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">It can be downright scary.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">I grew up in a small rural town in the South. My playground was the woods behind our house and the creek a few miles away. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">I remember being gone from sun-up to sundown playing in those woods. Running barefoot down the dirt road because my old tennis shoes were soaked from playing in the creek. Eating berries off the side of the road. Climbing trees so high I could see for miles and miles. Discovering new places and new adventures all the time.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">But I don't ever remember being lost. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Strange, isn't it? I rarely knew where I was...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">but I <i>always</i> <i>knew</i> where I was...</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWyJpaPOBBV0dLW2ljNj8wQQajUUOYVRMIxvOcaDyMv3OGg3B8-qt9gm7dK8gSPndu-E8OcBPF8iK_HAqHctW4ZGZj2G3r686adgqt50uuEJ6Z4lWip4s1wGURWlBwyFgXJRDI-LLN1yg/s1600/2188_1088063795349_8591_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWyJpaPOBBV0dLW2ljNj8wQQajUUOYVRMIxvOcaDyMv3OGg3B8-qt9gm7dK8gSPndu-E8OcBPF8iK_HAqHctW4ZGZj2G3r686adgqt50uuEJ6Z4lWip4s1wGURWlBwyFgXJRDI-LLN1yg/s320/2188_1088063795349_8591_n.jpg" width="226" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">When I think about my life now? My dreams? My <i>"plans"</i>? I often get distracted by the steps involved. When I don't know what step comes next, I immediately become frozen with fear.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">And I can't help but wonder...at what point in my life did <i>not knowing where I was</i> stop being a new adventure? When did I become so afraid of the unknown?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">I sit here confused. Because to tell you the truth...there are no balls in the air. There are so many things I want to do in life and I? just don't know which way to turn to get there. And I wish I saw it as a new adventure. I wish I could see myself as an explorer discovering new seasons in life. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">I want to be <i>that</i> person.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">But more often than not, I stand in front of the mirror and remind myself that God will never let you miss His destiny for you if you are seeking Him. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">And yet, that doesn't mean it's going to happen today.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">That's why it's called Faith.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #fffefd; color: #001320; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. Hebrews 11:1 (NIV 2011)</i></span></span></div>
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://smithfamilylowdown.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54491/72/92326732CCBA904BF71962E302D6B130.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a>*Ashley Lou*http://www.blogger.com/profile/18208771070612413745noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2831268844313376888.post-9684178283558899282013-05-28T11:52:00.000-05:002013-05-28T11:52:15.834-05:00Guest Post in honor of National Foster Care Month<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Hey guys! Today I am so excited to share a guest post by my friend Lindsy! I love her heart for foster care and I have been so gripped recently by the mis-education out there about foster care and even adopting children from hard places. All I know is that we need more families ready to stand in the gap for these babies! In honor and celebration of National Foster Care Month, Lindsy has done an amazing Foster Care series over at <a href="http://wordfromthewallaces.blogspot.com/search/label/National%20Foster%20Care%20Month">Word from the Wallaces</a> that I HIGHLY recommend you check out when you're done here!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Take it away, Lindsy!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">*****************</span></div>
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<em>I'm excited and honored to be sharing our foster care journey and a bit of my heart for orphans with you today! God may have this post specifically for you OR this may not be your calling. </em><br />
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<em>Do whatever He is calling YOU to. He is calling you to something!</em></div>
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Let's start here ----><strong> We never intended to be foster parents.</strong> It was not on our radar or any to-do list. <a href="http://wordfromthewallaces.blogspot.com/p/our-adoption-story.html">We began the process of international adoption in 2009.</a> We ended up with two biological kiddos and continued our pursuit of international adoption. Foster care literally never entered our minds. <br />
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My thinking was along the lines of "Kids in the US have roofs over their heads, clothes on their backs and food in their tummies. Their parents are not dying of AIDS at alarming rates and they are not dying themselves of dirty water. The needs of children overseas are greater." <a href="http://wordfromthewallaces.blogspot.com/2012/11/i-was-wrong.html">(I. WAS. WRONG.)</a><br />
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Flash forward to 2012. Through a series of events only God could orchestrate, we became involved with a local family in need. We stepped in to care for the children for a short season so their mother could position herself to properly care for her kids. <br />
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<strong>And that's when God went to work on our hearts.</strong><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr_KOAjR_-1-J9dcVq13SE3GmW_DXUTPMfgaP7jKQAq0Sh4zwYEMgG9IXQxHIuZW_qhl2rYUYG7HD-dvBVl3DoJY9wnGyLUtZ2HJv-NopHoVhqZWXxgouKYhKSNHqM1I6Q6TjdvOds7b0c/s1600/161.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr_KOAjR_-1-J9dcVq13SE3GmW_DXUTPMfgaP7jKQAq0Sh4zwYEMgG9IXQxHIuZW_qhl2rYUYG7HD-dvBVl3DoJY9wnGyLUtZ2HJv-NopHoVhqZWXxgouKYhKSNHqM1I6Q6TjdvOds7b0c/s400/161.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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We learned early on in our placement with the boys that they might not be leaving anytime soon. In fact, it became apparent they would likely be going into foster care. Since we were not certified foster parents, that would have meant them being pulled from <em>our </em>house and moved into a state certified foster home.<br />
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<strong>He re-wrote our story to include the American orphan.</strong> God knew we needed to see it for ourselves, in our own living room. So we became foster parents.<br />
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He showed us how the effects of neglect, abuse and trauma in the United States are NO different than the effects of neglect, abuse and trauma in Africa or Haiti. He opened our eyes to the 500,000 orphans <em>in our own country</em> who will go to bed tonight as wards of the state. He taught us that while yes, children in third world countries are more likely to be on the streets in the only shirt they own begging for food and living in a carboard box beacuase their parents are dead or dying, the effect parentlessness has on them is <strong><em>no greater</em></strong> than the effect of parentlessness on orphans right "here".<br />
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<u>Their needs are the same</u>. The same as children in Africa. Children in Russia, India and Haiti. The need for lovers of Jesus to fight for the American orphan is the same.<br />
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<strong>There are currently over 100,000 children in the US foster care system who are <em>legally available for adoption.</em></strong> Did you know that? One year ago I did not.</div>
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There are a lot of <a href="http://wordfromthewallaces.blogspot.com/2013/05/faqs-national-foster-care-month.html">myths regarding foster care and adopting from the foster system.</a> Unfortunately, the only stories that receive media attention are ones where a birth parent shows up years later and demands their kid back. Or stories of kids who linger in the states care for years and years. <br />
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While these things do happen, they are not the norm. More importantly, <strong>the system may be broken, but God is sovereign.</strong> <br />
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The state's job is to protect children but <strong>the state cannot and does not nurture children</strong> and point them to the only One who can <strong><u>heal</u></strong> him. His Bride must do that. <strong>If not us, then who?</strong></div>
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<strong>If you'd like to learn more about </strong><strong>foster care or adoption in your state visit </strong><a href="http://icareaboutorphans.org/StateAdoptionRequirements.aspx"><strong>Focus on the Family.</strong></a></div>
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<em><strong>Lindsy and her husband William live in Kentucky with their four preschoolers and are anxiously awaiting the arrival of a toddler from Africa. She blogs about orphan care and Jesus at </strong></em><a href="http://wordfromthewallaces.blogspot.com/"><em><strong>word from the wallaces.</strong></em></a><br />
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<a href="http://smithfamilylowdown.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54491/72/92326732CCBA904BF71962E302D6B130.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a>*Ashley Lou*http://www.blogger.com/profile/18208771070612413745noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2831268844313376888.post-87198257740812007112013-05-26T22:42:00.002-05:002013-05-26T22:48:54.543-05:00[Memorial Day] Gratitude.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">My FIL fought in Vietnam. For most of my husband's life, he says he rarely heard much about his dad's time in Vietnam. All we knew was that very few guys from his group made it home. And the ones who did were forever changed. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">As he's gotten older, he'll periodically share with us bits and pieces from his life there... A few years ago, the traveling wall came to our town and FIL came to see it. You see, most of his friends are on that wall. Rows of them, in fact, were people whose names alone flooded his mind with memories. That weekend, we were also able to visit one of the men who served with him and I think those things combined opened the floodgate.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">I learned more about him in that weekend than I have in the 13 years I've known him combined.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">We, often times, become so desensitized to hearing of fallen soldiers oversees... Almost as if it's so far away that we have convinced ourselves it's not real.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">But it is. Real. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Each name on the news is a son or daughter. Someone's husband/wife. Fathers and mothers. Beloved sisters and brothers.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Friends.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Heroes.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Thank You just seems so cheap compared to the sacrifices made. Both by our hero soldiers...and their families... </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Thank You. Just isn't a worthy response when so much is given and taken.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">When I think about each person who joins our armed forces and takes the call to fight for freedom. So dearly loved by so many. So brave and courageous?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">My heart is filled with a gratitude I don't have words to describe.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Recently, as we prayed for the family of a fallen hero, Marvel asked if this soldier was like Captain America.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">"Better" I replied, "because he didn't have special powers or superhuman strength. He was brave and courageous all on his own...in his own skin. He was truly a Super-hero".</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">A few days later, we saw a man in uniform in the grocery store. Marvel whispered to me "Look, mom...a superhero soldier!" with awe and admiration.<i> </i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>Had he not been in the middle of a conversation, we would have stopped to thank him..I told Marvel we would thank each and every soldier we saw from now on</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Each and every member of our armed forces are superheros. Brave and Courageous in the face of danger. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">So, as we mark a day of remembrance to our fallen heroes..I, humbly, with more respect than I can even describe.. say Thank you.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Thank you to the men and women who daily risk their lives for freedom. Who put on a uniform that asks them to be willing to give their lives for ours.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Thank you to the families who courageously await the return of their beloved soldiers.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Thank you to the husbands and wives who keep their families running smoothly during a long and hard deployment.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Thank you to the moms and dads who hold back tears and lumps in their throats as their hero tells them they are joining the military.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Thank you to those who have come home with battles to face again.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Thank you to those who live with physical---and invisible---reminders of the toll of war.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">And Thank you. <i>Thank you</i>... to the heroes whose lives {here} ended on the battlefield.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">We honor you. We celebrate you. We thank you.</span><br />
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<a href="http://smithfamilylowdown.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54491/72/92326732CCBA904BF71962E302D6B130.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a>*Ashley Lou*http://www.blogger.com/profile/18208771070612413745noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2831268844313376888.post-41141278338094025582013-04-16T21:28:00.002-05:002013-04-16T21:28:21.210-05:00A few thoughts from the mobility-impaired<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Congrats to Valerie!! </span></i></b></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">She won the <a href="http://smithfamilylowdown.blogspot.com/2013/04/a-life-transforming-book-giveaway.html">Huge Book Giveaway</a> and is all set with her spring reading!! </span></i></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">1. When I <a href="http://smithfamilylowdown.blogspot.com/2013/04/birthday-fail.html">broke my ankle</a>, my old college roommate suggested I go ahead and get a knee scooter....Every ounce of pride I had left said No Way. Not Gonna Happen. And then it was exhausting trying to get to the bathroom twenty feet from the couch and getting my own nutrients from the kitchen was near impossible.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Enter Knee Scooter. It's amazing what being able to go to the bathroom alone does to someones perspective.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">2. I've really been wishing I'd gotten a pedicure before my skydiving adventure...I can't reach my foot now and am still debating the hilarity of going to get a [modified] pedicure anyways! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">3. I've been blessed with some amazing friends and family! Both my Mother in law and Mom spent several days here post-surgery, friends have been shuttling Marvel around and done more than their fair share..and The Husband. Well, that man deserves a trophy. And a vacation!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">4. Bear with me if things are quiet around here for a while! I'm still on some pretty heavy meds and while my mobility is limited, what I can do is terribly exhausting so I still sleep a lot more than normal!! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">I promise to keep you updated!! Thank you for all the love and prayers!!</span><br />
<a href="http://smithfamilylowdown.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54491/72/92326732CCBA904BF71962E302D6B130.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a>*Ashley Lou*http://www.blogger.com/profile/18208771070612413745noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2831268844313376888.post-41704922436643976982013-04-08T09:18:00.000-05:002013-04-08T09:21:10.900-05:00A {Life-Transforming} Book Giveaway!!<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Hey everyone! This week I am teaming up with a few of my friends to do an awesome book giveaway!! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"> Each of us were asked to choose a book that had changed or deeply impacted our lives and one lucky winner will receive a copy of EACH of our book choices! That's right, 5 amazing books!!! For my book choice, I chose the Irresistible Revolution by Shane Claiborne!</span></div>
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</em> <em>“Only Jesus would be crazy enough to suggest that if you want to become the greatest, you should become the least. Only Jesus would declare God's blessing on the po0r rather than on the rich and would insist that it's not enough to just love your friends. I just began to wonder if anybody still believed Jesus meant those things he said.” Shane Claiborne</em></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">I fell into this book....or more accurately, stumbled across it. I was not looking for a book to further destroy my comfortable complacency ..but alas, here it was.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"> You see, I was busy being destroyed by <a href="http://www.leemeandthegirls.blogspot.com/">McCall</a>'s book pick, Seven, when I decided to dig deeper. I determined that if I was to truly be transformed by a book--I wanted to know all I could about what had wrecked the author of my destruction. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">And there, in that digging, I found The Irresistible Revolution.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">I wish I could describe the depth of conviction I had and the adrenaline that coursed through my veins to affect change in my community after finishing this book...but I know that it was truly a personal experience.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">I hope that The Irresistible Revolution brings you to that same place of challenge.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">To do more for the least.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">To be there for our neighbors.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">To transform your world into God's Kingdom on Earth.</span></div>
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<em><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">“Maybe we are a little crazy. After all, we believe in things we don't see. The Scriptures say that faith is "being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see" (Heb. 11:1). We believe poverty can end even though it is all around us. We believe in peace even though we hear only rumours of wars. And since we are people of expectation, we are so convinced that another world is coming that we start living as if it were already here.” Shane Claiborne</span></em></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"> If you want to read even more about this amazingly dangerous book, check out Amazon's book description <a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Irresistible-Revolution-Ordinary-Radical/dp/0310266300/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1365429851&sr=8-1&keywords=irresistible+revolution">Here</a>! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"> So as you can see, I believe that The Irresistible Revolution is one of those books that can truly transform your life!! And I want to share it with you!!! Here's how you can enter to win this and 4 other life-changing books!!!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Using the Rafflecopter below, you can get an entry for following my blog and another entry for commenting on this post! Then head over to my friends pages to learn all about their favorite book picks and enter there as well!!! That gives you a total of 10 chances to win 5 amazing life-changing books!!!!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://wordfromthewallaces.blogspot.com/">Lyndsy at Word from the Wallaces</a>; <a href="http://www.leemeandthegirls.blogspot.com/">McCall at Finding Our Way</a>; </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.stuffandthingsblog.com/">Tiffany at Stuff and Things</a>; <a href="http://theelderadventurers.com/">Wynn at Gloriously Ruined</a></span></div>
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<a class="rafl" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/38105a1/" id="rc-38105a1" rel="nofollow"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">a Rafflecopter giveaway</span></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">And here's a glimpse of the book collection you can win this week! Winners will be announced this weekend! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">What are you waiting for?!?!</span><br />
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<a href="http://smithfamilylowdown.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54491/72/92326732CCBA904BF71962E302D6B130.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></span></a>*Ashley Lou*http://www.blogger.com/profile/18208771070612413745noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2831268844313376888.post-74628974567225847692013-04-03T16:36:00.000-05:002013-04-03T16:36:21.142-05:00Birthday Fail.<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Easter weekend started out with all the usual beauty!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Celebrating our Resurrected Lord. Our church has an amazing multimedia production that {I believe} is really second to none and we were so excited for Marvel to get to see it with us. Easter is the season that messes me up and during the production, as I was sobbing...my gentle and amazing son reached over and said "It's ok, Mom...it isn't over yet...He will Rise!" Out of the mouths of babes... Needless to say, I was a proud puddle of blubbering mess after that!</span><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5yuEsErCJ20/UVyRu9FPzvI/AAAAAAAAB10/plj4eUtMvtI/s1600/13+-+1" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5yuEsErCJ20/UVyRu9FPzvI/AAAAAAAAB10/plj4eUtMvtI/s400/13+-+1" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Next, we were on our way to a town about an hour north for my big Birthday present!! I'd been looking forward to this day for months and after 4 (FOUR!) reschedules, the weather was beautiful and I was PUMPED to finally celebrate turning 30 properly!!</span><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6k8s_vLw4_M/UVyYuh1BIrI/AAAAAAAAB14/BXucnwj8c6k/s1600/skydiving+blog+collage.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6k8s_vLw4_M/UVyYuh1BIrI/AAAAAAAAB14/BXucnwj8c6k/s400/skydiving+blog+collage.png" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /><br />Next was....well... slightly less planned. I often laugh because I consider myself semi-adventurous and pretty close to fearless...and yet. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">I am the most accident prone person you will ever meet. My poor tandem instructor had a spotless record. Over 1500 tandem jumps and no one had ever broken a bone. Well, he obviously just hadn't met the right beginner yet.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Yep.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDvaNDSaq2v5YvLu6YDChOOeN3iFLg2I7bo4FIZQLXHFE61vMdNVBgHQtZ-k6LF5u4id92aLJ_JieYVM9M9hO_zgAopTBV5gknPoGfhWdDWMfwLvm4cLOd0YnTyOYezLp5PV9mtaOj9W4/s1600/left+ankle+blog+collage.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="395" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDvaNDSaq2v5YvLu6YDChOOeN3iFLg2I7bo4FIZQLXHFE61vMdNVBgHQtZ-k6LF5u4id92aLJ_JieYVM9M9hO_zgAopTBV5gknPoGfhWdDWMfwLvm4cLOd0YnTyOYezLp5PV9mtaOj9W4/s400/left+ankle+blog+collage.png" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">I managed to break not one...but TWO! bones in my ankle when I messed up the landing.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Surgery is scheduled for Friday so if I am MIA a while (or my posts seem especially medicated ha!) you'll all know why!!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Please don't hesitate to say a prayer for me when you think about it! My poor husband is single-parenting it for a while and once the adrenaline wore off, I was able to determine that broken ankles HURT!!! :-)</span><br />
<a href="http://smithfamilylowdown.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54491/72/92326732CCBA904BF71962E302D6B130.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a>*Ashley Lou*http://www.blogger.com/profile/18208771070612413745noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2831268844313376888.post-39683521706889645672013-03-21T10:23:00.000-05:002013-03-21T10:24:17.735-05:00For the Love<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">If you've guys been around here very long, you've heard me talk about how </span><a href="http://smithfamilylowdown.blogspot.com/2013/03/the-hard.html"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Hard</span></a><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"> the adoption journey is.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">There are so many tools we have to carry around with us -all the time- as adoptive parents...ready to whip them out at a moment's notice.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Tools for healing and helping our kiddos navigate feelings.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Tools for diffusing situations.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Tools for building attachment.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Tools for food issues, sleep issues, ownership issues...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">The list goes on and on and on....</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">My friends in the <em>adoption-world</em> often joke about<strike> kidnapping</strike> taking </span><a href="http://empoweredtoconnect.org/about-us/"><span style="font-size: large;">Dr. Purvis</span></a><span style="font-size: large;"> home with us from one of her conferences so she can just do it for us... <em>She's really good, ya'll</em>. {<em>and it's exhausting.}</em></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">But while all of those tools are needed and incredibly useful in helping bring our children healing.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">They are no substitute for Love.</span><br />
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<em><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">"There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear" 1 John 4:18(a)</span></em></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Now, I don't claim to have perfect love. I get annoyed and frustrated and angry. And I yell more than I mean to and apologize more than I wish I had to.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">But...there are times when I can see how my love for Marvel is the vessel God is using to blanket him in perfect P<em>erfect</em> Love.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">We took a lot of pictures of Marvel sleeping when he got home. Partly because we were doting first-time parents who took pictures of every remotely cute thing he did (<em>in-turn, we created a monster, ha!</em>) </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">But partly? because sleep did not come easy for our sweet Marvel. It was a time of vulnerabilty and an opportunity for fear to come roaring out. Awake and asleep. It was here when fear was its strongest that I saw the power of Love. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Many nights, in the early season of Marvel sleeping in our room, he would wake up overwhelmed with fear and I would reach down and rub his back or hold his hand. As he gripped my hand in his and slowly drifted back into desperately-needed rest, I saw that Love. Perfect Love that only our Heavenly Father can pour out. Was more powerful than even the deepest, most rooted fears.</span></div>
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<em><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">"Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins." 1 Peter 4:8</span></em></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">You see...Love doesn't erase the sins. It doesn't get rid of the hard stuff or make any of those things disappear, the way we might want it to.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">But. It <strong>does</strong> release us from the power those things have over us. <em>Deep Love, Perfect Love.</em> brings us the strength we need to walk through the hard things without being overtaken by them.</span><br />
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<strong><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">It covers us. It empowers us. It heals us.</span></strong><br />
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<em><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Today I am linking up over at:</span></em></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><!--end button code box--><br /><br /><br /></span>*Ashley Lou*http://www.blogger.com/profile/18208771070612413745noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2831268844313376888.post-72329797873710585272013-03-20T11:15:00.000-05:002013-03-20T11:15:39.964-05:00{Spotlight Series} The Wallace Family<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I'm so excited to continue with the Fundraising Family Spotlight Series and to introduce my new friend <a href="http://www.wordfromthewallaces.blogspot.com/">Lindsy and her beautiful family</a>! </div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HJNxcS3RBQs/UUne-eho87I/AAAAAAAAB1U/fsNKvUhMS10/s1600/803375_4507760656850_1754388999_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" psa="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HJNxcS3RBQs/UUne-eho87I/AAAAAAAAB1U/fsNKvUhMS10/s320/803375_4507760656850_1754388999_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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The Wallaces are the featured family this week in the <a href="http://give1save1africa.blogspot.com/2013/03/new-week-new-family-wallaces.html">Give1Save1</a> campaign and I'm so excited to share with the world their amazing story and help them raise the $$ they need! Please consider joining with us by supporting the Wallaces this week over at Give1Save1 where each $1 makes a difference! You can read all about their adoption journey <a href="http://wordfromthewallaces.blogspot.com/p/our-adoption-story.html">Here</a> and while you're there please check out their <a href="http://wordfromthewallaces.bigcartel.com/">store</a> and all the other cool ways you can become part of their village!!</div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="281" mozallowfullscreen="" src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/61983506?title=0&byline=0&portrait=0&color=3d3d3d" style="height: 278px; width: 584px;" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="500"></iframe><br />
<a href="http://vimeo.com/61983506">The Wallace Family - Adoption Story</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/wallacefilm">William H. Wallace II</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com/">Vimeo</a>.<br />
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Oh, and while you're here...please watch this amazing video they've made about their adoption story!! Best video ever! :-)</div>
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<a href="http://smithfamilylowdown.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54491/72/92326732CCBA904BF71962E302D6B130.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a>*Ashley Lou*http://www.blogger.com/profile/18208771070612413745noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2831268844313376888.post-28742022246889679482013-03-15T06:30:00.000-05:002013-03-15T06:30:02.775-05:00Dear Friday<div align="center">
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Here you are....</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">boasting of sunshine and spring weather that will surely pass quickly by returning us to weekend chill.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">You bring with you anticipation and dancing dreams of sleeping in. Of relaxation. Of rest.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">And yet, looking forward beyond your horizon to soccer games. tball practices. birthday parties.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">I know that {in all reality} you lead us into the busiest and most hectic hours of our week.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Yet I long for the days that you usher in with you.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Days when we are together, enjoying life. bracing the weather.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">When fun and family rule the hours and sleep and cuddles abound as effortlessly as the laundry.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">And so, while your dancing sugarplum fairies are nothing more than illusions on the horizon...I'm okay with that.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Our reality is pretty good, too.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Thank you Friday. Welcome.</span></div>
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<a href="http://smithfamilylowdown.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54491/72/92326732CCBA904BF71962E302D6B130.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a><br />
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Linking up with Traded Dreams today for the Open Letter Campaign</div>
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*Ashley Lou*http://www.blogger.com/profile/18208771070612413745noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2831268844313376888.post-89993309902137279142013-03-14T13:42:00.000-05:002013-03-14T13:42:06.925-05:00The Hard.<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Today I am linking up with my friend, Tiffany! Go check out all the other beautiful posts on adoption, foster, and orphan care!!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">First, I should warn you that I just returned from Created for Care and I am processing a Lot of stuff these days... That said, proceed at your own risk ;-)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">********************</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Adoption is a picture of redemption. True.<br /><br />And adoption puts children into forever families. True.<br /><br />And for us, as the adoptive parents, I think the picture of the journey to our children is often filled with waiting, pursuit, longing, waiting, paperwork, waiting lists, more paperwork and more waiting.<br /><br />All True.<br /><br />And there comes a point when, after all that anguish, we are able to put the journey behind us and declare it all worth it in the end. True.<br /><br /><br />But there is more to the story. There is so much more to the process and to the journey than our "yes".<br /><br />There is hard, too.<br /><br />Because while we were journeying and paperchasing and waiting and waiting and waiting?<br /><br />Our children were walking through rejection, abandonment, shame, loss, hurt, longing, relinquishment, lonliness, abuse, trauma, neglect, malnourishment, sadness and grief.<br /><br />Yes. Adoption is restoration and it is redemptive and it can bring beauty to brokenness.<br /><br />But. BUT. It is also hurt. and loss. and more loss.....<br /><br /><br />It can be too easy, in my experience, to see the finish line and declare ourselves victorious without considering the hidden things. the broken things. the layers upon layers of hurt that we must carefully help our children peel back to bring true and complete healing.<br /><br />We must be willing to walk through the hard, too, parents. We must be willing to acknowledge that those early hurts deeply affected our children. And we must be ready to grieve with them. To talk about the hard things. To be honest and trustworthy with our childrens stories. To love them through the anger--which will undoubtedly be directed at us-- and to sit and wait as our children examine deeper and deeper inside their protected little hearts for the things they most want to be rid of....<br /><br />We must understand that that finish line we celebrated? Was the starting line. We had simply arrived at the race.<br /><br />And intentionally. purposefully. honestly. We must walk through the hard stuff with our children. We must cover shame with His grace and love. We must acknowledge unfairness and grieve hurts and losses and unanswered questions. We must be fully present. constant. never failing in our love and consistency.<br /><br />Gently. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Never forgetting that for us to be their forever family...</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">they have to have lost their first family.<br /></span></span><br />
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<em>"Adoptive parents and families are not always aware of how being relinquished has deeply impacted their adopted child. They are just so thankful to have that child in their life. But, all the while adoptive parents are rejoicing and celebrating, their adopted child is grieving the missing parts of his or her life before living with their family. Their adopted child has lost a part of his or her history, his or her DNA, his or her life –- and no one is available to talk about it." </em></div>
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<em>-Carissa Woodwyk </em></div>
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<br /><br /><a href="http://smithfamilylowdown.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54491/72/92326732CCBA904BF71962E302D6B130.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a>
*Ashley Lou*http://www.blogger.com/profile/18208771070612413745noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2831268844313376888.post-86458948774834169812013-03-14T06:51:00.000-05:002013-03-14T06:51:38.286-05:00Love Big.<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">This past weekend I was blessed to attend <a href="http://createdforcare.org/">Created for Care</a> with my dear friend <a href="http://traceandrandee.blogspot.com/">Randee</a>!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Since re-uniting with reality... </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">(for real, ya'll ...there was chocolate and coffee <em>EVERYWHERE</em>!)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">I've tried to gather my thoughts.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Process some <em>stuff</em>. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Re-evaluate motives. actions. Opportunities.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">And mostly I've tried to remind myself that I chose to walk this path of Intentional Parenting. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">I chose not to depend on the 'norm' to correct, connect with and help my children heal. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">I <em>knowingly </em>entered into this world of brokenness and beauty and loss and redemption and grief and restoration.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">And His Grace has so abounded....</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">**********</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">As I think about all I gained this weekend, I truly don't know if it's possible to express how much my heart was filled as I sat listening to the </span><a href="http://carissawoodwyk.wordpress.com/voice-on-adoption/"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Voice of the Adoptee</span></a><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"> as she walked through the " adoption process" from our children's view. </span><br />
<em><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">"Children from hard places often deal with immense shame related to the earliest rejections, abandonments, losses... Guilt is in direct relationship to actions...but Shame? Shame speaks to someone's very Goodness" Oh. The power of those words as we walk next to our children on their road to healing...</span></em><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Or how refreshed and renewed and released I was in my date with God.... </span><br />
<em><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">I came feeling like I was in a good place. With adoption. With life. But, oh my...when given the chance to truly release the weight.. I was surprised by how much I needed the embrace of my Father. How much I desired to just be a child in the safety of her Father's arms again without the burdens of this life....</span></em><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">But I know that I needed it. And so did 899 other mommas who traveled to <a href="http://createdforcare.org/">Created for Care</a> for the January and March retreats.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Those amazing mommas who planned and organized and orchestrated all of this... what can be said in gratitude to the women who gave us the chance to sit in a room and look around and think "<em>These are my people</em>" and tell stories and discuss struggles that we so carefully protect in our everyday lives? </span><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gIRkGe2S2RI/UUDMIQHcSSI/AAAAAAAAB1A/HvQViPsYga4/s1600/Thank+You.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="120" psa="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gIRkGe2S2RI/UUDMIQHcSSI/AAAAAAAAB1A/HvQViPsYga4/s320/Thank+You.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<em><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">It seems so inadequate for all that was poured out on our behalf...</span></em></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">You see, I'm not necessarily the best at making friends...but at C4C I truly believed I was in a room with true friends. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">We cried together. OMG. Did we cry together <em>(have I mentioned yet my inability to cry pretty?). </em></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">We laughed and cheered and renewed our spirits together. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">We worshiped together. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">And together we left. Ready to go home. To get back to the very basics of all we know about parenting our kiddos from hard places. To be fully present in their needs and desires and sorrows.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-large;">To Love Big.</span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7wLorK7iCe8/UUDKKbRu8RI/AAAAAAAAB04/TPO7-KDe5N0/s1600/.facebook_-1316905098.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="308" psa="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7wLorK7iCe8/UUDKKbRu8RI/AAAAAAAAB04/TPO7-KDe5N0/s400/.facebook_-1316905098.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://smithfamilylowdown.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54491/72/92326732CCBA904BF71962E302D6B130.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a>*Ashley Lou*http://www.blogger.com/profile/18208771070612413745noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2831268844313376888.post-30592641566495740202013-03-13T12:44:00.000-05:002013-03-13T12:56:33.299-05:00Wordless Wednesday {Two Week Edition}<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Silly Hat Day at school. Nailed it.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">New shoes. Best reaction ever. Just, stop it already! :-)</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Finally got our certificate of foreign birth!!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On my way to C4C (more on that soon!)</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View from the Legacy Lodge at Created for Care! Beautiful scenery!</td></tr>
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Check out that form! Anyone see that Volkswagon commercial?!?! ;-)</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shut the front door! We have a reader, folks!! :-)</td></tr>
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*Ashley Lou*http://www.blogger.com/profile/18208771070612413745noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2831268844313376888.post-55913303226655542222013-03-01T07:30:00.000-06:002013-03-01T07:30:01.032-06:00Gluten, You Great Deceiver.<span style="font-size: large;">Dear Gluten.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">You with your tender pastries and your soft bread.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">With your warm, buttery croissants that call to me from the bakery shelf only to melt in my mouth.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">With your moist and delicious cupcakes packed with creamy filling.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">You have hidden behind a veil of secrecy and covered the truth with delicate pastries and desserts and warm fresh breads for far too long.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">I would have never discovered your deception had I not begun looking for a cure to chronic headaches.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">I never would have become wise to your ploys and your influence.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">I would have continued living in my wheat-filled, headache stuper, none the wiser..</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">But, alas, the veil has been torn down and the truth has set me free.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Don't get me wrong, I know you aren't necessarily bad for everyone. I know that you, when eaten well, are in fact a perfectly healthy part of a diet....</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">But I didn't know </span><a href="https://www.marksdailyapple.com/how-common-is-gluten-sensitivity/"><span style="font-size: large;">how common it was to be gluten-sensitive.</span></a><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I didn't know that-- thanks to the way you make our lives so easy-- I was funneling more processed and less real food into my family's mouths.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I didn't know that I had alternatives like almond flour and coconut flour.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">I had no idea that quinoa and amaranth were sufficient replacements as whole grains.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">I didn't know that Real Food was the answer.</span><br />
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<em><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Okay, so maybe that is my own fault, but I was deceived, I tell ya!</span></em></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">Really, Dearest Gluten, I should Thank You. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">It's because of you that I first began researching all your lying friends, like high fructose corn syrup and artificial sweeteners.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">It's because of you, I started asking myself if there were alternatives to foods covered in toxic pesticides and injected with man-made antibiotics and horomones.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">It's because of you that I committed myself to doing the very best for my family. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">It's because of you that I have more energy and fewer headaches and wake up without feeling like I'm in a fog.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">It's because of you that my family has traded the ultra-processed, packaged fare for the real thing.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">It's all because of you.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">So thank you, you lying, cheating, Siren of Baked Goods.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">Thank you.</span><br />
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<a href="http://smithfamilylowdown.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54491/72/92326732CCBA904BF71962E302D6B130.png" style="background: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px;" /></a><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><em>Today I am linking up over at The Open Letter Campaign! </em></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><em>Go check it out and join in the fun!</em></span></div>
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<a href="http://www.laurencasper.com/category/open-letter-campaign/" title="Open Letter Campaign"><img alt="Open Letter Campaign" src="http://i.imgur.com/ObE8SjF.jpg" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;" /></a></div>
*Ashley Lou*http://www.blogger.com/profile/18208771070612413745noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2831268844313376888.post-37094725490753914082013-02-28T07:30:00.000-06:002013-02-28T07:30:00.761-06:00Changing the Way I Pray<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-L6H0p9V1MzI/URvu34K0F7I/AAAAAAAABvw/zzpciXWHLTQ/s1600/13+-+1" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-L6H0p9V1MzI/URvu34K0F7I/AAAAAAAABvw/zzpciXWHLTQ/s320/13+-+1" uea="true" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Look at that face. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">It's the face of a {perfect} child.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: large;"><em>Except for when it's not.</em></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">He's going to grow up and become a man someday. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">He's going to get married and have children. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">He's going to look back and think of all the things he will do different in raising his own family.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">And contrary to how that might sound, I have no problem with that. In fact, it brings me much peace to believe that he will aspire to be a better parent and spouse and person than I am or ever will be. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">And as his mother, of course, I pray for him and that future all the time. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">But not in the way I always imagined I would. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>Example</em>: When I was a teenager, <a href="http://www.lovematters.com/truelovewaits.htm">True Love Waits</a> was just getting some notariety. It's popularity was increased with books like "<a href="http://www.joshharris.com/i_kissed_dating_goodbye.php">I Kissed Dating Goodbye</a>". </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">In that season of abstenance-education, when I would pray for my future husband, I would pray the ever-noble "keep us both pure"...as if somehow, free-will wasn't an issue in the romance area. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">And while my heart was in the right place, I believe that prayers like that (<em>in my own case</em>) were somewhat misdirected. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">I mean, even then? I struggled with questions like What if my future-husband-to-be didn't know about <a href="http://www.lovematters.com/truelovewaits.htm">True Love Waits</a>. What if he'd never read <a href="http://www.joshharris.com/i_kissed_dating_goodbye.php">I Kissed Dating Goodbye</a>, What if he wasn't even a believer at that time? What if he <em>Was</em> and yet still made bad choices. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">What if I did? </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Did that mean God wasn't answering my prayers? Did that mean I would walk the rest of my life full of shame and guilt? Did it mean I was no longer worthy? Of course not. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">My sins were on that cross. I wasn't redeemed because I had never sinned..but rather because I had. And would again at some point. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Redemption wasn't offered because I was good enough, Grace was given because I wasn't.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">But because I had focused on the sin and not the grace, my view of the value each held was distorted... </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">And just for the record, I completely support the True Love Waits initiative and it's counterparts. It isn't that I don't believe in abstenance and monogamy and the beauty of marriage as it was intended, unaffected by shame. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">I do. (<em>and will preach the same to my children</em>)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">It's just that..that is just one example of the way we often pray about the future....maybe instead of praying that my children or even my children's future-spouses behave a certain way or enjoy certain things or even avoid certain mistakes... </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Maybe instead of all that?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">I focus my prayer on the foundation of all it all. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Grace. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>"For it is by free grace (God's unmerited favor) that you are saved (delivered from judgment and made partakers of Christ's salvation) through [your] faith. And this [salvation] is not of yourselves [of your own doing, it came not through your own striving], but it is the gift of God" (AMP) Eph. 2:8 </em></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">I will devote my life to raising children who desire Jesus. Who long to be with Him and fulfil their part in advancing the Kingdom of God. I will pray that God will shield them from hurts and rejection and mistakes that undoubtedly have consequences. I will train my child with discipline, direction, love, and The Word of God. I will <em>ALWAYS</em> pray that the Holy Spirit would be an ever-present voice when my children face choices and that their hearts would be soft and their ears would be open to listen to the direction of the Lord. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">But they won't always. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">And no matter how long I stand before the throne of God on their behalf? They will sin. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">And so more than all those other things, I will contend for their quick repentence and return to their Father. I will cry out on their behalf. And most importantly, I will beseech the Almighty for a greater impartation of His Grace in my life. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">I pray that my children believe wholeheartedly in their salvation through grace. That they would expect that same grace extended from us {their parents} and that they would be quick to return that grace to the people around them. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">That our expectations of each other would be muted by the overwhelming faith in a God that has poured out unlimited grace on us, despite our sinful nature. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>“But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound”Rom.5:20 </em></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">So, no longer will I pray that my children will avoid certain mistakes and sins. No longer will I pray for a specific personality trait or desireable habit from their future spouses. No longer will I focus on the things that man cares about...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Instead? I choose to focus on the desires of their hearts. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">That they would be ever-turned to the desires of God's heart and that their lives would be guided by that relationship and the daily presense of the Holy Spirit. I pray that they would be courageous and brave for justice. That when choices are presented, they seek the will of God first. And I pray that they would walk the straight and narrow path their entire lives without looking to the left or the right when the enemy is trying to pull them in. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">But when all that fails and sin occurs despite my greatest efforts? I pray that they know Grace. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">That shame and guilt are suffocated under the overwhelming love that Grace gives. And that I am able to give freely the grace that has been given to me. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">I pray that they feel loved and worthy even in the midst of consequences and that I am never the vessel the enemy is able to use to cloak them again in shame and guilt. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">And I pray that in my own sins, my children have an understanding of grace enough to extend it back. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Because, even in my greatest moments, I am still a sinner. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Saved only by Grace.</span><br />
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<a href="http://smithfamilylowdown.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54491/72/92326732CCBA904BF71962E302D6B130.png" style="background: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px;" /></a>*Ashley Lou*http://www.blogger.com/profile/18208771070612413745noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2831268844313376888.post-74134210063407807392013-02-27T07:30:00.000-06:002013-02-27T07:30:03.056-06:00Wordless Wednesday<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MVnN7CPzmKU/URxM3uAm3DI/AAAAAAAABwY/EM5VmcyP470/s1600/instagram+button.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gsa="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MVnN7CPzmKU/URxM3uAm3DI/AAAAAAAABwY/EM5VmcyP470/s1600/instagram+button.jpg" /></a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Grocery shopping fun!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KhItKkNz2G8/USvbV8RNhWI/AAAAAAAAByU/qjyER6oChZ0/s1600/13+-+1" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" gsa="true" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KhItKkNz2G8/USvbV8RNhWI/AAAAAAAAByU/qjyER6oChZ0/s320/13+-+1" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Farm fresh eggs!! <br />
So excited to find a nice older couple who sell fresh eggs just a few minutes down the road!</td></tr>
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Quiet week around here. Mainly because we didn't get any snow. Maybe next year :-(<br />
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<a href="http://smithfamilylowdown.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54491/72/92326732CCBA904BF71962E302D6B130.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a>*Ashley Lou*http://www.blogger.com/profile/18208771070612413745noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2831268844313376888.post-6788810394669122402013-02-26T12:49:00.000-06:002013-02-26T12:57:14.192-06:00Finding Peace in the Storm<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yq5Qu3S-93Q/US0B4EpkKFI/AAAAAAAAByw/42W-_hiheJ8/s1600/thunder-storm-widescreen-picture-hd-wallpapers-1024-x-768.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gsa="true" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yq5Qu3S-93Q/US0B4EpkKFI/AAAAAAAAByw/42W-_hiheJ8/s320/thunder-storm-widescreen-picture-hd-wallpapers-1024-x-768.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">We are in a season of testing.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><em><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">I knew we would be</span></em><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">But I never expected quite to what extent we might be tested.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">Appliances needing replacement.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">Vehicles needing repairs.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">Adoption fees due ahead of schedule.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">Jobs ending.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">It's a lot to have happen right at once. I stare at the budget and beg God to give me wisdom and direct my every step...To make me a good steward.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">But I already know what's going on here...and while God very-well may answer my prayers for wisdom and stewardship...that's not why this is happening.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">This is about <a href="http://smithfamilylowdown.blogspot.com/2012/12/new-lessons.html">Faith</a>.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">God isn't surprised by our myriad of struggles. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">He hasn't forgotten the path He put us on in this season. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">He isn't overwhelmed when He looks at our situation.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">No...He's not trying to figure out how to get us out of this...He's working these things together for our good. For something we can't even see today. <em><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Because it hasn't been painted yet</span></em>.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">He is setting the stage.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">He is putting us in the refining fire.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">He is reminding us that He is still in control.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">And that He's got this.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><em>"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who[a] have been called according to his purpose."</em> Romans 8:28</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><em>"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”</em> Joshua 1:9</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><em>"Yet those who wait for the LORD Will gain new strength; They will mount up with wings like eagles, They will run and not get tired, They will walk and not become weary."</em> Isaiah 40:31</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><em>"Do not fear, for I am with you; Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, Surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand."</em> Isaiah 41:10</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Check out this <a href="http://www.aholyexperience.com/2013/02/how-women-can-get-really-radical-for-their-sisters/">Powerful Post</a> from Ann Voskamp today... </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">May we all be Radically Grateful.</span></div>
<a href="http://smithfamilylowdown.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54491/72/92326732CCBA904BF71962E302D6B130.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a>*Ashley Lou*http://www.blogger.com/profile/18208771070612413745noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2831268844313376888.post-4759649643939964352013-02-22T06:57:00.000-06:002013-02-22T06:57:24.863-06:00Letters to my Child: What A Difference A Year Makes<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Today I am linking up with The Open Letter Campaign! </div>
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Click here to see more amazing letters or join in!</div>
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<a href="http://www.laurencasper.com/category/open-letter-campaign/" title="Open Letter Campaign"><img alt="Open Letter Campaign" src="http://i.imgur.com/ObE8SjF.jpg" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VT3flNyP4Ys/URw_5tl-X3I/AAAAAAAABwI/CBCNezCTsC4/s1600/Judah+referralversary.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="196" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VT3flNyP4Ys/URw_5tl-X3I/AAAAAAAABwI/CBCNezCTsC4/s400/Judah+referralversary.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Marvel,</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span></span><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">It was one year ago today when we saw your face for the first time. They had obviously cleaned you up and posed you, yet you still looked cautious and sad. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span></span><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Of course none of that mattered to us..You could have been covered in spaghetti sauce throwing a grade-A fit in the floor for all we cared.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span></span><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">We were in love.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span></span><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">I knew it would be true, the old adage "The days are long but the years are short".</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span></span><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">I knew that time would seem to fly past me once you were home and I decided that I needed it to slow to a stop.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span></span><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">And none of that has gone unnoticed.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span></span><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">You've been making our lives more joyful and fun and crazy and hectic and frustrating every single day for the past 7 1/2 months.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span></span><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">But you've been in our hearts for so much longer than that.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span></span><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">And we wouldn't trade a second of the honor of being your parents-- with all its frustrations and loss of sleep and slow-eating-- for anything in the world.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span></span><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Son, it is my greatest honor to be your mommy and my greatest joy to have your arms around my neck giving me the biggest "bear hug" you can muster.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span></span><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">I promise to love you and steward you to the very best of my ability in God.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span></span><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">I promise to laugh with you and be silly and make messes and not care when you do.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span></span><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">I promise to sing with you. Songs we know. Songs we don't. Songs we make up.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span></span><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">I promise to cheer you on and give you "thumbs up" from sidelines and believe in you always. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span></span><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">I promise to snuggle and read books together as long as you'll let me.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span></span><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">I promise to tell you every day how amazing you are and how much I love you (Telleck to the moon times infinity).</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span></span><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">I promise to care enough to give you correction and discipline when it's necessary, and to offer grace and teach you about redemption so that you don't carry the weight of your mistakes with you...</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span></span><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">I promise to pray for you daily...sometimes even hourly...</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span></span><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">I promise to always love you more. Regardless of whether or not we've have a good day or a "hard day". In whatever circumstances we come into. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em><strong>No Matter What.</strong></em></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: large;"><em>Love,</em></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: large;"><em>Mommy.</em></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em><strong><br /></strong></em></span>
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em><strong><br /></strong></em></span>
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*Ashley Lou*http://www.blogger.com/profile/18208771070612413745noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2831268844313376888.post-27018541136946670932013-02-20T07:30:00.000-06:002013-02-20T08:29:43.395-06:00Wordless Wedneday<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QxkWAvioYjc/USJnwC9P5EI/AAAAAAAABxI/OaMHgQU2ae4/s1600/13+-+6" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QxkWAvioYjc/USJnwC9P5EI/AAAAAAAABxI/OaMHgQU2ae4/s320/13+-+6" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A Valentine's walk down Memory Lane</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YJDD6kXSlV8/USJnwMHj2YI/AAAAAAAABwg/isytSuIgLTk/s1600/13+-+1" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YJDD6kXSlV8/USJnwMHj2YI/AAAAAAAABwg/isytSuIgLTk/s320/13+-+1" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My Handsome Valentines</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Excited about Silly Socks Day!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SIOCeGl-A2E/USJnwHUIFrI/AAAAAAAABwg/f2tAbAgvwuw/s1600/13+-+3" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SIOCeGl-A2E/USJnwHUIFrI/AAAAAAAABwg/f2tAbAgvwuw/s320/13+-+3" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A perfect slumber party in the fort</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5ljatgIfK1E/USJnwFAUbvI/AAAAAAAABxI/2HWr11DFe7M/s1600/13+-+5" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5ljatgIfK1E/USJnwFAUbvI/AAAAAAAABxI/2HWr11DFe7M/s320/13+-+5" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shopping for some Ridin' Boots for Grandma's house</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2TZwqYjLCnA/USJnwDU12BI/AAAAAAAABwg/0THlpjhB6_4/s1600/13+-+2" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2TZwqYjLCnA/USJnwDU12BI/AAAAAAAABwg/0THlpjhB6_4/s320/13+-+2" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Saturday fun: A bike ride followed by some kite flying!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_W9YI-PyIUk/USJnwPUDvQI/AAAAAAAABwg/uzuONQtiAHM/s1600/13+-+4" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_W9YI-PyIUk/USJnwPUDvQI/AAAAAAAABwg/uzuONQtiAHM/s320/13+-+4" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">No really Moses...by all means make yourself comfortable... :-)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jI3gR6Bilqw/USTdZGFdXfI/AAAAAAAABx8/3CVq3K-gqMs/s1600/13+-+1" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" mea="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jI3gR6Bilqw/USTdZGFdXfI/AAAAAAAABx8/3CVq3K-gqMs/s320/13+-+1" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Brown Bear, Brown Bear What do you see?<br />
I see a little boy dressed up like me!</td></tr>
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<a href="http://smithfamilylowdown.blogspot.com/" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54491/72/92326732CCBA904BF71962E302D6B130.png" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px !important;" /></a></div>
<br />*Ashley Lou*http://www.blogger.com/profile/18208771070612413745noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2831268844313376888.post-20298484257434716102013-02-19T07:30:00.000-06:002013-02-19T07:53:18.527-06:00I Don't Know How It Feels<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">When the Husband and I announced our desire to build our family through adoption, most of the looks of "understanding" and whispers circled around one notion.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Infertility.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">It was the elephant in the room that didn't exist.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">I was pompous. Probably even insensitive.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><em>How Dare they assume that the only way people might choose our world was if they had struggled with infertility?</em> went my brain...</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">My words, while laced in <strike>sarcasm</strike> southern molasses were less pointed and yet got the point across.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><em>We've actually chosen this as our First plan for parenthood</em>, I would say with an air of nobility.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">As if--somehow-- that put us in a different category of adoptive families.</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">But, truthfully...my words? my self-built pedestal? were no better than the ones being vomited at me during Sunday School.. <em>"You know...now that you're adopting you'll probably get pregnant (wink wink)"</em></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Oh. So that's how it works.... And all this time I thought sex was involved.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: large;">**********</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Here I sit, three years later. And my heart aches.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">In my own adoption journey, I've been a bystander to the paths so many people take from suffering through their own infertility struggles, to trading their dreams (as <a href="http://www.laurencasper.com/">Lauren</a> so eloquently put it) for the nontraditional path of adoption. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">I've listened to the depth of pain and suffering that preceded the fork in the road.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">And I've learned something about myself. I'm not the courageous one.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">I certainly deserve no high admiration.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">My road to adoption (<em>not necessarily in</em>) was easy.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">No hard decisions. No lost dreams. No sorrow and heartbreak as everyone around you celebrates their pregnancies and children.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">I've never had to pick myself up from that place.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><strong>I don't know how it feels.</strong></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">To be honest, I'm not even sure I would have the grace for it.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">But I know this for sure. Making light of the struggles of infertility would be akin to mocking someone with cancer. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">It's insensitive and callous. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">It tears open wounds that people are trying desperately to heal.</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">I read an article recently about a famous family (<em>for being famous I suppose</em>) with one sister newly pregnant and now announcing her own struggles with infertility (<em>which seems oddly publicized and just recently mentioned at all</em>) while a second sister has had to openly walk the path of infertility in front of the world. While I know very little about the family and only what the world say about these journeys, I can't help but feel a pain in my heart for the second sister. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Because I now understand one truth completely.... it's not a light matter. It is a heartbreaking and sometimes completely devastating road to walk, filled with uncertainty, letdown, and ultimately the bravery to get back up and keep walking...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: large;">**********</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: large;">So to my friends out there who have suffered and walked this path alone, I am so sorry. I should have cried with you. I should have sat with you in the silent prayers and the staring out the windows. I should have ached with you in the grief and the loss. Please forgive me because I didn't know then what I know today...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">And, for my friends out there who-- <em>like me</em>-- have not walked down the painful road that so many others have, please recognize the courage and sacrifice that road has required of them. Acknowledge and admire those women who tell their stories later with only a trace of sadness left in their voices. Sit and cry with friends who have had old wounds ripped open and ask God, through your own tears, for His healing...</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Remind yourself <em>when you think it's not a big deal</em> that you've not been asked to walk that road.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Respect that it is a deep wound. And treat it as such.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">And never assume you know how it feels.....</span>*Ashley Lou*http://www.blogger.com/profile/18208771070612413745noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2831268844313376888.post-52200393567317264862013-02-15T07:30:00.000-06:002013-02-15T20:08:45.926-06:00Letters to My Child & The Open Letter Campaign<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Today I am linking up with The Open Letter Campaign. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Check it out to read more open letters!</span><br />
<a href="http://www.laurencasper.com/category/open-letter-campaign/" title="Open Letter Campaign"><img alt="Open Letter Campaign" src="http://i.imgur.com/ObE8SjF.jpg" style="border: none;" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Dearest Child of Mine, </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">When I think about our journey to bringing you home, it stands in such strange contrast to your brother's that I am often left speechless. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">With Marvel, so much of our journey was about waiting. About patience. About trusting God to bring His promises to light. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">And then, with you...it's been such a whirlwind that I too-easily get caught off-guard by every next step. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">I mean, don't get me wrong...God still has many lessons to teach me. Still about trusting Him and Still about being faithful in the Pursuit...but also about Faith. And about Miracles. And about Surprises. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">So many times in our lives we become such experts at execution that we can forget who is *<em>really</em>* taking care of it all. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">We execute {<em>perfectly</em>} the morning routines... </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">We execute {<em>perfectly</em>} our tasks throughout the day... </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">We execute {<em>perfectly</em>} the evening and bedtime routines. ..</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">And we find comfort in the *knowing* of what to expect. </span></div>
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<br />
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">But my God? Is a God of beautiful surprises. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><u><em>And that is exactly what you were</em>.</u></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">From the moment we laid eyes on you. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">From that first inkling that God was about to ask us to do what we never imagined we'd do. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">From the first time I fell asleep dreaming of the way you perfectly fit in my arms. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">You were God's beautiful surprise. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">So, while I may still try to pretend I have it all figured out and while I might still attempt to execute perfectly...</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">I will always remember that God began this whole new thing....with a beautiful surprise. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><strong>You,</strong> <em>my sweet one</em>... <strong>are God's wonderful* exciting* joyful* exhuberant* Beautiful* Surprise. </strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Longing to bring you home, </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Mommy. </span></div>
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*Ashley Lou*http://www.blogger.com/profile/18208771070612413745noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2831268844313376888.post-77563843515058212812013-02-13T09:29:00.000-06:002013-02-13T20:33:31.790-06:00Wordless Wednesday (sort-of)<div style="text-align: center;">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">My view Saturday morning. Love these moments.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">The Bowtie Brigade</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qxELUf1hYK0/URuuv-PiedI/AAAAAAAABvM/bxArJ4vC3rE/s1600/13+-+5" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qxELUf1hYK0/URuuv-PiedI/AAAAAAAABvM/bxArJ4vC3rE/s320/13+-+5" uea="true" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">Trying to get a good picture of them saying goodbye </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">was akin to wrestling an octopus. #BFF</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">After such a long season eating only hard-boiled eggs and avocados...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">this lunch was truly picture-worthy!</span></td></tr>
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<a href="http://smithfamilylowdown.blogspot.com/" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54491/72/92326732CCBA904BF71962E302D6B130.png" style="background: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px;" /></a></div>
*Ashley Lou*http://www.blogger.com/profile/18208771070612413745noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2831268844313376888.post-53505997175024129972013-02-08T10:44:00.002-06:002013-03-18T11:39:29.784-05:00{Spotlight Series} The Kennett Family<br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kWPc4GLuqe4/URUhAHsZOAI/AAAAAAAABuU/vX4yMN1P2qg/s1600/fundraising+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="260" jea="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kWPc4GLuqe4/URUhAHsZOAI/AAAAAAAABuU/vX4yMN1P2qg/s400/fundraising+2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">I've wanted to start spotlighting fundraising families for some time now!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">In fact, it's been on my heart since the first of the year when I committed to re-vamping and truly praying about the purpose of my blog.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">I've since blogged a total of 3 times.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">And done zero tasks in the re-vamp department.</span><br />
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<div style="text-align: left;"><em><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">{I'm totally rockin' these goals.}</span></em></div><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">So in the spirit of actually doing something I resolved to do, I am so excited to announce our Fundraising Family Spotlight Series where periodically, I will showcase different adoptive families in fundraising efforts and sometimes even just talk about creative fundraising ideas!!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">For the launch, I am so excited to showcase my friends, The Kennett Family, as they enter the final lap in bringing their sweet girl home from China!</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-small;">Meet the Kennett Family from </span><a href="http://krazykennetts.blogspot.com/"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-small;">The Kennett's Krazy Life</span></a><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-small;">!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">It has been quite the journey, for my friends. One that {I know} has taken them places they never imagined. And after the years of longing and struggle in the process. After so many months reassuring yourself that God won't leave you in this place. After walking with the sadness that you feel in the middle of that valley. After all that?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Joy comes in the morning! And today? They are completely overwhelmed with joy and love! They are consumed with getting everything ready for their sweet Khloe! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">And we? Can partner with them!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">They have launched an iPad Bundle Giveaway fundraisers, and for only $5 you can enter to win over $500 (!!) worth of Apple love!! But you have to hurry! This giveaway ends on February 22nd!</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4NORSIs_YQo/URUqoJd2R7I/AAAAAAAABuk/iKPCDYJXeso/s1600/kennett.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" jea="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4NORSIs_YQo/URUqoJd2R7I/AAAAAAAABuk/iKPCDYJXeso/s400/kennett.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">iPad Mini, Targus iPad cover, Apple earbuds with microphone and $100 iTunes Gift Card!</td></tr>
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Please consider being part of their story with me! </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Go </span><a href="http://krazykennetts.blogspot.com/2013/01/amazing-adoption-raffle-ipad-mini-bundle.html"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">HERE</span></a><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"> for more information and to buy your tickets!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://smithfamilylowdown.blogspot.com/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54491/72/92326732CCBA904BF71962E302D6B130.png" style="background: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px;" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"></div>*Ashley Lou*http://www.blogger.com/profile/18208771070612413745noreply@blogger.com2