tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-42472776783510682062024-02-19T08:41:48.040-08:00A Wonderful LifeMerileehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00582532410342782015noreply@blogger.comBlogger93125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4247277678351068206.post-8080737094621990902019-09-11T07:31:00.001-07:002019-09-11T07:31:31.494-07:00Evie turns 5!!<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;">My baby is not a baby anymore! She is a little girl now. She can shower by herself, do her hair all by herself, she has her own fashion style and likes to pour her own drinks, make her own eggs and cut her own veggies. She is all grown up! In many ways, we are enjoying this new stage of independence (sleeping in on a Saturday!) but I catch myself sometimes wishing it would just all slow down a bit. I have a feeling that that is the way it is always going to be…</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjitfROWKhAZ9iZDjOxdztCcHewu03fiXR97TZuN9iDOrVpP_DNgDg30CuEIUzb-m4mjWCpOjqD9yE1fMK_mLNzhLWxQpYMtbQwUVFeb7O51bF-QZUVUHo4ivAeNb3IER-Xl0lJb6EWjXM3/s1600/IMG_6202.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjitfROWKhAZ9iZDjOxdztCcHewu03fiXR97TZuN9iDOrVpP_DNgDg30CuEIUzb-m4mjWCpOjqD9yE1fMK_mLNzhLWxQpYMtbQwUVFeb7O51bF-QZUVUHo4ivAeNb3IER-Xl0lJb6EWjXM3/s320/IMG_6202.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Evie's request...a Barbie Cake (Phil's 3rd one he's made!) <br />It's been a hit with all 3 girls!</td></tr>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">Evie loves her friends and doing anything with anyone…just not being by herself. Although she has improved in her ability to stay put during her quiet time hour, she still pokes her head in to my room and asks ‘Mom, can’t I just sit on your bed with you? I won’t make any noise!’….and the times I have let her come in, it ends up as us hanging out…which is lovely, but defeats the purpose of quiet time! She loves our ‘room dates’ where I bring a candle and a nice drink and snack into my room and she brings something to do together like a puzzle or game or coloring. </span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">I like those times too…special to just be with her and put the list of ‘to do’s’ aside and enjoy hanging out, 4 year old style. </span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">Evie loves to be fancy. She is like the fancy Nancy books only…fancy Evie. :) Most evenings she will rinse off the day’s dirt in the shower and then spend a good amount of time getting herself ready for dinner. She usually shows up with fancy hair, a nice dress and some clip on earrings or jewellery she has found. So cute. </span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">She doesn’t need her blankie anymore…she still likes to have one if I ask her, but she could easily go to sleep without one. She likes to be tickled while I pray and sing to her as she falls asleep. Heaven forbid I leave the room before she is asleep!</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The bday crew...all of Evie's friends. </td></tr>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">When Evie wakes up, she gets dressed and runs out the door, ready to play with her friends. I have to keep reminding her NOT to knock on our neighbours door but wait til the kids come out to play. A while ago, I found her in her friends house across the compound, having breakfast with the family! She just loves her friends and can’t wait to play ALL DAY with them. Most of the time, they have fun but there are some days when the girls are just more sensitive and need some time and space apart. We are very thankful for the two little girls who live on the compound as well…they are Evie’s best friends. One of them is leaving very soon for another country and Evie will miss her terribly. She will always be remembered as Evie’s very first best friend. There have been some bedtime tears about being lonely and not having any friends anymore and we’ve talked a lot about that and prayed about that too. I wish I could say that this hardly ever happens, but it actually happens a lot to our kids and us too. The life of a missionary, or someone who lives and works overseas is fraught with many hellos and many goodbyes. We go deeper faster than we would back home in our relationships, partly because over here, we are eachother’s family, and partly because time is short and many do not stay very long. </span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">Evie loves the colour pink and her favourite game to play is house with her being the mom or the big sister. She loves to swing, swim and jump on the trampoline (flips are her speciality). She loves to bake (lick out the bowl) and recently she has been into ‘making her own thing’ where I put out the same ingredients I use to make a cake and she just puts a little of this and a little of that into a bowl and we bake it and see what comes out. She’s had a couple of success and lots of hockey puck cupcakes and loaves. Haha. She’ll get the hang of it one day. </span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">Evie enjoys reading books at bedtime and if I can steal her away from her friends during the day, we can spend a while reading through a stack of books. She likes the Berenstain bears books, Franklin, Curious George and the Frog and Toad books. I am looking forward to this coming school year where Evie will begin Kindergarten with me at home. Brings back so many memories of homeschooling Lily and reading a ton to her. Stacks of books. </span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">Evie has an ice obsession and will often request a bowl of ice cubes for a snack! </span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">She can ride a two wheeler (for a while now) and loves to have me watch her race around the compound. Her new trick is to lift her feet off of the pedals and wing them out to the side while riding. </span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">She is desperate to climb our big tree out front, so she has been practising on some smaller trees…wonder when she’ll get the courage to try the big one. </span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">Evie HAS to sit beside me at dinner time…we have to prep her before dinner if that is not going to be the case. Same with bedtime…she LOVES her daddy, but when it comes to bedtime, she prefers to have me do it. (Phil doesn’t mind that much as he then takes that time to hang out with Kaitlyn and Lily, doing ‘older’ things likes games and movies).</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">Evie loves to play with her older sisters and despite the challenges that come with a 5 and 7 year gap, they make it work (most of the time). She loves playing barbies and lego and play mobil and I will catch her just watching Lily and Kaitlyn act out a scene…kind of like a real live movie! She’s getting there but still takes her cues from the girls when she plays with them. I know their play interaction will only get better…for now, we embrace those character building moments for Kaitlyn and Lily (patience, grace, kindness) and for Evie too (putting others first, patience, kindness). </span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">I</span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;"> love that Evie has two older sisters…just this past week, Kaitlyn and Lily ran a day camp for the younger kids on the compound…Evie gets to enjoy those kind of fun things that her sisters plan.</span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">We love Evie, and are appreciating her independent personality and her strong family ties. She is one of a kind and we are so thankful that God blessed our family with her. </span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;">Happy 5th Birthday Evelinne Rose! We love you!</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stuffie on the head relay race!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Obsessed with Kaitlyn's old purple belt!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">New book to read before bed!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Classic 'pass the parcel' game.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">She requested sweet and sour chicken, mashed potatoes and nana's salad for dinner. </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Evie wanted all of us to dress up for dinner...so Phil sweated it out in a suit! :)</td></tr>
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Merileehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00582532410342782015noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4247277678351068206.post-65671377470653882202019-09-11T07:21:00.002-07:002019-09-11T07:21:35.732-07:00Happy 12th Birthday Kaitlyn!Can it be that Kaitlyn is almost a teenager? She is so grown up now. Babysitting all on her own! On a day to day basis, we don’t really notice how grown up she is, but when we look back at pictures and videos of her cute little self, we realize that Kaitlyn is rapidly entering adolescence!<br />
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What happened? :)<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhffDkFZVUYbyp7QnaMyL3EbIIkDjjXusUo1bAUK5L4OV5qy8GtLh7wCWWXXd7P95zoMZHK_O6cTxKudWaVszCN2lj0ElRdfrZoiHT0BwwK2Oqc05qDZViGhrlHRlvKQOLvsgQgIm-J2a8d/s1600/IMG_6262.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhffDkFZVUYbyp7QnaMyL3EbIIkDjjXusUo1bAUK5L4OV5qy8GtLh7wCWWXXd7P95zoMZHK_O6cTxKudWaVszCN2lj0ElRdfrZoiHT0BwwK2Oqc05qDZViGhrlHRlvKQOLvsgQgIm-J2a8d/s320/IMG_6262.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Birthday Breakfast in bed...a tradition.</td></tr>
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Kaitlyn is the queen of crafting (and anything that requires the use of a glue gun! Haha) and has the amazing ability to take any resource (cardboard, scraps of material, bottle caps, old socks, old t-shirts) and create new and cool things for herself, barbies, decor, others. Seriously, the creativity on this kid is off the charts. Especially living in Chad where there is no dollar store to resupply craft materials, she manages to find what she needs to make her newest idea. We are constantly in awe of her inventions.<br />
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Kaitlyn still loves to be tucked in (complete with tickles and talk time) and has really enjoyed having her own room (she keeps it surprisingly neat for a 12 year old!)…her own space to be by herself, and also to decorate in a way that reflects her style and tastes. She does well despite the fact that we also use that room as storage and our deep freezer happens to be in there too. (Poor girl….but our house isn’t that big, we gotta put it somewhere!)<br />
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A while back, Phil took Kaitlyn out on a special date to a fancy restaurant and Kaitlyn just thought that was the best. She got all dressed up and Phil gave her a little gift of a Swiss army knife. She will never forget that night.<br />
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We do ‘room dates’ together as well where I bring a candle and a special drink or snack into my room and we play a game or colour or chat. An inexpensive way to have a date! Kaitlyn is much more into talking these days, entering those teenage years where late night chats are a daily occurrence. I don’t mind, I appreciate that she wants to talk to me! :)<br />
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Kaitlyn loves little kids and is desperate to babysit other people’s kids (she already babysits Evie) and she plans on taking a Babysitting course when we are back in Canada next summer.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4he-8z8YaqK47KyoKoEa49-ElrcLwz1XTGdZ3sRnSq2cNDYStWt6APPS1dGbpoFCWUXhpglQvuRf0Kw29Hal5wZ98Y3ND2YZSquy6gCtohP9q1016W06DLz0nBL5nc-D7ckGVeDQGPESH/s1600/IMG_6269.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4he-8z8YaqK47KyoKoEa49-ElrcLwz1XTGdZ3sRnSq2cNDYStWt6APPS1dGbpoFCWUXhpglQvuRf0Kw29Hal5wZ98Y3ND2YZSquy6gCtohP9q1016W06DLz0nBL5nc-D7ckGVeDQGPESH/s320/IMG_6269.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Enjoying her tea</td></tr>
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One of the constant challenges for Kaitlyn is finding a good friend her age. She spent the last school year in a classroom of all boys. She held her own and most days was ok with that…but every once in a while she would share her heart and how she was lonely for a best girl friend. Lily has been a constant friend for Kaitlyn and they are super close, but Kaitlyn desires a friends outside of the family too and so we continue to pray for a girl her age to come to N’Djamena to fill that void. Kaitlyn is really good at keeping in touch with her friends back in Canada and a good friend who now lives in Australia. Two hour FaceTime calls are a monthly occurrence here with her friends and cousins back in Canada. We are so thankful for things like WhatsApp and FaceTime which help us stay in touch better.<br />
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One of the highlights this past summer was being a part of a youth group here in N’Djamena. It only ran a couple of weeks while some short term single girls were here and willing to organize some meet ups at the local Patisserie for some ice cream and at the Hilton for a swim. Despite being outnumbered by boys, Kaitlyn was really excited to do some social things on her own. We are hoping to start something like that up again in the fall.<br />
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Kaitlyn did well in Grade 6 last school year. She didn't’ give up in the face of having to read an hour a day plus homework on top of that (for not being a lover of books…an hour of reading a day was KILLER!) and we were proud to see her rise to new challenges in Jr. High.<br />
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Kaitlyn is up and coming in the kitchen, baking her first cake without any assistance and she is also into making meringues. I’m excited to teach her some more things so I can take a night off from cooking dinner and leave that in her capable hands! We just need to work on the cleaning up side of things! :)<br />
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Kaitlyn is a loving, fun, happy, friendly, creative and fun to be around girl and we are so proud of who she is becoming. We are so thankful that God blessed us with her…she’s grown and learned so much in her 12 years and we are excited to see what else God has in store for her life. Happy Birthday Kaitlyn!!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW51J3wMguYJd963KhGKSR2z1Kb7jddJ4YWE5POq-r97XCth-yQmmJALQfdO7mIeW-FIMwzceFkR1nMKQelbuQzo1FnFGIeRWXVGENbLMAy8EnYDIkQRjeCaDACVrOddSuIY41CY1K-tpH/s1600/IMG_6285.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW51J3wMguYJd963KhGKSR2z1Kb7jddJ4YWE5POq-r97XCth-yQmmJALQfdO7mIeW-FIMwzceFkR1nMKQelbuQzo1FnFGIeRWXVGENbLMAy8EnYDIkQRjeCaDACVrOddSuIY41CY1K-tpH/s320/IMG_6285.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Traditional day at the Hilton for Evie and Kaitlyn's bdays!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbrxl663WrdREjDUMSrqXs88vk0zvq_Vp_FF0VLp7B1bg2e7_CuKHVIDJQhY9ZCLVPkf2D4-Ek0qVZvWzA4kk_LKSLeh2hnW7hBT_40IqgEA_RedIuQjtKYpBMmrt63KtobGZ8VGIkjEHp/s1600/IMG_6275.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbrxl663WrdREjDUMSrqXs88vk0zvq_Vp_FF0VLp7B1bg2e7_CuKHVIDJQhY9ZCLVPkf2D4-Ek0qVZvWzA4kk_LKSLeh2hnW7hBT_40IqgEA_RedIuQjtKYpBMmrt63KtobGZ8VGIkjEHp/s320/IMG_6275.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pretty gifts</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrpCsxmrflCevXowdXlx0eB7K5Zc1QjDSZd91aujGMVNHZJqlT0vXjSLEG0pSd3rgyRNfnvl9mfbBAfZla05nJacWkWjvUQe-scX8J1V21JtboWeBm9pmDLSWzFpBIv04vXxAqKia2vU0w/s1600/IMG_6280.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrpCsxmrflCevXowdXlx0eB7K5Zc1QjDSZd91aujGMVNHZJqlT0vXjSLEG0pSd3rgyRNfnvl9mfbBAfZla05nJacWkWjvUQe-scX8J1V21JtboWeBm9pmDLSWzFpBIv04vXxAqKia2vU0w/s320/IMG_6280.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">She loved her gifts! </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh3fuO5SqH6lNQYXbYgtaSw_PNmOzjhg28Fw-Hq_1SFeO7HncM_lj0KQY2xKHgb4S6wFi95ZPh1Oh7V_yedL04JBG8_SWDS_P47ZfqM-OIZ1qYkC9VnHG8xZ6_LwiHbE5AFu_KCMNKwJKX/s1600/IMG_6281.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh3fuO5SqH6lNQYXbYgtaSw_PNmOzjhg28Fw-Hq_1SFeO7HncM_lj0KQY2xKHgb4S6wFi95ZPh1Oh7V_yedL04JBG8_SWDS_P47ZfqM-OIZ1qYkC9VnHG8xZ6_LwiHbE5AFu_KCMNKwJKX/s320/IMG_6281.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cherishing each bite of the $17 tub of raspberry Sorbet (CHAD!!!!$$)</td></tr>
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Merileehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00582532410342782015noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4247277678351068206.post-61121434006438289812019-04-22T08:12:00.000-07:002019-04-22T08:12:10.895-07:00A New Song, An old Post<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I wrote this shortly after returning to Chad in March 2018....I forgot about it and found it the other day when I was looking through some of my blog drafts. Reading this over, challenged me again to continue pressing on in this journey called Life.<br />
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"Sing to the Lord a <b>new song</b>"...Psalm 98:1<br />
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The word 'song' has been coming up lately in my devotions...just the other day I read (paraphrase) "He is my strength and my song"....and I was inspired and encouraged and reminded of where I can find that kind of refreshment and inspiration. When I think of 'song' I think of joy (dancing to the beat!), telling a story, emotions, passion, and a way to express yourself. Our lives too, can be a song for God.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizMiObf1qVs1wkxDE8G57c25DCXbDt27SgehxtpzxtvKgzTvxs1cfcK9UMoha_WdQ8LC9gAp0oIenknryBSZcxVNxLG0S2SWPGm7-wSJy7coSPTZIbMsmFoeStUi9XRKlIWeY4w6iGy_HD/s1600/IMG_2916.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="960" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizMiObf1qVs1wkxDE8G57c25DCXbDt27SgehxtpzxtvKgzTvxs1cfcK9UMoha_WdQ8LC9gAp0oIenknryBSZcxVNxLG0S2SWPGm7-wSJy7coSPTZIbMsmFoeStUi9XRKlIWeY4w6iGy_HD/s320/IMG_2916.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Getting used to wearing skirts and headscarves in Chad.</td></tr>
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The Psalmist was encouraging us that as the waves of change come and go, doors close and new ones open...in those seasons of starting over, that is our chance to begin something new with God in our lives as well. To 'sing a new song' is to take advantage of the blank canvas before you (a new day, a new place, a new ministry, new ideas, new focus etc) and re-dedicate your daily life to the Lord...and together, write a new song that gives Him glory, that tells His story, that worships Him, that tells of His faithfulness and provision through life's sunny and stormy days...and have that<b> joy</b> in your heart that comes when you 'sing'!<br />
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As we begin our next two year term in Chad, I am inspired to sing a new song...it is a fresh start, journeying together with the Lord, waiting to see what He has in store for our family. We are different people than when we first arrived on Chadian soil in 2013....since then, we've had major ups and downs, unexpected detours, lots of life lessons learned (we are still learning them!) but as a result, we know ourselves more deeply, our Saviour has proven Himself time and time again over the years which has increased our faith, and we have more life experience to guide us as we live out our ministry and family life. We feel better equipped to undertake these next two years in Chad with purpose and joy. <br />
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So, I'm excited to continue on this journey of learning, serving, loving and living in this dusty and hot Saharan country. I wonder what the lyrics to this new song will be....<br />
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Merileehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00582532410342782015noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4247277678351068206.post-4325072586619490472019-04-22T08:04:00.000-07:002019-04-22T08:04:19.967-07:00Happy 10th Birthday Lily!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
This was a big one you said..."I'm now two digits Mom!!". Yes, you really are 10 years old! You have sprouted up like a weed this past year lily...I randomly will be looking at you and think 'Wow! She is getting so tall!". Despite your change in height, your personality remains the same...you make us laugh alot Lily! I know you get your inspiration for your story narratives from Calvin and Hobbs and it comes out in how you retell a story or a funny comment in a conversation. You love to make people laugh! You also like to be alone, to read and to journal or write stories. Kaitlyn just doesn't understand why (she is such an extrovert) but you somehow manage to manage your time well and play a ton with Kaitlyn but also sneak away for some reading/alone time. You are a friend to all Lily...not so much connected to one best friend, but you play with lots of different kids at school...but you do like having Esther H in your class and have had several play dates with her. Grade 4 was intimidating for you...especially with a teacher change mid-way through the year but you faced your fears, didn't quit and discovered that it was actually ok.<br />
This year has been HUGE for you Lily...you have struggled with anxiety for many years...and it would often keep you from participating in fun things or being yourself in a group setting. On a recommendation from a friend of mine, we purchased a program designed to help kids find freedom from their fears. You launched into that program and never looked back...conquering your fears and anxieties that were holding you back. The other day you said to me, "Mom, I think I'm over that'. What a huge answer to prayer! I know that it may be a lifelong battle you have to face but now you have the tools to 'talk back' to that voice that is trying to create fear and worry where there is none! I am beyond proud of you Lily. You have shown such emotional maturity and intuitiveness as you have continued on this journey from fear to freedom. We will continue to pray about that for you.<br />
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Here are some things that I want to remember about you when you were 10:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlwu8qqdTn4QsJavUZiFFwA7rKp29WEHguaktj0vWfcI9Xcvz9MwvhU0jI4EbcGdXJuX0Mb6yRhqaEq3cfZpnt5XpVVrBbEYYimL2bkluTZKCEJHwO4gquElbx3YwzlEq2EvlYF5OmP7vR/s1600/Iily_10th_bday+-+6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlwu8qqdTn4QsJavUZiFFwA7rKp29WEHguaktj0vWfcI9Xcvz9MwvhU0jI4EbcGdXJuX0Mb6yRhqaEq3cfZpnt5XpVVrBbEYYimL2bkluTZKCEJHwO4gquElbx3YwzlEq2EvlYF5OmP7vR/s320/Iily_10th_bday+-+6.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You are 10 now!!!</td></tr>
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-The pink blankie is going strong but your new thing is to fluff it into a circle shape on your pillow and lay your head down into it<br />
-Your favorite book is Call of the Wild...but you also have a whole bunch of other favorites too!<br />
-You love collecting little metal animals (you have a turtle from Egypt and a snake from Chad)<br />
-You still gallop around like a horse but less often...claiming that your shoulders were starting to hurt (perhaps growing out of being able to do that?)<br />
-You think school is a breeze...except for Math and Grammar (although you do well in those too)<br />
-You are the LOUDEST person in the pool....the whole neighbourhood can hear you shriek!<br />
-You are still so skinny minny...gotta fatten you up Lily!<br />
-You love toast with butter and strawberry Jam, and you chose Lasagna for your birthday meal<br />
-You have an old ipod of ours and you love wearing your comfy headphones (Christmas present!) and listening to calming music while going to sleep<br />
-You LOVE to read before going to bed...it's always a struggle to get you to turn out your light!<br />
-You enjoy horse back riding but I think you are just as happy playing around in the sand pile or visiting the baby turtles<br />
-You know where to turn to when you are worried or stressed...you have some verses memorized that remind you to lean hard in God when life seems overwhelming or unfair.<br />
-You love playing with Kaitlyn...she is your best friend. She knows you so well....you can be yourself with her and she gets you.<br />
-You love spending one on one time with daddy or myself. One of your love languages is quality time so we try to make those individual hangout times happen regularly. Room dates are fun and low key...a special drink (tea or coke) and a plate of snacks (chips or cookies) and some games or coloring to do with some candles of course. I really do like that.<br />
-You are counting down the days til school is over! Not that you don't like school....but you would rather homeschool and you just love being at home. One of your favorite things to do on a weekend is...nothing!! No going out, or entertaining...just playing, reading, eating, games etc. Nothing scheduled but a very relaxed pace. We try to make that happen but life gets busy...especially on the weekends when daddy is home.<br />
-You chose to go to the Hilton this year for your birthday, to swim and have a meal by the pool and you brought your friend Esther with you. We had a GREAT day! It was hot as blazes so we were in the pool most of the day. Fun!<br />
-We are bringing a cake to share with your friends at school after the school holidays....it's going to be a book cake (a stack of different colored books). Something you LOVE!<br />
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-You LOVED Egypt (the unlimited french fries and pop and your 6 course breakfasts each morning!) and can't wait to head back as soon as school gets out! I can't wait either!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-YbaFiZvoQf_oE6DiJb_WMwDSd5ukeNl-fxUkKf8dTu-mjFOWfi_I6uIPN4hyphenhyphenheoCS8RA4lU70C4AH7plVpGsr5YpqgHg5PhYZ4CI-FNapBHa00gGWAo5Y-HdE97m5YFtjoECWmH9kF4w/s1600/Iily_10th_bday+-+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-YbaFiZvoQf_oE6DiJb_WMwDSd5ukeNl-fxUkKf8dTu-mjFOWfi_I6uIPN4hyphenhyphenheoCS8RA4lU70C4AH7plVpGsr5YpqgHg5PhYZ4CI-FNapBHa00gGWAo5Y-HdE97m5YFtjoECWmH9kF4w/s320/Iily_10th_bday+-+3.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Date with mom...quiche and hot chocolate!</td></tr>
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-You play a lot more inside these days (the heat??) but are still up for a game of house, or puppy or a trampoline game or swimming or skipping or recently, riding your bike over a ramp you made! Evie just LOVES playing with you (so does Bethan...a girl living across the compound from us)....you are up for anything Lily.<br />
-You enjoy writing poetry (you have a little book that you keep your poems in) and stories...your narrative is hilarious. Very Calvin and Hobbs esque. I wonder if you are going to write a book one day?<br />
-You and Kaitlyn spend hours setting up your playmobil sets or building lego houses and then acting out the scene. I just love watching you create and imagine!<br />
-You love friday night movie night...it has been consistently part of our week for several years now...a great way to start the weekend. You are usually up for anything...whether it's a cartoon or one with real-life actors.<br />
-You are a chatterbox....at bedtime! As the lights are going out, then out comes all your stories and thoughts from the day...love hearing about them though but we need to account for this time and start your bedtime process sooner....not good to stay up til 9pm or later on a school night!<br />
-You learned to play the piano last summer (the basics) and have recently been practising again. We are hoping to continue the lessons in the summer. You are good at it and enjoy hearing success as you play a song without stopping!<br />
-We have a little notebook that we write little notes back and forth to each other when we feel like it. I always smile when I see the pink notebook on my pillow...<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNF4aI9g0Kxg5jLZyosDLtyogkaXZ9pRUi5633O6j9dU716KMxTMnQjEFEp_rq3AiDZxFQDTYhK0ybAaqIwEdwiMhyphenhyphenLKFXr7tcsKm-CKfBcx4zkWGlpEfstVAVC9VYEWSaJQ-Af23k0rZ6/s1600/Iily_10th_bday+-+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNF4aI9g0Kxg5jLZyosDLtyogkaXZ9pRUi5633O6j9dU716KMxTMnQjEFEp_rq3AiDZxFQDTYhK0ybAaqIwEdwiMhyphenhyphenLKFXr7tcsKm-CKfBcx4zkWGlpEfstVAVC9VYEWSaJQ-Af23k0rZ6/s320/Iily_10th_bday+-+1.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You LOVE to ride on Dad's motorcycle!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX2wlbqrPC1iKNG8ESfmPPE0jIUF9eIlRzKAw9TXBGgZjg2tXwkVcOmIOO1yADIICzjK2mzdDS7C1lxnm7o4nDpOoKUxrQEd_LE0VyvvpDbBCNeX36b9ZuHYnX1GMf2kArBWulVs8eDUPN/s1600/Iily_10th_bday+-+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX2wlbqrPC1iKNG8ESfmPPE0jIUF9eIlRzKAw9TXBGgZjg2tXwkVcOmIOO1yADIICzjK2mzdDS7C1lxnm7o4nDpOoKUxrQEd_LE0VyvvpDbBCNeX36b9ZuHYnX1GMf2kArBWulVs8eDUPN/s320/Iily_10th_bday+-+2.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Animal lover...you adored these puppies at the horse farm.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj488LemoVH9sTg0mA2Sr6bQYG1IqY_EZh3KDbSi3575i0I9m1BWXIIG9BIndGQAtHznfKIM2U3jQ4PahyphenhyphenaXC_xSWGYPK64ogG1w4EAk0AsKtRpfb8sI7U4UW3AlAaIqYPHeeCz7JHQRfPg/s1600/Iily_10th_bday+-+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj488LemoVH9sTg0mA2Sr6bQYG1IqY_EZh3KDbSi3575i0I9m1BWXIIG9BIndGQAtHznfKIM2U3jQ4PahyphenhyphenaXC_xSWGYPK64ogG1w4EAk0AsKtRpfb8sI7U4UW3AlAaIqYPHeeCz7JHQRfPg/s320/Iily_10th_bday+-+4.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Very Chadian of you...</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio4oeRKz7q3cUd3teY0-Lu9e5h0x7Vvp2j7R_1mSWYP37Tfjag_cJEREOJWMfyyATSgIiykC8tGRaDVssBB7YiMeEx8uFx5WeSRjOJuaD31_eLM9HAt2iTy2QPSnfJz3ndCPyFnTaWKDvy/s1600/Iily_10th_bday+-+5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio4oeRKz7q3cUd3teY0-Lu9e5h0x7Vvp2j7R_1mSWYP37Tfjag_cJEREOJWMfyyATSgIiykC8tGRaDVssBB7YiMeEx8uFx5WeSRjOJuaD31_eLM9HAt2iTy2QPSnfJz3ndCPyFnTaWKDvy/s320/Iily_10th_bday+-+5.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Birthday Party Crew!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTARse7jeupYdM8Qz8g5gjG2JZKUc0gYQ1KDA_MRaz8DNOEecNIiT6mzfKFjlI6jAMPRdBIYgIMIcI8wncIXw_tQJnUz8MSDJINBC1GIkApfpfSCxDrsu1PdDYMaqeJDtRiz4gBM4avo5v/s1600/Iily_10th_bday+-+7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTARse7jeupYdM8Qz8g5gjG2JZKUc0gYQ1KDA_MRaz8DNOEecNIiT6mzfKFjlI6jAMPRdBIYgIMIcI8wncIXw_tQJnUz8MSDJINBC1GIkApfpfSCxDrsu1PdDYMaqeJDtRiz4gBM4avo5v/s320/Iily_10th_bday+-+7.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hilton swim up bar....you ordered a glass of ice! Haha!</td></tr>
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We love you a lot Lily. You are your own person Lily...quirks and 'that's just Lily' moments. I can see how you have matured and grown, not only in your character but in your faith as well. We are blessed to walk beside you as you continue to figure out who you are and what plans God has for your life. You are full of energy (more so at bedtime??!!) and joy and laughter and fun follows you wherever you go. Keep on smiling Lily! xoxo</div>
Merileehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00582532410342782015noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4247277678351068206.post-84682200313165536242019-04-22T06:59:00.003-07:002019-04-22T06:59:55.445-07:00Happy very, very belated 4th Birthday Evie!!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
It has taken me a while to put this post together...8 months to be exact...haha! Better late than never...<br />
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Evelinne Rose...is 4!!!! Wow!!! She has been practising for the last week how to hold up just 4 fingers (that thumb is tricky to hold down!) and scratching off a number on her birthday countdown calendar since early July!! Months of planning her birthday cake (rainbow theme) and talking about who she wants to invite and where she wants to go (the Hilton Hotel for a swim and some pool-side fries to eat). So, she is beyond excited that her birthday has finally arrived!<br />
Kaitlyn and Lily decorated until way past their bedtime the night before and made the place look super fun (I managed to find some rainbow balloons at a store here and I had brought some streamers from Canada) complete with a nice arrangement of gifts with fun wrapping paper and our favourite colour (turquoise blue) gift bags with little treasures that Evie will like!<br />
Evie is our baby...our little one who is growing up! Some days I tell her to stop growing up so fast and other days I wish she would just grow up!! :) We love that we have 3 girls and couldn't imagine our family without Evie. Here are some things that I want to remember about her at this age:<br />
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- Loves her blankie still (the tag is her favourite) and will bunch it up when in bed and squeeze it<br />
- Has a slight obsession with me...wants me to do everything with her...including bedtime, sitting beside her at dinner, pushing her on the swing, reading her books, playing with her (and no one else will do most of the time)<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAlNWt2qmUmPPIzE2-ZGEmEDVrC3IMDXQr-5qXp-LTKtlVjHSb-FPXzntlscKrj7KJQqx3U93YWzk8Ps0420Vhnxo4UcCr5yoq-4Aa98EysZOj7yeObRjifg7WMKxTMiqJFQnYLEwi6M28/s1600/Evie_4th_bday_blog+-+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAlNWt2qmUmPPIzE2-ZGEmEDVrC3IMDXQr-5qXp-LTKtlVjHSb-FPXzntlscKrj7KJQqx3U93YWzk8Ps0420Vhnxo4UcCr5yoq-4Aa98EysZOj7yeObRjifg7WMKxTMiqJFQnYLEwi6M28/s320/Evie_4th_bday_blog+-+1.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The birthday girl and her spoils!</td></tr>
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- She loves her squeezy pack and banana in bed routine with talking about good/bad of the day, praying and singing songs while I tickle her back...try to skip one of these things and she'll let you know!!<br />
- She LOVES our cat whiskers and tries desperately to have him sit or sleep with her but he bolts as soon as he sees freedom...<br />
-Evie learned how to ride a two wheeler again after a winter hiatus (when we were in Canada) and enjoyed pedalling like crazy around the compound....a persistent flat tire as hampered her biking joy but she is looking forward to riding again when we can locate a new inner tube (can't find that size in chad!!)<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj44AIf-CnevJ1yq1vw1mrtCpZH6NRTqifwGC63v9M-w8NkqY8GlT8GgVG9AHi6R2KJgLNZQVLpWN4zaMvW_uzibmgEWev0C0i9OtHGZ-Cfo1OBYDExkdAR-HK2NEiWim6E97lsIeyuY7mV/s1600/Evie_4th_bday_blog+-+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj44AIf-CnevJ1yq1vw1mrtCpZH6NRTqifwGC63v9M-w8NkqY8GlT8GgVG9AHi6R2KJgLNZQVLpWN4zaMvW_uzibmgEWev0C0i9OtHGZ-Cfo1OBYDExkdAR-HK2NEiWim6E97lsIeyuY7mV/s320/Evie_4th_bday_blog+-+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pink mashed potatoes with a candle that won't blow out!</td></tr>
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-Evie loves coke (I blame that on Phil!!), noodles, whole carrots, pink mashed potatoes (ever since we had that for valentines day...she has had a slight obsession!) and serving herself at the table<br />
- As soon as she sees me in the kitchen she wants to 'help' (aka lick whatever yummy thing I am making)...her favourite thing to make with me are banana mini muffins and she is getting good at spooning the batter into the muffin tin<br />
-She loves her friends here in Chad...Selina, Becca, Bethan, and Karis to name a few.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfJRIjUWA8cBJag-jVn2p0ktWOwMPYz5RS85akty569cq15CWkdB73uOYe5UAeSoHMBchMYi-81k9WN3fXkc3tVVSvcO27KdD0xp2kylsPBAJHa0nA7xDOTi-7AaP-yNQBotjUy6ZGIsOJ/s1600/Evie_4th_bday_blog+-+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfJRIjUWA8cBJag-jVn2p0ktWOwMPYz5RS85akty569cq15CWkdB73uOYe5UAeSoHMBchMYi-81k9WN3fXkc3tVVSvcO27KdD0xp2kylsPBAJHa0nA7xDOTi-7AaP-yNQBotjUy6ZGIsOJ/s320/Evie_4th_bday_blog+-+3.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Evie with her favorite guy...and a chameleon.</td></tr>
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-Evie loves playing house, barbies, playmobil, calico critters...and always wants me to play and make the characters 'talk'. Funny thing is, when I make them say things she says 'No! Don't say that...say this!....). I can never get it right apparently! :)<br />
- She is my grocery shopping buddy and knows how to milk the system to get a free candy from the shop owners...she just stands on her tip toes, peers over the counter and stares at the candy box! Works like a charm!! Of course her cuteness helps her succeed too!<br />
-Evie loves getting a 'ssant' (croissant) at the French bakery<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZDDflsc4pSwD1qlN5jrIKxbH4WWnJ_LX82PpuvOacuo-RQc2kE3h8kIDTUjZOb7ybe5sf0GSUkHHdt9-ArVn2xQ9b7xe-5PrwzLGMVySrUzLmjwxL_8D9Vtu6dWqJtSywNLNSLF8SA8Io/s1600/Evie_4th_bday_blog+-+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZDDflsc4pSwD1qlN5jrIKxbH4WWnJ_LX82PpuvOacuo-RQc2kE3h8kIDTUjZOb7ybe5sf0GSUkHHdt9-ArVn2xQ9b7xe-5PrwzLGMVySrUzLmjwxL_8D9Vtu6dWqJtSywNLNSLF8SA8Io/s320/Evie_4th_bday_blog+-+4.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Evie and her friend Merilee</td></tr>
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-Hours upon hours of swinging on the swing....guess who is pushing her? :)<br />
- Evie loves playing with her sisters...they are good sports and try to include her in their more sophisticated play...she does well (some of the time)<br />
-Evie knows what she wants and doesn't like to hear the word 'No'. We are working on that one. :)<br />
-Her favourite books that we read over and over are: Curious George goes to the hospital, Harry the dirty dog, Aunt Nina and her Nieces, Alfie gets in first, and Corduroy to name a few.<br />
-She loves to wear dresses and skirts and when she wears shorts she says 'Mom, I look like a boy!" (women and girls don't wear shorts here so she equates them with men!)<br />
-She gets dressed herself, and wants to do everything herself....brush her hair, teeth, and pour her own drinks, serve herself at dinner....all good practise...but with sometimes disastrous results (I don't like cleaning up messes!!!!)<br />
-She loves to carry around a little notebook at draw "E's" or more recently, people (the kind that have their arms and legs coming out of their head...so cute!!)<br />
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Evie is full of life and she wants to be heard and in the middle of whatever is going on. We love her to bits and think she is super cute...which is good because she, more than Kaitlyn or Lily, has tried our patience and tested our resolve as parents. She is strong-willed and we have to daily remind her of 'who is in charge'....some days she thinks she is in charge! It has been encouraging to see her slowly learn what we expect of her and begin to make good choices in those moments. Some days we wonder if any of it is sinking in...but other days it all clicks and goes well. Lots to pray about...<br />
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Evie, I love you! I love your sweet around the neck hugs and the way you like to hold my hand when you go to sleep. I love that you want to sit beside me, play with me...do everything just with me (even if I sometimes don't appreciate it in the moment). I love your silliness when you try to be funny and you wrinkle up your nose and move your lips to the side...You are precious to me. We were just reading today in Psalm 139 :13-14<br />
<br />
"For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well."<br />
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And we are so thankful that God made you just the way you are...and that He gave you to us. We love our Miss Evelinne Rose. Happy 4th!<br />
<br />
Love Mom.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinKEScJdzG7q6-5d-KwzSW3zosXWN22RcwixR7Uum-hFrI2wPOMNawm0zICrEPTMqOWXQbo4rJsDBhB8m9hW6dYbUjPVO_bhEX5cpl9ywmMN7fXvgiedw4wqVlAfcpFlDidSqbHd1MSXzc/s1600/Evie_4th_bday+-+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinKEScJdzG7q6-5d-KwzSW3zosXWN22RcwixR7Uum-hFrI2wPOMNawm0zICrEPTMqOWXQbo4rJsDBhB8m9hW6dYbUjPVO_bhEX5cpl9ywmMN7fXvgiedw4wqVlAfcpFlDidSqbHd1MSXzc/s320/Evie_4th_bday+-+1.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Practising to be a busy mom!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl7kNqRDt-Ftx-EQvrMuMzKTOjHat4GztqsH6Qia-LVYAlwBYwLdh4Hr7LoW67kMOmhu9b92ZO-QLP__Y8TdHrwPYkARRATcqpv8N7mTB2ZtrGkSQ8fqFUb-2GjHh0XpWPYjj2s7xP17Pj/s1600/Evie_4th_bday+-+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl7kNqRDt-Ftx-EQvrMuMzKTOjHat4GztqsH6Qia-LVYAlwBYwLdh4Hr7LoW67kMOmhu9b92ZO-QLP__Y8TdHrwPYkARRATcqpv8N7mTB2ZtrGkSQ8fqFUb-2GjHh0XpWPYjj2s7xP17Pj/s320/Evie_4th_bday+-+2.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Friends are sooooo important to you!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDwAQ188HlIoLalTDeSu2lMCOk-dxA8luyBWOMQlXPb6FNg5BVs34NvGiRM_47s5hyphenhyphenGVoAp-Cby7Y0FR4_rHg2nNPDjklrRwoRw20WpaT5OzBpss3mxkzCnIqsqIV4RBMZF4q_qSaOp5zI/s1600/Evie_4th_bday+-+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDwAQ188HlIoLalTDeSu2lMCOk-dxA8luyBWOMQlXPb6FNg5BVs34NvGiRM_47s5hyphenhyphenGVoAp-Cby7Y0FR4_rHg2nNPDjklrRwoRw20WpaT5OzBpss3mxkzCnIqsqIV4RBMZF4q_qSaOp5zI/s320/Evie_4th_bday+-+3.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Going for a walk...to buy some gum from the corner store</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimdlg24g3EEx0iyQbbNGWeJI-wozzB4zHivihx_GBLzeQDjxOz8kaiYtLfaCMXOsHSMH4NeFlLPluUOtuRbVmvVyrxemUy0aW48pU3T4dL-jKVnkt6g_0r7Zx6eSUWiD-_oxR8b8j-9Xk_/s1600/Evie_4th_bday+-+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimdlg24g3EEx0iyQbbNGWeJI-wozzB4zHivihx_GBLzeQDjxOz8kaiYtLfaCMXOsHSMH4NeFlLPluUOtuRbVmvVyrxemUy0aW48pU3T4dL-jKVnkt6g_0r7Zx6eSUWiD-_oxR8b8j-9Xk_/s320/Evie_4th_bday+-+4.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Your bestie....Selina</td></tr>
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Merileehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00582532410342782015noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4247277678351068206.post-58018518411946669282019-04-22T05:02:00.000-07:002019-04-22T05:02:52.215-07:00Happy (VERY Belated) 10th Birthday Kaitlyn!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Kaitlyn Elise. I cannot believe you are 10 now!!! Wow!! You have grown into such a beautiful girl...inside and out. You are a friendly, social girl who loves to have fun! As you grow, we are beginning to figure out where some of your passions lie and how you process things and how you handle conflict and what your love language(s) are. We are so proud of the way you have handled a tremendous amount of change in the last 5 years of your life...you have had your struggles...mostly with having to make new friends everywhere you go (missing your old ones and how much time it takes to make new, deep friendships) but you are resilient and haven't given up and continue to pour yourself into the relationships that you have made during our time back in Canada...despite knowing we will be heading back to Chad next year and you will have to say goodbye again. We love your outgoing nature, your sweet smile and funny antics. You are our first born and you play that role well in your interactions with your sisters...a friend to them but also you are a huge help to me in taking care of them..whether it's getting breakfast for Evie or helping her zip her zipper or reminding Lily of something...I really appreciate the help and we sure missed that and you when you went to camp for a week in July. We love that you are in our family...you are a joy!<br />
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Here are some things that we want to remember about you and what you did this year:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2Z77A9-g2dJg4-mi2O6oAIgf7N9s2fWqabszaFmhcjJrC0v2lNAypDoGi54TJUSfm_OWmeT947SLHWl1qvwfgZ3DRVqGG2rjLpMzXj8va0Uq7y11gKpBnvS4gaIeCG9iol-rKVgLzLiQA/s1600/Kailtyn%2527s_10th_bday+-+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2Z77A9-g2dJg4-mi2O6oAIgf7N9s2fWqabszaFmhcjJrC0v2lNAypDoGi54TJUSfm_OWmeT947SLHWl1qvwfgZ3DRVqGG2rjLpMzXj8va0Uq7y11gKpBnvS4gaIeCG9iol-rKVgLzLiQA/s320/Kailtyn%2527s_10th_bday+-+1.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My beautiful Kaitlyn</td></tr>
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-You had your first real paying job for 2 months this year....a paper route that you shared with Lily (and Evie...kind of). It was hard work (not what you expected) but you stuck with it despite asking us if you could put in your 'two weeks notice' after the first week of delivery! Haha!<br />
-You really enjoyed horseback riding and were starting to get the hang of 'posting' and controlling the movement of the horse...you are looking forward to continuing to ride when we get back to Chad<br />
-You enjoyed some extracurricular activities since arriving in Canada such as swimming lessons, gymnastics, and guitar lessons...<br />
-You volunteered at Auntie Emmy's work: 10,000 Villages for an afternoon and you were super excited about getting to help at a REAL store!<br />
-You got your ears pierced! After months of thinking it over, you finally committed and now one of your favourite things to buy are earrings! You got a gift certificate from Claire's for your birthday so I'm sure you will find some cute earrings to buy!<br />
-You went to Beacon Bible Camp for a week this past summer....didn't know a soul there but off you went and had a great time! You were already talking about going back there next year!<br />
- You took guitar lessons every other week, practised a bunch and had the amazing chance to play once a month in a kids worship band at church as well as play in the family Christmas Eve service.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8doInmMIsXP0SXeHaE5BqVqKcxnFqP-6hdInydBS7Boi4ApQ-dIb50Z-FYehAodP71Sh8wy42sPiWs7QPuVXD3oj5IT4dcPmvYUJaVW_wWQIDc0XeD95bMN8VROj7Gyu3oE7isaikMeKb/s1600/Kailtyn%2527s_10th_bday+-+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8doInmMIsXP0SXeHaE5BqVqKcxnFqP-6hdInydBS7Boi4ApQ-dIb50Z-FYehAodP71Sh8wy42sPiWs7QPuVXD3oj5IT4dcPmvYUJaVW_wWQIDc0XeD95bMN8VROj7Gyu3oE7isaikMeKb/s320/Kailtyn%2527s_10th_bday+-+3.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Your love of horses shines through each week!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDue2AhLXC0IqhAFBmkgMBylM2n19fPKcJx2tL7-0Aj5EF_P_YpfpySUAgJuCk653LqvGGeEYA3G4bGzFs6TDkR0Zjv7zbYeRviHrdKz1VqBZ-zhVucozOyMjuWajU4PAbjtLZl9FEcCPA/s1600/Kailtyn%2527s_10th_bday+-+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDue2AhLXC0IqhAFBmkgMBylM2n19fPKcJx2tL7-0Aj5EF_P_YpfpySUAgJuCk653LqvGGeEYA3G4bGzFs6TDkR0Zjv7zbYeRviHrdKz1VqBZ-zhVucozOyMjuWajU4PAbjtLZl9FEcCPA/s320/Kailtyn%2527s_10th_bday+-+4.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You LOVE playing in a band!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdLnYxF9T629S9cCzCTMz7_TacE9s92LghPciEeaV1SP38Z4QGvAXtQK61_EsgPFOlSMFdu22LlGXk51_2DkWBq9AiICjRCdDBAkq-gitJuzvVuD9k3FgGBVCv2_6obBMzW6Z6vQEJ5DW8/s1600/Kailtyn%2527s_10th_bday+-+5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdLnYxF9T629S9cCzCTMz7_TacE9s92LghPciEeaV1SP38Z4QGvAXtQK61_EsgPFOlSMFdu22LlGXk51_2DkWBq9AiICjRCdDBAkq-gitJuzvVuD9k3FgGBVCv2_6obBMzW6Z6vQEJ5DW8/s320/Kailtyn%2527s_10th_bday+-+5.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Candy bar is open!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY-_avLNBt1mpphD3hG-ce3pZCqItjEz3qPyAAMuV1dCM4zCW1NmA-EtwdaF7-MCRaPHVV7cmg9DPNl14p91fFySqu7zCEUqZrD67qIuPtTjhc6sMvjgP6Vs7Zl6xLTxdYOZQqfQTFNR28/s1600/Kailtyn%2527s_10th_bday+-+6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1140" data-original-width="1600" height="227" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY-_avLNBt1mpphD3hG-ce3pZCqItjEz3qPyAAMuV1dCM4zCW1NmA-EtwdaF7-MCRaPHVV7cmg9DPNl14p91fFySqu7zCEUqZrD67qIuPtTjhc6sMvjgP6Vs7Zl6xLTxdYOZQqfQTFNR28/s320/Kailtyn%2527s_10th_bday+-+6.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Your bestie...and sister....!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEise2X7V0whJ_6KTmZDTN0oXj69zkkr4LMepVWZWz1lA4-gei3lX06mdwqx02zrcMk0FedUR5cm-VnW7Cqxz3dLf34csBPIzGLoJng6M58_a0aUSa2pigbaNrL2Gvg18T7OoDGR7qqpAPiU/s1600/Kailtyn%2527s_10th_bday+-+7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEise2X7V0whJ_6KTmZDTN0oXj69zkkr4LMepVWZWz1lA4-gei3lX06mdwqx02zrcMk0FedUR5cm-VnW7Cqxz3dLf34csBPIzGLoJng6M58_a0aUSa2pigbaNrL2Gvg18T7OoDGR7qqpAPiU/s320/Kailtyn%2527s_10th_bday+-+7.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Grandma's masterpiece...gymnastic/horse/guitar themed cake!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIX-XOn_wR53WnfV2lLun0YGEj5rlKLOe0CW1C4FwO2cLmpjd8Av7EgB1kywNjp8usYh9PI6KEG1tEJiCgv0qZ7pNm5CI5wYCLGxKyoWAkDiBlpP0LlbCzCYRpdV8tdfKpjh6NonF2JRA3/s1600/Kailtyn%2527s_10th_bday+-+8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIX-XOn_wR53WnfV2lLun0YGEj5rlKLOe0CW1C4FwO2cLmpjd8Av7EgB1kywNjp8usYh9PI6KEG1tEJiCgv0qZ7pNm5CI5wYCLGxKyoWAkDiBlpP0LlbCzCYRpdV8tdfKpjh6NonF2JRA3/s320/Kailtyn%2527s_10th_bday+-+8.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Henderson girls</td></tr>
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This blog post was written a while ago and never finished but I will post it none the less as I want to remember the things I wrote down about Kaitlyn. I haven't even published her Happy 11th Birthday blog post yet!!! Time flies!<br />
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Merileehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00582532410342782015noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4247277678351068206.post-4508071044476403822018-08-23T12:34:00.000-07:002018-08-23T12:34:59.071-07:00Happy 11th Kaitlyn!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGsw9PwPFrtZt2MMTJi7ed0Qgo7rTutflUeG4uMhxOJa9Keq-mDdIdCk6knZKQDfPqUeeqe7y4aGmBcSOi7yzAq3pzfKAnMnEDiHcZhVEKDijjEiaTxXVkJUfI6-CY2F0FaBav85C9uxps/s1600/Kaitlyn%2527s+11th+bday+-+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="853" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGsw9PwPFrtZt2MMTJi7ed0Qgo7rTutflUeG4uMhxOJa9Keq-mDdIdCk6knZKQDfPqUeeqe7y4aGmBcSOi7yzAq3pzfKAnMnEDiHcZhVEKDijjEiaTxXVkJUfI6-CY2F0FaBav85C9uxps/s320/Kaitlyn%2527s+11th+bday+-+1.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I love walking this journey with you!</td></tr>
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My oh my. Kaitlyn is getting so old!!! I remember my 11th birthday but only from pictures that I've seen I think...and now I have an 11 year old daughter!! Time is flying by! I have loved seeing Kaitlyn mature and transition from a little girl into a pre-teen. No longer are there 'brush you hair' battles...she brushes her hair all the time and is normally awake before me and as I groggily meander out of my room in the morning, she is there just putting the finishing touches on her hair or outfit! Eventhough Kaitlyn still plays outside a bunch, I am finding that she spends more time inside doing crafts or journaling or listening to music. That being said, Kaitlyn is always up for a game of 'pioneers' outside or playing 'house' or 'restaurant' in the tree house, or a making up a fun trampoline game or playing hide and seek with walkie talkies. She is super creative and imaginative...always dressing up as someone or dressing others up in a costume of some sort as part of the game they are playing. She loves fashion and hair but also loves art and music. Kaitlyn still plays her guitar despite not having formal lessons...she occasionally will play worship with me on a 'home church' Sunday morning at our house.<br />
It has been a roller coaster of hello's and goodbye's for Kaitlyn these past 2 years....but she is such a resilient girl...friends are super important to her and she has had to say a lot of goodbye's to good friends. She seems to do that well though...always believing their friendship will last despite the distance and making an effort via email and FaceTime to maintain those relationships. As a result, she has a best friends in Australia, Kenya and Canada. Friends around the world!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJdLme3FmLKaL6JxYOJJnVMVkRYSz4bQJzrElChscSJZaozDe9CJDAaZx5wqJFEklXALvU5Hzb8IbaQlsM0RxeV26KGa4548gyPFUik2ZsEwy-HbqUl64_oAihSOTdLVq7wTGIqaAMHm6H/s1600/Kaitlyn%2527s+11th+bday+-+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJdLme3FmLKaL6JxYOJJnVMVkRYSz4bQJzrElChscSJZaozDe9CJDAaZx5wqJFEklXALvU5Hzb8IbaQlsM0RxeV26KGa4548gyPFUik2ZsEwy-HbqUl64_oAihSOTdLVq7wTGIqaAMHm6H/s320/Kaitlyn%2527s+11th+bday+-+2.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Breakfast in bed for the birthday girl!</td></tr>
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As she grows and matures it has been encouraging to see her conscience grow as well..admitting more readily when she has done wrong and asking forgiveness without being prompted to apologize. Kaitlyn can't wait to be of 'babysitting age' and has purposefully read an old babysitting manual we had laying around and has been practising her skills on a sweet almost 2 year old boy that lives on the compound with us. She has won him over with her sweetness and patience and persistence in befriending him. Now he wants Kaitlyn to push him on the swing, and not his dad! I know she will be a favourite babysitter of many kids soon!<br />
Kaitlyn has wanted her own room forever and just two weeks ago she moved into our spare room (no Air Conditioning in this room...hence the spare room) and has made it quite the cozy space. Despite boxes and random things being stored in there...Kaitlyn has rearranged this and that and hung up some of her pictures and art and organized shelves and a bedside table and loves her new space. It is cool enough to sleep without an AC but she may have to move back in with Lily and Evie come hot season next year. She is just getting to that age when she wants more alone time...less '4 year old sister climbing all over my bed' time! :)<br />
We love Kaitlyn! She is such an encouragement to Phil and I to keep on going in our parenting journey! :) On those challenging days with Evie or when I feel like I am saying the same things over and over again...we can see who Kaitlyn is becoming and how she has changed and matured and know that our hard work will pay off....eventually for our other two!<br />
Happy Birthday to our sweet first born. We love you. You are such a blessing to us and your sisters!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMU8eOblo7ber9o3E0fJW0mkdfhpf0TpEAv3W5MVnCZUDYOfCq41MEy6BBkSI88ZNaODCm6Fh3iIzOf9bVOdNPyBZt1oVUSJomH7B3yFmObu5nDdCnA1lb9k-QMu0JpUHDjEpkPDoD2RH9/s1600/IMG_0101.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMU8eOblo7ber9o3E0fJW0mkdfhpf0TpEAv3W5MVnCZUDYOfCq41MEy6BBkSI88ZNaODCm6Fh3iIzOf9bVOdNPyBZt1oVUSJomH7B3yFmObu5nDdCnA1lb9k-QMu0JpUHDjEpkPDoD2RH9/s320/IMG_0101.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The party crew...Ice Cream Sundays!</td></tr>
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Merileehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00582532410342782015noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4247277678351068206.post-71882408729090113652018-08-16T13:50:00.001-07:002018-08-16T14:04:04.673-07:00Ideas from an Ex-pat Kitchen: Banana or Mango SmoothieLadies. I must admit I've never been the biggest fan of bananas....ever since I had food poisoning-like sickness shortly after eating a banana, I couldn't bring myself to eat one for YEARS (thinking I was allergic)....BUT.....several years ago, I decided to give bananas another try and voila! I discovered that I am not allergic to bananas AND they actually taste good in just about everything....ok, not <i>everything</i> but certainly lots of baked goods and to my recent discovery: smoothies!<br />
I do admit that the appeal of bananas increases when it is the cheapest and most readily available fruit in Chad.....but to be honest, I really, really, really like this recipe....and so do my kids. If you've written off bananas like I had....I encourage you to give them another try.....this recipe could be the thing that makes you fall in love with bananas all over again :)<br />
As for mangoes, I never really ate them before living in Chad as they are considered an 'exotic' fruit in Canada and therefore outrageously expensive to buy so we just never bought them. BUT, since mangoes are a dime a dozen around here when they are in season, I discovered that freezing pieces of mango and adding them to my smoothie recipe (milk powder, water and vanilla), we could enjoy a creamy, naturally sweet fruit drink that is filling and healthy!<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Banana <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Deliciously cold & naturally sweet</td></tr>
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or Mango Smoothie</b></span><br />
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1. Cover baking sheet or large plate with parchment or wax paper.<br />
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2. Slice 3 medium bananas or cut up several mangoes and place fruit pieces on baking sheet/plate in a single layer (do not layer them as you want to freeze them individually for easy blending).<br />
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3. Freeze for 3 hours minimum (can spend all day/night in freezer if need be). The fruit needs to be frozen in order to provide that creamy, thick texture.<br />
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4. Remove tray/plate from freezer and lift up the parchment paper on one side to unstick the fruit from the plate/tray. Continue to remove frozen banana or mango slices and place them in a <b>medium</b> ziplock freezer bag for storage. (This amount of sliced fruit will make enough for 3-4 Ikea kids-size cups).<br />
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5. Place 1/2 the bag of frozen bananas or mangoes into a blender.<br />
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6. Add 1/3 Cup milk powder. *<br />
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7. Add 1/3 Cup cold water.<br />
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8. Add 1 teaspoon vanilla extract.<br />
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9. Blend until mixture is smooth and thick.<br />
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10. Pour into cups and serve right away.<br />
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* If you live in a place that does not use milk powder but rather liquid milk, add the same amount of milk (1/3 Cup) but do not add any water otherwise it will be too liquidy.<br />
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**I freeze any leftovers into popsicle molds and serve banana or mango smoothie popsicles the next time my kids want something cold!<br />
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** I keep bags of frozen banana slices and mango pieces in the freezer at all times, so this smoothie process is a quick one! I just freeze the slices and store them in bags for quick removal and use.<br />
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<br />Merileehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00582532410342782015noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4247277678351068206.post-87085504876544747452018-08-16T13:34:00.002-07:002018-08-16T14:09:58.667-07:00Sheep for LunchSeveral months ago, we had the pleasure of hosting 80 people (half kids, half adults) for a MAF social here at our compound. We throw this kind of party twice a year, and invite all those who work for MAF and their families to join us for a day of fun and food. A small way of saying 'Thank you' and showing how much we appreciate all their efforts at work.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb0gNvkZJGR3lWsJSQE-SLAEjMNNF9v1BwB0bElaU-qCs0Bbuhoi14obSjse-4IN9M0wTYqnt8DdqVn2s8H72hN59YaTlUOTNXOnC0LBPwgJnb6uDF0VoqhwIeUuUW7tOP14RAQ6HG8fIq/s1600/MAF+Social+-+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb0gNvkZJGR3lWsJSQE-SLAEjMNNF9v1BwB0bElaU-qCs0Bbuhoi14obSjse-4IN9M0wTYqnt8DdqVn2s8H72hN59YaTlUOTNXOnC0LBPwgJnb6uDF0VoqhwIeUuUW7tOP14RAQ6HG8fIq/s320/MAF+Social+-+1.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bocce Ball...called 'boule' here. Phil picked up some pointers from the experts! </td></tr>
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We ordered 4 crates of pop (96 bottles!), 2 large sheep stuffed with Spanish flavoured rice (it was our only option!) and vegetables, 150 tortillas and the MAF international staff made 5 cakes and brought 3 huge watermelons and 2 large pineapples....and we ended up with just a little bowl of leftover meat and rice which we gave to the guards on the night shift.<br />
Phil hung a huge tarp to provide extra shade (it was hot season here....and it's 40 degrees in the shade....so NO ONE wanted to sit in the sun!) and we laid out a huge tarp for kids to sit on and managed to scrounge up close to 50 chairs.<br />
We played some fun 'minute to win it' type games...the highlight was the Oreo challenge where you stick an Oreo (icing side) on your cheek and have to use your face muscles to get it down to your mouth. People were falling off their chairs laughing....the guy who won looked hilarious as he tried to move the Oreo down! Another fun game was the 'doughnut on the string' game...we bought some little Timbit-like doughnuts from a lady we know and made several different strings with doughnuts on them. We had the kids go and then the guys take a turn....we held it high and made the men jump to get them! So much fun!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBuNvEF6g9dCcwSDRrjiZDsrgTeWGx0NEuFHbAydooV7QaPXxEPARNAdGMPNH5K1koDUrwVsRjWVHwgtd397I47AGIPWC9BfL9D0R9s7bBa8TtBZwXvCGl8-on9GU23S6DNQonTajjLcNL/s1600/MAF+Social+-+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBuNvEF6g9dCcwSDRrjiZDsrgTeWGx0NEuFHbAydooV7QaPXxEPARNAdGMPNH5K1koDUrwVsRjWVHwgtd397I47AGIPWC9BfL9D0R9s7bBa8TtBZwXvCGl8-on9GU23S6DNQonTajjLcNL/s320/MAF+Social+-+2.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Water games were a hit with the kids...</td></tr>
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The biggest hit by far was the ongoing tournament of Bocce Ball...who knew Chadians were MASTERS at that game??!!!!<br />
After everyone was fed and satisfied with dessert, the adults hung around for several more hours and talked and played and relaxed. The kids had the time of their lives....riding bikes, jumping on the trampoline (like 10 kids at a time!), swinging, sliding, running and climbing. Everywhere I looked, there were kids having fun. It was so good to see our friends enjoying a break from the daily grind and relaxing for a bit.<br />
I attempted French in a bunch of different conversations...and managed to keep one going for a while. She was very gracious to me as I butchered French words but hay, she understood me and we had a good chat. <br />
We waved goodbye to the last visitor around 4:30...we were exhausted but happy knowing everyone had a great time. I loved looking around during the day and seeing everyone chatting and having fun....we are blessed to have such an amazing team of people who work for MAF.<br />
<br />Until the next 'fête' however...I think I'll stick with chicken! :)<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCXTkkvOt02_odYB8j4FFp2yLE2N5XLl-2DE5KGV6t1QBTpuphUNsVOy8gZXHEtbSL6wC4BFDOHoP44fUzcDV6LjQ4YeX2qAYuBwJ9OEd2_S1oRfSPEPyZEnoQ-TjP06uLiKcVL6AvV5qf/s1600/MAF+Social+-+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCXTkkvOt02_odYB8j4FFp2yLE2N5XLl-2DE5KGV6t1QBTpuphUNsVOy8gZXHEtbSL6wC4BFDOHoP44fUzcDV6LjQ4YeX2qAYuBwJ9OEd2_S1oRfSPEPyZEnoQ-TjP06uLiKcVL6AvV5qf/s320/MAF+Social+-+3.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Minute to win it games...balancing a plate on your head while stacking blocks on it!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBomCwYVfDTfoLhQ0s20J1CBlGaBpd0MVU2gK9zxBpU_POw6tNps-dYro4KDfTUq_4MwVDlLM8-QoeD_Ir8mlNqZHMfUGHPzp4Z6O8Lt0rhMWx7yFolmK5j55HOaisj8OgrF-F-EGLqKd8/s1600/MAF+Social+-+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBomCwYVfDTfoLhQ0s20J1CBlGaBpd0MVU2gK9zxBpU_POw6tNps-dYro4KDfTUq_4MwVDlLM8-QoeD_Ir8mlNqZHMfUGHPzp4Z6O8Lt0rhMWx7yFolmK5j55HOaisj8OgrF-F-EGLqKd8/s320/MAF+Social+-+4.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The stuffed sheep! </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWumbTD-zPwRV6gp7ANFMohWv-gLP4Ds3moVCdJtrpclItcGLgyyjzQtQnD52JQfF3n4_h0C52bbiZRpAwnKMTl5jAUyasFL__4MpeIuBEtqBwsYJOtFmNtcUkwO_KJbe8agpod97grk0L/s1600/MAF+Social+-+5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWumbTD-zPwRV6gp7ANFMohWv-gLP4Ds3moVCdJtrpclItcGLgyyjzQtQnD52JQfF3n4_h0C52bbiZRpAwnKMTl5jAUyasFL__4MpeIuBEtqBwsYJOtFmNtcUkwO_KJbe8agpod97grk0L/s320/MAF+Social+-+5.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kaitlyn with her friend Iris</td></tr>
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Merileehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00582532410342782015noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4247277678351068206.post-25778242061703878892018-04-12T13:53:00.002-07:002018-04-12T13:53:37.187-07:00Long awaited return to ChadSo, we rolled off the plane into a warm 31 degrees (we left Toronto when it was -10!!) and it was surprising how it felt like coming home. The sights, smells, sounds and language felt familiar and we could both feel the excitement inside as we embarked on this two year journey in Chad. I think we both wondered how it would feel when we first arrived but those thoughts were answered quickly with a deep sense of familiarity.<br />
Of course, despite this feeling more like home than we thought, still we have butchered our way through French (ok, well, maybe that is just me...Phil's French is great!), needed to relearn to drive these crazy streets, become familiar with the prices and currency again (cash only....I am missing debit!!) and meet the new families on our team and all the new faces that have arrived in Chad during our time back in Canada. It has been so amazing to reconnect with good friends and I look forward to deepening those friendships as we journey together in this challenging country.<br />
Phil has been up in the plane several times, not flying but sitting in the right seat, observing and becoming familiar with the new navigation system that was put in the plane while we were back in Canada. He has been studying like crazy for his flight evaluation next week and then after that, he will resume his regular flying.<br />
The girls have enjoyed being back at school (well, maybe not the homework part!) and have some great kids to play around with. Kaitlyn and Lily are the oldest on the compound but that doesn't stop them from having a lot of fun with all the littles who want to be a part of their make believe games and pool fun. Kaitlyn is hoping to gain some babysitting experience over the next two years and there are plenty of kids to practise on here! :)<br />
Thanks for your prayers and thoughts and well wishes...we have felt super supported throughout our time back in Canada and that has continued as we returned back to Chad. Looking forward to posting more stories and recipes and anything else on my mind that is of importance to stay connected with you all.<br />
Here is a p bit of a photo montage of our first couple of weeks...<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLqjZpRgqD0VUoIETgAkBGMoxCGNkVJ0LeMAlxWh_-3BtHqmtZB_y9a1NC7qXCFtmLAtOHu6hpTRy2X3ObqRqmkrwDkXhILl8WxUDPHcdijmJdrnEF2tcNgGv6NOdcUb0q21EqPObF7ByD/s1600/BlogApril2016+-+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="192" data-original-width="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLqjZpRgqD0VUoIETgAkBGMoxCGNkVJ0LeMAlxWh_-3BtHqmtZB_y9a1NC7qXCFtmLAtOHu6hpTRy2X3ObqRqmkrwDkXhILl8WxUDPHcdijmJdrnEF2tcNgGv6NOdcUb0q21EqPObF7ByD/s1600/BlogApril2016+-+1.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Over 50 kids attended the Homeschool week (mid March) at Wellspring Academy</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJEIt9Bh5NFct0GLHUyDcLyFchlnMxnjU5axWtxsbFTjsJcFuyVjxrybWDwDCWUjBaVRIYl3Z9rT8CW-UwZ60JN2Gu5gNrmB4z2tc2-22xLkQR8Hgh0cRLgbQ-avAuMu4LcSVb93lHEw_Z/s1600/BlogApril2016+-+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="256" data-original-width="192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJEIt9Bh5NFct0GLHUyDcLyFchlnMxnjU5axWtxsbFTjsJcFuyVjxrybWDwDCWUjBaVRIYl3Z9rT8CW-UwZ60JN2Gu5gNrmB4z2tc2-22xLkQR8Hgh0cRLgbQ-avAuMu4LcSVb93lHEw_Z/s1600/BlogApril2016+-+2.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Evie watching Phil work his magic on the grass (precious grass!!)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUlHHAjufwTQrC2pGzwMpUIU1wkw3k5RrBlMZj2emryPrTn8uyYBrptw8XCBC5emdKMPIXONKb4gYwOIqkPnfiTwjmlWZTY_y3jowkeQeSm8fX5TRXMYbweuygp0mXuZPbtucHP27PQzaz/s1600/BlogApril2016+-+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="256" data-original-width="192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUlHHAjufwTQrC2pGzwMpUIU1wkw3k5RrBlMZj2emryPrTn8uyYBrptw8XCBC5emdKMPIXONKb4gYwOIqkPnfiTwjmlWZTY_y3jowkeQeSm8fX5TRXMYbweuygp0mXuZPbtucHP27PQzaz/s1600/BlogApril2016+-+3.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sand pit fun!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNEIZ3LFzW8kBVRRG6eu09wqkqt-mJl9RcAYgApXu4pxF4iavXg1IWEetGtvH8e51sRb_2NETWtZbPdRLB1SdfT8XrKGGK0ln1Ztm9dQjIGHgWexvH17iBZDUyRZKLMVn0GNougNVlLDfO/s1600/BlogApril2016+-+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="256" data-original-width="192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNEIZ3LFzW8kBVRRG6eu09wqkqt-mJl9RcAYgApXu4pxF4iavXg1IWEetGtvH8e51sRb_2NETWtZbPdRLB1SdfT8XrKGGK0ln1Ztm9dQjIGHgWexvH17iBZDUyRZKLMVn0GNougNVlLDfO/s1600/BlogApril2016+-+4.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">About to take the plunge in our little compound pool</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLHxSbM4Nh7wW8TishMN3jwpxDYTvOZAU7LVW3emcCbZEPy-uyNyid_QSR2pQ_9ab8e6ltmIgXGHl8fU36LcMyHKrhewrDI1Y88Nno-FM_U4teTJSg7R28K6V-jp7GjG7ZU8Vn6IS8EEhS/s1600/BlogApril2016+-+5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="198" data-original-width="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLHxSbM4Nh7wW8TishMN3jwpxDYTvOZAU7LVW3emcCbZEPy-uyNyid_QSR2pQ_9ab8e6ltmIgXGHl8fU36LcMyHKrhewrDI1Y88Nno-FM_U4teTJSg7R28K6V-jp7GjG7ZU8Vn6IS8EEhS/s1600/BlogApril2016+-+5.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ladies Bible study at my house! 22 of us smooshed in!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8ibavQXlj-tBCkO8MrerUas5GDuzbGLv-YsJbzrTkLxY9eay9tkWo7pTCR679FDnot2V6S2ejIRhNETBSja-NJBud6gcEk48CpHWBnEkVrDLmNmvGNAPaOsMIrfVNebTMAfO354djoP5n/s1600/BlogApril2016+-+6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="256" data-original-width="192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8ibavQXlj-tBCkO8MrerUas5GDuzbGLv-YsJbzrTkLxY9eay9tkWo7pTCR679FDnot2V6S2ejIRhNETBSja-NJBud6gcEk48CpHWBnEkVrDLmNmvGNAPaOsMIrfVNebTMAfO354djoP5n/s1600/BlogApril2016+-+6.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stayin' cool on a HOT day</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWCIG3ZbqZyZn_iFLtEn0BYSWDEHaym1h_J3TfVH5Ed5qHj7OuBIQvOXmBUZHM9VS9gi68VHASfbiu84Q_6Qfly1jbRjERjcLTa28Y4yeZX02RjTS4DBGHGFejdalsDkFagZXzGZ-1PBFn/s1600/BlogApril2016+-+7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="192" data-original-width="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWCIG3ZbqZyZn_iFLtEn0BYSWDEHaym1h_J3TfVH5Ed5qHj7OuBIQvOXmBUZHM9VS9gi68VHASfbiu84Q_6Qfly1jbRjERjcLTa28Y4yeZX02RjTS4DBGHGFejdalsDkFagZXzGZ-1PBFn/s1600/BlogApril2016+-+7.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Teaching Sunday school... it's outside and we try to stay in the shade!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Whiskers looking for some alone time...Evie's not having any of it!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUj1y7Laog7k1Ph8vxvv_DwBcNvOzk8svoscaPM8euq-4RBoqlLXE9nV_j5KAZ1mKl_HL3Ic-GsCZuhd23CY0-vcjwte7uEbwkV-bBYReKW2yxv7V0hmPxMpnZIHS2WRH9FJPbPFv_nQwf/s1600/BlogApril2016+-+8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="256" data-original-width="192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUj1y7Laog7k1Ph8vxvv_DwBcNvOzk8svoscaPM8euq-4RBoqlLXE9nV_j5KAZ1mKl_HL3Ic-GsCZuhd23CY0-vcjwte7uEbwkV-bBYReKW2yxv7V0hmPxMpnZIHS2WRH9FJPbPFv_nQwf/s1600/BlogApril2016+-+8.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I think they could maybe fit one more thing in there...haha!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFadSYYzXIm1vj8Zc3gwbMZwLAGTyW52188I6YtzM2DxkTBq-b3d-UdEtkgLDxquB8nqWYG448DnWXM6R5GrDsYlrPlFh4MMlhY568XVXPjHaVr-ZZwVjzdq3HFM0oZ6Ux1dYNv9PetqQX/s1600/BlogApril2016+-+10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="192" data-original-width="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFadSYYzXIm1vj8Zc3gwbMZwLAGTyW52188I6YtzM2DxkTBq-b3d-UdEtkgLDxquB8nqWYG448DnWXM6R5GrDsYlrPlFh4MMlhY568XVXPjHaVr-ZZwVjzdq3HFM0oZ6Ux1dYNv9PetqQX/s1600/BlogApril2016+-+10.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">MAF Beauties</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnurhLxPIL8zE2Y_PnvNoDB8VbjxYe4oYV5C-LG4ZbSQocrJj1czEbpC4wfIhSOuC-NCd81N-10bPZfQzYU9IdKCZmg8vSpNhgqoO9ylvisZbys9DDoFMdTWKSEmb7jLqNiGCfc4VhkhHg/s1600/BlogApril2016+-+11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="192" data-original-width="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnurhLxPIL8zE2Y_PnvNoDB8VbjxYe4oYV5C-LG4ZbSQocrJj1czEbpC4wfIhSOuC-NCd81N-10bPZfQzYU9IdKCZmg8vSpNhgqoO9ylvisZbys9DDoFMdTWKSEmb7jLqNiGCfc4VhkhHg/s1600/BlogApril2016+-+11.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Amazing friends, hard goodbyes as they leave for at least 2 years</td></tr>
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<br />Merileehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00582532410342782015noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4247277678351068206.post-89088934154804810802017-09-16T10:33:00.000-07:002017-09-16T10:33:02.158-07:00Happy (belated) 3rd Birthday Evie!My baby isn't really a baby anymore....of course she will always be the baby of the family...but she is growing up in so many ways! We love her to bits...despite her toddler antics...she is a vibrant personality who knows exactly what she wants and most of the time wants to do everything by herself! Independent, sweet, silly, and with a fiery temper...it's hard to imagine our family without her.<br />
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Here are some things we want to remember about Evie at this age:<br />
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- Evie loves her plethora of muslin blankets...doesn't matter which one she takes to bed...as long as it has a tag that she can crunch up and stuff her face in!<br />
- Evie loves the idea of having friends...and will often call someone she just met her best "fwiend"...she calls her cousins and her aunts and her grandma her best 'fwiends' too!<br />
-She churns out cards to all those she loves on a daily basis..and has an uncanny 6th sense of knowing when I have 'purged' some of these cards she has made...haha<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjvj3a-JT33izeEzO4a35xQzrLngHpuNSYeSeMWn2G2YfRt63PGS-ysKsWuylrfpm8jzjeqULupFcjqo9FMSCaRxoA5HzILTlQ10LfJgEbjk_DwTAqGRTUjLAM9Kgi3c__D7qiCt-5c131/s1600/Evie_bday_3+-+6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="719" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjvj3a-JT33izeEzO4a35xQzrLngHpuNSYeSeMWn2G2YfRt63PGS-ysKsWuylrfpm8jzjeqULupFcjqo9FMSCaRxoA5HzILTlQ10LfJgEbjk_DwTAqGRTUjLAM9Kgi3c__D7qiCt-5c131/s320/Evie_bday_3+-+6.jpg" width="179" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our little Peppa!</td></tr>
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- Evie loves to pretend to go to the splash park with her babies and of course me! She loves ordering me around like she's the mom...my favourite part is when she tucks me into bed for a nap as part of the game...a little relaxing time for me! :)<br />
-She has recently learned how to ride a two wheeler bike without training wheels! She can't stop or start but can go as long as she wants without falling! So early for her to know how to do that!<br />
- Evie says all words that start with 's' as the sound of 'f'....for example....splash pad is 'fwash pad'...or swimming is said 'fwimming'...or special is said 'feshial'. Soooo cute!!<br />
- Evie is slowly (very slowly!!) learning that pinching is really hurtful and not kind to do to her sisters (mainly Lily for some reason...poor Lily!) or to anyone! And she is working on saying 'STOP' to her hands before they hurt others. This has been a big challenge for her (and us) but we have been encouraged as of late with her progress towards pinching less and using her words more often! Oh Evie!!<br />
- She LOVES watching Peppa Pig...giggles at all the funny things Peppa and George do...and even requested a Peppa Pig cake for her 3rd birthday (which Phil delivered with amazing skill!!)<br />
- She adores her sisters and from the moment her feet hit the floor in the morning she is asking 'where are the girls?'....much to their dismay sometimes but in general they are really good with Evie and incorporate her nicely (until she pinches them! ahhhh!!!) into their play.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaUQrgwN3hHYodUOGOAa6saHMXThP7-QGewIvqC-vpQPxcW-_7m8kDhcYP6eazN53Z8UjdrYr6M09TO3No3BNQAFeQnyYb5zxxPRcYO0x3dL9jwHcsu836fME8MWo9XkGySlvATAE7UgpQ/s1600/Evie_bday_3+-+1+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaUQrgwN3hHYodUOGOAa6saHMXThP7-QGewIvqC-vpQPxcW-_7m8kDhcYP6eazN53Z8UjdrYr6M09TO3No3BNQAFeQnyYb5zxxPRcYO0x3dL9jwHcsu836fME8MWo9XkGySlvATAE7UgpQ/s320/Evie_bday_3+-+1+%25281%2529.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Phil's cake masterpiece...Peppa Pig!</td></tr>
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- Lily is especially playful with Evie and will often play the role as Evie's pet cat...(Lily LOVES this as most days she would prefer to be an animal anyways) where as Kaitlyn has naturally taken on more of a mothering role with Evie (first born!)<br />
- Evie's bedtime routine is fairly set (if she goes to bed late...there is no skipping over things!) and she enjoys books, praying, singing and tickles. She usually is asleep within the first 3 songs. Sometimes she will join in the singing (twinkle twinkle) or request a song or sing to me...very sweet. Her faves have been Zacheous was a wee little man, Skinamarinky dinky-dink, Jesus loves me, and This little light of mine to name a few...I just love (and try to cherish) those still, quiet moments right before she falls asleep with her heavy eyelids and her perfect, sweet, chubby face close to mine...happy and safe and content right in that moment with me...I just love it....a great way to end some of those more 'trying' days! :)<br />
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- Often Evie will want to be within 3 feet of me...whether I'm going to the bathroom, cooking, reading to the girls, going upstairs to get something....Evie will want to come with me....<br />
- Evie really enjoys playing 'mom' to her baby doll and will often take her for a walk, or put her to sleep or feed her or have a tea party with her....and wants me to be there for all that of course! :)<br />
- Evie really likes 'cow cheese' (the laughing cow cheese), waffles (cold!), coke (a VERY special and rare treat for her), any kind of gum or candy (lollipops are always a hit with Evie!), frozen bananas and blueberries, strawberry smoothies, tea with too much sugar, and for some bizarre reason...Evie doesn't really enjoy Ketchup that much (Whaaaaaat???Whose daughter is she?)<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB01G9c5H_Y8_ZXy_Hj1GbsG3aCHQDiG4-oWLmQSCagMuHo3Fh1Air8HErJ8HnqSs6Wp0pQ1WNRJhybJLkQ9MsfbY5Vf0WXoATjiAI1cYitPturfz2k1pGoXBenNGzT7ZuiCpHmDqzJwMQ/s1600/Evie+-+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="853" data-original-width="1280" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB01G9c5H_Y8_ZXy_Hj1GbsG3aCHQDiG4-oWLmQSCagMuHo3Fh1Air8HErJ8HnqSs6Wp0pQ1WNRJhybJLkQ9MsfbY5Vf0WXoATjiAI1cYitPturfz2k1pGoXBenNGzT7ZuiCpHmDqzJwMQ/s320/Evie+-+1.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My sweet girl</td></tr>
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-Evie is now in a 'big girl' bed and even though she looks so tiny in this big bed, she is growing up so fast and was totally ready for the upgrade from the crib<br />
- Evie ditched diapers in the daytime in the spring this year...when she was about 2.5 years old...she was heavily influenced by her older sisters and one day she decided that she wanted to go pee in the big toilet and that was that....(unlike the woes we had with one of our other kids where I had to carry around a potty with me for about 6 months while we potty trained her!!) She still wears diapers at night but recently has been waking up with a dry diaper so who knows....we may be totally out of the world of diapers sooner than we think!!<br />
-Evie attends a little preschool, run through our church...two mornings a week..she had her first day last week and she did well! We are hoping she continues to enjoy going as it gives her a chance to have 'her thing' while I homeschool the other girls.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfriFPFWSSS5_QbOBStFrk-qm8g64BUcR3ZGkhSinxz6jO6b4H0SWcBs5vkF8hmQO1doe5Wr7vy5k8_5fRB203Qy5j9JXnf9OvQ9e8rIkdkgf8yApxqghwVRqAkBF6ISC7TMUK2jSIfljM/s1600/Evie+-+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="853" data-original-width="1280" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfriFPFWSSS5_QbOBStFrk-qm8g64BUcR3ZGkhSinxz6jO6b4H0SWcBs5vkF8hmQO1doe5Wr7vy5k8_5fRB203Qy5j9JXnf9OvQ9e8rIkdkgf8yApxqghwVRqAkBF6ISC7TMUK2jSIfljM/s200/Evie+-+2.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Evie, running like the wind,<br />hair flowing wild, arms joyfully<br />swinging in barefoot simplicity.<br />Love it.</td></tr>
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Evie has been through a lot of change in her short little life thus far....back and forth to Chad, moving 4 times since last November (within Canada)...hearing about this 'Chad' place but not really remembering it, yet we talk about it often and our 'home' there. She has struggled with the instability and the many transitions we have been through this past year but yet, is remarkably happy and full of confidence within our family...which has been so good to see. We are so thankful for her spunky personality, her sweet and funny words and all the ways she adds to our family life!<br />
We pray that as each day passes, she would learn more and more about what it means to be kind and loving to others, learn to use her words rather than her fists, learn to obey with a joyful heart and to be a kind and thoughtful friend and sister. We pray that she would learn more about the One who loves her and made her and has a plan for her life...and we pray that she would have a huge desire to submit to His great purpose for her life and that she would grow in wisdom and knowledge of her Creator.<br />
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We absolutely LOVE Evie and love that she is a part of our family...for better or for worse....during 3 year old tantrums or those 3 year old cute moments...we will still love her, now and always! :)<br />
<br />Merileehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00582532410342782015noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4247277678351068206.post-10579276687474613852017-09-03T13:49:00.000-07:002017-09-03T13:49:17.859-07:00Happy 8th Lily (slightly...well more than slightly belated!)Lily. You are a giggly, lovely, beautiful girl. Our girl. You have grown up so much...in so many ways...inside and out. You love to scream and laugh and run like the wind. Your voice is loud (and high pitched!) and full of joy (most of the time)...usually excitedly recounting a funny thing that happened or making up some funny word to laugh at. Lily, your toothy smile and contagious laughter bring joy to our family....we love you!<br />
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These are some things that you are into these days:<br />
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- You still need to have your blankie with you when you sleep (it is surprisingly in tact considering it's age and amount of use it gets...long may that last! We don't have a back-up!)<br />
- You refuse to cut your hair and want to grow it super long....like Tangled (we'll see about that...)<br />
- You are obsessed with reading...anytime, anywhere, all day if you could...we love it....the library is THE highlight of the week when you can choose more adventures to read.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDCXluikmgSuwem-0PErNXkZzZ7seI8J_D07dQPAXOYbb2uvSW-iytDhMLMAB8-T8nszfYvCpXYUlRntmF3XUcIQTpBkE5idlYzA0e69773kXlrocJH3ZPdf9iWtB2UH2Ic-Ds6l__LLaf/s1600/Lily_bday_8+-+7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="853" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDCXluikmgSuwem-0PErNXkZzZ7seI8J_D07dQPAXOYbb2uvSW-iytDhMLMAB8-T8nszfYvCpXYUlRntmF3XUcIQTpBkE5idlYzA0e69773kXlrocJH3ZPdf9iWtB2UH2Ic-Ds6l__LLaf/s320/Lily_bday_8+-+7.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lily and her book(s)</td></tr>
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- Some of your favourite foods are: Corn pops cereal (a rare treat in our house), green beans with lots of butter on them, mashed potatoes (or any kind of potato for that matter), cucumbers and cheese (mini sandwiches), chicken tettrazini, salt and vinegar chips, milk (litres of it!!), and butter (according to you..it's a food group!) to name a few.<br />
- You are meticulous at brushing your teeth, washing your hands brushing your hair...and prefer to wear your hair up in a braid or a ponytail...probably so it doesn't get in your face when you are running at top speed (you run often)<br />
- You are a skinny minny girl...I always say as I hold her dainty wrist, "Lil, I could break you like a twig!" (just for fun) and you smile your toothy grin at me and giggle.<br />
- Evie has a current obsession of you...she always asks 'Where is Lily? I want to pay (play) with her?' and you are so good about including her in your games (as is Kaitlyn)...but there are times when you have had enough and I will find you hiding...trying to get some alone time from Evie! :)<br />
- You have several friends (Mackenzie and Noah) who you love to play with (and gallop with) but you have to be in the right mood to put down your book or want to go out...you love to be home Lily.<br />
- You have perfected the skill of galloping like a horse (on all fours) and have recently added jumping over obstacles on all fours as well...very impressive...just not when we are at a person's house whom we don't really know that well...perhaps don't gallop around their living room??!!<br />
- You and Kaitlyn are best friends...you get each other, you play well with each other and have been there for each other through a lot of transition and changes over the years. I love how close you two are in age and friendship.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPq4aP1-gmAlMMaL8gGDXfguEkr7OUxF6QA53wQHd8nKk_VgRPp836GZKUxt4W88LndQ0SMWk62wmC5AvMfyu2TMC83kRvpspaqYS5sBFKoNKzHZ9g_6xwJ0n3ubSfIj6Z30sbU9zqDjvt/s1600/Lily_bday_8+-+8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPq4aP1-gmAlMMaL8gGDXfguEkr7OUxF6QA53wQHd8nKk_VgRPp836GZKUxt4W88LndQ0SMWk62wmC5AvMfyu2TMC83kRvpspaqYS5sBFKoNKzHZ9g_6xwJ0n3ubSfIj6Z30sbU9zqDjvt/s320/Lily_bday_8+-+8.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lily would love to be a horse! </td></tr>
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- You were made for homeschooling....self-driven, independent, curious and you have a desire to learn new things...thanks for putting your head down and getting it done (most days) without too much motivation from me. That kind of work ethic is going to take you far one day Lily. Proud of you!<br />
-For the first time ever, you had a real paying job....a newspaper route! You shared it with Kaitlyn (and Evie, kind of). Every week you would put the flyers into the papers and then deliver the newspapers to 77 houses in our area. Lots of work but you didn't complain and ran most of the route...rain or shine (it seemed like mostly rain!). We were proud of your hard work Lily!<br />
- You love to run and you run like the wind, but you intensely dislike chasing games.<br />
- You will often draw pictures or write notes to people whether it's grandma or me or Evie or Daddy etc....lots of pictures and notes are created from your hand Lily...you love words...whether you are reading them or writing them. Love it!<br />
- You aren't really that into fashion and will often choose the item of clothing that is at the top of your drawer...much to Kaitlyn's chagrin who will sometimes intervene and 'set you right'...you don't seem to mind (most of the time) and when you do try, you will often use Kaitlyn as a model for how you want to dress. Little sister looking up to big sister...cute! And of course, Kaitlyn LOVES that!<br />
-You still want to be tucked in each night and have a hug and a kiss goodnight....long may that last! I'll take it as I know that won't always be the case.<br />
- You started playing recorder this year and have caught on quickly! I just bought you a new book so hopefully we can continue to learn how to read and play music!<br />
- Your dream came true this year when you were able to take horse-back riding lessons...your little pony Swiper was a good little guy and you were loving life up on his back! Animals are and I'm sure will forever be a passion of yours...your heart is sensitive and compassionate towards animals and you would love to have a pet of your own (i.e: A dog...to which your mean mom has said 'No'....but you can get one when you move out!!)...You do have 2 cats but Whiskers and Fluffy are back in Chad. Hang on a little while longer and you'll be reunited again!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipmNDJr2YVUrrSZ4MRZOU9Da4Q1th0UpEkIq3k04QiGcJ9zF6K7gtlpwx-s3SOkACnmtZSx4jvO3kmXY-Mhcu5sGHhMjCKItHQX75MUmIprM61i2wMvYCJr38kShRSC7pJ2VAq_tY_z1yJ/s1600/Lily_bday_8+-+9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="853" data-original-width="1280" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipmNDJr2YVUrrSZ4MRZOU9Da4Q1th0UpEkIq3k04QiGcJ9zF6K7gtlpwx-s3SOkACnmtZSx4jvO3kmXY-Mhcu5sGHhMjCKItHQX75MUmIprM61i2wMvYCJr38kShRSC7pJ2VAq_tY_z1yJ/s320/Lily_bday_8+-+9.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our Lily</td></tr>
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- You have handled major change with surprising ease Lily...heading back to Chad last Oct only to return without Daddy two weeks later...living in Nana and Grampa's house for two months while we waiting for Dad to come home, moving to Grandma's house for Christmas then into another house to rent a month later...then moving again 6 months later to a house we bought (yay!)...homeschooling throughout and not knowing for sure how long we'd be back in Canada for (we still don't really know). We had lots of chats about the craziness of it all and how unstable everything felt and how stress and discontentment can steal your joy...you saw me struggle but you knew where I drew my strength and assurance from...we lived it out Lily...cuz we had to if we wanted to make it in this crazy life of uncertainty and change. We knew that we could count on God, who never changes and is always there and is totally in control. It was very cool to see and hear you piece that all together and I know it was God who calmed your spirit in the midst of all of that craziness.<br />
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Well Lily, you are a joy to us and we love you...quirks and all...you are growing in so many ways and we love that you are in our family.<br />
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Happy 8th Birthday Lily!<br />
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Love and hugs,<br />
<br />
Mom<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkudlyaBFinCF7itbj2Z9BTAsAgqjtXkNqXR6awdcKUsX_pk-v6cbQnYEcIuvizI_lXnPkvN_WrWC7Z__q_fcQqB3Qwxy4hKY7wHO1whZ-vUktTAzb6NEHMNFgJzwZgTpEf3WrYzHaDIqq/s1600/Lily_bday_8+-+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkudlyaBFinCF7itbj2Z9BTAsAgqjtXkNqXR6awdcKUsX_pk-v6cbQnYEcIuvizI_lXnPkvN_WrWC7Z__q_fcQqB3Qwxy4hKY7wHO1whZ-vUktTAzb6NEHMNFgJzwZgTpEf3WrYzHaDIqq/s200/Lily_bday_8+-+4.jpg" width="150" /></a>PS. We surprised you with a Minecraft cake (you were going through a Minecraft obsession at the time) complete with blue jello for the water, chocolate cake for the dirt and green icing for the grass...with some fun Minecraft toppers like TNT and Steve! Then for your actual birthday party (of course we saved it for when we were at the Soontiens farm - cousins - and we had some games and a fun treasure hunt/map game where the prize was BB8 cupcakes...another love of yours! You loved having 2 parties!! Some of the presents you received were: a real bow and arrow, a beanie boo fox, a reading light, and a temporary tattoo marker kit to name a few. All in all, a great birthday!<br />
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Merileehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00582532410342782015noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4247277678351068206.post-51528917099183441762016-12-21T11:51:00.001-08:002016-12-24T17:16:29.385-08:00The Raw truth about living in Chad - Part 3<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>I wrote this just before leaving Canada to head back to Chad in mid October 2016....I had had 4 months back in my home country to reflect on my first 3 years in Chad and this is the last post in that 3 part series. </i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>A lot has happened since writing this (the temporary suspension of the flight program in Chad and our family returning to Canada very unexpectedly....blog post to come), challenging the very ideas I wrote about in here...'choosing joy and being thankful in all circumstances'.....Hope this encourages you as it has me. </i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Joy. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This simple 3 letter word isn't so simple. I am and will forever struggle with having 'joy in all things'. Seems impossible to me sometimes. This has been the theme of my third year in Chad...another life lesson that God has been trying to teach me while living in the most difficult place I have ever experienced. But, if I can learn to be joyful here in Chad....well, I think I'm off to a good start! :)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I remember chatting with Phil one night about life and how things were going and we both agreed that finally, we were beginning to feel more settled. Chad, our house and compound and work and church and friends and shopping and food and money and the way we did life here...well, that was starting to feel normal which was a tad shocking as I thought I would <i>never</i> get used to life in N'Djamena.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">But, despite the ease at which we maneuvered life here, there was this constant voice in my head whispering discontentment with the way things were. I felt like I had gotten the short end of the stick...as Phil winged his way across Chad, seeing and meeting and experiencing some amazing things and I....well, I was on the compound...again.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I would hear of the various ministries people had here in Chad and how they were making a difference to the Chadian people and I....well, I was on the compound....again.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I would visit facebook and see the amazing experiences kids and families were having back in my home country (libraries, parks, swimming lessons, pinterest worthy parties and home decor etc) and I....well, I was on the compound....again.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Do you get what I was feeling and thinking? I was not happy at all with where I was at...even though I felt like things were more normal, doesn't mean I was exuding joy. Phil was working like mad, flying and away a lot, leaving me on my own, and the phase of life Evie was at was just wearing my down and oh ya....I lived in Chad! So, I went right ahead and launched myself into a pity party. (I don't recommend this)</span><br />
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<b style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">I had stopped being thankful</b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">and was choosing to complain and take the glass-half-empty view to everything that came my way. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">JOY.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">How do I get that? I wanted it so bad. I wanted to stop the negative thoughts, the crippling comparing game, the pity party....I am a missionary for heaven's sakes!! GET IT TOGETHER!!! How do I find joy in the mundane? In the seemingly unimportant?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I read and talked and listened and asked questions and sought advice from wiser wives/moms and I knew what I had to do. I had to ask for joy (from the Lord) and then I had to <b>manifest it through thankfulness</b> instead of complaining.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">There was a verse that I had read a zillion times before (well, maybe not that many...but I was super familiar with it) and as I read it yet again, I finally got what it was trying to say. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">"The JOY of the Lord is my STRENGTH" (Nehemiah 8:10c). </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Here I was, struggling to make it through my days, wanting to feel that joy in the ordinary but coming up short so many times and just feeling so done at the end of the day. And then I read this. And I realized that <b>it is the Lord who gives Joy and that when you have that Joy, you have strength to make it through whatever you are going through</b>....whether it is cleaning up a juice spill for the 10th time that morning, or doing the dishes (again) or doing the school run, or welcoming a husband home well beyond dinner time.....there can be joy in those things. Not necessarily a happy, big smile, on top of the world joy....that to me is happiness, which can come and go as quick as the weather changes....no, I'm talking about joy, being content in whatever circumstance....and this can often be identified in <b>how much of a thankful person you are. </b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Are you quick to complain or be disappointed? Or do you try to find things within the hard times that you can be thankful for? I must admit, my tendency is towards the former but I want to be characterized as the latter. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Good news: We can change our attitudes by: </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">1. </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Recognizing the negative, complaining thoughts and stopping them dead in their tracks before they take root and poison your vision in the moment. (I literally say to myself...STOP thinking that!)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">2. Asking God to help us find something to be thankful for in the moment (your perspective has the power to change a bad situation into a not-as-bad-as-I-thought situation)</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">3. Replace the negative, complaining thoughts with thankfulness and asking God to forgive us for our selfish, pity party!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">As an example from my life: </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">There was a time when Phil was extraordinarily busy with work stuff and I was slogging it in the trenches with my super busy/clingy 18 month old and I remember just thinking random thoughts throughout the day like....'He is NEVER home and I have to deal with this beast of a child all by myself, all the time!!!!", or "If Phil was here....things wouldn't be so bad", or "Phil is gone AGAIN...and I'm stuck with the kids and having to parent them on my own, again!"......</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I know the thoughts that were cycling through my head (and many others...too many to mention or remember) were not from God and I was taking those thoughts and chewing on them all day, every day and the root of bitterness, discontentment and ungratefulness were burrowing deep...and I just wasn't joyful. It showed in how I spoke to my husband, or how I talked about things with others and even how I acted and spoke towards my kids....I can just imagine how lovely I was to live with! But God being gracious, confronted this sin of ingratitude in my heart through his Word and when I read that verse...<b>I knew the key to Joy was thankfulness</b>. I wanted to conduct myself as a wife, mother and friend (</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">three of the main roles which encompassed the ministry</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> that I felt God had called me too)</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> in a manner pleasing to God and encouraging and inspiring to others...and to me, thankfulness and joy are so intertwined and such imperative characteristics to have in this ministry.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">There are a lot of 'things' in Chad (and life in general) that can suck that joy and gratitude right out of me....but it is up to me to recognize my deep need for the One who gives Joy freely and ask Him for an attitude of thankfulness so I can live life to the fullest....with his strength. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I'm still working on it...one day, one moment at a time. </span>Merileehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00582532410342782015noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4247277678351068206.post-70865746269110532412016-09-10T14:23:00.000-07:002016-09-10T14:23:11.737-07:00Reflections on the second year of living in Chad<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Ok, so here is part 2 of my 'reflections on my time in Chad so far'.....</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Evie was 10 weeks old when we hopped on a plane and headed back to Chad (October 2014). It really is a bit of a blur but I do remember enjoying thanksgiving with our families just days before our return flight and thinking....<i>I'm really gonna miss this</i>. Goodbye hugs, tears and 'see you soon's' and then we were off, back to the place that I really didn't like. <br /><br />I had one major fear as I flew back to Chad: Would it be exactly like the first year? Fraught with health problems? A daily struggle just to 'be'? Several close friends and family knew this was a major deal to me going back and I knew they had been and would continue to pray for me in this transition...and I had given that fear to God, and replaced it with hope. Hope that things were going to be <i>way</i> different this time around. Hope that my health wouldn't be an issue. Hope that I would be able to speak with more ease in french. Hope that I would thrive and not just survive.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br />It has been 1.5 years since returning to Chad, and I am happy to report that it WAS different! There were still struggles and frustrations but they didn't play the main role in my daily life anymore. There were more normal times, happy times, contented times than not. I am so thankful for that, and God's blessing in that way. It has made a world of difference here in Chad.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Leaving that difficult year behind me and pressing on into my second year in Chad, God continued to teach me important life lessons. This year, the theme that stuck out quite clearly to me in what I read, talked about, heard from others was the idea of <b>abiding in Him</b>. I began to realize more than ever that <i>anything good that ever comes out of me, is because of God.</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We were talking about this topic at our ladies group one day and someone shared her struggle of feeling useless, and lost here in Chad. She began questioning why God had brought her to Chad as she couldn't speak french, she didn't have any kind of ministry herself and she just felt like 'what was the point'? And then the Lord spoke the verse " I am the vine, you are the branches. If a man remains (abides) in me, and I in him, he will bear much fruit. Apart from me, you can do nothing."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">She then realized that her job was to remain in Him. Abide. That it wasn't about what she could do for God, and that there wasn't this checklist of things that if she did them she would be exactly what God wanted her to be....nope....she just needed to abide. Stay close. Fill herself with Him and his words.<i> He loved her just for who she is. Not what she did or does</i>. So often missionaries get so caught up in this checklist of being a "good missionary"...and they forget to actually abide in Him. Remember that part about 'apart from me, you can do nothing?" yup. Without remaining/abiding close to God, spending time with Him, filling your hearts and minds up with His words.....the 'work' we do is empty and lacking in joy. The deep joy that is not dependent on your situation, but one that remains no matter what happens.<br /><br /> I really connected with what she was saying and realized that I had been putting these pressures on myself to have a ministry outside the home. A good thing to strive for but for me, it was leaving me dissatisfied and frustrated as a homemaker. I realized that I had to realign my vision, my purpose, and my daily role to first and foremost, abide in Him. Stop trying to do things on my own and in my own timing and start inviting God into all aspects of my days.<br /><br />My mindset slowly started to change and instead of focusing on what I wasn't doing (that I thought I <i>should</i> be doing), I started doing what I know God has called me to do at this point in my life (being a mom and wife) and also began to be more intentional about <b>abiding</b>. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">What does that look like for me exactly? Well, I didn't all of a sudden become this holier than thou spiritual mother and wife....no, it was more in the little things, like being more intentional about reading the Word, posting important verses around the kitchen to be reminded throughout the days and to refocus my mind on the things that really mattered. It meant turning my negative, complainy attitude into thankfulness. It meant asking for and striving for the fruits of the spirit to be evident in the way I interacted with my husband and kids. It meant pouring my heart and soul into the life that God called me to, here in Chad. But not doing it in my own strength, but in God's strength. It meant living my life with God as my number 1. Letting Him into every aspect of my day....my thoughts (that they would be pleasing to Him), my work (that I would serve with joy), my interactions with others (that I would show His love), and my words (that they would build up and not tear down). <b>Staying</b> close to Him in all that I do, say and think, letting Him fill me with Him. That is what abiding has meant to me. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I still have a looooooong ways to go and God is still teaching me that I need to have Him in all parts of my life and days....some days are great and others a miserable failure. But change doesn't happen overnight right? Let's just say that Chad is literally a 'refining fire' and I'm thankful that 'He who has begun a great work in me will one day bring it to completion'. </span>Merileehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00582532410342782015noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4247277678351068206.post-90427733780133764332016-06-25T06:18:00.000-07:002016-06-25T06:18:53.892-07:00Our crazy first year in Chad<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">If someone would have told me when we first arrived here on May 10, 2013 at 1 pm in the 50 degree heat, that we would be staying here in Chad longer than our first required term (3.5 years), I would have probably slapped them. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Seriously, when I stepped off the plane and headed into the indescribable heat of Chad and then further into the chaos and insanity of the 'airport'....I thought....oh my word.....just <i>where</i> have we moved to? I wish I could say it got a whole lot better and easier after that....but it didn't. It got worse. Way worse. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Our first year in Chad would be characterized by health problems, hospital stays, a miscarriage, difficulty with language, ridiculous driving conditions, pregnancy sickness, major struggles with the heat and also feeling lonely to highlight a few. Sounded like fun eh? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We left after 1 year of living in Chad to go back to Canada to have Evelinne, and we actually <i>came back</i> to Chad 6 months later. Why you ask? Part of me thinks ya, why<i> did</i> we come back? There was really nothing good (for me at least) to come back to.....as my first year had been tainted with such awful experiences. Why in heavens name would I come back to a place that held such suffering and misery for me? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Well, I didn't want to throw in the towel just yet, and I wanted to see if things were going to be different this time around with my health and if I could overcome the struggles I had with driving, language, loneliness etc. I couldn't quit before I had given it a fair go. Plus, I knew in my heart that this is where God wanted me to be for this time....and I held onto the lessons that He had taught me throughout my struggles in my first year of living on what seemed to me like a different planet.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Looking back on the 3 years we have lived in Chad, I can honestly say that I have learned so much and been challenged spiritually, emotionally and physically 1000 times more than I could have been back in Canada. God knows exactly where we need to be for Him to shape us into who He wants us to be....and for me, that place is Chad. (On a bad day I ask....WHY not a cooler place??? On a good day, I thank Him for not giving up on me and for loving me enough to relocate me halfway around the world to the only place I could have learned these important truths about who He is and who He wants me to be).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Interestingly enough, 3 main words/phrases stood out to me as I was reflecting back on our time here in N'Djamena, each word represented the theme of the lesson God was teaching me in that year and this is something I want to share with you all.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In the first year, the Phrase that stood out to me, that I kept on encountering over and over in my reading, in my praying, in my journalling and in my talking to others and reflecting on my experiences was that 'when everything is taken away from you,<b> God is enough and God is there</b>'.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> I remember several weeks after my miscarriage I ended up back in the bush hospital (no running water, no electricity, no food/water provided, oh and it was 40 plus degrees) with a major skin infection (cellulitis) in my arm and I had had a friend drive me to this hospital as Phil was out flying that day....the Doctor admitted me right away and so there I was, alone, in the this room at the very corner of the hospital, sweating like a beast, waiting for Phil to arrive and bring me some food/water and some sheets and a pillow. It was pitch black by the time he arrived (his flight was delayed and then he had to sort out the kids and pack for sleeping over at the hospital with me) and he found me, laying in the pitch dark, on a vinyl mattress, in the heat, in pain and just at a serious low point and he said he felt like crying for me. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I remember waiting for Phil to arrive, and just battling with God....one minute I would be so angry with Him and wondering why all this was happening as hadn't we sacrificed enough for Him to come to a very difficult place like Chad and we'd given up being close to our families and friends, given up the comforts of life, given up nice weather, and being able to wear what we wanted, given up speaking English and having modern stores and roads and given up the only way of life I had ever known.....</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">.and then the next minute I would be thanking God for his provision of good British Doctors at this sketchy hospital and for the people who were stepping up to take care of our kids for us. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I do remember very clearly as I was laying in my hot bed during my 5 day stay there, as I was complaining to God about all the things we had sacrificed for Him and why was He letting us go through all of this etc....I remember a clear voice saying to me "Haven't I given up </span><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">everything</i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> for you?". Pause. Gulp. Yup. God gave up His ONLY SON for me, so that I could come freely to Him. The ultimate sacrifice. That most definitely trumped my list of sacrifices. That wasn't to downplay the serious struggles we had been through (and would continue to encounter as the year went on) but it just put things into perspective and helped me to focus more on what God was trying to teach me through it all rather than just complain about it. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I would like to say that this realization after being in Chad for only 4 months at the time of my arm infection, meant that I was good to go for the rest of our time here in Chad, but nope...I guess I am a slow learner. Many more trials and difficulties came our way during that first year and I left Chad on May 1, 2014 to have Evelinne in Canada and I remember having a conversation (more like me bawling my eyes out) with Phil on how much I hated living here. Yup. I said it. Hope you realize now that missionaries are just normal people who struggle with the same stuff you all struggle with. God was faithful to me as he was trying to teach me this lesson that<b> He is enough</b> when everything else is taken away (health, family, comfort, friends, home culture etc). </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Believe you me, by the time I stepped onto that plane to head back to Canada, that lesson had been drilled into my head, an important one to learn early on, as when you think about it, nothing in this life that we have is certain....everything and anything can be taken away or lost at any time....we in Canada have a false sense of security and it took me moving to Chad to figure it out, but the </span><b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">only thing we can be certain about is God</b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">. Who He is: unchanging (that means He's the same God in Canada as he is in Chad), that you can <b>count on Him to walk with you through the darkness and give you<i> exactly </i>what you need to make it through.</b> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">No promises it's gonna be easy, in fact, there are more verses in the Bible telling those who believe in God that it's gonna be hard, and that we </span><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">will </i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">suffer but that we can cling to the One who <b>never changes, </b>who is <b>totally in control</b>, who <b>knows the future</b>, who <b>does what is best</b> for us (doesn't mean He does what </span><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">we</i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> think is best for us)....all of which are such important truths for someone who feels like their whole world as they know it is shifting daily as they try to navigate this new life in a new place. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">So, on October 15, 2014, I, Merilee Henderson once again, stepped off the plane in N'Djamena but this time, I knew it was going to be different, and it was. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Stay tuned for Part 2.....</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">(This has already become a bit of a novel (congrats to those who read this far down!) so I am going to highlight the 2 other themes of my time here in Chad in another blog post.) </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>Thanks for all your prayers, your support, your friendships and encouragement. God is doing a good work here in Chad....not only in me but in many others who are also living, working and learning some crazy God lessons here in Chad!</i></span></div>
Merileehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00582532410342782015noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4247277678351068206.post-34734949186432249302016-06-09T12:36:00.000-07:002016-06-09T12:36:28.497-07:00Ideas from an Ex-pat Kitchen: Homemade Spaghetti SauceBefore living in Chad, I had <b>never</b> made spaghetti sauce from scratch....I mean...why would I when there are so many choices of bottled sauces for a decent price? Well, now that those bottles of spaghetti sauce cost $5 for half the size.....I was thrown into the deep end of making my spaghetti sauce from scratch. It has been 2 years in the making, and I am happy to say that I think I have a winner! My family can attest to the fact that it has taken me a while, lots of tweaking, adding this and taking out that.....to get the flavor we all like. I have used several recipes, mixed them together and added some of my own extras too (the kids had no idea that there was so many vegetables mixed in!!!).....so for those out there who want to ditch the bottled sauce and go 'natural', or for those other ex-pats who haven't quite found the right combination of ingredients for their sauce.....try this one one.....I hope you like it as much as we do!<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b> Homemade Spaghetti Sauce</b></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5m-5XcbiqGbrVMxjfz23XClkxylFwWoN1BOHvzJuQwwb4bcKxSNPMVbMeFkIVFsFS59i2RbhD7o1sHHS-1aI4vy_pE1-zxBLYjBFNjlZCbacbss0lXOdDHC-Sim8YCjQ_8uI7cl18PcKB/s1600/sphag_sauce1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5m-5XcbiqGbrVMxjfz23XClkxylFwWoN1BOHvzJuQwwb4bcKxSNPMVbMeFkIVFsFS59i2RbhD7o1sHHS-1aI4vy_pE1-zxBLYjBFNjlZCbacbss0lXOdDHC-Sim8YCjQ_8uI7cl18PcKB/s320/sphag_sauce1.JPG" width="320" /></a>-2 large cans of diced or whole tomatoes<br />
-1 teaspoon each of Oregano and Basil<br />
-1 teaspoon of garlic powder (or 4 cloves crushed)<br />
-1 teaspoon salt<br />
-1 bay leaf<br />
-3-4 Tablespoons sugar<br />
-2 Beef oxo cubes<br />
-1/4 teaspsoon of Pepper<br />
-1 chopped onion (optional)<br />
-1/2 Cup zucchini, peeled and chopped<br />
-1 medium size carrot, peeled and chopped<br />
-1/2 green pepper, chopped<br />
-1/8 C fresh Spinach, chopped (I found if you put too much spinach in, you can taste it!)<br />
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1) Throw all ingredients into a medium size cooking pot, bring to a boil, then simmer for 45 minutes to an hour, stirring occasionally. The sauce is done when the veggies are soft and cooked through.<br />
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2) Remove from heat, pick out the Bay leaf, and then use an immersion blender to blend all ingredients together, or if you don't have one, you can use a regular blender to puree the sauce. Add already browned/cooked ground beef if you like or keep it the way it is and have a meatless sauce.<br />
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3) Serve or freeze for later. Serves 6-8 adults.<br />
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<i>*This is a very easy recipe to play around with....change up the quantity of tomatoes for a larger family, and just add a bit more of each ingredient. The best part of this sauce is how many vegetables are in it, and your kids won't be able to pick them out!</i>Merileehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00582532410342782015noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4247277678351068206.post-50261805254598112922016-05-13T13:50:00.000-07:002016-05-13T13:50:20.749-07:00Happy 7th Birthday to my LilyThis year Lily had an extended birthday celebration for various reasons. Lily loved having '3 birthdays!'....and it was fun for us too! Lily's actual birthday was on April 16, so we made some cupcakes and brought them into school to share at break time. Phil even managed to come as well which was a nice surprise for Lily. The whole school sung Happy Birthday to a very shy/embarrassed Lily (whole school being only 18 kids!!) and she handed each classmate a cupcake to enjoy.<br />
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(Sidenote: Things were a bit dicey security wise in N'Djamena at this time with the presidential elections the following weekend so we decided to postpone her birthday party with friends until after the uncertainty died down as not many people wanted to be travelling around the city unnecessarily. Also a bunch of her girl friends had left the country just to be safe and weren't due back until a week or two after the elections were over.)<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lily's Birthday cupcakes </td></tr>
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In the meantime, we had a family birthday party (with some families on the MAF compound too) on Saturday where we played some games, ate her tiger cake (her request, and once again, Phil delivered!!) and opened some nice gifts. The adults sat around chatting, eating cake and drinking coffee or coke depending on how hot they were feeling at the time :) and the kids had a blast playing legos and play mobil together. Lily went to bed with a smile on her face and some great memories of her 7th birthday.<br />
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So, once Lily's friends arrived back in the country, we invited them to a day at the Hilton pool.....she invited 2 girls and of course Kaitlyn and Evie and Phil and I were there too.....it was a glorious day of sun, blue sky, HOT temperatures, 3 amazing pools and some scrumptious pizza eaten poolside. She had a great time and felt loved and special.<br />
In keeping with tradition, here is a little letter to Lily highlighting some of the things that we want to remember about her...<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil_pSMwN0TDNQlzx8hdf7ge2LKbpjFTlTMlLua08YsA0ECzdJhOgALu1d3PWy2WASpVeBebPeBJG2pYjfFDq2QJxYMEKf70CEH6bScFgd2QgLSblYx5JICgHKtv5QQuPK9YVVvyTU312tW/s1600/IMG_2847%255B1%255D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil_pSMwN0TDNQlzx8hdf7ge2LKbpjFTlTMlLua08YsA0ECzdJhOgALu1d3PWy2WASpVeBebPeBJG2pYjfFDq2QJxYMEKf70CEH6bScFgd2QgLSblYx5JICgHKtv5QQuPK9YVVvyTU312tW/s320/IMG_2847%255B1%255D.JPG" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Happy with her Tiger cake design</td></tr>
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Oh Lilsky-doodle, you are a beautiful, smiley girl who is always up for any make-believe game involving you being some sort of animal. "Mom, I think I am more comfortable being an animal than a human"'....??? You spend more time on your hands and feet, galloping like a horse or running like a tiger or cheetah, then you do on your two feet! But you have a great ol' time down there! So fun to see your imagination create fun all day long!<br />
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You are a reading machine....I literally have to pry the book out of your hand so you can go to bed or eat your breakfast....love it! Funny thing is that when you read, you read outloud so there is a constant hum of noise coming from you when you are reading. We have gotten used to it by now, but it took a bit of time to be able to concentrate on what we were doing when you were reading out loud all the time! You are totally into Cam Jansen mysteries now as well as the Rainbow Fairy book series (thanks to your cousins for sending you those!).<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Little Merilee was one of Lily's guests</td></tr>
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You still sleep with your blankie and need water beside your bed every night, and you have to hug and kiss me on the lips....sometimes I turn my face for you to kiss my cheek, and then you say....why not on your lips mom? Then we give another goodnight kiss, this time on the lips. Creature of habit Lily is.<br />
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You pride yourself in being able to make scrambled eggs by yourself and one of your favorite things to do with me is cook/bake. With you being in school now, that doesn't happen as much as before, but you still get your chance on the weekends.<br />
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You lost your first tooth a while ago but haven't lost any since....so your cute Chiclet teeth smile remains. We'll cherish those baby teeth as long as they last...<br />
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You have a hard time with disappointment and dashed expectations (don't we all?) and we are working on maintaining self-control when life (or mom and dad) throws you a curve ball. We've talked lots about it, after the tantrums and also in times of peace and I know you know its wrong and you have prayed about it and are really trying to put that kind of reaction far from you. It just takes time and prayer and effort. We love you no matter what Lil.<br />
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You have amazing servant heart moments where you'll close the kitchen door and scurry around getting all the dishes ready to set the table and then say " Mom, Don't look!!" while you set the table to surprise me. Or you'll fill the water glasses up for dinner, or tidy your bedroom up and surprise me. I love that in those moments, I see that you just 'get it'....putting others first and doing things for others that aren't necessarily fun for you, but you know it will bless someone else. Love it!<br />
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You are an animal lover (understatement!!) and have been blessed with 4 kitties, 2 cats, 2 bunnies, 1 turtle and a chance to hold an owl and a baby bird. No shortage of animals here for your to love and care for....each weekend, one of your jobs it to feed/water the pets.....I'd like to add change the kitty litter to that job description please! :)<br />
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You love to swim and be loud and crazy in the pool...."no screaming Lil!!".<br />
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Evie loves to play with you, be chased by you, jump on the trampoline with you and just be with you. Several times a day now Evie will ask "Where Lily?"....and I'll say that you are at school bu you are coming home after lunch and Evie will say "Oh" and be happy knowing you are coming back soon. Adorable.<br />
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I love how you will often get out of bed, early in the morning to get Evie out of her crib as she is awake and wanting some food. You lovingly take her out of her crib, get a little something for her to eat, play with her and give me a couple more minutes of sleep. I don't know if you realize how huge a thing that is to do for me Lily. Thank you.<br />
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You are doing amazingly well at school....Grade 1 seems to be a breeze for you. Your teacher thinks you're a hard worker and a bit of a perfectionist (Phil!) and there isn't much you encounter that you feel like you can't do. Wait to go Lily!! I remember how nervous you were to start school and how you didn't want to go, and here you are, doing great! So proud of you Lily for overcoming your fears and trying something new.<br />
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You are counting down the days (Literally) until we are flying back to Canada for the summer....and you keep on asking...."So, is Gramma, Nnana, Grampa, AND Emmy going to pick us up at the airport??". You want everyone there right away so you can see them all. You miss them a lot and I love how you feel so close to them despite the fact we are continents away from each other. That is a huge blessing. I pray that this summer will be so special for you, to reconnect with cousins and friends and discover a little more about Canada and where your from.<br />
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Lily, you are so special to our family and we love you so much. You bring joy, laughter, craziness, creativity, fun and love to our family. Happy 7th....here's to many more....Love ya kiddo.<br />
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<br />Merileehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00582532410342782015noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4247277678351068206.post-38485156910785859372015-11-25T12:12:00.000-08:002015-11-25T12:12:15.099-08:00Ideas from an Ex-pat Kitchen: Homemade Salsa<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This recipe makes 2 of these size containers.</td></tr>
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The search for a great Salsa recipe is OVER!! I have been on this quest for 2 long years now, ever since arriving in Chad and craving one of my favorite snacks of tortilla chips and salsa, and not being able to find salsa anywhere!! Eventually, I caved and bought a tiny jar for over $5 (a product that recently became available) but the taste was too sweet and it was ridiculously expensive....so.....I tried out a couple of different recipes that were all ok....but tasted too 'tomato-y' for my liking.....enter this new found salsa recipe! (Thank you Lisa!!!) You would be surprised at how little time this takes to make <i>and</i> how easy it is to make....AND....you can freeze it and save it for later (but you probably won't because it is so good you'll eat all of it before you get a chance to freeze it!) Now, enough talking about it....time to MAKE IT!<br />
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<b>Salsa </b><br />
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- 1 large can of diced tomatoes (750-800g)<br />
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- 2 Large onions (diced)</div>
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- 2 Large green peppers (remove seeds and dice)</div>
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- 1 Tablespoon Chili powder (for a medium heat)</div>
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- 1/2 Teaspoon Garlic powder (or fresh garlic, minced)<br />
- 2 Teaspoons sugar<br />
- 2 Tablespoons Vinegar<br />
- 2 Teaspoons Salt<br />
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Combine all ingredients in a large pot, bring to a boil and simmer for 45 min to 1 hour (depending on how thick or runny you want your salsa to be).</div>
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Stir occasionally.</div>
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Enjoy!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We like our salsa thick and chunky! Mmmm.</td></tr>
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Merileehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00582532410342782015noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4247277678351068206.post-71678474267062314142015-11-08T06:01:00.000-08:002015-11-08T06:01:06.308-08:00Cooking from scratch....ideas from an Ex-pat Kitchen Before I arrived in Chad, I used to think cooking from scratch meant something like putting together a lasagna: mixing together the bottled sauce with the cooked meat, mixing the ricotta cheese, egg, parmesan cheese, and parsley together, layering them between noodles and baking it.....BUT....I was wrong....apparently that is only partially cooking from scratch. :)<br />
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Since pasta sauce is a ridiculous price here in Chad, and you can't get ricotta/cottage cheese.....I had to change up the way I made lasagna....and quickly realized that this was not the same level of 'cooking from scratch' that I thought I was a part of....nope....here in Chad, <b>you make the ingredients to then put into the recipe you are making</b>.....get what I'm saying? For example....If I am making a lasagna....I must first make pasta sauce and then a cheese sauce (and make the milk to go into the cheese sauce), before cooking the meat and layering the lasagna. <br />
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Another example: if I want to make pumpkin muffins, I have to skin the pumpkin/remove seeds etc, roast the pumpkin, then puree it, and <b>then</b> I can use it in the pumpkin muffin recipe (whew!)....no can of ready-made puree to dump in! Ya....a whole new level!<br />
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Anyways, it got me thinking....I know I am not the only Ex-pat out there who was thrown into the deep end of 'cooking from scratch' and trying to find decent recipes that don't call for 'a can of this' or a 'jar of that' in my daily dinner adventures. After living overseas for 3 years (I know, I am still a novice....but....I have learned a thing or two in the kitchen since we first arrived), I now have a small but tasty repertoire of recipes that I am able to make with the ingredients found here in Chad and most likely found in other African cities (in fact, you probably have more of a selection of food items as Chad is fairly limited due to its landlocked location). I would love to share these with you, and if it makes even one night of cooking less of a struggle or challenge, then my goal would be met!<br />
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I'm titling this series "Ideas from an Ex-pat Kitchen" and hope to have regular recipes posted for you all to re-create wherever you are living! Hoping your families love them as much as mine do....Oh and I would LOVE to post YOUR tried and true recipes that you have found to be favorites of your family...made from scratch of course. You can email them to hendersonmer@gmail.com and I will share it with all of us 'overseas' mamas!<br />
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A Sneak Peak at some 'made from scratch' recipes to come:<br />
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Spaghetti Sauce (with 'hidden' veggies like zucchini, spinach, carrots etc)<br />
Salsa<br />
Banana Ice Cream/smoothie<br />
The Gooiest Brownies ever<br />
Lemon blondies<br />
Icing Sugar<br />
Chicken Pot Pie<br />
Pressure Cooker Beef Stroganoff<br />
BBQ Sauce<br />
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And lots more.....stay tuned!<br />
<br />Merileehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00582532410342782015noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4247277678351068206.post-51341204306165944412015-10-25T11:04:00.001-07:002015-10-25T11:04:11.693-07:00Morocco in PicturesThis vacation to Morocco was such a fantastic time! We needed the break from the challenges that living in Chad holds....and especially as it was in the height of the terrorist attacks...we had been in country for around 10 months and just needed a break from it all.<br />We flew with Air Moroc for the first time and were pleasantly surprised....we made it in one piece, and eventually got all our luggage :) A good start to our time away....<br /><br />
Finally, finally, I am getting around to sorting through our pictures we took of our time in Morocco....it was so hard to pick which ones to include as there were so many fun, beautiful and memorable moments to choose from. Well, I tried to narrow it down...but there are I think around 65....so....if you want to grab a cup of tea or some sort of drink/snack, now's the time as this'll take a while. :) Enjoy!<br /><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpfbiV2x1cPX-eWi0JMHtKPNc-V6FSlEJ6GerPrR9kcNS1VhYNbF2z9gXrhyRN0VVoTa53csbsqvV1qEj3KQkJVMA3wrvxu9viO4Zn1_Wo_N_YEul5_m0lFU8C_FmblmphNF_i_poCJj1D/s1600/MoroccoBlogPost+-+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpfbiV2x1cPX-eWi0JMHtKPNc-V6FSlEJ6GerPrR9kcNS1VhYNbF2z9gXrhyRN0VVoTa53csbsqvV1qEj3KQkJVMA3wrvxu9viO4Zn1_Wo_N_YEul5_m0lFU8C_FmblmphNF_i_poCJj1D/s320/MoroccoBlogPost+-+1.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is the departure lounge at N'Djamena airport....luxurious eh? :)<br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOxxIm4zoLTV1AWOVsx1pusvrwmBbUNaTRhOZO7B9V7YVaVSYjVmid2Xg-33mZuqr8TbI5rfpSKLIziJ345Ta_wGxCvjcH-U4NrOuhsbk1LmDt6o-8Vx-Je42P4bwJbVu5dUh_CGIvxo7F/s1600/MoroccoBlogPost+-+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOxxIm4zoLTV1AWOVsx1pusvrwmBbUNaTRhOZO7B9V7YVaVSYjVmid2Xg-33mZuqr8TbI5rfpSKLIziJ345Ta_wGxCvjcH-U4NrOuhsbk1LmDt6o-8Vx-Je42P4bwJbVu5dUh_CGIvxo7F/s320/MoroccoBlogPost+-+2.jpg" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our own 'in flight' movie (no TV's on this plane!)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcg7_dP29PFrIt0S1jX5-7MXBGiKrlGP3Mx4zsydYAk8pZlJxd5KZPnxOzs4Y-JIHhpcKUDS54-YCzi1BlyPZesGIqwGBLes1ehe-0HMZQXc_Qxul2Se1RZj-9C5OjF4zcaeL8fmR9CTaM/s1600/MoroccoBlogPost+-+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcg7_dP29PFrIt0S1jX5-7MXBGiKrlGP3Mx4zsydYAk8pZlJxd5KZPnxOzs4Y-JIHhpcKUDS54-YCzi1BlyPZesGIqwGBLes1ehe-0HMZQXc_Qxul2Se1RZj-9C5OjF4zcaeL8fmR9CTaM/s320/MoroccoBlogPost+-+3.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Um....are we in the Prairies?? Loving the long, clean, wide open spaces.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX_fsvxBiSD3ZKQAc1a9zKvr0AitH6gEsfsdu94k9UhzPSFZ6SHR4e1rZBdOCB6c6xyqqrehea-YEAefII8fFmArtaoLBQ-ZeAWJz-N1hvYTqXQBhyphenhyphenFaZw7TwglIingwJjZJmBojZznAkB/s1600/MoroccoBlogPost+-+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX_fsvxBiSD3ZKQAc1a9zKvr0AitH6gEsfsdu94k9UhzPSFZ6SHR4e1rZBdOCB6c6xyqqrehea-YEAefII8fFmArtaoLBQ-ZeAWJz-N1hvYTqXQBhyphenhyphenFaZw7TwglIingwJjZJmBojZznAkB/s320/MoroccoBlogPost+-+4.jpg" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We're here!!! Beach time was our first 'to do'.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUl6iEZb90L6hvxOJklq6NVMqY5R0LftXqR7WEov9Kb70NVVIrp02Gw7V6ahdC_QxTshTRsg0NTSofc6SXKAojs6gEzM-71UNQ1J1gK0wCKstxSRcR4HOXVrGOAbgAvJwDY_SWe2EeQEfe/s1600/MoroccoBlogPost+-+5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUl6iEZb90L6hvxOJklq6NVMqY5R0LftXqR7WEov9Kb70NVVIrp02Gw7V6ahdC_QxTshTRsg0NTSofc6SXKAojs6gEzM-71UNQ1J1gK0wCKstxSRcR4HOXVrGOAbgAvJwDY_SWe2EeQEfe/s320/MoroccoBlogPost+-+5.jpg" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">2 very excited girls (and one behind the camera VERY excited mama!)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1AH9zuBSXvo97iiv4k_ZuDJYp4pEyy92R5ZaDYtrXGqq8xhNMIEWGv3eMap9lClU0UAi0x67PNxF8YU28Zb6xgpE2hiaGme-OIG5a4p7Rpvdp85ZcBT1yv94CqVDZPFprHmZe4t27UCoT/s1600/MoroccoBlogPost+-+6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1AH9zuBSXvo97iiv4k_ZuDJYp4pEyy92R5ZaDYtrXGqq8xhNMIEWGv3eMap9lClU0UAi0x67PNxF8YU28Zb6xgpE2hiaGme-OIG5a4p7Rpvdp85ZcBT1yv94CqVDZPFprHmZe4t27UCoT/s320/MoroccoBlogPost+-+6.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our first taste of Moroccan Cuisine</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfOd1Zny1mMrqNsK-JduhVaZNGdoWgdRBYrX4T3PJ0qogZUxrE1JuBoqLvJfyPvo8glqDY0Bg_XeaoUglIgovL6i-giGsW3HwVGsSkMnoMZfxE6ZU8NfQuuaaSvOpE7tk0dKyjYcgzYmuF/s1600/MoroccoBlogPost+-+7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfOd1Zny1mMrqNsK-JduhVaZNGdoWgdRBYrX4T3PJ0qogZUxrE1JuBoqLvJfyPvo8glqDY0Bg_XeaoUglIgovL6i-giGsW3HwVGsSkMnoMZfxE6ZU8NfQuuaaSvOpE7tk0dKyjYcgzYmuF/s320/MoroccoBlogPost+-+7.jpg" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kaitlyn looking like a teenager here....YIPES!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYZ3z-f3wjMHCZLKJaYhJuMlhWCb1nyz16w7d9rr-dKxYvwQPzdfWI9inC6uLp8jZAqXgatskMIXjD4U_ASNWv0DynDknCo4an07lGGLUGQPq2itJBjNnh1Bh8y4BRbfeO3SRJatkBNrRn/s1600/MoroccoBlogPost+-+8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYZ3z-f3wjMHCZLKJaYhJuMlhWCb1nyz16w7d9rr-dKxYvwQPzdfWI9inC6uLp8jZAqXgatskMIXjD4U_ASNWv0DynDknCo4an07lGGLUGQPq2itJBjNnh1Bh8y4BRbfeO3SRJatkBNrRn/s320/MoroccoBlogPost+-+8.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lily is impatiently waiting to get the go ahead to run on the beach</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHS2_NPdSj86ya3WQlZ4BYQVvahaFuF7dr7PL-P5iTmO8mxFQ8aj1sj3P_Tl3RNyFgNcZG_lFSDSWfTPYjTPY6iLJCEAb-nFkWYRxy22yFDVxFFo33X7nwJe8kAGkEtotRA45amhVgmg1O/s1600/MoroccoBlogPost+-+9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHS2_NPdSj86ya3WQlZ4BYQVvahaFuF7dr7PL-P5iTmO8mxFQ8aj1sj3P_Tl3RNyFgNcZG_lFSDSWfTPYjTPY6iLJCEAb-nFkWYRxy22yFDVxFFo33X7nwJe8kAGkEtotRA45amhVgmg1O/s320/MoroccoBlogPost+-+9.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kaitlyn Elise. Beauty.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1bYRm-A-8k9N9k_XzNvI1cQk6K3uw8T5l4f_BTZDP-yEVoZ_TDhE54QOt7WdCLWAzJqrb2NhpRPntOSRjQ5VsFPuVOaInhiF9zAWaSXg1vxEO8rPuMXNgMeqiYa3AgGKeZcs5UOtdSW8D/s1600/MoroccoBlogPost+-+10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1bYRm-A-8k9N9k_XzNvI1cQk6K3uw8T5l4f_BTZDP-yEVoZ_TDhE54QOt7WdCLWAzJqrb2NhpRPntOSRjQ5VsFPuVOaInhiF9zAWaSXg1vxEO8rPuMXNgMeqiYa3AgGKeZcs5UOtdSW8D/s320/MoroccoBlogPost+-+10.jpg" width="275" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This stroller was a life saver!!!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXDV4mXh-4bcwgYnA3XaIa_PUUYwvYqbn_Q4o2Tux3Ou119MwoZpd4v5r3WHt9qbB-zOoFHqZGa7BkNhJJF4oUY08fzSjOms2FoXGYwAuvIth3Z4wtxQ5IZx2eXZWXD_vz838LuCpeTQGG/s1600/MoroccoBlogPost+-+11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXDV4mXh-4bcwgYnA3XaIa_PUUYwvYqbn_Q4o2Tux3Ou119MwoZpd4v5r3WHt9qbB-zOoFHqZGa7BkNhJJF4oUY08fzSjOms2FoXGYwAuvIth3Z4wtxQ5IZx2eXZWXD_vz838LuCpeTQGG/s320/MoroccoBlogPost+-+11.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Phil's artistic photography shot....night time view from our apartment</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivWIFPlldus6OnWtNsLV44LgJEdEKtNP-YStUz5rgc7jkC13ge1xRoDOUlH7u_ByOEt8IgJ3s3O2VBZcT9VKebMubfJln6QUYZsUExk2I522-P7v0i_93YohXIX1QnaM6c6bVRyik3iIkU/s1600/MoroccoBlogPost+-+12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivWIFPlldus6OnWtNsLV44LgJEdEKtNP-YStUz5rgc7jkC13ge1xRoDOUlH7u_ByOEt8IgJ3s3O2VBZcT9VKebMubfJln6QUYZsUExk2I522-P7v0i_93YohXIX1QnaM6c6bVRyik3iIkU/s320/MoroccoBlogPost+-+12.jpg" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Evie distracting the other diners with her ADORABLENESS!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYvMDBzzkuCLCaziAv0WGMSb__9O1adm3XvouWnOkumCjNa37GSfwQTGl751eV8YMZzSUgViF5NksIs0e1nh0JG2Ul18duulU-3bljupjSsPNGH5Wjvqj0nBSGZ3S4JO5ian3GswQaECiV/s1600/MoroccoBlogPost+-+13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYvMDBzzkuCLCaziAv0WGMSb__9O1adm3XvouWnOkumCjNa37GSfwQTGl751eV8YMZzSUgViF5NksIs0e1nh0JG2Ul18duulU-3bljupjSsPNGH5Wjvqj0nBSGZ3S4JO5ian3GswQaECiV/s320/MoroccoBlogPost+-+13.jpg" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Puzzle time (made me hungry every time I tried to find pieces!)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVYKXhkLOuBP3NX5gCSRj5qNyboQsuKoFUv3ZGiyd_hr7z38_oRflAKRb8zEot_pm8D78Xlzhyphenhyphenzc-AksW-JPkXm3HE_iKe1X3gkDPXglWUqclnba4I3fo1cSg23_1oWqIOHYjEdLe-ZFm8/s1600/MoroccoBlogPost+-+14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVYKXhkLOuBP3NX5gCSRj5qNyboQsuKoFUv3ZGiyd_hr7z38_oRflAKRb8zEot_pm8D78Xlzhyphenhyphenzc-AksW-JPkXm3HE_iKe1X3gkDPXglWUqclnba4I3fo1cSg23_1oWqIOHYjEdLe-ZFm8/s320/MoroccoBlogPost+-+14.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The culture and architecture were so beautiful</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRyK_GuThi3zHXNI68ONkor_HLhiiywyxDtJuR6OMtjFTzd0iUylOVSm7oLOh_O0rwSL0QwjsD2gKC1UTcEfODYjIrX5Ij7fRul4B0Zs1TnaKc0CzWKbVaOIdV6NEs9wQMWc7Ul4HjwCou/s1600/MoroccoBlogPost+-+15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRyK_GuThi3zHXNI68ONkor_HLhiiywyxDtJuR6OMtjFTzd0iUylOVSm7oLOh_O0rwSL0QwjsD2gKC1UTcEfODYjIrX5Ij7fRul4B0Zs1TnaKc0CzWKbVaOIdV6NEs9wQMWc7Ul4HjwCou/s320/MoroccoBlogPost+-+15.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bucket list: Horse back riding on the beach at sunset--CHECK!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1tvl7AGRyZiK3iFI4Y3qEEaezdyPvL4aN940k5k8kj3MzphDWG2EyB96RPko7RILaC5TeTcjuZX0f4OBfR4MH5fnI4-NvAmaWdljCR-m6fPN9dA4tLbRs6RudBGHUUd5wJUz7oQAjHZZL/s1600/MoroccoBlogPost+-+16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1tvl7AGRyZiK3iFI4Y3qEEaezdyPvL4aN940k5k8kj3MzphDWG2EyB96RPko7RILaC5TeTcjuZX0f4OBfR4MH5fnI4-NvAmaWdljCR-m6fPN9dA4tLbRs6RudBGHUUd5wJUz7oQAjHZZL/s320/MoroccoBlogPost+-+16.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our family.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_JnmLxlAKPWgea2cwO6lfJcYOAMM2LfQgQ0StxLXDtapSIngtbq7xjwXP24oFPA71LMaBe-mCcteO7q63oDMXRIw9htYQc_oyMCDhsspqoNJGWXwrOHCs7x2GQ2gseZDERRLGKCp2GtS0/s1600/MoroccoBlogPost+-+17.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_JnmLxlAKPWgea2cwO6lfJcYOAMM2LfQgQ0StxLXDtapSIngtbq7xjwXP24oFPA71LMaBe-mCcteO7q63oDMXRIw9htYQc_oyMCDhsspqoNJGWXwrOHCs7x2GQ2gseZDERRLGKCp2GtS0/s320/MoroccoBlogPost+-+17.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Her eyes...</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjb2Tk3Ss-BgdBWlex81nuY_p2bX5wCN-5wsfAyZWPJMGROwHhget3Bf1MXRbTxqqdiRowKjIBfCQskYKUgCg7mwM3B-lxDFzQT2R3jLX63s3lXACynPpR8XlnD1XIBDZO_YQUgc5nvc9Z/s1600/MoroccoBlogPost+-+18.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjb2Tk3Ss-BgdBWlex81nuY_p2bX5wCN-5wsfAyZWPJMGROwHhget3Bf1MXRbTxqqdiRowKjIBfCQskYKUgCg7mwM3B-lxDFzQT2R3jLX63s3lXACynPpR8XlnD1XIBDZO_YQUgc5nvc9Z/s320/MoroccoBlogPost+-+18.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I love this picture....total joy!</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIr7AtiZJs0zvGvsqcn5fAAO7-uWNpdxRFMZJ6wDGSqr6VSfcSyIFaCtAG127Lp0g6qWe7zix_hJKChG_bHBlN-f_CaHtp4oU9ft1OFrxsjIbBK8oGcRFWdK1cZRYLH5QnGCtBzcK77Tlr/s1600/MoroccoBlogPost+-+19.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="84" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIr7AtiZJs0zvGvsqcn5fAAO7-uWNpdxRFMZJ6wDGSqr6VSfcSyIFaCtAG127Lp0g6qWe7zix_hJKChG_bHBlN-f_CaHtp4oU9ft1OFrxsjIbBK8oGcRFWdK1cZRYLH5QnGCtBzcK77Tlr/s320/MoroccoBlogPost+-+19.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I will never grow tired of sunset pictures.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-H21C7uJ6Q69QHQW7dd4G3-xCx8ZRBE9t3TjV-e4qR0YewT5ITDIFhaHvJfK9DaR1homhgsCcMwqMHIWVOXiPh7_78QYc7WWEsDdXrk7mGBNVSUNytcDGXnqAyMX7Ra86VETaeJLMSZ8T/s1600/MoroccoBlogPost+-+20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-H21C7uJ6Q69QHQW7dd4G3-xCx8ZRBE9t3TjV-e4qR0YewT5ITDIFhaHvJfK9DaR1homhgsCcMwqMHIWVOXiPh7_78QYc7WWEsDdXrk7mGBNVSUNytcDGXnqAyMX7Ra86VETaeJLMSZ8T/s320/MoroccoBlogPost+-+20.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Amusing Evie amongst age old history.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzAuPOj9EEmOArq13a62jWcOlfD010oWegsD2SYGaAJcHwBYcHMzlJKaycMOm6qPnXCahmAM1aknEwCaSOYqj377IPy2_v64lVbFv8chxY_BT2Z_k0uawJuVhEYsh9V1jdaX_uENO70bbR/s1600/MoroccoBlogPost+-+21.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzAuPOj9EEmOArq13a62jWcOlfD010oWegsD2SYGaAJcHwBYcHMzlJKaycMOm6qPnXCahmAM1aknEwCaSOYqj377IPy2_v64lVbFv8chxY_BT2Z_k0uawJuVhEYsh9V1jdaX_uENO70bbR/s320/MoroccoBlogPost+-+21.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At the fishing warf</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPJdUFmfnlnDqjlODYXPMdT8ktgl0BAJZIi5VqLwLOfAKwycQyxJvCztspkgEVp6RZnVNzQUNCNis9nbllpdOIEAYVhEUwW8moyPfIuSP1DtKwok-LAq-ti_ePzxK1CLdYDEPTysh0x2tl/s1600/MoroccoBlogPost+-+22.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPJdUFmfnlnDqjlODYXPMdT8ktgl0BAJZIi5VqLwLOfAKwycQyxJvCztspkgEVp6RZnVNzQUNCNis9nbllpdOIEAYVhEUwW8moyPfIuSP1DtKwok-LAq-ti_ePzxK1CLdYDEPTysh0x2tl/s320/MoroccoBlogPost+-+22.jpg" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another stray cat that the girls just HAD to love on....hand sanitizer anyone???</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgByGL3B78IjTO-F8yxMshuB_qO7EcJ9mBk-e1IXg-tsnxb23hozkHwpUnndi7lghBFnI4fvUXXxnQ6W6jaSigJeuWSkOLieY8PeHbhcovVA7KY9EZjlgrTdcew6yJBN7fqO-hqgYRvPAtP/s1600/MoroccoBlogPost+-+23.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgByGL3B78IjTO-F8yxMshuB_qO7EcJ9mBk-e1IXg-tsnxb23hozkHwpUnndi7lghBFnI4fvUXXxnQ6W6jaSigJeuWSkOLieY8PeHbhcovVA7KY9EZjlgrTdcew6yJBN7fqO-hqgYRvPAtP/s320/MoroccoBlogPost+-+23.jpg" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Random fun for the girls...riding cars for a small fee.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIOUgVwMAGqMiYgbioSV0TMWdruUOjf8vhvWN4WRM6fv1dcrPSuqNED7yyDO_R_9biMVUY3KeXGltfSfuL3A8WxNfj0zsi9lPtMvOzUW9f9pryOJPHfDu1Gm64i28UpB96_-5Uq1dRvcSN/s1600/MoroccoBlogPost+-+24.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIOUgVwMAGqMiYgbioSV0TMWdruUOjf8vhvWN4WRM6fv1dcrPSuqNED7yyDO_R_9biMVUY3KeXGltfSfuL3A8WxNfj0zsi9lPtMvOzUW9f9pryOJPHfDu1Gm64i28UpB96_-5Uq1dRvcSN/s320/MoroccoBlogPost+-+24.jpg" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And she's had enough....</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtLK1GhsyZJff2n1ZxNs61GaTFdDhNzdDr82gdCOZ-GoyVnDFW6Ew7Upd-j3C-Og2KZ47i3LqfwZNcot4AaTnqulF1II2KsfWm3pGx2rg0PYooTWzuxY-osU7lUOkSVCjSIQIYqaQ9EoBO/s1600/MoroccoBlogPost+-+25.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtLK1GhsyZJff2n1ZxNs61GaTFdDhNzdDr82gdCOZ-GoyVnDFW6Ew7Upd-j3C-Og2KZ47i3LqfwZNcot4AaTnqulF1II2KsfWm3pGx2rg0PYooTWzuxY-osU7lUOkSVCjSIQIYqaQ9EoBO/s320/MoroccoBlogPost+-+25.jpg" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Phil picked out some light covers to take back with us to Chad.<br />Bought in the Medina.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGzfHfFSoI-6-2dmRBGSF9enauxrO5dqGB-vhT5C5Aro_zA7IJ-qH8c2YJT3P9wUjY-1msBccebm_q88pzCIukdNWsne6sk-JtCbi3VEuAlyxNi-R-jfgrC8XA7ULuaqEu3ogSJ8-peHLx/s1600/MoroccoBlogPost+-+26.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGzfHfFSoI-6-2dmRBGSF9enauxrO5dqGB-vhT5C5Aro_zA7IJ-qH8c2YJT3P9wUjY-1msBccebm_q88pzCIukdNWsne6sk-JtCbi3VEuAlyxNi-R-jfgrC8XA7ULuaqEu3ogSJ8-peHLx/s320/MoroccoBlogPost+-+26.jpg" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yup, we are one of THOSE cheezy tourist families that had to try the family bike. It was fun!</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhviENIYd08h1ZYrFPZ6Mtxv7_wlLL6KBktvofknzKe6_UVOQRBJIunOAMosMbY4ZcwNIsVTh0Pe3Q2hnjpSSl8loRD5HRTCEKc2kZgibWq-8Hx_aOp4yOjIboZG3p9v4vzoKLt1_Z4mmRR/s1600/MoroccoBlogPost+-+27.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhviENIYd08h1ZYrFPZ6Mtxv7_wlLL6KBktvofknzKe6_UVOQRBJIunOAMosMbY4ZcwNIsVTh0Pe3Q2hnjpSSl8loRD5HRTCEKc2kZgibWq-8Hx_aOp4yOjIboZG3p9v4vzoKLt1_Z4mmRR/s320/MoroccoBlogPost+-+27.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our place in Essaouira for almost 2 weeks </td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiGkH5kwaMaMVFnAzzIWIp0R3VZVINEhhwZajaHWTVC3XujS-G5tBBnfsP7ZbnwKI8NRA3ISzZqWpwLZBU8IJftKV60iDr5CN0CMFpa8cmXitBfulu_UvPs0vJu3_COdieYgoZHGY8srCX/s1600/MoroccoBlogPost+-+28.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiGkH5kwaMaMVFnAzzIWIp0R3VZVINEhhwZajaHWTVC3XujS-G5tBBnfsP7ZbnwKI8NRA3ISzZqWpwLZBU8IJftKV60iDr5CN0CMFpa8cmXitBfulu_UvPs0vJu3_COdieYgoZHGY8srCX/s320/MoroccoBlogPost+-+28.jpg" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kaitlyn and I went on a little date to get some Henna done.<br />This lady whipped out jaw-dropping designs in less than 5 minutes.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkGiQPuyBSD8aBOY4HZCNREZa2llaqSWF0l9tpzsaK0TZFx8rWGaZ9MIbPgrgKvj5CJ8b8Z6u6TWMDZW2aNGqY7F47L32IRoaYNjoV5EajDFEJR1XDJM23z3VCdT-4akTEzgJfipNOr_ET/s1600/MoroccoBlogPost+-+29.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkGiQPuyBSD8aBOY4HZCNREZa2llaqSWF0l9tpzsaK0TZFx8rWGaZ9MIbPgrgKvj5CJ8b8Z6u6TWMDZW2aNGqY7F47L32IRoaYNjoV5EajDFEJR1XDJM23z3VCdT-4akTEzgJfipNOr_ET/s320/MoroccoBlogPost+-+29.jpg" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On a date with Lily....she was beyond excited about the amount of ice cream<br />that came in her bowl. We watched the sunset together and chatted about life while<br />eating yummy strawberry ice cream. </td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJlsmBAR3k-mmQ311Vrt6mj106sxyR8uGoaEG7fXdR59UmPWTjg_c33d1jB55IhwAtdwJ_2-MQ53OAL8Jf8NCqzSE8lISbuH91_KVvGvOEogAUTvgmIyK2a4FvIIMvvDml5_veJbPNGpGY/s1600/MoroccoBlogPost+-+30.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJlsmBAR3k-mmQ311Vrt6mj106sxyR8uGoaEG7fXdR59UmPWTjg_c33d1jB55IhwAtdwJ_2-MQ53OAL8Jf8NCqzSE8lISbuH91_KVvGvOEogAUTvgmIyK2a4FvIIMvvDml5_veJbPNGpGY/s320/MoroccoBlogPost+-+30.jpg" width="286" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Loved my Henna. oh and the beach too :)</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb2nOhpAwRMFiHvlCIcbU02kuqR3w224pXgEUbMUnqUPgnPwWa_5yU3dVds6-hw3c0akOonzvks_hzLIvWp1pLIPJkEtBnxpD-F7oVUG0A2XO4LCRhKLv8aUtUdAH2zadZ6A-eA-mia0aY/s1600/MoroccoBlogPost+-+31.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb2nOhpAwRMFiHvlCIcbU02kuqR3w224pXgEUbMUnqUPgnPwWa_5yU3dVds6-hw3c0akOonzvks_hzLIvWp1pLIPJkEtBnxpD-F7oVUG0A2XO4LCRhKLv8aUtUdAH2zadZ6A-eA-mia0aY/s320/MoroccoBlogPost+-+31.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View from our balcony....I vowed not to miss one sunset...and I didn't! </td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5ARtINscde-HyXprUgQiK8YMpTUxY7H-tjQZM4vuJGpe0t6M-v1kc6tUcktY5R6QxdDNvQlKXdpk2jdWnjef9jdqvcLytSp3YIdeIB7vyBcQGOPjcmhs5E4g3J25wOLZRr5Lhdbwsqxgb/s1600/MoroccoBlogPost+-+32.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5ARtINscde-HyXprUgQiK8YMpTUxY7H-tjQZM4vuJGpe0t6M-v1kc6tUcktY5R6QxdDNvQlKXdpk2jdWnjef9jdqvcLytSp3YIdeIB7vyBcQGOPjcmhs5E4g3J25wOLZRr5Lhdbwsqxgb/s320/MoroccoBlogPost+-+32.jpg" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Look what we found on the beach? The same swing we have in Chad. <br />Of course Evie had to try it out.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWxUXY-gKwUawak1IS9tmyfJ0FwvbYUwUedS0S3f3AKt-Z7wqMnuFOEd8cPdJ_IyWcnRgjUQPN9L0Q4bMWQDmjt1aFzgkMz1Bo21VAQ16331cqYRSMyuTk4Ouz31f2X7qoSnsaFex3B1f7/s1600/MoroccoBlogPost+-+33.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWxUXY-gKwUawak1IS9tmyfJ0FwvbYUwUedS0S3f3AKt-Z7wqMnuFOEd8cPdJ_IyWcnRgjUQPN9L0Q4bMWQDmjt1aFzgkMz1Bo21VAQ16331cqYRSMyuTk4Ouz31f2X7qoSnsaFex3B1f7/s320/MoroccoBlogPost+-+33.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Staking her claim at the city gate.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2EwQqHS_WYxMJvm_GBAJdZjaeKfulsYe6MxlIrRLBuAwQo4xfX50mdc7TDyPzlQ_Cg3vRwsXMrblRt38_8atK7-3q8jXuBY6XCTosvy-EwTi_Iu0H4J6Pfhxmty1C1Yh5Wf0rCEmbk1Di/s1600/MoroccoBlogPost+-+34.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2EwQqHS_WYxMJvm_GBAJdZjaeKfulsYe6MxlIrRLBuAwQo4xfX50mdc7TDyPzlQ_Cg3vRwsXMrblRt38_8atK7-3q8jXuBY6XCTosvy-EwTi_Iu0H4J6Pfhxmty1C1Yh5Wf0rCEmbk1Di/s320/MoroccoBlogPost+-+34.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The girls read this as "Lego Land"....haha</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3eoAVnTJTctLZXrSeEF_akhPM8niOFkdLt1CHIyjmrALz4CuEUIavwNelW8AoNQTSza97s_VUmWg210xZIyTR1ACts8fihaFk8Iahc02sh6EmnKMHbVZdMeTa9_EGHiBnrgnyyfogbqwa/s1600/MoroccoBlogPost+-+35.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3eoAVnTJTctLZXrSeEF_akhPM8niOFkdLt1CHIyjmrALz4CuEUIavwNelW8AoNQTSza97s_VUmWg210xZIyTR1ACts8fihaFk8Iahc02sh6EmnKMHbVZdMeTa9_EGHiBnrgnyyfogbqwa/s320/MoroccoBlogPost+-+35.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lily couldn't take the sun in her eyes...</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk-fZw9XW2B5WMeyxwRhioTuxyr_Nvj720FaaFfUAG1S297qwaaI-wbeDOyMEbhwAaQpHScT-lHRREuC4nOuf3h_rY6S4Bmhn-vsCiGqO8WV0TgP90-n1V3OPFP2pdC4GPZIvKRYYeF9hp/s1600/MoroccoBlogPost+-+36.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="161" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk-fZw9XW2B5WMeyxwRhioTuxyr_Nvj720FaaFfUAG1S297qwaaI-wbeDOyMEbhwAaQpHScT-lHRREuC4nOuf3h_rY6S4Bmhn-vsCiGqO8WV0TgP90-n1V3OPFP2pdC4GPZIvKRYYeF9hp/s320/MoroccoBlogPost+-+36.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ok, that's better Lily. She borrowed daddy's sunglasses.<br />Love the city scene in the background.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe7_C_bVi7qjSV0shh9saQdih9alCo7f_oxXuHtbuNDN2fL4JNAbQCCiYZm37ohZP2gskY4geoziZ94WjCQ1IIIQOK0_Iku53k0OH2VfUukf4Tx59cGpgn1pUmsePZfRoAxCWkA44S_WZZ/s1600/MoroccoBlogPost+-+37.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe7_C_bVi7qjSV0shh9saQdih9alCo7f_oxXuHtbuNDN2fL4JNAbQCCiYZm37ohZP2gskY4geoziZ94WjCQ1IIIQOK0_Iku53k0OH2VfUukf4Tx59cGpgn1pUmsePZfRoAxCWkA44S_WZZ/s320/MoroccoBlogPost+-+37.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our most favorite place to eat....on a terrace 4 stories up, overlooking the Ocean.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSoLS-qD1HXHzIM0d6rMfpi3Ai-X3g6AZUcXlJlJLHiEQa9HRIUVGTlp0W3g0-lLUbCiHzg0Yp2t9Kaa6BreeUMLAoBNtlkT3LQHT8A6sGqfDiJkN0JkGQje3crh_8b4dK10uW1HjyV-tI/s1600/MoroccoBlogPost+-+38.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSoLS-qD1HXHzIM0d6rMfpi3Ai-X3g6AZUcXlJlJLHiEQa9HRIUVGTlp0W3g0-lLUbCiHzg0Yp2t9Kaa6BreeUMLAoBNtlkT3LQHT8A6sGqfDiJkN0JkGQje3crh_8b4dK10uW1HjyV-tI/s320/MoroccoBlogPost+-+38.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Showing off my Henna. :)</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_VDmwOo-5O4zU9W_ty3o0FkBTZ7xGze1MtemYpxf0zzJp-mPzbQ8oe0AUQv_eQpYnXLZzMyivBVAHgnm5ttZ1xvMYykaHebfgTCBcW8t6XdDbxsieBBDXegCWERAaHYrxJobpr50Cwwck/s1600/MoroccoBlogPost+-+39.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_VDmwOo-5O4zU9W_ty3o0FkBTZ7xGze1MtemYpxf0zzJp-mPzbQ8oe0AUQv_eQpYnXLZzMyivBVAHgnm5ttZ1xvMYykaHebfgTCBcW8t6XdDbxsieBBDXegCWERAaHYrxJobpr50Cwwck/s320/MoroccoBlogPost+-+39.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Precious.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN0L9QM-6Q9AVRmyEkflKWwN9mM8OGW_0jiAb3Xsic6WCuIRbAl_udOYUGLYR1JI9qELSv2d4B7CZn5MSdo_LYadAP-BYG8TFI1m2VxyQ-PgLFSS8sbVc10YG5PO6OtGs8W8xW46e1-gnZ/s1600/MoroccoBlogPost+-+40.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN0L9QM-6Q9AVRmyEkflKWwN9mM8OGW_0jiAb3Xsic6WCuIRbAl_udOYUGLYR1JI9qELSv2d4B7CZn5MSdo_LYadAP-BYG8TFI1m2VxyQ-PgLFSS8sbVc10YG5PO6OtGs8W8xW46e1-gnZ/s320/MoroccoBlogPost+-+40.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gorgeous sunset photo.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQW5YliA0HjXVjiUcz5lD14JEB4VpFaKCdN9WloF-uwKfJbCSGxgDf7xv2kxjLwkiirn7knJNbzmyjZ0rymjqr4DusDUFEb-5cnjD-K1BeCT66AiLUPqkNU5f3S_-P0agEXtveT3i2Msjk/s1600/MoroccoBlogPost+-+41.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQW5YliA0HjXVjiUcz5lD14JEB4VpFaKCdN9WloF-uwKfJbCSGxgDf7xv2kxjLwkiirn7knJNbzmyjZ0rymjqr4DusDUFEb-5cnjD-K1BeCT66AiLUPqkNU5f3S_-P0agEXtveT3i2Msjk/s320/MoroccoBlogPost+-+41.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The girls trying to get warm after a cold swim and a breezy day.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmHKBzTzOzE7qdcqy8wpGc7QVcaOKICDldl7e_qDzRyiwC5fZnnuK2C9bz66Kc7cSYOmKbSfL3I-G1UJVH0sLeRS_UJSXEvzutc3Hxo31-jmblmKBN4h-KTHfjsQjy6VBdLnXhpvEUjCiw/s1600/MoroccoBlogPost+-+42.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmHKBzTzOzE7qdcqy8wpGc7QVcaOKICDldl7e_qDzRyiwC5fZnnuK2C9bz66Kc7cSYOmKbSfL3I-G1UJVH0sLeRS_UJSXEvzutc3Hxo31-jmblmKBN4h-KTHfjsQjy6VBdLnXhpvEUjCiw/s320/MoroccoBlogPost+-+42.jpg" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Look what I came across on my morning walk down the beach?!</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEP0jSBI9Z132whZJx5IAGuojgs-sgv9kARIMsik8gyS1D37UHOFmbR0DC9Brfzl6YJVaxXSQXXseIOsYJxSYf0rCuTznJ8ekRXOs0RJFKAB4xPrAVg2Smuxy1KVkg-86Wi4zQIyGi3to9/s1600/MoroccoBlogPost+-+43.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEP0jSBI9Z132whZJx5IAGuojgs-sgv9kARIMsik8gyS1D37UHOFmbR0DC9Brfzl6YJVaxXSQXXseIOsYJxSYf0rCuTznJ8ekRXOs0RJFKAB4xPrAVg2Smuxy1KVkg-86Wi4zQIyGi3to9/s320/MoroccoBlogPost+-+43.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A typical street in the Medina.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT60-6N6-uofebLjWLLZfJUeMSgGl-SMO2YaUn1dDWXsvlTurnGKGWDyzP8_CTdJpbGf_LFP_mLOwZoRBBlVfjE-GXi5_S5LMMJxMztiVAhHTfPJkOWxUvOrD9rjPJHQ-9x0SDrkdSW-U6/s1600/MoroccoBlogPost+-+44.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT60-6N6-uofebLjWLLZfJUeMSgGl-SMO2YaUn1dDWXsvlTurnGKGWDyzP8_CTdJpbGf_LFP_mLOwZoRBBlVfjE-GXi5_S5LMMJxMztiVAhHTfPJkOWxUvOrD9rjPJHQ-9x0SDrkdSW-U6/s320/MoroccoBlogPost+-+44.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Phil was on the hunt for a blue door for me....success!</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3nmj6nvGhVn82ygWH1W7WjldKFA5ukMMEJZ_SVwaRhdczUlrx4oNcJTgjDcovRTL9ORQKgxEvGws-GbCycoNG_wErTwynnk0ipso80BchUtZbBCPXO01KA9BDaVPDL2FgHEUL5244XjAa/s1600/MoroccoBlogPost+-+45.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3nmj6nvGhVn82ygWH1W7WjldKFA5ukMMEJZ_SVwaRhdczUlrx4oNcJTgjDcovRTL9ORQKgxEvGws-GbCycoNG_wErTwynnk0ipso80BchUtZbBCPXO01KA9BDaVPDL2FgHEUL5244XjAa/s320/MoroccoBlogPost+-+45.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our favorite Riad where we ate several times, had some spa time and just enjoyed the view.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLqBjL1SDzjzTBXmzkF04QQdHWemhiktFCs03VVeyXGrQ7tVcH6EQEuJQNwcCMAg6hwh57eabxdDsNvQTjYdL8rELfz_nW3lAMpb_2_Q84mjQig63b8uh6mU0X60iRRvZifeSV4cKGHqde/s1600/MoroccoBlogPost+-+46.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLqBjL1SDzjzTBXmzkF04QQdHWemhiktFCs03VVeyXGrQ7tVcH6EQEuJQNwcCMAg6hwh57eabxdDsNvQTjYdL8rELfz_nW3lAMpb_2_Q84mjQig63b8uh6mU0X60iRRvZifeSV4cKGHqde/s320/MoroccoBlogPost+-+46.jpg" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Aladdin?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYuq35fJ2tL9cM4T32gumlagLy2PHsgX0oylV2RSRm5qkzPyE9_qSWFeAAzNnJZ0RTUKylzwq8qEvBcB9vIQVq1GFMAKl8qLonfRLV6ydcOjLjWOKKdmCDIPwKec9a5tWxM9PVViQtMXFo/s1600/MoroccoBlogPost+-+47.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYuq35fJ2tL9cM4T32gumlagLy2PHsgX0oylV2RSRm5qkzPyE9_qSWFeAAzNnJZ0RTUKylzwq8qEvBcB9vIQVq1GFMAKl8qLonfRLV6ydcOjLjWOKKdmCDIPwKec9a5tWxM9PVViQtMXFo/s320/MoroccoBlogPost+-+47.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Turning 1 already</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwf0XX0Q6ERzDsdctgfI77SXI5vV8GpPiGRBN_goDefP-QYFUYrhLGVymOdfoJMe8aeeKNBoyu2Co-Vn0XVWXVSNxmlghmAPfhT9kRV5qEyjc5Q6XcVHUAkBHDCRivlld7aYEsQtsiQMIj/s1600/MoroccoBlogPost+-+48.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwf0XX0Q6ERzDsdctgfI77SXI5vV8GpPiGRBN_goDefP-QYFUYrhLGVymOdfoJMe8aeeKNBoyu2Co-Vn0XVWXVSNxmlghmAPfhT9kRV5qEyjc5Q6XcVHUAkBHDCRivlld7aYEsQtsiQMIj/s320/MoroccoBlogPost+-+48.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sugar!</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoRrV2UZC4SH4HUFAg1uXGmdOVzYEHhWWYhBEaL7Vur-WgPYKhuv6PwzcJXVGFJc5x6dtCPtn4wSXLP-DyqrI3YG8v6XA2pPsLs6GFM-mxAlK3tCOZYFCZbxXbk8c-Q5TXqHFDfPAznQwk/s1600/MoroccoBlogPost+-+49.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoRrV2UZC4SH4HUFAg1uXGmdOVzYEHhWWYhBEaL7Vur-WgPYKhuv6PwzcJXVGFJc5x6dtCPtn4wSXLP-DyqrI3YG8v6XA2pPsLs6GFM-mxAlK3tCOZYFCZbxXbk8c-Q5TXqHFDfPAznQwk/s320/MoroccoBlogPost+-+49.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Body Boarding </td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcPEUlfLIz9aOH8Nt2rcTYsNRqcYiZqLW0guclrgpHLl8xKzkOn-g1z_hdJzfBPNqfev7U8996hgNF1l5fjn-Wtu1002TIBJnPok5Kdbycn4aUzXes_Vo76uN6inKc0U_ELfyFgbXf7LdI/s1600/MoroccoBlogPost+-+50.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="159" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcPEUlfLIz9aOH8Nt2rcTYsNRqcYiZqLW0guclrgpHLl8xKzkOn-g1z_hdJzfBPNqfev7U8996hgNF1l5fjn-Wtu1002TIBJnPok5Kdbycn4aUzXes_Vo76uN6inKc0U_ELfyFgbXf7LdI/s320/MoroccoBlogPost+-+50.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Phil took full advantage of Essaouira's wind and went surfing</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6wX_iCzUu1vzfm083Nb0hCuZuzjD6KXvUA2KxldhVGBo5hsoC6QeLoSASuj-8B6dbOlICNvopCJOnZdC6_BDJRi-OkZGWdSkZj04jLH07_dZ_pwiPNK0ROu-MqfBLcD7BUJ12m3-tqxMj/s1600/MoroccoBlogPost+-+51.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6wX_iCzUu1vzfm083Nb0hCuZuzjD6KXvUA2KxldhVGBo5hsoC6QeLoSASuj-8B6dbOlICNvopCJOnZdC6_BDJRi-OkZGWdSkZj04jLH07_dZ_pwiPNK0ROu-MqfBLcD7BUJ12m3-tqxMj/s320/MoroccoBlogPost+-+51.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Medina at night</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxjPsnkWV5N5n8M9x9gPtOt8Dv2AU8jVI60w4QRk4kx4kv2t_tCLcq80xAtKTuRrMD3Mop2iB7HT7efe2svy3_O2WBe61sS7NDDs5azgJib09Qp9ta812MTqRsyd0YSGJFyEu6C-c_TQ6j/s1600/MoroccoBlogPost+-+52.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxjPsnkWV5N5n8M9x9gPtOt8Dv2AU8jVI60w4QRk4kx4kv2t_tCLcq80xAtKTuRrMD3Mop2iB7HT7efe2svy3_O2WBe61sS7NDDs5azgJib09Qp9ta812MTqRsyd0YSGJFyEu6C-c_TQ6j/s320/MoroccoBlogPost+-+52.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Peek-a-boo</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIVNEHdQ7n-6uJKwnESB0G3sSEJVgqdx96mVVWa5oaJUzQm5FU1l9Fmmn-XMFmM0jul2rS7QvjxOmxLFsdw4RjDOfsqc8D05sbih7PoQbFB62kMEitfLSGCSaSwaF_im92PAxRAWToBe5c/s1600/MoroccoBlogPost+-+53.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIVNEHdQ7n-6uJKwnESB0G3sSEJVgqdx96mVVWa5oaJUzQm5FU1l9Fmmn-XMFmM0jul2rS7QvjxOmxLFsdw4RjDOfsqc8D05sbih7PoQbFB62kMEitfLSGCSaSwaF_im92PAxRAWToBe5c/s320/MoroccoBlogPost+-+53.jpg" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kaitlyn discovering her birthday gift (guitar)</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfQVNN60C11SkQpB6uZVTpDDU78TWMBq0BdXHWGYRzHVxhyphenhyphentAm20FRfVVyMSMQJIplnHjT6qaVVGIF56z3ayUjI1z9GJzKINuMjbnD6aprYDSGmlYOgA450ArYgq4BGR7HxmCiOy6McFnA/s1600/MoroccoBlogPost+-+54.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfQVNN60C11SkQpB6uZVTpDDU78TWMBq0BdXHWGYRzHVxhyphenhyphentAm20FRfVVyMSMQJIplnHjT6qaVVGIF56z3ayUjI1z9GJzKINuMjbnD6aprYDSGmlYOgA450ArYgq4BGR7HxmCiOy6McFnA/s320/MoroccoBlogPost+-+54.jpg" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Birthday Manicure</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbmZoITMlT2Z0ZsWBHW5nGhpARN5QaD7rO4JX28h5Az2o-sXF2PZQOKY4cjphn7e2WtJZU01sRj8CFQMfpE_vibX1uvw8BIfa9CLe1RS9EBdVsSfzF6Ub1MWtuvLoavCr26F8RO0AJSE_U/s1600/MoroccoBlogPost+-+55.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbmZoITMlT2Z0ZsWBHW5nGhpARN5QaD7rO4JX28h5Az2o-sXF2PZQOKY4cjphn7e2WtJZU01sRj8CFQMfpE_vibX1uvw8BIfa9CLe1RS9EBdVsSfzF6Ub1MWtuvLoavCr26F8RO0AJSE_U/s320/MoroccoBlogPost+-+55.jpg" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another stray that needed some love from Lily<br />(hand sanitizer....again!!!)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8uOEgPi3JWYkIySbI7yzfYlts762PrncRDP6KAWs5jNSobVGFpgdLuiXAOSQXnY_Mj7nF76YVQ0tjkyrTZcUt2il07mXC3UssIT9mJUkvOWeC3MIS672RlgqoBVn8npFN9yecrldfr7nM/s1600/MoroccoBlogPost+-+56.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8uOEgPi3JWYkIySbI7yzfYlts762PrncRDP6KAWs5jNSobVGFpgdLuiXAOSQXnY_Mj7nF76YVQ0tjkyrTZcUt2il07mXC3UssIT9mJUkvOWeC3MIS672RlgqoBVn8npFN9yecrldfr7nM/s320/MoroccoBlogPost+-+56.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We had mint tea with this shopkeeper to 'discuss' the price of<br />an item we wanted to buy....the tea won us over, and he scored! :)</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtouqI3Sw094UOFlhHrhpAuhvHmUm3mkevxtBYS-BEU9D9_xiSLVL50Hh-v_1cGSM10-BQJhVVkky-DTv8EgenRnYZADwq9moqNGBUK_knKkp5fwKlSNgC59SyYqXDOTwCptq9S-83YQUN/s1600/MoroccoBlogPost+-+57.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtouqI3Sw094UOFlhHrhpAuhvHmUm3mkevxtBYS-BEU9D9_xiSLVL50Hh-v_1cGSM10-BQJhVVkky-DTv8EgenRnYZADwq9moqNGBUK_knKkp5fwKlSNgC59SyYqXDOTwCptq9S-83YQUN/s320/MoroccoBlogPost+-+57.jpg" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The girls picked out some silver rings</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAh0SEB5SuPtDbR4j5MgOKGw6SqJSk1zP5Zon5Qx-fe7x2-I6T9ba1QT9UBDupP-KCFepE19Rr2eYeWyXnr438C_bCjfOTuip6y8-wzH_rtkPWWrLDEgCeI1gdxpEyNIJDjYioo0_V6ecf/s1600/MoroccoBlogPost+-+58.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAh0SEB5SuPtDbR4j5MgOKGw6SqJSk1zP5Zon5Qx-fe7x2-I6T9ba1QT9UBDupP-KCFepE19Rr2eYeWyXnr438C_bCjfOTuip6y8-wzH_rtkPWWrLDEgCeI1gdxpEyNIJDjYioo0_V6ecf/s320/MoroccoBlogPost+-+58.jpg" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">All the birthday activities tuckered Kaitlyn right out!</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKIuWfP1pHoOizyaObsgVzsah1RbBhyeTSsU1diqCpIy66095Eys6wyDc6NuPrnYPDsPZ010iAbEYjc1nI75lC9LXBTwLPPLivBSjuiywu1FogjFE9MOWShw8VR4ETw3Y8F42DnZ8jZDav/s1600/MoroccoBlogPost+-+59.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKIuWfP1pHoOizyaObsgVzsah1RbBhyeTSsU1diqCpIy66095Eys6wyDc6NuPrnYPDsPZ010iAbEYjc1nI75lC9LXBTwLPPLivBSjuiywu1FogjFE9MOWShw8VR4ETw3Y8F42DnZ8jZDav/s320/MoroccoBlogPost+-+59.jpg" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pretty Lily in her Moroccan dress</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_qygcmmXRTj4tiso4e2pZMQ-nUo20b1AQo64_05Dy8NfjhIAwQBKmIjqGoGY2w5XrMzP5TxI1DD3ZC4On-4G9-NIRPR7GROv-06VfQmR0S8AJARmhZIF9t9RAuLloRtmXHLDZaXHcJeqf/s1600/MoroccoBlogPost+-+60.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_qygcmmXRTj4tiso4e2pZMQ-nUo20b1AQo64_05Dy8NfjhIAwQBKmIjqGoGY2w5XrMzP5TxI1DD3ZC4On-4G9-NIRPR7GROv-06VfQmR0S8AJARmhZIF9t9RAuLloRtmXHLDZaXHcJeqf/s320/MoroccoBlogPost+-+60.jpg" width="279" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pretty Kaitlyn on her 8th birthday at a fancy restaurant of her choice.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghflD6thXOFs7Sx7iGdz0b0zM23NpZ4xpffS0uorcU7fVN4-6QF7LrrzU6CkJOhY60oNzK8_kerpGuO33MBb5qfrGfhRZXOxE87Bufeaa2K8kqm6QTBJkJdDiwefEuV-MtAERHlohMtU1x/s1600/MoroccoBlogPost+-+61.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghflD6thXOFs7Sx7iGdz0b0zM23NpZ4xpffS0uorcU7fVN4-6QF7LrrzU6CkJOhY60oNzK8_kerpGuO33MBb5qfrGfhRZXOxE87Bufeaa2K8kqm6QTBJkJdDiwefEuV-MtAERHlohMtU1x/s320/MoroccoBlogPost+-+61.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The restaurant we went to for Kaitlyn's birthday brought out a little<br />cake and sang Happy Birthday to her in french. They got the spelling a little<br />wrong but it's the thought that counts :)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiRZxGBIiTZ_ZxVrAbs8758CHOQGQheWM207ECBu4Q9YoIgSL4fh36no0b9bWKfY8OuiDth8CwsP8RpoklT8RdrQWc2FT_gDq_81o-e1u20n1r27Bj3Y2u7Y35MYmYIAxeYoiwioKfwnGI/s1600/MoroccoBlogPost+-+62.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiRZxGBIiTZ_ZxVrAbs8758CHOQGQheWM207ECBu4Q9YoIgSL4fh36no0b9bWKfY8OuiDth8CwsP8RpoklT8RdrQWc2FT_gDq_81o-e1u20n1r27Bj3Y2u7Y35MYmYIAxeYoiwioKfwnGI/s320/MoroccoBlogPost+-+62.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of our last nights in Essaouira....we stayed up late with the kids<br />and went to the Medina for some yummy treats.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnjtjUWC3dUjQHOvC7mhkKLSvzTkU_vD4I6H3tcSkvsMNF6TfDCXhMvz6RTZeIKNCajyOmyjFo003xYykqdScPG9ennxvFF_Cd_sXHmwAYai3E59vpOvDj4b_9GWpFSVjS5H2BGmSSRfG_/s1600/MoroccoBlogPost+-+63.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="295" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnjtjUWC3dUjQHOvC7mhkKLSvzTkU_vD4I6H3tcSkvsMNF6TfDCXhMvz6RTZeIKNCajyOmyjFo003xYykqdScPG9ennxvFF_Cd_sXHmwAYai3E59vpOvDj4b_9GWpFSVjS5H2BGmSSRfG_/s320/MoroccoBlogPost+-+63.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Mom! We were galloping!!"</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRPr65OexJGxHQqzNyNJK6VMiC0su4s-nXbjNt2R-c0AG6a_mXlEWIEy1DryoN9fuI7SDyIfo_HNkpY1KXu7BBoY9-mTijIRAK1oM5NU6Kw4u0PnRNZYy-S-ETA9tD-Nu2Vzo4d6IIk11h/s1600/MoroccoBlogPost+-+64.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRPr65OexJGxHQqzNyNJK6VMiC0su4s-nXbjNt2R-c0AG6a_mXlEWIEy1DryoN9fuI7SDyIfo_HNkpY1KXu7BBoY9-mTijIRAK1oM5NU6Kw4u0PnRNZYy-S-ETA9tD-Nu2Vzo4d6IIk11h/s320/MoroccoBlogPost+-+64.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">What I thought was Phil kite surfing...turns out it was his instructor :)<br />Just picture Phil instead...<br /></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSjBeSjQ3yVnBsxmiCn3ZN9ZaSvKs0IPoxmt3Dj9WIdmQUJD5LrzH9FNBVVd3HopRIBxls9-Yot2dKkOwmg_iMw7ei3JYMJHW3gp_Bh9bpf3zDfuWXdZyvkyr40vxPBfvLZrOcSRzuX0mT/s1600/MoroccoBlogPost+-+65.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="306" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSjBeSjQ3yVnBsxmiCn3ZN9ZaSvKs0IPoxmt3Dj9WIdmQUJD5LrzH9FNBVVd3HopRIBxls9-Yot2dKkOwmg_iMw7ei3JYMJHW3gp_Bh9bpf3zDfuWXdZyvkyr40vxPBfvLZrOcSRzuX0mT/s320/MoroccoBlogPost+-+65.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One last swim in the Ocean before saying goodbye to<br />the "BEST vacation EVER!".</td></tr>
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<br /><br />Merileehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00582532410342782015noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4247277678351068206.post-74618830822967318412015-09-06T13:26:00.000-07:002015-09-06T13:26:06.089-07:00Kaitlyn turns 8I am wondering when I will stop being surprised by my kids' birthdays....I know each year will add a number onto their age but I always feel a bit shocked when I realize how fast they are growing up. I love, love, love that I can be a part of their lives, their memories and celebrate their birthdays with them....<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiCCK7PeNJ5AeD827DvhnovWrSyC1Th0yVwughHYxN6MSwLK6BTlGeYuxEszZsSXzv9TBDZoCwixSp0PEI_4LwYvcJI0Yh_ScNp5Z-JRPZykOAx0PvTSYBDWJbwmOn3KXSviAc-ofDSVPX/s1600/Birthday+Blog+post+-+10+of+16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiCCK7PeNJ5AeD827DvhnovWrSyC1Th0yVwughHYxN6MSwLK6BTlGeYuxEszZsSXzv9TBDZoCwixSp0PEI_4LwYvcJI0Yh_ScNp5Z-JRPZykOAx0PvTSYBDWJbwmOn3KXSviAc-ofDSVPX/s320/Birthday+Blog+post+-+10+of+16.jpg" width="280" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My 8 year old Beauty</td></tr>
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Kaitlyn has seen a lot of changes in her 8 years....lots of hello's and good-bye's, different cultures, being far from family, seeing the world.....she just takes it all in stride....like she said to her Gramma a while back...."I'm having my 8th birthday in Morocco"....what 8 year old has an international birthday and casually throws that into a conversation??? We are blessed with such an adaptable girl....<br />
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Here are some of the things that we want to remember about Kaitlyn this past year.....<br />
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- She was desperate to lose a tooth, and finally, when she was 7.5 years old, 1 tooth fell out, followed by 2 more....but that's it so far!!! She doesn't seem too bothered by it, even when her friends have lost 8+ teeth.<br />
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- Kaitlyn is such an artist/creative person.....she doesn't get any of that from me....she loves crafting, and making elaborate forts with sheets, and designing dresses out of scarves or bedsheets and a belt, painting her nails, creating picture books, making cards....she has an eye for fashion and art....it's gonna be cool to see where that takes her as she grows up.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJPWVynbgJyCz5Zc1K3inFcVwzl_4JWXTK0oc6wEGvqeNcxYSnNwRhlsTMIVuQC5waXJ-PG1NaeEId6I1zsDBBZ3bT24nWhQ-b-DPVU42z24BJBkKYllxHNxfmoPVdYE9rU6f9c6r7Unwq/s1600/Birthday+Blog+post+-+2+of+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJPWVynbgJyCz5Zc1K3inFcVwzl_4JWXTK0oc6wEGvqeNcxYSnNwRhlsTMIVuQC5waXJ-PG1NaeEId6I1zsDBBZ3bT24nWhQ-b-DPVU42z24BJBkKYllxHNxfmoPVdYE9rU6f9c6r7Unwq/s320/Birthday+Blog+post+-+2+of+4.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Always up for trying out new things....like riding a camel!</td></tr>
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- Kaitlyn has a capri leggings obsession....good thing we stocked up from Canada....<br />
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- Kaitlyn loves to read which is awesome to see....hope that never ends.<br />
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- Kaitlyn loves anything fancy.<br />
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- Kaitlyn has a sweet tooth...unfortunately this doesn't bring out the best of her character as she attempts to gratify her cravings without permission....lots of work done and to be done on that one! It's all just chances to shape her character....one candy-sneaking episode at a time! :)<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfU_jGsbhk4O_3IG_jPoxZz1c8zouWPVy6NVsgvwRnipkiRh1aoouotjFUvjvkbCRjc4aRP39EWcnvgoAqU8tHaiomtB3o_V6TAPmbNYqIdEtZN9zldZwNeGzcKQd2X-K87M4P3x5ZuQi1/s1600/Birthday+Blog+post+-+3+of+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfU_jGsbhk4O_3IG_jPoxZz1c8zouWPVy6NVsgvwRnipkiRh1aoouotjFUvjvkbCRjc4aRP39EWcnvgoAqU8tHaiomtB3o_V6TAPmbNYqIdEtZN9zldZwNeGzcKQd2X-K87M4P3x5ZuQi1/s320/Birthday+Blog+post+-+3+of+4.jpg" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Loves her little sister!</td></tr>
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- There was a period of time where Kaitlyn was obsessed with a purple sparkly belt that she got for her 7th birthday....she wore it cinched tight around her waist every day....I'm talking with dresses, sporty shirts, tank tops, t-shirts.....the purple belt was always there! That is....until it got lost.<br />
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- Kaitlyn enjoys drinking tea out of a travel mug....even if she's just around the house.....I think she thinks it's a grown-up thing to do....<br />
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- Kaitlyn loves her friends and loves being with them....I always say to her: "If I was 8, I would want to be your friend!"....<br />
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- At one point, Kaitlyn's favorite hairstyle was half of her hair up in a ponytail and the other half, hanging loose.....<br />
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- Kaitlyn is a great helper with Evie, entertaining her when I need an extra minute to finish something, reading her books, walking with her.....she loves to hug and kiss Evie (much to Evie's dismay....not the most touchy feely kid). Kaitlyn is going to be a fun Aunt and an awesome Mom.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDyTUebvGsVvkCiWU_g7Ygded-IiTt5_3tygO6coQSjLN5uYdBWVII5lW1lDUEZs3rRC1DsadRdZ8midCR9F1wNYSfkXd06V9IEgOfhIoRCyeMByL1OSi_ZUwEQS0J_0pjngBZm_zw5tGs/s1600/Birthday+Blog+post+-+4+of+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDyTUebvGsVvkCiWU_g7Ygded-IiTt5_3tygO6coQSjLN5uYdBWVII5lW1lDUEZs3rRC1DsadRdZ8midCR9F1wNYSfkXd06V9IEgOfhIoRCyeMByL1OSi_ZUwEQS0J_0pjngBZm_zw5tGs/s320/Birthday+Blog+post+-+4+of+4.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A girl with a sweet tooth...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
- Kaitlyn is great at tidying....everything might not be back in the right place....but the floor sure looks spotless! :)<br />
<br />
- Kaitlyn loves to talk on skype with her cousins.....we'll call them up and then just leave the kids to chat away...often times they'll talk for an hour! Ok, talking, maybe not, but giggling and having fun....yes!<br />
<br />
- Kaitlyn loves tacos, spaghetti, chicken pot pie, jello, peaches and plums (can't get those in Chad so she stocked up in Morocco.....3-4 per day!!), chicken noodle soup and apple sauce to name a few of her favorite foods.<br />
<br />
- Kaitlyn really wants to get her ears pierced and I would let her but I told her that when she lets me near her scrapes and injuries to clean them and bandage them without screaming at the top of her lungs and refusing.....ya....THEN she can get her ears pierced. I foresee major ear infections and her not letting me treat them....and so we wait a couple more years.<br />
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- Kaitlyn is an expert rainbow loomer (in my books)....she can whip up a bracelet in no time!<br />
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- She loves to paint her nails....never just 1 color....<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXE1Mb2o6JuYg4L_G0XYQ2QpzP6OooBx-QbON_A5Y9dx2mlUh9kt0r7coPiSbmvZd3pz78b_hH23RB7Krl_caQjjAm8Eeli10eoZyLyCwtfMRpCXgw9YdI1tHgos1jP86AT-MsY8y8PWEP/s1600/Birthday+Blog+post+-+1+of+16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXE1Mb2o6JuYg4L_G0XYQ2QpzP6OooBx-QbON_A5Y9dx2mlUh9kt0r7coPiSbmvZd3pz78b_hH23RB7Krl_caQjjAm8Eeli10eoZyLyCwtfMRpCXgw9YdI1tHgos1jP86AT-MsY8y8PWEP/s320/Birthday+Blog+post+-+1+of+16.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> Blue is her color of choice!</td></tr>
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- Kaitlyn loves art, gym, and music....but math isn't her favorite...wonder where she gets that from?<br />
<br />
- She is a great big sister to Lily, most of the time....besides the normal sibling squabbles, they get along great and play really well together....they both have great imaginations and can personify any object and make a game of it....love seeing that creativity and sister love!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw6cXADN8Ulw9yto6jrt2b870aGHEFQmOa9FFkCFlgbZt68HSL_h-9ZipIr0EHFmSe1OKc8DRulEnowU5uoBQzrNYLkU986SGvx-DT1EDJHYCGnTVDpLz5GTT_-3Jr-UFk_SjDS5kOwB8C/s1600/Birthday+Blog+post+-+11+of+16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw6cXADN8Ulw9yto6jrt2b870aGHEFQmOa9FFkCFlgbZt68HSL_h-9ZipIr0EHFmSe1OKc8DRulEnowU5uoBQzrNYLkU986SGvx-DT1EDJHYCGnTVDpLz5GTT_-3Jr-UFk_SjDS5kOwB8C/s320/Birthday+Blog+post+-+11+of+16.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">'Happy Birdsday' cake at a restaurant in Morocco....<br />
So sweet of them to try! :)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
- Kaitlyn has made her first, real best friend here in Chad.....Anna.....it has been cool to see her with such a close and special friend....it's going to be hard to say good-bye in December when Anna's family leaves.....praying that Kaitlyn will adjust and make another best friend here in Chad.<br />
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- Kaitlyn has a pen pal named Zoe....<br />
<br />
- Kaitlyn has been praying that Gramma would come to visit for about 6 months now.....persistence pays off.....Lord willing, she's coming in December!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxAJKUYyh19hZOUz35a2dB9lz82PRFAj9bYA6bNe0skXEXNlRt8s9U8JKVNj-uJDv2LJQ2DSdbdLk22goPt_0y2aTAwgcBiKW6tejaIgkOFtP0oEZmKyX87OAbirahJdUFyjuwRjct3XTv/s1600/Birthday+Blog+post+-+14+of+16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="306" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxAJKUYyh19hZOUz35a2dB9lz82PRFAj9bYA6bNe0skXEXNlRt8s9U8JKVNj-uJDv2LJQ2DSdbdLk22goPt_0y2aTAwgcBiKW6tejaIgkOFtP0oEZmKyX87OAbirahJdUFyjuwRjct3XTv/s320/Birthday+Blog+post+-+14+of+16.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">May your dreams come true.....</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
- Kaitlyn loves to be snuggled with, to chat at the end of the day, to hear stories about when she was little or when I was little and she likes to be tickled on her face before sleeping.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie9AVwyG-x0bWwQC3m-c0Ws9wnP4m0Iv4zldOyDw6dHRd17JYsWjf6tF3qTw8uDv4qv3zh5p22IqrHruXzuw3wlaHS3R5kLfK7SXDaPAm1d-aDtSxMYj7B-rISaOtHpgB5IeiyxXBIaHob/s1600/Birthday+Blog+post+-+13+of+16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="295" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie9AVwyG-x0bWwQC3m-c0Ws9wnP4m0Iv4zldOyDw6dHRd17JYsWjf6tF3qTw8uDv4qv3zh5p22IqrHruXzuw3wlaHS3R5kLfK7SXDaPAm1d-aDtSxMYj7B-rISaOtHpgB5IeiyxXBIaHob/s320/Birthday+Blog+post+-+13+of+16.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Horseback riding on the beach in Morocco....one of the things<br />
we did on her birthday.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
- It has been cool to see Kaitlyn grow in her knowledge of what being a Christian is really all about, to see her strive to do what's right, to acknowledge (sometimes with prompting) when she is wrong and to live out her faith. Reading her devotional book before bed, praying with the family, reading scripture and talking about it with us, thinking about what it all means (although she is a people pleaser and often tries to give 'Sunday school' answers....but we are working on that--I want her to really think about it, not just give the answer she thinks we want to hear) and how that applies to her life, even at 8.....I hope and pray this is all laying a solid foundation built on Christ's forgiveness and hope, grace and purpose....so that when she is older and on her own, she will have a living faith and confidence in her Savior. That's all that truly matters.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT0ObPPfIETQgAJKOSIvgNtwDpMtqgYl9urzToKLUZS4tFv8hgSWx3Yl3xia1wlGYlUEV4EYtc2WlHJvp3nE0PSP_x3J34PsEvBAFVrYgFcaMnk4sWSny42NmJKxCwGamekn2C1A2M9bj6/s1600/Birthday+Blog+post+-+1+of+1+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT0ObPPfIETQgAJKOSIvgNtwDpMtqgYl9urzToKLUZS4tFv8hgSWx3Yl3xia1wlGYlUEV4EYtc2WlHJvp3nE0PSP_x3J34PsEvBAFVrYgFcaMnk4sWSny42NmJKxCwGamekn2C1A2M9bj6/s320/Birthday+Blog+post+-+1+of+1+%25281%2529.jpg" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Anna and Kaitlyn....BFF</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
- Kaitlyn is off to a great start in 3rd grade! Her teacher's name is Miss M and sounds fun and sweet.<br />
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We love you Kaitlyn, and are so proud of you. You are a good friend, sister, and daughter and we can't wait to see what this year holds for you.....praying for you....always.<br />
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Love,<br />
<br />
Mom<br />
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Merileehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00582532410342782015noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4247277678351068206.post-82615038716361845712015-09-06T13:25:00.001-07:002015-09-06T13:25:50.044-07:00Evelinne Rose turns 1In the blink of an eye, Evie is 1. I don't know if I have even gotten used to the idea that we have a baby again in the family! :) Wow....that first year just flew by. What a joy it has been to have another little girl, to welcome a new little life, and to experience all the 'firsts' again.....smiling, sitting up, crawling, walking, eating new foods, learning how to wave hello and goodbye, and seeing her adorable personality start to show....Evie is a gift.<br />
Kaitlyn and Lily adore her, and Phil and I love her a ton....she brings lots of giggles and smiles to our family.<br />
Evie has been a fairly easy baby....she has always slept well, fed well, and is content most of the time....she really only fusses if she is sleepy, hungry or wanting to go outside and can't!<br />
Even though at the age of 1, Evie is just beginning to show who she is, it has been fun to see. Here are some of the things that we want to remember about her:<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMPPU3KwHKO0JdgGTkJJEQX9b67hsNkhY9-w6qyAVaUYlc3dG_OENcJg4teD8RSEgigq2D6GE1hGvMOZ-dsG_oS8lhl0iIRTTdAcceqix5oKDS1cLrHRhWjlOiZcYfgksW0oeWpTMtk5fQ/s1600/Birthday+Blog+post+-+2+of+16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMPPU3KwHKO0JdgGTkJJEQX9b67hsNkhY9-w6qyAVaUYlc3dG_OENcJg4teD8RSEgigq2D6GE1hGvMOZ-dsG_oS8lhl0iIRTTdAcceqix5oKDS1cLrHRhWjlOiZcYfgksW0oeWpTMtk5fQ/s320/Birthday+Blog+post+-+2+of+16.jpg" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Taking a break from exploring</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
- Evie's two big front teeth are A-dorable! She loves to grin with her top and bottom teeth together...so cute.<br />
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- When Evie finds a bucket/bowl/cup....she pretends to stir with a spoon or fork or whatever she can find that will do the job. She does the same thing when she eats her yogurt by herself....what a smart girl!<br />
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- Evie has her cupboard....she knows how to open it, and then proceeds to empty if out completely, all over the kitchen floor....literally throwing things behind her and reaching for the next....hence....the plastic dishes! Lately, Evie prefers to take a plate or bowl in 1 hand and a utensil in the other hand and walk around the house....so we find plastic dishes and cutlery scattered throughout the house at the end of the day.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1_mib5_3aObQc0RiT8ldDHN4MEYF6mI50q8or8atr4NsDWtQaiyfVU5iGbcICFodHmB9-npQhhnFCfgCryN5bK3QrFDevQ9YBhGWX32JrFPg9M6tVJs5J-pYKQih_iHw22Qab0ln4kPCt/s1600/Birthday+Blog+post+-+5+of+16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1_mib5_3aObQc0RiT8ldDHN4MEYF6mI50q8or8atr4NsDWtQaiyfVU5iGbcICFodHmB9-npQhhnFCfgCryN5bK3QrFDevQ9YBhGWX32JrFPg9M6tVJs5J-pYKQih_iHw22Qab0ln4kPCt/s320/Birthday+Blog+post+-+5+of+16.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Daddy's girl</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
- Evie loves to be wherever the girls are playing and most times the girls love her with them....but every so often I hear screams of "E-VIEEEEEEE" when she has entered their room and started dismantling their playmobil set up or whatever else they are playing in their room. We are in the process of teaching Kaitlyn and Lily to distract Evie with a toy, or to gently take her out of their room, give her a toy to play with, and then close the door if they really don't want anything to be disturbed. The girls are pretty good about doing that.....but it's still a work in progress. Can't wait for the day til Evie can play right alongside of Kaitlyn and Lily without destroying everything! :)<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSPWZrqCaF-znvLoWCcc-yPUribYd4lM3jaCG2FMQ2oFFm_tY7U1fTV269B3oXzXjY0eaWJKslrBsxEi_wJf5Ct2DVgpJatwAtOBHsiA-pT1med0LNK0EHTc98r6oNzHwPCTlrb4PL0fRn/s1600/Birthday+Blog+post+-+8+of+16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSPWZrqCaF-znvLoWCcc-yPUribYd4lM3jaCG2FMQ2oFFm_tY7U1fTV269B3oXzXjY0eaWJKslrBsxEi_wJf5Ct2DVgpJatwAtOBHsiA-pT1med0LNK0EHTc98r6oNzHwPCTlrb4PL0fRn/s320/Birthday+Blog+post+-+8+of+16.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Peek-a-boo....and a great artsy shot by Phil!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
- Evie can wave Hi and Goodbye, and she gives open-mouthed kisses (slobbery but we don't care....it is so precious!)<br />
<br />
-She knows how to sign 'all done', 'bath' and 'kitty' but we are working on getting her to sign consistently.....once she gets that one, we will introduce more signs. Sooo adorable to watch her communicate and be so pleased with herself!<br />
<br />
- Evie understands the words 'food, sleep, water, outside, birdie, daddy, mommy, Kaitlyn, Lily, hi, bye, help, hot, no, don't touch, dirty'.....and maybe more? Hard to tell at this age just how much she understands but for those words, we have seen her respond appropriately, so we assume she knows what they mean.<br />
<br />
- Evie took her first long walk (20 steps) while we were in Morocco and has now left crawling behind, preferring to walk everywhere! We welcomed this accomplishment as it meant getting her up off of the 'hard to keep clean' sandy floors in our house.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpEE86kerGMGu_vgX2Iamzgq74tb790wdEq3tByenuHIbk3pWwzTUTqonHBn7t6l4kgsAKXjYOTBsbsbbooz8fEslT0S-1dZUyOHG8HcBXUVDOtXE6HQzO4WMy4Sfc5J9KY40poHCeLWU5/s1600/Birthday+Blog+post+-+15+of+16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpEE86kerGMGu_vgX2Iamzgq74tb790wdEq3tByenuHIbk3pWwzTUTqonHBn7t6l4kgsAKXjYOTBsbsbbooz8fEslT0S-1dZUyOHG8HcBXUVDOtXE6HQzO4WMy4Sfc5J9KY40poHCeLWU5/s320/Birthday+Blog+post+-+15+of+16.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Soooo wanting to touch the candle....</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
- When the girls dig holes in the sand, Evie always crawls over and backs up towards them with her leg out, trying to fit into the hole....haha.<br />
<br />
- Evie eats alot! She loves eggs (hard boiled or scrambled), toast, any fruit, and she usually eats what we eat.....<br />
<br />
- Evie LOVES cats, and always wants to pet them and kiss them, much to her annoyance, they never let her! :)<br />
<br />
- When Evie is falling asleep, she loves to feel the tag on her blankie (whatever muslin blanket we have for that day....she isn't attached to one specific one), and when she's sleepy, she likes to suck on the tag. Just her little thing she does before bed.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3fTL9Ej_UHV622ueRK_ZOyXL4JlH-05suHJGpbnncZeGToyU_QGMr8ImLMSJg2XH85w5PG3qtkNnOAZap2d5OBvnrJCQc3KLs13fnQBTW9-LAtO1tnTDbLaMj1uO4mITm6JLWJOjXmNLJ/s1600/Birthday+Blog+post+-+16+of+16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3fTL9Ej_UHV622ueRK_ZOyXL4JlH-05suHJGpbnncZeGToyU_QGMr8ImLMSJg2XH85w5PG3qtkNnOAZap2d5OBvnrJCQc3KLs13fnQBTW9-LAtO1tnTDbLaMj1uO4mITm6JLWJOjXmNLJ/s320/Birthday+Blog+post+-+16+of+16.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Big smiles after tasting her cupcake....love those teeth!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
- Putting Evie to sleep is the ONLY time that girl stays still! I cherish those snuggly moments.<br />
<br />
- Evie loves to swing (it's in her genes!)<br />
<br />
-Evie loves being outside and has figured out how to open the front screen door!! The handle is low enough for her to reach....trouble!<br />
<br />
-Evie LOVES her daddy and when he gets home from work I say....'lets go see daddy' she gets all excited and points to outside and reaches for him with big smiles and hugs.<br />
<br />
Those are just some of the cute and memorable things about Evie. We love that she is part of our family and can't wait to see what adventures this next year holds for her.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeXSNdhdrdA34RZqdD1PFtCOvFLXtMlb0t2P_FvKJ7I9Ah9UfpekGH8sefaIzwTqoFkwa_iakV4bTK7ij7e-31HHJx7pCDLzb83ZS7dwhiuViO4vwZmHGvZh7Wg8wh_8ivA0kpX_mefeFE/s1600/Birthday+Blog+post+-+1+of+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeXSNdhdrdA34RZqdD1PFtCOvFLXtMlb0t2P_FvKJ7I9Ah9UfpekGH8sefaIzwTqoFkwa_iakV4bTK7ij7e-31HHJx7pCDLzb83ZS7dwhiuViO4vwZmHGvZh7Wg8wh_8ivA0kpX_mefeFE/s320/Birthday+Blog+post+-+1+of+1.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I love this girl!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br />Merileehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00582532410342782015noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4247277678351068206.post-85160057686001588462015-07-18T06:55:00.002-07:002015-07-19T01:15:49.726-07:00Should we stay or should we go?<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Life here has been
a bit of an emotional rollercoaster these past few weeks as there have been 2
suicide bomb attacks here in the city, quite close to our compound (about a 5
minute drive for both of them). The first one was targeting the police station and
a police training academy, then the most recent incident was this past saturday
morning at the central market. There has been no official claim of
responsibility from any terrorist organization but intelligence strongly
suspects Boko Haram as the force behind them. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://gdb.voanews.com/12CB2E11-26FD-4FAF-BFB7-D23C455B4028_cx0_cy9_cw0_mw1024_s_n_r1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://gdb.voanews.com/12CB2E11-26FD-4FAF-BFB7-D23C455B4028_cx0_cy9_cw0_mw1024_s_n_r1.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">2 of our national staff lost relatives in this suicide bomb <br />
attack at the Central Market in N'Djamena.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Life has changed here, maybe forever. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><br />
Chad was on the 'no go' list even before we arrived two years ago....mainly due
to its surrounding neighbours, as all of those countries are in turmoil whether
from terrorist activity or civil war (Libya, Niger, Nigeria, Sudan, Central
African Republic, Cameroon) and it is believed that some of those conflicts
could filter into Chad through its porous borders (although the borders have
tightened up significantly since Chad joined the fight against Boko Haram in Nigeria in Jan 2015). <br />
<br />
So, how does this play out for MAF Chad practically? Well, for starters, our
security level has been upped from 1 to 3 in the past three weeks and we now have a
list of things to prepare and have on hand just in case things escalate
further....like a 'Go Bag' which is a pre-packed bag containing essential
documents, water, food, clothes to take for a quick get-a-way; as well, we have a 2 week supply of food and water
in our houses in case we have to stay put for a while, extra cash, and we are
stocking up on fuel for the generator to have 2 weeks worth at all times as
well....so ya....things like that. We put these measures into place so that we
are not taken by surprise if we have to leave quickly. It's good to be
prepared. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><br />
BUT,<br />
<br />
As calm as this may sound as you read the words above, emotionally for me, this is worrisome, scary,
stressful, exhausting, and also very sad for the people of Chad....and I know I
am not the only one who thinks this way.
<br />
<br />
I flip flop back and forth between being totally calm about it all and then
having slight freak outs. <br />
<br />
Some changes to our way of life have made things a bit more difficult in our
day to day such as, we shouldn't go to any hotels or restaurants anymore (and
there was already no where to go to relax as a family except those!!!), we have
to go everywhere in two's, we have to provide a detailed outline of our
movements should we leave the compound, and we can't take the kids with us when
we shop (coordinating someone to watch them while we are gone--hard when
there's only 2 families on the compound now and we both have to go together!).
You might read those and think 'oh, those aren't really a big deal' and I would
agree with you as they are more inconvenient than stressful; however, I don't
think it is these actual changes that are the stressful, worrisome part....I
think it is the idea of implementing these changes under the threat of being
caught up in the next random attack....and wondering where and when that might
be and if you might be there when it happens. That is essentially the goal of
terrorism, and I can tell you, it works. <br />
<br />
So, what can we do? Well, I guess we could call it quits and live in Canada for
a while until things either calm down or it is clear we shouldn't return OR we
could stay and learn how to function in this new kind of life. It's difficult to make that decision but I
don't think we need to make that kind of call at this point. We have to wait
and see how this all plays out....is this the new norm for Chad? Suicide bomb
attacks in public places on a weekly basis? or will this pass as Boko Haram are
slowly defeated in Nigeria? We have put safety and security measures in place
and I have full confidence in the leadership in MAF both here in Chad and at
the home office in England, to make the right decisions, in fact, I know they
err on the side of caution. <br />
<br />
But as much as we can place our trust in security measures and good leadership,
the ONE place I am placing 100% confidence in, is God. He called us to Chad, He
has sustained us here through a tough first year and brought us back despite
that, and we believe that He will make it clear if we should leave and He will
give us peace and wisdom if we stay. <br />
<br />
One of the thoughts that fear creates in my head is the fear of dying....not so
much the dying part, but the 'how' I die part. I have seen and read in the news
the awful acts of terrorism against
civilians by Boko Haram and against Christians carried out by
ISIS....crucifixions, burning people alive, drowning groups of people in a
cage....sick, sick, horribly evil ways of murdering innocent people in the name
of religion and that freaks me right out.
But then I know that God never promised to protect and keep safe our
lives here on earth, in fact, it is in the crazy, stressful times when we seek
God most desperately and isn't that what is important? Seeking God, being
changed by Him, being refined into who he wants us to be? And He can only do
that if we cling to Him like he is our everything, something very hard to do
when you have everything you need. What
He promises is that he will guard our lives <i>for
eternity</i>....which means we will die here on earth but live forever with Him
in heaven. That hope is crucial for those who are facing life and death
situations.... <br />
<br />
I read this compilation of verses the other day and it was so fitting to our
situation here....and a good reminder that nothing can separate us from God,
and that our lives are His.....and if we live, we live for Him and if we die,
we die for Him. I read this as I was
having random scenarios play out in my mind of us being caught up in the next
attack or us having to leave suddenly or one of our teammates being
killed.....I know....crazy thoughts but fear does crazy things to your mind....<br />
<br />
"I know the one in whom I trust, and I am sure that He is able to guard
safely all that I have given Him until the day of His return. <b>For I am convinced that nothing can ever
separate us from His love. Death can't, and life can't.</b> The angels won't,
and all the powers of Hell itself cannot keep God's love away. Our fears for
today, our worries about tomorrow, or where we are-–high above the sky, or in
the deepest ocean--nothing will ever be able to separate us from the love of
God. The love of God demonstrated by our Lord Jesus Christ when He died for
us. I have kept safe within your family,
all of these you gave me. For Jehovah enjoys his people. How happy I was with
what he created. God is so rich in mercy, He loved us so much that....He gave
us back our lives again. The greatest love is shown when a person lays down his
life for his friends. God has bought you with a great price. So use every part
of your body to give glory back to God, because He owns it. Living or dying we
follow the Lord. Either way, we are His. "<br />
<br />
Wow. Don't you just <i>love</i> it when God
speaks through his word, directly to you, and it was exactly what you needed to
hear? A-mazing! This was such a good reminder.....and the peace it gave to my
heart....it was enough to realign my thoughts from fear to trust, for that moment. I am so
thankful for His loving care.<br /><br />I know it will be a daily, intentional decision to keep reminding myself of the hope He has given us, as fear has a way of creeping in and taking over. <br />
<br />
So, we are taking it day by day....not knowing what is to come, but preparing
wisely for it as best we can, trusting in His plan and appreciating your
prayers. <br />
<br />
<br />
<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
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<!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
Merileehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00582532410342782015noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4247277678351068206.post-10942314529997258092015-06-19T15:13:00.004-07:002015-06-19T15:25:58.169-07:00Costly Attack of Terrorism for Chadians<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Where do I
begin......I guess I will say that life will never be the same here in
N'Djamena. Chadians have been very proud of their military in the fight against
Boko Haram in Cameroon and Nigeria.....taking a real and costly stand against
Islamic fundamentalists....threats were made against Chad.....but they did
not back away and continued to rescue many villages and cities who were
desperate for help. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">On Monday, June 15, the very first attack in the capital city of N'Djamena took
place in the form of 2 suicide bombers targeting the police station and a police
training academy. Around 20 people lost their lives and over 100 severely
injured, and the death toll is rising as already overwhelmed hospitals try to
treat major injuries with limited medical resources. <br />
<br />In the days following the bombings, we have seen and experienced one of the after-effects of this kind of random yet coordinated strike.....fear.
The normal way of life here has been changed, maybe forever. Yes, people are
still out and about, markets and stores are open and people are back to work,
but movements are cautious, police and military are out in full force, personal
security checks on bridges, and as you enter the Grand Marché (frisking,
security wand etc.), and a ban has been placed on the Islamic full face veil (reports say that the police are burning all of the full face veils sold in the market) and also, rumors have been flying of other attempted suicide bomb
attacks being thwarted by the police etc. All of our American Embassy friends have strict bans placed on going out, meeting in groups or having people over to their houses until further notice. We have been advised not to take children with us into town as their presence could slow our reaction time if something should happen. Only time will tell how long these precautions will be in place. For now, I am staying close to home with the girls, and only going out when necessary (ie: we ran out of milk powder and cat food on Tuesday so I went into town briefly, without incident).<br />
<br />
Phil on the other hand has a busy week of flying this with 2 overnight trips
and a day trip.....the side of the airport that MAF is located (customs area)
is completely closed and in order to access the airport they have been parking
their vehicle on the main road and walking 15 minutes into the airport and to
the hanger. Totally unsustainable long-term as customs usually has 100 or more trucks picking up shipments daily....keep in mind that most products for sale have been imported into Chad.....all of the import shops rely on air shipments for resupply, so it could be interesting to see the effects if this customs closure continues for a while.<br />
<br />
I told the girls about what had happened because I figured they were either
going to overhear someone (me?) talking about it or find out from one of their
friends. They asked a lot of why's and were desperately trying hard to understand
why someone would want to blow himself and others up....hard to answer that
one. Today they were imagining a scenario with some little figures, and I
overheard them say something about a bomb going off as part of their story
line....Hmmm.....not many 6 and 7 year old girls include that kind of thing in
their play.....the things they have been exposed to in their short
lifetime....Praise God they don't seem too shaken up by it all....I guess that
is the beauty of being a kid....as long as mom and dad are calm and cool, then
the kids feel safe. Praise God for that. <br />
<br />
I think one of the hardest things about life after these attacks (which were a
5 minute drive from our house) is the
not knowing if this is the beginning of something or if it was just a one time
thing....my heart wants to think it won't happen again, but my head is telling
me otherwise. We'll just have to wait and see. <br />
<br />
For now, our movements around the city are cautious and we are praying for
safety and peace for Chad and all who live and work in the city of N'Djamena. <br />
<br />
I know God is in control and we have nothing to fear...but I'm human, and a
mother, and a woman....so when fear starts producing many 'what if' thoughts
and playing out different scenarios in my mind....I pray for peace to replace
fear, after all....I know this is exactly where God wants our family
now.....and we will rest in the safety of God's will. <br />
<br />
Thanks for praying. <br /><br />Here is a link to the news story if you would like to read more details about the situation here in N'Djamena:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2015/06/suicide-bombers-attack-police-hq-chad-capital-150615095910055.html" target="_blank">http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2015/06/suicide-bombers-attack-police-hq-chad-capital-150615095910055.html</a></span></div>
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Merileehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00582532410342782015noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4247277678351068206.post-82799072426068697082015-06-01T14:34:00.002-07:002015-06-01T14:34:33.350-07:00It's worth it.Mother's Day. I have witnessed many facebook well-wishes to mothers and beautiful memories and tributes all around the world....and it got me thinking.....<br />
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It's funny. Before you have your own kids, you don't really hear about all the craziness that comes <i>after</i> having kids...so, naturally it was just one big shock to my dream of motherhood when I slowly found all these things out.....you know, the not-so-fun side of being a mother. I know, I know, you are thinking.....<i>as if she just said that</i>! But, I know for a fact, that every.single.mother has had those moments of wanting to throw in the towel....if ever so brief....we have all had them. Whether it was in the midst of a 2 year old tantrum or out of sheer exhaustion at 3 am when the word 'sleep' has become extinct in your family dictionary, or when you just want to sit down and have your own space and time to just think (about nothing or everything!) but someone is wanting juice, help putting on those next to impossible polly pocket clothes, help cleaning up a spill etc and you just can't get that time alone unless you are in the bathroom (and even that is hard to do!), or the time when your kids are dishevelled and unruly and then *that family* shows up that seems soooo perfect and makes you seem like a failure and you just want to be invisible......those are just some of those challenging moments, to name a few. But I find it's not even in the major moments where motherhood is the hardest, in fact I would argue that it is in the day-to-day life of a mom where some of the biggest mountains need to be traversed. I am talking about serious self-pep-talks....like....<i>ok, only 6 more hours until daddy gets home</i>, I<i> can do this!!</i> And inevitably we make it to the end of the day, and after the kids are tucked in bed, we flop down on whatever clean surface we can find and think....is this what the rest of my life is going to be like? I am EXHAUSTED!!!<br />
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One of my biggest struggles has been finding purpose and value in my days.....in what I do. Sometimes it is so hard to see through the barrage of diapers, drool, mashed banana, laundry mountains, dishes, meals and the other 1000 things us mothers do in a day and see the importance of it all....sure, when I sit down and really think of it, I <i>know</i> this is an awesome, important, special, once-in-a-lifetime chance to raise the next generation....and my kids are my <b>favorite</b>, and I love them beyond words and wouldn't trade it for anything in the world.....but how come I lose sight of all that in the day to day sometimes? Why does it have to be so hard? It is a daily, 'die-to-self' job, one that often times is only witnessed by you and God and hopefully one day our kids will 'rise up and called us blessed'....but, that is not why we do what we do. <br />
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We are mothers because we have been called to be. <br />
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These little lives (real humans!!!) have been given to us by God to mold, grow, love, encourage, train and walk alongside in this crazy thing called <i>life....</i>I mean, how AMAZING is that?! And there's something else. God knew that <b>we</b> needed to be molded, loved, encouraged, and trained during our adult years as well....and so He uses our kids to do that! It's one big refining fire! My kids reveal sin in my life on a daily basis which I think is the thing that is the most challenging to me as a mother. To face my weakness is not a fun time. I want to think that I have it all together....all by myself, and maybe let other people think that too. I have to remember that in our weakness, He is our strength......He can't help someone who is so full of pride that there is no room for His help. <b>God uses my kids to teach me</b>, to humble me, to shape me into the woman He wants me to be.....and I daily strive to leave behind selfishness, discontentment, complaining, impatience, anger, judging others, pride, hypocrisy, ingratitude and a whole slew of other un-Christ-like behaviors....all those reactions to the situations we find ourselves in on a daily basis while parenting (some days are a success and others are a complete disaster!....I am a work in progress!)<br />
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So, in the end, despite the challenging moments/days....be encouraged to know that there is <b>eternal purpose</b> in them.....for you and for your kids. Nothing comes easy....and that is true.....it's gonna hurt, and it's gonna be hard but in the end, we will be who He wants us to be.....so just hang in there as he shapes us through our kids! So, If you haven't had kids yet, don't let this scare you off....embrace it all....you'll never be the same (in a good way) again!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">These adorable faces bring the greatest joys and the most challenging moments!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjndycIWZZGivLuLEwJNFpLWKrq8U6qVb9sExMPGQ6K1enYJ9lAl5F4Sszx4VOvLzZQh7nQHqVNmw-GjkIj3Qa2MIqByNR2WPff5xD1vl9HnA2UXyNbxOsvn1QhApjSqcRbzEl2u8Jv78l1/s1600/Blog_MothersDay+-+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="262" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjndycIWZZGivLuLEwJNFpLWKrq8U6qVb9sExMPGQ6K1enYJ9lAl5F4Sszx4VOvLzZQh7nQHqVNmw-GjkIj3Qa2MIqByNR2WPff5xD1vl9HnA2UXyNbxOsvn1QhApjSqcRbzEl2u8Jv78l1/s320/Blog_MothersDay+-+4.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sweet Evie, a chance to mold another precious life</td></tr>
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<br />Merileehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00582532410342782015noreply@blogger.com0