tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-62592006828753690302024-03-14T05:16:44.927-07:00Learning to BreatheLinda Zelayahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02842164145067391301noreply@blogger.comBlogger249125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6259200682875369030.post-59462075293615448942022-12-23T09:36:00.004-08:002022-12-23T15:14:00.096-08:00Breath of the Wild birthday party for Emmalee's 10th with links to free printables and papercrafts<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">Welcome to one of the most awesome birthday parties ever in this blog. Maybe I am biased because I am such a huge Breath of the Wild fan. Maybe it's because BOTW 2 is coming out next May and we can't wait. Maybe it's because it is one of the most thought out birthday parties I've ever had to create. Whatever it is, I think it was EPIC! You need to stick around for the games and activities. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><h2 style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">Decorations</h2><div>As always, we start off with the decorations and the main table.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiArQpcrE-_v1rM12b1NNdBRDph0bJ3MONKi659p2Xw2Vqa6AvRcA4TXNVM4-34u8v4QA1-k8bVczGuP0t9TD5E7CwKWMYGFk_ghbredANvXEzmzShJOcYhA9JITg3le4wvtreEP3Agf6Nl6iCSAUum9vTZekjXDw0prg0zu4QP5KD7hZBAqwQ3_eb-/s2975/321510228_709740063995469_532233577203277713_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2975" data-original-width="1408" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiArQpcrE-_v1rM12b1NNdBRDph0bJ3MONKi659p2Xw2Vqa6AvRcA4TXNVM4-34u8v4QA1-k8bVczGuP0t9TD5E7CwKWMYGFk_ghbredANvXEzmzShJOcYhA9JITg3le4wvtreEP3Agf6Nl6iCSAUum9vTZekjXDw0prg0zu4QP5KD7hZBAqwQ3_eb-/w302-h640/321510228_709740063995469_532233577203277713_n.jpg" width="302" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">How incredibly easy were those archery balloons to recreate. I just had to print the target circle color and tape them to white balloons.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNao2OA1Uj_gnrK2-npAJGlqMZ9Cnq4M8vHbht_LpCAN08EOtj8jm-Nb4Ohoq-AJXl9_XqZ9L5B8WwFZy9q5MlV-UgYA478viA34ImRIjMsXff9X91_cSYrQmaLM2TZHt7GAdwe5rn9Fwk0XVfmoofIaqi0L1RT9gOh12lc-uAUnXh4hhkfeRpXI_d/s1600/WhatsApp%20Image%202022-12-22%20at%203.02.15%20PM%20(1).jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNao2OA1Uj_gnrK2-npAJGlqMZ9Cnq4M8vHbht_LpCAN08EOtj8jm-Nb4Ohoq-AJXl9_XqZ9L5B8WwFZy9q5MlV-UgYA478viA34ImRIjMsXff9X91_cSYrQmaLM2TZHt7GAdwe5rn9Fwk0XVfmoofIaqi0L1RT9gOh12lc-uAUnXh4hhkfeRpXI_d/w360-h640/WhatsApp%20Image%202022-12-22%20at%203.02.15%20PM%20(1).jpeg" width="360" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Used Crayola watercolors to create that backdrop. Glad my girls were up to helping.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgptHPfJ1T6bjbbeqsn2L7Sssg5xEwwhptLxeRe5vbaw4xtxHTjzbVzDGI7TiXnlVSNPO_nV0xWs1PjH10CPD9TGKqKFQ1igru399dp9aBnczEoQXDg9oeXLZTi5KTUS9Y-BuBlNZSxizE32uO-sGHnizajNVQ3UHAeP7v6sqqz-uSWvbm2agRSdaGY/s1080/WhatsApp%20Image%202022-12-22%20at%203.02.15%20PM%20(2).jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="511" data-original-width="1080" height="302" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgptHPfJ1T6bjbbeqsn2L7Sssg5xEwwhptLxeRe5vbaw4xtxHTjzbVzDGI7TiXnlVSNPO_nV0xWs1PjH10CPD9TGKqKFQ1igru399dp9aBnczEoQXDg9oeXLZTi5KTUS9Y-BuBlNZSxizE32uO-sGHnizajNVQ3UHAeP7v6sqqz-uSWvbm2agRSdaGY/w640-h302/WhatsApp%20Image%202022-12-22%20at%203.02.15%20PM%20(2).jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The birthday banner shields were a free printable found on online <a href="https://jenirodesigns.com/legend-of-zelda-breath-of-the-wild-free-party-printables/">here</a>.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6tkEmdnjx6c4AtWJEwrpfs3Ij9N_Q6wORM_x_R3GBvnWc784jtN3t2bIIaTQai0NxroY09LPcJ5kwHKVADWFpGDN1IWxY_HZH80wPWLkfC8OUoh4Abkn3ngiPkZ18T6ojG0fiBREVNZ0Pcw0M1yqWhueXxOmQJ33OIZnlct2qLM8Qm7jiKy-w3Stw/s1027/WhatsApp%20Image%202022-12-22%20at%203.02.15%20PM.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="756" data-original-width="1027" height="472" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6tkEmdnjx6c4AtWJEwrpfs3Ij9N_Q6wORM_x_R3GBvnWc784jtN3t2bIIaTQai0NxroY09LPcJ5kwHKVADWFpGDN1IWxY_HZH80wPWLkfC8OUoh4Abkn3ngiPkZ18T6ojG0fiBREVNZ0Pcw0M1yqWhueXxOmQJ33OIZnlct2qLM8Qm7jiKy-w3Stw/w640-h472/WhatsApp%20Image%202022-12-22%20at%203.02.15%20PM.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Can you find the "cupcake" my sister made fun of in my backdrop paiting?</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqNVwjOMWNzWkZ_RNgq_7-q1sHJC_WnJDChmZzyUO21e--RaH-9TXhkEXIQTtwWBLQ_4oA5o7bz-g9-FSoTCzHUYUv2D1VJ38Eg8eAmEbY4woSGfc0vsJvXISVb5x8sGGwELUh3iIdDstkP62XAOCqTUBWdjlhcjx_1ZxHtPYbOH7FnTc-_0jpnbxt/s1600/WhatsApp%20Image%202022-12-22%20at%203.02.16%20PM%20(1).jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqNVwjOMWNzWkZ_RNgq_7-q1sHJC_WnJDChmZzyUO21e--RaH-9TXhkEXIQTtwWBLQ_4oA5o7bz-g9-FSoTCzHUYUv2D1VJ38Eg8eAmEbY4woSGfc0vsJvXISVb5x8sGGwELUh3iIdDstkP62XAOCqTUBWdjlhcjx_1ZxHtPYbOH7FnTc-_0jpnbxt/w360-h640/WhatsApp%20Image%202022-12-22%20at%203.02.16%20PM%20(1).jpeg" width="360" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I made the EMMALEE letters which you can barely make out using Mr. P 3D letter template and printables of different BOTW landscapes. It could have made it more cohesive, but I still loved showing different BOTW sights.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxdMt5dSgGknBHNncKEcjfH-DiVQ7o_nP2rFwWPJ8mrsxMOdZql5IkSj8l-l6HVMo5l2XvehzCm9wZIdkLDAB-l7n0nNsP4bk6RKZ6n_rGK1UQm3dK8OrGxkcxkJ3aUEtd_AI553N35H3tQ10atJr96nUn2s3MAeL9fAoEvZMXHQK6QDpTqJrZu89H/s1080/WhatsApp%20Image%202022-12-22%20at%203.02.16%20PM.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="608" data-original-width="1080" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxdMt5dSgGknBHNncKEcjfH-DiVQ7o_nP2rFwWPJ8mrsxMOdZql5IkSj8l-l6HVMo5l2XvehzCm9wZIdkLDAB-l7n0nNsP4bk6RKZ6n_rGK1UQm3dK8OrGxkcxkJ3aUEtd_AI553N35H3tQ10atJr96nUn2s3MAeL9fAoEvZMXHQK6QDpTqJrZu89H/w640-h360/WhatsApp%20Image%202022-12-22%20at%203.02.16%20PM.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I stuck to the chibi theme with the characters. Just googled chibi BOTW and used the best sticker images I could find.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAkniXpKF8VVgwzHzeFCdaW27ZDoaEZSaH0fLDhi_MaS0LhZTBNTARI8F7NQN3L_3QJuc_oZAlPSRu0Uo5lDI5Vhke91ULbUnKrRMfV8NZFjQqq46I-tzAQYyrmrpr_8ecUV57p9m0fCDcRtzPVn1SYATU7fwdV5l8AwQqpi_9b9hj7SIVg9z5Lx9j/s1080/WhatsApp%20Image%202022-12-22%20at%203.02.16%20PM%20(2).jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="511" data-original-width="1080" height="302" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAkniXpKF8VVgwzHzeFCdaW27ZDoaEZSaH0fLDhi_MaS0LhZTBNTARI8F7NQN3L_3QJuc_oZAlPSRu0Uo5lDI5Vhke91ULbUnKrRMfV8NZFjQqq46I-tzAQYyrmrpr_8ecUV57p9m0fCDcRtzPVn1SYATU7fwdV5l8AwQqpi_9b9hj7SIVg9z5Lx9j/w640-h302/WhatsApp%20Image%202022-12-22%20at%203.02.16%20PM%20(2).jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGtdVPLNL8mPGVqJhASQ9j7Jq0BaUONAZ6e65_AXqPIn267TTwu9bLNPW3euPMc5Gcr-UfKdp87m3Bl6eycVo05bHWULoojP85WIpITHp1--DgEHPppfAba0Wz3hwJEyaWT7Q9KzJt2Yo9tK3xrqGH2XFPJF3TlR5Ok5B76nsBuf2DGNAlng7QX-q_/s1080/WhatsApp%20Image%202022-12-22%20at%203.02.16%20PM%20(3).jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="511" data-original-width="1080" height="302" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGtdVPLNL8mPGVqJhASQ9j7Jq0BaUONAZ6e65_AXqPIn267TTwu9bLNPW3euPMc5Gcr-UfKdp87m3Bl6eycVo05bHWULoojP85WIpITHp1--DgEHPppfAba0Wz3hwJEyaWT7Q9KzJt2Yo9tK3xrqGH2XFPJF3TlR5Ok5B76nsBuf2DGNAlng7QX-q_/w640-h302/WhatsApp%20Image%202022-12-22%20at%203.02.16%20PM%20(3).jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I know! I know! This terrako is not BOTW, but the printable was so cute. Too bad I didn't notice the base had shifted when I took the pic. Love the chibi link riding Epona, eventhough there is no Epona in BOTW unless you are like me and named her such!</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiveFiBuIy_juyzct_TYt9-OU2lyVlR5Yy7UxSyYtYwTDJr7epiiYWxFybLh0OQcs95mybwDAGi2Bn6QjFhpWDWR2_mLo81zLOdRg3f5X7miNm_bUc4EFUfTSwm6vBTjjogk6XLgR20pcwQSnR6RZ7-ezFiGMQf_Lv2BTlMsKxKF50IQ_cpdxrcq9He/s1600/WhatsApp%20Image%202022-12-22%20at%203.02.17%20PM%20(1).jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="757" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiveFiBuIy_juyzct_TYt9-OU2lyVlR5Yy7UxSyYtYwTDJr7epiiYWxFybLh0OQcs95mybwDAGi2Bn6QjFhpWDWR2_mLo81zLOdRg3f5X7miNm_bUc4EFUfTSwm6vBTjjogk6XLgR20pcwQSnR6RZ7-ezFiGMQf_Lv2BTlMsKxKF50IQ_cpdxrcq9He/w302-h640/WhatsApp%20Image%202022-12-22%20at%203.02.17%20PM%20(1).jpeg" width="302" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Could not find good BOTW cookie references online, so I made my own creation!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaN-7U-V1R5ORftDfRPWCGD7sMeUrRi0sArWMkbQ2TRL9D4_jsWTULOlwXoj4kSAXFbhPBE1X3Tb6-UDCLBby3_Ibk83w70efhthoHI2DoG1rOvWvg2GV7B3OyGcEJUpaaBgPZPtOC3PwxmbC31hnP1Ugnrog-a9ltHkzFVBGEAuUAobgB3jhQFUgu/s1600/WhatsApp%20Image%202022-12-22%20at%203.02.18%20PM.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="757" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaN-7U-V1R5ORftDfRPWCGD7sMeUrRi0sArWMkbQ2TRL9D4_jsWTULOlwXoj4kSAXFbhPBE1X3Tb6-UDCLBby3_Ibk83w70efhthoHI2DoG1rOvWvg2GV7B3OyGcEJUpaaBgPZPtOC3PwxmbC31hnP1Ugnrog-a9ltHkzFVBGEAuUAobgB3jhQFUgu/w302-h640/WhatsApp%20Image%202022-12-22%20at%203.02.18%20PM.jpeg" width="302" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Free BOTW link papercraft found <a href="https://www.paperizedcrafts.com/2017/02/the-legend-of-zelda-breath-of-wild-link.html">here</a>.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIQPp3-bFYXIIMoiCnx0uaTYHCZghTrrUfSQnNQ9fqC2quz9QIKVNfQQO7aHSbNT_6Lwk-4gGF6mMfkDHxyIX4UisnmBaP0YAyw1jasDnFKYW8UjsrusFuVwBmMqnHCmNxJFoLg5HI0hrt03YQkyCVj3HCGR0r1MB-d1sDDs0n_3z2KCryeVaJe-FG/s1600/WhatsApp%20Image%202022-12-22%20at%203.02.17%20PM%20(2).jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="757" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIQPp3-bFYXIIMoiCnx0uaTYHCZghTrrUfSQnNQ9fqC2quz9QIKVNfQQO7aHSbNT_6Lwk-4gGF6mMfkDHxyIX4UisnmBaP0YAyw1jasDnFKYW8UjsrusFuVwBmMqnHCmNxJFoLg5HI0hrt03YQkyCVj3HCGR0r1MB-d1sDDs0n_3z2KCryeVaJe-FG/w302-h640/WhatsApp%20Image%202022-12-22%20at%203.02.17%20PM%20(2).jpeg" width="302" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Free Kass papercraft found <a href="https://ninjatoes.blogspot.com/2020/09/free-papercraft-legend-of-zelda-breath.html">here</a>.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDOpuWffkO5xBK4tZCQNmekrYvQlmTLvcEAnMOcui8P8m6-yM7IOnXXP7pwNhFzOBhnB3oOxLHiTmd3iYJAHgE1LMEHNikdy8qsCNxhhXY6yH4Phk4CoRyUOj0uR8ft-dNl0LP67YsUnWoW6fXiAlSSFzPXXqSxeDbnNi4pOGHZDO8L7od2ekmDknQ/s1600/WhatsApp%20Image%202022-12-22%20at%203.02.17%20PM%20(3).jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDOpuWffkO5xBK4tZCQNmekrYvQlmTLvcEAnMOcui8P8m6-yM7IOnXXP7pwNhFzOBhnB3oOxLHiTmd3iYJAHgE1LMEHNikdy8qsCNxhhXY6yH4Phk4CoRyUOj0uR8ft-dNl0LP67YsUnWoW6fXiAlSSFzPXXqSxeDbnNi4pOGHZDO8L7od2ekmDknQ/w360-h640/WhatsApp%20Image%202022-12-22%20at%203.02.17%20PM%20(3).jpeg" width="360" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Look at that sad smooshed silent princess flower. The cake suffered some transportations casualties. Pic in the bottom of cake before taking a ride.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Master sword papercraft <a href="https://www.paperizedcrafts.com/2017/05/the-legend-of-zelda-master-sword.html">here</a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHuVh53GH2hS7bWs7VsCct4Icg3wAAusl3zTD_HZs7e40WW6sk_01f20DWcN8BHvzNISRMx00592-eGiXGSHBMZZnS9WYAk8P--BHeKikzX351D_rlbxbJK0WIIos58B04Rv6PtN3CH8ff0lWHO1kHlIQghZdQJTqRaYKZ1Eh0-EHgDOafkN1O5Qlv/s2048/WhatsApp%20Image%202022-12-22%20at%203.02.17%20PM%20(4).jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="922" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHuVh53GH2hS7bWs7VsCct4Icg3wAAusl3zTD_HZs7e40WW6sk_01f20DWcN8BHvzNISRMx00592-eGiXGSHBMZZnS9WYAk8P--BHeKikzX351D_rlbxbJK0WIIos58B04Rv6PtN3CH8ff0lWHO1kHlIQghZdQJTqRaYKZ1Eh0-EHgDOafkN1O5Qlv/w288-h640/WhatsApp%20Image%202022-12-22%20at%203.02.17%20PM%20(4).jpeg" width="288" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I wanted to do the sunrise colors of the backdrop on the cake also. I think it looks so cute.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz1LrQifk9DFcWW2ny_9j54IKt37GvXdcud-u4S3xbbuo5d9metZqu-3tj2RaDB0JBvrDFOM_uh_qpghxAuCSPyQ8nFFdEALgeQUfNKs_2v5sc50aDkXS6XvIMZlxUGys57xEQ6VbNzjooZQsyc9VwaeBLQn5z0wJsLsOd4qLuTmpmJrG8bY_iEUSg/s2048/WhatsApp%20Image%202022-12-22%20at%203.02.18%20PM%20(1).jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="969" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz1LrQifk9DFcWW2ny_9j54IKt37GvXdcud-u4S3xbbuo5d9metZqu-3tj2RaDB0JBvrDFOM_uh_qpghxAuCSPyQ8nFFdEALgeQUfNKs_2v5sc50aDkXS6XvIMZlxUGys57xEQ6VbNzjooZQsyc9VwaeBLQn5z0wJsLsOd4qLuTmpmJrG8bY_iEUSg/w302-h640/WhatsApp%20Image%202022-12-22%20at%203.02.18%20PM%20(1).jpeg" width="302" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Up close my shrine is not much to see, but I'm just so proud of no longer using fondant on my cakes. This is pure buttercream.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg45WVvCZU6e7pev3-AIp1n-Xy8i_WwxVpY9omxuyS3kJWVW04qIh6fRadBXpMPopONGSZl77-LESb-r-_LtlXwj_vWyOpw4_BqghjLFEoAikOIBHplqmxFI4lo8WgMBsWS-yxI3B4djR9_3ojm8GLehZ3NncNqFL6bobKiOFJIxlmmzo-YRcfz0Vrq/s1080/WhatsApp%20Image%202022-12-22%20at%203.02.18%20PM%20(2).jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="511" data-original-width="1080" height="302" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg45WVvCZU6e7pev3-AIp1n-Xy8i_WwxVpY9omxuyS3kJWVW04qIh6fRadBXpMPopONGSZl77-LESb-r-_LtlXwj_vWyOpw4_BqghjLFEoAikOIBHplqmxFI4lo8WgMBsWS-yxI3B4djR9_3ojm8GLehZ3NncNqFL6bobKiOFJIxlmmzo-YRcfz0Vrq/w640-h302/WhatsApp%20Image%202022-12-22%20at%203.02.18%20PM%20(2).jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Milk labels <a href="http://raisingganon.blogspot.com/2010/08/lon-lon-milk.html">here</a>.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgka5IgREwKMXXDC3EPLl-SrZ-rSV7Kw0XdsHYMUr_8NnP2CG8givy17A2txeMlVUPVgk3QxE7zIM2pyDeYrjljkwanMjCAQFKEa6JsEkFTIdnY-LNwqn0np-peeoy75eH6Hpy_VqU2LFONlqzAYxfeNqRahwmC82qidsDNOto3mn2nTFxHQaKS1pH_/s1080/WhatsApp%20Image%202022-12-22%20at%203.02.18%20PM%20(3).jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="511" data-original-width="1080" height="302" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgka5IgREwKMXXDC3EPLl-SrZ-rSV7Kw0XdsHYMUr_8NnP2CG8givy17A2txeMlVUPVgk3QxE7zIM2pyDeYrjljkwanMjCAQFKEa6JsEkFTIdnY-LNwqn0np-peeoy75eH6Hpy_VqU2LFONlqzAYxfeNqRahwmC82qidsDNOto3mn2nTFxHQaKS1pH_/w640-h302/WhatsApp%20Image%202022-12-22%20at%203.02.18%20PM%20(3).jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">These monster cakes were almost a disappointment. First I made the horns with merengues following this website's <a href="https://www.level1chef.com/legend-zelda-breath-wild-monster-cake/">suggestion</a>. I left them on the oven. I had struggled with sticky merengues in the past, so I had extra purple buttercream to pipe the horns. Left that in the fridge. I almost cried when I saw my sad hornless monster cakes. They had taken so long because they had a dulce de leche filling and had taken a while to assemble. My sister saved the displayed ones with some last minute cardboard horns. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-Y8JIF4eYehMejfDZUP76O36mWlqZPPm8dfP_jvjnUU0y7snfX84GXIk6JN63gZxD03fYZYSgrUGMth8g3ds6QUfx1aIGmzzLAUT1c8T7_E1JMKy8-2qzJ16b7fTw1BojKDzcz16Z-jPXzDs-G0MjqCz6qJ0Ni-65xUsgVqy6lXL0GXlG6cbQxxpf/s1080/WhatsApp%20Image%202022-12-22%20at%203.02.17%20PM.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="511" data-original-width="1080" height="302" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-Y8JIF4eYehMejfDZUP76O36mWlqZPPm8dfP_jvjnUU0y7snfX84GXIk6JN63gZxD03fYZYSgrUGMth8g3ds6QUfx1aIGmzzLAUT1c8T7_E1JMKy8-2qzJ16b7fTw1BojKDzcz16Z-jPXzDs-G0MjqCz6qJ0Ni-65xUsgVqy6lXL0GXlG6cbQxxpf/w640-h302/WhatsApp%20Image%202022-12-22%20at%203.02.17%20PM.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Master sword printable <a href="https://somewhatdomesticfeminist.wordpress.com/the-legend-of-zelda-breath-of-the-wild-mint-chocolate-master-sword-cake-pops-recipe/">here</a>. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYt4KIeAoOan9oT8TrTcNvseSW91AyU-Yfi1Z1GHX4gVAoLzkHBkCiG_jqLTyVJAaHzA35EGMxn-NSTZZPkWjGfN718CTIzOemqnpSjXvGRN9LOhTEzg6bx08bXaCtnG5fPguZi9hhxENH08yVYIuTzbZDDVl5C72RgdXA689BluOj6VCBhtaaGtDo/s1080/WhatsApp%20Image%202022-12-22%20at%203.02.18%20PM%20(4).jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="410" data-original-width="1080" height="242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYt4KIeAoOan9oT8TrTcNvseSW91AyU-Yfi1Z1GHX4gVAoLzkHBkCiG_jqLTyVJAaHzA35EGMxn-NSTZZPkWjGfN718CTIzOemqnpSjXvGRN9LOhTEzg6bx08bXaCtnG5fPguZi9hhxENH08yVYIuTzbZDDVl5C72RgdXA689BluOj6VCBhtaaGtDo/w640-h242/WhatsApp%20Image%202022-12-22%20at%203.02.18%20PM%20(4).jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">How cool is my castle? Took forever to hangs those curtains, but they were everything!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLWK1iL_qbcZQm3ej7jPCa6bCgrDaiRN1NzLPSrZbpzEOql7iQgZpKC9Yb7zlKnhDONqiYw3pf9m9BE5pPzE8qdkJrjUDP2P0WKgXC7_8NFcPwH4ax9WXEATqJGzT6pv7LqEiVwY2mA84UsC4hL6fuxuReKI_j-Pl_rRSIOtVBBPbhoSPkJ0344tw5/s1600/WhatsApp%20Image%202022-12-22%20at%203.02.19%20PM.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="757" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLWK1iL_qbcZQm3ej7jPCa6bCgrDaiRN1NzLPSrZbpzEOql7iQgZpKC9Yb7zlKnhDONqiYw3pf9m9BE5pPzE8qdkJrjUDP2P0WKgXC7_8NFcPwH4ax9WXEATqJGzT6pv7LqEiVwY2mA84UsC4hL6fuxuReKI_j-Pl_rRSIOtVBBPbhoSPkJ0344tw5/w302-h640/WhatsApp%20Image%202022-12-22%20at%203.02.19%20PM.jpeg" width="302" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Champions window for cool background for pics.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1UdqwQaLjvRB9Y5JthxfJr6OSXK3hFrS_iwAIdk2PyzdeWNk-4eFoNNX-eVguCIAL8pa73UUvR4LXn5pKN9pnAfyHklOKQSVyK9Lw05tCW1oPC3X9LgRXgqgPct1vkYfmOb_5sjtaQawha-yVzLSqT-cR7bg_rgsXt_B27F2tp6g5ZNRzF-FcYiGy/s2048/WhatsApp%20Image%202022-12-22%20at%203.02.19%20PM%20(1).jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="922" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1UdqwQaLjvRB9Y5JthxfJr6OSXK3hFrS_iwAIdk2PyzdeWNk-4eFoNNX-eVguCIAL8pa73UUvR4LXn5pKN9pnAfyHklOKQSVyK9Lw05tCW1oPC3X9LgRXgqgPct1vkYfmOb_5sjtaQawha-yVzLSqT-cR7bg_rgsXt_B27F2tp6g5ZNRzF-FcYiGy/w288-h640/WhatsApp%20Image%202022-12-22%20at%203.02.19%20PM%20(1).jpeg" width="288" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">In case you are unaware, everything, and I mean EVERYTHING is handmade by me. So, yes, I made that Zelda outfit too! Also made that girl!</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv8OMwmObE69Uxu81xBVVpJgoo5u7itDvG9RQCHRrxgJOjjbWFerKV05B1bXhYkPQ1r2jWLd5fq-I_i4yx6dJkJc81xLg31Utu4ccfSvQjfwCBOD72UptEWE7SJajC3aaj0SOj8WYtqzrIGrk8YTiuOSXgiGwqgUa0Zg9jO0wAaZvmaswfobxw1rCb/s2048/WhatsApp%20Image%202022-12-22%20at%203.02.19%20PM%20(2).jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="922" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv8OMwmObE69Uxu81xBVVpJgoo5u7itDvG9RQCHRrxgJOjjbWFerKV05B1bXhYkPQ1r2jWLd5fq-I_i4yx6dJkJc81xLg31Utu4ccfSvQjfwCBOD72UptEWE7SJajC3aaj0SOj8WYtqzrIGrk8YTiuOSXgiGwqgUa0Zg9jO0wAaZvmaswfobxw1rCb/w288-h640/WhatsApp%20Image%202022-12-22%20at%203.02.19%20PM%20(2).jpeg" width="288" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And also made that master sword using this <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WprTzO49Jps">papercraft</a>.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Here is the link for the master sword <a href="https://www.deviantart.com/studioofmm/art/Wind-Waker-Master-Sword-and-Shield-Papercrafts-405180282">papercraft </a>on the main table. (Yes, realized after printing it wasn't BOTW, used it anyway!)</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFzGLYtJIt-yokKD8AICmxvQsZ8HFfZZ144-ByXIL9UNZy1TJoB3T1kxgCdF-ojczY9STEFTskkZFF-ZRNyR-DMg8OgU9GBJ_8WU48JIUzkoX6B7zmJey1WFRI_oaQUu4WZfGRseAiIqWLI8kt9bOhWsbfxyU7a_o8yUZcbR7qXYTB-0ZJBVEJFVgJ/s1080/WhatsApp%20Image%202022-12-22%20at%203.02.19%20PM%20(4).jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="810" data-original-width="1080" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFzGLYtJIt-yokKD8AICmxvQsZ8HFfZZ144-ByXIL9UNZy1TJoB3T1kxgCdF-ojczY9STEFTskkZFF-ZRNyR-DMg8OgU9GBJ_8WU48JIUzkoX6B7zmJey1WFRI_oaQUu4WZfGRseAiIqWLI8kt9bOhWsbfxyU7a_o8yUZcbR7qXYTB-0ZJBVEJFVgJ/w640-h480/WhatsApp%20Image%202022-12-22%20at%203.02.19%20PM%20(4).jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">My girls. My youngest is using a DIY Zelda necklace.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRbxqp1XAS_VFT-ahVDU1YhHzeh44EiRDttVLzk9X-BMpeAFPUQstDdO9-iaXxr_L3PUvAJ0N7bvQaWClLW9ijGAn8RYPJlWerhKwr49ugw8KEzuB2Fz0SYqKuSpK5K8cpspL4s7ndWnDvj6-NVZ0PHJUlTsvmT6Mg2kurEZpVfm-ydGYOwr-GsZTn/s1600/WhatsApp%20Image%202022-12-22%20at%203.02.20%20PM.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="720" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRbxqp1XAS_VFT-ahVDU1YhHzeh44EiRDttVLzk9X-BMpeAFPUQstDdO9-iaXxr_L3PUvAJ0N7bvQaWClLW9ijGAn8RYPJlWerhKwr49ugw8KEzuB2Fz0SYqKuSpK5K8cpspL4s7ndWnDvj6-NVZ0PHJUlTsvmT6Mg2kurEZpVfm-ydGYOwr-GsZTn/w288-h640/WhatsApp%20Image%202022-12-22%20at%203.02.20%20PM.jpeg" width="288" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Yes! I made my husband an outfit also! He is my handsome Link.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLNE_maCLlDy1hDVJffBVSYlq1jW9RlDP0diIZYdwnAg8AquQVh6RjJILW_2uEmKEwqKwVyaPqKch3vktQ4Oz0MMNTBWtD8GmtyNJSRuixX71rZp7jQUgpaBP5qMpGgN04qpH5XAn1oEIztZHC3y-k3RHtWnA3hyANoBE49IlD4HIse1Sm0p2e_r3w/s1600/WhatsApp%20Image%202022-12-22%20at%203.02.20%20PM%20(1).jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="739" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLNE_maCLlDy1hDVJffBVSYlq1jW9RlDP0diIZYdwnAg8AquQVh6RjJILW_2uEmKEwqKwVyaPqKch3vktQ4Oz0MMNTBWtD8GmtyNJSRuixX71rZp7jQUgpaBP5qMpGgN04qpH5XAn1oEIztZHC3y-k3RHtWnA3hyANoBE49IlD4HIse1Sm0p2e_r3w/w296-h640/WhatsApp%20Image%202022-12-22%20at%203.02.20%20PM%20(1).jpeg" width="296" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">He was reluctant until I told him how proud his daughter would feel watching those pictures down the line. He agreed even though he knew it would be hot under that outfit. It was and he endured it.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-29R-7qeX2-wjl_e-KgwI8F8ig9__tyVDpyeB4VEslDH2-2U8uljWoCa4SwkJGRYf4v8FP18LYSNmMOM22MUNJISOo4uQGw1_FmCpMCX_HaSAyJtctVrV5cfq_r9jko8QIfkOKmJ2A9ri_dI7oZLWjQLVNU8oME_TAbE2QHppaGqeNGnGx3V-YSny/s1080/WhatsApp%20Image%202022-12-22%20at%203.02.20%20PM%20(2).jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="486" data-original-width="1080" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-29R-7qeX2-wjl_e-KgwI8F8ig9__tyVDpyeB4VEslDH2-2U8uljWoCa4SwkJGRYf4v8FP18LYSNmMOM22MUNJISOo4uQGw1_FmCpMCX_HaSAyJtctVrV5cfq_r9jko8QIfkOKmJ2A9ri_dI7oZLWjQLVNU8oME_TAbE2QHppaGqeNGnGx3V-YSny/w640-h288/WhatsApp%20Image%202022-12-22%20at%203.02.20%20PM%20(2).jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">My lovely family. Like my fairy headband?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoj1yaICrGDWrkm4xuraSCjVRQITIC_saY81l0lZZKqZ9bZwywWQ8ejLrNpx_4BeJvjoWhJEaSjCS6Eo6VUeRPU9L0Ks1K6qE8qzQvzRtQAhvQnNeq-kpvmCFvqXfwnIXDNgW3Skw5DCs5KbaM-eD1wCEsCLewXLM88kfOilhPdhznbDvBnVIWgOaY/s1600/WhatsApp%20Image%202022-12-22%20at%203.02.21%20PM.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoj1yaICrGDWrkm4xuraSCjVRQITIC_saY81l0lZZKqZ9bZwywWQ8ejLrNpx_4BeJvjoWhJEaSjCS6Eo6VUeRPU9L0Ks1K6qE8qzQvzRtQAhvQnNeq-kpvmCFvqXfwnIXDNgW3Skw5DCs5KbaM-eD1wCEsCLewXLM88kfOilhPdhznbDvBnVIWgOaY/w360-h640/WhatsApp%20Image%202022-12-22%20at%203.02.21%20PM.jpeg" width="360" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Crazy about my guardian piñata. So cool. Those paper cups came down with the first hit though!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><h1 style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">Games</h1><div>Here is my favorite part of the party. I wanted a IRL experience of BOTW, as much as possible. So, we made some phases. They needed to get a heart piece and a potion to do the shrine quests, but getting these were not going to be easy either. </div><div><br /></div><h3 style="text-align: left;">Heart piece and Korok quest</h3><div>To get a heart piece, they needed to stop by the cooking station, but first they needed to collect 3 ingredients. I made the ingredients using air dry clay. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj882kUs61_yLHtEyNqNsCjhuFk05zhq10EX57TXFFOC_w5_KVTS3BL-F_doQIVcavi3tEsn4uLr6y1z-_XUcOTX-VwLtoVugPWV4DYwTuETCUhjx-J_MG0UkHw0Drx01elKzxawOv6uZ9esMqKre-z5e9wv4AbL12OYiDiDUZV4qtscYtFEteLDyZU/s1080/WhatsApp%20Image%202022-12-22%20at%203.02.21%20PM%20(1).jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="486" data-original-width="1080" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj882kUs61_yLHtEyNqNsCjhuFk05zhq10EX57TXFFOC_w5_KVTS3BL-F_doQIVcavi3tEsn4uLr6y1z-_XUcOTX-VwLtoVugPWV4DYwTuETCUhjx-J_MG0UkHw0Drx01elKzxawOv6uZ9esMqKre-z5e9wv4AbL12OYiDiDUZV4qtscYtFEteLDyZU/w640-h288/WhatsApp%20Image%202022-12-22%20at%203.02.21%20PM%20(1).jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Stamella mushroom</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA_uHZhXpsJriMGQxBu3Xc6yPuMsoVFNPty-4k6lVSgymwPAc6hPwn9K6NWwHR3R9azyR18B_vcKlAcDzQkmaULL5fMmLYkuidExnzsOfZ0TuIg8jZfj_PD8Vygt2eMZD-f36a3SrIXrL3uJ56ACrIwMjoYASu-weflYd1EIZzHAyGJynRgvIn9sHE/s1080/WhatsApp%20Image%202022-12-22%20at%203.02.21%20PM%20(2).jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="615" data-original-width="1080" height="364" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA_uHZhXpsJriMGQxBu3Xc6yPuMsoVFNPty-4k6lVSgymwPAc6hPwn9K6NWwHR3R9azyR18B_vcKlAcDzQkmaULL5fMmLYkuidExnzsOfZ0TuIg8jZfj_PD8Vygt2eMZD-f36a3SrIXrL3uJ56ACrIwMjoYASu-weflYd1EIZzHAyGJynRgvIn9sHE/w640-h364/WhatsApp%20Image%202022-12-22%20at%203.02.21%20PM%20(2).jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Hylian mushroom</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZnM0WA1GzexRVnLwScYL97cPTkZnHrOFdUWOKI4U5zRfAOs0ItcYaQVOjAaLdYaqlVXl_kX7A_-f-OfX2REOMTPRxhMP8ySF4mpLqfG1ooLweLvpMblsSt4VrSzDmSPD4cPnUA6szg00gPtHIpK7eMfaW0B2Rc6K0X5FYE4lu9IzSaf0U0qRGFkx8/s1080/WhatsApp%20Image%202022-12-22%20at%203.02.51%20PM.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="486" data-original-width="1080" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZnM0WA1GzexRVnLwScYL97cPTkZnHrOFdUWOKI4U5zRfAOs0ItcYaQVOjAaLdYaqlVXl_kX7A_-f-OfX2REOMTPRxhMP8ySF4mpLqfG1ooLweLvpMblsSt4VrSzDmSPD4cPnUA6szg00gPtHIpK7eMfaW0B2Rc6K0X5FYE4lu9IzSaf0U0qRGFkx8/w640-h288/WhatsApp%20Image%202022-12-22%20at%203.02.51%20PM.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Endura mushroom</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA_qCZ9_O2HtkcjXpG7himQ3bYOhhVCdXOX-6vw7pXvIG0L23XCu1virSSWnUbeT20p_lzkiafNVlEP38TivHsayN-3l409-yw6Sl2BJ3ZFx2aywKMYQcjzeA-re3RqZHkveuSmHeP5y7z5mxnnuLZ_7NuqmFzsV7mhPbNNGACFWnzBs_HOc7dQedG/s1080/WhatsApp%20Image%202022-12-22%20at%203.02.52%20PM%20(1).jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="486" data-original-width="1080" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA_qCZ9_O2HtkcjXpG7himQ3bYOhhVCdXOX-6vw7pXvIG0L23XCu1virSSWnUbeT20p_lzkiafNVlEP38TivHsayN-3l409-yw6Sl2BJ3ZFx2aywKMYQcjzeA-re3RqZHkveuSmHeP5y7z5mxnnuLZ_7NuqmFzsV7mhPbNNGACFWnzBs_HOc7dQedG/w640-h288/WhatsApp%20Image%202022-12-22%20at%203.02.52%20PM%20(1).jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Hearty Radish</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUXtyoQqppIqkrKfJN6NbTftWH9lISzI7AcdiLlH4DywheqqHwazTtcyz4dugHxBpvlEstg69T-ARfKR5lbPswpu6DlqVlFUBtDgVflHJ63Ok6DLSpwi6ddNFW2PRXxEvydDxkR_pyhzmZltIoaMZiZEunUiiw8wBE5jQkqO4o_3zwCeVS8hLMTeS3/s1080/WhatsApp%20Image%202022-12-22%20at%203.02.52%20PM%20(2).jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="486" data-original-width="1080" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUXtyoQqppIqkrKfJN6NbTftWH9lISzI7AcdiLlH4DywheqqHwazTtcyz4dugHxBpvlEstg69T-ARfKR5lbPswpu6DlqVlFUBtDgVflHJ63Ok6DLSpwi6ddNFW2PRXxEvydDxkR_pyhzmZltIoaMZiZEunUiiw8wBE5jQkqO4o_3zwCeVS8hLMTeS3/w640-h288/WhatsApp%20Image%202022-12-22%20at%203.02.52%20PM%20(2).jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">River Frog</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPFc6sdvCw_wF7c_3uMsc1xJujudMi0eF5OruPlvBMiIEFvDHOZ--q450fTVQQgR4qXnNPj3YO_3VZkW6o8PIOE44EB7kmrY7rMyB1QTk5PuN__IOa0iszfvpEbxaswDbA170267AUewGhPb2rFB9OuA_pS9HEr7omb1oHmZ6X1YSSc3bGl_rjbbSx/s1080/WhatsApp%20Image%202022-12-22%20at%203.02.52%20PM.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="486" data-original-width="1080" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPFc6sdvCw_wF7c_3uMsc1xJujudMi0eF5OruPlvBMiIEFvDHOZ--q450fTVQQgR4qXnNPj3YO_3VZkW6o8PIOE44EB7kmrY7rMyB1QTk5PuN__IOa0iszfvpEbxaswDbA170267AUewGhPb2rFB9OuA_pS9HEr7omb1oHmZ6X1YSSc3bGl_rjbbSx/w640-h288/WhatsApp%20Image%202022-12-22%20at%203.02.52%20PM.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Hearty truffle</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGFgwBquGJbpsIgYm_ioHJiZV1lA7GfQf4Y0DQyNJMjTcut1yxl9F4Ms97uHffoiVeJYSb-Bo5h88AXTve5xc8kqmPuU28RlUJCEL_Lusu8pAPr_VrFfC6_aTAuKu8XxvoUT9QO_8-voj_eK08TIFrsWthmuK_BwSQhOz69qu9Uo2atkkN37LwjAm3/s1600/WhatsApp%20Image%202022-12-22%20at%203.02.53%20PM%20(1).jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="720" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGFgwBquGJbpsIgYm_ioHJiZV1lA7GfQf4Y0DQyNJMjTcut1yxl9F4Ms97uHffoiVeJYSb-Bo5h88AXTve5xc8kqmPuU28RlUJCEL_Lusu8pAPr_VrFfC6_aTAuKu8XxvoUT9QO_8-voj_eK08TIFrsWthmuK_BwSQhOz69qu9Uo2atkkN37LwjAm3/w288-h640/WhatsApp%20Image%202022-12-22%20at%203.02.53%20PM%20(1).jpeg" width="288" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Fairy tree</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyTDgCcwbMRxP3n6_ywC9oUENocYVm9Xvo8HwzydF-UkxMEICZplZINh03SxrDzq0JnbCC1rBhSsxNVotHdKd0jJlePfzLVy_qCS6aPnRUu8kgiQXI5_9AIM80YLTmPy2lufTP1mS0vqy-jrRiBdRd6WP6kgu_xXNvHsGR8pXRyXuUn0wcvswOntr_/s1080/WhatsApp%20Image%202022-12-22%20at%203.02.53%20PM.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="486" data-original-width="1080" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyTDgCcwbMRxP3n6_ywC9oUENocYVm9Xvo8HwzydF-UkxMEICZplZINh03SxrDzq0JnbCC1rBhSsxNVotHdKd0jJlePfzLVy_qCS6aPnRUu8kgiQXI5_9AIM80YLTmPy2lufTP1mS0vqy-jrRiBdRd6WP6kgu_xXNvHsGR8pXRyXuUn0wcvswOntr_/w640-h288/WhatsApp%20Image%202022-12-22%20at%203.02.53%20PM.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Silent princess</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>I made an adventure satchel for each kid with a cardboard sheikah slate for each one. The sheikah slate had a map of the world (that coincided with the park) and the korok quest. I'll show you in the next pictures. <div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6hCCVFhBGK_EqPtpeRBuEo8CiRCm1OZaq9deLLPaEGH3YQj2k8D4FGnZ27MdUU7X9qW2Tzc8ksPfxWGZMqKp5KVLvPIm1hOmF0ORh8DHvR3KNSQuLizGqYICn0pE8gbS3qD5f-Rmd2C2ojDmpoxbqQzoO9O4rPeftUWmOwW4T4afZpV7UEBw8JB_h/s1080/WhatsApp%20Image%202022-12-22%20at%203.02.56%20PM%20(2).jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="486" data-original-width="1080" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6hCCVFhBGK_EqPtpeRBuEo8CiRCm1OZaq9deLLPaEGH3YQj2k8D4FGnZ27MdUU7X9qW2Tzc8ksPfxWGZMqKp5KVLvPIm1hOmF0ORh8DHvR3KNSQuLizGqYICn0pE8gbS3qD5f-Rmd2C2ojDmpoxbqQzoO9O4rPeftUWmOwW4T4afZpV7UEBw8JB_h/w640-h288/WhatsApp%20Image%202022-12-22%20at%203.02.56%20PM%20(2).jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">These were the hidden koroks that had a symbol that they had to decipher the right number in their slate to get the code. The first 3 to finish got Korok plushies. They did the quest while also looking for ingredients.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpZT1woX8Qb8PvJZRRV8dotRPUKSSMSRITXVMn9VNBpLLRLBAMAmxTF_q5apFdwA1AfNHwn6x04ifvkv69GpQvjDPDPy-5W_dYKyZtWvcpH8C_RI0CPrAb-mKkslVVdiM29CPaFgfDy1PEUlQl30OCP11KM3DeuCmVyoFLbyVR31FlPo8qWF3edYgo/s1080/WhatsApp%20Image%202022-12-22%20at%203.02.56%20PM%20(3).jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="486" data-original-width="1080" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpZT1woX8Qb8PvJZRRV8dotRPUKSSMSRITXVMn9VNBpLLRLBAMAmxTF_q5apFdwA1AfNHwn6x04ifvkv69GpQvjDPDPy-5W_dYKyZtWvcpH8C_RI0CPrAb-mKkslVVdiM29CPaFgfDy1PEUlQl30OCP11KM3DeuCmVyoFLbyVR31FlPo8qWF3edYgo/w640-h288/WhatsApp%20Image%202022-12-22%20at%203.02.56%20PM%20(3).jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0e7nFmondSHIQJ3a_SCpcLjkodEXIJr9V23UMf4G09MTN-B97voyV6iqVKp9Lp6mW4Ao4Ntl0iVCDy7481nkPCYi1hFt_PhzoqbhmUykfQ87m9c-GFDKhW9CGzhI3-5Ozx-MyizGTCPYU__3dwjoB8EbvHgBCrs1SDfd2Bna0VOupxEcWznqt-IW2/s1080/WhatsApp%20Image%202022-12-22%20at%203.02.56%20PM%20(4).jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="686" data-original-width="1080" height="406" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0e7nFmondSHIQJ3a_SCpcLjkodEXIJr9V23UMf4G09MTN-B97voyV6iqVKp9Lp6mW4Ao4Ntl0iVCDy7481nkPCYi1hFt_PhzoqbhmUykfQ87m9c-GFDKhW9CGzhI3-5Ozx-MyizGTCPYU__3dwjoB8EbvHgBCrs1SDfd2Bna0VOupxEcWznqt-IW2/w640-h406/WhatsApp%20Image%202022-12-22%20at%203.02.56%20PM%20(4).jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This is what my daughter's slate looked like in the end</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihltuXGbXv8FlN7aWG6BbUEW80owuMC5SujQVcUdzSDLXhFqh-CVQ5AuzfuJg9yNQur9lefNVhCW5A4l8bIEHB5mtlHoNfkw1Y13JsWcqOBjJoJyGwlrP4EcRJHk83YXzdZiq_8on_TjS1UdwZ7NmAEX78uaycQbhm9Gq0FDm2zOL7NpCTtO_Uc34u/s1080/WhatsApp%20Image%202022-12-22%20at%203.02.56%20PM%20(5).jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="650" data-original-width="1080" height="386" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihltuXGbXv8FlN7aWG6BbUEW80owuMC5SujQVcUdzSDLXhFqh-CVQ5AuzfuJg9yNQur9lefNVhCW5A4l8bIEHB5mtlHoNfkw1Y13JsWcqOBjJoJyGwlrP4EcRJHk83YXzdZiq_8on_TjS1UdwZ7NmAEX78uaycQbhm9Gq0FDm2zOL7NpCTtO_Uc34u/w640-h386/WhatsApp%20Image%202022-12-22%20at%203.02.56%20PM%20(5).jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Here she solved her korok quest, but she came in 4th</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjblnGfUjjvzDmjh2KIF2kcTYP2N-5aR7NwK80BcsTkHa-BSoFMLPJjAtU4pwGTQV0SA_0eU1oA3DwgroqvBedwyN7VfrzXf2y7nukw7K-1AklQpO4kNQHIJOrHNnE4xMCf24g5z1BRvBz0ispVDQqq-qIyF9t8x9YKN3j3irbZT8FW03Ih9h3XBhb9/s1800/WhatsApp%20Image%202022-12-22%20at%203.02.56%20PM%20(6).jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="1080" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjblnGfUjjvzDmjh2KIF2kcTYP2N-5aR7NwK80BcsTkHa-BSoFMLPJjAtU4pwGTQV0SA_0eU1oA3DwgroqvBedwyN7VfrzXf2y7nukw7K-1AklQpO4kNQHIJOrHNnE4xMCf24g5z1BRvBz0ispVDQqq-qIyF9t8x9YKN3j3irbZT8FW03Ih9h3XBhb9/w384-h640/WhatsApp%20Image%202022-12-22%20at%203.02.56%20PM%20(6).jpeg" width="384" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">If you wish to use them, here is the jpg I made.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi63eGYGt_cZ2glade_bIPi9Eh0d6dM-hRisLKBD8op8sRx6N0nYe2UvpJmgtws9NCFA7W0r6b5DXeLj52NR8g8s-qs9yZK_kzNhT4W7pKlpvxNAtCu_1eEA-f21G-Za92AAxVD8qowpl-M1SobAWW7DOsSvIbnZiw82JTtMy433q7EJkeb7750e7AI/s1600/WhatsApp%20Image%202022-12-22%20at%203.02.57%20PM.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="960" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi63eGYGt_cZ2glade_bIPi9Eh0d6dM-hRisLKBD8op8sRx6N0nYe2UvpJmgtws9NCFA7W0r6b5DXeLj52NR8g8s-qs9yZK_kzNhT4W7pKlpvxNAtCu_1eEA-f21G-Za92AAxVD8qowpl-M1SobAWW7DOsSvIbnZiw82JTtMy433q7EJkeb7750e7AI/w384-h640/WhatsApp%20Image%202022-12-22%20at%203.02.57%20PM.jpeg" width="384" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And here is the map. Our castle was in the center of the park, just like on the map! Serendipitous!</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif2GomnuLjO2SW8Gnir-ZmVMaWCuV9D7fODgsJ6kVtohz1wCCqAaN2I4C9hChT7MG5G3P6IbqkUHIVx5bNAxflo39g6VwrwrL9kLtYbmyHT51YfAfMws49bPi99-Mh8s9A8bqoOmw2mMHync7gUp49fRWv623zUWJCclh6Kyo2PeiGC2WxLdwwpYEm/s1600/WhatsApp%20Image%202022-12-22%20at%203.02.56%20PM.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="720" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif2GomnuLjO2SW8Gnir-ZmVMaWCuV9D7fODgsJ6kVtohz1wCCqAaN2I4C9hChT7MG5G3P6IbqkUHIVx5bNAxflo39g6VwrwrL9kLtYbmyHT51YfAfMws49bPi99-Mh8s9A8bqoOmw2mMHync7gUp49fRWv623zUWJCclh6Kyo2PeiGC2WxLdwwpYEm/w288-h640/WhatsApp%20Image%202022-12-22%20at%203.02.56%20PM.jpeg" width="288" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">To get to their next quest, they had to find the Korok circle in their map. This was the hardest quest for pretty much every kid, mainly because only the 4 kids that played the game knew what a Korok circle looked like. I had to redirect most of them to it! </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDFmiXKenGUGnJJ2XEB1tzCNzL2rZJBFxPWNmHbbyuZVnXEAlRVRN3NQ7SqcRqd3elTBbU4r43hOCOyvgwgGWn5yAHAc-yHjGolyruBp0tJpX5vBQjl6ej1gLyPdH3kWgUvC8UTlwcHqjRIuNY8P0DaLHCDE2TOHE4CPkXtr2xM8ZlSUCQiXWppLMZ/s1080/WhatsApp%20Image%202022-12-22%20at%203.02.57%20PM%20(1).jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="511" data-original-width="1080" height="302" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDFmiXKenGUGnJJ2XEB1tzCNzL2rZJBFxPWNmHbbyuZVnXEAlRVRN3NQ7SqcRqd3elTBbU4r43hOCOyvgwgGWn5yAHAc-yHjGolyruBp0tJpX5vBQjl6ej1gLyPdH3kWgUvC8UTlwcHqjRIuNY8P0DaLHCDE2TOHE4CPkXtr2xM8ZlSUCQiXWppLMZ/w640-h302/WhatsApp%20Image%202022-12-22%20at%203.02.57%20PM%20(1).jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We were lucky to have a large and lushious jungle park!</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm_4DkKS-phF1P6n0aWaP9EA49KErW8jb-ZLoMC8U91pm3K14o5uZIMAWZX_fh8L_qDkOt3NoxCxfOq8b9-FrcVyqVJNcit-RQelCJO4of2DIj49s3xOavrpmLf8NVKsPDLuh0Tv-ia92D125Xb4Rt7RNd_cyuxqgFDvoYAzqgeLd7C8ubdlMm2Va7/s1440/WhatsApp%20Image%202022-12-22%20at%203.02.57%20PM%20(2).jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1080" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm_4DkKS-phF1P6n0aWaP9EA49KErW8jb-ZLoMC8U91pm3K14o5uZIMAWZX_fh8L_qDkOt3NoxCxfOq8b9-FrcVyqVJNcit-RQelCJO4of2DIj49s3xOavrpmLf8NVKsPDLuh0Tv-ia92D125Xb4Rt7RNd_cyuxqgFDvoYAzqgeLd7C8ubdlMm2Va7/w480-h640/WhatsApp%20Image%202022-12-22%20at%203.02.57%20PM%20(2).jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Zelda looks so cool in the wild! Do you like her satchel???</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn6KNXNh4UoDerYN7wJdmZdBu0wNkaXVajceF9dtetmf0yEXPob9NcH8ZrS10UrVx37IKeXOZlAhSs3aYGMApZA3LRF4oH3v8EjMhifz72UbFofz2rWMP3Py1VbjD9NGcMKY9cEpqFL1_-n6i7n9VcYSOCEWQJ2CzkumVsJaIYZoVNEv9EzfNijwLf/s1600/WhatsApp%20Image%202022-12-22%20at%203.02.57%20PM%20(3).jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn6KNXNh4UoDerYN7wJdmZdBu0wNkaXVajceF9dtetmf0yEXPob9NcH8ZrS10UrVx37IKeXOZlAhSs3aYGMApZA3LRF4oH3v8EjMhifz72UbFofz2rWMP3Py1VbjD9NGcMKY9cEpqFL1_-n6i7n9VcYSOCEWQJ2CzkumVsJaIYZoVNEv9EzfNijwLf/w360-h640/WhatsApp%20Image%202022-12-22%20at%203.02.57%20PM%20(3).jpeg" width="360" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Here are the 1st and 2nd place winners of the Koroks quest showing off their Korok plushies!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The satchel was a good place to carry all the goodies they collected.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmMcm9S8plfPrgza8KG6SPFp8HvMlu-LRTo-OBwy6Riyz8ag4f_nbPGXmER8lBBk-dlyVBLWXZpHAbc2J3Q0utmP0GRZ5NBvWemXfhBSJKvZAx9hEKcEA5EuDITRmvDjjAAWwnU6chbq9SN8Y-sR_fUxDVwOvq9pAEE07TKsWW0xYxJh5G0RVBJXvT/s1080/WhatsApp%20Image%202022-12-22%20at%203.02.58%20PM.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="608" data-original-width="1080" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmMcm9S8plfPrgza8KG6SPFp8HvMlu-LRTo-OBwy6Riyz8ag4f_nbPGXmER8lBBk-dlyVBLWXZpHAbc2J3Q0utmP0GRZ5NBvWemXfhBSJKvZAx9hEKcEA5EuDITRmvDjjAAWwnU6chbq9SN8Y-sR_fUxDVwOvq9pAEE07TKsWW0xYxJh5G0RVBJXvT/w640-h360/WhatsApp%20Image%202022-12-22%20at%203.02.58%20PM.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Once they had their 3 ingredients, they could head to the cooking station. They had 4 choices: fruit for 1 rupee, veggie for 5 rupees, mushroom for 20, and spicy jalapeño for 50. After you ate your meal, you got the rupees you earned and your heart piece. Most boys went for the jalapeño.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I'll post the Korok quest images, the monster and gears part image, and the rupees and heart piece images.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4BI3h0oHvl_65qsq7Qm88pQSARqlXojLsZIrA8K5vWMcfi5su0i24v6dMZpm9YuntFTymK5mY6VyjFHCqo0uFfiYZXPbqO53V6hEZe-cMgOJScAC6-SKlFbyRnC4nrh8-JtMghGYuOqi6i4JYC6WGdTsC0mR9PZp7II8AGPYUXABrnYs7313QZX2n/s1516/korok%201.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1516" data-original-width="1460" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4BI3h0oHvl_65qsq7Qm88pQSARqlXojLsZIrA8K5vWMcfi5su0i24v6dMZpm9YuntFTymK5mY6VyjFHCqo0uFfiYZXPbqO53V6hEZe-cMgOJScAC6-SKlFbyRnC4nrh8-JtMghGYuOqi6i4JYC6WGdTsC0mR9PZp7II8AGPYUXABrnYs7313QZX2n/s320/korok%201.jpg" width="308" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI6DV_rfZVxBtHR6g9qMriTaS8_Ws4woA2boaTvLN9yqSyFnDYEbd3rC21ax596XgZXg2FIKc9VNxj3ij9L-sKYXUtedMPPhE2jNDBjKVyfqQLGjBtuOKwirs9P4wFyBraSLAOXDQysGB9r9y-YM9OI9qdcF8MJm9Cmkjj_KDfxpavDc28qWTDNvaL/s1524/korok%202.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1524" data-original-width="1364" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI6DV_rfZVxBtHR6g9qMriTaS8_Ws4woA2boaTvLN9yqSyFnDYEbd3rC21ax596XgZXg2FIKc9VNxj3ij9L-sKYXUtedMPPhE2jNDBjKVyfqQLGjBtuOKwirs9P4wFyBraSLAOXDQysGB9r9y-YM9OI9qdcF8MJm9Cmkjj_KDfxpavDc28qWTDNvaL/s320/korok%202.jpg" width="286" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj67c1Hrl6Yki4iM5utl6HJ-1s0XCh2AwbqNfMmvsJ6BKrX8zkxAkIg8QvfLxxu0em8vhSWWJBFNIgkHYoaXQt0zwmWcMj879Z7bAUmmG4jQb_A1HMtJ_yYt-z8fSiYtriDkC7iyA74pUgbTjgJX0Avsjo2wA1GvdOBpKiigB5QxE8NoZD8uegjUeJX/s1602/parts.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1142" data-original-width="1602" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj67c1Hrl6Yki4iM5utl6HJ-1s0XCh2AwbqNfMmvsJ6BKrX8zkxAkIg8QvfLxxu0em8vhSWWJBFNIgkHYoaXQt0zwmWcMj879Z7bAUmmG4jQb_A1HMtJ_yYt-z8fSiYtriDkC7iyA74pUgbTjgJX0Avsjo2wA1GvdOBpKiigB5QxE8NoZD8uegjUeJX/s320/parts.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqhuFIIJTejg2tuk-hR-SU3q1k_5SqL_cgilTDAXo4neJ3faJ9lFWTuHSgHV2rfCfuLJ2qRf7mxiwBWDG11VBF-5fmih-0BQaayhyuKqsxnVABT3YalFNeFuT6A8FjqTFW9j2GZynxKFBgJczHJrKSN2F0VlYCLP3Lq4_5MsR8SD4yG-ZFp6iLDqrJ/s884/r1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="884" data-original-width="840" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqhuFIIJTejg2tuk-hR-SU3q1k_5SqL_cgilTDAXo4neJ3faJ9lFWTuHSgHV2rfCfuLJ2qRf7mxiwBWDG11VBF-5fmih-0BQaayhyuKqsxnVABT3YalFNeFuT6A8FjqTFW9j2GZynxKFBgJczHJrKSN2F0VlYCLP3Lq4_5MsR8SD4yG-ZFp6iLDqrJ/s320/r1.jpg" width="304" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc63dIdNh1RaKdDftDLl1G-Be7zfIdOr7Hh_GbxsCw2GRH3q0tdCYQgsb6EzzWtX4-k_7QN1FLrSHiIhAdFZqBc-QoLtMw63NTjIIAwZLVdGEScMVJ7nLkNqHgcuyJWNnzZo0tC2W0hnfTleUSPHZJveZTtCNJdGUtK0hYgar2Zj5826in8_VkRORH/s862/r3.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="862" data-original-width="756" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc63dIdNh1RaKdDftDLl1G-Be7zfIdOr7Hh_GbxsCw2GRH3q0tdCYQgsb6EzzWtX4-k_7QN1FLrSHiIhAdFZqBc-QoLtMw63NTjIIAwZLVdGEScMVJ7nLkNqHgcuyJWNnzZo0tC2W0hnfTleUSPHZJveZTtCNJdGUtK0hYgar2Zj5826in8_VkRORH/s320/r3.jpg" width="281" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6yJeWaP8jEvmzXEV5PXeQWqgOqb_FEv7D18akRyC2svofa7HwNpR3TcLVy4902YXTzQdOPm1WQWPfUcYMVXtIbU0jfigvXP2Xf6INkq-0LJWF6rXtzsU2q8rMXHKARgDCALRkk8EI5PMRU72XII7XJOP_g_wc25zVBUJv8CjN1HiB4rMbk4CpB__v/s862/r%202.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="862" data-original-width="792" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6yJeWaP8jEvmzXEV5PXeQWqgOqb_FEv7D18akRyC2svofa7HwNpR3TcLVy4902YXTzQdOPm1WQWPfUcYMVXtIbU0jfigvXP2Xf6INkq-0LJWF6rXtzsU2q8rMXHKARgDCALRkk8EI5PMRU72XII7XJOP_g_wc25zVBUJv8CjN1HiB4rMbk4CpB__v/s320/r%202.jpg" width="294" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><h3 style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">Archery and Potion</h3><div>Unfortunately, I didn't take picture of the kids fishing, but I had a bucket of plastic fishes and a dollar store fishing cane with a magnet for the kids to collect a fish if they hadn't found a frog. To make a potion, they needed a fish or a frog and a monster part. To get a monster part, they needed to head to the archery. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJMpypBVS7wW1_f5lDNOK9xVfwhuocJy4yqDUO7rDm-Mido-d_-wnBYeWGirRZWlM1nhP9t99_vOWkY_dxvok9AfVCe13oihRYpOhx8Auavva1mkrNmnHfWUwg40JzMkAYx10uaC73h9Uf7afvdUQ57-hXmSa-vRAjVJfM7W_Z7gJNbLTnpJ_BZl0y/s1600/WhatsApp%20Image%202022-12-22%20at%203.02.55%20PM.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1080" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJMpypBVS7wW1_f5lDNOK9xVfwhuocJy4yqDUO7rDm-Mido-d_-wnBYeWGirRZWlM1nhP9t99_vOWkY_dxvok9AfVCe13oihRYpOhx8Auavva1mkrNmnHfWUwg40JzMkAYx10uaC73h9Uf7afvdUQ57-hXmSa-vRAjVJfM7W_Z7gJNbLTnpJ_BZl0y/w432-h640/WhatsApp%20Image%202022-12-22%20at%203.02.55%20PM.jpeg" width="432" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Here is my lovely octorok ready to be shot at.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi682vS8kdGY7VKXep7hkIxMiHZuho6c2Ph2lXSj8nohkdRao43R-UgdQU09P62_a5UqicZx-wpKVrszie1Cz-Fj6QoG8iLqHLkXX3EIBqcxPnsT5m3xjnjnaANSIn2AFCrKWrPyXZZRosszAm3Vgw_D18XdGKrZnSOFgGhefnx9dcmcwi8jt4v2DUC/s1080/WhatsApp%20Image%202022-12-22%20at%203.02.58%20PM%20(1).jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="608" data-original-width="1080" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi682vS8kdGY7VKXep7hkIxMiHZuho6c2Ph2lXSj8nohkdRao43R-UgdQU09P62_a5UqicZx-wpKVrszie1Cz-Fj6QoG8iLqHLkXX3EIBqcxPnsT5m3xjnjnaANSIn2AFCrKWrPyXZZRosszAm3Vgw_D18XdGKrZnSOFgGhefnx9dcmcwi8jt4v2DUC/w640-h360/WhatsApp%20Image%202022-12-22%20at%203.02.58%20PM%20(1).jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">You can tell Adri hit it in the first try. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">You got 3 attempts. If you hit the target, you get 20 rupees and monster parts. If you didn't, you only got monster parts.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiREevX3hF6kzd4s7NVSbmjxpN2w36R4DoD9kiPhSc5UhW67LuYl-sXYdDPIOy1b-cd-ibcDSRpCkQhiirbU37D66kGjDylZ4MIi5o-K7dBR1YU_r-_0_WcX6AriJKspgOngvmYWoft2nWeO6hVXZA92-8WKnhXWhDAUGdaKq7tvTC200aVj7uWBfp/s1600/WhatsApp%20Image%202022-12-22%20at%203.02.58%20PM%20(2).jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiREevX3hF6kzd4s7NVSbmjxpN2w36R4DoD9kiPhSc5UhW67LuYl-sXYdDPIOy1b-cd-ibcDSRpCkQhiirbU37D66kGjDylZ4MIi5o-K7dBR1YU_r-_0_WcX6AriJKspgOngvmYWoft2nWeO6hVXZA92-8WKnhXWhDAUGdaKq7tvTC200aVj7uWBfp/w360-h640/WhatsApp%20Image%202022-12-22%20at%203.02.58%20PM%20(2).jpeg" width="360" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Even the dads wanted to give it a try.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLWTfWfkRXLDRrlsQbuHUrJhtFgSZcUeMs2N77HmzzuVl2k2uBGT-r9KvsqHFQaOq9VWZbO9bolkkM3G-6Artyw3N1PYmGx83GUCTET94eTgrXfhr-uFgumeUtq4XwAoiyFnOmrLJuHJSn2WLvb0Doo7JVQTjRPMLgsACYZD66c8ctaX8ghaUlNFkp/s1080/WhatsApp%20Image%202022-12-22%20at%203.02.59%20PM.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="810" data-original-width="1080" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLWTfWfkRXLDRrlsQbuHUrJhtFgSZcUeMs2N77HmzzuVl2k2uBGT-r9KvsqHFQaOq9VWZbO9bolkkM3G-6Artyw3N1PYmGx83GUCTET94eTgrXfhr-uFgumeUtq4XwAoiyFnOmrLJuHJSn2WLvb0Doo7JVQTjRPMLgsACYZD66c8ctaX8ghaUlNFkp/w640-h480/WhatsApp%20Image%202022-12-22%20at%203.02.59%20PM.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Then they headed to the potions station. I found the easiest most awesome potion recipe: alcohol, glitter, and mica powder. It gives it a real potion took. Even the parents were surprised. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkfCcTSWfHevYFuNTJNvYjPMrWTPi52Qs5Be-TZopCNOM0kPc9-TSmL9prDZgHxNHH73TxImQbdBqKMHXZB1JCqtgMDywElyF3eW9hnbaZfRynFRZNV9hQXh9FU8M60Kth7hEF5ahRmSOliOETmEqFUytwTZ8xC4Bq4AZlVKJrqUkfiFhqLnH1jXj5/s1600/WhatsApp%20Image%202022-12-23%20at%2011.29.03%20AM.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1287" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkfCcTSWfHevYFuNTJNvYjPMrWTPi52Qs5Be-TZopCNOM0kPc9-TSmL9prDZgHxNHH73TxImQbdBqKMHXZB1JCqtgMDywElyF3eW9hnbaZfRynFRZNV9hQXh9FU8M60Kth7hEF5ahRmSOliOETmEqFUytwTZ8xC4Bq4AZlVKJrqUkfiFhqLnH1jXj5/s320/WhatsApp%20Image%202022-12-23%20at%2011.29.03%20AM.jpeg" width="257" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The mica powder does not mix with the alcohol, so it gives these incredible swirls. You can find mica powder in soap making stores. I bought these potion bottles at the dollar store. They are my favorite fidget toy. I made a few for myself to keep in my desk and just twirl and twirl to see the swirls and swirls. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><h2 style="text-align: left;">Shrine Quests</h2><div>You needed to find 3 other mates that had the heart piece and potion to head to the shrine. Here is team #1 posing at the shrine. Extra me would have done a shrine entrance in the past (see my jurassic park party to see what I mean), but I had already spent too many hours sewing all those satchels. A shrine pic it is!</div><div><br /></div><h3 style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiED9kIupRUzVBsGflZKLGs13tv4XTPIS2JPnwQOaKgeh6ZvAf-kL_8-cPuFugAI8JCZ0EXu5B8sQlieQXbfBbZUv1fxf3NuZHwiSbo2um4m9f2cJ6EI7srF9aYSDCL7MRVO4YsIZlma-fC4I3_F9feg9_CoZlDzblzW8n-0YQp1N37j2HbcrFvh8PI/s1080/WhatsApp%20Image%202022-12-22%20at%203.02.59%20PM%20(1).jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="486" data-original-width="1080" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiED9kIupRUzVBsGflZKLGs13tv4XTPIS2JPnwQOaKgeh6ZvAf-kL_8-cPuFugAI8JCZ0EXu5B8sQlieQXbfBbZUv1fxf3NuZHwiSbo2um4m9f2cJ6EI7srF9aYSDCL7MRVO4YsIZlma-fC4I3_F9feg9_CoZlDzblzW8n-0YQp1N37j2HbcrFvh8PI/w640-h288/WhatsApp%20Image%202022-12-22%20at%203.02.59%20PM%20(1).jpeg" width="640" /></a></h3><h3 style="text-align: left;">Shrine Quest #1:</h3><div>The floor is lava. Just have the kids go from x to y using cardboard pieces. 5 pieces for 4 players to move the piece from the back to the front passing it to each player until everyone makes it through. Make it small to make the balancing fun!</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqX6pL3eewBQFlc3NFKg7MwnclyuF2405MVamk6qIfo3x_U5QkOPYGTRIfjWI57gBtqE4anrT-5m-P0-5vhT-VVKYGXDwPU7cGxyUYSQBym9sB3f-9RaGExsXGrCREtXPSK7adxDJv7NyUPBoAfxkfmc3xHzGUzO3TBBglj4nKmelsWvIwFicsCM_E/s1080/WhatsApp%20Image%202022-12-22%20at%203.02.59%20PM%20(2).jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="511" data-original-width="1080" height="302" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqX6pL3eewBQFlc3NFKg7MwnclyuF2405MVamk6qIfo3x_U5QkOPYGTRIfjWI57gBtqE4anrT-5m-P0-5vhT-VVKYGXDwPU7cGxyUYSQBym9sB3f-9RaGExsXGrCREtXPSK7adxDJv7NyUPBoAfxkfmc3xHzGUzO3TBBglj4nKmelsWvIwFicsCM_E/w640-h302/WhatsApp%20Image%202022-12-22%20at%203.02.59%20PM%20(2).jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><h3 style="text-align: left;">Shrine Quest #2:</h3><div>Remember the pattern. Inspired by the musical shrine quest in Rito Village, kids must remember the pattern to play all the colors. Each teammate comes to receive a new color and play it on the drums. The next teammate must remember the colors played before and play the next one to reveal it to their team. That last kid had to remember all 8 colors order, but their teammates could help them. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPFDNc8ETsrJ2gebHxynlYtcaDvjz7tc2-7_YdISJZbRWUiY6JLbETimhUavv5huvYwDCloTfyoh6DQhURBVZ_t39A3UsloPp9pF3PS8pF8fmL3W-0aemA0qsYv3ynrePZbqler9I0T4TEhpk_jNzX9WaRj8lAaR6XbShRdyvjTHh4-zhesgDZH814/s1080/WhatsApp%20Image%202022-12-22%20at%203.02.59%20PM%20(3).jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="511" data-original-width="1080" height="302" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPFDNc8ETsrJ2gebHxynlYtcaDvjz7tc2-7_YdISJZbRWUiY6JLbETimhUavv5huvYwDCloTfyoh6DQhURBVZ_t39A3UsloPp9pF3PS8pF8fmL3W-0aemA0qsYv3ynrePZbqler9I0T4TEhpk_jNzX9WaRj8lAaR6XbShRdyvjTHh4-zhesgDZH814/w640-h302/WhatsApp%20Image%202022-12-22%20at%203.02.59%20PM%20(3).jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><h3 style="text-align: left;">Shrine Quest #3:</h3><div>Take the ball to the other side. Mark a spot from x to y and tell the kids they must form a bridge using only their cups to take the ball to the other side. Inspired by some shrines where you need to freeze objects to direct balls. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhezbONDyOkRPsT72jcLH1sItrpK5Ilj164mg0FvdoeuCQfXP3Omi0yjoHrkjnMK_FGRFW2c8J5PF0KIbPYs322E5kkvqHDaBNLdOkfj1biyS0sRWpuWkofMzyWRxFvB2BaSPgySVIghr6kVfyPlkRWhxTBBQ6viX3UmOfVsSj3R7hDVrD3VvOCoOgr/s1600/321298176_1392277158274962_2887481157993510232_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="757" data-original-width="1600" height="302" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhezbONDyOkRPsT72jcLH1sItrpK5Ilj164mg0FvdoeuCQfXP3Omi0yjoHrkjnMK_FGRFW2c8J5PF0KIbPYs322E5kkvqHDaBNLdOkfj1biyS0sRWpuWkofMzyWRxFvB2BaSPgySVIghr6kVfyPlkRWhxTBBQ6viX3UmOfVsSj3R7hDVrD3VvOCoOgr/w640-h302/321298176_1392277158274962_2887481157993510232_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYDhrJxDzbTaHxumrfZ7OqdAkPiAMTApwbgO7loookwOO3ZvGNETzUX5OwqmWU_1vCzEVi0yDiEQtHKaiYBPLSfT7pvXnDBaxMY6kFqf0euX_dxWI81f5ALqP-LewqiXevTXjS_gEV4Gpwvl6UvCM6oVEbQarRPa0eJibOv1u7zY0riOnsl43S-z3r/s1696/a14_1WP2.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1466" data-original-width="1696" height="277" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYDhrJxDzbTaHxumrfZ7OqdAkPiAMTApwbgO7loookwOO3ZvGNETzUX5OwqmWU_1vCzEVi0yDiEQtHKaiYBPLSfT7pvXnDBaxMY6kFqf0euX_dxWI81f5ALqP-LewqiXevTXjS_gEV4Gpwvl6UvCM6oVEbQarRPa0eJibOv1u7zY0riOnsl43S-z3r/s320/a14_1WP2.png" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This is the orb image I made for this challenge to print and cut.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">After completing the 3 shrines, each kid got a different Orb. Then. they had to look for the kids that had the same champion to do together the champion quest. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><h3 style="text-align: left;">Champions Quest</h3><div>The champions quest was an escape room challenge I got from this <a href="https://www.teachcreatemotivate.com/free-reading-escape-room/escape-the-island-cover-1/">website</a>. I printed the escape room challenge as it came and just glued some left over orbs to make it match the champions. The escape room challenge has 4 rooms, so I just made each room a champion challenge. The team that finished their "room" first, won 50 rupees and the second team got 20. The others got the satisfaction of escaping. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU3kr9X-FrEDvRwPUWNhgUGNVYy8Nfo4pCwbgJbGOlb8bcuNOQZKd-tOqDU7S2G0eTPpSNSFq5dT7Em6j4gjluOsHn7WviIIHXi71gl8jLdZJk3daJn07GBmPi_vUh0yOjovS7jnQYUHvmWY9wlhx-_KXjYNNu9yJNPsBH5-BaYRFtnQl9eHYFqEhD/s1080/WhatsApp%20Image%202022-12-22%20at%203.03.00%20PM%20(2).jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="511" data-original-width="1080" height="302" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU3kr9X-FrEDvRwPUWNhgUGNVYy8Nfo4pCwbgJbGOlb8bcuNOQZKd-tOqDU7S2G0eTPpSNSFq5dT7Em6j4gjluOsHn7WviIIHXi71gl8jLdZJk3daJn07GBmPi_vUh0yOjovS7jnQYUHvmWY9wlhx-_KXjYNNu9yJNPsBH5-BaYRFtnQl9eHYFqEhD/w640-h302/WhatsApp%20Image%202022-12-22%20at%203.03.00%20PM%20(2).jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfOYYFaIf0C22AhUHw2glMRvjItuRbi9jUSmhGzv0qaUYOIijpo9dRBdESXqSX7ZDwt-_zZVIYy-aE-DiprFD8Ng2cG0-bbjLgP2dEBtljHhtAYBZ2oXwTtzLdbZlFE808Kabz2phlIZ7ejWqUdpzI5tB6yNCZ2KuonFr6XByf63I0GohSwgUKB92d/s1080/WhatsApp%20Image%202022-12-22%20at%203.03.00%20PM%20(3).jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="511" data-original-width="1080" height="302" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfOYYFaIf0C22AhUHw2glMRvjItuRbi9jUSmhGzv0qaUYOIijpo9dRBdESXqSX7ZDwt-_zZVIYy-aE-DiprFD8Ng2cG0-bbjLgP2dEBtljHhtAYBZ2oXwTtzLdbZlFE808Kabz2phlIZ7ejWqUdpzI5tB6yNCZ2KuonFr6XByf63I0GohSwgUKB92d/w640-h302/WhatsApp%20Image%202022-12-22%20at%203.03.00%20PM%20(3).jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCwci0NMw8AR8MhJ6v9DDWA_HnIS0NdIlkf9v92WPhdm047MvsMHA1WNBicVqVfet-XVSqwK0KYaRxiUDAM8DAFErTDBMLlm57tt-tcNY8a6hH19MSK9YjVDLbV50Mh7QevWr_hKBAKBaM6Zc2lqlHLoSo0ojZvrZUGfi5A8FtINIUfTOF7OyZyiVR/s1080/WhatsApp%20Image%202022-12-22%20at%203.03.00%20PM%20(1).jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="511" data-original-width="1080" height="302" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCwci0NMw8AR8MhJ6v9DDWA_HnIS0NdIlkf9v92WPhdm047MvsMHA1WNBicVqVfet-XVSqwK0KYaRxiUDAM8DAFErTDBMLlm57tt-tcNY8a6hH19MSK9YjVDLbV50Mh7QevWr_hKBAKBaM6Zc2lqlHLoSo0ojZvrZUGfi5A8FtINIUfTOF7OyZyiVR/w640-h302/WhatsApp%20Image%202022-12-22%20at%203.03.00%20PM%20(1).jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">They ran for their fairy once I told them it got them rupees.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgupdnPNktm4UZ34sgQsaSWMD0WIOjWgVvGqmo91GRPijRR1JKJG_dgH3Ju8F7aYMdBcNV3DuUYsvUOaOImw0yJ0eQdMvS4_hhsmntf9ul2Z2xh8Cowsq3rgQnt1bDC-RDgGkGk6-DqkFZTCgXbqtysISLkB42nwoJbSR7Hkh2Uo-MOhWfq0IBvBdo-/s1080/WhatsApp%20Image%202022-12-22%20at%203.03.00%20PM%20(4).jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="512" data-original-width="1080" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgupdnPNktm4UZ34sgQsaSWMD0WIOjWgVvGqmo91GRPijRR1JKJG_dgH3Ju8F7aYMdBcNV3DuUYsvUOaOImw0yJ0eQdMvS4_hhsmntf9ul2Z2xh8Cowsq3rgQnt1bDC-RDgGkGk6-DqkFZTCgXbqtysISLkB42nwoJbSR7Hkh2Uo-MOhWfq0IBvBdo-/w640-h304/WhatsApp%20Image%202022-12-22%20at%203.03.00%20PM%20(4).jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Ready to destroy the guardian. It had bolts and gears inside for more rupees too.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvCti-Y2iUBBJEXEu7j-CiLSjrfaPsIj5fA1D7btOOij23blLRgp5UsePFnPi9eZB6cp6kI3vq1m3Yc6riFLDiEpQzsWPWTL8EZqAxVFHQAxSArxpcWgl_WumcrkG0oLMhSXhRNY3Yt5Exh51DM2yl7KB3AURWALTMIrthVE_LPG5H4Hx0eVuoIYuF/s1080/WhatsApp%20Image%202022-12-22%20at%203.03.02%20PM.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="511" data-original-width="1080" height="302" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvCti-Y2iUBBJEXEu7j-CiLSjrfaPsIj5fA1D7btOOij23blLRgp5UsePFnPi9eZB6cp6kI3vq1m3Yc6riFLDiEpQzsWPWTL8EZqAxVFHQAxSArxpcWgl_WumcrkG0oLMhSXhRNY3Yt5Exh51DM2yl7KB3AURWALTMIrthVE_LPG5H4Hx0eVuoIYuF/w640-h302/WhatsApp%20Image%202022-12-22%20at%203.03.02%20PM.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Time to exchange the rupees for prizes!!!!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1wWCdIqbeqISoDHqU5SXQfkstysSQsyKs5AjI1DesXI-M5mLun55HtBMAF_ybAjz_oLrLTpLCye1wNem0POfoBQCtV3BmHspaNljWs1SL7Kw5Q8dxxceJnyQdhMhDqS8CPJh2g6-lhuURvzoCgePAg0Y-Nur6Q8Pc5Z3ay0-uKvNsrt1D2HgkYsHi/s1600/WhatsApp%20Image%202022-12-23%20at%2012.18.06%20PM.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1600" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1wWCdIqbeqISoDHqU5SXQfkstysSQsyKs5AjI1DesXI-M5mLun55HtBMAF_ybAjz_oLrLTpLCye1wNem0POfoBQCtV3BmHspaNljWs1SL7Kw5Q8dxxceJnyQdhMhDqS8CPJh2g6-lhuURvzoCgePAg0Y-Nur6Q8Pc5Z3ay0-uKvNsrt1D2HgkYsHi/w640-h512/WhatsApp%20Image%202022-12-23%20at%2012.18.06%20PM.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">There were candy bags, dollar store toys, but here are the DIY BOTW shrink charms I made to make bracelets and hair bows. The kids loved them. I also got these gaming inspired bendy straws! Safe to say that Beedle store was a big hit!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9UyFM_NKvYBGbTA_Xyk1Ku0mHhz0BFyvk9H_l1DGxQZYZXyTpSlLoEeKLBLwaSdLgCO0gwl-dV7TO0jsdWs_cMu_7phJd-Cywl9Qm8cjXd4pEMI3tR3IvIQwBXmsYsEGfBYWqsPW2rcAAKmcBjzri8KMytXrj79p8UQD3LWO70z5OIf4gxEjn0u3C/s1600/WhatsApp%20Image%202022-12-22%20at%203.03.02%20PM%20(1).jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9UyFM_NKvYBGbTA_Xyk1Ku0mHhz0BFyvk9H_l1DGxQZYZXyTpSlLoEeKLBLwaSdLgCO0gwl-dV7TO0jsdWs_cMu_7phJd-Cywl9Qm8cjXd4pEMI3tR3IvIQwBXmsYsEGfBYWqsPW2rcAAKmcBjzri8KMytXrj79p8UQD3LWO70z5OIf4gxEjn0u3C/w360-h640/WhatsApp%20Image%202022-12-22%20at%203.03.02%20PM%20(1).jpeg" width="360" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And yes, I died at the end.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">Dear Emmalee,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">I can't believe you turned 10! Ten years of seeing God's goodness in my life through your life. You were only 3 when mommy got cancer. I thought you would grow up not even remembering me. You had to grow up so fast. You had to take care of your mommy since you were 3 years old. That is 7 years of you massaging me when I have my chronic pain, caressing my forehad when I get migranes, and putting up with me when I'm cranky because I couldn't sleep. It pains me to know you've carried this burden with me, but it also excites me to think what this has done to your heart and to your character. And I can already see what the Lord has been doing in your heart. You have a heart ready to know Him, serve Him, seek Him, and learn from Him. You love coming with me to the Crossfire youth band vocal practices where you watch mommy vocal coach young people and you learn too. You come with me to Crosswalk where you are learning how to evangelize and you are getting ready for your first mission trip to the village of Para Puru in the heart of the Panamanian jungle. You were so understanding when mommy left for Egypt on a short mission trip this fall, and I pray it also inspires your future endeavors. You went to school for the first time in your life. You don't feel sorry for yourself for having been homeschooled all your life. You feel greatful for it and have told me so in many of the letters you still continually write to me. You have shined so brightly at your school. Everyone calls you and your sister the welcoming committee for you are at the school gate ready to hug every kid as they come inside. You are a friend without prejudice. You were so nervous your first day of school you were not able to sleep. Mommy tried everything with you to make you sleep, but you could not sleep an ounce. You were worried you were not going to be loved or accepted. You came back that very same day realizing all your fears were for nothing. You made so many friends and you are such a happy girl. You scored highter than your class on your MAP test. I was so impressed. Mom was super intense on your first month of school. I felt like your performance was a direct mirror of my teaching. I was able to let go and let you do you. You do you so well. You just shine wherever you go and in whatever you do. You are doing so great at school. I can see how hard you work to do well and to be kind. You inspire me so much. People always tell me what a great kid I have, and I always tell them it's all you. I have nothing to do with that. You put in the hard work. I loved sharing Breath of the Wild with you. I didn't think you would get so into it like I did. But, you did, and I couldn't be happier. It's like our thing just the two of us, because daddy and Kaylee didn't get into it. I know you were the happiest ten year old in your Zelda costume. You feel so proud that mommy makes it all for you. You constantly tell your friends what new thing mommy had made for your party, and we always can't wait to finally see it altogether. Thank you for the sister you are. You are learning to be more a sister and less a second mom to Kaylee, but I will always love your protective and overseeing love you have for her. It's been a year filled with many firsts. The first time you went to a birthday party without your sister because it was one of your classmates. Kaylee really didn't enjoy that, but it's time to have you have your own things. You've been sharing everything with your sister since you were 1. You've been so generous and sweet. My dearest, you make me so happy and proud. I don't care if you get good grades, if you have good attitudes, or if you like me. I love you for who you are. Thank you for having all of the above, but know that my love for you is unconditional. I am just so full of gratitude to our God to allow me live and watch you grow and be cared and taught by you. You are amazing. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">Love, Mom.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /></div>Linda Zelayahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02842164145067391301noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6259200682875369030.post-18406633693183579302022-11-14T11:22:00.002-08:002022-11-14T11:22:46.007-08:00Kaylee's Under the Sea 8th Birthday party<p> So, apparently I'm using today to get back on track. I just finished Emmalee's very belated party post, and now I'm doing Kaylee's. I'm doing this because I need the mind-space to finish Emmalee's upcoming birthday. So, here we go...</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9T_i5pW4Ge6e1jFa6E9lyLFZCm08JWUzOenXuhk0EH_wbrFa56HQeV1Gr1DOydtce6cqKRtHU2yxbotGO-85MB2fbf6H6Ccz73RY_fzvO7H9GlxAwDUKivKzumkHuDeTnecqtq5q-ioea7vtDbHG2qR9mMWBJ9U9JLZi8w-NY1B0_FmwaEwloac_f/s1826/277579596_10160198513873793_7898616626264852671_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1135" data-original-width="1826" height="398" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9T_i5pW4Ge6e1jFa6E9lyLFZCm08JWUzOenXuhk0EH_wbrFa56HQeV1Gr1DOydtce6cqKRtHU2yxbotGO-85MB2fbf6H6Ccz73RY_fzvO7H9GlxAwDUKivKzumkHuDeTnecqtq5q-ioea7vtDbHG2qR9mMWBJ9U9JLZi8w-NY1B0_FmwaEwloac_f/w640-h398/277579596_10160198513873793_7898616626264852671_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">As always, Kaylee's themes are very girly and I absolutely love that.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIt46Dsx5RPzkQu5KuKKA-zFt-Dsu2AIFRN4HFtCHEVsbxpt0RODbUw56i5RdkfRWjJlgfOzsrzE7pEeBZOIx3oBFqOy8L9mP2a8OfZbUcy2bhNHBJeXcWKzFEVZVHsQn_vmFCEXD78G-2NCpGyAct2gagrKkjxNq0BUyTLKyt_zv2caDCUH7NX5at/s2048/277562898_10160198513818793_781884481250477428_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1066" data-original-width="2048" height="334" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIt46Dsx5RPzkQu5KuKKA-zFt-Dsu2AIFRN4HFtCHEVsbxpt0RODbUw56i5RdkfRWjJlgfOzsrzE7pEeBZOIx3oBFqOy8L9mP2a8OfZbUcy2bhNHBJeXcWKzFEVZVHsQn_vmFCEXD78G-2NCpGyAct2gagrKkjxNq0BUyTLKyt_zv2caDCUH7NX5at/w640-h334/277562898_10160198513818793_781884481250477428_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">You can see that I really got into those mylar balloons from the previous party. But we blew up two of them. My heart almost went with them because we blew up the mermaid one. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbjUwwMdZC_xuzF4OBbGCbfECz2kEUYG2wDke3W2ALv5YSOWKDwlECure-AXJD0siWKmn1Id7NbJwYjRvmUQUAwxdbLnBcgx-ygE4_NgV-u63sO8GoWeaFfv1fnZ3Lef9DoFqQB7e_eJUVp-BCeS-J4o6vpyq5wunJX54sOTFukAq-5xxyDa34zHu6/s1480/277673298_10160198515153793_7065874134293267082_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1092" data-original-width="1480" height="472" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbjUwwMdZC_xuzF4OBbGCbfECz2kEUYG2wDke3W2ALv5YSOWKDwlECure-AXJD0siWKmn1Id7NbJwYjRvmUQUAwxdbLnBcgx-ygE4_NgV-u63sO8GoWeaFfv1fnZ3Lef9DoFqQB7e_eJUVp-BCeS-J4o6vpyq5wunJX54sOTFukAq-5xxyDa34zHu6/w640-h472/277673298_10160198515153793_7065874134293267082_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Kaylee really loved the theme and the girly printables. She chose this mermaid to represent her and asked me to paint her with short hair like hers.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik4Pvpn4BGpEYU74eiC1wX1xN_NOIpAOcL_pl69OoGw44KFaKulKq-gHzqOCJ37_rP8axwIH8-ZsVfVgCfpD5Ob8YJev0vZvxtqqYbrhvABUS4HSspLwzAlUytqfEOCbKkNLbkI70imcaQzsHTLQMSLP_YC7-Pbld4Ybcu2dJKfxY69ANS2VzCr3-b/s2048/277584935_10160198514388793_1957428408860969133_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="922" data-original-width="2048" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik4Pvpn4BGpEYU74eiC1wX1xN_NOIpAOcL_pl69OoGw44KFaKulKq-gHzqOCJ37_rP8axwIH8-ZsVfVgCfpD5Ob8YJev0vZvxtqqYbrhvABUS4HSspLwzAlUytqfEOCbKkNLbkI70imcaQzsHTLQMSLP_YC7-Pbld4Ybcu2dJKfxY69ANS2VzCr3-b/w640-h288/277584935_10160198514388793_1957428408860969133_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwYSpaLh0OyKSaraGX3tAQbl1FW7pYeGAxFijffnJokDmMCRMhtNDc54U49hbmFq9yL92I674x_MwU8sKioKGeywcuXGWu3G3tpkQEailToM7qs3YUhzsV8XREAtJEnQQcRf4W8dU2hlKHNuSnYWabCN7Oo-nNOY7xDGCq9xyS5UGc_KArmP0DU_yw/s2048/277560375_10160198516878793_2416353933857438434_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1154" data-original-width="2048" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwYSpaLh0OyKSaraGX3tAQbl1FW7pYeGAxFijffnJokDmMCRMhtNDc54U49hbmFq9yL92I674x_MwU8sKioKGeywcuXGWu3G3tpkQEailToM7qs3YUhzsV8XREAtJEnQQcRf4W8dU2hlKHNuSnYWabCN7Oo-nNOY7xDGCq9xyS5UGc_KArmP0DU_yw/w640-h360/277560375_10160198516878793_2416353933857438434_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Doesn't get more girly than these lovely favor bags.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs_r9Hegg_YzVvxwi5HB91N8Wbn5fpC_kikdVS_UsYIoZdi0iGOafHwFkjwwlxz5BlBszKFtupT8bsMkrUv1rRFXMlLRCryYEMkXirAkwc3Aqc6xynRcBmvwqtudM1U5FeA2o1XOqgwCYQrh8lPWO0NxIFxEgpY6md1qybJrTHgcHsTEFY51jFNIca/s1874/277766512_10160198517098793_3670247365828412656_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1193" data-original-width="1874" height="408" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs_r9Hegg_YzVvxwi5HB91N8Wbn5fpC_kikdVS_UsYIoZdi0iGOafHwFkjwwlxz5BlBszKFtupT8bsMkrUv1rRFXMlLRCryYEMkXirAkwc3Aqc6xynRcBmvwqtudM1U5FeA2o1XOqgwCYQrh8lPWO0NxIFxEgpY6md1qybJrTHgcHsTEFY51jFNIca/w640-h408/277766512_10160198517098793_3670247365828412656_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I always check Creative canon park for good printables, and these whales that are candy holders were amazing and so easy to make.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjeI47wDwtn_3N1ICjXEe41bDrpsFMExGU9IiHxHNOVrozi9k4QcDe8quam-p-UqjcafeNathqVUTRPJsRpFLfPuq-Wn7n2K8rPJn6XxZr7i9zyuYATEPFF9EjTEagRLFqPQo0j00AsPsHCzRSwj8FQq7NMMBV4lkq3jNP1a5xONDy3oN36NMMiBBA/s1599/277564610_10160198515178793_3742384553265668417_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1193" data-original-width="1599" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjeI47wDwtn_3N1ICjXEe41bDrpsFMExGU9IiHxHNOVrozi9k4QcDe8quam-p-UqjcafeNathqVUTRPJsRpFLfPuq-Wn7n2K8rPJn6XxZr7i9zyuYATEPFF9EjTEagRLFqPQo0j00AsPsHCzRSwj8FQq7NMMBV4lkq3jNP1a5xONDy3oN36NMMiBBA/w640-h478/277564610_10160198515178793_3742384553265668417_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I learned from Emmalee's strawberry party to always make a boy version of the favor boxes.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkB9Gzp4jg8wTAjDNphuUMzR1vXQd6S54FGqkqydRkIPgscAp0n3Yg1VELfN-Qh2H79Qvi0IhrcLix-pxa93sSmTTSTLwv1zFrGT5JR7H1zTFo8fV-VyD2I-_-rSC093TVO7Fzu9GYyeP37nKE3mNF_66CJTqDdL_AVhRUSWXAY4v1DMzJ66frL_7Q/s1638/277762647_10160198514908793_3000894129193613458_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1135" data-original-width="1638" height="444" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkB9Gzp4jg8wTAjDNphuUMzR1vXQd6S54FGqkqydRkIPgscAp0n3Yg1VELfN-Qh2H79Qvi0IhrcLix-pxa93sSmTTSTLwv1zFrGT5JR7H1zTFo8fV-VyD2I-_-rSC093TVO7Fzu9GYyeP37nKE3mNF_66CJTqDdL_AVhRUSWXAY4v1DMzJ66frL_7Q/w640-h444/277762647_10160198514908793_3000894129193613458_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Kaylee finally got to repeat her sister's sundae bar in one of her birthdays.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOH-7eb3x1i7PGLMZXIbEwZtuSA57c4LWtJHE4_eSCqc3f9zeIK_Boq3ocKLVZf7Nv4VnhAW6nxUfWWW95JXAqEj-x5OZb01nbbCW00QCUyzNYGSDuAnG3kMVqISsK-d8akKrk_BmlHI0mQk5USu1gIpGFSkDWk1qYlV_D_38bjLCHLqfSfBrHfIfv/s2048/277798564_10160198513938793_2031870936802475314_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1061" data-original-width="2048" height="332" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOH-7eb3x1i7PGLMZXIbEwZtuSA57c4LWtJHE4_eSCqc3f9zeIK_Boq3ocKLVZf7Nv4VnhAW6nxUfWWW95JXAqEj-x5OZb01nbbCW00QCUyzNYGSDuAnG3kMVqISsK-d8akKrk_BmlHI0mQk5USu1gIpGFSkDWk1qYlV_D_38bjLCHLqfSfBrHfIfv/w640-h332/277798564_10160198513938793_2031870936802475314_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">That octupus in the middle is the culprit for this theme. Kaylee said she had enough plushies for the theme, so she requested it.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY3rxe0dnt2dnwBzq0ytkIouE-Hlg-7ZpdkFqhp8iS19WCagIOAQUZv0MDNzyew8T8IF-eqj8hdLzTwfnVUM9X9JMi0Sxw5qQCZH-NO2HskGFpvmF_C246XgfvRGzRLbKnmc_mQsyIcc_kYWXZVFXXD5O6bznHlJgEe2lhpBxIEHW4XJNLZAY_neep/s1937/277563215_10160198514218793_3194676907274286060_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1937" data-original-width="1360" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY3rxe0dnt2dnwBzq0ytkIouE-Hlg-7ZpdkFqhp8iS19WCagIOAQUZv0MDNzyew8T8IF-eqj8hdLzTwfnVUM9X9JMi0Sxw5qQCZH-NO2HskGFpvmF_C246XgfvRGzRLbKnmc_mQsyIcc_kYWXZVFXXD5O6bznHlJgEe2lhpBxIEHW4XJNLZAY_neep/w450-h640/277563215_10160198514218793_3194676907274286060_n.jpg" width="450" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I always wanted to make a mechanical toy from Creative Park. This is awesome.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2RdWRC4JsMvWwNtgueqSXqLABKGKpCa1-qyu1XaYz_IYcr1Qv_14vn7-O_b_txOiavYdy9zjqzYNIhDbK4JhItV_plP-FqeqmMhCu4crz8ew13HdX_K0b8El4o-Oy0HCjVPUutThrinj_OSD1oCJu4X6Puvmz-LGiMfQeqSv2KCcXsplZEyr4fWVI/s2048/277253526_10160198514858793_8103513325903336744_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="922" data-original-width="2048" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2RdWRC4JsMvWwNtgueqSXqLABKGKpCa1-qyu1XaYz_IYcr1Qv_14vn7-O_b_txOiavYdy9zjqzYNIhDbK4JhItV_plP-FqeqmMhCu4crz8ew13HdX_K0b8El4o-Oy0HCjVPUutThrinj_OSD1oCJu4X6Puvmz-LGiMfQeqSv2KCcXsplZEyr4fWVI/w640-h288/277253526_10160198514858793_8103513325903336744_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Kaylee loved helping me paint this.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiijbuvuEiiHkuejwrS2RfwH8F-LMKlRjK-ZtkEvOv2uGnQvSyvwj1KTeFJlCcMp_9WV_1HMQXa6VWCiZIfhIRv4LQCgJd7YRj_8sw0qlx8cUVqbqBAxXsL8M855J06421QScK8Oq52tT_i8jM18-9A3EIs4S95g0t-gaHrNrm5H8SMlx1uBJMmblR2/s2048/277678272_10160198514543793_121325703762530404_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="970" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiijbuvuEiiHkuejwrS2RfwH8F-LMKlRjK-ZtkEvOv2uGnQvSyvwj1KTeFJlCcMp_9WV_1HMQXa6VWCiZIfhIRv4LQCgJd7YRj_8sw0qlx8cUVqbqBAxXsL8M855J06421QScK8Oq52tT_i8jM18-9A3EIs4S95g0t-gaHrNrm5H8SMlx1uBJMmblR2/w304-h640/277678272_10160198514543793_121325703762530404_n.jpg" width="304" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Buttercream is king now in my cakes, but fondant also makes a small appearance. I covered the printed images with transparent tape to protect it from the buttercream.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbm6nPoacKYDvtwk1Pxey_V3tktedoTjrIDxncKZNUpfMLmRRr1I3ogHf4_TGMRnF2OrnvGXQB70V_izw7tUUpOJ1udwLgKOD2YbqyLEeVkZjsQEFQ4AY_22H7eoflEBQhO6uEBhIlGiBRqZ1owhAx2bHlvCvylzGqHitECBBNgVFbHr6qGNIi9CY2/s1814/277672832_10160198514748793_2232563834425068056_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1184" data-original-width="1814" height="418" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbm6nPoacKYDvtwk1Pxey_V3tktedoTjrIDxncKZNUpfMLmRRr1I3ogHf4_TGMRnF2OrnvGXQB70V_izw7tUUpOJ1udwLgKOD2YbqyLEeVkZjsQEFQ4AY_22H7eoflEBQhO6uEBhIlGiBRqZ1owhAx2bHlvCvylzGqHitECBBNgVFbHr6qGNIi9CY2/w640-h418/277672832_10160198514748793_2232563834425068056_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I can never get that gradient correct, but I feel I got a lot closer with this cake.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRE0B-ElhBkZ4KPGphAIDo8Rmk7zQRlyFZseY5LpFvZcDWhmgcXdf8HdPB--SPlDFntGkG9h_IbWb8vZJ_zYBM1HZJcpeOsIJVBHbM7tbnOiS-C7CNw_TFx1SQU1XegD1S9XGXZTd_WSac-lCehGXg5uCaBFViQ9yZpuaDz_5lY2oc73WebgJnk_m3/s1654/277533110_10160198514618793_279735744792841559_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1193" data-original-width="1654" height="462" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRE0B-ElhBkZ4KPGphAIDo8Rmk7zQRlyFZseY5LpFvZcDWhmgcXdf8HdPB--SPlDFntGkG9h_IbWb8vZJ_zYBM1HZJcpeOsIJVBHbM7tbnOiS-C7CNw_TFx1SQU1XegD1S9XGXZTd_WSac-lCehGXg5uCaBFViQ9yZpuaDz_5lY2oc73WebgJnk_m3/w640-h462/277533110_10160198514618793_279735744792841559_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">But here the gradient is more stripey. Well, I tried.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggQ0_KpatR68EkoDJSkUuC-Ba_R5BavkTy1_7Cm6mcuLbPRw6Bq-l3Gnpc5eCRJnWNiBBAhKmXeabeNuKq5U2ls2pTUt7QiDG7Z32fNw15dgxY3Y1-XgeB7ydH7d3BbFozpLqglLTL9BdKaR4jFnn4Aa1YwpRnAYoF6DyDIpLTzjvNIY14nzkA0sdB/s1809/277534582_10160198514683793_6304250214703601248_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1193" data-original-width="1809" height="422" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggQ0_KpatR68EkoDJSkUuC-Ba_R5BavkTy1_7Cm6mcuLbPRw6Bq-l3Gnpc5eCRJnWNiBBAhKmXeabeNuKq5U2ls2pTUt7QiDG7Z32fNw15dgxY3Y1-XgeB7ydH7d3BbFozpLqglLTL9BdKaR4jFnn4Aa1YwpRnAYoF6DyDIpLTzjvNIY14nzkA0sdB/w640-h422/277534582_10160198514683793_6304250214703601248_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Long time without making any fondant characters.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ0USR94T8l5bwUaWatALkbDKIBMqzq6V0dZIq--AnUnXqiheJjPXibV0N0rAxIMe4kSrHdh_QSPj5u5LR_HAOgFRNPAK89qgcpgBs5ed4kvBVdzzlQScXxBaLCJLqH8tmLOUV-TDjxevuhDs4lWXxqQg07cvwwNo8m7L_XWkv2gtOf3qbTFN1_6RL/s2048/277529730_10160198514063793_2237856854819932056_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="922" data-original-width="2048" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ0USR94T8l5bwUaWatALkbDKIBMqzq6V0dZIq--AnUnXqiheJjPXibV0N0rAxIMe4kSrHdh_QSPj5u5LR_HAOgFRNPAK89qgcpgBs5ed4kvBVdzzlQScXxBaLCJLqH8tmLOUV-TDjxevuhDs4lWXxqQg07cvwwNo8m7L_XWkv2gtOf3qbTFN1_6RL/w640-h288/277529730_10160198514063793_2237856854819932056_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMx-doZQOSZfMu4ibGngWEBCY2-e92Wc3N3fMDwwotPkQzBnr3hbqSmjTFoWlSyrwl-A_Bi-_9pIEk4RNVqqbI14Et6st9oxTtJ8jbJT1Txv0KvwWZ2oL1FL6ugg967S43LZ52X17rOY8A3HxrURigssiXWhqi2CkwUFmpABLnldnqKGb1MREk3F-J/s2048/277526464_10160198514163793_4612288482335671011_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="922" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMx-doZQOSZfMu4ibGngWEBCY2-e92Wc3N3fMDwwotPkQzBnr3hbqSmjTFoWlSyrwl-A_Bi-_9pIEk4RNVqqbI14Et6st9oxTtJ8jbJT1Txv0KvwWZ2oL1FL6ugg967S43LZ52X17rOY8A3HxrURigssiXWhqi2CkwUFmpABLnldnqKGb1MREk3F-J/w288-h640/277526464_10160198514163793_4612288482335671011_n.jpg" width="288" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">My favorite thing about this cookie is that I shaped the cookie cutter to serve dual purpose and cut the whales and the octopuses with one cutter. Genius, if I do say so myself.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz-d_Svl4mHnLO1bCggGNdVn7vmMZ_Pvi9pWk6DjWTlYf5lNZnrSP2IT0w8qY4agts3Rko2XPnkq_l68ke8Gftk2nxB69qEK_SuWX3gT-QR0UWOEAlGJiyz4YMUhsVgFN20FCev191nqZiyj9pxfg67DdqBAQN-H-kBs3rHV7t9ogQiu_g_DAKLXHj/s2048/277310260_10160198514458793_1816155934831623423_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="922" data-original-width="2048" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz-d_Svl4mHnLO1bCggGNdVn7vmMZ_Pvi9pWk6DjWTlYf5lNZnrSP2IT0w8qY4agts3Rko2XPnkq_l68ke8Gftk2nxB69qEK_SuWX3gT-QR0UWOEAlGJiyz4YMUhsVgFN20FCev191nqZiyj9pxfg67DdqBAQN-H-kBs3rHV7t9ogQiu_g_DAKLXHj/w640-h288/277310260_10160198514458793_1816155934831623423_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFkecfW8aEUgK5mW6tWM-ZLok3XgOiY4ZoA3F2tJY9FEwFlJWbS2rGZ_dTfKlMKooMcOy5em8_7-NzFDFRc5KWA-MWIWLhA2G0NyON0fiFaT7_slnEISNIPknEHYCs4dTbteTf49lgkIMq63qD90aSsJpGGEw9tQMjZqj3EWmeh3Q6TC0UwVOQg6aa/s2039/277674740_10160198515103793_7662191796359729960_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1193" data-original-width="2039" height="374" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFkecfW8aEUgK5mW6tWM-ZLok3XgOiY4ZoA3F2tJY9FEwFlJWbS2rGZ_dTfKlMKooMcOy5em8_7-NzFDFRc5KWA-MWIWLhA2G0NyON0fiFaT7_slnEISNIPknEHYCs4dTbteTf49lgkIMq63qD90aSsJpGGEw9tQMjZqj3EWmeh3Q6TC0UwVOQg6aa/w640-h374/277674740_10160198515103793_7662191796359729960_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">See how the wave and the tail of the whale is the tentacles of the octopus?</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipZxc0692ZnKvAxeuFDDRKqdF9AaWEzBV0a1aNW-jfK8aOi_4PIemZAo2WuevPfW1eBSi5LlufI8BLOrM7Ce72z_DCDnz7dQ7tDyylT5fVQ4GRw4heDvpADUHDjZHA44TO-ejYIEdGCrkqiNMhGWM5S7CQZOQQJ_-Io3bPBf4JkQiZOUT6WCwBbDbz/s2048/277808633_10160198514103793_6032462610694439515_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="922" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipZxc0692ZnKvAxeuFDDRKqdF9AaWEzBV0a1aNW-jfK8aOi_4PIemZAo2WuevPfW1eBSi5LlufI8BLOrM7Ce72z_DCDnz7dQ7tDyylT5fVQ4GRw4heDvpADUHDjZHA44TO-ejYIEdGCrkqiNMhGWM5S7CQZOQQJ_-Io3bPBf4JkQiZOUT6WCwBbDbz/w288-h640/277808633_10160198514103793_6032462610694439515_n.jpg" width="288" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPblyP2wVgG_5Y7W1J3MzIXWpaq9KqbpB-kuvVlQm07CMiZmv8eOMdAO_mt-7mL2e6QLfAV5sfQo382hn_w_Z9-pDBRrFxjc2Yg0NBAeCZ0d2H7x0w4ICyRrnr9BrcMTC7BQYAMkXJzJOe_4twWCL5MSYWNKWo_bK4Vem2G1NmEGEX2Uhl6r-J7Z0n/s1511/277445380_10160198515688793_3001342836862985427_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1511" data-original-width="1184" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPblyP2wVgG_5Y7W1J3MzIXWpaq9KqbpB-kuvVlQm07CMiZmv8eOMdAO_mt-7mL2e6QLfAV5sfQo382hn_w_Z9-pDBRrFxjc2Yg0NBAeCZ0d2H7x0w4ICyRrnr9BrcMTC7BQYAMkXJzJOe_4twWCL5MSYWNKWo_bK4Vem2G1NmEGEX2Uhl6r-J7Z0n/w502-h640/277445380_10160198515688793_3001342836862985427_n.jpg" width="502" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This pic with my mom in it is always one of my greatest joys in life.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguUVw1IDOdvbu0WF6epA6NQnhItP2pVZ4DymMCcPCnACjxSKxDrdr9uUtzcpN28EbLp1HMOT9kxXzP7N-2LftBOkyYvfZkMh9749A3jnXvbERPJ33s_fb-NCE3iEN_PN_gGfjt-zw9FHttTWOCCkb6wQd293m-NhaZdPCPymcXMnr-SERvF1pRa87e/s2048/277530325_10160198516288793_6168611952390059260_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="993" data-original-width="2048" height="310" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguUVw1IDOdvbu0WF6epA6NQnhItP2pVZ4DymMCcPCnACjxSKxDrdr9uUtzcpN28EbLp1HMOT9kxXzP7N-2LftBOkyYvfZkMh9749A3jnXvbERPJ33s_fb-NCE3iEN_PN_gGfjt-zw9FHttTWOCCkb6wQd293m-NhaZdPCPymcXMnr-SERvF1pRa87e/w640-h310/277530325_10160198516288793_6168611952390059260_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Here is the photobooth area next to our main table.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4gZN4bhHT6xP-h0wfMYT4gM7SBVc6JpJB3iJVvUa27gOzFhY4_d74QenlwAVkd57Nz0b160FpdEol-xGHHOsgjigsuNjF8Ynvw8ZbizSl1BnUrmag---JQ9nFGHuiyoFBBpHcct5-bs9xPQcztbjeZT4iwGg0OWpTDGK9ebR1dLBDPsUBACdEDOXv/s1600/277575469_10160198515328793_7921522243831073103_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1010" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4gZN4bhHT6xP-h0wfMYT4gM7SBVc6JpJB3iJVvUa27gOzFhY4_d74QenlwAVkd57Nz0b160FpdEol-xGHHOsgjigsuNjF8Ynvw8ZbizSl1BnUrmag---JQ9nFGHuiyoFBBpHcct5-bs9xPQcztbjeZT4iwGg0OWpTDGK9ebR1dLBDPsUBACdEDOXv/w404-h640/277575469_10160198515328793_7921522243831073103_n.jpg" width="404" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">My cutie pie!</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju92NoPLrH8qUpbyJFCc1oy1PtdogXFjk-O2cmehl5OCdb_UpPg-rr6WOMnp3imNrUcoSUvRjjT-H76FEwCvpi7dLg-urJjMPhelalP4WBBPiKuuS9iPusARNjySmZekFXJ-Q0DmOSb3fhi7aU-ZRhnqj8KPvxuMsGgy3v0-S91jUTDMk2zDPgmCD1/s1435/277740827_10160198517453793_2768228037467292192_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1135" data-original-width="1435" height="506" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju92NoPLrH8qUpbyJFCc1oy1PtdogXFjk-O2cmehl5OCdb_UpPg-rr6WOMnp3imNrUcoSUvRjjT-H76FEwCvpi7dLg-urJjMPhelalP4WBBPiKuuS9iPusARNjySmZekFXJ-Q0DmOSb3fhi7aU-ZRhnqj8KPvxuMsGgy3v0-S91jUTDMk2zDPgmCD1/w640-h506/277740827_10160198517453793_2768228037467292192_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFa8mx-fUCZogBaTReMRgm01iiaqfo4mypdZJJ0Wl5OrSLfUapf88iQXVLTfXF1I_jMjn-tX9EiXrnYjPnz50j3a9pV2FjufDz232dAp4uzFJ3Lab3UqSxFTdIXEyF3KN_QEyFraMeoRxxtBdDvam3Fid5Lp3CDaboU_TeXvZbiInYv-ZXaRg58YBk/s1600/277354592_10160198517798793_1431167383707726116_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1348" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFa8mx-fUCZogBaTReMRgm01iiaqfo4mypdZJJ0Wl5OrSLfUapf88iQXVLTfXF1I_jMjn-tX9EiXrnYjPnz50j3a9pV2FjufDz232dAp4uzFJ3Lab3UqSxFTdIXEyF3KN_QEyFraMeoRxxtBdDvam3Fid5Lp3CDaboU_TeXvZbiInYv-ZXaRg58YBk/w540-h640/277354592_10160198517798793_1431167383707726116_n.jpg" width="540" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">These two are three years apart, but their friendship is the most sincere and close I've ever seen.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkAzLa1ktZiJRMHJLk7vT4lSTXUJMtGmYDwG3VKhjOmhl6m0tF89NCVk607N7Nj8vFEanxwiCyNAaqcU7Jm1YRhkxI3bHZxCsb4iMTlVMBaDOnvkeaZIh2vxhJnzn-wibe_qFBH5jbliB5I7Kr8tpv--lRWMLqjZtb2EXS6MMxlKPRB8nbowuv3pHw/s1600/277567176_10160198527478793_6019253560371129712_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkAzLa1ktZiJRMHJLk7vT4lSTXUJMtGmYDwG3VKhjOmhl6m0tF89NCVk607N7Nj8vFEanxwiCyNAaqcU7Jm1YRhkxI3bHZxCsb4iMTlVMBaDOnvkeaZIh2vxhJnzn-wibe_qFBH5jbliB5I7Kr8tpv--lRWMLqjZtb2EXS6MMxlKPRB8nbowuv3pHw/w480-h640/277567176_10160198527478793_6019253560371129712_n.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Adri always uses my props best</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoIwRbT09pawXqBYxbRAyHesGUAucQtyXjK_WwmDZ9QtkPvBL7O6h8bEZBvCTzT9eXE1I5xG4RlOEfrKGA5YvfMkqqD_uIJu5pX0gAiTp_nE7vzhpu2g87HXnIBLI8GcF1Xk6wnwYYKXbYuYK6ZJQ-FnpHobl4xGuLRbyWOA-JXCrgG1X_gjYDQi3X/s2048/277571779_10160198517053793_8131371639282887549_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1088" data-original-width="2048" height="340" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoIwRbT09pawXqBYxbRAyHesGUAucQtyXjK_WwmDZ9QtkPvBL7O6h8bEZBvCTzT9eXE1I5xG4RlOEfrKGA5YvfMkqqD_uIJu5pX0gAiTp_nE7vzhpu2g87HXnIBLI8GcF1Xk6wnwYYKXbYuYK6ZJQ-FnpHobl4xGuLRbyWOA-JXCrgG1X_gjYDQi3X/w640-h340/277571779_10160198517053793_8131371639282887549_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhM5rb7e5dhKc9o88s-FoLuTrlT-QZMgE21E6XrUTH2_C6aC2VULJQA6fZoH1gx2QfDaFggSlOfEKuM4XROSVw3zo_PQKedE_qZjy17hkISJQiIHbpRfqWaZAe3yujvKqd8IqOpiKtRpvbvGBcZF0mOW2dQA24t03EA1tCfwgetRJpiNBvwy2xm4ND/s1206/277562814_10160198517403793_4484653432508773562_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1135" data-original-width="1206" height="602" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhM5rb7e5dhKc9o88s-FoLuTrlT-QZMgE21E6XrUTH2_C6aC2VULJQA6fZoH1gx2QfDaFggSlOfEKuM4XROSVw3zo_PQKedE_qZjy17hkISJQiIHbpRfqWaZAe3yujvKqd8IqOpiKtRpvbvGBcZF0mOW2dQA24t03EA1tCfwgetRJpiNBvwy2xm4ND/w640-h602/277562814_10160198517403793_4484653432508773562_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">How adorable is baby Colette</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlgNKOAl7P6gWTyAUxS0_YP3BBWDvfFY9X9cHwzCXkxiRzgtmwVvmyuqh2e5QAxtR-ptxWllxAGw1OiQ4zPlX4-LlaNt-kxXxYiUHs_4WpbprrICYvcoc7nuO8A6V1qYQ9sL-LngisbnH9o-7394EaDB2l7lJt0GO5AHcet8GuJVXOGYakYLV8baTO/s1830/277567621_10160198516328793_5347683313591912012_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1193" data-original-width="1830" height="418" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlgNKOAl7P6gWTyAUxS0_YP3BBWDvfFY9X9cHwzCXkxiRzgtmwVvmyuqh2e5QAxtR-ptxWllxAGw1OiQ4zPlX4-LlaNt-kxXxYiUHs_4WpbprrICYvcoc7nuO8A6V1qYQ9sL-LngisbnH9o-7394EaDB2l7lJt0GO5AHcet8GuJVXOGYakYLV8baTO/w640-h418/277567621_10160198516328793_5347683313591912012_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimjSnZ5KB_Puq5mfP2gQ6Ny5auBZoWlx3l6eNN1Myqeq_Zu8wkNkE30KVyPvyDcxngsI2MVv3ax3EJBVx_A9fXJZ-enGJFg3iswk0_yaGx5-BjVgsZkR249o-NZBBKTRhd-OJ6gKzrkihnFYdRCIOs0fRYxyo2h4aHDv-jH3p8FauzfEvlFe3Vta5C/s1200/277253284_10160198527368793_8317392896733922457_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1045" data-original-width="1200" height="558" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimjSnZ5KB_Puq5mfP2gQ6Ny5auBZoWlx3l6eNN1Myqeq_Zu8wkNkE30KVyPvyDcxngsI2MVv3ax3EJBVx_A9fXJZ-enGJFg3iswk0_yaGx5-BjVgsZkR249o-NZBBKTRhd-OJ6gKzrkihnFYdRCIOs0fRYxyo2h4aHDv-jH3p8FauzfEvlFe3Vta5C/w640-h558/277253284_10160198527368793_8317392896733922457_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-HAIxl5fin9_g16h52ynhq_-wGAZMsls7E0p4MeQH4avUK5cOSyXi5YR9UCHc1oAByoey03vzjXjyUjswBbmvFMrt-rhFBtDd0Xc-qM9kAlcBrpHMEwLFLOiLU0ZX7Z7qiXIQFJfenvZWGvwzZfYTxj2E9bfaflAEGgDkeXMZ5xVwZlDBRoM8s3Q4/s2048/277563755_10160198517618793_1454946496801880710_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1003" data-original-width="2048" height="314" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-HAIxl5fin9_g16h52ynhq_-wGAZMsls7E0p4MeQH4avUK5cOSyXi5YR9UCHc1oAByoey03vzjXjyUjswBbmvFMrt-rhFBtDd0Xc-qM9kAlcBrpHMEwLFLOiLU0ZX7Z7qiXIQFJfenvZWGvwzZfYTxj2E9bfaflAEGgDkeXMZ5xVwZlDBRoM8s3Q4/w640-h314/277563755_10160198517618793_1454946496801880710_n.jpg" width="640" /></a>The obligatory cookie picture.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b>Games</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXUbkhDNkjm6E-ee4Ubhg0f7rzrZTkaJWkFwJA3pOOwe6RvX7QuMLZ_Twnjlt_dLJEIMy84tf2DHTs8vFC_5P1pDNFCZIMGHMpaIKjaMTbRzeO5VQEp8CFcO3R8lFwfTJ9_v1AncVTXiYncaALOxR54_j89HLCC7bDYGWsRivy2oLKYhYOddKsUwxX/s1135/277677706_10160198553453793_7041521269389818589_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1135" data-original-width="816" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXUbkhDNkjm6E-ee4Ubhg0f7rzrZTkaJWkFwJA3pOOwe6RvX7QuMLZ_Twnjlt_dLJEIMy84tf2DHTs8vFC_5P1pDNFCZIMGHMpaIKjaMTbRzeO5VQEp8CFcO3R8lFwfTJ9_v1AncVTXiYncaALOxR54_j89HLCC7bDYGWsRivy2oLKYhYOddKsUwxX/w460-h640/277677706_10160198553453793_7041521269389818589_n.jpg" width="460" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Some was excited about the bubble octopus machine.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNOhPWhE-ejEJAl9B8SsrmH496_Ok2i805KkN-HrKZID_5Y36jeXBtjpqpx0CkgRwT41d0wojabP4ll-ZgMflBMUxyAueBaO1lAVwfyhljeRR9oOfmqlNhGExrEuUW6OaeI6Kmnh6pLP1BoSx6e3oTL2D7MkSsBw2H_ZbvleEFp4Axd2XFrgVkgfdo/s1600/277796757_10160198553613793_8184807704166064538_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNOhPWhE-ejEJAl9B8SsrmH496_Ok2i805KkN-HrKZID_5Y36jeXBtjpqpx0CkgRwT41d0wojabP4ll-ZgMflBMUxyAueBaO1lAVwfyhljeRR9oOfmqlNhGExrEuUW6OaeI6Kmnh6pLP1BoSx6e3oTL2D7MkSsBw2H_ZbvleEFp4Axd2XFrgVkgfdo/w640-h480/277796757_10160198553613793_8184807704166064538_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Good way to start getting wet: pass the water down the line.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp2oOAHZXfZ_Fv0JYyLa6CT2jQvs1zl4-Wei6037PRFQk2nu6-MyeucgT5IFI9_b89aOQ5xzFUAAUNiXdKTKj2TbSyCBUs1OcOhgQ5kKITSa1HUZ5cgtIEIlfmEuXgejybVZJ2AwwDyRoujksx_5gpaJfhwOtkohEnmQ2didrh8inDFPmi1gcCv_I7/s1600/277302229_10160198553653793_5565884156582511668_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp2oOAHZXfZ_Fv0JYyLa6CT2jQvs1zl4-Wei6037PRFQk2nu6-MyeucgT5IFI9_b89aOQ5xzFUAAUNiXdKTKj2TbSyCBUs1OcOhgQ5kKITSa1HUZ5cgtIEIlfmEuXgejybVZJ2AwwDyRoujksx_5gpaJfhwOtkohEnmQ2didrh8inDFPmi1gcCv_I7/w480-h640/277302229_10160198553653793_5565884156582511668_n.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Don't drop the water balloon.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlDDDQvdhNKga2Vvw1IXYXu0wZBvrsxVAqVIQPZqgFLDx2-htTCSe64jcQ877itHemTjOdtC82mj8oPmSZlOoWsOp4niGD9Cp7YB5hwSAG_6I12m6OH3G0TC0xxUH9NI6FCn3QyEG-vIyOKRvmtj8V965Rd2rR4_aYjRUBqF002bL2bd5c88T6j5FN/s2048/277368670_10160198553758793_6022151130300195263_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="922" data-original-width="2048" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlDDDQvdhNKga2Vvw1IXYXu0wZBvrsxVAqVIQPZqgFLDx2-htTCSe64jcQ877itHemTjOdtC82mj8oPmSZlOoWsOp4niGD9Cp7YB5hwSAG_6I12m6OH3G0TC0xxUH9NI6FCn3QyEG-vIyOKRvmtj8V965Rd2rR4_aYjRUBqF002bL2bd5c88T6j5FN/w640-h288/277368670_10160198553758793_6022151130300195263_n.jpg" width="640" /></a>Towel volleyball</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6blP4N0m-nmsOyaQPyxI7eVBwq2L7jk8BVqdj06pACTmsK5EgpnK_-Qbc4YbyGcYqlaPapRWlZMMEPED9EijFSZEE7dL5GXdHblJpPhWiqPZtWo0bOBeGQ2IWWGsQ3M76K1etUfwhI-Wqidd_pujZSEmmRYpDbouQZN3eYiUojQqZNsCEE1uLkppa/s1600/277586040_10160198553798793_1293581421827610767_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6blP4N0m-nmsOyaQPyxI7eVBwq2L7jk8BVqdj06pACTmsK5EgpnK_-Qbc4YbyGcYqlaPapRWlZMMEPED9EijFSZEE7dL5GXdHblJpPhWiqPZtWo0bOBeGQ2IWWGsQ3M76K1etUfwhI-Wqidd_pujZSEmmRYpDbouQZN3eYiUojQqZNsCEE1uLkppa/w480-h640/277586040_10160198553798793_1293581421827610767_n.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Is common knowledge common? Better be able to think under pressure.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0VlIyK380OVWWgz5ShDEnh2NIfui_CmSVBkQsNLKEunnCafOzjeCj3EXUA_QWwUXChmebNNLk6-I84__tiGaRvXlNNIvxHK_YEycPJzujSiHgPYWxHlLYSAhPeRsoh1eI6QK76up3BjrGTZQ6Ms9v-nYIzy0ypaadsshtETg2jYkLtyV4vA9MX2_2/s1600/277224965_10160198553928793_2885511979238327923_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="948" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0VlIyK380OVWWgz5ShDEnh2NIfui_CmSVBkQsNLKEunnCafOzjeCj3EXUA_QWwUXChmebNNLk6-I84__tiGaRvXlNNIvxHK_YEycPJzujSiHgPYWxHlLYSAhPeRsoh1eI6QK76up3BjrGTZQ6Ms9v-nYIzy0ypaadsshtETg2jYkLtyV4vA9MX2_2/w380-h640/277224965_10160198553928793_2885511979238327923_n.jpg" width="380" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Someone is ready for the water balloon battle.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg8dM73zuY-uVJWXMYNt1baSwaRDF9eECxxA9QTGtPcqlqwH102Mkf_e2V8jihjQb7KouT8FBvPCqoky-3su8bAm8Dufr0y4lGzHN3_x3qH-QIHZmVWj-dWO5aWnAUhU_yAOzCevtDU_dBMJkcmk2-JhFCTPC8fCP3LlkMXxna65Jr5JaYREVRYabg/s844/277982344_10160198552938793_2611320146486010581_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="844" height="582" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg8dM73zuY-uVJWXMYNt1baSwaRDF9eECxxA9QTGtPcqlqwH102Mkf_e2V8jihjQb7KouT8FBvPCqoky-3su8bAm8Dufr0y4lGzHN3_x3qH-QIHZmVWj-dWO5aWnAUhU_yAOzCevtDU_dBMJkcmk2-JhFCTPC8fCP3LlkMXxna65Jr5JaYREVRYabg/w640-h582/277982344_10160198552938793_2611320146486010581_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Attack!</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSUDkiH0oIQO4N0_9l23Q-UdK_WXk5BzvOpL1ZjpO9MFSNZgIGfZWP7XY_8NMqtjuJCPyvCUWO400xZhNUGB4m7TMFr49demsRNNr1kybKprWCYN5j6MTzju4D32f7rgpmfZhyLS3RZqvxgZHcXUMPXsH4sPmK5TKmOcTL83DkZuh98BqIslx-C6bf/s920/277986585_10160198569193793_4703350988294927879_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="920" data-original-width="768" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSUDkiH0oIQO4N0_9l23Q-UdK_WXk5BzvOpL1ZjpO9MFSNZgIGfZWP7XY_8NMqtjuJCPyvCUWO400xZhNUGB4m7TMFr49demsRNNr1kybKprWCYN5j6MTzju4D32f7rgpmfZhyLS3RZqvxgZHcXUMPXsH4sPmK5TKmOcTL83DkZuh98BqIslx-C6bf/w534-h640/277986585_10160198569193793_4703350988294927879_n.jpg" width="534" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Xavi takes the best pictures. Mermaid tail piñata.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7wterwnN0_Pye-OXOm3GPREN6_uY_iVv338gCFrDr6jHno-xS9hNlFW1cQBd9hZR2IjFgTDl2BPtjLcLeBfx06Ji1QISbf4Tw7jltA7XaNZz_W8MLkK_YkOLbUz9QLEK4V9qfs60nySEcNcGDT0-AiOlgMrZS2plCFf6J2viIENB_Xpf0-XQiRKYw/s1024/277754197_10160198570453793_6573793257936959949_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1016" data-original-width="1024" height="636" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7wterwnN0_Pye-OXOm3GPREN6_uY_iVv338gCFrDr6jHno-xS9hNlFW1cQBd9hZR2IjFgTDl2BPtjLcLeBfx06Ji1QISbf4Tw7jltA7XaNZz_W8MLkK_YkOLbUz9QLEK4V9qfs60nySEcNcGDT0-AiOlgMrZS2plCFf6J2viIENB_Xpf0-XQiRKYw/w640-h636/277754197_10160198570453793_6573793257936959949_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We had colored flame candles, but in direct sunlight you couldn't even tell they were on.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-ycfsKoF1WlyvXBihX98L7XeohX3S7jXu7Tu7RlJP1E-0n75U2hA1qyq1R-G2bqHoqehFAh9BOzarghHYk_0FDC-K40O4Wx1gswOCqw-WfPaKdWnw4Ek668NRr8c0URXtTxiMrOetCXgJtaY8ZOuBiMi4zx_ZwotBJsIkIleNzmAZQuG6uxWoGA7G/s1600/277767108_10160198570618793_1490549224327336970_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-ycfsKoF1WlyvXBihX98L7XeohX3S7jXu7Tu7RlJP1E-0n75U2hA1qyq1R-G2bqHoqehFAh9BOzarghHYk_0FDC-K40O4Wx1gswOCqw-WfPaKdWnw4Ek668NRr8c0URXtTxiMrOetCXgJtaY8ZOuBiMi4zx_ZwotBJsIkIleNzmAZQuG6uxWoGA7G/w640-h480/277767108_10160198570618793_1490549224327336970_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Oh, the joy of being surrounded by family and friends.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYpzdlbCliSVUeCmMs6IKVeU6_NZG8-afUYTJ-m4IqwYXXA3TNm4o7Dj5hQfSO-7T4SVtDgm8vkkaJqxE5QZiecegrQcaqjtyP2AlKcGzSvTnE_ecr6Mm-6v3CKIa4gbAfX6j1A57j9P1WrI4sd3hOklMULvLYloGvaT_x7NEPpFEkYw9ufGCWqwzc/s1200/277768298_10160198570858793_3913243056821376186_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="649" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYpzdlbCliSVUeCmMs6IKVeU6_NZG8-afUYTJ-m4IqwYXXA3TNm4o7Dj5hQfSO-7T4SVtDgm8vkkaJqxE5QZiecegrQcaqjtyP2AlKcGzSvTnE_ecr6Mm-6v3CKIa4gbAfX6j1A57j9P1WrI4sd3hOklMULvLYloGvaT_x7NEPpFEkYw9ufGCWqwzc/w346-h640/277768298_10160198570858793_3913243056821376186_n.jpg" width="346" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Thank you, Lord, for family and friends. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div>Dear Kaylee,<div><br /></div><div>My little jumping shrimp. you are the joy of my heart. I love your little innocent heart open to everything and everyone around you. My little one, when did you become such a romantic? You are "falling in love" too many times now. You like boys whose name starts with MAT... First it was Mateo. Now it's Matias. And I say it here because one thing you deeply dislike is hiding your feelings. You like to let the world know which boy is "the most beautiful" in your eyes. And you let that boy know too. Oh sweetie pie, I hope no one breaks your heart for being so innocent and loving. I hope that whoever gets your heart knows what a great treasure He has found. You are so loving as a friend. You are still drawn more towards peers or younger crowds, unlike your sister who seeks older crowds. You are comfortable being the caretaker for little ones and you yourself still fancy yourself one. It's ok by mommy. I don't want you to grow up too fast and neither do you (although you romantic side is a contradiction). Baby, you love dancing above all. You can spend your evenings learning a new dance to your hearts content, although you are not so happy with structure dancing. You struggle following instructions in your ballet class, but that's ok. You still do your best, and your sister is there to keep you straight. You and your sister still look out for each other. That will always fill my heart. I hope you always know the treasure you have in each other. I love watching you draw and paint, and do your best to remake your old drawings. You love giving letters now, which is new. But mommy loves receiving your drawings and letters, just as much as I love Emma's. You love writing letters to your friends and to your family. You are still a picky eater. You really need to do better there, but mommy is also struggling to push you harder. Your Spanish has come leaps and bounds. You love watching Moriah Elizabeth and NerdeCrafter with mommy. We love watching those vids together. I hope we'll get to make tutorials and videos together in the future. You've done a few tutorials of drawings on your own, and mommy absolutely loves them. You are so articulate and sweet. You have this sweetness to your voice that always come accompanied by your huge cat-in-boots-like eyes. It's really hard for me to say no to those big eyes. I loved watching you with your grandpa this past christmas. You two were dancing classical music in a pas de deux. I almost cried of joy watching you two reconnect and just have the absolute most goregous grandpa-granddaughter moment I've ever seen. I loved seeing you and your sister with your Grandma Martha and Grandma Lyla. You guys have the most amazing grandmas and grandpas in the world. I can't wait to see you with your Tio Kris and Tio Javier in 2023. We had a short visit from Tio Ditto this year just before your birthday. It was an awesome time together! I can't believe you agreed to cannon jump from a high rock into a river. You only agreed because you jumped on Tio Ditto's arms, but you did it. Emma was quicker to follow suit when her Tio jumped from the rock. I love you so much. Thank you for loving me the way you do. May God give you many years more. </div><div>Love. </div><div>Mom<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p><br /></p></div>Linda Zelayahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02842164145067391301noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6259200682875369030.post-38018076584468449152022-10-31T09:53:00.005-07:002022-10-31T09:53:28.173-07:00Jurassic Park party for Emmalee's 9th Birthday<p> I am a year late a year late with this post, because I'm literally at the cusp of doing her 10th birthday, but I can't let this opportunity to document her birthday go away. I always imagine than in the years to come, we can read these posts and watch the pictures together of all the parties we have done together. Since her tenth birthday is up, we should have 10 parties to reminisce on, but alas we "lost" one during the pandemic. It wasn't a complete loss because we were able to do a co-birthday with her and her sister, but Emmalee got the date of the celebration, but Kaylee got the theme: Carnival. </p><p>This Jurassic party was the first big one after Covid. We were able to invite 15 friends. We did it in a park that cost me $0 and gave us total privacy and space. Best deal ever. All I had to do was go to the municipality and sign a request for a birthday party at the requested park and boom! It was such a hit, many moms used the same park for their parties. We had actually picked a different park initially because it had so much space and variety of games, but it was raining during those days. So at the last day, we had to change parks because this one had a large gazebo in the center for rain coverage and many trees to hang more rain coverage. It was a great birthday. The best thing about was that Abuelo Rodolfo and Abuela Martha had come from Honduras and were present!!!!</p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>Decorations and main table</b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc20MWLGKxgin1pRqH8lRRV0cX67jFio7t5AHIa50cgbpupiod4rgSUBhufRaMFYnredGWQAZaBzX08bLImdw3qKAR3dvVkVOElqcPBQWAy5lZBcBNI0e9v5JXwHex-fLpdkvjbbjrnytPRq5M3ltApm0XTfaLBeioKdmYfQsQIWm-TOGTd5pHRFtX/s1024/267897596_10160011799088793_8990669717870013603_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="768" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc20MWLGKxgin1pRqH8lRRV0cX67jFio7t5AHIa50cgbpupiod4rgSUBhufRaMFYnredGWQAZaBzX08bLImdw3qKAR3dvVkVOElqcPBQWAy5lZBcBNI0e9v5JXwHex-fLpdkvjbbjrnytPRq5M3ltApm0XTfaLBeioKdmYfQsQIWm-TOGTd5pHRFtX/w480-h640/267897596_10160011799088793_8990669717870013603_n.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Welcome to Jurassic Park (Can you hear the music playing in the background while going through the gates? Use your imagination)</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRITzCu1AH8ot8kCx-EK1Y1eHQs0J8IC-Zl5KwGTK6tWiV_xcnSIA1rm6OdTXHK5TFW8id6XhsAwb6iFa4VGwypTqgEMy7zBJHQWgiK_zr4LmBYCIghy-et3e3VAijJOjgsLvJACT4UgKNutcXtwoVW0W9IbIm-BkgYDgfGg3BGHVplGXr5ZvP6Bof/s1600/268318534_10160011799223793_2738518096889076875_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRITzCu1AH8ot8kCx-EK1Y1eHQs0J8IC-Zl5KwGTK6tWiV_xcnSIA1rm6OdTXHK5TFW8id6XhsAwb6iFa4VGwypTqgEMy7zBJHQWgiK_zr4LmBYCIghy-et3e3VAijJOjgsLvJACT4UgKNutcXtwoVW0W9IbIm-BkgYDgfGg3BGHVplGXr5ZvP6Bof/w480-h640/268318534_10160011799223793_2738518096889076875_n.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Cutie explorers are welcomed!</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1Vt-XMLPYrrDruYLPBz3JzHAY7ftlxCzRiIE8xGK26Z2UudeVptNHB47Njm2pVJQLT7ymXchu9CV6FBVGWqLlUhjvC8Z3EZeaGZC1NV2byiy2hTcX4o6tA8MrGz1i9h60V42aEfIq8GJiEBilTFbMlPpo8EWOyuF_1-upQNszgkugmdhVUGmOGmrZ/s1600/269690148_10160011799188793_9147241671668632161_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1Vt-XMLPYrrDruYLPBz3JzHAY7ftlxCzRiIE8xGK26Z2UudeVptNHB47Njm2pVJQLT7ymXchu9CV6FBVGWqLlUhjvC8Z3EZeaGZC1NV2byiy2hTcX4o6tA8MrGz1i9h60V42aEfIq8GJiEBilTFbMlPpo8EWOyuF_1-upQNszgkugmdhVUGmOGmrZ/w480-h640/269690148_10160011799188793_9147241671668632161_n.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">An so are wannabe velociraptors </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwhls3gfnr6z01jBQT0OIfNi67VicEanWXjiu9C3XzWUrDeXGodZOg7sb8mC8W49gPrCWgDbPtqXWFscQkRgA6bkB4WgpiLviSwkhWSU9l3yBxax6XqiaucywyEKJj1MC-bKdJEeCTs6mTvGQ_wiziaF_zN-xcvnKbwrys8lGF5WYMKrOd2qJE9ZxJ/s1024/269695855_10160011798973793_6973456836541954025_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="768" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwhls3gfnr6z01jBQT0OIfNi67VicEanWXjiu9C3XzWUrDeXGodZOg7sb8mC8W49gPrCWgDbPtqXWFscQkRgA6bkB4WgpiLviSwkhWSU9l3yBxax6XqiaucywyEKJj1MC-bKdJEeCTs6mTvGQ_wiziaF_zN-xcvnKbwrys8lGF5WYMKrOd2qJE9ZxJ/w480-h640/269695855_10160011798973793_6973456836541954025_n.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Loving these covid memories</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs9Cmt9XyUNBQ9VWiGFO_tKgaFMm6lAytCT3zjt_EyNH4vi8iL-j9Lkhi1N1NliacB7nI2f4D6LEhr2jJtcxe-86WErk5S1nTZ8gcT3Qsh7E1fXbfA1tVZkcmjUDZERlq7208bYdQCof6uCdFXDhg_k_TPc-PFzsd_-ayaDAuIjTAYikYYnsSOUM3e/s2016/269000252_10160011731428793_4863654816927454077_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="954" data-original-width="2016" height="302" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs9Cmt9XyUNBQ9VWiGFO_tKgaFMm6lAytCT3zjt_EyNH4vi8iL-j9Lkhi1N1NliacB7nI2f4D6LEhr2jJtcxe-86WErk5S1nTZ8gcT3Qsh7E1fXbfA1tVZkcmjUDZERlq7208bYdQCof6uCdFXDhg_k_TPc-PFzsd_-ayaDAuIjTAYikYYnsSOUM3e/w640-h302/269000252_10160011731428793_4863654816927454077_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">How amazing is this pic with Abuelo and Abuela in the center. Abuela Linda of course is also here.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbnv-_dp9OjJygYs6sRGZNDQTONDscVjPyM_rVcOpsa-ORbHPtKeO7JRRHXHoGfcl9tAa4jIOoD5hbGUonZsvJYarXqor0KN3yDbqRKnmZXtaFxahq8qPYGZnrMzFKj3PwzduRllQ0jdMC4_-FIAfvOqB_DnSa4A3doCMIpEZgB2rbZynZZNhH8LOw/s1024/269617771_10160011732078793_9140484240377548613_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="768" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbnv-_dp9OjJygYs6sRGZNDQTONDscVjPyM_rVcOpsa-ORbHPtKeO7JRRHXHoGfcl9tAa4jIOoD5hbGUonZsvJYarXqor0KN3yDbqRKnmZXtaFxahq8qPYGZnrMzFKj3PwzduRllQ0jdMC4_-FIAfvOqB_DnSa4A3doCMIpEZgB2rbZynZZNhH8LOw/w480-h640/269617771_10160011732078793_9140484240377548613_n.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Mom was supposedly dressed like Ellie Sattler from the first movie. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnsRx55tVY88uelINd0E_9CYcydZ0bxzg9AxvO17b8-bqgT2AIZa6Uva8zfC0Wt57Td_NmlMDxwi7IhooIbviPA_6aQZ5keNNfDwXTpYX_mRMRwt-FGPGIoM0YMXJnCPf1IpoyB-dZ-avhwlnSpdkxKcwYY6hk4YhzJqRF8YqmhMir2lsuvyzuhAYT/s2016/268044945_10160011731563793_3026915179356575710_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="944" data-original-width="2016" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnsRx55tVY88uelINd0E_9CYcydZ0bxzg9AxvO17b8-bqgT2AIZa6Uva8zfC0Wt57Td_NmlMDxwi7IhooIbviPA_6aQZ5keNNfDwXTpYX_mRMRwt-FGPGIoM0YMXJnCPf1IpoyB-dZ-avhwlnSpdkxKcwYY6hk4YhzJqRF8YqmhMir2lsuvyzuhAYT/w640-h300/268044945_10160011731563793_3026915179356575710_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I made this backdrop 10 minutes before setting up. I opened the paint I took to realize it was almost empty. I watered it down and prayed it would be enough as I was already behind. But the paint </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4XIyC9raGBZooy5r5PBYsbCOUF8BCtFx4Qpn5Rnoto-vP9V7s-nNSBb89WIYrWNbuJmClFQsZVKOOMPnv-1YTl_BiROGqzFSM6tSA4mlmvM9P5FykC4nDVp1OvV4zHwPwxaxWRWHf-EMCtkT15GyZ7lUczJ8MiSfKyL25EBLcVaDUV6C1XsUnN0Af/s1024/269686057_10160011731488793_3877391208386667653_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="768" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4XIyC9raGBZooy5r5PBYsbCOUF8BCtFx4Qpn5Rnoto-vP9V7s-nNSBb89WIYrWNbuJmClFQsZVKOOMPnv-1YTl_BiROGqzFSM6tSA4mlmvM9P5FykC4nDVp1OvV4zHwPwxaxWRWHf-EMCtkT15GyZ7lUczJ8MiSfKyL25EBLcVaDUV6C1XsUnN0Af/w480-h640/269686057_10160011731488793_3877391208386667653_n.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I called Tia Lilly crying for help. I had never been so behind for a party ever. I hadn't finished the Jeep favor boxes. Hadn't blown the balloons, hadn't finished the fire in the entrance gate. She came over early and saved the day.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV6tsPicJrFTtJ9Eh6jo6xWbyRA6vuOPMmNLNVO_Bq8s7sZM1nxHd0pha2CdhId8oYKWX-BHqkBK8qGu3mFGbLv5YcgXtvVoX6NQ-kk0p_MyU6uzQohDKEhT2ZGYt9sWihA4LgFrQLd1XdH8ZSM2JXlAzN9YJ_9kw8CmZHjGFPsSjM47rjEyj_aW41/s1024/269684693_10160011731153793_1075419234251187160_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="768" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV6tsPicJrFTtJ9Eh6jo6xWbyRA6vuOPMmNLNVO_Bq8s7sZM1nxHd0pha2CdhId8oYKWX-BHqkBK8qGu3mFGbLv5YcgXtvVoX6NQ-kk0p_MyU6uzQohDKEhT2ZGYt9sWihA4LgFrQLd1XdH8ZSM2JXlAzN9YJ_9kw8CmZHjGFPsSjM47rjEyj_aW41/w480-h640/269684693_10160011731153793_1075419234251187160_n.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Definitely the dino balloons save the decor and the day. But I really loved the Jeep favor boxes because I designed them.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIYtyqCidBg6wpnSWSBHzuO7jOn_hrYgJflOAQcaz7fMzxby4rVAO5lQbCMwvgM7i8Rv_uFo0bumf4rZQVBwcZS2_5zNuQwBOdXrXG3pmHFgFXDG_vOfJlR-5MtMf3SeZQJUEX3Fx5hHsi_NQh7WDNXRve_OYK4ACfH3cnc6dunysjLRSVdChV3pWn/s1024/269628402_10160011731148793_3754409290948732870_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="768" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIYtyqCidBg6wpnSWSBHzuO7jOn_hrYgJflOAQcaz7fMzxby4rVAO5lQbCMwvgM7i8Rv_uFo0bumf4rZQVBwcZS2_5zNuQwBOdXrXG3pmHFgFXDG_vOfJlR-5MtMf3SeZQJUEX3Fx5hHsi_NQh7WDNXRve_OYK4ACfH3cnc6dunysjLRSVdChV3pWn/w480-h640/269628402_10160011731148793_3754409290948732870_n.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Muddy chocolate and oreo cups</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbDyw4rC93Ealua28jrSOEPl0T3bMaFfQSmVCpYfyWJa8SlvlfFaa6ilXYvZo3rmHa9jWoW1SJJ3mNvN7fiVj3km2c2-BqEQerEov4pvrrV2s8EJVCd7EcbZP0jeBm_BPmVX3ZA0vpxj6Mg-QdVXrAt_Cw9cFP92TQYSHOpdemoPN7jGph01x6j2b7/s1024/269624725_10160011731388793_8468290315074344256_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="768" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbDyw4rC93Ealua28jrSOEPl0T3bMaFfQSmVCpYfyWJa8SlvlfFaa6ilXYvZo3rmHa9jWoW1SJJ3mNvN7fiVj3km2c2-BqEQerEov4pvrrV2s8EJVCd7EcbZP0jeBm_BPmVX3ZA0vpxj6Mg-QdVXrAt_Cw9cFP92TQYSHOpdemoPN7jGph01x6j2b7/w480-h640/269624725_10160011731388793_8468290315074344256_n.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Erupting volcanoes with dino eggs inside and some binoculars for exploring</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOHuNG89A2LxlEEW5AfG-KaWYaV7vIGAwo41j3H7ErVgznuB9n9Ma0DVoOuU1XJtjQHmiZQxDOkUZi3qvpPG7qafh3oYOpIC9nQKGPB95Uz5JAG2EZ027Px4-g88W3oPBhPeWSGdcE14GQxQPq5EU01E3wGzBgm60cSxjY3yHefz3lhFuTSwnhWIqB/s2016/269691693_10160011731533793_1995124642248783940_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="944" data-original-width="2016" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOHuNG89A2LxlEEW5AfG-KaWYaV7vIGAwo41j3H7ErVgznuB9n9Ma0DVoOuU1XJtjQHmiZQxDOkUZi3qvpPG7qafh3oYOpIC9nQKGPB95Uz5JAG2EZ027Px4-g88W3oPBhPeWSGdcE14GQxQPq5EU01E3wGzBgm60cSxjY3yHefz3lhFuTSwnhWIqB/w640-h300/269691693_10160011731533793_1995124642248783940_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The cake is so boyish, but Emmalee absolutely loved it. Shoutout to Diego for lending me all his dino figurines and the jurassic park jeep. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivU4tlU9n5kzaDPbmUcE02L2Se1yXFyB_54kaFyL6Jl_2OTGsy0cRvzyq-6ptImybOcWgI3npPML_AQfinybbyoGTO74QysAH6vXpshXlotCLhYpk6EpXg17LPUm63Z4qryE6A4zRkbnUUur8fI2rTIExeo4htI5Ap98otKzrVrzLd19Rt7AkHZSw1/s2016/268390009_10160011731333793_7599575754159952904_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="944" data-original-width="2016" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivU4tlU9n5kzaDPbmUcE02L2Se1yXFyB_54kaFyL6Jl_2OTGsy0cRvzyq-6ptImybOcWgI3npPML_AQfinybbyoGTO74QysAH6vXpshXlotCLhYpk6EpXg17LPUm63Z4qryE6A4zRkbnUUur8fI2rTIExeo4htI5Ap98otKzrVrzLd19Rt7AkHZSw1/w640-h300/268390009_10160011731333793_7599575754159952904_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Easiest cookies in the planet!</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq1GZhDr1fVUptRUXEoqRGi2IW30QEJmEA8HmBsd63M91nxc0uU_yjB9n-9o_NuSqO1cYV2UEma23JxaEhCvOrhHohZddJy-6Wpbvf1wDt3VAvyIofCy_Fs1H8xcJBT4uzu5SmdtIBGASGwqp5aG-MMM-mEINDBEPJbnkaZTDxJLKhBfFux9s8Hph_/s1024/269703456_10160011731158793_3008724120356982593_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="768" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq1GZhDr1fVUptRUXEoqRGi2IW30QEJmEA8HmBsd63M91nxc0uU_yjB9n-9o_NuSqO1cYV2UEma23JxaEhCvOrhHohZddJy-6Wpbvf1wDt3VAvyIofCy_Fs1H8xcJBT4uzu5SmdtIBGASGwqp5aG-MMM-mEINDBEPJbnkaZTDxJLKhBfFux9s8Hph_/w480-h640/269703456_10160011731158793_3008724120356982593_n.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Those dino figurines really make it what it is!</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ8V_wM9BsyEwZ4XrkXxiaS7EJ4zBv_I5VY5LGIZ4SBSte82lvrfByT6AxPua80mkbyiRxVttx-i6hNO0UcSm_Lzq187xx5qjeCd_TjIYgdyZkxe0hjKLDOA9Wr7eOhvV3YQArFws5I6fdgE31faVXehSd5bVB2-2aRNPKIWaIKoYrD9c6Uv9LXxVB/s2048/269743736_10160011732218793_199523509953091548_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ8V_wM9BsyEwZ4XrkXxiaS7EJ4zBv_I5VY5LGIZ4SBSte82lvrfByT6AxPua80mkbyiRxVttx-i6hNO0UcSm_Lzq187xx5qjeCd_TjIYgdyZkxe0hjKLDOA9Wr7eOhvV3YQArFws5I6fdgE31faVXehSd5bVB2-2aRNPKIWaIKoYrD9c6Uv9LXxVB/w640-h480/269743736_10160011732218793_199523509953091548_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Party of four together by the grace of God</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglk6cG7MSF3d71bYKDmLjrF8DlYGw2WRQTOzMqO8R0GLafZI03vT4NyaFs9kwit1UwDa0LPMoH90DFgzC9TjchC1lzoaXxpFs8OzDLOeSQb9tgc_Bq_o7O_Z5GxjKg2M2RZ-vwWXrUMsoVm3-oZ4t5Z5ULibNZfx41uh2v-2pxqYEpuP23Ni4W8SiM/s1024/269748305_10160011731763793_2060788103249888735_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="768" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglk6cG7MSF3d71bYKDmLjrF8DlYGw2WRQTOzMqO8R0GLafZI03vT4NyaFs9kwit1UwDa0LPMoH90DFgzC9TjchC1lzoaXxpFs8OzDLOeSQb9tgc_Bq_o7O_Z5GxjKg2M2RZ-vwWXrUMsoVm3-oZ4t5Z5ULibNZfx41uh2v-2pxqYEpuP23Ni4W8SiM/w480-h640/269748305_10160011731763793_2060788103249888735_n.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Tia Lilly added the vines and the top Emmalee banner completed our table. </div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrkC5Sh_E7YbLFzTZwmfarmjH559Su3zqtbzyDhlPJSOYaIMe5MM0963_yd2BhjWmSnPftatF9YChHJrL8bdTUXeF9HCAasuxk7LaLGDHRwc9UiKepI-322G0tO72oIxmfdtue10IyEt8QRIm1zZQFn07U9od9MT85sZQ3OH8QzqBRVOkvAa2OJcfp/s1024/269751252_10160011732348793_5382312832154597112_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="768" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrkC5Sh_E7YbLFzTZwmfarmjH559Su3zqtbzyDhlPJSOYaIMe5MM0963_yd2BhjWmSnPftatF9YChHJrL8bdTUXeF9HCAasuxk7LaLGDHRwc9UiKepI-322G0tO72oIxmfdtue10IyEt8QRIm1zZQFn07U9od9MT85sZQ3OH8QzqBRVOkvAa2OJcfp/w480-h640/269751252_10160011732348793_5382312832154597112_n.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Love my explorers.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Games</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_adPFBBxMEHAFYzJlKyBQ6Yf_gEwlOSLhYOglMckhk1eoehFP_uZBFdgo0x84bl5tKGcLDSzoOI-0Kwqwbd2Jr4HHT2IlJ2AebuPcRvbHp9GL4pDBBymO_2HZ0gp-LKin_UI6MPSmRv7d-PrKgVVahZ3SVHwl7udT-Cz6Yk4_cM5DS58sViHY754l/s1326/268883552_10160011753348793_2040544590892253306_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1326" data-original-width="1128" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_adPFBBxMEHAFYzJlKyBQ6Yf_gEwlOSLhYOglMckhk1eoehFP_uZBFdgo0x84bl5tKGcLDSzoOI-0Kwqwbd2Jr4HHT2IlJ2AebuPcRvbHp9GL4pDBBymO_2HZ0gp-LKin_UI6MPSmRv7d-PrKgVVahZ3SVHwl7udT-Cz6Yk4_cM5DS58sViHY754l/w544-h640/268883552_10160011753348793_2040544590892253306_n.jpg" width="544" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b>Fossil print hunt:</b> We started with a fossil print scavenger hunt. Each kid was given this page with the names removed and had to go around the park finding the print, matching it, and filling in the name. First to finish gets a price.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdFOIXE6N2v0iYiTI5h8Xqkkq6FB_fx8zgCGJELpIizP15w-XQHliJ0iSO2jkrT8FicqM5fdSxi4Q5hL0o_ZuNMvwciTcUxMEmbHZho38f5o9pHApU-dggcUpKrvuWtxRLb1-XQUFLnfXK5PPMQ21sI2OBJ19tw1qJvOJkOt2xsgNIRFFQ7LanhrWs/s1600/269693498_10160011741033793_8588603114579357137_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdFOIXE6N2v0iYiTI5h8Xqkkq6FB_fx8zgCGJELpIizP15w-XQHliJ0iSO2jkrT8FicqM5fdSxi4Q5hL0o_ZuNMvwciTcUxMEmbHZho38f5o9pHApU-dggcUpKrvuWtxRLb1-XQUFLnfXK5PPMQ21sI2OBJ19tw1qJvOJkOt2xsgNIRFFQ7LanhrWs/w480-h640/269693498_10160011741033793_8588603114579357137_n.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Adri made good use of her binoculars for the scavenger hunt.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0GbqyKqm-ij07iX-J-E-lHCJS0HSXopSEeKfbWzOWMfcVuIK1hOIil3TkGVMVCKeehFVFauLQP2Rkgvm1Xi6vW4IRvboLKNl8yS-vutbL7osXqbreXCEwCDs9ZS0c3CVtE1f1QCVwjMY7F8VS7Bw_w5JrQjnvZEE0nxDzS05aVP9hzVW0uU-fc5Rd/s1600/269451835_10160011741378793_193271182058035763_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0GbqyKqm-ij07iX-J-E-lHCJS0HSXopSEeKfbWzOWMfcVuIK1hOIil3TkGVMVCKeehFVFauLQP2Rkgvm1Xi6vW4IRvboLKNl8yS-vutbL7osXqbreXCEwCDs9ZS0c3CVtE1f1QCVwjMY7F8VS7Bw_w5JrQjnvZEE0nxDzS05aVP9hzVW0uU-fc5Rd/w640-h480/269451835_10160011741378793_193271182058035763_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b>Dino knowledge test</b>. Each page had pictures of dinosaurs and dino names. Match the name to the right dino. First one to finish wins. This was one of the hardest tasks. I thought they'd get it super fast, but it took them a while to get all of the names right.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrfMaunZTYTfBijv4g26nedHFzHKU9YWNhx02zsnkL5UVYFbdxE9uYO_CEnODleFISTvNYKPY5fNh7nqUEBFupUlpdOy5WbNCu6SUnvoQlA3IihcO985tLylTXb4hkKqrbE1GA-FtmsCL8x_u3vBFvxOPDoyimgvIOL30q5QHELQYBagBn_ej239qI/s1728/269799267_10160011740653793_1443315581849036429_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="819" data-original-width="1728" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrfMaunZTYTfBijv4g26nedHFzHKU9YWNhx02zsnkL5UVYFbdxE9uYO_CEnODleFISTvNYKPY5fNh7nqUEBFupUlpdOy5WbNCu6SUnvoQlA3IihcO985tLylTXb4hkKqrbE1GA-FtmsCL8x_u3vBFvxOPDoyimgvIOL30q5QHELQYBagBn_ej239qI/w640-h304/269799267_10160011740653793_1443315581849036429_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I even stepped in to help.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKuMJqwEQzD59U0Fl0qjmkU7nts-XMbai1qmB1s5Ol3YOUmauKhsyMuTZWO6Bk1q1R3TuEjtQCokiEV-6H4RvGqlF9R_j69SSzcX1Nz1nCp3pRLgS5BLYMR-gNsbl6EkiaSLNEJdsTMFOMAtubIo-AEYfOXNq0S1am4AAsoRiPgab0qpqOsS1-zA29/s1600/269696969_10160011731903793_1526695983754890311_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKuMJqwEQzD59U0Fl0qjmkU7nts-XMbai1qmB1s5Ol3YOUmauKhsyMuTZWO6Bk1q1R3TuEjtQCokiEV-6H4RvGqlF9R_j69SSzcX1Nz1nCp3pRLgS5BLYMR-gNsbl6EkiaSLNEJdsTMFOMAtubIo-AEYfOXNq0S1am4AAsoRiPgab0qpqOsS1-zA29/w640-h480/269696969_10160011731903793_1526695983754890311_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Games 3 and 4 where simultaneous. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b>Dino foot race:</b> We had a dino foot race and and dino fossil race. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I made the dino shoes with three ball holders. It was a minute-to-win-it game. The one who could take more balls to the bucket at the end of the track in one minute won. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b>Fossil puzzle race:</b> The second game was a sort of relay race and whoever could do it faster won. I made some bones out of flour and salt on the oven in the shape of the fossil puzzle. The kids had to run back and forth the track placing one bone at a time. The fastest time won.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZzt0tCQx_N8J3xYPu6d9Qie7TCErOUIiTUgSLJqWiwzIxaJ3yw2JbPPDdCWxn7ntudznkHUPNkHguzinE19fixUFPsY4KGOV1UlFKjui2ajVdebW-ktjhA8S4iH1J-9mOjkSUOaWFjkSbgpGvRjUrsOqpn6ylaabZO1Lsmxd1hQLbs6gvwrSBTrqW/s1600/268593628_10160011740853793_5216617832286214719_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZzt0tCQx_N8J3xYPu6d9Qie7TCErOUIiTUgSLJqWiwzIxaJ3yw2JbPPDdCWxn7ntudznkHUPNkHguzinE19fixUFPsY4KGOV1UlFKjui2ajVdebW-ktjhA8S4iH1J-9mOjkSUOaWFjkSbgpGvRjUrsOqpn6ylaabZO1Lsmxd1hQLbs6gvwrSBTrqW/w480-h640/268593628_10160011740853793_5216617832286214719_n.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Here is Xavi looking concentrated walking in the dino feet. It was harder than it seemed.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrPhZrKibgaw4CX82rLErI7Xhl0122w_WldMR23UE8iD9YmZNvj2krCVAVMaz3IBDtVNM2D110-hkQmR_FbLhOaqNbOYEMPtr866RIBg_vlIoe3A8riV-rQapHpMs4RRUWFzJcQPOWYc9rCiV9Ajd1skGK_5NHp4rZEQ9LjmTCUT2WNc63opZ5eW7i/s1600/269695804_10160011741138793_7964792188231657967_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrPhZrKibgaw4CX82rLErI7Xhl0122w_WldMR23UE8iD9YmZNvj2krCVAVMaz3IBDtVNM2D110-hkQmR_FbLhOaqNbOYEMPtr866RIBg_vlIoe3A8riV-rQapHpMs4RRUWFzJcQPOWYc9rCiV9Ajd1skGK_5NHp4rZEQ9LjmTCUT2WNc63opZ5eW7i/w480-h640/269695804_10160011741138793_7964792188231657967_n.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The best entertainment was my husband dressed as a T-rex. The kids went bananas for it.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIy5maOS-jQLUtmztTUkBj34AtYjBPMcowgnmWhgggk9-dRZoTZVX_R1-8UFaPF3ZCZFWg7JOjqJ4qX6oxbroqHHi0Py_YlvWHev04uvveFdiKlTyAAiORqh0EINIIRo3vHOZwdkBY6LkQ41bJ_1_50To-JzBqjmbPL_BSy9y0ahROAbWLEOqZtFZ7/s2048/265988459_10160011740453793_7206263107058737187_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIy5maOS-jQLUtmztTUkBj34AtYjBPMcowgnmWhgggk9-dRZoTZVX_R1-8UFaPF3ZCZFWg7JOjqJ4qX6oxbroqHHi0Py_YlvWHev04uvveFdiKlTyAAiORqh0EINIIRo3vHOZwdkBY6LkQ41bJ_1_50To-JzBqjmbPL_BSy9y0ahROAbWLEOqZtFZ7/w640-h480/265988459_10160011740453793_7206263107058737187_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b>Don't get eaten by the T-rex.</b> Our last game was my favorite. It was a mix between Squid game's red light and green light and jurassic park's myth that a T-rex won't eat you if you don't move. I stood at the end of the race. If I was turning back, the kids could move. If I turned to face them, they had to stop and stray frozen. If I saw any movement, I would instruct the T-rex to eat you. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8-SgF-zlCT3PRIeApS71FoD7IVaDL-kZgon8O5yiwH9X7sE_YadaDT2Fx3CMT_B8KGuGDN8IGTRkVq6pPv4rpgmgAngptQfek6K5AwEvPFlEHrOuACgilWMzkr60scx7qyS485jIpOMKzbsOGh5GFtXt_Dd-M7wam3e4TCmLTXFn4Uc1ai0YrQYd0/s1600/269621565_10160011741193793_8947641223240186614_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8-SgF-zlCT3PRIeApS71FoD7IVaDL-kZgon8O5yiwH9X7sE_YadaDT2Fx3CMT_B8KGuGDN8IGTRkVq6pPv4rpgmgAngptQfek6K5AwEvPFlEHrOuACgilWMzkr60scx7qyS485jIpOMKzbsOGh5GFtXt_Dd-M7wam3e4TCmLTXFn4Uc1ai0YrQYd0/w480-h640/269621565_10160011741193793_8947641223240186614_n.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Some kids got eaten on purpose because it was so much fun to get eaten by the T-rex, but some were really focused on getting to the end first. Santi is about to have his limbs bitten off for the second time!</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxpD9DZ6exO_pXuNH1fvpELHzFpIUSt_VlngycaflI9BJLPie20zij0W2-flWmQ01v1_5MOF7tgEeFIqtMFwQf5aoHJNfVJb70sRH7EtLqnQ6dLIGRA5cBkVY7ClJ7lHmdzqKP27c7C6S0B16TpAc5utLGpoGNxPJZs8oZsIXpmpEEflDQQAB3w6Y1/s2048/269728781_10160011740433793_4488539692051683189_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxpD9DZ6exO_pXuNH1fvpELHzFpIUSt_VlngycaflI9BJLPie20zij0W2-flWmQ01v1_5MOF7tgEeFIqtMFwQf5aoHJNfVJb70sRH7EtLqnQ6dLIGRA5cBkVY7ClJ7lHmdzqKP27c7C6S0B16TpAc5utLGpoGNxPJZs8oZsIXpmpEEflDQQAB3w6Y1/w640-h480/269728781_10160011740433793_4488539692051683189_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Emmalee almost made it to the end first when she was brutally gobbled by her T-rex dad. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfdkQsn07QydJMnja4SYB1oE8JPQWeErXTS77QzyfKT9WexQ7p227_CbEULGf2D7c4bJAzZEZTZnoDFvXrB9cweQ5vXaM3WqvKjpUSvhrc9SVvYZQGEMl84vLliWhq_Vgqhws-SYAeHUuAV6HI2DZGUc8f-p_b3TnT8Hrc-aTOg7694GPNl3krhb4A/s2048/269770161_10160011793413793_6462500246240222758_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfdkQsn07QydJMnja4SYB1oE8JPQWeErXTS77QzyfKT9WexQ7p227_CbEULGf2D7c4bJAzZEZTZnoDFvXrB9cweQ5vXaM3WqvKjpUSvhrc9SVvYZQGEMl84vLliWhq_Vgqhws-SYAeHUuAV6HI2DZGUc8f-p_b3TnT8Hrc-aTOg7694GPNl3krhb4A/w480-h640/269770161_10160011793413793_6462500246240222758_n.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Best picture. Ellie Sattler and the T-rex!</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKIme-gC1YeUrYYIAAKk-2cSkk_z1CwjLlwRnzRP8Esv7cHP_7-0T2giagqIYJ77JhnIMPOahZn9IjcKQ5xFcn7Xsxp6FKAHwFNvTZSv0UzRr2Fhzk8GWnr-NBdy--EALAC9kZYQOKsyaH3KnaOQc2edW-14acT-ojlGm8L-SmkJHuB4QEWwSjJKyx/s1600/269677257_10160011732168793_6499623013082026888_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKIme-gC1YeUrYYIAAKk-2cSkk_z1CwjLlwRnzRP8Esv7cHP_7-0T2giagqIYJ77JhnIMPOahZn9IjcKQ5xFcn7Xsxp6FKAHwFNvTZSv0UzRr2Fhzk8GWnr-NBdy--EALAC9kZYQOKsyaH3KnaOQc2edW-14acT-ojlGm8L-SmkJHuB4QEWwSjJKyx/w480-h640/269677257_10160011732168793_6499623013082026888_n.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I worked on this cardboard jeep for 2 weeks!</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4zYP3UdjhmPnTrhUI-uXp84syxxKXu_pKeJlapPz3oAZCvCD4kw0jK9Al1EFDk_Bm1n2VOnJb0j2IbvVl7XAfvLatTqcGGMT9yLdn2TPtSyS_2mNHslzlejHyzuEWZjG05IV_gGxnm98KR2l7joLHDr1srHDkKd0zR2uDs2nTh50e8FzfzjUqmS5O/s1008/269685324_10160011793698793_8867478664297298857_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1008" data-original-width="756" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4zYP3UdjhmPnTrhUI-uXp84syxxKXu_pKeJlapPz3oAZCvCD4kw0jK9Al1EFDk_Bm1n2VOnJb0j2IbvVl7XAfvLatTqcGGMT9yLdn2TPtSyS_2mNHslzlejHyzuEWZjG05IV_gGxnm98KR2l7joLHDr1srHDkKd0zR2uDs2nTh50e8FzfzjUqmS5O/w480-h640/269685324_10160011793698793_8867478664297298857_n.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">But getting to recreate this scene was too much fun. Each kid got a chance to take a pic with the T-rex in the jeep. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwQ9iVkFlDK0Anf8HSLEVtK31iAFB6Awxamr4UVf1BbImktlzZrNWErvNYdFIr5OQbd9iugmsFeBCeg8w8o3M4nId87h86ed4PviIoyYzJ9Plj6ZZXDqxfxj2NA5a-fi0cB-bcbzQ0ldDpx_ZX7mmoWXKbGsk8UveHZIHE1blIgISnNp3bA4EfGTBS/s2048/268907729_10160011793183793_8352689897103959160_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwQ9iVkFlDK0Anf8HSLEVtK31iAFB6Awxamr4UVf1BbImktlzZrNWErvNYdFIr5OQbd9iugmsFeBCeg8w8o3M4nId87h86ed4PviIoyYzJ9Plj6ZZXDqxfxj2NA5a-fi0cB-bcbzQ0ldDpx_ZX7mmoWXKbGsk8UveHZIHE1blIgISnNp3bA4EfGTBS/w480-h640/268907729_10160011793183793_8352689897103959160_n.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihC2Ms-KKuGgSPa8yCbwQEx2sPbkMxAyzAVUpDq9Ce3FkiiHXh45lukKcyNg4n3YNlMJa2pmOQWqipdlglddGjjyxCpB_0OKarkn2YkFSJGqY5-khsCzUBIgjqMIqYiEbmfKoJsgdAqTJA8bAGUvMue-V2eJ0N3k0I4gpYGiwyX971dNbUz7Av2W1u/s2975/267784520_10160011795313793_3959823158183487479_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2975" data-original-width="1408" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihC2Ms-KKuGgSPa8yCbwQEx2sPbkMxAyzAVUpDq9Ce3FkiiHXh45lukKcyNg4n3YNlMJa2pmOQWqipdlglddGjjyxCpB_0OKarkn2YkFSJGqY5-khsCzUBIgjqMIqYiEbmfKoJsgdAqTJA8bAGUvMue-V2eJ0N3k0I4gpYGiwyX971dNbUz7Av2W1u/w302-h640/267784520_10160011795313793_3959823158183487479_n.jpg" width="302" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Diego is the other biggest Jurassic park fan, so I was excited to see him enjoy himself. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoscJr8Cv_880USEDub0EX6FheFeFxKgMj2WNVFq3oui1IR3sNjIDB1bK9tz05bbnXx9o4QxKzdLw9PEi3WfAW2FKcpFiifgtCwzodSW5i4yy8RmWlHY7MVwbRf8z3tGTIgQpoUgAFtkGAZFI7MXHLPDbQCeRb1qLl-_wwSPPMJ34TLhQydwI-FmgG/s2048/269602421_10160011793488793_7529055673034861887_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoscJr8Cv_880USEDub0EX6FheFeFxKgMj2WNVFq3oui1IR3sNjIDB1bK9tz05bbnXx9o4QxKzdLw9PEi3WfAW2FKcpFiifgtCwzodSW5i4yy8RmWlHY7MVwbRf8z3tGTIgQpoUgAFtkGAZFI7MXHLPDbQCeRb1qLl-_wwSPPMJ34TLhQydwI-FmgG/w480-h640/269602421_10160011793488793_7529055673034861887_n.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG8JOoSsiCnDp5EozQdv5ZI3yfatCL8zGj3cwTS6sChc5RHZStaYKeTVNfxeh8j_y3wcKHEM3knX5NR6JBmS5dFvNyo23vR8-gsjGt6fMKL-qev3eMBbKrVeklMdrklMSixd0hnymz9MF7oOSVxg_4aZVt8v0tBkqYNkzhdB5vfIkPrIDTtC-sET87/s2975/269717871_10160011799303793_4211800292399169064_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1408" data-original-width="2975" height="302" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG8JOoSsiCnDp5EozQdv5ZI3yfatCL8zGj3cwTS6sChc5RHZStaYKeTVNfxeh8j_y3wcKHEM3knX5NR6JBmS5dFvNyo23vR8-gsjGt6fMKL-qev3eMBbKrVeklMdrklMSixd0hnymz9MF7oOSVxg_4aZVt8v0tBkqYNkzhdB5vfIkPrIDTtC-sET87/w640-h302/269717871_10160011799303793_4211800292399169064_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And of course, you close the fun time with a dino piñata masacre!</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">Dear Emmalee, </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">I'm writing this letter almost a year late, but I will write this letter to 9 year old Emmalee. My sweetest girl, you are in third grade at this point. You have been doing homeschool with mommy for almost 5 years. You don't know it yet, but you'll be in a school in fourth grade. And you don't know how you'll test higher than all your class, except in Spanish. That is because you are impressive in everything you do. I love to see you continue to work hard in your drawing skills, your reading skills, your writing skills. You still send letters to me whenever you want to say anything hard or deep to me. I love that I live in a modern era, but get letters on the regular because of you. I love how you earnestly pour your heart in your writing and become vulnerable like you can't while talking. I love that you are still such a present big sister. You are always making sure your sister does her work well, does her ballet class well, and does not get her way when she is not being obedient. Mom still tells you to be only a sister and not a "mommy", but you can't help it. But you care that Kaylee gets good things, to share your food and toys, to take turns on the nintendo or watching TV. You do piano lessons and computer lessons with your sister and you encourage each other. You love trying new things. I just love watching you grow into a lovely lady that loves her friends deeply. You are such a good friend to all your friends. You don't care about status o age. You'll befriend anyone willing to be kind to you back. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">You have had the most amazing time reconnecting with Abuelo and Abuela Zelaya. You and your grandpa still have the strongest connection. Watching you two talk and walk hand in hand, and just cuddle watching TV has brought so much joy to my heart. Your grandma Martha has been longing to be with you. You wasted no time to catch up with all the things you wanted to do with her and show her. You even made a fort to cuddle her under it. You sleep with your Lyla every weekend. It's still your favorite time to be with her and take a bath with her. You don't lose the kid in you, which I can't say for your tenth year. You take the greatest care of me! If you see mommy feeling sick, you'll caress my forehead until I stomp groaning and fall asleep. You help me in the kitchen and want a cooking lesson daily. I just love how daring and brave you are to try new things. You are fearless my little one. You love the Lord deeply and love your church dearly. This brings me so much joy. You are understanding, great listener, filled with compassion, and filled with wonder to learn. You continue to amaze me and fill my life with so much love and joy. I thank God for every year He has given you by my side. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">I love you, </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">Mom</div><br /><p><br /></p>Linda Zelayahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02842164145067391301noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6259200682875369030.post-60510595525843528132022-07-28T07:47:00.004-07:002022-07-28T07:47:56.084-07:00How to stop feeling bad about yourself... ?<p> I haven't written in my little corner of the internet where I pretend I'm a writer or where I enjoy trying to make sense of the things that I go through for quite some time now. And I have to say, that tittle that made me chuckle as I was writing it and then decided to add the . . . and the question mark has a lot to do with that. </p><p>For some time, in this little corner of mine (Welcome, by the way. It's my corner but I make it public, so thank you for coming over) I had been writing about my battle with depression and PTSD after I profusely wrote about my cancer journey. It fills my heart with joy when many of you flood my posts on cancer-recovery with likes and comments. But my depression posts don't get much traction. I thought it had to do with the fact that they were never a "recovery" post like my cancer post were. I was getting a little tired of hearing myself talk about my battle with depression and anxiety, and I gathered that you too were tired of the same old same old. So, I said to myself I would come back to my corner when I had finally figured it out, and I could share with you all of the steps I took to recover and tell you how I was now thriving. (I chuckled again... mainly cringing remembering having heard that word uttered in the first minute of the new <i>Persuasion </i>movie.) </p><p>So, I'm sad to inform you I have no such posts in my near future. Sometimes I even wonder if I'll have to deal with depression and anxiety for the rest of my life. And then it hit me that millions of people around the world are and will walk that road I'm in too. Isn't that our first comforting thought? "Someone else is also going through this." Is it comforting though? I never venture to be an expert on anything, but I would answer "yes." And one of the reasons it's comforting is because a logical conclusion we hope is: "Someone figured it out. Someone got better. Someone has valid, useful advice." And even if all that fails, we can at least conclude "Someone understands." And that last one is really comforting. Sometimes I think suffering anxiety and depression would be better defined as being neurodivergent, and my neurotypical husband can simply not understand what goes inside my atypical brain.</p><p> Most sufferers of depression and anxiety would agree that our view of reality is very askew; and in my case, my most awry perception is myself. I was talking with my mentor Diane last week and she said these words to me: "So you hear people around you say good things about you and about what you are doing and who you are, but you choose to believe the complete opposite? You can hear God say that you are loved, important, cared for, and you deliberately CHOOSE to believe it's a lie? And if anyone comes and tells you you are worthless and trash THAT you would believe is true?" And without one hesitation I said: "Yes! I believe I'm worthless." </p><p>It pains me to write this and tell you this. Most of the people who ever stumble on my little corner are people who were there for me during my cancer journey. People that prayed and donated and made fund raisers and made home and hospital visits. You did so much to save my life even with your messages and your comments and your encouragement and support. And here I am telling you that since that battle began my little brain has been telling me over and over: "The world would be better off if you had died" and that sometimes I have chosen to believe that is true. </p><p>Just this Sunday the youth pastor came over and said to me "You are doing a great job with the girls." "Which girls?" I asked. "The girls in the youth band. I can see the difference in them. They are more confident. They are experimenting more. Even the way they stand in the stage. Thank you." I had been giving harmony lessons to the youth band singers all year every Saturday morning. He didn't know that I was feeling bad because last Saturday the sound guy had gotten mad at me for using the church's piano without informing him, and another friend told me I might have gotten the band leader in trouble because I had not informed the sound guy. It made me feel so terribly bad that I was thinking of telling the band leader I was no longer going to do the singing lessons. "You see?" said my brain. "You tried to help, but you only got someone else in trouble for meddling in what no one ask you to meddle in. And those girls probably don't even want to attend your lessons and are not learning anything useful." I have to make a pause here because I just wrote "my brain said" and the Spirit just made me realize I should have written " and the Devil told you." I don't think the youth leader knows how much his words resonated in my mind to debunk the lie I was believing. Again, choosing to believe only what's worst, only what's bad, even after some parents had already come to tell me how happy they were seeing their daughters improve and how happy their kids said they were in their singing lessons. </p><p>In my pursuit of finding comfort in knowing other people feels this way, I read a few articles when I googled "How to stop feeling bad about yourself." They're quite some good articles in the web on that. Here is the main gist of those articles:</p><p>Why they happen:</p><p>1. Those feelings stemmed from "not feeling good as a child" and from "believing you must be perfect."</p><p>2. Those feelings surface when you compare yourself to others. </p><p>What you can do:</p><p>1. Appreciate what you have. In other words, practice gratitude. Those who've been here from the very beginning know how employing this one plentifully saved my life during my Tigo days. </p><p>2. Understand that life is not a fair game. This one is particularly insightful. And it also connects to the comparing yourself to others. "I should be married by now.""I should have a house of my own by now." "I should have a good job by now.""I should have kids by now.""I should have matured and gotten over my depression by now." Why? Because others have! But were you in the same circumstance, with the same opportunities, the same upbringing, the same resources, the same connections???? </p><p>3. Things aren't always what they seem. This one connects to what my Pastor Steve shared this Sunday in church. I confessed to him that I was struggling a little this Sunday, and I chose not to listen to the message even though I was serving in the worship team. I went home and I felt the Spirit whispering in my ear that I needed to hear the message. I finally caved in the afternoon and listened to the message through our YouTube channel Crossroads Bible Church Panama. The message was titled "When God rains on your parade." Talk about serendipity! It was the reason I didn't want to listen to the message in the first place. I felt God was raining on my parade. Basically, God knows why He closes doors and makes us wait. I recommend reading <i>God in the MEANtime</i> by my very own Diane Batchelor on Amazon for more on that subject. You'll love it!</p><p>4. If you must compare, compare to yourself. Acknowledge your own progress and how far you've come. Careful with this one. If you don't practice self-compassion, it will be easy to even beat yourself more if you compare yourself to yourself. You are still alive and that counts if you need a starting point. That is truly a feat with us depression sufferers, so take it as a victory that you are still here and you are still trying and haven't given up on life. </p><p>5. Accept what you can change and what you can´t. This one has been the hardest one after cancer, when I thought I would one day go back to normal. I guess this is what veterans feel. They thought they'd go back from the war to their homes to their normal. Normal never comes back. Normal body, normal sleeping, normal thinking, normal relaxing, normal relating... it's never again what it use to, and we spend years searching that "normal" before accepting that change is the new normal, even if we wouldn't choose it. </p><p>So, if there are articles out there about the same subject, why write this post?</p><p>Well, because my main audience is myself. I write to make sense. I write to understand. I write to remember. I'm pretty sure I've said something of a similar sentiment here in my blog, but I learned a new step that I will write before this final most important one that you can probably guess but need to hear it anyway. </p><p>6. You don't get to keep what you've learned in the past without actively practicing it today. Learned how to cartwheel when a teenager? Haven't done it in years? Try it to and see how well your body responds to you attempting to cartwheel in your adulthood. Hopefully you did not hurt yourself. This is the same with our emotional and spiritual gains. Learned how to trust God in the unknown? Great. Think you'll do it again in the next storm? Not necessarily unless you had actively trusted God with the little things or with everyday communion with Him building that trust. Learned how to be kinder to yourself? Won't keep doing it unless you practice that inner kindness when you mess up, when you fail, when you didn't do what was expected of you, when you didn't perform like you thought you would. Messed up lunch? Did you practice giving yourself props for attempting to make lunch? Depressed and feeling like staying in bed? Did you practice saying "good job" for getting up to take a shower? Did you tell yourself today that you are valued, loved, and important? Can't believe that or say that? Next step will help.</p><p>7. Tell yourself what God says about you. </p><p>Do you know what He says about you? Do you know He says your life is worth the life and blood of His one and only Son? Do you know He says that if you got lost He would leave the 99 sheeps just to go find you? That if you have been far and away from Him, when He sees you in the path walking back to Him He runs to throw a party and is waiting to greet you at the door with a kiss and a hug? Do you know that there is nothing you can do to make Him love you more because His love for you right now is so infinite there is no definition for more? </p><p>My sweet Diane has had me repeating this children's song when I start believing lies that contradict what God says about me:</p><p><i>"I am covered over with the robe of righteousness that Jesus gives to me, He gives to me.</i></p><p><i>I am covered over with the precios blood of Jesus, and He live in me, He lives in me.</i></p><p><i>What a joy it is to know my Heavenly Father loves me so He gives to me my Jesus</i></p><p><i>When He looks at me He sees not what I used to be but He sees Jesus! "</i></p><p><br /></p><p>Anyways, This post was a complete rambling disorder. I'm sorry if it makes no sense. I'm trying to understand my brain. Why does it behave like that? Depression is a fog. Anxiety is a wild ride. And your brain short circuits. We have to find steps to take to cope. Steps to take in the hard times. Coping mechanisms when our brain is hurting or making no sense. Or maybe have the right words when the Devil is spewing lies, and he knows we are in a vulnerable spot. We can call out His truth like Jesus did in the desert. </p>Linda Zelayahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02842164145067391301noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6259200682875369030.post-41476059702460925462021-12-16T20:37:00.004-08:002021-12-16T20:37:57.737-08:00Llama Birthday Party for Kaylee's 7th <p><br />Goodness! Once again I am writing this post just before Emmalee's party so that I don't miss out on sharing this celebration. But, I have to keep a record of this party. It was one of my favorite of all time. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgoFZdsG8lf_jH9rjj7QEKBe3wo5Vrf75Zy5IncMDfvqDmAWjj8NaWDqs5jdDVAdp0JilgG8QYuCwRsPbx6oIh96iXPivuhbg-5e5D7D96PYXCs5fWDi3mEvdL91FNExRfONujInM1VC8M_JSAl8YFq6MQpJMytcTrNV7JeN3A5hIALAqdPCy-kcAu8=s4032" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1908" data-original-width="4032" height="302" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgoFZdsG8lf_jH9rjj7QEKBe3wo5Vrf75Zy5IncMDfvqDmAWjj8NaWDqs5jdDVAdp0JilgG8QYuCwRsPbx6oIh96iXPivuhbg-5e5D7D96PYXCs5fWDi3mEvdL91FNExRfONujInM1VC8M_JSAl8YFq6MQpJMytcTrNV7JeN3A5hIALAqdPCy-kcAu8=w640-h302" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Let me break it all down for you.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhn3MAthemZ8r8tu_gnZxud0FSnbi5oM_4nL-ZGB9m0R6A-RtZdu1-tRYWrddirYkQvZxsfb29BTjR-2WnCf-8DPHl_FZb8jDa62IjCUV7Ptc2IUdg3QNTjdfNFFGP6mnAPzhAGH7HVsloh42v1l_AHSWwKbOQ2ty2jkUvwn3SwcEf6WNVe37qt8KQL=s4032" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1908" data-original-width="4032" height="302" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhn3MAthemZ8r8tu_gnZxud0FSnbi5oM_4nL-ZGB9m0R6A-RtZdu1-tRYWrddirYkQvZxsfb29BTjR-2WnCf-8DPHl_FZb8jDa62IjCUV7Ptc2IUdg3QNTjdfNFFGP6mnAPzhAGH7HVsloh42v1l_AHSWwKbOQ2ty2jkUvwn3SwcEf6WNVe37qt8KQL=w640-h302" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I fell totally in love with that tassel and pom poms garland, and it looks even nicer as decoration in the girls' room. It was pretty simple to DIY.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjvX76s1GrtxpnPqy0BKNIgRYtG5d84tiy2EchkecssrnoWg0L7lakXFZ2Mtxf-KWDcvsxfEPqcc1wsEvNioSMn9fQJNMtZJSq9HXLefg3rsgO-MTNiGUH51-J4yEjyDJhWvcmrszL4icZB9lwUvDz2gR346v2bHtF3GYHo3R8mRWJJE2HVrrKcunTE=s4032" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1908" data-original-width="4032" height="302" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjvX76s1GrtxpnPqy0BKNIgRYtG5d84tiy2EchkecssrnoWg0L7lakXFZ2Mtxf-KWDcvsxfEPqcc1wsEvNioSMn9fQJNMtZJSq9HXLefg3rsgO-MTNiGUH51-J4yEjyDJhWvcmrszL4icZB9lwUvDz2gR346v2bHtF3GYHo3R8mRWJJE2HVrrKcunTE=w640-h302" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Got the backdrop idea from several pinterest pins. Loved the Inca looking mountains. I drew the llama from an illustration on pinterest and the girls had fun painting it. They also had fun helping me watercolor the cactus in the backdrop. We let our creative juices flow. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEixiXR_88sgkPZDK5Q2tCeYp1CtFV9cfW__OrtZJgvNO3Eqgm5kqdgEdPfUkDqhS2asVos97Ze8v3uJuHTnMQ7mbwrwmCHlFALnEC7C87GUzaH0cUBffEBprvh4ICb5erfhX0Dc5cV-3tjBo9OlW5gvV-D9z5Vh_H5RFNmEJKPX-PPQA7HkB-ZPzihP=s4032" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1908" data-original-width="4032" height="302" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEixiXR_88sgkPZDK5Q2tCeYp1CtFV9cfW__OrtZJgvNO3Eqgm5kqdgEdPfUkDqhS2asVos97Ze8v3uJuHTnMQ7mbwrwmCHlFALnEC7C87GUzaH0cUBffEBprvh4ICb5erfhX0Dc5cV-3tjBo9OlW5gvV-D9z5Vh_H5RFNmEJKPX-PPQA7HkB-ZPzihP=w640-h302" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The best part of a pandemic party is that the guest list is short, so it lends itself for more personalized items. Loved these boxes. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiaT6CY9MMsc_OBmGvUckQ7u33STZByLb_bDU-YUSAKpc5T9vN7m7PmVxLb4uT8Pb8gE1aJ3gHo4ufj5__u1MWO8zTjh3m-qViNeWF530gCqIQjYX1ISy3z7ZQBUBC0aaK3oKL54yHrH_TyUjO-diCxGjjdmEa3mjt2SHi-ah7AVVnh1S9LjFlch22t=s4032" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1908" data-original-width="4032" height="302" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiaT6CY9MMsc_OBmGvUckQ7u33STZByLb_bDU-YUSAKpc5T9vN7m7PmVxLb4uT8Pb8gE1aJ3gHo4ufj5__u1MWO8zTjh3m-qViNeWF530gCqIQjYX1ISy3z7ZQBUBC0aaK3oKL54yHrH_TyUjO-diCxGjjdmEa3mjt2SHi-ah7AVVnh1S9LjFlch22t=w640-h302" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Canon Creative Park never lets me down with their paper models, and most of the cactus paper models you'll see are from them. I still have them in my living room. They're too cut to throw away.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjtU6w6d7IT2HkZxd8lODJHVkeqz0OluHYzuBdAYJj0tFtxj4_tkj1zq3PIBeZeuoOg5ww7LPebbUmjC641gW1cMLPK_6yyji6jlYdMmqe45zi3a2f0k7jkgsM8epuOkuf8u6q5PA3JJK6-Lol07-QcQ_de8RtkKibIBBc5z1RTpB1xpgO39maD43nv=s4032" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1908" data-original-width="4032" height="302" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjtU6w6d7IT2HkZxd8lODJHVkeqz0OluHYzuBdAYJj0tFtxj4_tkj1zq3PIBeZeuoOg5ww7LPebbUmjC641gW1cMLPK_6yyji6jlYdMmqe45zi3a2f0k7jkgsM8epuOkuf8u6q5PA3JJK6-Lol07-QcQ_de8RtkKibIBBc5z1RTpB1xpgO39maD43nv=w640-h302" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Loved the terracota pot cupcake wrapper that made my succulent cupcakes come to life. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjACU-XBrsrx9iCM5womCw_T4Z8vluNXiDv5Kls1QTT0UldXaij9tZukNXBCmg22IJ8rcZVv23obFuP8deByu84OYb8x-otuiaKpJls456Y5KmY1_XF9t_joZRY6UIxxliRlsOx5NC6P4b5abvGrQ-5Yd28qZxoSFbsMMk47kmBKJcSc1cKnTSZ-PhN=s4032" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1908" data-original-width="4032" height="302" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjACU-XBrsrx9iCM5womCw_T4Z8vluNXiDv5Kls1QTT0UldXaij9tZukNXBCmg22IJ8rcZVv23obFuP8deByu84OYb8x-otuiaKpJls456Y5KmY1_XF9t_joZRY6UIxxliRlsOx5NC6P4b5abvGrQ-5Yd28qZxoSFbsMMk47kmBKJcSc1cKnTSZ-PhN=w640-h302" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I tried different colors and designs for the succulents. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgKiwT_qz8PvACAeMy9c2hW8fBjAw88cYfLAQThu4FxaubKbkE0hCyPtX7ZTlQBmRl4_9xLbVvWGJ6z8DtBFxNnsNxiAX3IiHAkwIXiVWQCXVwO7KRUJyVZhXUdbjEV0yzg9rZt-6rz2SkTcQihyhwp8Cy02ZR87_077K9_z3IqaWxz_wsbTM_1Fvd1=s4032" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1908" data-original-width="4032" height="302" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgKiwT_qz8PvACAeMy9c2hW8fBjAw88cYfLAQThu4FxaubKbkE0hCyPtX7ZTlQBmRl4_9xLbVvWGJ6z8DtBFxNnsNxiAX3IiHAkwIXiVWQCXVwO7KRUJyVZhXUdbjEV0yzg9rZt-6rz2SkTcQihyhwp8Cy02ZR87_077K9_z3IqaWxz_wsbTM_1Fvd1=w640-h302" width="640" /></a></div><br style="text-align: left;" /><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhd-28pArC7tbaDdxZHJom4tW-vJcLxQikya9nTTgrkDX5yGeJT8qJtczibXjklfjtzHCjmfgu1fYy6HWwepjH9kHG7u1oiqlmxnUvMDz8RTFka7sSLY1_N2atfEpl7vHtZLF8lSsFo1-rbZDly_ZaDI9tOimSlvg_3WtcCtgzsCIoM8eUWuRlolNMO=s4032" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1908" data-original-width="4032" height="302" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhd-28pArC7tbaDdxZHJom4tW-vJcLxQikya9nTTgrkDX5yGeJT8qJtczibXjklfjtzHCjmfgu1fYy6HWwepjH9kHG7u1oiqlmxnUvMDz8RTFka7sSLY1_N2atfEpl7vHtZLF8lSsFo1-rbZDly_ZaDI9tOimSlvg_3WtcCtgzsCIoM8eUWuRlolNMO=w640-h302" width="640" /></a></div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgQest_RIdsyKXyqQrrlVxL-tAzE_lIkO1cMtPyVv8iVTjM_AnUwiEhcskSGjKqsW5HJ0etCthr8kFzN_ubDleDy4AYlrB-3xex1AClUI84jV70MFKXTGkoO40QaawvTYodAcOV8ucmwL8mkyCojpWgckbbU0WBSZDYAS6bcAarFZXJm_w4aQQaguyq=s4032" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1908" data-original-width="4032" height="302" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgQest_RIdsyKXyqQrrlVxL-tAzE_lIkO1cMtPyVv8iVTjM_AnUwiEhcskSGjKqsW5HJ0etCthr8kFzN_ubDleDy4AYlrB-3xex1AClUI84jV70MFKXTGkoO40QaawvTYodAcOV8ucmwL8mkyCojpWgckbbU0WBSZDYAS6bcAarFZXJm_w4aQQaguyq=w640-h302" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I actually intended for the cake to be a little more subdued, but the color explosion could not be contained. It might not have been as polished as I would have liked, but it is so cute. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEicOn4LJz3UmRLXX_K9zMXpUUCqA50TkhKmQmS4q-bXXdBfkSyJEF9vfsltZXiwI6ZD8JCZf8UVIAuj_TyFIpNCPMde7xlsxOP3oTGhchwUxO4MWmuEnO5Hxb3p5ptKcbi5_5Trf9TqA9C2rcn-VmjDOspyDYSyyW1mk-h4vvSGv61hGoD4e6R51pDt=s4032" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1908" data-original-width="4032" height="302" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEicOn4LJz3UmRLXX_K9zMXpUUCqA50TkhKmQmS4q-bXXdBfkSyJEF9vfsltZXiwI6ZD8JCZf8UVIAuj_TyFIpNCPMde7xlsxOP3oTGhchwUxO4MWmuEnO5Hxb3p5ptKcbi5_5Trf9TqA9C2rcn-VmjDOspyDYSyyW1mk-h4vvSGv61hGoD4e6R51pDt=w640-h302" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiMSvOl88kQCaBiv0nss7CveSMqS0cuCEbq1RMRWETFdtQqxViv21ZxvyOwAjKR_nuCcyRBqlMWOGXpxu3JmCG-P6L59xuS_-vI2aRagbbgLYmW2ga0Fb2quC-QgELvj5lgMeOQ9t6QvEwkwFREn7LFSgniaoeYGIUBhjwLtaDK78C1u9rvcjg9gBiw=s4032" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1908" data-original-width="4032" height="302" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiMSvOl88kQCaBiv0nss7CveSMqS0cuCEbq1RMRWETFdtQqxViv21ZxvyOwAjKR_nuCcyRBqlMWOGXpxu3JmCG-P6L59xuS_-vI2aRagbbgLYmW2ga0Fb2quC-QgELvj5lgMeOQ9t6QvEwkwFREn7LFSgniaoeYGIUBhjwLtaDK78C1u9rvcjg9gBiw=w640-h302" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">There were three llama piñatas made, and I am happy to report that all three are alive and well. Two hangs in my daughters' room and one in Adri's. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhKb0VgZgf_Nm_eMe7fZE_Ry70AnZDL45L4hbY7G_U0tp-nC7DKzjOkFvsBGxpxGouKJV1Aqm0dGk2D4Bxp7QJeoJhEvXy-a4LM7pEZqH4jbDc1LQZIXPHA_hdFxHWiqCCJ6pSDBYELTyXTnIMMwyqHHtd7QWLCDRxaH7udM8rJaFhln0aP8QKiwrrj=s4032" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1908" data-original-width="4032" height="302" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhKb0VgZgf_Nm_eMe7fZE_Ry70AnZDL45L4hbY7G_U0tp-nC7DKzjOkFvsBGxpxGouKJV1Aqm0dGk2D4Bxp7QJeoJhEvXy-a4LM7pEZqH4jbDc1LQZIXPHA_hdFxHWiqCCJ6pSDBYELTyXTnIMMwyqHHtd7QWLCDRxaH7udM8rJaFhln0aP8QKiwrrj=w640-h302" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Llama lollypops</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi7176PYtbNB3mjl_568Ebf6ktLM8DdSbftNRTSbzqZZADifjmQCiQWLumIkO6x35Y0u_RIK6EtE3yWeQ0T8fpDlCa7qPlsLyPNNnjnHqwtFmrORql67Dx01yJoooUNavoRu5nRnz4S4lmScRp2X5bPJ3ce3jjy8hUruVMunIVBzuUS_WF3BfJMhHCB=s4032" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1908" data-original-width="4032" height="302" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi7176PYtbNB3mjl_568Ebf6ktLM8DdSbftNRTSbzqZZADifjmQCiQWLumIkO6x35Y0u_RIK6EtE3yWeQ0T8fpDlCa7qPlsLyPNNnjnHqwtFmrORql67Dx01yJoooUNavoRu5nRnz4S4lmScRp2X5bPJ3ce3jjy8hUruVMunIVBzuUS_WF3BfJMhHCB=w640-h302" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">For Covid protection, we are always writing our kids' names on their cup. This time it was personalized for them.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgKDOlNDDGTvaRGoxthZHwQSCy_DjAE_ICCWrBJO2LhRUYTbUHnmliFca_2oQFt08S_sad_B8VS5Lbn8IA7rIiTEmWFIIVtkhDwK6o-P4n01JEoxtpnMBVDMp4PvebM3evxXYPVHrl35v1OJbObmvSg5Xr8-aAfLKFLV_TBSIWI0_9FgwjC7cYJzNDr=s4032" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1908" data-original-width="4032" height="302" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgKDOlNDDGTvaRGoxthZHwQSCy_DjAE_ICCWrBJO2LhRUYTbUHnmliFca_2oQFt08S_sad_B8VS5Lbn8IA7rIiTEmWFIIVtkhDwK6o-P4n01JEoxtpnMBVDMp4PvebM3evxXYPVHrl35v1OJbObmvSg5Xr8-aAfLKFLV_TBSIWI0_9FgwjC7cYJzNDr=w640-h302" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhg9UYriJ8rmXrCEnOsAlc45jkbWcY1iuNUu7wCg0aULba26CYRzKzwixpod7cs54rdRn3keiyzuWV6P9qxC8R4tkJplJxuSoYvhjhFkGPq_IXYVg1efwgW0GIio2NO-x_-Rc8NUw4rqsY8cVTElHiA843jHaikAiN2phD8dk0ixJad_kYGDqp5aOG0=s4032" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1908" data-original-width="4032" height="302" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhg9UYriJ8rmXrCEnOsAlc45jkbWcY1iuNUu7wCg0aULba26CYRzKzwixpod7cs54rdRn3keiyzuWV6P9qxC8R4tkJplJxuSoYvhjhFkGPq_IXYVg1efwgW0GIio2NO-x_-Rc8NUw4rqsY8cVTElHiA843jHaikAiN2phD8dk0ixJad_kYGDqp5aOG0=w640-h302" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">These cactus cookies where so easy to make. I have a little youtube tutorial for these and my llama cookies in my channel Linda Zelaya.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEho4OnHikyPLfLk79KgRs011CtRN8KlObiT5swouWuTdUECJnxTpH7-0h6lsP-ZDpwwe5uCxQcjVBTSbuKa2hqSCeVz5TFI5f4gpYRZOmUnzmyBskyV867GNs4mMbDFOLw4uyCWmlP2zNbkjCueOi7GCcz5T7a5aYw1QP6KuXYscDs32S2egwASXX4c=s4032" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1908" data-original-width="4032" height="302" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEho4OnHikyPLfLk79KgRs011CtRN8KlObiT5swouWuTdUECJnxTpH7-0h6lsP-ZDpwwe5uCxQcjVBTSbuKa2hqSCeVz5TFI5f4gpYRZOmUnzmyBskyV867GNs4mMbDFOLw4uyCWmlP2zNbkjCueOi7GCcz5T7a5aYw1QP6KuXYscDs32S2egwASXX4c=w640-h302" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Those meringues where a nightmare. I might try to do meringues one more time, but I don't know what I am doing wrong. They were firm and delicious when I put them on display. By the time the kids got them, they were squishy and sticky! :(</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjkwfi-g2LMVRnnwCvvzZDIx1IOVukPREOltczyPeL0BhCrvE1-RR7nzfVV-WnU-gYvshmyxq87kLxQH7gWhJrZr_fnxUlO24LOrFxTLabHflPadeuwjHYMnHTMVnY36Xf6K-WnFNpHTEHo7tqucm4N_gpxVQvjwHJ2C5ygoBqdkTRvllVz85rDc9uJ=s4032" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1908" data-original-width="4032" height="302" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjkwfi-g2LMVRnnwCvvzZDIx1IOVukPREOltczyPeL0BhCrvE1-RR7nzfVV-WnU-gYvshmyxq87kLxQH7gWhJrZr_fnxUlO24LOrFxTLabHflPadeuwjHYMnHTMVnY36Xf6K-WnFNpHTEHo7tqucm4N_gpxVQvjwHJ2C5ygoBqdkTRvllVz85rDc9uJ=w640-h302" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Got these llama paper models for free online. So cute.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgYW1Y_J4-13CK77EY-42jNjZuWptR22SQAk3PgbZdBrOoWoJ3DfON0aV0O-9J3wbspxxb5r5S8V_VpkuWFXhGHRcKF8S3Mj3f8i59nJtEpfzpWfSmguwkaUKVNR_Pp_vivEs5JcqIpImC24DGpZMpf7bVcqxDuDmmHb1bNguqNvdfFrhBCreRfUlXn=s4032" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1908" data-original-width="4032" height="302" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgYW1Y_J4-13CK77EY-42jNjZuWptR22SQAk3PgbZdBrOoWoJ3DfON0aV0O-9J3wbspxxb5r5S8V_VpkuWFXhGHRcKF8S3Mj3f8i59nJtEpfzpWfSmguwkaUKVNR_Pp_vivEs5JcqIpImC24DGpZMpf7bVcqxDuDmmHb1bNguqNvdfFrhBCreRfUlXn=w640-h302" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">These are the other cookies included in my tutorial. Can you believe I made the cookie cutter for these out of an old cookie cutter reshaping it with tweezers?!</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgHQMo31MVEzXrNQORch6Ava3AJW-EWP2b00kGbLncl7O1gnEnTzy9N-inPyK7AhdfVmSiqFvzqZPPfB5UlyKngXdJymTkFOjOspGQJuLEOb2OmVdA0AxLoU7vc6iw8UuKkQOM2JHsAYyPRKvMAkeNpzQuRrXJqgKMtBaUiTzBcRnhjg1iISnVNoxuC=s4032" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1908" data-original-width="4032" height="302" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgHQMo31MVEzXrNQORch6Ava3AJW-EWP2b00kGbLncl7O1gnEnTzy9N-inPyK7AhdfVmSiqFvzqZPPfB5UlyKngXdJymTkFOjOspGQJuLEOb2OmVdA0AxLoU7vc6iw8UuKkQOM2JHsAYyPRKvMAkeNpzQuRrXJqgKMtBaUiTzBcRnhjg1iISnVNoxuC=w640-h302" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Served some llama ears (orejitas)</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhSpBZgTE8BbLMKXfq6Tc4iWTuk6ZJg8Cdvroo9T5pbKN2m2PXjVpWcY8Hl2uy_sOpJWCAECN4CGxemd1zyhsE5gVzs_wo9NwSXH8POEAY1cdkDpgJSbnLBgT1Q_GmQ3gn3Nby-lKlw6JtDe2lcRmLCsvLh6m5OV5z4Cf18tb6aGkRIncMmnXhCmJmM=s4032" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1908" data-original-width="4032" height="302" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhSpBZgTE8BbLMKXfq6Tc4iWTuk6ZJg8Cdvroo9T5pbKN2m2PXjVpWcY8Hl2uy_sOpJWCAECN4CGxemd1zyhsE5gVzs_wo9NwSXH8POEAY1cdkDpgJSbnLBgT1Q_GmQ3gn3Nby-lKlw6JtDe2lcRmLCsvLh6m5OV5z4Cf18tb6aGkRIncMmnXhCmJmM=w640-h302" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjoW0zGQ3Zd4nDiUI4H1SgdK7IYL9ETkpHv3K4-Y6zG3vq1AYtTLNPtA244JblajHYn15jfXjF7htg6WUsGb8Mc8bWiPsF5Zr_GcQiFVUkXTxSStp5WL8rWowM_kRWboVX2sAOGsweArwGtp1KSEZ5AVVNeiBDObR3KVLdqhhnoNeijGXbUsYoNLr2n=s4032" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1908" data-original-width="4032" height="302" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjoW0zGQ3Zd4nDiUI4H1SgdK7IYL9ETkpHv3K4-Y6zG3vq1AYtTLNPtA244JblajHYn15jfXjF7htg6WUsGb8Mc8bWiPsF5Zr_GcQiFVUkXTxSStp5WL8rWowM_kRWboVX2sAOGsweArwGtp1KSEZ5AVVNeiBDObR3KVLdqhhnoNeijGXbUsYoNLr2n=w640-h302" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhW8p3_-JKc1FogWkpz2zxJE4SjppOMtQbSz6cYi9Rrc5Ey5EA1r1HuuM0zZ_RMOw3MadulV9nMtlG3mcr0UfrPkS-_Gc6wqSaCLZyUkDR_S-WyoZ6q82Foj2RPElFi3NM_M6ciwAonT6SNToj0-8AeGnDQgOqGBHDybWuAHaeAvxtLzk0ioXdKPCSB=s4032" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1908" data-original-width="4032" height="302" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhW8p3_-JKc1FogWkpz2zxJE4SjppOMtQbSz6cYi9Rrc5Ey5EA1r1HuuM0zZ_RMOw3MadulV9nMtlG3mcr0UfrPkS-_Gc6wqSaCLZyUkDR_S-WyoZ6q82Foj2RPElFi3NM_M6ciwAonT6SNToj0-8AeGnDQgOqGBHDybWuAHaeAvxtLzk0ioXdKPCSB=w640-h302" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This is the llama I made for the llama plushie tutorial on my youtube channel.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiJWuH4lgFx1RG3AOqniSoC_J2XHYxqBe4Ey7oQzVcCFLEXsoTulRStgYao8fwbTgL2inDDWN36Tp9he_FVHCELSafJtQNlnJ7RKj7DK-pShiwgb4qQ3ooo8hc3OPyxlykJ_-2AFqCb66JItqcAfeG4mhWY2a2inuLE9pK6qfkT4fGX-lbLSIrwKxtA=s4032" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1908" data-original-width="4032" height="302" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiJWuH4lgFx1RG3AOqniSoC_J2XHYxqBe4Ey7oQzVcCFLEXsoTulRStgYao8fwbTgL2inDDWN36Tp9he_FVHCELSafJtQNlnJ7RKj7DK-pShiwgb4qQ3ooo8hc3OPyxlykJ_-2AFqCb66JItqcAfeG4mhWY2a2inuLE9pK6qfkT4fGX-lbLSIrwKxtA=w640-h302" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I love that the latino flair is so festive. We had tostadas for lunch!</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhP9Ubz6sJpbMGCoUHVMcuoPtFIfVltkqKkXpZcSG3S-2Q4vKMRvSYgLk-koXzXTcHH7P8nMmgsnmMdnwoiz-g051DaacECOxh1g4Wcmqx5UH2-u5FtWUXgdvLY0RcGWJNHPvp3PdXP9XTCBv9-fDwGFeZS2ZNS387w8Fq1huWkS46bs8FDMo5qxoyv=s4032" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1908" data-original-width="4032" height="302" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhP9Ubz6sJpbMGCoUHVMcuoPtFIfVltkqKkXpZcSG3S-2Q4vKMRvSYgLk-koXzXTcHH7P8nMmgsnmMdnwoiz-g051DaacECOxh1g4Wcmqx5UH2-u5FtWUXgdvLY0RcGWJNHPvp3PdXP9XTCBv9-fDwGFeZS2ZNS387w8Fq1huWkS46bs8FDMo5qxoyv=w640-h302" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEghWaKeZBdM1zp-2rvtUPpF7sDVNCOa-zhyZ_3ZxyIMgeXiUHTC9ObBtzZwT7oCkIMzPugyFzkhXKsOKMCqv8VaB_w5KIMtEpi98oLufaJHdt5GJ1OTj1vbpFNLWbByJvxArKtPFbgPR3rXryjsSl_0EjE5n4zSlrJTN0IwR3dBf9dnsq2KdC8GCAA2=s4032" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1908" data-original-width="4032" height="302" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEghWaKeZBdM1zp-2rvtUPpF7sDVNCOa-zhyZ_3ZxyIMgeXiUHTC9ObBtzZwT7oCkIMzPugyFzkhXKsOKMCqv8VaB_w5KIMtEpi98oLufaJHdt5GJ1OTj1vbpFNLWbByJvxArKtPFbgPR3rXryjsSl_0EjE5n4zSlrJTN0IwR3dBf9dnsq2KdC8GCAA2=w640-h302" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The photo booth. I had so much fun painting this.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjFlU6xWSdHlFl8BQ-9jMyOp5Tn4OPSFDEkRo_Zlv7AfXykTYoezqzHJOCFvyef4NcKwxhzVCX0A8qPEL926K_1ppDc9D_L_bYuV7PINl8HpuZnwQ1AUz3a4zJW4rD1C5CzYL19G5JcpfUCm_n5QUPIHoTs6K5JHZOktV75buOKNhkqE5Aj7DhKHoek=s4032" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1908" data-original-width="4032" height="302" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjFlU6xWSdHlFl8BQ-9jMyOp5Tn4OPSFDEkRo_Zlv7AfXykTYoezqzHJOCFvyef4NcKwxhzVCX0A8qPEL926K_1ppDc9D_L_bYuV7PINl8HpuZnwQ1AUz3a4zJW4rD1C5CzYL19G5JcpfUCm_n5QUPIHoTs6K5JHZOktV75buOKNhkqE5Aj7DhKHoek=w640-h302" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Easiest photo prop ever! </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhkg8ieYYCU-AhlUkNpkdwAdjp5n2Rzu6WRGvBgUgDByDapDGhNZr6yUyjGUUv_VNP-pt2h0P2ecIZAqb9wfpKCBWVvfDtLDjA0RYPn-U-bWVPdAh03PBObD-7zT8BOthOvbkUdQnZDZH1ZQIU5cqJ1smAQtfJKrUy1NqY3d2XnDEs59UiNtvsF50ZZ=s4032" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1908" data-original-width="4032" height="302" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhkg8ieYYCU-AhlUkNpkdwAdjp5n2Rzu6WRGvBgUgDByDapDGhNZr6yUyjGUUv_VNP-pt2h0P2ecIZAqb9wfpKCBWVvfDtLDjA0RYPn-U-bWVPdAh03PBObD-7zT8BOthOvbkUdQnZDZH1ZQIU5cqJ1smAQtfJKrUy1NqY3d2XnDEs59UiNtvsF50ZZ=w640-h302" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This is what my mom's living room looked like!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhelsWAXWv73PQ63o7ufqF0R1LRRzDAog0WhNeFbprsg5kZkHtXQDmvsZ-HT70mj99ie9DL6S6Rcf3PxseTifPCjRlY1i1o7400ygXNnlT7-XRWleJyMuUugbO23UopIKY9INPAuvYfoPxjNK_u0jZlj-3gpBBbpNT3Kc6sADmq8h_uNs23FQpTIPdT=s4608" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2184" data-original-width="4608" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhelsWAXWv73PQ63o7ufqF0R1LRRzDAog0WhNeFbprsg5kZkHtXQDmvsZ-HT70mj99ie9DL6S6Rcf3PxseTifPCjRlY1i1o7400ygXNnlT7-XRWleJyMuUugbO23UopIKY9INPAuvYfoPxjNK_u0jZlj-3gpBBbpNT3Kc6sADmq8h_uNs23FQpTIPdT=w640-h304" width="640" /></a></div><br style="text-align: left;" /><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjxRbzlvt03eMTMuOBrt23bP2Eb-cfgzgMAyu1aX5_k692PezXwjyxa9MLUWMIzmiBPyjAgnel-zfmTWl_jifw1Dobbs16NKJeuwludL3YXnFE8hN-kO4lRTKbPfWXJQN53alA_fQd-REfDXlrMR0t6Fn7ps5WlzKfuk1zXYGmXdW3euCPki7ofaQI_=s4608" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2184" data-original-width="4608" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjxRbzlvt03eMTMuOBrt23bP2Eb-cfgzgMAyu1aX5_k692PezXwjyxa9MLUWMIzmiBPyjAgnel-zfmTWl_jifw1Dobbs16NKJeuwludL3YXnFE8hN-kO4lRTKbPfWXJQN53alA_fQd-REfDXlrMR0t6Fn7ps5WlzKfuk1zXYGmXdW3euCPki7ofaQI_=w640-h304" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Prizes!!! Loved finding those cactus napkins and this llama photo frame at the dollar store!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi3tgF8morJy5pX6zbPiCj9O3zivb3wMyizXT03jj6ykgl_m-Wk273JsyYFBgd0N9ptmkmKhh9P_py7TL_ruci0NVZoku_bwrOQV7RtldUpo3lNTReGSdrL7gOuzAQlOo0zF4gEyygg2UCRHZMJ4Gi-0OWxsl4ScJgX9IHAjXDbMsEQQ592b9oeNKMK=s4608" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2184" data-original-width="4608" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi3tgF8morJy5pX6zbPiCj9O3zivb3wMyizXT03jj6ykgl_m-Wk273JsyYFBgd0N9ptmkmKhh9P_py7TL_ruci0NVZoku_bwrOQV7RtldUpo3lNTReGSdrL7gOuzAQlOo0zF4gEyygg2UCRHZMJ4Gi-0OWxsl4ScJgX9IHAjXDbMsEQQ592b9oeNKMK=w640-h304" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">The llama adoption station was a bigger hit than I expected.</div><br style="text-align: left;" /><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiTnmarAwa811iZNN4704RWxSdrfyyeHGs3NRJzvIUyJwXjilGOmpfC-kQlfHNnBO5UuRD1G3dmL1KYerMrQ8ea2-FPtDDlap6YyL1XM1xKvzvtm2R-tFBqmDBCnDox4daMQCkA0KHv0M-RXkScT43XHjGY7IXPJE6brC0AbkeP2KfJAuTn8ALpeTey=s4608" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2184" data-original-width="4608" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiTnmarAwa811iZNN4704RWxSdrfyyeHGs3NRJzvIUyJwXjilGOmpfC-kQlfHNnBO5UuRD1G3dmL1KYerMrQ8ea2-FPtDDlap6YyL1XM1xKvzvtm2R-tFBqmDBCnDox4daMQCkA0KHv0M-RXkScT43XHjGY7IXPJE6brC0AbkeP2KfJAuTn8ALpeTey=w640-h304" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Again, small guest list, better favors!</div><br style="text-align: left;" /><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjUWPPH2AKbRCRMcaEOe9VbJuhhHtkmPTpg8vwZwzTmb-bQG1BaLkrKrTkSRsnuNJt5QY3XMjURor9IQNj_sy2Ap2s0NRwgSy_y8klPUMf6zxjICCV_vI_l3npp2bK795v3bYoxW8BXBS0Rr1xSqI7Gj85yAKQ1wuKqwmvEIuRYBsNc4tD9UPvyFnqJ=s4608" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2184" data-original-width="4608" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjUWPPH2AKbRCRMcaEOe9VbJuhhHtkmPTpg8vwZwzTmb-bQG1BaLkrKrTkSRsnuNJt5QY3XMjURor9IQNj_sy2Ap2s0NRwgSy_y8klPUMf6zxjICCV_vI_l3npp2bK795v3bYoxW8BXBS0Rr1xSqI7Gj85yAKQ1wuKqwmvEIuRYBsNc4tD9UPvyFnqJ=w640-h304" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">The kids really loved filling their llama adoption certificates. These were found for free online.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjxW0RWGSjVxdV9lP_2W4SXFOroCsOF2U4RUrmcHagFHtxdx0u9-P2-S6sYF1DA_k_hVCYhPSz-V5T-DiO9NJDOatrjhf0cjQ07-OCDozBr1KpV1DX9WPXei9SLuR2zHHVRN0AvSJH-Tk9EyhfMBc8fyL3sFI_EA-CRsoEyq6tt6KHmpoOXrdeDByr_=s4032" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1908" data-original-width="4032" height="302" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjxW0RWGSjVxdV9lP_2W4SXFOroCsOF2U4RUrmcHagFHtxdx0u9-P2-S6sYF1DA_k_hVCYhPSz-V5T-DiO9NJDOatrjhf0cjQ07-OCDozBr1KpV1DX9WPXei9SLuR2zHHVRN0AvSJH-Tk9EyhfMBc8fyL3sFI_EA-CRsoEyq6tt6KHmpoOXrdeDByr_=w640-h302" width="640" /></a></div><br style="text-align: left;" /><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEixA4hsQtvMy4HOtenAu56Q0rDKC3-3MCoRa7xmpfMsoiQvCD5mWUyb9HFhVC6vkw-dbN_DGU7VOLEcAUAU-qgw2Ncn6aylJ0M00PXG9X7m0sXYBd1BnA6wlHJrwEn4RGlynjmcx9RErRaVl7scagMRC4NCeCivvf3SzMxBJnzD-yixS-FKIsCSLvST=s4032" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1908" data-original-width="4032" height="302" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEixA4hsQtvMy4HOtenAu56Q0rDKC3-3MCoRa7xmpfMsoiQvCD5mWUyb9HFhVC6vkw-dbN_DGU7VOLEcAUAU-qgw2Ncn6aylJ0M00PXG9X7m0sXYBd1BnA6wlHJrwEn4RGlynjmcx9RErRaVl7scagMRC4NCeCivvf3SzMxBJnzD-yixS-FKIsCSLvST=w640-h302" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhEAEAfr8q2XysDnKcL5IcQxZ_1HSUAM6DDfEfYXn60-Ztj64hF4fRhuczfAiNWZU8D-uu1USyMrNmVQKT87HFSgvaqBMYhPrkcUVPqVQdY-3gsrHoBEAmtaO1LYG39vbemZv6yns-4G4VzLIskgVlOqQf54NRc8V3Zb24icPyY81aV6JeBmhBvRKQ2=s4032" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1908" data-original-width="4032" height="302" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhEAEAfr8q2XysDnKcL5IcQxZ_1HSUAM6DDfEfYXn60-Ztj64hF4fRhuczfAiNWZU8D-uu1USyMrNmVQKT87HFSgvaqBMYhPrkcUVPqVQdY-3gsrHoBEAmtaO1LYG39vbemZv6yns-4G4VzLIskgVlOqQf54NRc8V3Zb24icPyY81aV6JeBmhBvRKQ2=w640-h302" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEimb1qM-acBRVZfsGum8-cFDMbpDerxysJJpmEMOp6x_JXqeky5bUY8t74HV3W0Qe-CTjCJe8RVFG1scRBlcJygvpbvPpNY4g3x21XkC1HkgWIljDhtLjProItOwUCoXJzUTr82O36xYJ1lG6hGD8piGj9RVTtZjnkaoLYuDqjYB-3MNZ_3vIcpfcLj=s4608" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2184" data-original-width="4608" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEimb1qM-acBRVZfsGum8-cFDMbpDerxysJJpmEMOp6x_JXqeky5bUY8t74HV3W0Qe-CTjCJe8RVFG1scRBlcJygvpbvPpNY4g3x21XkC1HkgWIljDhtLjProItOwUCoXJzUTr82O36xYJ1lG6hGD8piGj9RVTtZjnkaoLYuDqjYB-3MNZ_3vIcpfcLj=w640-h304" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjTmeoTRz7Y7_1eGDHPbR1NVQXuKQ4-60WBeRYTjjc0nscVNR05zCYtdTObTegEeDNYhjb4KdqnmEH4HGhjLroj-yQtAfKbGxQj6-X9siyUTiRtV37TZQAr_bMYKgDyNWT3_P5lVi-xoCIvytDQNvAf9bDZ3xG2gN3GvPd0Mmzaja94vde0-kAY6Bfc=s4608" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2184" data-original-width="4608" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjTmeoTRz7Y7_1eGDHPbR1NVQXuKQ4-60WBeRYTjjc0nscVNR05zCYtdTObTegEeDNYhjb4KdqnmEH4HGhjLroj-yQtAfKbGxQj6-X9siyUTiRtV37TZQAr_bMYKgDyNWT3_P5lVi-xoCIvytDQNvAf9bDZ3xG2gN3GvPd0Mmzaja94vde0-kAY6Bfc=w640-h304" width="640" /></a></div>Emmalee has not informed me if she joined a gang.<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgf2yJxl5NQjo5QtP1lvktd4JnXVprqkdUbreYR9OXltN-322PjJXxyc3WUo2fEVciFINNE7XcQL3v2RrkxVKRuopyOYW-Rb4HA4oh5_Bv4nVwo-9ewFcthchc8EVr9mX97_8es23TrABrxw1bMOyQLOa4OSgIQA1nACn0yxx4tCzsDAtp33pPYiQVZ=s1280" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="958" data-original-width="1280" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgf2yJxl5NQjo5QtP1lvktd4JnXVprqkdUbreYR9OXltN-322PjJXxyc3WUo2fEVciFINNE7XcQL3v2RrkxVKRuopyOYW-Rb4HA4oh5_Bv4nVwo-9ewFcthchc8EVr9mX97_8es23TrABrxw1bMOyQLOa4OSgIQA1nACn0yxx4tCzsDAtp33pPYiQVZ=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Filling their adoption certificates and naming their llama. They took it quite seriously.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh3ERLmlESNMC8SoUTOMpdB7x0fbWLTsohAEAHJIifuxBIv8M79NiZxnIAZaSAutb64tI_ARJFfEGFAUDAfbFtdM4hNzKxpk1xwT1ckTYHMSkddhGsznE8QoZeTzaDf4g1VrNiNsw9Usy8PUXbuDSbyO37R6VT99KA60zTZDN_av7_tKG4HABd3OiQ6=s1280" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="606" data-original-width="1280" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh3ERLmlESNMC8SoUTOMpdB7x0fbWLTsohAEAHJIifuxBIv8M79NiZxnIAZaSAutb64tI_ARJFfEGFAUDAfbFtdM4hNzKxpk1xwT1ckTYHMSkddhGsznE8QoZeTzaDf4g1VrNiNsw9Usy8PUXbuDSbyO37R6VT99KA60zTZDN_av7_tKG4HABd3OiQ6=w640-h304" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Painting their mini pots for a mini cactus favor.</div><br style="text-align: left;" /><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgYiilNzgeoJQ3jnaj5_RmEGVYD59mvZb1PNPhgZBASJNO6u5uwf0zQ5chfQ7nxd6UBJXmVEIjtO7Tg_GCVxep3DvG8k531tDyOjO8PRUnud4uXRbSIlP89Xee_TIedESOWJiaygDru0J5m4pp8zMLK95CrLahjW6Msf-TMdbu7OB2uSE87kMOtjObp=s1280" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="958" data-original-width="1280" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgYiilNzgeoJQ3jnaj5_RmEGVYD59mvZb1PNPhgZBASJNO6u5uwf0zQ5chfQ7nxd6UBJXmVEIjtO7Tg_GCVxep3DvG8k531tDyOjO8PRUnud4uXRbSIlP89Xee_TIedESOWJiaygDru0J5m4pp8zMLK95CrLahjW6Msf-TMdbu7OB2uSE87kMOtjObp=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Making toys with Perler Beads. </div><br style="text-align: left;" /><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgRtNLm9yf5XyUUYnxFAHNCFBC8lqVWiIS02PfB_O6YJKYz40B9T78JhDpc_d3uWSLA1AMCptPHhCav5i6zWV1AIpKSLczwAFlsxOc9cpqYYMjSDqaACUOqKykCjkoYawz0gOQWDTl8FuYM7yLJAfBXjRAABvqUZP3RJGon1xKLQ_GLVR5DzNkt5-ss=s1280" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="720" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgRtNLm9yf5XyUUYnxFAHNCFBC8lqVWiIS02PfB_O6YJKYz40B9T78JhDpc_d3uWSLA1AMCptPHhCav5i6zWV1AIpKSLczwAFlsxOc9cpqYYMjSDqaACUOqKykCjkoYawz0gOQWDTl8FuYM7yLJAfBXjRAABvqUZP3RJGon1xKLQ_GLVR5DzNkt5-ss=w360-h640" width="360" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">No llamas where hurt in this party, not even the piñata llama.</div><br style="text-align: left;" /><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgbPtVHehjVMZ3H-nSiTS7LeGPqKQVSLbWG-DeFC6dXfsVealJSbtPk4EXgQzRLVp_zYrBNzsvXZu9K_xAEGKymNa7ZPy98PH1fuZxZ0oaZnIqL8nmewTtzcPCtci_EqNOXhjjf31-KGWoQFnkJD_4TCqRQnSDOX_sewsXYgE9EiGozkHCUVxRnyZy9=s1280" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="958" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgbPtVHehjVMZ3H-nSiTS7LeGPqKQVSLbWG-DeFC6dXfsVealJSbtPk4EXgQzRLVp_zYrBNzsvXZu9K_xAEGKymNa7ZPy98PH1fuZxZ0oaZnIqL8nmewTtzcPCtci_EqNOXhjjf31-KGWoQFnkJD_4TCqRQnSDOX_sewsXYgE9EiGozkHCUVxRnyZy9=w480-h640" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">My girls have the prettiest, cutest, sweetest grandma in the world. I feel jealous!</div><br style="text-align: left;" /><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEil6Bxgu4b2KZANgoZnqNLW1jvgm5KsAK3CCzLiLLFvPIfAt3vxQ6yixE6dvetuCjjICBpBu0GUms1nN1mSPiS4ee3zxjoPrD9c_8SWBHxCkj8ISKX2pKCVnUAmYHh_jTq_iYuGWx-8uSNAaItpUVFWJs5l7pQ4hHVntpVeAhiaw0363_A_ggidD_3D=s4032" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1908" data-original-width="4032" height="302" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEil6Bxgu4b2KZANgoZnqNLW1jvgm5KsAK3CCzLiLLFvPIfAt3vxQ6yixE6dvetuCjjICBpBu0GUms1nN1mSPiS4ee3zxjoPrD9c_8SWBHxCkj8ISKX2pKCVnUAmYHh_jTq_iYuGWx-8uSNAaItpUVFWJs5l7pQ4hHVntpVeAhiaw0363_A_ggidD_3D=w640-h302" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">The respective cookie shot.</div><br style="text-align: left;" /><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjbAJOxINn5Bew9jx2xCpIyxjRB9QvanRzPyNMae6Z9kXlIsFqvzcyMc_6Rx9bTofK4qAcAKq1-g1-7ZyJmz9j3XoPMXwdaXh_Bxisl09QY8QqbMpJMMUNNKkXlt9c7Z2nRu9LTutp7Bocm16PcxMbBG4go38cKceqRiN-DW67WohkJz53xLDq204QF=s4032" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1908" data-original-width="4032" height="302" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjbAJOxINn5Bew9jx2xCpIyxjRB9QvanRzPyNMae6Z9kXlIsFqvzcyMc_6Rx9bTofK4qAcAKq1-g1-7ZyJmz9j3XoPMXwdaXh_Bxisl09QY8QqbMpJMMUNNKkXlt9c7Z2nRu9LTutp7Bocm16PcxMbBG4go38cKceqRiN-DW67WohkJz53xLDq204QF=w640-h302" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">These two are the best friends!</div><br style="text-align: left;" /><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiS59HXBSi3uuIkex8jK0fqtLdchaxmkNTXcceQwot49CASs9cbOYCghW01AHst8KrkXsmBzi0hO_hhdUg6iyJ9TwpXvMoOHmWq6hY0_ZtkDDtJ56FRVfp5YidITT63gxYI0Vrg_AdwX-TIBLOPuR5PwjSwzGfMn38JrOZBr0lgjd8qjbGMc8hPFlKi=s3968" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1880" data-original-width="3968" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiS59HXBSi3uuIkex8jK0fqtLdchaxmkNTXcceQwot49CASs9cbOYCghW01AHst8KrkXsmBzi0hO_hhdUg6iyJ9TwpXvMoOHmWq6hY0_ZtkDDtJ56FRVfp5YidITT63gxYI0Vrg_AdwX-TIBLOPuR5PwjSwzGfMn38JrOZBr0lgjd8qjbGMc8hPFlKi=w640-h304" width="640" /></a></div><br style="text-align: left;" /><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgFkXmtVIaUTtHtr4T1fOIjrA2ul4a0lcwtM2NgkOre6MRA-m18G2npAGF2Kyg5jRRGaDLAtYl4mHgXdMcG1u48SJbK7T8F8K9Sjcz7MKEHz8Hduf8gShkHc4Jkk8hx-BiHIhGyjahvrvbt3fih92NfpYZoQH1Mb3_QYq5VrK7koiMDInM-RHnRSeE9=s4032" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1908" data-original-width="4032" height="302" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgFkXmtVIaUTtHtr4T1fOIjrA2ul4a0lcwtM2NgkOre6MRA-m18G2npAGF2Kyg5jRRGaDLAtYl4mHgXdMcG1u48SJbK7T8F8K9Sjcz7MKEHz8Hduf8gShkHc4Jkk8hx-BiHIhGyjahvrvbt3fih92NfpYZoQH1Mb3_QYq5VrK7koiMDInM-RHnRSeE9=w640-h302" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Moms also wanted a picture with some treats. These meringues where the only ones that held their shape and texture throughout. </div><br style="text-align: left;" /><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjfH88o1am6nZ8ctJLUw20eo0yrIqGk2TcXOoNhfRuZAW0XhV9NwOImr-3-CM3I77FgWfFciUFf_hWvpTQd46cSOL2hUSD0olsR-AV0mMilSCkncifEIbS4DvPhSOsTcTg3imICkUVBGkYsX1hXpNvqoCC_l9W1CAz1RasWl34LdXp3XQ8PovBJKeR4=s4032" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1908" data-original-width="4032" height="302" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjfH88o1am6nZ8ctJLUw20eo0yrIqGk2TcXOoNhfRuZAW0XhV9NwOImr-3-CM3I77FgWfFciUFf_hWvpTQd46cSOL2hUSD0olsR-AV0mMilSCkncifEIbS4DvPhSOsTcTg3imICkUVBGkYsX1hXpNvqoCC_l9W1CAz1RasWl34LdXp3XQ8PovBJKeR4=w640-h302" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I love this picture.</div><br style="text-align: left;" /><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiVfGnQn-UEbHrel-pPz8ORvq0MYoZXAQ5C1MLwioJOsX-zptAAlZMLvAr93Ax8BEw-FGxeZQHMnKLVfmMJYlq_CbrYoD9D0L-X-r8JHGivHE6X19XkdlU9Gtb1jLWQ6pqZsCWQdnxWNpMOyXcNyBr-RPhZcsFBU4QlpPZqrMVpDzU797GqhuYNvA_y=s4032" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1908" data-original-width="4032" height="302" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiVfGnQn-UEbHrel-pPz8ORvq0MYoZXAQ5C1MLwioJOsX-zptAAlZMLvAr93Ax8BEw-FGxeZQHMnKLVfmMJYlq_CbrYoD9D0L-X-r8JHGivHE6X19XkdlU9Gtb1jLWQ6pqZsCWQdnxWNpMOyXcNyBr-RPhZcsFBU4QlpPZqrMVpDzU797GqhuYNvA_y=w640-h302" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">And this lovely family God has given me.</div><br style="text-align: left;" /></div></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEieaH2JYgnxOfY7fhjorVC1wOWsDItSHPiTaXEGjt6Wxg1C3dg4KrYI_tbqCNUW6Tq2qG3rHinNVE5Jz4pqmXK96MX4KC-ZrMoZyf8Cq1OGb5futpznqsUmIAxr0ouYM3_TWZ_WH2LkCHRsxhqciwyW3nobqyImbW0v6PUjK4-A1lbi_SA3bXS9DERR=s4032" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEieaH2JYgnxOfY7fhjorVC1wOWsDItSHPiTaXEGjt6Wxg1C3dg4KrYI_tbqCNUW6Tq2qG3rHinNVE5Jz4pqmXK96MX4KC-ZrMoZyf8Cq1OGb5futpznqsUmIAxr0ouYM3_TWZ_WH2LkCHRsxhqciwyW3nobqyImbW0v6PUjK4-A1lbi_SA3bXS9DERR=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Enjoying their new babies.</div><br style="text-align: left;" /><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgvagM-MTLYP2rBNqcYwE-toPpYLoe044Mti4q5eMSStZfgT8OmGpqnoYDfmcLOoySddrVjd8MVNshzdreOCEej-kDrc4CNYpo3UJUDtv2FHwRxCQ7CzkzgYdD0-BgHDq9jAY9yABU55NyoSdtb8cwwSaGKGCKgafFZVVzOr97rxEfEMOOVqSNInT-Z=s4032" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgvagM-MTLYP2rBNqcYwE-toPpYLoe044Mti4q5eMSStZfgT8OmGpqnoYDfmcLOoySddrVjd8MVNshzdreOCEej-kDrc4CNYpo3UJUDtv2FHwRxCQ7CzkzgYdD0-BgHDq9jAY9yABU55NyoSdtb8cwwSaGKGCKgafFZVVzOr97rxEfEMOOVqSNInT-Z=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">And their mini cactus. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Dear Kaylee, </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Oh baby, I can't believe you are seven and by the time I am writing this seven and a half. But you are still my baby, I think you really enjoy that title. You almost got into a fight with your best friend Adri because she didn't want to let you be the baby while pretend playing. Oh the silly things you fight about. But what we most enjoy watching is how fast you forgive, make up, and keep playing. If only us adults could be more like you. You are my little math whiz. You really have a knack for it. You no longer struggle with reading and writing, but it is not your favorite subject. You are struggling to speak and read in Spanish. You and mommy share a few tears almost daily while doing Spanish, but I know we will get there together just like we did with your English. You are so amazing, my little bug. Mom will forever envy your limberness and flexibility. You enjoy your ballet class, take your piano class a little more serious, and still enjoy your little kids cartoons' as well as bigger kids' cartoons. You are one of the friendliest little girls I know. I haven't seen anyone being able to withstand your charm and attention. You give your friendship freely and tenderly to every kid you meet. Watching you socialize brings me so much joy to see all the goodness and kindness in you. You love playing with kids of all ages, but you feel more at home hanging with younger kids. You have a very maternal love to your treatment of others. I can't wait to read what I'll say about you in the coming years, and look back at these letters and see how much you changed and how much you stayed the same. Your personality and character has been pretty consistent through the years. We still struggle with your temper and your duck face when you're mad, but each year it is easier to get out of that mindset. You are still as loud and silly as ever. I wished I would have allowed your sister to be as loud and silly as I allowed you to be. I hope I never repress you or your sister again in being whoever you want to be. I am sorry for the times I bring your light down by making you behave more "ladylike". I know I must teach you proper manners, but at the same time I don't want to box either of you on what the world has deemed appropriate for girls. You have no idea of what "kicking like a girl" is. You and your sister do everything without feeling limitations. While you are quite the little daredevil, you took your time in learning to use the scooter or the bike without training wheels. But you don't let anyone put any pressure on you. I tried by telling you "your friends already took the training wheels off", but you where your own person not caring what others did or what mommy told you should be your expectations. Thank you for teaching me. You teach me to seize the moments, to laugh out loud without reservation, to enjoy being silly, to enjoy being friendly without fear, to jump at any moment, to dance at any moment, to imagine and smile. I'm just imaging doing all of the above and my heart jumps with joy. You are the joy of my life, my little jumping shrimp. Thank you for existing and being by my side.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Love you forever, </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Mommy</div><div><br /></div></div></div><p><br /></p>Linda Zelayahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02842164145067391301noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6259200682875369030.post-18485650367645571772021-09-21T08:48:00.008-07:002021-09-21T10:07:50.664-07:00Our days are numbered<p> Life was normal up until September 14, 3;00 pm.</p><p>She was posting a funny picture of a mom sleeping in the edge of her bed because her boys had taken over all of the bed. </p><p>"I can't move," she captions it with many smiley faces. </p><p>Life would change so drastically in the upcoming minutes, hours, days. </p><p>She is breastfeeding her baby boy. </p><p>Her eldest comes in the room asking for his coloring book. He was always coloring and drawing. </p><p>As his teacher I knew this well. He would always ask me to make another picture in our virtual class, even after time had finished and I need to go to another class. </p><p>"I can stay with you for another class if you let me, Miss Linda," he would say not caring that my other class was for three year olds. </p><p>He really loved his classes. That comforts me. He wanted more. He tried correcting his English pronunciation and took pride on every little booklet I sent him that he learned to read by heart. </p><p>I keep his videos of him reading his booklets. I keep all of my students' videos and pictures. </p><p>Covid allowed me to teach kids in Panama. He was my Honduran. </p><p>He was a prolific reader. He would take classes with an older girl who was already in first grade. He would stay at her level and even read some words faster than her. You could see he would practice after class and took it very seriously. </p><p>I had a class with him that day. I had had a rough morning fighting with the girls with their schooling. Today had been an especially hard morning. Tears were shed. Screams were shouted. Hearts were heavy. I had a rehearsal later in the evening. </p><p>I write to his mom canceling our class. "We'll have it on Thursday just this week," I write. The other girl had left the class because of family problems. "Tell my boy we'll have our first class just the two of us!!!!" I write with many exclamation points. I knew he was going to be disappointed that I was canceling his beloved class, but that he would be happy to know we would be all alone, just he and I, in our next class. </p><p>He comes into the room a second time to ask for his coloring book. </p><p>"I think it is in the car," says his mom, "I'll go get it for you as soon as I'm done feeding your brother."</p><p>The San Pedro Sula sun is unrelenting at that time. The car sits in the street with no roof overhead and the heat being concentrated for many hours. </p><p>She doses off for a few minutes after breastfeeding. I know the feeling and reason quite well. How many times did it happen to me? I cannot recall. </p><p>She hears her husband screaming. </p><p>Her boy had gone to the car. </p><p>For how many minutes? We can only guess. It couldn't have been 15 minutes ago. It's all it took. </p><p>Her boy was passed out on the back car seat not breathing. </p><p>They get in the car to run to a nearby clinic. They live far away from the city. Their car breaks. They run to the neighbor for help, get on his car, and it also breaks. His Aunt runs to get her car and they get to a clinic. It was too late. He was gone. </p><p>I'm finishing my rehearsal. It was good rehearsal, and I stay back in the stage with the pianist singing some Whitney "There can be Miracles if You Believe." I see my phone has two missed calls and a message. </p><p>"I lost my baby, Miss Linda. I lost my Melvin."</p><p>I read it and a shiver goes through my spine. I call immediately up on the church stage.</p><p>I cannot believe the story I am hearing. I am sobbing uncontrollably. </p><p>My husband is looking at me scared from my face and tears. He understands what happened from what I am saying. </p><p>I cry for minutes until he finally tells me I need to move because they need to close the church. </p><p>"How could this happen? I could have prevented this. If only he had been in class with me! He would have been coloring and would have not been looking for that book." I say.</p><p>His mom has the same sentiments. "If only I had stopped breastfeeding and gone to the car to get his book. He had never done this. He would never even go to the backyard alone." </p><p>Heartbreak is a heavy pain to bear. On Wednesday, the pain was so intense I thought it was going to break me. If I am feeling this way, how is she feeling? </p><p>I keep repeating to myself "He is not dead. He is alive. I just can no longer see him but I will again," when the tears come to my eyes. My girls saw me cry too much last week. I can see it was causing my eldest anxiety. They don't know what happened. "Why are you crying?" they ask. "Something happened in Honduras, but don't worry," I say. </p><p>That same night I come home. I go to my girls room. I grab Emmalee and take her to Kaylee's bed. I get between them and hold them close. I cry and say "I'm sorry." </p><p>Ecclesiastes 7:2 <span face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">It is better to go to a house of mourning</span></p><span class="indent-1" face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="font-family: monospace; font-size: 0.42em; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Eccl-7-2" style="position: relative;">than to go to a house of feasting,</span></span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial; font-size: 16px;" /><span class="text Eccl-7-2" face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; position: relative;">for death is the destiny of everyone;</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial; font-size: 16px;" /><span class="indent-1" face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="font-family: monospace; font-size: 0.42em; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Eccl-7-2" style="position: relative;">the living should take this to heart.</span></span><p>I feel like I am writing a horror tale in this post. It is indeed a horror tale that a mom is enduring and living and carrying. How? I do not know. </p><p>We forget that our days are numbered. "If only" has no purpose in our vocabulary. There was nothing she or her could have done. It was his day. That day belongs to God alone. </p><p>Psalms 139:16 <span face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">Your eyes saw my unformed body;</span></p><span class="indent-1" face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="font-family: monospace; font-size: 0.42em; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Ps-139-16" style="position: relative;">all the days ordained for me were written in your book</span></span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial; font-size: 16px;" /><span class="indent-1" face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="font-family: monospace; font-size: 0.42em; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Ps-139-16" style="position: relative;">before one of them came to be.</span></span><p>Someone shared a story with the quote "It is not for you to understand why things happened. It is for you to learn how to live with them." I guess it is a good advice for someone like me always in pursuit of why. </p><p>I kept remembering what I wrote on Pastor Bob's memorial post: "He believed in what he lived, and he lived what he believed." Do I believe this child is with Jesus? Yes. Do I believe he is alive and well? Yes. Do I believe I'll see him again? Yes. Then I must live like someone with such hope and faith. But I also remember the words of my dear Diane: "Everything has it's time. You need to feel it all before you move forward. If you skip steps to be 'Christian-correct', you'll have to go back and will have to go back many times. Don't skip over the grief and pain and hurt." </p><p>I write this with the hope that this story makes you think of your own life. What are the useless feelings and emotions we waste our days with? What missed opportunities to love our children and loved ones fervently are we not taking? We MUST be preparing ourselves for our last day here because it IS coming. We never know when it will be the last of anything. </p><p>My sweet boy will be missed. My heart still aches at remembering him and his sweetness and joyfulness. He was such a happy boy on this earth. I tell his mom to take comfort on what a happy life he enjoyed by her side, even if the pain of losing him is so hard to endure.</p><p>Join me in praying for her. Her name is Eimy. Pray that she, her husband, baby, and family can endure this terrible passing. Pray their marriage can endure. Pray they don't blame themselves. Pray that the Lord may work miracles in the healing of their hearts. Pray that I may continue being close to her and that the Lord gives me wisdom and words to help her in this healing journey. Pray that they may all come to Jesus to share in the hope of seeing our little boy again. </p><p><br /></p>Linda Zelayahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02842164145067391301noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6259200682875369030.post-57991000852198574112021-09-02T07:02:00.003-07:002021-09-02T07:02:26.047-07:00Pastor Bob, Hope Profession PhD<p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA_VVasI_dnkrp67B4XPhteLQ9CVHKxVPi3qX-jfY3mOcR8MUHlq2IZdnrXrTR8MF6hq1az6bsSj6t5XV155eQLYQIq0o19oW0Nn6tDgdJ-nkd3Wfwdzm8j3RmEO0f-XU4A9saGW21Igk/s2048/unnamed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA_VVasI_dnkrp67B4XPhteLQ9CVHKxVPi3qX-jfY3mOcR8MUHlq2IZdnrXrTR8MF6hq1az6bsSj6t5XV155eQLYQIq0o19oW0Nn6tDgdJ-nkd3Wfwdzm8j3RmEO0f-XU4A9saGW21Igk/w640-h640/unnamed.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our church will be celebrating Pastor Bob's life this Sunday, September 5th. You can tune in on our Youtube channel Crossroads Bible Church, 8 am in Spanish and 11 am in English. </td></tr></tbody></table><p><br /></p><p>For the past 4 years of my life I've had the wonderful privilege of sitting on Pastor Bob's Sunday school. You know what this Sunday school has meant to me and what it has done for my faith, for I have written Pastor Bob's name on my blog several times as you can read <a href="https://youknowwhatineed.blogspot.com/2019/09/width-length-depth-and-height-of-gods.html">here</a>, <a href="https://youknowwhatineed.blogspot.com/2021/05/is-your-faith-shattered-from-unanswered.html">here</a>, <a href="https://youknowwhatineed.blogspot.com/2021/06/deliverance-from-death.html">here</a>, and <a href="https://youknowwhatineed.blogspot.com/2020/06/the-art-of-mindfulness.html">here</a>. My dearest Pastor Bob went to his eternal home last Tuesday, August 24, 2021 the very day he was celebrating his 59th wedding anniversary with his much beloved Mary. </p><p>Can a man depart from this earth having only positive things said about him from everyone that surrounded him? My Pastor Bob has proven you can. But what do these positive things being said about him do? Point to Jesus. </p><p>If I had to use only two words to describe Pastor Bob, I would use the words DUTY and LOVE. </p><p>Let's start with the first word, Duty. </p><p>I met Pastor Bob during a time when I was heavily struggling with my physical health still recovering from the blast of chemo and radio and all the surgeries that stripped my body from normal function. But, I was very comfortable letting all that be "justification" for my lack of service or my lack of character. Who can blame me? Who can ask more of me after all I had suffered? At first, my heart was hardened by the "no one understands me" thought that also comfortably allowed me to be cynical with others. And then I met Pastor Bob. Pastor Bob not only could understand me; he could rebuke me. And rebuke me he did. He had been living with cancer for the past 9 years when I met him. He knew all about the pain of chemo (constant chemo in his case), the pain of neuropathy (which in his case was so severe compared to mine that he described the sensation in his feet as walking on stumps.). He understood alright! And that gave me an instant connection to him. In those first years, he and Mary would check up on me constantly which made me feel so absolutely loved. There was something about both of them that just drew you in, something in their smile, in the way they talked to you, in the way they looked at you. My mentor Diane said it perfectly on our remembrance meeting last Sunday. She said, "Bob had the special ability of making you feel like you were his favorite... And then you realized he made everyone feel that too." It was exactly like I would have described it. I felt his favorite. And then I learned others felt that too, which was kind of heartbreaking, hehe. Can you imagine having that ability of making those who surround you feel like you are their favorite person? It was Pastor Bob's super power. When I started at church, I signed up for a Sunday school class in Spanish that was taught in the main hall. I liked it, but it wasn't what I was looking for. There was this one time when I had just started serving in the music ministry that I was feeling very sleepy, and I wanted to take a nap between church meetings (which is when Sunday school takes place.) I found a dark corner in a room next to the main hall, and there I heard it for the first time: Pastor Bob's Sunday school. My dear Diane, who I still didn't know closely, was attending it, which drew my attention further because I also wanted to find a way to get close to her. Everyone was participating and talking, which didn't happen in my other class. I knew in my heart that was the place for me to be. It had been a long time since I had desired Biblical instruction and had received it more in the obligated sense. I longed for my Sunday school classes where Pastor Bob would break down verse by verse of the book we were reading and sometimes only cover 5 verses per class. And there I learned about his duty, which he made it clear was my duty. Pastor Bob didn't believe in wasting your time, wasting your emotions, wasting your resources. "Your duty is to the Kingdom, to God, and the gospel," he would teach. He certainly had lived that way during his entire life as a missionary to various tribes in Panama and in his service as main pastor to our church. But his duty had not ended with cancer or a "more mature age". He kept on his work with "Juntos Podemos Curundu" which he presided over. He kept on his small group and his Sunday school. Very few understood what his health struggles were because he never once showed them, complained about them, or allowed that to stop him from his duty of living everyday for Christ. But I knew. I knew the chronic pain he must have endured for almost a decade. I knew the fatigue of chemo, the impotence of a body that you no longer count on or know, the stubbornness of wanting to be normal when your body is broken. Pastor Bob was nicknamed "Bob the builder" rightfully so, but his family would have wanted him to stop his building prowess for the sake of his body. Watching his unbreakable peace, undeniable joy, and his unrelenting trust in his Savior were a constant slap in my faith to "snap out of it." </p><p><span class="versenum" style="background-color: white; display: inline; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial; font-size: 1.2rem; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;">Hebrews 10:23 </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial; font-size: 16px;">Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise.</span></p><p>Pastor Bob certainly lived this verse. My struggles were all that were before me back then. Pastor Bob would call me over and over again to put Jesus before me. And if I was complacent in my sin because "I'm in pain", Pastor Bob would not let that slide. He would call me to fulfill the duty I was called on to do: live as for the Lord. </p><p><span class="text 1Cor-13-1" style="background-color: white; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial; font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-size: 19.2px; font-weight: 700;">1 Corinthians 13 1</span>If I could speak all the languages of earth and of angels, but didn’t love others, I would only be a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial; font-size: 16px;"> </span><span class="text 1Cor-13-2" id="en-NLT-28628" style="background-color: white; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial; font-size: 16px;"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-size: 1.2rem; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;">2 </span>If I had the gift of prophecy, and if I understood all of God’s secret plans and possessed all knowledge, and if I had such faith that I could move mountains, but didn’t love others, I would be nothing.</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial; font-size: 16px;"> </span><span class="text 1Cor-13-3" id="en-NLT-28629" style="background-color: white; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial; font-size: 16px;"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-size: 1.2rem; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;">3 </span>If I gave everything I have to the poor and even sacrificed my body, I could boast about it;<span class="footnote" data-fn="#fen-NLT-28629a" data-link="[<a href="#fen-NLT-28629a" title="See footnote a">a</a>]" style="display: inline; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;">[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Corinthians+13&version=NLT#fen-NLT-28629a" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #4a4a4a; min-width: 0px; vertical-align: text-top;" title="See footnote a">a</a>]</span> but if I didn’t love others, I would have gained nothing.</span></p><p>This chapter in the Word is very well-known. The love chapter. But I feel it perfectly described my dearest Pastor Bob too. Here are other things said about him during our remembrance meeting last Sunday: "Bob was a rescuer. He lived what he believed, and believed in what he lived. He loved to be a fisherman, but was also a fisher of man. A chocolate lover." That last one made me happy, because he once told me my chocolate cake was his favorite chocolate cake in the world. I'll be making that cake for my birthday celebration this weekend. Some tears will most certainly fall after making it, for I always sought to save a piece for my dear Pastor Bob. "My doctor says I shouldn't eat that, but your cake really tempts me," is what he said the last time I brought a piece to our Sunday school for him. I knew what that meant. This was pre-pandemic. Bob's love for people was very on the nose. He couldn't hide it. My dear Tia Mercedes would tell me stories of discussions she would have with Bob about Juntos Podemos. "He needs to be tougher," she would say, "but he loves too much." Tia Mercedes would never miss a day of Sunday school and would make me accountable if I missed it. The Lord certainly has surrounded me with the most amazing people that I needed to be surrounded by. I wish I would have taken up my tia´s invitation to go to Bob's small group. I missed the past two months of Bob's Sunday school because I had volunteered to serve in the kid's combined Sunday school for those months. I had felt in my heart my time was running out and asked Miss Zuly if I could miss my last day of combined Sunday school to be on Bob's class. That class was taught by Selwyn, Diane's husband. I had indeed missed my chance. I thought I had more time. I really did. Bob made you believe it. Even to the end, he wouldn't let out how bad it was and what it meant that he kept on teaching us. I take solace that the last months we had been recording the Sunday school, and I can still watch him. I wished I had had more years with him like most of our Sunday class did. I got four years. I could have had 30 years, and it would not have been enough. I love Pastor Bob and his wife Mary with all my heart. Please pray for Mary. I can't fathom what it's like to lose my life's partner of 59 years. Pray for her health that has also been in decline the past two years. I am overjoyed to know Bob is finally home pain-free, cancer-free, with his new body ready to build again. </p><p>I titled this post: Pastor Bob, Hope Profession PhD because I think that is what Bob's profession was: hope. I had lived without hope after cancer for a long time. Bob showed me it was possible to live with cancer and have a PhD in hope. He lived what he believed indeed! Here are more verse that describe how Pastor Bob lived:</p><p><span style="background-color: white; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial; font-size: 16px;"> </span><span class="text Rom-5-5" id="en-NIV-28053" style="background-color: white; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial; font-size: 16px;"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-size: 1.2rem; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;">Romans 5 5 </span>And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.</span></p><p><span class="text Rom-5-5" style="background-color: white; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial; font-size: 16px;"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-size: 1.2rem; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;">Romans 15 13 </span>May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.</span></p><p><span class="text Rom-5-5" style="background-color: white; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial; font-size: 16px;"><span class="text Rom-8-24" id="en-NIV-28141"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-size: 1.2rem; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;">Romans 8 24 </span>For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have?</span> <span class="text Rom-8-25" id="en-NIV-28142"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-size: 1.2rem; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;">25 </span>But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.</span></span></p><p><span class="text Prov-23-18" id="en-NKJV-17063" style="background-color: white; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial; font-size: 16px; position: relative;"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-size: 1.2rem; font-weight: 700; left: -4.4em; line-height: normal; position: absolute; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;">18 </span><span style="font-size: 19.2px; font-weight: 700;">Proverbs 23 17 </span>For surely there is a</span><span class="text Prov-23-18" style="background-color: white; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial; position: relative;"><span style="font-size: 10px;"> </span>hereafter,</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial; font-size: 16px;" /><span class="text Prov-23-18" style="background-color: white; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial; font-size: 16px; position: relative;">And your hope will not be cut off.</span></p><p><span class="versenum" style="background-color: white; display: inline; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial; font-size: 1.2rem; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;">Romans 12 12 </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial; font-size: 16px;">Be joyful in hope,</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial; font-size: 16px;"> patient in affliction,</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial; font-size: 16px;"> faithful in prayer.</span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOeM3YmqmDqF14-ThUuiT2hMkt1_Q3n0qNgvVZD2HskwBcZysCNE1jmL5SMVHynXeps5WylLM21ZJ22ygw-GCflXoVZwYq1Zh6BfsSbL3zYTJr1FzJZXDSKzQPvGdyYjdLMmf1ajeLuj0/s1876/unnamed+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1408" data-original-width="1876" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOeM3YmqmDqF14-ThUuiT2hMkt1_Q3n0qNgvVZD2HskwBcZysCNE1jmL5SMVHynXeps5WylLM21ZJ22ygw-GCflXoVZwYq1Zh6BfsSbL3zYTJr1FzJZXDSKzQPvGdyYjdLMmf1ajeLuj0/w640-h480/unnamed+%25281%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pictures by @ruthysworld</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><br /></p><p>Selwyn ended our meeting with this verse and I want to end on it too:</p><p><span class="text Rev-1-1" style="background-color: white; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial; font-size: 16px;"><span class="chapternum" style="bottom: -0.1em; display: inline; font-size: 2.4rem; font-weight: 700; left: 0px; line-height: 0.8em; position: relative;"><span style="font-size: 19.2px;">Revelations 1 1</span> </span>The revelation from Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants what must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John,</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial; font-size: 16px;"> </span><span class="text Rev-1-2" id="en-NIV-30700" style="background-color: white; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial; font-size: 16px;"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-size: 1.2rem; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;">2 </span>who testifies to everything he saw—that is, the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ.</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial; font-size: 16px;"> </span><span class="text Rev-1-3" id="en-NIV-30701" style="background-color: white; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial; font-size: 16px;"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-size: 1.2rem; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;">3 </span>Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near.</span></p>Linda Zelayahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02842164145067391301noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6259200682875369030.post-34100938402561148952021-07-08T08:23:00.006-07:002021-07-08T16:05:22.658-07:00Can you prevent a suicide?<p> <span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"> Wow! That is one heavy question to begin a post
with. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">One that I have been pondering about for many years and which
plagued my mind last night. You see, I have a friend who converted a cargo van
into a camper van and has been sharing her family vacations this summer on Instagram.
I started daydreaming of one day doing my own van conversion, and I’ve been
binge watching van conversion videos and tours on Youtube. Van life seems so
perfect: low cost of living, life on the road, freedom to travel. Vanlifers
seemed to have it all. I was watching a couple who had done several iterations
of their van conversions making sure to add space for guests because their
female friend had joined them before and slept on the floor. Their new van even
included a bed for her, and she even appeared on the video showing off the new
guest bed. I saw some videos where the three of them lived in the van because
most vanlifers don’t have kids. My dream van would have to accommodate more than
two. </span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">I watched with wonderment how easy
they made it look being crammed in that small space with a tiny compartment composting
toilet. They seemed to get along well, and their videos were endearing. And
then on the side videos was a small thumbnail with the title “For Lee”. Lee was
this female guest. She had a channel of her own documenting her own female solo
van build. On March 26, 2021 Lee Macmillan took her own life.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I was dazed. How could this have happened? She was 28,
young, beautiful, perfect body, perfect smile, seemed to have amazing friends
and family, amazing life plans. To me, she had it all. I wasn’t expecting to
have my innocent van conversion binging confront me with this post’s question.
The video “For Lee” had a warning at the beginning of the video explaining the
subject covered and warning against triggers. It is no secret to anyone who has
read my blog before that I am one of those people triggered. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The way some were perceiving Lee’s story made me mad. The first thing that comes to
mind to many when they hear about suicide is “How could she have been so selfish?
Why didn’t she seek help?” Well, Lee had been very vocal and candid about her
struggle with mental health, anxiety, and depression. I’ve written about <a href="https://youknowwhatineed.blogspot.com/2018/08/on-losing-pastor-andrew-stoecklein.html">PastorAndrew Stoecklin</a> in this blog before. I also followed the story of Pastor Jarrid Wilson, who not
only was open about his depression and mental health struggles but ran an
outreach group he founded called “Anthem of Hope” to help others like him
struggling with depression and anxiety. Jarrid fought to end the stigma on opening
up about your thoughts and show how dangerous depression is. His struggle was
so intense that he took his life a day before World Suicide Prevention Day. This
was his last message on Twitter:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“</span><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="background: white; color: #0f1419; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Loving Jesus doesn’t always cure suicidal thoughts. Loving Jesus doesn’t
always cure depression. Loving Jesus doesn’t always cure PTSD. Loving Jesus
doesn’t always cure anxiety. But that doesn’t mean Jesus doesn’t offer us
companionship and comfort. He ALWAYS does that.</span>” <span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I know
many, many Christians who would disagree with Jarrid’s post.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in;"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="background: white; color: #0f1419; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">All three: Lee, Andrew, and Jarrid had sought professional
and pharmaceutical help, had opened up not only to close ones about their
thoughts but also to their huge online following, and depression still ended
their lives. If you think this was done out of selfishness, please let me know
so that I can take you out of my life. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I have opened up in person and online about my
depression. After Pastor Andrew’s death I even took his wife’s advice that “If
anyone even mentions the word suicide, you take it seriously.” She never
thought her husband would take his life having all the support he had and raising
three small boys. I went straight to my husband and said, “I need you to take
it seriously if I ever say the word suicide.” It is only after the matter that
people take it seriously. This was a sentiment expressed by many “For Lee’
videos. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Back in October 2020, I told my friend Jackie that my
depression was getting out of hand. She knew we had also been struggling
financially so she offered to give me a stipend of $100 every month so I could
afford my antidepressants. I was shocked someone would take my struggle so seriously
to be willing to invest in my mental health. Jackie footed that bill for four
months. When my mom found employment in February, she took over my
antidepressant bill. I was able to begin my weaning process in April and
finished the long process in June 2021, just last month. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">My struggles with depression have been well documented
on this blog, as was my struggle with breast cancer. My cancer posts have more
than 3,000 views. My depression posts get at the most 100. Yet, 100 people read
my last <a href=" https://youknowwhatineed.blogspot.com/2021/06/deliverance-from-death.html">post</a>.
How many who of those 100 who read that weaning off my antidepressants caused
me suicide thoughts do you think reached out to me to see if I am doing better?
Yup, you probably guessed it! Zero. Most who read this blog know me personally
or know me online. Most who do read such heavy posts are close friends and
family. None have reached out to ask if I am still having these thoughts. I don’t
blame you. We don’t know how to address these issues. My husband struggles especially
because he hasn’t personally experienced depression. He says he doesn’t know
what to say or do. One time I scolded him and said, “If you don’t know, read!
Pick up a book and learn. You don’t have to know it all, but you can be better
prepared and be more knowledgeable on what to say or do.” He took me up on that
advice and began reading about PTSD, chronic fatigue syndrome, hypothyroidism, neuropathy,
and depression and anxiety, all of which his lovely wife of 35 years old
suffers from. You probably didn’t reach out because you think my close friends
and family are already on it. This should be the case, and I am happy to report
it is my case. This is not always the case. Make sure. Heard someone talk about
suicide? Take it seriously. Serious enough to show up at their home. Serious
enough to give them a call not just a text. Serious enough to inquire about the
professional help they’re seeking and if there isn’t any, making sure they get
it and helping them out to get it.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Lee’s ex boyfriend’s video was especially hard to watch.
He mentions that he knew Lee had been cyberbullied and that the hate comments
about their split were affecting her. He says he regrets not stepping up to
stop the trolls and to make sure Lee was ok. He ends his video saying how he
has to live with the regret that he knows he could have done more to try to
save her life. Don’t let this be your story. Lee’s friends and family have been
doing a wonderful job at creating awareness with the hashtag #speakUpForLee. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I hope this post was not a trigger for anyone.
If you are having suicidal thoughts, please know you are not alone. You are not
alone in the struggle, you are not alone in having these thoughts, and you are not
alone in this life. I’ve had friends call me from miles away in the brink of
breaking, and I have been able to be there with them even if through an
electronic device. This can be the difference between life and death. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Covid has made the suicide problem much worse. Kids
are needing psychiatric help much younger. Social distancing is harder for
others that rely on social interaction for stability. Reach out now more than
ever. If anyone came to mind while reading this post, check up on them today! <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Here are some numbers for help I found in Honduras and
Panama. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Honduras:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;">Telefono Esperanza<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;">0558 08 08 / 150
(Admón 2232-2707)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;">Panama:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;">líneas de
apoyo:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in;"><span face=""Segoe UI Emoji",sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Segoe UI Emoji";">✅</span><span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;">Línea de apoyo psicológico: 169.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in;"><span face=""Segoe UI Emoji",sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Segoe UI Emoji";">✅</span><span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;">Instituto Nacional de Salud Mental:
512-6800.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in;"><span face=""Segoe UI Emoji",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Segoe UI Emoji";">✅</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">911.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I am happy to report my suicide thoughts from my chemical
imbalance due to the weaning process are gone. I am back to reading my Bible every
day, doing yoga once or twice a day, going to bed at decent hours and waking up
early, taking the girls to the park more often, and making plans for the
future. That is pretty much my good mental health state! <o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="margin: 0in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Here are some pics of my devotional verses. Taking the time each morning to write them down has been a huge help in getting my mind into the right thoughts (duh! my mind on th Word is best) and releasing any bad energies by simply doing a little art. </span></p><p style="margin: 0in;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br /></span></p><p style="margin: 0in;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjqM9Bf29Y0yTFi38LJqb-LQoTvxu4zAOLGLd87VaiH9vsXxlG-GZJY5PPY5uZVQQbo6btQWdEgS-E_4BAc2i4qT3R0aRdc691we51UOAppFS2R2v7pW83h9jYmy-oATOO-zHwJJI3CwY/s1216/WhatsApp+Image+2021-07-08+at+10.13.08+AM.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1216" data-original-width="796" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjqM9Bf29Y0yTFi38LJqb-LQoTvxu4zAOLGLd87VaiH9vsXxlG-GZJY5PPY5uZVQQbo6btQWdEgS-E_4BAc2i4qT3R0aRdc691we51UOAppFS2R2v7pW83h9jYmy-oATOO-zHwJJI3CwY/w418-h640/WhatsApp+Image+2021-07-08+at+10.13.08+AM.jpeg" width="418" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; 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margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="958" data-original-width="1280" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYi6aOaxx-zuQ2s5Zi6R1hHWWm54ht-vImhjC0KqLJ6a8IFbR2ag3VuXq1AUfAsJeLrxUl3JRhc41WlHq-R7tdg8RIP7o5QEdpoUJN_sp1cjXlOtChjpyDDSm5yImaWbdPMicDwkFZOSg/w640-h480/WhatsApp+Image+2021-07-08+at+10.13.12+AM.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br /></span><p></p>Linda Zelayahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02842164145067391301noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6259200682875369030.post-54566761399927606732021-06-02T11:01:00.001-07:002024-02-23T07:03:20.278-08:00Deliverance from Death<p><span> </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"> I am not one to read the Bible where it opened.
I'm systematic. I know what I am reading, or I know what I want to read when I
want to read something other than what I am systematically reading. But today I
read my Bible where it opened. I don't like being the superstitious kind that
thinks everything is a sign and when things align it's "God talking to
me." But I guess this kind of thinking is prideful and closing me up to
look beyond what the eye can see. After reading my friend Diane's book </span><i style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">God
in the Meantime</i><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">, I am trying to seek more God's voice like she often did.
And I have to say, today I heard His voice so loudly I want to share it with
you. </span></p>
<p style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"> My Bible opened to Psalm 116. As a systematic
reader that often reads something in the Old Testament and something in the New
with some Proverbs and Psalms sprinkled in there most days, I have read Psalms
many times in my lifetime. I often overlook them as profound chapters until I
study how many times Jesus and other men in the Bible quotes them. After
today's reading, I have to take a closer look at Psalms. Before I go into the
Psalm, let me tell you what's been going on with me. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"> I have shared how I am taking antidepressants
because I suffer from clinical depression. Clinical depression, which has a
very physical component due to chemical imbalances in my brain exacerbated by
normal everyday problems, is a mental and emotional disorder that is a
recognized illness and takes just as many lives as cancer does. This has been
the longest I've been on antidepressants taking them since October of last year.
I usually take antidepressants when my depression is getting into the
"heightened desire or thoughts of suicide" stage that you always hear
on antidepressant medication commercials. I always wait until it gets really
bad before I seek medical and pharmaceutical help. I've been fighting the
stigma on my disease by being timelier in getting the help I need so that I
don't let things go too far. But! I don't let myself be on the medication for
too long for fear of creating dependency. And so, I am weaning off my
antidepressant. I've been steadily feeling better and getting a better grip on
my mental and emotional health, so I felt the time to go off the meds was now.
The problem with this is that weaning off of these types of medication is
dangerous and hard. The doctors warn you that weaning off of them will bring
about suicidal thoughts. "This seems crazy. How can me not taking a
medication make me think of killing myself?" Well, they're not lying. It's
insane. The thoughts come out of nowhere and for absolutely no reason. This
begs the question: Should I wean myself from them? Let's answer that question
after going into the Psalms. The Psalms was titled "Thanksgiving for
Deliverance from Death."<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Psalm 116<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background: white;"><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial"><span class="text"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Verse 1 and 2: </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background: white;"><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial"><span class="text"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">I love the <span style="font-variant-caps: small-caps; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;"></span></span><span class="small-caps"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Lord</span></span></span><span class="text"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">, because
He has heard</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Segoe UI", sans-serif;"><br />
</span><span class="text"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">My
voice <i>and</i> my supplications.</span></span><span style="font-family: "Segoe UI", sans-serif;"><br />
</span><span class="versenum"><span style="font-size: 1.2rem;"><b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" id="en-NKJV-15851">2 </span></span></b></span><span class="text"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Because He
has inclined His ear to me,</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Segoe UI", sans-serif;"><br />
</span><span class="text"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Therefore
I will call <i>upon Him</i> as long as I live.</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"> This first verse gripped my attention. It
doesn't say "He answered my supplications. He gave me what I asked."
It says, "He heard me," and this was reason enough for the psalmist
to decide to call upon Him as long as he lived. I wrote in my previous <a href="https://youknowwhatineed.blogspot.com/2021/05/is-your-faith-shattered-from-unanswered.html?fbclid=IwAR056OdQo-5Kun6rjxHogVjvY21szTtcwICqI89rK_9DIJD9AzkBlxswgZE"><span style="color: #839b1c;">post </span></a>how unanswered prayer has really
tested my faith. And here the psalmist is telling me he loves Him for the mere
fact that He listens to his supplications... <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background: white;"><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" id="en-NKJV-15855"><span style="font-size: 1.2rem;"><span class="versenum"><b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">6 </span></b></span></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background: white;"><span class="text">Verse
6 - 9: </span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">The </span><span class="small-caps"><span style="font-variant-caps: small-caps; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">Lord</span></span> preserves the simple;<span style="font-family: "Segoe UI", sans-serif;"><br />
</span><span class="text"><span style="background: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial">I was brought low, and He saved me.</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Segoe UI", sans-serif;"><br />
</span><span class="versenum"><span style="font-size: 1.2rem;"><b><span style="background: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" id="en-NKJV-15856">7 </span></span></b></span><span class="text"><span style="background: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Return to
your rest, O my soul,</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Segoe UI", sans-serif;"><br />
</span><span class="text"><span style="background: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial">For the <span style="font-variant-caps: small-caps; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;"></span></span><span class="small-caps"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">Lord</span></span></span><span class="text"><span style="background: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> has dealt bountifully with you.</span></span></span><b><span style="background: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" style="font-size: 1.2rem;"> </span></span></b><o:p></o:p></p>
<p style="background: white;"><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial"><span id="en-NKJV-15857"><span class="text"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">For You have delivered my soul from death,</span></span></span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br />
<span class="text">My eyes from tears,</span><br />
<span class="text"><i>And</i> my feet from falling.</span><br />
<span class="versenum"><span id="en-NKJV-15858"><b><span style="font-size: 1.2rem;">9 </span></b></span><span class="text">I will walk before the <span style="font-variant-caps: small-caps; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;"></span><span class="small-caps">Lord.</span></span><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></p>
<p style="background: white;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"> I often battle with my
feelings about my cancer because I wish it had never happened and I am
eternally grateful it did. It changed me. It brought me low, real low. My
friends laugh when I share with them, I am a "reformed pharisee", but
I am. I grew up in a church that created division and classes according to
"maturity" and "sanctity." It looked down on the
"lukewarm Christians" and I was taught to be and act this way. I
wondered what the Bible commentary on "simple" had to say. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background: white;"><span face="helvetica, helveticaneue, "helvetica neue", helvetica-neue, Arial, sans-serif"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #414042; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">“</span></span><span face="helvetica, helveticaneue, "helvetica neue", helvetica-neue, Arial, sans-serif" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit;"><b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 1pt none windowtext; color: #004161; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; padding: 0in;">The simple; </span></b></span><span face="helvetica, helveticaneue, "helvetica neue", helvetica-neue, Arial, sans-serif"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #414042; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">sincere
and plain-hearted persons, who dare not use those frauds and crafty and wicked
artifices in saving themselves or destroying their enemies but wait upon God
with honest hearts in his way and for his time of deliverance. Such persons he
calls </span></span><i style="box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 1pt none windowtext; color: #414042; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; padding: 0in;">simple </span></i><span face="helvetica, helveticaneue, "helvetica neue", helvetica-neue, Arial, sans-serif"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #414042; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">or </span></span><i style="box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 1pt none windowtext; color: #414042; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; padding: 0in;">foolish</span></i><span face="helvetica, helveticaneue, "helvetica neue", helvetica-neue, Arial, sans-serif"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #414042; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">, as this
word is commonly rendered, not because they are really so, but because the
world esteems them so.” (Poole) </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background: white;"><span face="helvetica, helveticaneue, "helvetica neue", helvetica-neue, Arial, sans-serif"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #414042; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">“Not only
is God gracious, but he is also gracious to the little people, to the plain, to
commoners, to the everyday person on the bus or in the shop – to people like
the psalmist. That is one of the great glories of our God. When Jesus called
his disciples, he called fishermen and tax collectors. When the angels
announced the birth of Jesus, they appeared to shepherds.” (Boice)</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background: white;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"> When I consider Jesus, He
would have sat with the other group in my church and not with the "mature
group" I belonged to. Cancer stripped me of any pride about myself, about
my body, about my mental capacities, about my Christian maturity, about my
youth or physical abilities. It broke me completely where I could not depend on
anything I could do and solely cry out to the Lord in my need with absolutely
nowhere else to go. Do you know what a gift that is? As I got better and
better, I tried with all my might to hold on to that feeling and total
dependance, but my humanity came back! </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background: white;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"> The psalmist was delivered from
death. I was delivered from death. If you have been here, you know I struggle
with survivor's guilt. "Of course, he can sing to the Lord! He was spared.
But what about the others?" is usually my first thought. Let's see what
the psalm keeps saying:</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background: white;"><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial"><span class="text"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Verse 12 and 13: </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="versenum"><span style="font-size: 1.2rem;"><b><span style="background: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" id="en-NKJV-15861">12 </span></span></b></span><span class="text"><span style="background: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">What shall
I render to the <span style="font-variant-caps: small-caps; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;"></span></span><span class="small-caps"><span style="background: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Lord</span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Segoe UI", sans-serif;"><br />
</span><span class="text"><i><span style="background: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial">For</span></span></i></span><span class="text"><span style="background: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> all His benefits toward me?</span></span><span style="font-family: "Segoe UI", sans-serif;"><br />
</span><span class="versenum"><span style="font-size: 1.2rem;"><b><span style="background: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" id="en-NKJV-15862">13 </span></span></b></span><span class="text"><span style="background: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">I will take
up the cup of salvation,</span></span></span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial">And
call upon the name of the</span><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial"> </span></span><span class="small-caps"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" style="font-variant-caps: small-caps; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">Lord</span></span></span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">.</span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">
Pastor Bob said something that has been replaying over and over in my
head these past weeks of weaning: "Jesus paid it all for us. There is
nothing that can take our Salvation away from us. We are saved. We have the
gift of eternal life. With that alone, we should live the most joyful lives
ever. We have nothing to worry about anymore ever again!" I believe this
is what it means to "take up the cup of salvation." What else can I
do for all the benefits God has bestowed upon me than to live in
gratitude! </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background: white;"><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial"><span class="text"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Verse 15: </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="versenum"></span><b><span style="background: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 1.2rem;">15 </span></span></b><span class="text"><span style="background: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Precious in
the sight of the <span style="font-variant-caps: small-caps; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;"></span></span><span class="small-caps"><span style="background: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Lord</span></span></span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"><i><span style="font-family: "Segoe UI", sans-serif;">Is</span></i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial"> </span><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial">the
death of His saints.</span></span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">
I thought long and hard on this verse. How had I not studied it before?
What does it mean? I prayed God to speak to me like I haven't in a long time.
"He loves my children far more than I could ever love them," is one
of the most comforting thoughts I have when I consider the lives of my girls
don't rest solely on what I do. He is at work in their lives far beyond than I.
If they were to die, it would hurt Him more than it would hurt me. God's saints
(His children adopted through the blood of Jesus Christ) are precious to Him.
Here the psalmist recognizes he was spared from death, but knows death is a
reality to many of God's saints. Their death doesn’t go over God's head. He
knows. He is there. He holds them. This is why I have been learning to stop
"putting things in perspective." You often do this when you want to
lessen your feelings about something. "I am in chronic pain but at least I
am not a quadriplegic." "I lost my job due to Covid but at least I
haven't lost a loved one." Putting things in perspective to lessen your
pain doesn't work and only hurts. They come from lies from Satan. For me, the
lies were "How could you be spared, and Kara Tippets wasn't?" And
these lies become worse when you try to view your personal relationship with
God from what happens to others. This is often the case I see in those who
profess to be atheist. "How can you say God is loving with all the hurt,
killing, illness, poverty, and injustice you see around the world?" These
atheists usually come from a good background and have not personally
experienced what they profess to be the reasons not to believe in God. And the
people who have actually experienced them are usually the first to cry out and
cling to God. It goes back to the point of being simple. I can only view God
from His personal dealing with me, and His personally dealing with me was
deliverance. And to those that wasn't, precious is to Him. I will only know how
precious is to Him when I myself walk through the doorstep of death and feel
His love and comfort and being held in that moment by Him. This takes me back
to the time I was on my cancer treatment, and I suffered from unshakable joy
and trust and faith. I'm telling you the best thing that ever happened to me!</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"> I am
weaning off my meds. I was having the most wonderful girls' night with the best
friends the body of Christ could have gifted me with here in Panama, Jackie and
Tita, and I couldn't stop knitting while sharing with them the Friends' Reunion
because I was scared that if I stopped knitting anxiety would take over me.
Anxiety that I am experiencing for the mere fact of weaning. I was having the
most wonderful family trip eating at a lovely seaside restaurant and thoughts
of "you should kill yourself" came to my mind for the mere fact of
weaning. It's insane. The difference between me before treatment and me now is
that before I would desire these thoughts and fully embrace them. Now, I strike
them back with the words of Pastor Bob; I take up the cup of salvation. I fully
reject those thoughts! And, slowly the thoughts come less and less, and I open
my Bible more and more! </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">I accept my
deliverance from death and praise God for it instead of questioning Him on why
me. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">I open my eyes to
see how bountifully the Lord has dealt with me.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><div><span style="background-color: white;"><span><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGbq__XmniaQbEzZOpb69NzCI04MDlDTucuiKSOjFb4VZ7mqGcPlDQMw5Qft-thus8uUcLqA-Vt8wJtMASfmgS4xTpzUpdGQStu2p5eT7yl0QQmbSQXjgFqfOQ613v6AC7tDKYOd_Z9zs/s1152/WhatsApp+Image+2021-05-15+at+8.13.26+PM.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="546" data-original-width="1152" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGbq__XmniaQbEzZOpb69NzCI04MDlDTucuiKSOjFb4VZ7mqGcPlDQMw5Qft-thus8uUcLqA-Vt8wJtMASfmgS4xTpzUpdGQStu2p5eT7yl0QQmbSQXjgFqfOQ613v6AC7tDKYOd_Z9zs/w640-h304/WhatsApp+Image+2021-05-15+at+8.13.26+PM.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We found this wild beach close to the San Lorenzo fort in Colon. It was such a great trip with mom out for the first time since her surgery last October.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2WtCxM8L7HqmCe2pExi-j0ZsMGfuF4MsGq_mujy1VGF12QQoTLSNeIUikygOdxKfHmYnQFyvPvocO_1cFSuAP5cTfHGBizdWIaFpxBN2NxPNRarVdKFfEFZ6LibJlwTDa7fr-F0MiT18/s1280/WhatsApp+Image+2021-05-15+at+8.13.32+PM.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="605" data-original-width="1280" height="302" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2WtCxM8L7HqmCe2pExi-j0ZsMGfuF4MsGq_mujy1VGF12QQoTLSNeIUikygOdxKfHmYnQFyvPvocO_1cFSuAP5cTfHGBizdWIaFpxBN2NxPNRarVdKFfEFZ6LibJlwTDa7fr-F0MiT18/w640-h302/WhatsApp+Image+2021-05-15+at+8.13.32+PM.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Family pic at the fort!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioNvbRxGOQtBlgzIjNitO1Ap7uRjlu2dA8E5GRUVjj0WT-VQLtSAu8eQlzQK871QhMz7PXrUBUaQQThPkr_WQKk9KSiVO7XrnyjgRHLTUZuIb12kpMEZHWMg7FZlnYR9IRkhezE1-IQLo/s1280/WhatsApp+Image+2021-05-15+at+8.13.33+PM.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="605" data-original-width="1280" height="302" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioNvbRxGOQtBlgzIjNitO1Ap7uRjlu2dA8E5GRUVjj0WT-VQLtSAu8eQlzQK871QhMz7PXrUBUaQQThPkr_WQKk9KSiVO7XrnyjgRHLTUZuIb12kpMEZHWMg7FZlnYR9IRkhezE1-IQLo/w640-h302/WhatsApp+Image+2021-05-15+at+8.13.33+PM.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My mom was finally able to walk since breaking her pinkie toe three months ago!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjugwB19ulmI24yfwt-5XvNr7BBgs1BLqSUHYNncvurWUYethc8QyfU87utJXpakUR_0Mx8T-3UFd1VoULEloQ_1vKo6W_UOIhRAqq2dS6K5u9vBJbL90KXP6i3Mo8CFtOcejuAZMJoOLY/s1280/WhatsApp+Image+2021-05-28+at+11.39.40+PM.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1280" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjugwB19ulmI24yfwt-5XvNr7BBgs1BLqSUHYNncvurWUYethc8QyfU87utJXpakUR_0Mx8T-3UFd1VoULEloQ_1vKo6W_UOIhRAqq2dS6K5u9vBJbL90KXP6i3Mo8CFtOcejuAZMJoOLY/w640-h640/WhatsApp+Image+2021-05-28+at+11.39.40+PM.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Friends Reunion girls' night with Tita and Jackie. We loved having Francia over too!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJxnQgzCF17scgKEVeVspJAyB-JwNDNEbISne-opSuBAV5DiFs9IgTp5DkK5E-vj_Vt_-jXEWoMX3zScAobPLj3kXQeioR_exr3riEeZuRk5GSHdEpJaGgkxzlVQ8OdsuBT1VBAgSHX6s/s1280/WhatsApp+Image+2021-05-30+at+1.19.58+PM.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="605" data-original-width="1280" height="302" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJxnQgzCF17scgKEVeVspJAyB-JwNDNEbISne-opSuBAV5DiFs9IgTp5DkK5E-vj_Vt_-jXEWoMX3zScAobPLj3kXQeioR_exr3riEeZuRk5GSHdEpJaGgkxzlVQ8OdsuBT1VBAgSHX6s/w640-h302/WhatsApp+Image+2021-05-30+at+1.19.58+PM.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Second trip to Colon!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimtaSV5AEWUzX2Glw-BPa-lbgerpweaW_-eB6uUH3s5n-DuiOzu07bsbb8brPgPwPnvXceOh5AZ0KLn7RgTJLaexkwmIxJzENlRg1t8BB3af7v__Co4AP5MJsElNHHiPtarLIV2Ckyk3E/s1280/WhatsApp+Image+2021-05-30+at+1.20.00+PM.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="606" data-original-width="1280" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimtaSV5AEWUzX2Glw-BPa-lbgerpweaW_-eB6uUH3s5n-DuiOzu07bsbb8brPgPwPnvXceOh5AZ0KLn7RgTJLaexkwmIxJzENlRg1t8BB3af7v__Co4AP5MJsElNHHiPtarLIV2Ckyk3E/w640-h304/WhatsApp+Image+2021-05-30+at+1.20.00+PM.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I love this man!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR34uRD0rfj8Ym9G51JJbSFi0P2t4BMbVmCQMW6xtoZgf3yvDo_IInV-IlFm-VGjHflU6aulm6iCSpWOhD_q1jYlqZxuAh4MU7ffeGAARxHl2_bOljGXSc3t-rXt4UeDC8T5y7jHm4kWY/s1280/WhatsApp+Image+2021-05-30+at+1.20.01+PM.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="605" data-original-width="1280" height="302" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR34uRD0rfj8Ym9G51JJbSFi0P2t4BMbVmCQMW6xtoZgf3yvDo_IInV-IlFm-VGjHflU6aulm6iCSpWOhD_q1jYlqZxuAh4MU7ffeGAARxHl2_bOljGXSc3t-rXt4UeDC8T5y7jHm4kWY/w640-h302/WhatsApp+Image+2021-05-30+at+1.20.01+PM.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Alyla, as my daughters call my mom, is so happy to come with us again. Emmalee said she had been waiting for family trips to come back and spent the night telling her grandparents in Honduras every detail of the trip.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-Y1992y-_JNnkU2uvF07c0CiR611CXXC96jvQyXa1zBHEVfBdR9Q-4qkNTulA7HuKonRQYMsv3zbW-Cm6qMAYGcXVguJO34QtoGUO3H2Gf_YDWgeNGCpy3j_JKj1AtxkSvFtt-7jQQ24/s1280/WhatsApp+Image+2021-05-30+at+5.18.55+PM.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="605" data-original-width="1280" height="302" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-Y1992y-_JNnkU2uvF07c0CiR611CXXC96jvQyXa1zBHEVfBdR9Q-4qkNTulA7HuKonRQYMsv3zbW-Cm6qMAYGcXVguJO34QtoGUO3H2Gf_YDWgeNGCpy3j_JKj1AtxkSvFtt-7jQQ24/w640-h302/WhatsApp+Image+2021-05-30+at+5.18.55+PM.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Finally went to the Canal expansion visitor center!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmxpZesnIC7lc7nTGnLka0RiniqiBpjko7QK9TLDMd_9oGneWNKb6Ptslx2SBtHOhbtwMRc79yAxM73xSWdfpuVnWpIkn2Tgr1q1RAlpfeRjNsEH2cQTONtXE4FHMWeAHCWch007vz62A/s1280/WhatsApp+Image+2021-05-30+at+5.18.56+PM.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="605" data-original-width="1280" height="302" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmxpZesnIC7lc7nTGnLka0RiniqiBpjko7QK9TLDMd_9oGneWNKb6Ptslx2SBtHOhbtwMRc79yAxM73xSWdfpuVnWpIkn2Tgr1q1RAlpfeRjNsEH2cQTONtXE4FHMWeAHCWch007vz62A/w640-h302/WhatsApp+Image+2021-05-30+at+5.18.56+PM.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">He had been waiting long to finally visit. He was the happiest!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white;"> Oh, how bountiful the Lord is with me!</span></div>Linda Zelayahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02842164145067391301noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6259200682875369030.post-23808725911547063852021-05-02T11:44:00.000-07:002021-05-02T11:44:05.598-07:00Is Your Faith Shattered from Unanswered Prayer?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIKtrqOe4aDf5POMl1KwFZGWO16LRs5VGsNUmNVuyQksz5-mEDtyXA2ygN-VxwCua3wdUToWWlvNHmmEumBs6zwaxEq1Xg5QdnSyHYdlGT8uktSXbs_7llMHx3fMKy9A7pKm4vZxM9LAQ/s2048/IMG_3236.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1364" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIKtrqOe4aDf5POMl1KwFZGWO16LRs5VGsNUmNVuyQksz5-mEDtyXA2ygN-VxwCua3wdUToWWlvNHmmEumBs6zwaxEq1Xg5QdnSyHYdlGT8uktSXbs_7llMHx3fMKy9A7pKm4vZxM9LAQ/w640-h426/IMG_3236.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p>I would be lying if I said my faith hasn't been tested from time to time to the point of almost shattering. Curiously though, when I was sick I had no faith issues. I remember being in the hallway waiting to see the doctor with my carcinoma positive test on my hand about to hear what my fate was going to be. I got a call from my sister who was in great distress over my positive result. "I'm going to be OK. This has not escaped My Father's control. Be confident and do not be afraid." A lady was listening to my conversation because even though my words were calm, sweet, and encouraging to my sister miles away fearing for her sister's life, streams of tears were flowing down my cheeks. She came over and said how stunned she was by my words even though she could see that I was in pain. This continued pretty much during my whole time in chemo and surgeries. I was the one comforting family and friends at the hospital on every surgery and at the doctor's appointments. </p><p>It was easy to have faith. It was the only choice I had. My mortality was so real that my faith in an immortal God was my only hope. I turned to Him in great hope because it was the only hope I had. If I was to die at the age of 30, at least there was something more waiting for me. </p><p>After a year of treatment when all the dust settled, doubt and anxiety took over. Why? C.S. Lewis explains it best in his book "The Problem of Pain"</p> “<span style="background-color: white; color: #336666; font-family: arial; font-size: 12.61px;">At first I am overwhelmed, and all my little happinesses look like broken toys. Then, slowly and reluctantly, bit by bit, I try to bring myself into the frame of mind that I should be in at all times. I remind myself that all these toys were never intended to possess my heart, that my true good is in another world and my only real treasure is Christ. And perhaps, by God's grace, I succeed, and for a day or two become a creature consciously dependent on God and drawing its strength from the right sources. But the moment the threat is withdrawn, my whole nature leaps back to the toys: I am even anxious, God forgive me, to banish from my mind the only thing that supported me under the threat because it is now associated with the misery of those few days. Thus the terrible necessity of tribulation is only too clear. God has had me for but forty-eight hours and then only by dint of taking everything else away from me. Let Him but sheathe that sword for a moment and I behave like a puppy when the hated bath is over--I shake myself dry as I can and race off to reacquire my comfortable dirtiness, if not in the nearest manure heap, at least in the nearest flower bed." </span><p>This quote especifically "I am even anxious, God forgive me, to banish from my mind the only thing that supported me under the threat because it is now associated with the misery of those few days" hits hard. I spent so much time in prayer asking for Kinsley to be spared from her cancer while my chances were looking better and hers were looking grimmer that afterward prayer triggered my PTSD hard. </p><p>I expressed my unbelief to my Bible study group in tears last Sunday. I told them how a brother from my church in Honduras was in the hospital for Covid and how the church asked us to join them in prayer. I had seen so many people in his situation die of Covid in spite of thousand prayers that I did not pray. I didn't want to. He died anyways. My faith had been shattered. I told them how I knew that the power of my prayers was not in me saying the prayer but on the One I pray to. Yet my heart was struggling. It had been struggling since I saw many friends lose a mom or dad, or when I lost a friend in his early 30s about to get married. A brother in my Bible study group recently lost his wife to cancer. He wrote the pastor concerning my comments and struggles. "What would happen if God answered all our prayers for healing? We would have thousands of new believers. We would have thousands of prayer requests." Faith would be dependent on what God can do for us, not on Who God is. Pastor Bob followed this with "Faith has to have an object of our belief. Our faith is not on what He can do for us. It is faith in what He already did for us. Faith is in Who He is and what He has planned for us, which is our hope."</p><p>Pastor Bob said that someone once suggested that if you were struggling to know Who God is you should read the book of Colossians. (That is definitely on my TO DO list next. I've read it plenty of times before, but I want to read it again to see what Pastor Bob meant.) Focusing on the person instead of the actions is what keeps marriages and relationships alive and well. If you focus on what they do instead of who they are, it is easy to stop loving them, especially when you feel they have failed you. Today, in our very first church meeting since Covid hit 59 weeks ago, we were singing a song that said "He is my confidence for great is His faithfulness, and He has never failed me yet." A thought pops into my hand: "He didn't fail you. You were spared and you survived." But I would lie if I didn't say the thought that He did fail the others I prayed for that weren't spared. </p><p>My favorite songwritter in the world, Jon Foreman, recently wrote a song called "Jesus, I have my doubts." Everyone in our fan Facebook group was posting that it meant he had abandoned his faith. Expressing your unbelief is a bit of taboo on our Christian circles. I wish it wasn't because how are you going to get support with your struggles and the lies Satan is feeding you if you don't open up about them? Opening up my bottled up struggles with faith have done so much in helping me get out of the valley of unbelief and take me closer to the mountain of confidence.</p><p>After voicing these thoughts to my Bible study group, we read these verses together: </p><p><span style="font-family: courier;">Hebrew 4</span></p><span style="font-family: courier;">14 Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. 16 Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.</span><div><br /></div><div>Isn't it refreshing that God tells us He understands us because He walked in our shoes? We can approach confidently in our time of need, which includes our times of unbelief. How else will I return to a state of belief otherwise?</div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: courier;">Hebrews 10<br />19 Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, 21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, 25 not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.</span><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>People leave the church because they no longer believe. They never spoke of this and never got the proper encouragement. His great faithfulness is not in Him giving us all we ask. It's in Him always being by our side, even when we move far from Him. He is faithful even when we hurt Him. He has never failed a single one of His children!</div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: courier;">Hebrews 10</span></div><span style="font-family: courier;"> 35 So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded.<br />36 You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what He has promised. 37 For,<br />“In just a little while,<br />He Who is coming will come<br /> and will not delay.”<br />38 And,<br />“But my righteous one will live by faith.<br /> And I take no pleasure<br /> in the one who shrinks back.”<br />39 But we do not belong to those who shrink back and are destroyed, but to those who have faith and are saved.</span><div><br /></div><div>It's not just trust. It's CONFIDENT trust. It says DO NOT THROW AWAY! How will my thoughts be corrected if I do not seek for the truths in His Word? But when a person is struggling with his or her faith, he or she need the body to encourage them. I was directed to put my eyes away from the pain and death and back to Jesus. My heart was encouraged. My mind was filled with Scripture. My faith was strengthened. The lies were brought to the light. </div><div>Do not shrink back and be destroyed. The richly reward is Jesus. Do not miss out on Jesus because you have been silent about your strugges with faith. </div><div>Open up and let the enemy be pushed back.</div><div>Do not leave the church. </div><div>He is our great reward, the only reward!</div><div><br /></div><div>Dear Father,</div><div>Thank you, Lord, for my study group. Thank you for the truth they brought to my heart. Thank you that they encouraged me to pray always when someone asks for prayer. They told me that I may not see the healing I was praying for, but I don't what my prayers do to prepare the person who is about to depart or to comfort the bereft. I don't know what praying does, but it's never in vain. It is never in vain turning to Him. Thank you for spurring me to be in the group of those who hold unservingly to the hope we profess and belong to the those who do not shrink back. Thank you for letting me know you are not unaware of my weakness, and you understand me. Help me trust and see and hear you. </div><div>Amen</div><div><br /></div>Linda Zelayahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02842164145067391301noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6259200682875369030.post-73881874458094543242021-02-05T08:00:00.017-08:002021-02-05T20:43:29.040-08:00Emmalee and Kaylee's Carnival Birthday Party<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"> So, we decided to
brave a birthday party during COVID-19. Before you get upset with me, we are
three families who decided to be in each other's bubble, and we celebrate only
amongst us. We have done two birthday parties from the other families and a
Christmas get-together. We felt safe to get together, but we had to follow
regulations as to the number of people inside the house, so we did only moms
and kids. I gotta say, planning a party having only six kids in mind is pretty
awesome. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">I had several decorations
and plans made, but it all got downsized by 75%, but I enjoyed the party so
much more. Small space to decorate and clean, only six kids to feed and
entertain! I loved it! I don't mind it one bit. The initial idea was to invite
20 something kids like we had on Emmalee's Pirate Party. I had made favor boxes
and favor pinwheels for 25 children. The plan was to have it set up as a real
carnival, with game stations the kids could go play on their own and redeem
tickets according to how well they did. I was gonna give each parent a page
where they would keep their kid's score and redeem the tickets while teaching
their kids honesty because they could have written whatever they wanted. I had
even started making cardboard booths for each station and had already made
three. These all ended up in the garbage after months of holding onto them and
my husband losing his mind seeing them in the house taking up space. I made a
doll-sized ticket booth to hold the tickets because I would not have my
life-size ticket booth. I had to eliminate many of the games because space
would not allow for more, and noise would be an issue in an apartment building
filled with quarantined people. I had to let go of the stations idea and do one
game at a time with the kids making a line for each game. Again, the six-kid
limit came very handy. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p>
</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Because we had done
Kaylee's birthday with no kids and it had been almost six months of the girls
not seeing their friends or doing things with them, we had to sell the party to
the girls as a co-party. While it was closer to Emmalee's birthday, we were
doing Kaylee`s chosen theme. They did not mind and got onboard with whatever
mom said with no complaining and much gratitude in their hearts and faces. I
tried to keep it as Carnival themed as possible. <o:p></o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhyA57l8ruXVZ6u-Gil_JmJiQGwrKNXTvm2RX4xtGPgB3zY6Nb3NWHZR8uYYfkJSawqYf5VXKas_wlLSZFyBTPCsFEQtEXZ7eNsSHO51I4HrK9NNsaYGWVDNxJlh9wvmhd81GotS9fh4k/s2048/20201213_124349.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1408" data-original-width="2048" height="440" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhyA57l8ruXVZ6u-Gil_JmJiQGwrKNXTvm2RX4xtGPgB3zY6Nb3NWHZR8uYYfkJSawqYf5VXKas_wlLSZFyBTPCsFEQtEXZ7eNsSHO51I4HrK9NNsaYGWVDNxJlh9wvmhd81GotS9fh4k/w640-h440/20201213_124349.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I hope the carnival theme is obvious.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqbJF7tT03Z9Tq2e87ii2GDZOgs_ArIViExRCw5LZpXV4LvGMRPiFHFB0y4bTgItb2u07wcIsGxpLRrGxIVUiziIbZ_GWBQcEkZtsYgSjvmAJd5EtmllRxBzYBngKujhchWls31adpv50/s2048/20201213_124355.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1075" data-original-width="2048" height="336" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqbJF7tT03Z9Tq2e87ii2GDZOgs_ArIViExRCw5LZpXV4LvGMRPiFHFB0y4bTgItb2u07wcIsGxpLRrGxIVUiziIbZ_GWBQcEkZtsYgSjvmAJd5EtmllRxBzYBngKujhchWls31adpv50/w640-h336/20201213_124355.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I loved making these pinwheel cookies. A mom posted a nice tutorial online that was surprisingly easy to follow and the result was just perfect for me. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLgvO6bOqmUbzDiKRbwJ5bno4nJT4p6w_KYdIOCpPnAnMgoSDmkeOEERzZPSBL05KZhhRx6Fixz3IKTYTDoZ1FO3UGboT2MhbypGpOV70khGMsa4ALPzXh4lhD2hQrnDBoLBFs3LVWQCg/s2550/20201213_124357.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1234" data-original-width="2550" height="310" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLgvO6bOqmUbzDiKRbwJ5bno4nJT4p6w_KYdIOCpPnAnMgoSDmkeOEERzZPSBL05KZhhRx6Fixz3IKTYTDoZ1FO3UGboT2MhbypGpOV70khGMsa4ALPzXh4lhD2hQrnDBoLBFs3LVWQCg/w640-h310/20201213_124357.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I did not expect the cake to turn out like this. I had zero ambitions or expectations with it. I just colored some frosting inside folded baking sheets and went for it. I made the roller coaster first and as I went on, I just kept adding and adding. I loved the childish look it has in colors, design, and texture. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFM-SmUVuvxf1sHXI25egI3tkjVosI_iiAvcTfJyhde_3SCX9RNoMjUqmq3g9B9W8C3hniDgmiLzSxX4QM4b2AzEpwt0WtETPXkWQzqp3lqWDnbBaR5Qprqo8o-DqsD2OUPI7YKxzYD1A/s1830/20201213_124405.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1344" data-original-width="1830" height="470" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFM-SmUVuvxf1sHXI25egI3tkjVosI_iiAvcTfJyhde_3SCX9RNoMjUqmq3g9B9W8C3hniDgmiLzSxX4QM4b2AzEpwt0WtETPXkWQzqp3lqWDnbBaR5Qprqo8o-DqsD2OUPI7YKxzYD1A/w640-h470/20201213_124405.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Here is a peek-a-boo of the roller coaster in the back of the cake. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeMv0xHLaD136R5eibiTRuJmLGWxQXTP_Kb94Wzy-p9L-QgE-jWia3PlrK0gs8B2cTQflnKEeKnfukG1BkhraYSj5ZKtBwnc7fesYCNKkkilzD1DzG361QeJcapdqx-l0CBlcUXKFe1ZY/s2578/20201213_124623.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1220" data-original-width="2578" height="302" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeMv0xHLaD136R5eibiTRuJmLGWxQXTP_Kb94Wzy-p9L-QgE-jWia3PlrK0gs8B2cTQflnKEeKnfukG1BkhraYSj5ZKtBwnc7fesYCNKkkilzD1DzG361QeJcapdqx-l0CBlcUXKFe1ZY/w640-h302/20201213_124623.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I specially loved the cute horses.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyEJJ_1P_b8uIzpsSDzeGsHoifSCge6vZ85f4DIuT4JR8ehUQ5yWgcc880vSVPGd5pLNgY4y6WyFgscQSyLPLrwGbnoFLeEfuOO90U9MYZ0huFv-GW_MRuykmR03ohCVdl_0duRQ9ePuw/s1436/20201213_130655.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1436" data-original-width="1394" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyEJJ_1P_b8uIzpsSDzeGsHoifSCge6vZ85f4DIuT4JR8ehUQ5yWgcc880vSVPGd5pLNgY4y6WyFgscQSyLPLrwGbnoFLeEfuOO90U9MYZ0huFv-GW_MRuykmR03ohCVdl_0duRQ9ePuw/w622-h640/20201213_130655.jpg" width="622" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">They tell you food color gets darker with a little time, but I am always amazed when the red food coloring actually starts looking red. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA5mI-7VWBAb4HT3NVMZLWXDbatsDchxbovWnCo1caLAO6N7epYlG7rCi9Y2RnYfdffcDDwlzPm6Qfpvuj1D-E5-A2q0RUqQr1UcogsQGuU1dNAiZxVlYV5Hr5LEebyrLPBqC2BBScVvE/s2048/20201213_130658.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1362" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA5mI-7VWBAb4HT3NVMZLWXDbatsDchxbovWnCo1caLAO6N7epYlG7rCi9Y2RnYfdffcDDwlzPm6Qfpvuj1D-E5-A2q0RUqQr1UcogsQGuU1dNAiZxVlYV5Hr5LEebyrLPBqC2BBScVvE/w640-h426/20201213_130658.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This is another view of the roller coaster. I didn't get a single picture of it completely, so no picture of the riding cars. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkF_-j2jHqeVTeCoqm_89yNr96lmT8OfZ9kLo9F4h8lmYKkFo1YnWEiyo5b4ceq7UfP8bOAXjGGja8q2I5p1Au9W-qWY2X_fkCbyNFnWvDkm54fbFS80wnkKU8ZzBthDRJ-Q-yxek2rDg/s2578/20201213_130652.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1220" data-original-width="2578" height="302" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkF_-j2jHqeVTeCoqm_89yNr96lmT8OfZ9kLo9F4h8lmYKkFo1YnWEiyo5b4ceq7UfP8bOAXjGGja8q2I5p1Au9W-qWY2X_fkCbyNFnWvDkm54fbFS80wnkKU8ZzBthDRJ-Q-yxek2rDg/w640-h302/20201213_130652.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">My piping handwriting is getting better. The girls were clear it was a party for them both.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVu2q_FCaX9d0SiakHGMMAdLyWhDDmmEYGhWvVgRPC1WOeBGD1_gNOkpz7KBMPAT0LoY1V-ExdjTa2YnpNvtfDnBsQR8lgC8Uop1Ld1hNMWAKqW6nbbHRjTXSnJlCHOswdG7_h27F_ag0/s2578/20201213_131045.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1220" data-original-width="2578" height="302" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVu2q_FCaX9d0SiakHGMMAdLyWhDDmmEYGhWvVgRPC1WOeBGD1_gNOkpz7KBMPAT0LoY1V-ExdjTa2YnpNvtfDnBsQR8lgC8Uop1Ld1hNMWAKqW6nbbHRjTXSnJlCHOswdG7_h27F_ag0/w640-h302/20201213_131045.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">You can see an "E" and "K" cookie beside the cake as the only nod to their names.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyklrQGmExdsB_22VhMydtANPv_2J_yz2kKwG5O-pcbcVde_X7QxBZi_1ojuHFbpxQUO-PkDTnE51mNapc_Bg0jqQT9gaxKBRzqzLb3zUw4z6wRQOJo4mEV1kg78YtQliKQbM4cYZxt2Q/s2578/20201213_124409.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1220" data-original-width="2578" height="302" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyklrQGmExdsB_22VhMydtANPv_2J_yz2kKwG5O-pcbcVde_X7QxBZi_1ojuHFbpxQUO-PkDTnE51mNapc_Bg0jqQT9gaxKBRzqzLb3zUw4z6wRQOJo4mEV1kg78YtQliKQbM4cYZxt2Q/w640-h302/20201213_124409.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I really loved the circus-style font.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEzER3DugxX6ZWVcjqaJ5udufp46rzDhKN4GD3pQkcnYFRjvJxtFXN3ldmKvVTiKPWlcyNVpVGwio_lbAivhyYDBSnIi_7jMQZgGXoj7YGe22fGPvcVRI8hTjGoYmtvfZ4m9MQOYmGyBM/s2041/20201213_130643.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1727" data-original-width="2041" height="542" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEzER3DugxX6ZWVcjqaJ5udufp46rzDhKN4GD3pQkcnYFRjvJxtFXN3ldmKvVTiKPWlcyNVpVGwio_lbAivhyYDBSnIi_7jMQZgGXoj7YGe22fGPvcVRI8hTjGoYmtvfZ4m9MQOYmGyBM/w640-h542/20201213_130643.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>Keeping those boxes and the roof of the carousel favour boxes was realy, really hard. The roof has even some water damage. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvAime4pY8NU6q38NvQL8rZuglnsdFaWUEY6P8tPpRHxzgCpQG7HiZPfPVJGFuBI4YP-INB4tEOegsybcXWs2Ml4qMqopsxDIoKkbTk5fQhJeKOhl6q_aldprPgE7SIwyx-vRV2srDtSQ/s2048/20201213_130702.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1473" data-original-width="2048" height="460" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvAime4pY8NU6q38NvQL8rZuglnsdFaWUEY6P8tPpRHxzgCpQG7HiZPfPVJGFuBI4YP-INB4tEOegsybcXWs2Ml4qMqopsxDIoKkbTk5fQhJeKOhl6q_aldprPgE7SIwyx-vRV2srDtSQ/w640-h460/20201213_130702.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>The hubs picked those popcorn boxes for me to print because he said they matched the girls' personalities. I agree.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOZ2BN_Gqicpne1IAqbEQe4Jpi59U8UkDZtgdRqihAFKmZKOLHMm4CtmddQsmi6YZAwNlbs60NdTf2K11IbQIxD1LuAZqGHxyGtmU_mjkgJewaFaS6YoBvbvi2x3SSc41c3vBYWHX6hdE/s1263/20201213_130704.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1263" data-original-width="849" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOZ2BN_Gqicpne1IAqbEQe4Jpi59U8UkDZtgdRqihAFKmZKOLHMm4CtmddQsmi6YZAwNlbs60NdTf2K11IbQIxD1LuAZqGHxyGtmU_mjkgJewaFaS6YoBvbvi2x3SSc41c3vBYWHX6hdE/w430-h640/20201213_130704.jpg" width="430" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I really enjoyed the different carnival themed digital paper I was able to download. The pinwheels are made with a pencil that the kids can repurpose. </div><br style="text-align: left;" /><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMrsCe0ojUwnMYYixd5zfZbcWYGkm_BEegkL216FFvHuV5ROpQcfuSW84Df8_o9KmK0HJCmd1ttsukIKnFxBYNIL8ToQa3hc0QsNbvs7aKA26PuRzd9WkMoJxIq8aO3SoWLGcM0BYnAfQ/s1627/20201213_130706.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1627" data-original-width="1346" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMrsCe0ojUwnMYYixd5zfZbcWYGkm_BEegkL216FFvHuV5ROpQcfuSW84Df8_o9KmK0HJCmd1ttsukIKnFxBYNIL8ToQa3hc0QsNbvs7aKA26PuRzd9WkMoJxIq8aO3SoWLGcM0BYnAfQ/w530-h640/20201213_130706.jpg" width="530" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">The ice cream truck from Emmalee's <a href="http://youknowwhatineed.blogspot.com/2019/01/emmalees-ice-cream-and-doughnut-shop.html">doughnut party</a> made a reappearance, but it was so on theme.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK4hg_wnOObkyhrC78QCy75IID2mzvJi-RjfEjAtgXzAvOD78JsFuBQNxgWnb0e-0Rh126ErUIaUf-1zHL3RoMASzt1jwUMXxNw_nixa5lvE_Vt_H2Yb-y05JNwyAvP809i6rGskMnA1A/s650/IMG-20201213-WA0003.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="602" data-original-width="650" height="592" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK4hg_wnOObkyhrC78QCy75IID2mzvJi-RjfEjAtgXzAvOD78JsFuBQNxgWnb0e-0Rh126ErUIaUf-1zHL3RoMASzt1jwUMXxNw_nixa5lvE_Vt_H2Yb-y05JNwyAvP809i6rGskMnA1A/w640-h592/IMG-20201213-WA0003.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I was considering making the theme more like a county fair, but I couldn't push that more. Those mini baskets filled with gummy berries was the only thing that survived that idea. I also loved the mini pinwheels decorating the soda bottles. </div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2i3PpFp9EfqWc1oj-WE97uFngX7yu8jVjGu5ZPnA-Do2O7gAN6t_f1XP3E3cRqnoVoUi7FoFEjG5cuWvojfbAAzxR-uXkePkMVRerQmnoZn0HCdWNXxJCu45Y-sctZPgc8g2oLAg9OcU/s2048/20201213_124418.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1625" data-original-width="2048" height="508" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2i3PpFp9EfqWc1oj-WE97uFngX7yu8jVjGu5ZPnA-Do2O7gAN6t_f1XP3E3cRqnoVoUi7FoFEjG5cuWvojfbAAzxR-uXkePkMVRerQmnoZn0HCdWNXxJCu45Y-sctZPgc8g2oLAg9OcU/w640-h508/20201213_124418.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">At least one of my girls will pose for me!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1hXsZbeutQMIttzaMpmI8Zn1u7tEsgjbQpl6bEdcsnu_5b6oehMMBhF0cBJ2-_1B__ntuPQaueyWFTi79zNHaVAkgjqF2PMOlkL5mcrt9AZViezTpWXGGgi8OqpQWkZ5icsJilJJsIuE/s960/130769501_10159167863743793_6299312359101582693_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1hXsZbeutQMIttzaMpmI8Zn1u7tEsgjbQpl6bEdcsnu_5b6oehMMBhF0cBJ2-_1B__ntuPQaueyWFTi79zNHaVAkgjqF2PMOlkL5mcrt9AZViezTpWXGGgi8OqpQWkZ5icsJilJJsIuE/w480-h640/130769501_10159167863743793_6299312359101582693_n.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Can you believe I've been saving that plastic tablecloth since Kaylee's Bunny <a href="http://youknowwhatineed.blogspot.com/2018/05/shabby-chic-bunny-birthday-for-kaylees.html">birthday</a>?! It's plastic! You gotta make it count.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1o4coLGQQAuaHQHULWBUBVgnm-XJyaH1Z1LJP5I-VfN0PxgEZYjK4MX5ZnSwOBGSNHrmC__-_jMkFpj0dC2958lYbmUlGzbYYnwS8RZ_ifMFpnVEDIdvOrE9h7lD-H9rh5h3IRFCy6r4/s960/131285018_10159167865273793_3696797389806051276_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1o4coLGQQAuaHQHULWBUBVgnm-XJyaH1Z1LJP5I-VfN0PxgEZYjK4MX5ZnSwOBGSNHrmC__-_jMkFpj0dC2958lYbmUlGzbYYnwS8RZ_ifMFpnVEDIdvOrE9h7lD-H9rh5h3IRFCy6r4/w640-h480/131285018_10159167865273793_3696797389806051276_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Here is full view of our little party setting.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWltLn5OblnXTAQcGkIEqqzGNAdCv1vFWbSfUK0PXn102wS14yIdaHH78SX1iFllDgwer514m2K-0E0cI3S4wnsrpTZFTICoqVeleKl4JV62Od2b_cbL0IkdKunAeO_sNJX9t6IXF7Mvg/s960/131546142_10159167864058793_4310207896118385183_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWltLn5OblnXTAQcGkIEqqzGNAdCv1vFWbSfUK0PXn102wS14yIdaHH78SX1iFllDgwer514m2K-0E0cI3S4wnsrpTZFTICoqVeleKl4JV62Od2b_cbL0IkdKunAeO_sNJX9t6IXF7Mvg/w640-h480/131546142_10159167864058793_4310207896118385183_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I had these banners that Aunt Lilly salvage from her preschool days that I used on Emmalee´s <a href="http://youknowwhatineed.blogspot.com/2020/03/pirate-birthday-party-with-games-and.html">Pirate party</a>. I wasn't expecting them to look so well, but they really pushed the carnival theme.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr2Nz52r_0Fyo4bmIdy5y4ky3EnRESVah1DTAQBTwALtRlCXv1gYkVC6RRtqC1pxQzLs7uBWnryaYgCQFxGAqYnlwstt2KPhgYtCnvoR7uXQNpnDPkHVHRnIDxmpmwA98eclCNaw18NT4/s960/130757183_10159167867568793_1552699336327074943_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr2Nz52r_0Fyo4bmIdy5y4ky3EnRESVah1DTAQBTwALtRlCXv1gYkVC6RRtqC1pxQzLs7uBWnryaYgCQFxGAqYnlwstt2KPhgYtCnvoR7uXQNpnDPkHVHRnIDxmpmwA98eclCNaw18NT4/w480-h640/130757183_10159167867568793_1552699336327074943_n.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">First time putting place mats. I wish I had taken better pictures of the mini paper amusement park. I´ll share the videos of us using them as a doll amusement park in the bottom.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br style="text-align: left;" /><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4Lql31PmQbBqrTeQxaSRZMfeBIvo9Tp1Wep13bc0rEmsjuG-tHefIyjZvVJQgsqp5yV1VIyt6EqJaHOsS1SPSlLmue-UJ9m7HJauKidh7gPrvKBgdYAb1TNuxO2gZHWDEcMYA0UKEayE/s2578/20201213_130753.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2578" data-original-width="1220" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4Lql31PmQbBqrTeQxaSRZMfeBIvo9Tp1Wep13bc0rEmsjuG-tHefIyjZvVJQgsqp5yV1VIyt6EqJaHOsS1SPSlLmue-UJ9m7HJauKidh7gPrvKBgdYAb1TNuxO2gZHWDEcMYA0UKEayE/w302-h640/20201213_130753.jpg" width="302" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Toss game!</div><br style="text-align: left;" /><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx5Amfa-YL6Qbly1bhxFcaxpMNpcX2AO_j9On08enNQcx8VqJekhEn9SV50hmCe_AHluPwb8sTnFwPze0yk0lk_7udAOUVVKBMszA_dPLKhBBsatRNiJJ-Y6-t4u0cGOuhFT35d9yLjhM/s2578/20201213_130756.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2578" data-original-width="1220" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx5Amfa-YL6Qbly1bhxFcaxpMNpcX2AO_j9On08enNQcx8VqJekhEn9SV50hmCe_AHluPwb8sTnFwPze0yk0lk_7udAOUVVKBMszA_dPLKhBBsatRNiJJ-Y6-t4u0cGOuhFT35d9yLjhM/w302-h640/20201213_130756.jpg" width="302" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Not the prize booth I had envisioned, but, considering I had nothing made and Aunt Lilly surprised me with this improvised masterpiece, I was ecstatic.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br style="text-align: left;" /><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPg0eZbJh-GVpxwL_1X-g3dhBVZvLAUOlhOGdhEIq50qJr3Oxur5VMuj8KECvmVZGHiyM97Ql44jj1zWz59ztMIRHR0swQuZufkrmma2389vX7-idX9oXRcigM0oyIRiu2fejQBUq2LXY/s2048/20201213_143752.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1705" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPg0eZbJh-GVpxwL_1X-g3dhBVZvLAUOlhOGdhEIq50qJr3Oxur5VMuj8KECvmVZGHiyM97Ql44jj1zWz59ztMIRHR0swQuZufkrmma2389vX7-idX9oXRcigM0oyIRiu2fejQBUq2LXY/w532-h640/20201213_143752.jpg" width="532" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">They said they were the horses on the cake's carrousel.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div></div></div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguvxvmeHJ8EkfEG5-OQXXlYs7HHTR_zr4p2gPAssJgiTYOxw1wrPG0mQYC8NRzGWZDNvLs18LsGXAQjQX4MuKUcvMWdsacBk1bGB7FuPsvg_3p_jEaeKr2qPRy5jPoAf6CkaDfvAQ26V4/s2578/20201213_124442.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2578" data-original-width="1220" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguvxvmeHJ8EkfEG5-OQXXlYs7HHTR_zr4p2gPAssJgiTYOxw1wrPG0mQYC8NRzGWZDNvLs18LsGXAQjQX4MuKUcvMWdsacBk1bGB7FuPsvg_3p_jEaeKr2qPRy5jPoAf6CkaDfvAQ26V4/w302-h640/20201213_124442.jpg" width="302" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Easiest and funniest photo booth ever. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9XLT79e1cQka02IzLI2zSBlaA6bvQLTSrcU-pe28Q1KjIvoJinwfhyphenhyphen02HqrbfWiTJT22nkm0QNvLUQyqdtlUI497pqAOrQd4Vy__uegPY9MDD_O1D0_VJsZyQJZgAFauJIoDpy7eO1No/s2508/20201213_124512.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2508" data-original-width="1254" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9XLT79e1cQka02IzLI2zSBlaA6bvQLTSrcU-pe28Q1KjIvoJinwfhyphenhyphen02HqrbfWiTJT22nkm0QNvLUQyqdtlUI497pqAOrQd4Vy__uegPY9MDD_O1D0_VJsZyQJZgAFauJIoDpy7eO1No/w320-h640/20201213_124512.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Got creative with the rails using tinfoil. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxSGhHGDaqsO_66xpym83x1zlkGgLKFQcv2PMPkzaa5x-RJo3dWOSTRR4SADf-4XgqHlMyemPcQTzOfpRB_hodLiGogD_a-gvBNwr9K-INbhE3rSFnhz6y7PHtA1eCP3pq7w8_Qpf-diQ/s2578/20201213_124542.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2578" data-original-width="1220" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxSGhHGDaqsO_66xpym83x1zlkGgLKFQcv2PMPkzaa5x-RJo3dWOSTRR4SADf-4XgqHlMyemPcQTzOfpRB_hodLiGogD_a-gvBNwr9K-INbhE3rSFnhz6y7PHtA1eCP3pq7w8_Qpf-diQ/w302-h640/20201213_124542.jpg" width="302" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The roller coaster cart is a simple trifold cardboard kids use in science fairs.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj900hXE5qV7BPyTpkWvyM1fNBCJnz9mabTdInVPEB7frUDmEEb06C9jM4_vUxbIwJF7n4A-NKCkTVYHAQIHhfrF5QUC0TiucUmzxUeBsMRCb8QwAPZ0IqNVi78znLJwpAS5RS91FpW0gU/s2578/20201213_131215.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2578" data-original-width="1220" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj900hXE5qV7BPyTpkWvyM1fNBCJnz9mabTdInVPEB7frUDmEEb06C9jM4_vUxbIwJF7n4A-NKCkTVYHAQIHhfrF5QUC0TiucUmzxUeBsMRCb8QwAPZ0IqNVi78znLJwpAS5RS91FpW0gU/w302-h640/20201213_131215.jpg" width="302" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimOeQBakYF9HWuLYqDk6EPgDEm8fC3moc_V_35fBM66WUjkUZGmXQFsrGY1mLMXoyEoAqvGWCp4BYiv0Cox0AAG9EGTrOI-SIslCIMq6h18UnLNQWDUtU8XoaV5ORaYcn9RtFZZ3rGf2g/s2578/20201213_143955.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2578" data-original-width="1220" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimOeQBakYF9HWuLYqDk6EPgDEm8fC3moc_V_35fBM66WUjkUZGmXQFsrGY1mLMXoyEoAqvGWCp4BYiv0Cox0AAG9EGTrOI-SIslCIMq6h18UnLNQWDUtU8XoaV5ORaYcn9RtFZZ3rGf2g/w302-h640/20201213_143955.jpg" width="302" /></a></div><br style="text-align: left;" /><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfMkNkDaCOP3qmljHaWUyW3sR0zNA11aBEcUMeJlyDO32NhEjuy20LrgyUSYzvQ917WTMlbNDftievaiK2Ld6s6GSq2dCzzNeCBeP17LZYP5-r1mshZztJ3Z5a7g9tqwVTYlPYAOV6ueo/s2587/20201213_144035.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2587" data-original-width="1216" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfMkNkDaCOP3qmljHaWUyW3sR0zNA11aBEcUMeJlyDO32NhEjuy20LrgyUSYzvQ917WTMlbNDftievaiK2Ld6s6GSq2dCzzNeCBeP17LZYP5-r1mshZztJ3Z5a7g9tqwVTYlPYAOV6ueo/w300-h640/20201213_144035.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6iSKRTwxyYlXB7wh2y2IzfdYgcSbHmaoZSYaYiJrncvkE92h_DZnLc1Bz1I1fVKxr0thC6I0HLIc7gXuMDp8B_Ie1R6icgn-6YZW6QyipQXkZOUxgoGrHbgysWkJT7lMyx5z03hHAu2A/s1174/131264111_10159167879233793_18489396591671103_o.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1174" data-original-width="750" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6iSKRTwxyYlXB7wh2y2IzfdYgcSbHmaoZSYaYiJrncvkE92h_DZnLc1Bz1I1fVKxr0thC6I0HLIc7gXuMDp8B_Ie1R6icgn-6YZW6QyipQXkZOUxgoGrHbgysWkJT7lMyx5z03hHAu2A/w408-h640/131264111_10159167879233793_18489396591671103_o.jpg" width="408" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">There are no chairs there. The parents are squatting as best as they can.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikZJRa9YC54r-VhZ4DhntaSvnAqZZecGw1iwdAoHBzTAcnoiGv1LtlOhs6-9icLpkGGLB4952E89hiSjLrQt3ln8BJEcJLXBNdnxfm3ZCveGI2RGZnBxWUG5amGdF9wH-gJ1pOY8wWHzw/s960/130858394_10159167865053793_8042997856726786503_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="454" data-original-width="960" height="302" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikZJRa9YC54r-VhZ4DhntaSvnAqZZecGw1iwdAoHBzTAcnoiGv1LtlOhs6-9icLpkGGLB4952E89hiSjLrQt3ln8BJEcJLXBNdnxfm3ZCveGI2RGZnBxWUG5amGdF9wH-gJ1pOY8wWHzw/w640-h302/130858394_10159167865053793_8042997856726786503_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div>Of course we had to have hotdogs. What is more carnival than that?</div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm2FXvym7-5hyhVyZkTOWsYYPVkTf3rHt4q4xvwON3TO-JVjEWAJzOHlawNqGZyZE5U8nwFH5oKIgxfRco7GG2nYP4Z2SpJbVdL9u2toOL4ShJUed768Bthrbwm_5RvlycPhHHLUo_Hfw/s2601/20201213_130633.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1209" data-original-width="2601" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm2FXvym7-5hyhVyZkTOWsYYPVkTf3rHt4q4xvwON3TO-JVjEWAJzOHlawNqGZyZE5U8nwFH5oKIgxfRco7GG2nYP4Z2SpJbVdL9u2toOL4ShJUed768Bthrbwm_5RvlycPhHHLUo_Hfw/w640-h298/20201213_130633.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYNFIHJzRpqio4_Ai4vMyu3IswG7hF0OD74f_Efd96OgNGOsvbLuI1wMli8jkG388G9ARH7aT3zxjuMtUtKHiFQAxEz8kDs_tJUjePufr-p-DGdSlXT-pOnwWtHA_CW5_eM81FxJDu5WU/s960/130603253_10159167866948793_1423617288035725926_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYNFIHJzRpqio4_Ai4vMyu3IswG7hF0OD74f_Efd96OgNGOsvbLuI1wMli8jkG388G9ARH7aT3zxjuMtUtKHiFQAxEz8kDs_tJUjePufr-p-DGdSlXT-pOnwWtHA_CW5_eM81FxJDu5WU/w480-h640/130603253_10159167866948793_1423617288035725926_n.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Our first game was a kinetic carrousel made with paper and thread. You can find the template <a href="https://science-u.org/experiments/energy-carousel.html">here</a> and see it spin <a href="https://www.pinterest.com/pin/16747829841906519/">here</a>. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSIgN2njNPw5su_QRUpyDrnTH7q5jWTqskZaS9wCSMAX1DZ069Po0j-r2M1OaT_4S-8FhSiUfxufgeZl4YKyM0JkLkEEUpYCG8opBt5aCHYxTUn0MxP8HV0NT-2an6adBFI95-5so32hk/s720/131320601_10159167865233793_4433806900400630658_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="720" height="568" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSIgN2njNPw5su_QRUpyDrnTH7q5jWTqskZaS9wCSMAX1DZ069Po0j-r2M1OaT_4S-8FhSiUfxufgeZl4YKyM0JkLkEEUpYCG8opBt5aCHYxTUn0MxP8HV0NT-2an6adBFI95-5so32hk/w640-h568/131320601_10159167865233793_4433806900400630658_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ6YXByAjMyvxYBSbVIvzYWZGXde8t9Vlsf4D9_D3rr9gYtA29t10HTy28GZsso4GOgIpolggEFQ5w8GQfPWzNKBQ6vFgEdGLjmWMBgfZepLJ0TmxIlv9j3offd2_4Fdu4-MHf1HV8zG0/s960/131218357_10159167866148793_4460213368272508107_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ6YXByAjMyvxYBSbVIvzYWZGXde8t9Vlsf4D9_D3rr9gYtA29t10HTy28GZsso4GOgIpolggEFQ5w8GQfPWzNKBQ6vFgEdGLjmWMBgfZepLJ0TmxIlv9j3offd2_4Fdu4-MHf1HV8zG0/w480-h640/131218357_10159167866148793_4460213368272508107_n.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi984e-J3Hw5XnLkgKbNnmDJ6RSeEawM3Ieo9hZRno1cJkWl6thNzYkSBS_5CGGXMbh5omFpG_oNuZtEe5lK0fj0kQi9UHAf5XkIbFUTlUYvZ6SYdMSw86s57eUHDLcsBs6BzDrR7W1DOw/s2048/20201213_140017.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1714" data-original-width="2048" height="536" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi984e-J3Hw5XnLkgKbNnmDJ6RSeEawM3Ieo9hZRno1cJkWl6thNzYkSBS_5CGGXMbh5omFpG_oNuZtEe5lK0fj0kQi9UHAf5XkIbFUTlUYvZ6SYdMSw86s57eUHDLcsBs6BzDrR7W1DOw/w640-h536/20201213_140017.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I really wish I had made more of those pinwheel cookies and not just exactly six for six kids. They were so good, they left no leftovers for moms. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ6Az2_t9zOzUgWdsy8gGYutQ9sy8d-L4gOLzrjPFLu12DDlZVMfMmqM6_zkCd_jOgSRBcbCGW7fCAP-E1SGl_PEsJYvakKZPSHB6AEOrEblUVM0ptySrwMf3VOswWR06dUF2tme4ag-A/s2048/20201213_140019.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1721" data-original-width="2048" height="538" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ6Az2_t9zOzUgWdsy8gGYutQ9sy8d-L4gOLzrjPFLu12DDlZVMfMmqM6_zkCd_jOgSRBcbCGW7fCAP-E1SGl_PEsJYvakKZPSHB6AEOrEblUVM0ptySrwMf3VOswWR06dUF2tme4ag-A/w640-h538/20201213_140019.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH4EwFXd87Q3gvZon0qTnbDN76AR_YP4O8LziEBQHzLJkb9WOXqfptosmTMdqaZJA-BEpLx0kco21W83qyYvgE6dKOWB9QINT1eGt5-kfYJbfvcrAcaoN54Ix6v_gVWh1eWAfik0mUYXA/s960/130709206_10159167866283793_1852156766249935509_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH4EwFXd87Q3gvZon0qTnbDN76AR_YP4O8LziEBQHzLJkb9WOXqfptosmTMdqaZJA-BEpLx0kco21W83qyYvgE6dKOWB9QINT1eGt5-kfYJbfvcrAcaoN54Ix6v_gVWh1eWAfik0mUYXA/w480-h640/130709206_10159167866283793_1852156766249935509_n.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Someone was excited to trade her tickets for prizes.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZcaGZ0p0Eu1tqyTbX_PwN_bcV6u6VtGB1VIVpohmkMVIHSBHuZsCvGukSuZyK78ENSh2OTO6a8EafghOiHQFXEm5mEoI0gxhOgkfVXUseNTgaQwdz_PABpN7aWLG2w8BPotNfJWc-ZDU/s960/130765363_10159167865043793_3108347328244786366_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZcaGZ0p0Eu1tqyTbX_PwN_bcV6u6VtGB1VIVpohmkMVIHSBHuZsCvGukSuZyK78ENSh2OTO6a8EafghOiHQFXEm5mEoI0gxhOgkfVXUseNTgaQwdz_PABpN7aWLG2w8BPotNfJWc-ZDU/w640-h480/130765363_10159167865043793_3108347328244786366_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Our little Adri was the only one who was able to get the arrow to stick to the target. The boys were especially challenged because she did it twice.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-TXA2Clboq0RXff26Urdu4na_R5N38aSD8CWl8tqtJ9-47eUcthUKWxahi2vW2hVJ5-VGc6QuD8SzG73jvT8aD4v3t7Yh3o8rfyj66UNDcci42orQmjCPJAKA5TxRUsfp5TEAplQu95g/s960/130842079_10159167864303793_6511481141951943509_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-TXA2Clboq0RXff26Urdu4na_R5N38aSD8CWl8tqtJ9-47eUcthUKWxahi2vW2hVJ5-VGc6QuD8SzG73jvT8aD4v3t7Yh3o8rfyj66UNDcci42orQmjCPJAKA5TxRUsfp5TEAplQu95g/w640-h480/130842079_10159167864303793_6511481141951943509_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Santi kept practicing even after the games were over.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxUdu2MPN7_bpKdmftL1rwwzHop1NGivBz9AGTUudne5l-UKUY5kFyuQGk8ds7DKpIJv8l1wp8qkqdzodAf_BCwXzbLUxj7AHghtnjAI-le3V1KNCeYMIsv6tDZ54EHQP-F70igt-YwlE/s960/131121498_10159167866068793_8078779177547064860_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxUdu2MPN7_bpKdmftL1rwwzHop1NGivBz9AGTUudne5l-UKUY5kFyuQGk8ds7DKpIJv8l1wp8qkqdzodAf_BCwXzbLUxj7AHghtnjAI-le3V1KNCeYMIsv6tDZ54EHQP-F70igt-YwlE/w480-h640/131121498_10159167866068793_8078779177547064860_n.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The fishes had numbers underneath to determine the number of tickets each fish was worth. Adri also got the special one. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWk7XYI1K9bTA9y5YAAIa99a9cq9xrGizT5GgqhJXXIA3EHDIEbZ-tKQE4F16tOHB7ltLO5t_yk0e_6xUZdOQDKeUw78rIfUF99IJ1z-7NbHNL6HtlCZGyD8vjnyM433NKoaK0Bxq1R1Q/s1334/131276534_10159167935998793_4547737626609027890_o.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1334" data-original-width="694" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWk7XYI1K9bTA9y5YAAIa99a9cq9xrGizT5GgqhJXXIA3EHDIEbZ-tKQE4F16tOHB7ltLO5t_yk0e_6xUZdOQDKeUw78rIfUF99IJ1z-7NbHNL6HtlCZGyD8vjnyM433NKoaK0Bxq1R1Q/w332-h640/131276534_10159167935998793_4547737626609027890_o.jpg" width="332" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I love that their age difference has no meaning in their friendship, and they are pretty much inseparable every time they see each other.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKTUhZ9UjVLuVUxqklcjiAU9Zh0Y1gXFBN25JywMfIOz5b5iHMDSGigpE1W1aAmIKffonjs3uFYKyTsqNqWNdqvjWk8QNFW0xvSGWVOE2ezD5O4j-FT5VRyBuEEwphb0vgiaG-NQOtE6U/s960/131342528_10159167866703793_5679345888524492362_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKTUhZ9UjVLuVUxqklcjiAU9Zh0Y1gXFBN25JywMfIOz5b5iHMDSGigpE1W1aAmIKffonjs3uFYKyTsqNqWNdqvjWk8QNFW0xvSGWVOE2ezD5O4j-FT5VRyBuEEwphb0vgiaG-NQOtE6U/w480-h640/131342528_10159167866703793_5679345888524492362_n.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We made good use of our DIY foosball table. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikG2dAjCYEVgQ9zCZEvHYrR_O7lMqJ9yhT0p1u60_edZ-L2N0VqoGkuB9WIRkDppSAq3QgkKdUiFe2Wpj0Olbd28VTNdizj_xbskGWvlJQvjkmY8v8dOWHGaK6z7RyCGTBDB_Qna7FLPY/s960/130822835_10159167866778793_7760730207018067015_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikG2dAjCYEVgQ9zCZEvHYrR_O7lMqJ9yhT0p1u60_edZ-L2N0VqoGkuB9WIRkDppSAq3QgkKdUiFe2Wpj0Olbd28VTNdizj_xbskGWvlJQvjkmY8v8dOWHGaK6z7RyCGTBDB_Qna7FLPY/w480-h640/130822835_10159167866778793_7760730207018067015_n.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br style="text-align: left;" /><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidlfM8SIJP1Ce8sqvgWRjAqFjdNseTFZG0cnITMHJiYTkfbgm_2Gbw2Ypy6R0Gx6x10B-6HapPRP_T9P1QF8W1jfeOKeTZ4N3A9c33yWOlbehQjyNVtuxon56y55rr1TED0xXdCE5Kp0c/s960/131239316_10159167865348793_747967629446266546_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidlfM8SIJP1Ce8sqvgWRjAqFjdNseTFZG0cnITMHJiYTkfbgm_2Gbw2Ypy6R0Gx6x10B-6HapPRP_T9P1QF8W1jfeOKeTZ4N3A9c33yWOlbehQjyNVtuxon56y55rr1TED0xXdCE5Kp0c/w480-h640/131239316_10159167865348793_747967629446266546_n.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I was surprised how well all the kids were able to use stilts for the first time.</div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbeY2iemanmACYjJaK89M7zBPWkein8XAnTHLFiSau9E0b33AHw-NOEqkYeH1ouUJF0CAJmsPEUWVDdlxmQmrn8UztXy1nWoTr0CSy3x1dMPDudxpIlGzwaQkuEtfJKAyfmVxd-o-f0DA/s2048/20201213_143447.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1194" data-original-width="2048" height="374" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbeY2iemanmACYjJaK89M7zBPWkein8XAnTHLFiSau9E0b33AHw-NOEqkYeH1ouUJF0CAJmsPEUWVDdlxmQmrn8UztXy1nWoTr0CSy3x1dMPDudxpIlGzwaQkuEtfJKAyfmVxd-o-f0DA/w640-h374/20201213_143447.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">For pics with our lovely Lyla (grandma) we had to use our masks!</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwZsMNKWepvlwCfTfLJvO0XdKItpqL8kgw_CQKaxk7hA5EMvcvk76NCICiar8xOlLe4OkUAcYlqg4gEA1RgCw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>While the party was a co-party, I did do a Dear Kaylee and birthday interview for her on her Covid <a href="http://youknowwhatineed.blogspot.com/2020/07/kaylees-birthday-in-covid.html">party</a>. Here are Emmalee`s letter and Interview.<div><br /><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;">Emmalee Birthday Interview Age 8. </div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;">Here we go.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">1. What is something mommy always says to you?To do the three things (make her bed, brush her teeth, shower)</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">2. What makes you happy? Um, when you brings to the park or give us many toys or make us our parties and you be kind to us.</div><div class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; display: inline; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 6px;">3. What makes you sad? When we want to go out and it's a rainy day and going to the park and our friend comes and we can't play with them because our mom said not to be close to other kids.</div><div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">4. What makes you laugh? Kaylee doing funny faces. When daddy talks funny and makes funny faces and sometimes I make fun of him. Now that Kaylee laughs of and daddy gets angry. (Kaylee cut in: and then I call him a baboon). </div><div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">5. How old are you? 8 and I'm about to be nine, or it's the year I`ll be nine. </div><div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">6. How old is Mommy? Mommy is 34.</div><div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">7. How old is Daddy? 33</div><div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">8. What is your favorite thing to do? Play with you and I love playing video games and play and um.... spending time with my parents.</div><div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">9. Who is your best friend? Xavi and Santi because they invite us to do things and go to their house.</div><div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">10. What do you want to be when you grow up? A Karate girl. </div><div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">11. What are you really good at? Helping my sister.</div><div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">12. What are you not very good at? mmmmmm....... I'm not very good at obeying my parents.</div><div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">13. What did you do today? I went to the park and did my school.</div><div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">14. What is your favorite food? My favorite food is mandarine, lasagna, and spaghetti white (Alfredo Fetuccine).</div><div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">15. What is your favorite song? mmmmm.....Chandelier and She Wolf by Sia. I sing those a lot in Smule.</div><div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">16. What do you want for your birthday this year? A remote controlled car.</div><div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">17. What is your favorite animal? Cheetah and wolf</div><div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">18. What is love? Love is a good thing you do to others and say it with kindness.</div><div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">19. What does daddy do for work? Daddy teaches his class.</div><div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">20. What does mommy do for work? She does everything. She usually does everything in the house like teaching us, doing our food, teaching her computer students. </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">21. Where do you live? I live in... what is it called again? PH Genesis Plaza Camino Real de Bethania?</div><div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">22. Where is your favorite place to go? Picnic, the restaurant you have to pay $15 and has many games and video games!</div></div><p><br /></p><p>Dear Emmalee, </p><p>I can't believe it's been eight years since I carried you inside me. Today you came to my room to scold me because many hours of the day had passed and I had not given you a morning hug. You jumped from the bed and landed on my arms. I held you in my arms with your legs wrapped around my waist. You are still small enough for me to carry you, small enough to fit you almost completely between my arms. I asked you to stop growing. I don't know why I was feeling so emotional last night. You came to give me a good night hug and tears began flowing from my eyes. I felt compelled to tell you how much you mean to me and how much I thank the Lord for the privilege of being your mom. You make me so exceedingly happy. I am still amazed by your intelligence. Mom dropped the ball a bit in your Spanish education, but you just picked it up so quickly. You are reading and speaking so well in Spanish. I can't believe I raised you two so immersed into English that Spanish is actually your second language. It saddens me that the opportunities to grow and practice your Spanish have been cut so short from your inability to talk to your friends in the swim team and the gymnastics team. I am so sorry I can't let you play with other kids at the park, even when your heart is aching and breaking to do so. I don't know what the Lord is preparing you for during this time of the pandemic, but I trust Him that He knows what He has for you, my little warrior. You and your sister are the warriors for His Kingdom I will leave in this earth. You have started to ask me to teach you how to read your Bible and study it. It fills my heart. You have a Bible camp coming up, and you just can't wait for it. I love your heart opened to hearing your Lord's voice. I love how you are tough on your daddy. You always make sure he looks his best. I love to see you bully him (the sweet kind of bullying). You laugh with your whole body sometimes even bending over because you can't contain it. You still hum or sing songs when you think no one is watching you or when you are doing the mundane things like brushing your teeth or getting dressed. The sound of you and your sister's voice is the best sound in the world to me. I always smile when I catch any of you singing. The pandemic has hit you harder than your sister, but you both have made good use of your imagination to make the best of what you have. You got that from your mother, baby! You’ve become quite the party planner. You made games and even prizes and written instructions for moms birthday. You even directed your sister into making the decorations. Even though this Christmas was so different and closed up, you had prepared makeovers for us and a fun movie night. We watched the new Croods movie. Of course, your sister and you made us watch it a few more times afterwards. I love how you get into "big kids" movies now. You remind me of myself. I would also watch The Sandlot and The Karate Kid and fantasize of being "one of the boys." We even watched The Little Rascals and The Goonies, all of mom and dad's favorites. The best thing about you getting bigger is that the number of things we share only grows. Last time you made pancakes for the family almost all by yourself. I want to teach you how to code, bake, sow, paint, build! And I want to see you far surpass me and even become my teacher. I want to make more singing videos together playing the piano and the guitar. I'll make sure not to drop the ball on that because I haven't been to consistent with that. I love you, my little sweet girl. You and your sister asked for new hair cuts. You look so much like I did at your age. We have these face covers with some round eyeglasses, and daddy swears it's like looking at my old pics. Mom wore glasses since she was 4. I praise the Lord for having guard you and your sister from needing to go to the doctor for the entirety of the pandemic. Not a accident or even flu. You struggle with allergies like I did, but at least mom has the experience to battle it. You are the one that worries the most about mom. You don’t like hearing the word “cancer” on the tv or movies or watching anything where the parent dies from a disease. Disney does you no favors in that department. But mom’s last cancerversary meant so much, probably as much as it meant for me. Mommy finally feels like a cancer survivo, and you felt that change. I am so sorry I’ve been a source of worry for you. We’ve had to work together to avoid you getting your mom’s bad habit of nail biting. You worry for anyone in need or trouble and celebrate as earnestly as possible when anyone has a victory. Your heart just loves so earnestly with no reserve. I pray that part of you never changes. Keep teaching me kindness and love, my sweet child of mine.</p><p>love, </p><p>Mom</p><p><br /></p><p>Here are the videos of our doll amusement park! </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dx0tZAAn4H0gbXrjJdq_0ASz1TMALDVXooNwMgY6HEUeLO1c4EEZVNyGB1yqIidiH8Qz4jha1iYtwmG0pVP5Q' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyOsqdh4Z_6xaxxk3jTqCaKbPH6XBWafl3fStUXnFDQxVnfSL19K-eLVQ1jyt_9UKkFJteMlEACxsPyRtUW9A' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; 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text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxFThgBlaJRU8YISrabqxYGApEHqG_Yre6mHg1Fa2lzJGjNT3WGawoRkHzqtG4zG406fHOFy53xLhf2wDFxpg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dz4_ORwypEd-jhm8QmZPHEdQZzJ4BRn8g57RR8bujSJ9H0MwjLyVNMWxMU6-3qjE51JmUYWUtEd_UHISyDpGg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxZck0rY9vU2lPT4ae3CaFyXSVxI6bTZ9N4FrJV8jbPQEY7B6_09Zw-PS8WxxqiyFv5pXj5N3Ds9GLx4cy5hQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwrmuEvbtAyKaF9WQX4nvxndyv6bQ8orgo-zsMqig17maVkta9TICzJ1L-2OMqO9HWqohz-9eP-xnqZsMNghw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxACPQL_aA7Jsyr5dWWtzMobYA4lg9LoBlovVf7g3j6xH3FofFr4qenYcM-oE7wPGp_MY-NtOoFnu76j-nmVQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div>Linda Zelayahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02842164145067391301noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6259200682875369030.post-51558421487731086332021-02-02T20:41:00.008-08:002021-02-05T20:47:08.245-08:00Kaylee's Birthday in COVID<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">So, I wrote this back in May 2020, but forgot to post it, so here it is on February 2021, a few months before she turns 7 XD </div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br /></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Writing this post pains me so much. My house is still filled with all the DIY and decorations and boxes of the things I was preparing for Kaylee's 6th Birthday. I even have the candy boxes and the piñata filled with candy. I've checked and they still haven't expired, but for how long? I refused thinking we were not going to do that party I had prepared, but now I'm starting to believe I may not even hold it for Emmalee´s 8th! I'm glad that mom is more heartbroken by this than they are. They are such troopers. But, because I was holding on to share the celebration, I had not done her birthday interview or her Dear Kaylee letter. I even had a mini photo shoot of her COVID indoor party. So. I'm going to share those pictures, do her letter and interview, and pray we can one day use her decorations for a party with friends soon.<br />
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Kaylee Birthday Interview Age 6. </div>
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Here we go.</div>
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1. What is something mommy always says to you? Obey your parents. Don't be mean to your sister.</div>
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2. What makes you happy? Playing with my mom and dad and sister and my pet dog.</div>
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3. What makes you sad? Playing alone</div>
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4. What makes you laugh? When my sister tickles me.</div>
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5. How old are you? 5 years old.</div>
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6. How old is Mommy? um.... 31 (Mom is 34)</div>
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7. How old is Daddy? 33? (Dad is 32)</div>
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8. What is your favorite thing to do? um.. My favorite thing to do is watch movies with my mom and dad and sister and pet dog, my grandma and my aunt.</div>
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9. Who is your best friend? Emmalee and Vicky</div>
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10. What do you want to be when you grow up? A Ballerina and get married.</div>
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11. What are you really good at? Doing the splits.</div>
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12. What are you not very good at? I am not very good at doing mmm... how do you say "puente"? I'm not very good at doing the puente! </div>
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13. What did you do today? Today I played with my sister, eated with my daddy, and talked to my mom.</div>
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14. What is your favorite food? Ice cream</div>
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15. What is your favorite song? Ay.... my favorite song is... (starts singing) "into the Unknown, into the unknown, in the unknooooooown... ah ah ah ah." That is my favorite song.</div>
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16. What do you want for your birthday this year? Cake and toys and my piñata and even cupcakes.</div>
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17. What is your favorite animal? Baby bunnies!</div>
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18. What is love? I love my mom and dad, sister and pet, grandma and aunt. You love people.</div>
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19. What does daddy do for work? school!<br />20. What does mommy do for work? school.</div>
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21. Where do you live? Panama and mmmm..... I don't know. Panama and Honduras</div>
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22. Where is your favorite place to go? A picnic at the park. </div>
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Dear Kaylee,</div>
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No matter how big you are getting, you want to be and pretend you are the baby. You will bundle yourself into a little ball and find your way on anyone's lap at your reach. I love it. I love how cuddly you are, considering you were not a cuddly baby. I would have not guessed it back then. I thought you'd be more like me in that regard. And even though you are our baby, you are the one to remember your brother Sammy the most. You're always talking about him and how you'd be big for him. You love baby everything. If there are toys you can play with, you'll pick the smallest or the baby-like. And your maternal love is ever present in how you treat others. You are quick to run to mom or Emmalee if any of us got injured or are crying and offer help and hug. Your touch is filled with such tenderness and sweetness that is also mirrored in the softness in your eyes when you comfort others. Mom is not keen on being touched when she is in distress and has snapped once or twice when someone attempts to touch her in that state. You are not discouraged by that as others have been and offer your touch and care promptly. You've done such a good job in bringing mom's walls down. I can't remain unchanged when touched by you. You are always walking around with a stuffed animal wherever you go. Mom has fought you in bringing your toys to the table when you do school, but you just feel better with your toys close by. To you, they're as if your friends where there. You have such a rich imagination. You've even dabbled into songwriting like your sister does. You've become more intrepid and try harder at your gym class. You put us all to shame with your flexibility even though you are the one who tries the least. I hope you know how jealous mom and tia Lilly are and how lucky you are to be so naturally limber. You have come leaps and bounds in your reading. It was such a great source of frustration to you that you would not even attempt it and would burst in tears. Mom had to find ways to help you and be reassuring. Now, you have found confidence in yourself and pride in your achievements that you run to show dad and read to him whichever story you just read mom. It fills me with such joy to see you thrive even if it didn't come naturally to you. It's how Emmalee must feel watching you do your splits so easily. You used to be a good eater when you were a toddler, but you have grown to give me grief in the eating department. Except when we eat pizza. You can eat three slices of pizza, even fighting dad for that last piece. I hope you learn to eat more fruits and veggies. For some reason, you have become an apple monster. That's what I call you, "my little apple monster." We'll always find you munching on an apple. You like to give me the cores for you know i won't waste them. You are a sensitive little girl. If mommy scolds you too harshly, you'll run to your room. I must always remember to guard your heart. You have been upset with mom because we've been watching out summer bible movies. A lot of them are movies about martyrs. The stories are too much for your sensitivity. You cry and demand me to make it stop. I believe that passion and tenderness will one day make you stand up for injustice and love the ones that need it most. The lock down has been easier on you than on your sister, but you long for park time. The only week when the quarantine was lifted you were the happiest little girl to walk hand in hand with mom and dad while wearing a mask. You kind of enjoy the mask. I don't know why. Sometimes I'll find you wearing it while playing in your room. You funny girl! Always my funny girl. You keep being a source of joy for the less seen people around you. Sarita, our maid, has trouble letting people in. You keep breaking walls there too showing up where she is and hugging her promptly. Thank you for your example of unconditional love and love with no fear. No fear of rejection, no fear of judgment, just loving how you know how and loving tenderly. I'm so lucky you came into our life when you did, unexpectedly and by surprise.Your obsession with pink is as strong as always. Pink this and pink that. You'll fight your sister for your favorite TV character because you always want the pink. Luckily for you, your sister wants the blue. Mom would always be the pink power ranger when we pretend played too. You've struggled with sharing because your sister has begun asking for your pink toys. You are reluctant, but when mommy gives you reason and Word to show love, you won't fight longer. You came a long way into being willing to receive discipline, so much so, that mommy barely employs physical discipline anymore. I love you, my baby. I want to cuddle with you forever. I wan to see you belting songs unabashedly for as long as you live, in the shower, in the car, in the park, in your bed. We will ask you from time to time to stop, but we will always delight in hearing you sing your made up songs from the top of your lungs. Thank you for your joy and your hugs and for being my baby. I love you. </div>
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Mom </div><div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFZ20IOksvWn_p5qWO0Br_5YSk-rX_E-hadh4XTPTL0l9JmGAI9ZeUs6hOEV4UVxd8EPt6j3J4m-t2B0PF2VFqKM646b5dV2PntRaJSxkMLWclS1LQwuOCAFYseZ7oqEk88R90lxNM5uQ/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFZ20IOksvWn_p5qWO0Br_5YSk-rX_E-hadh4XTPTL0l9JmGAI9ZeUs6hOEV4UVxd8EPt6j3J4m-t2B0PF2VFqKM646b5dV2PntRaJSxkMLWclS1LQwuOCAFYseZ7oqEk88R90lxNM5uQ/w640-h480/IMG_0597.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">She was so excited for her decorations and party, even if it was just us and it was nowhere near to what we had planned for her party.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVDVwKKlh3yzfTJrr5dB7qw4QKedu8Cs8JvWXnzyMkmAkFkdyE5G-Oo244pkMk1LEJDFYFJG4hIE6KNRflfKMZF9L8J3-tZaaPlQ-8Q5YAa06D8cnhbWYu40fmzmzP90xbF78SJLDOsVA/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVDVwKKlh3yzfTJrr5dB7qw4QKedu8Cs8JvWXnzyMkmAkFkdyE5G-Oo244pkMk1LEJDFYFJG4hIE6KNRflfKMZF9L8J3-tZaaPlQ-8Q5YAa06D8cnhbWYu40fmzmzP90xbF78SJLDOsVA/w640-h480/IMG_0594.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPnhBSK3QCzNcKF2dTfPnX094SN_T8Z7AD5rc4VORKUJd-o551ZOmSpaLmud5zf-DQhmLWJbesgxyT1zbqvl7O-agLY9Qv7PUhc5a727bdHRzITWH8ywgkuJoAlLuHorN3IkvPo-12dx8/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPnhBSK3QCzNcKF2dTfPnX094SN_T8Z7AD5rc4VORKUJd-o551ZOmSpaLmud5zf-DQhmLWJbesgxyT1zbqvl7O-agLY9Qv7PUhc5a727bdHRzITWH8ywgkuJoAlLuHorN3IkvPo-12dx8/w640-h480/IMG_0590.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">She has been dreaming of that pink flamingo floaty for months. And she waited almost all year to use on November 2020</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg560E91hAzAYmj_YFJ-6uoR1NLKJWcWGwoULdVYQmnWsnuy-fXgvYfr0OK6oBjTIAehWFHK8HnJ6JHWKp-LIf2F_Q3v8LAgzou1NVsdTKC1pXe0bSroSH1-a2M3uHY_gI8hterJcVHbjQ/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg560E91hAzAYmj_YFJ-6uoR1NLKJWcWGwoULdVYQmnWsnuy-fXgvYfr0OK6oBjTIAehWFHK8HnJ6JHWKp-LIf2F_Q3v8LAgzou1NVsdTKC1pXe0bSroSH1-a2M3uHY_gI8hterJcVHbjQ/w640-h480/IMG_0588.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Humble, but filled with all our love!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirOMZlusZD6DcJt7xYZ8j-44uxvuNDETn_4qU9ztF0eZB_KAenjEVQrvT0o_0TiLax41gJrwquhzTyehCElNjprIXRAkdpoXT5ek5jX2EiVP4xWCGCUn0Zg8Iq3_xItRkvOV1dOvwRTOI/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirOMZlusZD6DcJt7xYZ8j-44uxvuNDETn_4qU9ztF0eZB_KAenjEVQrvT0o_0TiLax41gJrwquhzTyehCElNjprIXRAkdpoXT5ek5jX2EiVP4xWCGCUn0Zg8Iq3_xItRkvOV1dOvwRTOI/w480-h640/IMG_0586.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I made that K when she turned 4 on her bunny birthday and Lyla kept it.</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW5M3GvN7dy8M7tDgX0m41-iHAU1LHhouZsO_iRv1NijWkC-2fFbBrVzRt-KgxvfE4GStJYULB4cToI1uKkNaIO6KNs2xF976_SIE3VyuKH801vPmPoESdI7ovIBwesydcxD7-jQElQAU/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW5M3GvN7dy8M7tDgX0m41-iHAU1LHhouZsO_iRv1NijWkC-2fFbBrVzRt-KgxvfE4GStJYULB4cToI1uKkNaIO6KNs2xF976_SIE3VyuKH801vPmPoESdI7ovIBwesydcxD7-jQElQAU/w480-h640/IMG_7065.JPEG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="480" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The only good thing about quarantine is that Lyla lives on the apartment right next door, so we were able to be together all year.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW5M3GvN7dy8M7tDgX0m41-iHAU1LHhouZsO_iRv1NijWkC-2fFbBrVzRt-KgxvfE4GStJYULB4cToI1uKkNaIO6KNs2xF976_SIE3VyuKH801vPmPoESdI7ovIBwesydcxD7-jQElQAU/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvnv4AD6ZXmEypRQUGPAcKN7F9FqDs8miW13h74uS9fRSQM-MvjXFevqzIesmTAPPd2cgYpCxVA2OcMzSbzWXO-0sjrW55V9N-4iALZSqA1E-tjnGoCWC__I9aHVKg6eVnjMELCDZ5oD0/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvnv4AD6ZXmEypRQUGPAcKN7F9FqDs8miW13h74uS9fRSQM-MvjXFevqzIesmTAPPd2cgYpCxVA2OcMzSbzWXO-0sjrW55V9N-4iALZSqA1E-tjnGoCWC__I9aHVKg6eVnjMELCDZ5oD0/w640-h480/IMG_6912.JPEG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lyla got those Frozen plates and Kaylee wanted to showcase them.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhuzr-_PutGdV8yoc8VPCXsQtt4GUpDhpGwmzmlbbjQT55SPqnATgUoA1Wn01ktiaqsmKIN3skr38yEnUfdbgfwUAJpQMi9gBChLAlwnZbpELObYfn4F_zOz9TATievnLvIXE3PTlDjoM/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1364" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhuzr-_PutGdV8yoc8VPCXsQtt4GUpDhpGwmzmlbbjQT55SPqnATgUoA1Wn01ktiaqsmKIN3skr38yEnUfdbgfwUAJpQMi9gBChLAlwnZbpELObYfn4F_zOz9TATievnLvIXE3PTlDjoM/w640-h426/IMG_2928.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The balloon made a nice backdrop, so we made a small photo shoot.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaSgfyTXIGcgvnRQ7QhwRahe-bESu92MG6EI0HJMybc4ZRXL77nE1PBuv981KLz4nwx5xi8WXMpu-J5N0zqDPWHFc-ahGpRbF4upgk_VPOji7d5sxWsTPARPTJTfO_SYYS1qu2vUoBPG8/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1364" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaSgfyTXIGcgvnRQ7QhwRahe-bESu92MG6EI0HJMybc4ZRXL77nE1PBuv981KLz4nwx5xi8WXMpu-J5N0zqDPWHFc-ahGpRbF4upgk_VPOji7d5sxWsTPARPTJTfO_SYYS1qu2vUoBPG8/w640-h426/IMG_2870.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5ZybZG5puHCuuHjoEHJLgWY-VoQ48qb4WqHBRZZErI4ooBVK00XDWYgbivQgs_SWhC3b-jQFeU9OMT4ryNUwf25uSf8rMh4kpOue1-1CL5oeNkEbnN-DUIHGK3rUoqB_wbUbaBq6tlC0/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1364" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5ZybZG5puHCuuHjoEHJLgWY-VoQ48qb4WqHBRZZErI4ooBVK00XDWYgbivQgs_SWhC3b-jQFeU9OMT4ryNUwf25uSf8rMh4kpOue1-1CL5oeNkEbnN-DUIHGK3rUoqB_wbUbaBq6tlC0/w640-h426/IMG_2866.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; 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Linda Zelayahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02842164145067391301noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6259200682875369030.post-35810741965329598662021-01-03T19:37:00.001-08:002021-01-28T18:10:56.017-08:00Good bye 2020<p>2020 ended, and even with the "time" we were given I was not able to write as much as I would have wanted to here. I was even inspired by a friend to finally write my own book. My writing has been stunted because of my desire of not spewing more negativity into the world. I have been riding quite an emotional roller coaster this year. </p><p>I remember last year my husband and I had <a href="http://youknowwhatineed.blogspot.com/2020/01/the-one-thing-i-did-to-make-this-year.html">ranked 2019</a> in our top three worst years of our life and when we started listing all the things we were grateful for we felt quite ashamed of doing that. We had no idea what 2020 would bring! I feel inclined to feel defeated when one of the things I was grateful for last year was me getting over my PTSD, but this year it came back with a vengence. This is the main reason I have not wanted to "share" anything in my public corners of the internet. I wanted to write my victory post. I wanted to share my "aha" moments that stuck with me and got me out of this funk. And I did have those moments, but this is a recovery journey not a miracle awakening. </p><p>My counselor says I am very objective person. I see the problem at hand and list the steps necessary to overcome it. I saw my depression creeping back in, so I doubled my Bible reading time, my exercise time, and my gratitude lists. But life is not x + y = z, especially not our minds and souls. They are a mystery. They operate in mystery and are influenced by mystery. When none of my efforts kept my depression at bay, I fell into despair. "Why read the Bible if it is not helping how I feel? Why exercise if I only feel more crappy than before and everything aches anyways whether I exercise or not?" </p><p>I´ve been wanting to write about that counseling session I had because OH MY GOODNESS it was something else. In my objective mind I had made some things "truth": God had used my cancer for His glory when through it I was able to reach so many people and share the gospel. His will is good, pleasing, and perfect. God does things for the glory of His name, not for the good of people. He is sovereign. You might be reading this and wondering why I put "truth" in quotations when this is TRUTH. Well, if you only take some truths from God and not the whole truth, these truths become lies. Think of Jesus being tempted by Satan and Satan using scripture to tempt Jesus. The same thing was happening to me. Deep in my heart, I was believing terrible lies due to these truths. Lies I had allowed in my heart and needed to confess to overcome. I will be writing down the lies I was believing in parenthesis for you to understand my thought process. </p><p>Lie number 1: God gave me cancer. </p><p>"If He is sovereign, He gave me cancer. My cancer is genetic for crying out loud! It came written in my genes at the time of my conception. God´s plan for me was for me to get cancer!" Here things get tricky for me to explain it clearly because it requires an understanding of Theology I do not possess. I´m going to write it down in the layman terms I understand it. Jesus saves the sinner; He doesn't make the sinner sin. This is one of the most disputed aspects of predestination and sovereignty. His sovereignty is then defined in His choice not to exercise His authority over our sin (unleash His justice and wrath which no one would survive). This sovereignty of His is present in His mercy, grace, and love that is beyond our human comprehension. Some will not agree with me in this point but the answer is: No! God did not ordain cancer for my life. He allowed it: yes! He knew about it: Yes! He caused it: No! </p><p><span class="text Jas-1-16" face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" id="en-NIV-30283" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-size: 1.2rem; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;">James 1 </span></span></p><p><span class="text Jas-1-16" face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-size: 1.2rem; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;">16 </span>Don’t be deceived, my dear brothers and sisters.</span><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"> </span><span class="text Jas-1-17" face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" id="en-NIV-30284" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-size: 1.2rem; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;">17 </span>Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, Who does not change like shifting shadows.</span><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"> </span><span class="text Jas-1-18" face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" id="en-NIV-30285" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-size: 1.2rem; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;">18 </span>He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all He created.</span></p><p>See, I was believing the lie that He caused it. And so, my objective mind had never admitted many things my subjective heart was feeling: I was both angry with God and afraid of God. And thus my relationship with God has been a fear-bond: I am unwilling to trust Him because you cannot trust someone you fear, but I am too afraid to leave Him. </p><p>Lie number 2: His plan for me was cancer for His glory. </p><p>What a misconception of God was plaguing my heart! His plan for me was not cancer so He could get glory. He is able to somehow get glory from me in spite of me! He is not bringing forth things in my life for His name's glory. His name's glory is doing fine without me! That He is able to use my affliction for His glory is a mercy and a miracle, not the plan. How could I obey the Bible when it said: "Wait on the Lord! Do not be anxious! Trust the Lord!" when my heart was afraid that meant more hardship for His glory?!!! I was frightened. </p><p>And here is where confession played a part in my recovery. How had I allowed myself to be deceived on who the true God was! My mom would say to me "Hold tight to God's promises to you" and I would fret. I was deceived. I was lost. </p><p>This is His plan for me:</p><p><span class="text Eph-1-4" face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" id="en-NIV-29211" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-size: 1.2rem; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;">Ephesians 1 4 </span>For He chose us in Him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in His sight. In love</span><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"> </span><span class="text Eph-1-5" face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" id="en-NIV-29212" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-size: 1.2rem; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;">5 </span>He</span><span class="text Eph-1-5" face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: 10px;"> </span>predestined us for adoption to sonship<span class="footnote" data-fn="#fen-NIV-29212c" data-link="[<a href="#fen-NIV-29212c" title="See footnote c">c</a>]" style="display: inline; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;">[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ephesians+1&version=NIV#fen-NIV-29212c" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #517e90; min-width: 0px; vertical-align: text-top;" title="See footnote c">c</a>]</span> through Jesus Christ, in accordance with His pleasure and will—</span><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"> </span><span class="text Eph-1-6" face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" id="en-NIV-29213" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-size: 1.2rem; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;">6 </span>to the praise of His glorious grace, which He has freely given us in the One He loves.</span><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"> </span><span class="text Eph-1-7" face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" id="en-NIV-29214" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-size: 1.2rem; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;">7 </span>In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace</span><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"> </span><span class="text Eph-1-8" face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" id="en-NIV-29215" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-size: 1.2rem; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;">8 </span>that He lavished on us. With all wisdom and understanding,</span><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"> </span><span class="text Eph-1-9" face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" id="en-NIV-29216" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-size: 1.2rem; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;">9 </span>He made known to us the mystery of H</span><span class="text Eph-1-9" face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">is will according to His good pleasure, which He purposed in Christ,</span><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"> </span><span class="text Eph-1-10" face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" id="en-NIV-29217" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-size: 1.2rem; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;">10 </span>to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment—to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ.</span></p><p>Lie number 3: He is a distant Father.</p><p>If my view of God is as Kind and Sovereign without the complete understanding of Who He is as a whole, my view of Him is flawed. I could no longet see my loving Father. As part of my counseling, I was asked to go back to the time in my life when I could hear His voice. I closed my eyes and prayed the Holy Spirit would make me recall the days my Father in Heaven was as real to me as my father on earth. I went back to the days I felt fatherless after the divorce of my parents and God's promise that “if my father and mother left me He would not” kept me going! I held tight to that promise and never felt alone. I would pour my heart to God all night and I would feel comforted, listened, and held. I began looking at God as my Father again.</p><p>One time I was trying to teach one of my students how to cut. She was getting frustrated because she didn't want to let her older sister teach her how to hold the scissors or the paper. She wanted to do it alone. She wanted to do it right. I had to ask her father to intervene. He came and held the paper to her. She had never cut straight lines before. Her attitude to cutting changed and she declared cutting was now her favorite thing. (For those who don't know, I teach preschool prep classes online). I told her father this was normal and I had struggled with the same attitudes with my girls, especially in their threenager years (three year olds that act like teenagers). It made me think of myself. I am struggling with depression and I want to do it alone and I want to get right at first try. And I thought of God, my father, lovingly trying to let me know I need to let Him teach me, hold my hand when I can't hold the scissor right yet, and have the patience of practicing to get it right. This filled my heart with joy and hope to feel I am not alone and I should not be defeated I am still learning to deal with my depression. </p><p>I spent the night in prayer after that counseling meeting. I hadn't talked to God like that in ages. It was so comforting and uplifting. I woke up the next morning feeling so different. The counselor was telling me about God's love for me. While he was telling me this I could hear a voice say "Yeah, God loves you and wants to spend time with you but you squander that love and time." I said this out loud and my counselor said words that have been life changing in this struggle: "God does not talk like that." </p><p>And so, everytime those voices have popped in my head I have let them now "The true God does not talk like that and I won't listen to any of that anymore!" </p><p>If you are struggling with your relationship with God, seek help, seek counseling! Stop thinking you can do it alone. You can't! Ask God to bring you back and help you hear His voice. He is calling with tender love. I will not be kept from dwelling in that love any longer, not by my ignorance, not by my fear, not by my anger.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 2.4rem; min-width: 0px;"><span class="text Matt-7-9" id="en-NIV-23326"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-size: 1.2rem; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;">Matthew 79 </span>“Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone?</span> <span class="text Matt-7-10" id="en-NIV-23327"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-size: 1.2rem; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;">10 </span>Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake?</span> <span class="text Matt-7-11" id="en-NIV-23328"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-size: 1.2rem; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;">11 </span>If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!</span> <span class="text Matt-7-12" id="en-NIV-23329"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-size: 1.2rem; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;">12 </span>So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets. </span><span class="text Matt-7-13"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-size: 1.2rem; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;">13 </span>“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it.</span> <span class="text Matt-7-14" id="en-NIV-23331"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-size: 1.2rem; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;">14 </span>But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.</span></p><p>There is so much more I want to share of that counseling session, but this will do for now. And so, 2020 was a beating for so many, but I will begin 2021 by listing all the things I must be grateful for in 2020. </p><div style="text-align: left;">1. We had provision the entire year. So many times we felt we would not have jobs or provision, and somehow we always had both. We even had enough to add ice cream to our grocery shopping to have something with which to comfort the girls for not being able to play outside or see friends. <br />2. The most understanding girls ever. They suffered the quarantine. They shed tears. They consistently prayed for this to be over. But they kept their spirits up and their good attitudes throughout. <br />3. Mom's recovery. I won't say much of this, but it was more than I could ask for in terms of provision and protection. <br />4. A small birthday party in covid times. I am grateful nothing went "bad" in terms of anyone getting the virus or being a threat to others. We took a chance. I'm just glad it turned out ok and the girls got a much needed break from this reality.<br />5. Friends who stayed close, both far and close (though the quarantine made everyone feel far). <br />6. A solid family. I can't thank God more for my husband.<br />7. A renewed relationship with my mom and sister. Close quarters will do that. <br />8. A business opportunity for Lilly and me. <br />9. Everyone had good health. <br />10. We still have our house.<br />11. Girls had a good education year and kept learning gym and piano and more<br />12. We were still able to serve at Church</div><p> I am so sorry for those who lost loved ones to Covid or during 2020. I pray you have the hope of seeing them again through Christ. The Lord is near.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBwPKNcZ98R8h1WI6D2MlS31QY7NLfL2okFaXI3WTJ1nViTPcfYcY4DaiN2hyphenhyphen1gGHhHr0ymHNxYkNcKk4OEbBuhXznt7tSEE6rp5L9paAkG94QcgfIfbd-UkG0ZgVlyRe1cxaohQMn0Ys/s2048/IMG_3114.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1364" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBwPKNcZ98R8h1WI6D2MlS31QY7NLfL2okFaXI3WTJ1nViTPcfYcY4DaiN2hyphenhyphen1gGHhHr0ymHNxYkNcKk4OEbBuhXznt7tSEE6rp5L9paAkG94QcgfIfbd-UkG0ZgVlyRe1cxaohQMn0Ys/w640-h426/IMG_3114.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9ff6dQuNAqk7A7vL643KbpWETA9zrxo7BtO44R9fMpe3UtbTgWieMyod6qethdhZWAfft1h3aH22m_ckI8VGOu5eeyjIuWcZpqrHGk-eAT3Yd6zbV3v8tk5BsqW1OUkBCUmMToKsYYc8/s2048/IMG_3116.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; 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text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJHnkY9oanabv7phMedn4ASl6kneMIqfzn6CdpcFe2zn0X0TKLulUTcgHAlLF-6g_fOwFsb_vs8ds-9fJsjD0B9sPXmJx852JrP-FmCjzfc2N79LmUdo9MliaIFazOLlH9cnG52CCaLc0/s2048/IMG_3211.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1364" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJHnkY9oanabv7phMedn4ASl6kneMIqfzn6CdpcFe2zn0X0TKLulUTcgHAlLF-6g_fOwFsb_vs8ds-9fJsjD0B9sPXmJx852JrP-FmCjzfc2N79LmUdo9MliaIFazOLlH9cnG52CCaLc0/w640-h426/IMG_3211.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_RqMvk0NCCv8OHP0_ftY0K8RAmRWn2MfXTKcwWhw21oYgi1lia7Prek2MbhCxl6zhDD9SYPSSUCctHHgJSmMUhOOvrUOE2ojFiqt8efb40vv_eavzHNpRZMiwTyu63G2QEJfC1qbM_U8/s2048/IMG_3213.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1364" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_RqMvk0NCCv8OHP0_ftY0K8RAmRWn2MfXTKcwWhw21oYgi1lia7Prek2MbhCxl6zhDD9SYPSSUCctHHgJSmMUhOOvrUOE2ojFiqt8efb40vv_eavzHNpRZMiwTyu63G2QEJfC1qbM_U8/w640-h426/IMG_3213.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Linda Zelayahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02842164145067391301noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6259200682875369030.post-740361837650895632020-10-24T09:31:00.009-07:002022-12-26T08:30:51.981-08:00The Church is Me!<p>I was hesitant on writing my last post because I didn't want to write something "bad" about a specific church. I was writing about churches and Christianity in general. It is hard for those who read it not to have a specific church in mind because they knew what church I had attended most of my life and had also attended there themselves. </p><p>There are a few things I want to make clearer.</p><p>1) I never meant to call anyone specifically a "bad apple." If you remember my post, this was a comment on my friend´s post. Her post said that if the teaching is wrong, you can't say it's some "bad apples" straying you away from Christianity. I happen to agree with her. One of the things I don´t know if my previous post made clear is that I am included in those perpetuating teachings straying away others. I wrote the post because I don't take that lightly. I have a responsibility in the part I played, whether it was intentional or not. I was part of "church-cliques." I was in the "spiritual" clique always a pastor darling. I didn't care for others, including my siblings who were feeling left out and seen as less because I was "in". If anything, I was the biggest bad apple. </p><p>2) I never meant to say all the church leaders were bad and everyone in that church is bad. If I happen to still have many close and good friends from that church is because they add to my life in friendship and in Christ. Some of the things that happened in my youth were wrong. I need to talk about that. My post and the responses I got in private show me this needs to be addressed. A lot of people are hurt, but no one will speak about it. But speaking for the sake of speaking can lead to sin, as James reminds us (Read James chapter 3). I don't want to speak about it just so that we can all get together and say "Yeah, this was all bad!" and start bad-mouthing someone or an institution that, while not perfect, is working towards bringing people to Christ. A lot of you took it that way, and that makes me feel responsible because that is not the door I wanted to open. I was not talking of this church specifically but of Christianity and churches in general. I wanted to open the door where the church stops pretending to be perfect, starts acknowledging the things it did wrong, starts enacting change that will help bring more people to Christ, and maybe even move towards helping those it hurt to heal. This kind of talk is taboo in churches. We sweep it under the rug. </p><p>3) The church was not a building or a group of pastors. The church was me. The church is you. It is your responsibility to look after it. It is your responsibility to restore her. It is your responsibility to amend your mistakes. It is your responsibility to forgive pastors, leaders, or people in church who might have hurt you. You do NOT have a green card to hold grudges, resentment, and anger. Sometimes that means changing churches. Sometimes that means staying so you can be the difference. Sometimes it means asking for forgiveness. Sometimes it means spoonful by spoonful getting rid of bad theology and putting in the work to learn good theology for yourself and teach good theology to others. Yes, bad theology is what makes some leaders think they have control over your life, your relationships, your finances, or your education. But let me say it again and in the present tense: the church is me. I am the hands and feet of Christ in this world. If I don´t preach, He can use the rocks to do so. I won´t be bested by a rock. I will tell the world of Him Who gave His life for me and adopted me as His child and gave my life purpose. I will put in the work in myself, in my family, in my community, and in my church.</p><p>4) Talking about this is not an attack. I was afraid of sharing my last post. I prayed long and hard to share it. Some wrote that they felt God had guided them to read my post, for they were in the brink of abandoning their faith. But God´s greatest kindness to me came in a conversation I had with the pastor who I considered to be MY Pastor: Gustavo Zepeda. As I´ve hinted before, I am trying to write my book. I don't know if I'll ever finish it, or publish it, or whatever, but I am writing it. Gustavo is in my book for he is an integral part of my life. He entered my life when I was a seven year old girl who had experienced sexual harassment at the hands of relative. Our relationship began with hatred, for I despised him for knowing my darkest secret and for my mom forcing me to go to counseling with him. But Gustavo was a loving and caring pastor that soon made feel happy I had someone like him on my side. When I was thirteen years old and this relative came back into the picture to tell me to meet him so he could apologize, I went straight to Gustavo where I knew I'd be safe. Tavo, as we so dearly call him, made mistakes. I remember once I got so mad at something he said to Rodolfo about our relationship that I went to straight to him with tears in my eyes ready to let him have it. When I was met with a sensible pastor who was quick to apologize, my anger immediately left. When I saw on my private messages his name, I got scared of what he was going to say to me. Let me tell you his opening words: "Did I ever do anything to hurt you?" Can you imagine that? Can you imagine the impact it would have if every Christian reacted in this manner? Why don't we understand that God is more present in redemption and forgiveness stories than in our perfection and "holier-than-thou" pretenses?! I was quick to let Tavo know how my life was and is forever blessed to have him in it. Pastors are not responsible of everything that happens in church, and we need to remember that. Being a pastor is hard and it is a great burden. Everything that happens in church is immediately linked to them! He apologized for not having protected me better when my youth leader asked me to marry him and let me know he had advised against it. </p><p>5) What about the rest of you? I´m getting tears in my eyes writing this right now. Please, I never meant to attack anyone. Tavo went on to say that because His church is filled with imperfect humans, He left the command that we should forgive one another. Do you have something you need to forgive? Some of the responses to my post clearly show that is not the case. Even my husband has things he needs to forgive. Even I have things I need to forgive. My family, my siblings, my friends who love bad-mouthing this church. We have a command to forgive. It's hard for my previous post not to be viewed as an attack when the title is "Leaving the church." Was I right in leaving this church? That is a good question. I asked myself long and hard before leaving. It was right for me, I think and pray. At the end, I could only see what was bad and not what was good. I couldn't stay in that state any longer. </p><p>I was glad to receive messages from some who stayed telling me how many things have changed. That brought me joy, because that is exactly what I prayed for. I don't dismiss the idea that maybe the problem was myself. Many commented on how they were deemed "bad apples" within church, but don't take the responsibility in their actions to what got them that stamp. The church was all of us. We have a responsibility to our actions. This is the reason I ended my post with: the change starts with me. I guess I didn't make this point come across more clearly. I had sat in the seat of mockers, I had alienated those who were not like me, I was bad-mouthing my leaders, I had a bitter root, I had reached out to this friend leaving Christianity with judgment and "fixes" first than with love and compassion, I had been close-minded, self-righteous, and social warrior. And God is calling me to something better than religiousness. He is calling me to unity. He is calling you too! The church is us!</p><p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSYXSr3Wj5RGzoFhuGpCqtCW8xgmcll0T0xLlWe2k7FPIL6d1fd_PUhf3yKoh9YinHxQmIdfFanCQCuGT1SZZjORqPTztskeqKkbZcOkEdbXAR7ER8ZA8gHEGi4o5_DqNejriUKa_i4jg/s960/13015374_10154203940515982_3403132837377756082_n.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSYXSr3Wj5RGzoFhuGpCqtCW8xgmcll0T0xLlWe2k7FPIL6d1fd_PUhf3yKoh9YinHxQmIdfFanCQCuGT1SZZjORqPTztskeqKkbZcOkEdbXAR7ER8ZA8gHEGi4o5_DqNejriUKa_i4jg/w640-h480/13015374_10154203940515982_3403132837377756082_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is the group of friends that gathered at my house the night I found out I had cancer and was undergoing my first mastectomy the next morning. They were there to support me and pray for me. Almost all are from this church I was no longer attending.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf-pRjrEFyTdmUkYChlZ6qOsdIzzGA5pU8hTJVjHus4xJrybCxAzCLkVJF_zJyo1OQsPUWzkAXIfkEQViN30kmEnZ2gbNPKWq-0wDj62GlpKn1c9CVi0nZe5h6Nb3Hj08fx2q3gKQZRrE/s241/11174903_973470772673301_3995188929365455685_n.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="206" data-original-width="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf-pRjrEFyTdmUkYChlZ6qOsdIzzGA5pU8hTJVjHus4xJrybCxAzCLkVJF_zJyo1OQsPUWzkAXIfkEQViN30kmEnZ2gbNPKWq-0wDj62GlpKn1c9CVi0nZe5h6Nb3Hj08fx2q3gKQZRrE/s0/11174903_973470772673301_3995188929365455685_n.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My loving god-parents go to this church and are a great source of love and support for many. They are like second parents to us.</td></tr></tbody></table><p><br /><br /></p>Linda Zelayahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02842164145067391301noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6259200682875369030.post-87910037099275730982020-10-14T13:31:00.005-07:002022-12-26T08:40:45.775-08:00On Leaving the Church<p> A friend of mine recently posted a blog post of why she left the church and her Christian faith. She began by saying that when she decided to leave the church she was met with similar platitudes from those trying to convince her to stay: </p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Don't let some bad apples (meaning bad Christians) turn you away from Jesus.</li><li>You are the problem. You have a bitter root. </li></ul><div>Now, I'm not writing this post as an antithesis of what she wrote or to convince anyone to do otherwise. I'm going to write to process how I felt reading her post, how I have felt myself after leaving my church of 20+ years, and the ongoing struggle in my mind to where to go from there. </div><div><br /></div><div>My friend said when she was trying to be convinced not to leave, no one wanted to hear her story. They just wanted to fix her. This is often too real on pretty much every aspect of human life. I was listening to a podcast on "mom shaming" that is so pervasive in society. One of the things that caught my attention was that the speaker who was advocating for mom-shaming to stop was the first to admit she had mom-shamed other moms herself. I've written a post on that before <a href="http://youknowwhatineed.blogspot.com/2014/03/that-kind-of-night.html">here </a>where I was sleepless because I felt so bad of having mom-shamed someone and <a href="http://youknowwhatineed.blogspot.com/2013/05/watch-your-mouth.html">here </a>were I rant on people´s comments of my girls. I was one of the ones who told my friend "You have a bitter root."</div><div><br /></div><div>I feel ashamed of that. One, I said it in a Facebook comment. Wow! We are too loose with our tongue on the internet. Two, while I did know part of her story, I didn't take the time to follow up or know how she was feeling when I said that to her. She got upset with me for saying that to which my defense was that "I knew how she was feeling because I was battling my own bitter root from getting cancer." I thought cancer had made me more empathetic, but I have ways to go. </div><div><br /></div><div>Christians are too loose with their "fixes." I almost went into a rant today when I read in a mom group a mom saying she had been sexually assaulted when she was little, and she needed a good recommendation for a psychiatrist to help her deal with the trauma so she wouldn't let it affect her family now that she is a mom and wife. Almost 80% of the comments were in the line of "All you need is Jesus. Just seek Jesus! Jesus can help you heal your heart and forgive." I couldn't help myself and I did reply to some of them. The ones I found, like my friend puts it, toxic. </div><div><br /></div><div>So, to suck the poison and toxicity that exists in the Christian world, I need to start with myself. My brother says I've become too much of a social warrior. I will go on a rant on "#meToo" (especially being a survivor of sexual abuse and sexual harassment) to whoever belittles it; I will rant on immigration and how it is "illegal" to try to find a better life for yourself because of man-made borders; I will rant on Donald Trump and whoever wants to pass him on as Christian. This year one of my resolutions was to not be a social warrior anymore because I tend to bulldoze over those on the other side of the debate, which is not very Christian of me. I intentionally try my best not to rant. </div><div><br /></div><div>Lately, I try to be an advocate for grief protection. You see, especially in the Christian community, grief is not allowed. If you are grieving, it´s a lack of faith or lack of prayer or lack of fasting or lack of time in the Word. Depression is not permissible or justifiable. It is a lie; it is the Devil; it is your own weakness and temptation. I had to go through my own deep grief to realize this was a form of violence. You don't negate other people´s feelings. You don´t ask them to put them in perspective. You don´t tell them how to fix it or how they´re going through it because they´re not good enough. This is psychological VIOLENCE. This is psychological violence I suffered during my cancer journey and that I had and probably still have enacted on others too. If Christianity is not willing to understand its flaws and change, we can't keep telling people "it's a few bad apples." </div><div><br /></div><div>This is why I left my church of most of my life. I have fond memories of my church. I made great friends there that I still hold dearly and closely. I met my husband there. I spent my youth in missions and worship bands and plays and so many good things. But I reached my boiling point after years and years of psychological violence and neglect. I would need way too many words to express correctly what was wrong with my church. I mean, at one point, my youth leader who was 15 years my senior and had been my youth pastor since I was 12 asked me to marry him two weeks after I turned 18! It took me many years to realize I had been groomed to accept that proposal. And thank God I didn't! </div><div>It took many years to reach that boiling point. I was so close-minded in everything. I was even taught other churches were wrong, and I could only collaborate and work within my church. I was placed in discipline from serving in church for dating my husband even though when I started dating him I was 21 and I had finished college. Mind you, he was my first kiss! I made myself miserable to the point of being too ashamed to have my alone time with God because I had romantic feelings towards him. Toxicity at its highest; toxicity I was taught and fed. </div><div><br /></div><div>The post went on to say that it wasn't only the bad apples in church that were turning her away, but now she also had an issue with God. She didn't like the God of the Bible who slayed the Egyptians´ firstborn or the many times He command Israel to wipe out a nation. I wrote something along those lines <a href="http://youknowwhatineed.blogspot.com/2016/09/understanding-suffering.html">here </a>where I write why I still believe in God after getting cancer. In a nutshell, you knew who God was from the beginning of your faith. If it was easy for you to believe in Him when things were good in your life but find it easy to turn from Him when things are not going as you expected them, your faith was not in God but in what He could offer you. I want to understand the pain my friend says she endured. I certainly endured and still endure a share of pain and loss that not many people know from such a young age. You can read about it <a href="http://youknowwhatineed.blogspot.com/2016/07/a-history-of-pain_20.html">here </a>and <a href="http://youknowwhatineed.blogspot.com/2016/07/gods-plans-for-me.html">here</a>. I'm not comparing pain. Everyone´s pain is their own and it's theirs to make as big or small as they experienced it. I do not believe anymore in "putting things in perspective" when trying to comfort someone. </div><div><br /></div><div>Back to my almost rant for the comments of the mom seeking psychiatric help. Jesus is the way. I know it firsthand because I know Who held me in my deepest despair. I know it because I almost left my faith when Kinsley died and had to walk a desert to find Him again. He kept calling. He kept holding me. But I was treated with psychiatric help, and I'm still in need of psychiatric help to deal with my PTSD. </div><div>Jesus is the way, but He alone is not enough. This is why He established His church on earth. He prayed our unity would bring people to Him. He prayed we'd be one with Him. I found a good church here in Panama. A church who hasn't shown a single shred of psychological violence towards me after almost three years there. A church who has held me and brought me closer to my beloved Jesus. It's sad because so many of the friends I grew up with excited to love Jesus and live for Him ended up reaching their boiling point too, and many never found a safe place to worship and grow and hold each other up in Christ. Some have bounced from church to church seeking that place and coming out so belittled they no longer see the point of it. Some have found a deeper relationship with God in a good church they ended up establishing when reaching their boiling point together. Some renounced their faith and after more than a decade of doing so, their lives are none the better; if anything, they just seem lost. It's sad because I loved my church so dearly. Leaving it was gut-wrenching. And once you leave a church like that you are almost completely shunned by those who stay in it, pretty much losing all your extended family. I found a new one that I love very dearly. I'm glad it's out there. </div><div><br /></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRXqaXvf3iuNTOYJWuDT3KD9IFYBYOO3X7CCq9nvefA83tsfBU4P8DZBYDnqdkEDvGS_wHiIyh36hDya5yNNuQsl6zpZq-4NW0Fdulxpi3dktz5Aj5QOIWihlJGeuhlPZ7nR_0CmdhKVE/s960/100735535_10158589915298793_6214262685932978176_n.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="624" data-original-width="960" height="416" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRXqaXvf3iuNTOYJWuDT3KD9IFYBYOO3X7CCq9nvefA83tsfBU4P8DZBYDnqdkEDvGS_wHiIyh36hDya5yNNuQsl6zpZq-4NW0Fdulxpi3dktz5Aj5QOIWihlJGeuhlPZ7nR_0CmdhKVE/w640-h416/100735535_10158589915298793_6214262685932978176_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Picture of my youth group after a church service.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK1JaZcEbwxzaykQQ0IyCxm5h6gh8b89YX-HX2dvs1hlFsH8eWDGoytyg7BI-PtIty2opcY9BiC9F520cUWN1l31mbpStAufZfSBK1H751l40sbJ6csUYHGSjA7agQKTWWfHMoHPg3i_c/s960/101000584_10158589915568793_7763039622426263552_n.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="638" data-original-width="960" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK1JaZcEbwxzaykQQ0IyCxm5h6gh8b89YX-HX2dvs1hlFsH8eWDGoytyg7BI-PtIty2opcY9BiC9F520cUWN1l31mbpStAufZfSBK1H751l40sbJ6csUYHGSjA7agQKTWWfHMoHPg3i_c/w640-h426/101000584_10158589915568793_7763039622426263552_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">100% of us have left the church or moved to a different church after pretty much living all our teenage years in and out of church serving fervently. </td></tr></tbody></table><br /> </div><div><br /></div><div>Jesus is the way, but He also ate food and drank water and slept. We can't be hippies about our faith. I mean this with no disrespect, but your "Jesus is enough" is not enough. </div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="text Jas-2-15" face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" id="en-NIV-30309" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-size: 1.2rem; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;">James 2</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="text Jas-2-15" face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-size: 1.2rem; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;">15 </span>Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food.</span><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"> </span><span class="text Jas-2-16" face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" id="en-NIV-30310" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-size: 1.2rem; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;">16 </span>If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it?</span><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"> </span><span class="text Jas-2-17" face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" id="en-NIV-30311" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-size: 1.2rem; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;">17 </span>In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.</span></div><div><br /></div><div>I struggle to see Jesus some days. Will I end up giving up after so much pain? I pray not. I see the lives of those who truly follow Jesus and those who follow the world, and I'm in good company with my fellow Jesus-lovers. They are the best thing in my life. That includes my mom and dad, my in-laws, my husband, my closest friends, my mentors and pastors. I pray to stay close to them and follow their example. It's not as easy as many would say it is. If it is for you, I'm happy you don't endure much struggle. But if you found Jesus, I'm happy you have the lover of your soul present in your life during the hardships that come with this life on this broken world. </div><div><br /></div><div>This is not an easy subject. It is not something that you have just one answer to offer. The need for change in Christianity and many churches is too real and palpable to brush it as bad apples. The need for listening and opening up your mind to needs and grief and pain and true help is urgent. You don't have to agree with me. I don't even fathom to have the full understanding of anything myself. I do open my mind to be better and do better because change must start with me. </div><div><br /></div><p></p>Linda Zelayahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02842164145067391301noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6259200682875369030.post-29033326491230493402020-09-27T11:48:00.003-07:002020-09-27T11:50:06.333-07:00Bringing my Thoughts Captive<p></p><p class="MsoNormal">When I first started my blog it was a place to clear my
thoughts by putting them into writing, rant if I wanted to and didn’t feel
social media was the place for that, record my life for myself and my loved
ones who cared, and mainly share what God does in my life through the mundane.
My lessons became less “mundane” when they included my battle with cancer. I
felt the lessons I learned during that time were deeper that my mundane life
was no longer worthy. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">This got me in a writing funk. I even started the daunting
task of writing my first book about my life. I kept only writing about the hard
in my life making me feel the book was a hot mess. I stopped hoping I would go
back to it until “inspiration” hit again. The more I searched for this
inspiration the worst I felt about my writing. A friend simply advised: write
for yourself. And I feel that is the best advice ever. This is why I used to
love writing. I didn’t do it with anyone in mind. The fact that my writing was
approved and liked of course had an effect in me, but it was never the purpose
or intention. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">And so, in an effort to kickstart my writing that I have so
dearly missed, I will go back to writing with only me in mind. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Depression. Oh, monstruous faceless beast, how am I to
finally defeat you? Can I defeat you? I’ve been learning the different facets
of depression. The best way I can describe it is a roller coaster. It has highs
and lows. On my highs, I get things done. I do more healthy and hearty meals. I
cover more school material and make the classes fun and interactive. I do DIY
projects for my home or myself. I work on my yoga and unlock new poses. On my lows,
I get by. I resort to fast meals like burgers and hot dogs. On very lows my
girls are self-sufficient to make themselves a ham and cheese sandwich or a
pb&j sandwich when mom can’t even leave the bed. I barely cover any school
material. I resort to the independent work or an educational episode of the
Magic School bus. I feel successful if at least the house is not upside-down,
and the pile of dishes is not too high. The pile of laundry most definitely is.
I consider taking the dog out to pee my workout for the day. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The lows hurt. They hurt my progress. They hurt my family.
They hurt my sense of worth. They fill me with self-loathing for how mediocre I
used a day I was given. I berate myself into an even lower low. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Lately, I’ve been searching for the highs and hoping to hold
on to them as much as possible. I’ve been trying to be kinder to myself in my
mind. I try to remember I’ve had worse lows. I try to have hope. If the genius
Jon Foreman can only give as a response “Life, Love, and Why?”, what else can I
add to the conundrum? <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">For me, the problem lately has been my lack of hope. I just
don’t foresee the future being any better. I hate all the “self help
inspirational” quotes and posts that fill our feeds these days, but I always
read them trying to find anything I can use. I found one that had a list of
“goals” similar to my own with one important addendum. My goals list for the
day looks like this: <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">1) basics: read your Bible and
spend time in prayer. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">2) Eat mindfully and guard your
sleep (a.k.a. no binging, both for food and for tv). <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">3) Do all your work before any
breaks. (a.k.a. you can only pick your phone at the end of the day)<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">4) Workout. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">5) Avoid comparing yourself to
others, even to your own self yesterday. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">6) Envision success. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Number 6 was the addendum. This is something I never do and
intentionally avoid doing. The only times I allow myself to do this is when I
plan a birthday party, got a cake order, DIY something I see online. I believe
I can do it. I trust I can do it. I can do it. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I never let myself think I can do a push up. I never let
myself think I’ll be able to consistently go to bed at a good time and wake up
early. My mind has set limits based on my pain and illness. “I will wake up all
night from the pain of neuropathy, so sleeping well is not up to me. I won’t be
able to do a push up because I have no pectoral muscle left (I literally don’t
after aggressive double mastectomy). My lymphedema will flare up again so I
can’t train more. My anxiety from lack of sleep and lack of working out will
lead to food binging. I just can’t do it. I’ll just fall back into my old
habits. I’ll just fail again.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">This is only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to my
self-loathing tendencies after I analyze myself as a mother, wife, daughter, or
disciple. “I’ll never be able to stop raising my voice no matter how hard I
try. I wish my daughters had a ‘complete’ mom who is not always in pain. Poor
husband of mine stuck with such a wife! I’m always so short-tempered with my
mom for no reason.” <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">And do I believe any of that will
get better? Do I envision myself even achieving any improvement? <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Not one iota!<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">No wonder I have no hope. These
are just my everyday goals and I have no hope or trust of succeeding. Why would
I have long-term goals I would definitely not trust myself, my God, or my life
of ever achieving! <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">And so, I’ve been reading Bible verses that have been
calling me to action. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">2 Cor. 10:5 “Take every thought captive to the obedience of
Christ.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I have to say this “envision success” has lowered my
negativity and boosted my positivity. I sorely needed this because I was drowning
in my negativity on pit of hopelessness and many tears. I was crying while
doing the dishes, crying while doing class with the girls, crying while in the
shower. FOR ABSOLUTELY NO REASON other than my deep negativity. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">1 Thesalonians 5: <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>16-18
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">16 Rejoice always, 17 pray continually, 18 give thanks in
all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">This one hit me especially hard when reading “This is the
will of God for YOU in Christ Jesus.” I want to be known by my girls and loved
ones as a happy, cheerful, positive person. Times are hard and we need that
energy. I am known that way in many circles, but not my inner circle. I want
that for my family. But I want to be able not to hate on myself and start
beating myself down when I’m unable. Depression is a disease. A disease for
which I can’t afford treatment or medicine as I was at the beginning of the
year when the world was actually less grim. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I’ve been on antidepressant withdrawal that has left me with
a bombardment of suicidal thoughts. At one exceptionally low point I verbalized
to my girls “I wish I was dead. You´d be better off without me.” Tears immediately
flew from my eldest eyes and my youngest just held my arm for dear life. “But
we need you,” my 7-year-old feels compelled to say in an attempt to rescue her
mommy from such thoughts. I do not take this incident lightly. In fact, I would
say it is one of my worst lows as a mother and one of the worst damages I could
have done to my girls. They don’t need to worry that mommy is thinking that or
crying without prompting. “I wish you’d never had cancer,” Emmalee says with a
heaviness in her voice you can tell she has been thinking it for a long time. When
she hears mommy has a checkup or sees the band aid from where they drew blood,
she complains of stomachaches or suffers from teeth grinding.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">All I´ve ever wanted was to make them a happy home, but that
needs a happy mom for the formula to work. I do not envision myself feeling
happy. I’m utterly surprised when I do. I need to change that. I’m in a battle
with myself. How do you tell yourself that what you think or want is not what
you should think or want and tell yourself to change that thought that yourself
is feeding you? Am I describing temptation? I think in a sense I am, and this
is why the encouragement is to take CAPTIVE EVERY THOUGHT to the obedience of
CHRIST. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I still feel very lonely in my lows. I shared one of them
with my mom and left her in tears as well. What mom would not react that way
when hearing your daughter say she feels life is not worth living. She asked me
if it’s not worth it for my daughters. I said “No.” (When someone is in an
emotional low, what they’re saying can’t be taken as truth). My reasons to that
“no” was that I honestly feel the girls and my family would be better off
without me. These, of course, are lies of the Devil; lies that I recognize as
such but am still such a weakling that I repeat them out loud and give them strength.
“We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the
knowledge of God…” says the beginning of 2 Cor 10:5. Can’t forget that goes
hand in hand with taking every thought back to the obedience of Christ. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Capturing my mind requires stillness, something I had been
resistant to do. I’m getting a little better, and these spaces of
self-reflection help. I’ve been using my journal as a place to boost positivity
by only writing gratitude. I’m resistant to share these things because I wish I
could share them when I have an answer to them, when I could share what I
learned, when I could share steps into getting better. I guess I have to accept
that it’s a roller coaster. It breaks my trust when I know I’ve been spending
more time in the Bible than before, and I’m still struggling with these issues.
If you think these have an easy fix, you are not acquainted with depression and
have no business telling others how “easy” it is for you to shift your
thoughts. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Finally, I want to add one more thing to the list: <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">8) It’s not about you. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Proverbs 4:23, GNT Be careful how you think; your life is
shaped by your thoughts.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">This is a different translation to “Guard your heart above all
things for from it comes life.” I really like this translation. Your heart is
what you think. Look at this next verse:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Proverbs 23: 7 For as he thinks in his heart, so is he. He
says to you, “Eat and drink!” But his heart is not with you. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Here we can see that what you think and what you say don’t always
match. But it gets better when you pair it with this verse:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Psalm 19:14, NLT May the words of my mouth and the
meditation of my heart be pleasing to you, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">If this is your “vision of success” you’ll seek to have both
your words and thought not only match, but intentionally seek to be “captive to
the obedience of Christ” which will take you to intentionally do this verse:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Philippians 4:8, ESV whatever is true, whatever is
honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is
commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise,
think about these things.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">It’s not about me. I need to put that into the center of my
thoughts, which is why the command is “captive to the obedience of CHRIST.” I
don’t live my life because I think it’s worth it. I live it to give Him glory. He
has said to me that He glorifies Himself in my weakness too. My lows are not
without His presence, His love, or His glorifying in my life. He is strong when
I am weak. Those lows are days I must rely on Him to be stronger. Can I have
hope in Him? I must. It’s all that matter in the end. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">And so, my Lord give me days of rest to quiet the turmoil
within and give me friendship and beauty. Oh, how my heart was filled by this
beautiful day shared with highly loved brothers and sisters. <o:p></o:p></p><br /><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQAHZgJImyHHqO5M5rOWKs46L3gClu-noTwX6Ou7xr03GXqnlIXcKEKYsLSx3IaDl4ZizKV-JGdtE3OzKVwgxMUKTNir2xZluh7p7VScY-eXJc-bwdg44n7wWJk47tZIoLNEWP53REG3o/s1280/WhatsApp+Image+2020-09-26+at+8.52.51+PM.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQAHZgJImyHHqO5M5rOWKs46L3gClu-noTwX6Ou7xr03GXqnlIXcKEKYsLSx3IaDl4ZizKV-JGdtE3OzKVwgxMUKTNir2xZluh7p7VScY-eXJc-bwdg44n7wWJk47tZIoLNEWP53REG3o/w640-h360/WhatsApp+Image+2020-09-26+at+8.52.51+PM.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My Panama sisters consists of a Honduran called Jackie and a Salvadorean called Tita. Oh, how I love these girls!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMdYvHKb4Nug8Q18Iit_ubm4mkrYCLVsEmdP1H_IEqGiNFmtsDrFJaaAKKAbb2hIBkcFxX0VLFKXeMCRt3r6un16__FfN0_uTxYqXu7ldXfTkvAyencfdcD5HGjjQRGUodBa4BIQ-osPA/s1280/WhatsApp+Image+2020-09-26+at+8.42.23+PM.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMdYvHKb4Nug8Q18Iit_ubm4mkrYCLVsEmdP1H_IEqGiNFmtsDrFJaaAKKAbb2hIBkcFxX0VLFKXeMCRt3r6un16__FfN0_uTxYqXu7ldXfTkvAyencfdcD5HGjjQRGUodBa4BIQ-osPA/w640-h480/WhatsApp+Image+2020-09-26+at+8.42.23+PM.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The grownups had a fun frisbee game. Jackie doesn't know how good she looks throwing with that sunset backdrop.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhblsNgf9xnb9QXdaGwGRRsN0Z7hE3s1iOUExW1eNURtYftp06mWlaywKZNB0anmdJe65JPYoe1lZ4n7srlO6iBlzi2lNErPGB5HKjBzYlRmF9syVoyNVC6ikg3lGnnDP8pQy1ueh91Lo/s1280/WhatsApp+Image+2020-09-26+at+8.42.09+PM.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhblsNgf9xnb9QXdaGwGRRsN0Z7hE3s1iOUExW1eNURtYftp06mWlaywKZNB0anmdJe65JPYoe1lZ4n7srlO6iBlzi2lNErPGB5HKjBzYlRmF9syVoyNVC6ikg3lGnnDP8pQy1ueh91Lo/w480-h640/WhatsApp+Image+2020-09-26+at+8.42.09+PM.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNCpN1ltgU74M40dhPBKNyW7a9GDmd8s4ZPTl2_u7pzpQ0Vx8EK0jXxLIreyerBJUqA_ewQCIEwUWmwcRGcUjl96OXGVAaM4bEDs1f-uEYD9Ms0NhLpOeee43pB6vO5EVQvFIi-KvRlBA/s1280/WhatsApp+Image+2020-09-26+at+8.41.44+PM.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNCpN1ltgU74M40dhPBKNyW7a9GDmd8s4ZPTl2_u7pzpQ0Vx8EK0jXxLIreyerBJUqA_ewQCIEwUWmwcRGcUjl96OXGVAaM4bEDs1f-uEYD9Ms0NhLpOeee43pB6vO5EVQvFIi-KvRlBA/w640-h480/WhatsApp+Image+2020-09-26+at+8.41.44+PM.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It was completely dark and thundering minutes before we met up at the park. We almost cancelled our day out, but we knew the Panama weather is crazy fluctuating.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOS2CJveCh9MxZUElbq8kKlI4AP5f9g4kY5m8aNaowhcJTDeYPVkBTmyQ14AwcRu2A8bRYXarsQvPnefuVEgJsqJkwwmEbdD5iRKV0YgjWLSQmJUJev4OHjlLqrJPs8e9bSxWm83wp9f0/s1280/WhatsApp+Image+2020-09-26+at+8.17.49+PM.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOS2CJveCh9MxZUElbq8kKlI4AP5f9g4kY5m8aNaowhcJTDeYPVkBTmyQ14AwcRu2A8bRYXarsQvPnefuVEgJsqJkwwmEbdD5iRKV0YgjWLSQmJUJev4OHjlLqrJPs8e9bSxWm83wp9f0/w640-h480/WhatsApp+Image+2020-09-26+at+8.17.49+PM.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifTgicByQQtjxwbWabrzpxsdKEviaJhYlMdbYRvoOLWqbG5GUii1jMhYDySCrVV0BUo_Ubm69_ri4Hyt6GBuTZRHQVNnKaZFTU7v2UMq21nQjW6JU8uaDjMjLy28a4kwpmKntwhUYDVV8/s1280/WhatsApp+Image+2020-09-26+at+6.49.34+PM.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifTgicByQQtjxwbWabrzpxsdKEviaJhYlMdbYRvoOLWqbG5GUii1jMhYDySCrVV0BUo_Ubm69_ri4Hyt6GBuTZRHQVNnKaZFTU7v2UMq21nQjW6JU8uaDjMjLy28a4kwpmKntwhUYDVV8/w480-h640/WhatsApp+Image+2020-09-26+at+6.49.34+PM.jpeg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We were completely alone in the field, so Kaylee took her mask for a breather. We have all been very vigilant with the quarantine, so we were confident in our company.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUaRdHNeeqfvZuc8WEuEh5MxO8tHOTcY42e36WTxV8KhzY-qskffJDkbEb-2BnzpVHex8ug__CW5VYT_FFydTMSfMAfcRyr7NU_wvRwcgyHA-WjdKeIybS7LwUMjQJXdOX3w__wnCF2E8/s1280/WhatsApp+Image+2020-09-19+at+7.17.15+PM.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUaRdHNeeqfvZuc8WEuEh5MxO8tHOTcY42e36WTxV8KhzY-qskffJDkbEb-2BnzpVHex8ug__CW5VYT_FFydTMSfMAfcRyr7NU_wvRwcgyHA-WjdKeIybS7LwUMjQJXdOX3w__wnCF2E8/w640-h480/WhatsApp+Image+2020-09-19+at+7.17.15+PM.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I hope our kids grow up to be best friends!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEievtGZie1o7eagRq3ZQKtOoswh1fxthB1F76l0y3DYH2QMNedtFcYLPNuWC-xDlt7bOF67BIPTsgyXm8wWCGH39iPz69L5rsBtTAq-ob9z5QEyxRETkeFmzi3ffBzVViJVF5mrFatC16Q/s1280/WhatsApp+Image+2020-09-19+at+7.16.42+PM.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEievtGZie1o7eagRq3ZQKtOoswh1fxthB1F76l0y3DYH2QMNedtFcYLPNuWC-xDlt7bOF67BIPTsgyXm8wWCGH39iPz69L5rsBtTAq-ob9z5QEyxRETkeFmzi3ffBzVViJVF5mrFatC16Q/w640-h480/WhatsApp+Image+2020-09-19+at+7.16.42+PM.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6JDWx_UyDrZtD9j_eVMvQRmRH3OsyYLi5YeHn3Kh18VFRlwbHhAon9qqEqNj2GrlssilgdrTtK7MyQJTn1hZC9xckv29S0-dDtltfgHeu0Es6ktSdN3RLAH99myIJ5Gr8lae1Curci-0/s1280/WhatsApp+Image+2020-09-19+at+7.05.07+PM.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6JDWx_UyDrZtD9j_eVMvQRmRH3OsyYLi5YeHn3Kh18VFRlwbHhAon9qqEqNj2GrlssilgdrTtK7MyQJTn1hZC9xckv29S0-dDtltfgHeu0Es6ktSdN3RLAH99myIJ5Gr8lae1Curci-0/w640-h480/WhatsApp+Image+2020-09-19+at+7.05.07+PM.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jackie made fun of Tita and me for smiling while using our masks. XD<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivMhPCupM2Q-jofpwwycbO6WpA3NiTw_bdU4C8KvKflms4mdKJEwYnArZkt6rW-FOXkJP6nKaXxLJvC82Y2IHL2JLLGS16J4oyjCGHUq-XeJuz6zkj11pZhH2VBhcq_YwRaeL6RXNwSBA/s1280/WhatsApp+Image+2020-09-19+at+5.41.48+PM.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivMhPCupM2Q-jofpwwycbO6WpA3NiTw_bdU4C8KvKflms4mdKJEwYnArZkt6rW-FOXkJP6nKaXxLJvC82Y2IHL2JLLGS16J4oyjCGHUq-XeJuz6zkj11pZhH2VBhcq_YwRaeL6RXNwSBA/w640-h480/WhatsApp+Image+2020-09-19+at+5.41.48+PM.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br />Linda Zelayahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02842164145067391301noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6259200682875369030.post-64955600278839473822020-08-02T12:35:00.004-07:002020-08-02T12:49:23.168-07:00Pirate Party Games and Crafts<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
So the initial plan was to make a pirate party series. But, with the way the world is in this moment, I don't feel like writing about that. I do, however, want to finish the previous pirate party post and share the wonderful ideas I picked up from several corners of the net and finish our Dear Emmalee and birthday interview post. </div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br /></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Here are the crafts, games, and activities we did for the Pirate Party.</div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">I had many different pirate attire items for each of the kids, but they had to earn them.</div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br /></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">PIRATE TRAINING</div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">I started by telling the kids they were pirates in training and carried that theme throughout the party. They loved it. </div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">With each activity conquered, they got closer to becoming a pirate. </div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br /></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">PARROT PET (reward: pirate hook)</div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">First up, make a pirate parrot friend.</div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">I gave each kid a toilet roll, some paper, googly eyes, and feather. The beak, belly, and stripes of paper for body and head were precut. The kids chose their favorite color for the head and body, and glued together the beak, belly, eyes, and feathers. Then I used pipe cleaners to secure the parrot to their hand or shoulders. The shoulder placing was actually their idea.</div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br /></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV1dngBj4QQ-NEIxXmz-uo5vmKWZPLn8pMqSJNCsTu943m4eJW7ZRZPC2SupssbNpWOOYKqrWRZUvNXzMzACbMWcAUrGoyWSnTU_BmOTz2_03b7qstXAvy4gMID8yXhB0V23oOxg7hgxQ/s2040/78547358_10157982868718793_505917744122691584_o.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1530" data-original-width="2040" height="384" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV1dngBj4QQ-NEIxXmz-uo5vmKWZPLn8pMqSJNCsTu943m4eJW7ZRZPC2SupssbNpWOOYKqrWRZUvNXzMzACbMWcAUrGoyWSnTU_BmOTz2_03b7qstXAvy4gMID8yXhB0V23oOxg7hgxQ/w512-h384/78547358_10157982868718793_505917744122691584_o.jpg" width="512" /></a></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br /></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDwYWgkvygl_kxoXVZKdu47uUKLpcIO3aCH0SjG1Ti-fKnWYb_M2dDkzao3srD0LGbO4m9I9nffG7FH19f3nGMopeFDdnAAQO_SIuVwPyRUyJNP5wK0yFQIuEBlaoXQ8TNVJXKmRpvJjU/s2040/77030010_10157982868973793_5670880715181391872_o.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1530" data-original-width="2040" height="384" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDwYWgkvygl_kxoXVZKdu47uUKLpcIO3aCH0SjG1Ti-fKnWYb_M2dDkzao3srD0LGbO4m9I9nffG7FH19f3nGMopeFDdnAAQO_SIuVwPyRUyJNP5wK0yFQIuEBlaoXQ8TNVJXKmRpvJjU/w512-h384/77030010_10157982868973793_5670880715181391872_o.jpg" width="512" /></a></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;" trbidi="on"><br /></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">When the parrot was completed, they received their first attire piece: the hook.</div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;" trbidi="on"><br /></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;" trbidi="on"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBT3MrIHgpndcE2ZP3mTxJc7FnWhOA22FOxZ5uNDI2tBLBsf5j9bcZNDUUbi0H3k8c5LkoH5x5L2y64oHci3TWin8AyrTs0rA8cMoZYJff3y4jIT8bru5i5Z9wX3w0KORqUIx6zzwvurw/s2040/79093528_10157982868513793_2071525570822275072_o.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1530" data-original-width="2040" height="600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBT3MrIHgpndcE2ZP3mTxJc7FnWhOA22FOxZ5uNDI2tBLBsf5j9bcZNDUUbi0H3k8c5LkoH5x5L2y64oHci3TWin8AyrTs0rA8cMoZYJff3y4jIT8bru5i5Z9wX3w0KORqUIx6zzwvurw/w800-h600/79093528_10157982868513793_2071525570822275072_o.jpg" width="800" /></a></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;" trbidi="on">The hook is just a red cup with alluminum foil. Emma's is bent here, but that is preferred to giving kids a hook made from cloth hangers like many internet tutorials suggested.</div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;" trbidi="on"><br /></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;" trbidi="on"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOzzMGte68TPwkdVNX0P2fIqURjRqagNlrffMnoLDP71Q2o0olGU1FkZX8ci5AR2tvZaZo4M9Hno5_vrl_OZIw87dL4B8p8gk09VaoWNU4IvwzHzcGsdds1lcfBpzK2IJ9fhXFjhv6fro/s1032/79468784_10157982892998793_461315565315686400_o.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1032" data-original-width="774" height="800" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOzzMGte68TPwkdVNX0P2fIqURjRqagNlrffMnoLDP71Q2o0olGU1FkZX8ci5AR2tvZaZo4M9Hno5_vrl_OZIw87dL4B8p8gk09VaoWNU4IvwzHzcGsdds1lcfBpzK2IJ9fhXFjhv6fro/w600-h800/79468784_10157982892998793_461315565315686400_o.jpg" width="600" /></a></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;" trbidi="on">Arrrgh!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">TREASURE MAP (reward: pirate hat)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Next we had a creative pirate map making activity. The kids had to draw a pirate map and tell me how to find the treasure following the map. The most creative map got a special prize, and everyone got a pirate hat when completed.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrZEEsYjCumqBtMt4_1_RjeOkdM7gNyzxbdUwgvRxKNp1N5zxWpLsIBjY1mPbQHXmSCgLF_aNy7msEaKRuvQNVyV-RwSwofCzCGmN5ZEnxM7v_AXrANsIV-v-VU_0FOQ0upYd1_rqL4FQ/s2040/78869290_10157982870588793_5427329874492653568_o.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1530" data-original-width="2040" height="600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrZEEsYjCumqBtMt4_1_RjeOkdM7gNyzxbdUwgvRxKNp1N5zxWpLsIBjY1mPbQHXmSCgLF_aNy7msEaKRuvQNVyV-RwSwofCzCGmN5ZEnxM7v_AXrANsIV-v-VU_0FOQ0upYd1_rqL4FQ/w800-h600/78869290_10157982870588793_5427329874492653568_o.jpg" width="800" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYes5AxTae9SAVvHWq-SiZIB8X-W8c92gGRpXqFwZjFG58APKlfVW3L33n0uUG3n4fcuK5dccXgJ1F4AijYJpPeipoW3tCBmmnETpDLWtcAcOVbuEgjwzGn7vzJogKwdVSvTOTKt2PBK0/s2040/79536509_10157982868878793_524954374913392640_o.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1530" data-original-width="2040" height="600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYes5AxTae9SAVvHWq-SiZIB8X-W8c92gGRpXqFwZjFG58APKlfVW3L33n0uUG3n4fcuK5dccXgJ1F4AijYJpPeipoW3tCBmmnETpDLWtcAcOVbuEgjwzGn7vzJogKwdVSvTOTKt2PBK0/w800-h600/79536509_10157982868878793_524954374913392640_o.jpg" width="800" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Here they are doning their pirate hats. The hats had different colored edges so the kids could pick their favorite. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYmCpeqd27_mVY_Bg1QT90G_WBT2MoZePYoYfXUMSTlnTPKKYZ1vOqylZ3GaHxfLLvyYfiKu0LvUL8DhDIDgcfCMIGMewz85kIPsVQ_8kuv2k_xiy5oSw3bAgqpjZ2wxhMTyicCjvTsT4/s2048/78913668_10157982868648793_6146297366799450112_o.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYmCpeqd27_mVY_Bg1QT90G_WBT2MoZePYoYfXUMSTlnTPKKYZ1vOqylZ3GaHxfLLvyYfiKu0LvUL8DhDIDgcfCMIGMewz85kIPsVQ_8kuv2k_xiy5oSw3bAgqpjZ2wxhMTyicCjvTsT4/w800-h600/78913668_10157982868648793_6146297366799450112_o.jpg" width="800" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQOwlJts5dag9o7tolhL0t9HIJ81YEK-B0f2aR69HcugY_LrtFS11ok2wEyK-wNseKNzh5o6KzYKbefDPoLMWTw_KnHrsFIvhP99iZIB5Id_g4hi27gsoaJgnb8efCVtpcxaDWl54JBIQ/s1280/75356847_10157982893388793_3071521857162182656_o.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="800" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQOwlJts5dag9o7tolhL0t9HIJ81YEK-B0f2aR69HcugY_LrtFS11ok2wEyK-wNseKNzh5o6KzYKbefDPoLMWTw_KnHrsFIvhP99iZIB5Id_g4hi27gsoaJgnb8efCVtpcxaDWl54JBIQ/w600-h800/75356847_10157982893388793_3071521857162182656_o.jpg" width="600" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Xavi is showing us the complete pirate attire so far.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">SWEEP THE DECK (reward: pirate sword)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Next in our training was to sweep the floor. The kids made teams of two to play a broom "hockey" game. I would drop several balls in the floor and the teams had to sweep it in their "goal" (chair). The team with more balls went to the next round. The winning team got a special prize, and everyone else got their long-awaited sword. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiyl2yd6JvDZTOc-G_1cJ108OL5GbJ66cg94tA39UnJupYZ0hQQDSg7zp140Zlyma0KTNXBI9UyYlA58BVxyPYcv30s-vCxUbvi0-BRQ4xiK3pFBzd57EPIkvKIAP-NHhkb9FJ1zw_tFw/s2040/78822480_10157982911283793_8178018413378011136_o.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1530" data-original-width="2040" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiyl2yd6JvDZTOc-G_1cJ108OL5GbJ66cg94tA39UnJupYZ0hQQDSg7zp140Zlyma0KTNXBI9UyYlA58BVxyPYcv30s-vCxUbvi0-BRQ4xiK3pFBzd57EPIkvKIAP-NHhkb9FJ1zw_tFw/s640/78822480_10157982911283793_8178018413378011136_o.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Here I'm explaining the rules</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkHEjGRhHRXWYFMEL2f76z-M3teWoYG4hqRG4FVwbTvq7lQzzOmNe8_TT_BNAsu58Z9vQnzvLVvwAvLsJ9OiBQsx91AxX8EGmhJEw26CTG-PFj28ORHeFNtRpK6EnPEffXRxwHSf8JQbs/s2048/78912574_10157982906013793_8843728435768459264_o.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkHEjGRhHRXWYFMEL2f76z-M3teWoYG4hqRG4FVwbTvq7lQzzOmNe8_TT_BNAsu58Z9vQnzvLVvwAvLsJ9OiBQsx91AxX8EGmhJEw26CTG-PFj28ORHeFNtRpK6EnPEffXRxwHSf8JQbs/s640/78912574_10157982906013793_8843728435768459264_o.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPbqV0WSh2BGZOhC_JKUum3pcVa47jRLA1y9o9IZKOkBoeA6SyFc2V3EM4kqOnm_Zx4_6sE7jnHStg-EsJnO8pPAHbN_Y5-4jUAzu7B0Bvovf_5vhlKEl5_0NsbY9rtBIJULggITVMkrU/s1280/78658304_10157982893318793_4145763924593082368_o.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPbqV0WSh2BGZOhC_JKUum3pcVa47jRLA1y9o9IZKOkBoeA6SyFc2V3EM4kqOnm_Zx4_6sE7jnHStg-EsJnO8pPAHbN_Y5-4jUAzu7B0Bvovf_5vhlKEl5_0NsbY9rtBIJULggITVMkrU/s640/78658304_10157982893318793_4145763924593082368_o.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Those boys are making those broom look good!</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihWhxnJVN4LQRjgXMcUttiO4smR8Yc5gXBVfozEtJuEK6fMuxzMBfBjBlp9tC1cxjFO18KtulkUrxVYV1Qn8H73Hz3rX9DCplCx4Rlf0s0wBeXG_I7BN5MCzajMOlerxAniPpZG1cHhyk/s2040/78804815_10157982908638793_8786181620668301312_o.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1530" data-original-width="2040" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihWhxnJVN4LQRjgXMcUttiO4smR8Yc5gXBVfozEtJuEK6fMuxzMBfBjBlp9tC1cxjFO18KtulkUrxVYV1Qn8H73Hz3rX9DCplCx4Rlf0s0wBeXG_I7BN5MCzajMOlerxAniPpZG1cHhyk/s640/78804815_10157982908638793_8786181620668301312_o.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Good teamwork collecting the balls scored.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIx7DbSGSwT51mblbnxgTQNhZhI2n3O0y62ICA3CeJ984LsabtS9Flie-Ro298Un5CgqPwG00gHBfVu-Yy5wzDkPe60mEueSiHb-4yQQRSs-LHXNzv0IoqMn_Zy6ENOVgmNubQweiWWgg/s2048/78545742_10157982930693793_3144043174524092416_o.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="800" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIx7DbSGSwT51mblbnxgTQNhZhI2n3O0y62ICA3CeJ984LsabtS9Flie-Ro298Un5CgqPwG00gHBfVu-Yy5wzDkPe60mEueSiHb-4yQQRSs-LHXNzv0IoqMn_Zy6ENOVgmNubQweiWWgg/w600-h800/78545742_10157982930693793_3144043174524092416_o.jpg" width="600" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">They were quite excited to receive the carbdoard swords. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-1RDt8dk_2S5V_uVOqaLk9JIJokDQfhvvpq9R9ARlQGAvxB2bRnImDte-UNCSXLqbvY7ZyDj76y52r59mbIqbhdj9q6uHj12-FhqRLgrC2KU-YvF-TicwzSmv4faa7rIqedMvZRB8stM/s1032/78857634_10157982937093793_2559352504672321536_o.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="774" data-original-width="1032" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-1RDt8dk_2S5V_uVOqaLk9JIJokDQfhvvpq9R9ARlQGAvxB2bRnImDte-UNCSXLqbvY7ZyDj76y52r59mbIqbhdj9q6uHj12-FhqRLgrC2KU-YvF-TicwzSmv4faa7rIqedMvZRB8stM/s640/78857634_10157982937093793_2559352504672321536_o.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And, of course, a sword fight ensued.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy0z5bME1adUo_4bV9mEWqbm_DOnOUmDPxYVEhyphenhyphenvo4z4uwaNqH2ElJ0TPYEVVwd6INNxmT0eh6v1HE11eU6wtMt3O-ADuT4_rEIuQChbrkUxyHKTjjE92UavMXL7pUOpFvARSA0i0jg0Y/s2040/79157452_10157982931363793_4433286992645586944_o.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1530" data-original-width="2040" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy0z5bME1adUo_4bV9mEWqbm_DOnOUmDPxYVEhyphenhyphenvo4z4uwaNqH2ElJ0TPYEVVwd6INNxmT0eh6v1HE11eU6wtMt3O-ADuT4_rEIuQChbrkUxyHKTjjE92UavMXL7pUOpFvARSA0i0jg0Y/s640/79157452_10157982931363793_4433286992645586944_o.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-ioHFysppZxtqq4hwZwGkiKcjzLDnMvBccLZlQ8aObS-QhHlyGXOKJG6YF-KkhrrLiIHKxPaW0aVgc8b9Z623U4E0IvBStFiMTYtieeHwcuScOyERnVbiolAjR1rGMcQQE0BVm58xdgA/s1280/79925562_10157982930133793_8599295430271959040_o.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-ioHFysppZxtqq4hwZwGkiKcjzLDnMvBccLZlQ8aObS-QhHlyGXOKJG6YF-KkhrrLiIHKxPaW0aVgc8b9Z623U4E0IvBStFiMTYtieeHwcuScOyERnVbiolAjR1rGMcQQE0BVm58xdgA/s640/79925562_10157982930133793_8599295430271959040_o.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Xavi really knows how to work his pirate items!!! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">WALK THE PLANK (reward: eye patch and spy glass)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Well, turns out those pirates made a terrible job sweeping the deck so they were made to walk the plank! The fastest kid walking the plank without falling got a special prize, and everyone got a spy glass and eye patch.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0xR5pdWUwM_Jq8fBHARpYpfFzt5dBs7LAFqvdrKpyF0I6TminCufac_10V0voa6gc68wzZnSqw4M7leBfhi_Uh02zmU50QsuC2ePaHoTVN2OrcBgKWseUUeiX8R8otThKJ0XTHequp5c/s1032/79007972_10157982946658793_8173437079137550336_o.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="774" data-original-width="1032" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0xR5pdWUwM_Jq8fBHARpYpfFzt5dBs7LAFqvdrKpyF0I6TminCufac_10V0voa6gc68wzZnSqw4M7leBfhi_Uh02zmU50QsuC2ePaHoTVN2OrcBgKWseUUeiX8R8otThKJ0XTHequp5c/s640/79007972_10157982946658793_8173437079137550336_o.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1cF6YhuVZAFNkIkXd2SGGZCSFsdfB3yI1THZgvu57dnVzUqv-o56nZGsUtsKmHbFy8MYTe7xzW-S61q_AviBTAyEGzLQConEV33nQDHHaDOebuYfuppo0C9vbNylOPAYJ5OA4LHqXg7I/s2040/79659383_10157982947168793_7469782828868173824_o.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1530" data-original-width="2040" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1cF6YhuVZAFNkIkXd2SGGZCSFsdfB3yI1THZgvu57dnVzUqv-o56nZGsUtsKmHbFy8MYTe7xzW-S61q_AviBTAyEGzLQConEV33nQDHHaDOebuYfuppo0C9vbNylOPAYJ5OA4LHqXg7I/s640/79659383_10157982947168793_7469782828868173824_o.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZrroUAHeAHbpegctzFn_H2AHjKVU2TsRY-KhjsYen_rSLgL7-G44WMwcN-an-FpxfVGYSBeamNGfyKUhqJuxdWXwF1UwHJAyMoJUnZZErF_-8DyRX4XHg0Q8uTbeP-rJzL4Ln2bxMD2g/s2048/78838336_10157982961268793_5040920922526056448_o.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZrroUAHeAHbpegctzFn_H2AHjKVU2TsRY-KhjsYen_rSLgL7-G44WMwcN-an-FpxfVGYSBeamNGfyKUhqJuxdWXwF1UwHJAyMoJUnZZErF_-8DyRX4XHg0Q8uTbeP-rJzL4Ln2bxMD2g/s640/78838336_10157982961268793_5040920922526056448_o.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Pirates with complete attire at the pirate photobooth.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsLS-WewAudyHnCHaJ75zxBM3cYqAGxgVma8Le2KcAeHndUaWF56HQEe1Ku0L0njV-Bi1SJ6mq7AsEU4p8l46R5v2TceWiC_5DWLSQ_ahxSYfxOVCtD-PV2wuWump4hBPdFLUGfg7E-6o/s2048/78585075_10157982958883793_3674284546804678656_o.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsLS-WewAudyHnCHaJ75zxBM3cYqAGxgVma8Le2KcAeHndUaWF56HQEe1Ku0L0njV-Bi1SJ6mq7AsEU4p8l46R5v2TceWiC_5DWLSQ_ahxSYfxOVCtD-PV2wuWump4hBPdFLUGfg7E-6o/s640/78585075_10157982958883793_3674284546804678656_o.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWEicHaT0W9H8-iDsj4RIvDAUhjtsLGYKN3qNs6w6O6NdFlcGhSL6NQZvlFTl5hJZDdoAfpOJfX6WC6klbuUbomDkOZUNcfT6qbaTKmoibh7-tq2Oe6qj9pNV6EG-OUJFMjzxxRzfCS9g/s2048/78912576_10157982958798793_1078681968398303232_o.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="800" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWEicHaT0W9H8-iDsj4RIvDAUhjtsLGYKN3qNs6w6O6NdFlcGhSL6NQZvlFTl5hJZDdoAfpOJfX6WC6klbuUbomDkOZUNcfT6qbaTKmoibh7-tq2Oe6qj9pNV6EG-OUJFMjzxxRzfCS9g/w600-h800/78912576_10157982958798793_1078681968398303232_o.jpg" width="600" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The pirates were given a rest from their training to refuel with some treats, food, and beverages.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">They were quick to go for the chocolate-filled treasure chests!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbz9eYqD956v2x0ABK1knPrjtoqwNKcd2zVXTJJK4eM18Hc3v_qD0FPaMQlk0t5Eh9O87JPAyZIiKOMpYwg05i9yowbjIgIpPUp9qFFVRBAVrt4yhE0Wv2F4u6uLOlI3C-Hpvy4Jy3pK4/s2048/79748786_10157982930533793_2748869697544912896_o.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbz9eYqD956v2x0ABK1knPrjtoqwNKcd2zVXTJJK4eM18Hc3v_qD0FPaMQlk0t5Eh9O87JPAyZIiKOMpYwg05i9yowbjIgIpPUp9qFFVRBAVrt4yhE0Wv2F4u6uLOlI3C-Hpvy4Jy3pK4/s640/79748786_10157982930533793_2748869697544912896_o.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBfoJrm-S62e3zh56qCX6nnCJynVwlcm3RkvNrHsQ_N9esFhCZaVf0NAErSAWGIMeN0NJE5foWagpBAs8281ii3Xl7hvJSSwkqK3hfRALLLGJa0mAUlfrCHKfYHKwEhAR7Dz9yHa8VT3w/s2040/78734939_10157982961663793_8037505994193895424_o.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1530" data-original-width="2040" height="600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBfoJrm-S62e3zh56qCX6nnCJynVwlcm3RkvNrHsQ_N9esFhCZaVf0NAErSAWGIMeN0NJE5foWagpBAs8281ii3Xl7hvJSSwkqK3hfRALLLGJa0mAUlfrCHKfYHKwEhAR7Dz9yHa8VT3w/w800-h600/78734939_10157982961663793_8037505994193895424_o.jpg" width="800" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">TREASURE HUNT</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Turns out that these naughty pirates stole a pirate treasure map before being made to walk the plank!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Each kid was instructed to find a parent or guardian for the treasure hunt. This was because the pirate code was a little hard to decode, and also to make the hunt a shared experience between parent and child. It's good to create memories wherever we go. Each team of child and adult was given a pirate decoder and then they got to decoding code number one given by me. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRDYoZLqX-bjSPzdnDXy0RPCtQvkT7lGiq2voi6fCXKLvrLmvFkOFd6BCAFLjpMFKxopBpsOnTPWsST9GI1KfD7kQOYQDAqyju1hQ4wXOi1Fx5wvJr19hqTMAWI_locF49jPycfSYVcuo/s2048/79177589_10157982971023793_8951867487419367424_o.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRDYoZLqX-bjSPzdnDXy0RPCtQvkT7lGiq2voi6fCXKLvrLmvFkOFd6BCAFLjpMFKxopBpsOnTPWsST9GI1KfD7kQOYQDAqyju1hQ4wXOi1Fx5wvJr19hqTMAWI_locF49jPycfSYVcuo/s640/79177589_10157982971023793_8951867487419367424_o.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Handing out the pirate code decoder.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFge7SNZ4b3ZgVuU4HaEzUOu-osT1X5heQUf1y5N_Zz_1NJWPKrDJbt0qVKeorbPww5luPV_wMnDizdcWCSXh6qJyhzx5wCG1msnZBXq6Snah1hTY4sfHTDL-PueJbpEhgHQO5z09rIe4/s2048/78634266_10157982985128793_4217475464526036992_o.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFge7SNZ4b3ZgVuU4HaEzUOu-osT1X5heQUf1y5N_Zz_1NJWPKrDJbt0qVKeorbPww5luPV_wMnDizdcWCSXh6qJyhzx5wCG1msnZBXq6Snah1hTY4sfHTDL-PueJbpEhgHQO5z09rIe4/s640/78634266_10157982985128793_4217475464526036992_o.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Showing the first clue.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh28LpS-4BDRl8xXHtCEWhOeDcROeK-Q_A47nUa25zNKdF1OCSEE6iL3ImfjjjEzPPYBilcJQVUFYHZHBO6WL307ykUXjZ0r70PNZWc-o1gBTy3YAJTt83BuDuOdOmUEWORZTkSM6fbVGQ/s1280/78820249_10157982969693793_8038835204967628800_o.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh28LpS-4BDRl8xXHtCEWhOeDcROeK-Q_A47nUa25zNKdF1OCSEE6iL3ImfjjjEzPPYBilcJQVUFYHZHBO6WL307ykUXjZ0r70PNZWc-o1gBTy3YAJTt83BuDuOdOmUEWORZTkSM6fbVGQ/s640/78820249_10157982969693793_8038835204967628800_o.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Clues where in English and Spanish. The code printable can be found in my previous pirate party post <a href="http://youknowwhatineed.blogspot.com/2020/03/pirate-birthday-party-with-games-and.html">here</a>. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKDZxV1a-yM8d7Gc2EEfJZRLQvi9jKeMMAiooLvcEb_s1o5ma-l_M8XK30B5S7Rk8p8PzcJXfguuyj7YmY3qpTGVWNDXN2FjUulkjFjwoL-jXJT2mO_gHnw9gYohQKbcF3PDTES8RqCiQ/s2048/78549349_10157982969853793_1314480174074429440_o.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKDZxV1a-yM8d7Gc2EEfJZRLQvi9jKeMMAiooLvcEb_s1o5ma-l_M8XK30B5S7Rk8p8PzcJXfguuyj7YmY3qpTGVWNDXN2FjUulkjFjwoL-jXJT2mO_gHnw9gYohQKbcF3PDTES8RqCiQ/s640/78549349_10157982969853793_1314480174074429440_o.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The treasure hunt ended at the piñata treasure chest right where it had started. The two teams that got there first got a special surprise, and everyone got to hear the story of the best treasure we have: JESUS. We also went over Proverbs 4:21<span class="versenum" style="background-color: white; display: inline; font-size: 1.2rem; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">"For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjByjTsMpetNI_Bpz4fBvIqG7Lp1Um2w63rxRtV0dxE_FogwgRcfG7pN1UHBj2hzXp2LH7eZvYUFfaao637cjGkBZDN0FJHN0vFWzfid5bnHicFTWYyQ_Eb26AYQvr_Q-aQ3DA1ggjCGhM/s2048/79885461_10157982987178793_6828205841166893056_o.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjByjTsMpetNI_Bpz4fBvIqG7Lp1Um2w63rxRtV0dxE_FogwgRcfG7pN1UHBj2hzXp2LH7eZvYUFfaao637cjGkBZDN0FJHN0vFWzfid5bnHicFTWYyQ_Eb26AYQvr_Q-aQ3DA1ggjCGhM/s640/79885461_10157982987178793_6828205841166893056_o.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYmPYD9ERS6kYCTbY5DOUUesynIRjC4-_ztTjPTtyh4TpCWhMzycoH966UPBZdJCCrI0mOdBUICA5NcG8QrqS0Qy1EPpqabCSozFa9yvGUZzPPevwGMN70Dk2DGRlLnC5QLp_Y4DFnsGQ/s2048/79221903_10157982986768793_20932906096525312_o.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYmPYD9ERS6kYCTbY5DOUUesynIRjC4-_ztTjPTtyh4TpCWhMzycoH966UPBZdJCCrI0mOdBUICA5NcG8QrqS0Qy1EPpqabCSozFa9yvGUZzPPevwGMN70Dk2DGRlLnC5QLp_Y4DFnsGQ/s640/79221903_10157982986768793_20932906096525312_o.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Break that treasure chest open!!!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">PIRATE CANNON BALL FIGHT (reward: water balloon fight! duh!)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The pirates that were training our rogue pirates were not happy they got their pirate treasure map stolen. And so, a pirate cannon ball fight began. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgksa5WtW9hlps0kTvO-QP24jjK5kK4EDLx_MYGIvfq0aie_poDYoPXjci0t2PvvR-Nf0x2bdNtNAVBFQweHB7nts6sesCEKWhQrJZO3hDS82f1HoadBLSJvrbwW3D9twC_p707oMiYkPo/s2048/79755634_10157982820133793_3367722709067759616_o.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgksa5WtW9hlps0kTvO-QP24jjK5kK4EDLx_MYGIvfq0aie_poDYoPXjci0t2PvvR-Nf0x2bdNtNAVBFQweHB7nts6sesCEKWhQrJZO3hDS82f1HoadBLSJvrbwW3D9twC_p707oMiYkPo/s640/79755634_10157982820133793_3367722709067759616_o.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Wish I could have found black-colored balloons, but I went for Emmalee's and Kaylee's favorite colors instead. It was good because they were easier to find to clean up.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYhlO7cNG0VPQvphRgGpj-JeeMBQqiNDYKCM-og9mtUm_HSRKSEQdfSo3NPGW2EhVKmwjI48UBqQtXnXQz5X5Ms4Efbfr3Z8HPP5kRSQyI_Xk84wYN7EUNhGyRL7M1wv9hn_6l-KDoSLw/s1032/80055533_10157983016318793_7054224638238261248_o.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="774" data-original-width="1032" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYhlO7cNG0VPQvphRgGpj-JeeMBQqiNDYKCM-og9mtUm_HSRKSEQdfSo3NPGW2EhVKmwjI48UBqQtXnXQz5X5Ms4Efbfr3Z8HPP5kRSQyI_Xk84wYN7EUNhGyRL7M1wv9hn_6l-KDoSLw/s640/80055533_10157983016318793_7054224638238261248_o.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I simply placed two boxes in front of each other and gave each team a bucket of water balloons.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqhLB7zaHMOeYbkyY6W-Bx5UzPV5tcmuG-IHmg_mrLXaLvfba29PFlSf5ESROrO_h6954tG254eG-RJkxZfiVGNIoTn5KuroG3n_QQcXXdV4N-8tab7GsixrHuVBtis-DVNUzgmMmOerM/s2048/78486999_10157983016513793_6886496097926119424_o.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqhLB7zaHMOeYbkyY6W-Bx5UzPV5tcmuG-IHmg_mrLXaLvfba29PFlSf5ESROrO_h6954tG254eG-RJkxZfiVGNIoTn5KuroG3n_QQcXXdV4N-8tab7GsixrHuVBtis-DVNUzgmMmOerM/s640/78486999_10157983016513793_6886496097926119424_o.jpg" width="640" /></a><div><div style="text-align: center;">The kids had been waiting for this all along.</div><div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">And this was the end of our pirate story. I was very happy the kids had a blast and thoroughly enjoyed all the activities. It was a blast to be their captain.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Sorry I didn't share the DIY section this time. Maybe for post-covid times. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Here are the birthday interview and Dear Emmalee section (that I had done months ago) .</div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Emmalee Birthday Interview Age 7. </div>
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Here we go.</div>
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1. What is something mommy always says to you? I love you.</div>
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2. What makes you happy? Being with my family outside together.</div>
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3. What makes you sad? That you are in cancer.</div>
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4. What makes you laugh? Kaylee doing funny faces.</div>
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5. How old are you? 7.</div>
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6. How old is Mommy? 34</div>
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7. How old is Daddy? 31 (He is 32 actualle)</div>
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8. What is your favorite thing to do? Go outside and play.</div>
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9. Who is your best friend? Kaylee and Vicky</div>
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10. What do you want to be when you grow up? I want to be a ninja.</div>
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11. What are you really good at? I am good at... I don't know... playing video games?</div>
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12. What are you not very good at? I'm not very good at... I don't know... I'm actually good at everything.</div>
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13. What did you do today? Today I had fun together.</div>
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14. What is your favorite food? Lasagna and mandarinas.</div>
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15. What is your favorite song? Girls like you, Maroon 5</div>
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16. What do you want for your birthday this year? a skateboard.</div>
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17. What is your favorite animal? My favorite animal is the Cheetah.</div>
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18. What is love? Love is God.</div>
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19. What does daddy do for work? Teaching.<br />20. What does mommy do for work? Teaching too.</div>
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21. Where do you live? I live in PH Genisis (it's Genesis) Plaza, Camino Real de Betania</div>
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22. Where is your favorite place to go? Picnic ( The restaurant)<br /><span style="background-color: transparent;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent;">Dear Emmalee, </span></div>
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Oh my girl! You are so amazing to me. Do you get tired of me telling you how much I admire you? Baby, I'm writing this at the half mark of your 7th year. We are in the middle of a pandemic and you have been housebound and deprived of seeing friends for more than a 100 days. Baby, you've shed a few tears because of this, mainly at the beginning, but you have been a star in all sense. You have used this time to be a better gymnast (ninja in your eyes), a better reader, a better pianist, a better gamer, a better sister, a better daughter, the most loving granddaughter and niece. Baby, we are all so in love with you. You are not always kind because no one can always be good (it's why we need Jesus so badly), but you try so hard and succeed more than I have in my life. You strive for goodness and kindness, you strive for perfection and giving your best, you strive to complete all your work for your Sunday School and Bible camp.<br />
You remind me of this Bible verse:<br />
<br />Philippians 4<br />"8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. 9 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you."<br /><br /><div>
This is how I would describe you. I can never let anyone congratulate me on what a wonderful daughter I have when they try to give me any credit about that. I have no credit on the beautiful heart you have. It is the fruit of the personal love you have for Jesus. I can't wait to see that continue to grow and mature. If the Word is spoken to you, you take it as true with such conviction. If only the world had the faith of a child that you display. You might grow up to be a scientist. Everyday with you I'm greeted with a "Let's make an invention today!" You say science is your favorite subject. You are so proud of yourself for finishing first grade. You told all your teachers (from church) and your friends and family. You are my avid reader. You read on a level far higher than your age! You love reading to your sister. I am no longer needed for story time, but you insist on me being there even if you and your sister have taken over the reading. You love making up songs, and now even give it a try at the piano. If you see mommy sad, you'll immediately start drawing and waiting for mommy to cool off while your making her a note. You hand it in and leave for your room. Your note will always have a drawing of your family with reminder that you love me and I'm a good mom and instructions that "If I want to see you, go to my room." I always go and you're eagerly waiting for me and we hug and play. You change my mood and my downcast spirits to joy with your love and kindness. You struggle a lot with the instruction "Don't tell your sister what to do." You act like a little mom to her and if you get preachy, your sister will have none of that and rebel even further. I have to remind you to be her sister. It's hard for you because you want to pass on what you have learned, but you're still learning how to do that in your sister role. You have learned how to teach Kaylee new things, like how to play Smash or how to do a gym move. I love watching you and your sister playing tag, or hide and seek, or pretend play. We recently made a video of one of your plays. People think it's my idea. I try to make them know it's all yours and your sister's doing. I was watching you yesterday run with your sister at our building's entrance. It's the only amount of fresh air and sun you've had all week. It's the only time you've felt grass on your feet for days. You and your sister had smiles in your faces and twinkle in your eyes. I prayed then and there to always remember you like this, to cherish these beautiful years that are your childhood, and to make them as beautiful and good for you as I can. It hurts me to see you locked in in a small home, yet you seldom complain. You just carry on making us all have "family time" if we've been too into our devices. You cherish all that is good. I love you, my dearest. I love you so intensely. I admire you and learn so much from you far more than I could have imagined I could admire or learn from a little girl or any person for that matter. I love that I can share so much of what I love with you. We make worship videos together and hope we can do more in the future. We paint together, play the piano together, play Smash, play board games, read, yoga, stretching. And there is so much more we'll get to share and do together. Oh, baby, when mommy struggles with her PTSD, she sometimes thinks life is not worth living. The more I talk about you and fill my mind with thoughts of you, this life could not be sweeter to me. And you are a HUGE reason why. I love you, my ninja sweetness second grader. I love you forever. </div>
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Mom</div>
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</div></div></div>Linda Zelayahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02842164145067391301noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6259200682875369030.post-52691504687037485472020-06-25T21:54:00.000-07:002020-06-25T22:01:10.650-07:00The art of mindfulness<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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I've told you before how I use to be an avid pray-er. I had been taught by the Lord that an intentional grateful heart was the key to happiness. Pastor Bob says "Happiness has to do with happenings. Joy has to do with Jesus." So I think what I mean by happiness is actually joy, but it felt like happiness too when pairing my life situations with gratitude.<br />
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I was living in a single-bedroom home with two kids under two and a husband who worked in another town seeing him only twice a month but practicing prayer and gratitude like crazy. So, I was happy! It was during these circumstances and time in my life that I got cancer.<br />
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Laying in bed became terrifying with my mind constantly fabricating images of chemo not working, cancer scans showing metastasis, and little girls growing up not remembering their mom. I would pray and ask the Lord to assuage these thoughts and fill them with hope and His joy. I could pray and pray, but my distressing visions were too much to bare. The doctor prescribed medication so my mom got me on Prozac and Rivotril. These definitely helped me sleep and rest, and I was able to wean from them quickly because the effects of chemo were doing their part in putting me to sleep. After treatment, surgery, recovery, and three years in remission, I had not learned to stop fearing my mind. I had developed PTSD. But what hurt me the most was my inability to pray and talk to God as I used to. You see, you need quiet time to talk to God. How was I going to have quiet time when that terrified me?<br />
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My husband would scold me for taking my phone into the shower. "You´re going to ruin it with the humidity," he would try to reason with me. I would play YouTube videos or sitcom episodes to have noise while I shower. I couldn't bare the thought of being on my own with my mind even in the shower. I would stay awake long past my bedtime watching anything until I was tired enough that I knew I would fall asleep as soon as my head hit the pillow. My husband would also scold me about this. "You´ll be cranky in the morning from lack of sleep. You´ll get headaches." This fear was ruining my stuff and my life. I finally confessed to him why I was doing these things. It pained him that he didn't know how to help, so he stopped scolding or moving me to the bed when I would fall asleep in the couch.<br />
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I told a friend about this, and she suggested to practice mindfulness.<br />
I googled "mindfulness" and read the first definition I found.<br />
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"What is Mindfulness?</h3>
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Mindfulness can be described as the practice of paying attention in the present moment, and doing it intentionally and with non-judgment. Mindfulness meditation practices refer to the deliberate acts of regulating attention through the observation of thoughts, emotions and body states. Typical mindfulness activities include:</div>
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<li style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;">Mindful non-judgmental awareness of breath, body, feelings, emotions and/or thoughts (in sitting meditation practice or throughout the day)</li>
<li style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: initial;">Mindful eating</span></li>
<li style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;">Mindful body scan in a sitting or lying down position</li>
<li style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;">Listening with non-judgment"</li>
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I kept reading here and there, and it is basically achieved by the practice of meditation and breathing and whatnot. I liked the part "non-judgmental." I had become so judgmental of myself that I began loathing writing on my devotional because all I was doing was enumerating to God all the ways I was failing and letting Him down in all my roles as a mom, daughter, disciple, and wife. It was not conducive to me wanting to spend more time in my devotional. The Spirit had revealed to me that this is not what God wanted of our time together or even how He viewed me. He reminded me of the worth and value I have to God and how He shows me that love everyday and through the scriptures. The temptation to berate myself is always a struggle, but I'm mindful not to let that be a main part of my interactions with my Lord.<br />
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I had tried mindfulness and meditation during my cancer recovery with no results, so I had given up on the idea. I kept studying and researching the whole "mind-over-body" to see how strengthening my mind would help me heal my broken body. It was all for naught! I was left with zero resilience. My mind was more shattered than before. I would break down, have panic attacks, or have fits of depression at the simplest opposition or struggle.<br />
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I feel sorry for anyone facing their own mind without the shelter of faith that God is working through you and a for you. I asked Pastor Steve how to achieve my praying eagerness again and he recommended "fake it until you make it." The friend that suggested mindfulness counseled that avoiding being alone with my thoughts would only make it worse and give the thoughts more power. I decided to start trying it out, if it only meant not bringing my phone with me to the shower. I found that being able to quiet down my voice instead of drowning it with the nonsense of random sitcom voices was making me more willing to start praying. I had dreaded spending alone time praying. It took me a few "alone sessions" to realize that I had spent so much time in prayer during my cancer treatment that now it would spark a little of my PTSD. Anything that sparks your PTSD takes you right back to the emotional state you felt when the trauma was created. I had no idea trauma could hurt something so precious to me as prayer. I thought it was only a fight with my own faith.<br />
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I have written less and less in the past years not because I don't want to. I like writing about the things God teaches me. I write about how He changes my life or how He shows Himself. The reason I don't write so often anymore is because I don't feel I have much to say to help someone in this situation for I feel I'm struggling just as much. BUT! I have other reasons to write than just recording His work in my life. When I put my mind in written form, the Spirit has a way of revealing lies I'm believing and truths I need to remember. One of these truths: "I have nothing to offer to anyone! Anything I have to offer comes from Him!"<br />
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So, I don't have any answers, but let's see what the Bible says. While I don't prescribe to Bible studies that take verses from here and there, I wanted to see what results would show when I googled "Bible verses with the word 'Mind'."<br />
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1 Peter 13<br />
"13 Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;"<br />
Isaiah 26:3<br />
<span class="text Isa-26-3" id="en-NKJV-18134" style="position: relative;"><span class="versenum" style="background-color: white; display: inline; font-family: , , "segoe ui" , "roboto" , "ubuntu" , "cantarell" , "noto sans" , sans-serif , "arial"; font-size: 1.2rem; font-weight: 700; left: -4.4em; line-height: normal; position: absolute; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;">3 </span>"You will keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on You, Because he trusts in You."</span><br />
<span class="text Isa-26-3" style="position: relative;"><br /></span>
2 Corinthians 10<br />
"3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. 4 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, 5 casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ,"<br />
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Colossians 3</div>
"2 Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth."<br />
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Matthew 22 <br />
"37 And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind."<br />
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Psalm 19<br />
"14 Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer."<br />
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The intentional gratitude I had been practicing before my cancer days was a form a mindfulness. It was a mindfulness not of myself but of God. I was able to practice gratitude through any circumstance because I was trusting God and trusting His control over my life. I was aware that whatever was happening was His sovereign will and I could rest in that truth. I was mindful of His love and His power.</div>
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Mindfulness means being present in the moment. I find some Biblical support for that statement, because we are told that we only have today. But I don't want to be present in the moment thinking of myself. There is no hope there! My only hope is Christ. The more I read these google results, the more I read about "the mind of Christ." What is this mind of Christ? It says I have it. How do I access it and let go of my own? </div>
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I feel every day I'm "making it" more than "faking it." In a recent Bible study we were looking at Colossians 4 and verse 3 really popped out to me.</div>
"2 Devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart."<br />
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This is my heart's desire. I need more prayer in my life and more gratitude in my heart. I'm sorry He has to teach me these truths over and over again, but I'm grateful He is a loving and patient God Who has steadfast love for His lambs like me. And so I'm off to take a quiet shower, where I will once again enjoy taking every small opportunity of "loneliness" during the day to spend it with my Hope and Refuge. And I will seek more "quiet time" to fill my mind with things to come, things from above, the mind of Christ, and be mindful of HIM in every moment. </div>
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Linda Zelayahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02842164145067391301noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6259200682875369030.post-80304193928012392012020-03-26T08:45:00.000-07:002020-03-26T08:45:52.180-07:00Do you believe in miracles?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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This question has plagued me for the past 4 years, but, if I'm honest, it's plagued me all my life.<br />
I`m a Gideon. I`m a Thomas. I want the signs and the clear answers from God. I want to see the rain only on one side; and when I am still not satisfied, I want the rain on the other side now. I want to put my finger in the wounds and see Him walking.<br />
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In a sense, I think I don't give myself enough credit. I´ve always felt Jesus`scolding "You of little faith" is directed to me, but I guess in human standards I`m doing better than the disciples. I mean, these men have seen Jesus do impossible things, yet they wanted more faith.<br />
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Luke 5</span></div>
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5 The disciples said to the Lord, “Increase our faith!”</div>
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6 He replied, “If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it will obey you.</div>
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How could they have needed more faith after all they had seen Jesus do? And Jesus´answer has always plagued me as well. If your faith was as small as the smallest seed, it could still do impossible things possible. If I've never seen an impossible thing happen, is my faith not even as small as a mustard seed? Was the disciples`faith smaller than that as well even after they saw these impossible things? If I saw a miracle my faith would be unchanged?</div>
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I`ve prayed for miracles. I`ve asked God to show Himself and His power to me all my life. I begged my friend Nancy would come out of her comma and instead she was declared brain dead. I begged for a miracle for Kara, Giana, and Kinsley. They loved Jesus so passionately, I couldn't fathom God`s answer being a "no", but it was. When my friend Chele was diagnosed with cancer a year after I was, I didn't even pray for a miracle.</div>
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Chele died two days ago after a battle that was less than two years long. In the end, cancer had consumed him in such a way his death was a relief. Is it horrible for me to say that, or is it a small insight that death is not the end and not the enemy? Our human minds can't understand the kindness behind death. I understand it better. Surviving cancer to me has been a hard burden to endure. It sounds unbelievably selfish of me to say something like that after so many don't survive, but being left with chronic pain for the rest of my life sometimes makes me wish I had gone to Jesus. </div>
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I feel selfish sometimes by how much I long for His second coming. I want the new life and the new world to come to fruition. This world is no longer luring to me. But my loved ones can still feel a sense of thriving in this side of life. I feel bad wishing it was over, but aren't we all called to long for His coming? My godmother, Sue Powell, has had a lifetime battle with chronic pain. She survived cancer almost 40 years ago. No one longs for Jesus` second coming as much as she does. But her desire for His coming is for her longing to be with her Savior, not the end of her pain. She reminds me of my grandmother, who made into her 90s, but had been telling me for almost 10 years before her passing how much she longed to go to Jesus. I would get sad and tell her not to say that. I was only thinking of myself. Sue tells me the same things, and even though we've never met face to face, I don't want to imagine a world where she is not in it. But her miracle would be to go to Jesus.</div>
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Am I a miracle? Next month will be my fourth year when I was diagnosed with cancer. I'm still here and my checkups have come clean. My brain refuses to believe I am a miracle because the chances of those checkups not coming clean are always present. "What if I tell the world I am a miracle and I was cured, and my cancer comes back to claim me?" You see, I would consider myself a miracle if I died of something other than cancer. But we are all going to die, one way or another. What is the purpose of me searching for a miracle that only means I didn't die of X or Y? </div>
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The miracle is love. My friend Chele was a miracle and got a miracle. He was loved so well by his wife. She literally laid down her life for him. I never saw her or Chele crying or wallowing in self-pity. Chele used his last words to preach Jesus and praise His goodness and glory. He was stuttering, but could not contain the message of hope he had received. His wife endured hardship, loneliness, and reclusion, yet all she ever did was praise God's goodness and provision for her. Even after her husband's passing, she knows she got a miracle. The miracle was that she found a husband whom she loved and loved her back. The miracle was that they were generously provided for in the darkest hours by the love of God and the love of those around them. The miracle is that she has hope her husband is happy with Jesus and one day she'll see him again, restored and himself all because of the love of God that sent Jesus to die for her. The miracle is love. Love was not wanting in their lives. It was ever present.</div>
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I remember this one time when I was 18 years old I was in a government office waiting room waiting for my number to be called. You know those places are hell on earth, especially in a third world country. I began giving the gospel to a man sitting in front of me. He asked me how I could believe in a God I had never seen. "Oh, but I have seen Him," I told him, " He has been there, I have felt His embrace, I have heard His voice. I know He is real." That young girl said that with such conviction! He had been my Father when my father moved out of the house because of the divorce; and when I read in His Word that He would be my Father I never felt fatherless. I had never been alone after I read in His Word that Jesus promised to be with me all days until He returned. I felt loved when I read in His Word that He was preparing a home for me and had laid down His life for the ransom of mine. I felt His embrace when I cried alone at night and I read in His Word that we can console others because He consoles us. I heard His voice when I would pray to Him and His Spirit would bring His Word to my mind and give me all the answers.</div>
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The miracle is experiencing Jesus in your life. The miracle is living in His love, even with chronic pain or longing for His return. The miracle is knowing He is always with us, He cries with us and has cried with all of us who mourn Chele's passing. </div>
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Do I believe in miracles? </div>
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Jesus loves me, so... Yes! I believe in miracles.</div>
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFlayyF5SJP9m8rnjcRSR_ySrrNxxH5j940rsyykL36cwvzSOO4J5IgI19FmGbVQROV6tD0f_HSHa-Weui2cBew313NX2oBzWghtT60rrX7dbaS2OTTUXJkhqzXsG-2KQTBWa4HyZBqUE/s1600/26224_413950731759_7106093_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="720" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFlayyF5SJP9m8rnjcRSR_ySrrNxxH5j940rsyykL36cwvzSOO4J5IgI19FmGbVQROV6tD0f_HSHa-Weui2cBew313NX2oBzWghtT60rrX7dbaS2OTTUXJkhqzXsG-2KQTBWa4HyZBqUE/s640/26224_413950731759_7106093_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Serving with Chele in the church band. It was always a pleasure serving with him, not just because he was one of the best drummers or singers, but because he always knew how to connect us to Jesus with his words and emotions. He sang for the King and it showed!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Chele knew the kind of friend he had in my husband. I still remember him calling my husband at 3 am to help him move his sound equipment out of a venue. I would get upset that he always called Rodol, but Rodol would tell me he was his friend and he was there for him. I'm sorry we couldn't be there in his last years being so far away.</td></tr>
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwLkUcwG037_A4L36tMeL2IMGsvm9HbXO-6itTvUXxZc0Mz1KpkJx6JsJVRBBHobYGFKBF0-hTDo9YBRNse3p217FMnRF2kLuNombm6xoh5ZHzQgg6hgOGwRPHlCxnsBXEfCJYm1aEl7I/s1600/26224_414235881759_2275576_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="720" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwLkUcwG037_A4L36tMeL2IMGsvm9HbXO-6itTvUXxZc0Mz1KpkJx6JsJVRBBHobYGFKBF0-hTDo9YBRNse3p217FMnRF2kLuNombm6xoh5ZHzQgg6hgOGwRPHlCxnsBXEfCJYm1aEl7I/s640/26224_414235881759_2275576_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">You are forever in our minds and hearts. We are so sad that he left us so young. We will continue to lift Isis in our prayers.<br />
May the Lord console you and give you His peace and hope.</td></tr>
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Linda Zelayahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02842164145067391301noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6259200682875369030.post-73363903776788619472020-03-17T18:14:00.001-07:002020-03-18T07:38:52.787-07:00Pirate Birthday Party Decoration and food plus Printable links!!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Welcome, friends, to another edition of the birthday party!!!!<br />
I took pictures and videos of the different things I made for this party to do a "HOW TO" section and answer your questions of how I pull off these parties. As always, everything you see is handmade at home. I'll be sharing this party in a series of posts, because otherwise they are waaaaay to long. In this first post, I'll be sharing the decoration and main table. I've taken the painstaking task of going back on my Pinterest boards and Chrome history to share the different links of the various printables I used for this party. Let's get started.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeIzP4rZmlOhe6WFyo0vioFgjrlpKlUpHoUFwK4qT17PRRAEEWmUfRhFkTbIofEtCq-oG4thB4U_Yh9y0Pw6e2y6ceMMXcuPSoO427rToYjUyfvQFX0NFakndd1c-0BYvNeyf5OxGVJ-k/s1600/79233420_10157982827623793_2286173248703954944_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeIzP4rZmlOhe6WFyo0vioFgjrlpKlUpHoUFwK4qT17PRRAEEWmUfRhFkTbIofEtCq-oG4thB4U_Yh9y0Pw6e2y6ceMMXcuPSoO427rToYjUyfvQFX0NFakndd1c-0BYvNeyf5OxGVJ-k/s640/79233420_10157982827623793_2286173248703954944_o.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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When I begin planning these parties, even though I have Pinterest boards and the decorations done, I never know how the main table will end up looking. I was NOT looking forward to making a Pirate theme party for my girl; but, it being her 7th birthday, the girl knew what she wanted. She could not be dissuaded. In the end, I really enjoyed making this party and had a lot more fun with the crafts than I first thought. I really like the way this table ended up looking. Let's break it down.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhD5HAGEHJ1VxSYHPQeyECUzcF-OWo46hWFSAmVTTpPowGvWce6Xu96uYjqs3e-ySUjS5rILlPPl9w-wCCoaNuboLr6t_U2HY74w4srbNd1Qqf4svh67VF1RxOCTVK_-K3ukPdcTHf9Gw/s1600/78681100_10157982826213793_51838056239464448_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhD5HAGEHJ1VxSYHPQeyECUzcF-OWo46hWFSAmVTTpPowGvWce6Xu96uYjqs3e-ySUjS5rILlPPl9w-wCCoaNuboLr6t_U2HY74w4srbNd1Qqf4svh67VF1RxOCTVK_-K3ukPdcTHf9Gw/s640/78681100_10157982826213793_51838056239464448_o.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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As you can imagine, finding girly printables for this theme was harder, but I was so happy to find that pirate banner with girls! Link below!!!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbD8C1_COUhf0Gq3druAgzgIqYYs-ZDdoz1EwERHO3Th58CK6CH2XdmhOvcqh9KotZzHQgZtcTg6dZmTDe-aEp6nR5cSDcv0Vig7Sg4Jvunb5k1ko9pgUIg6yg8EdQ0s76IUCU85MZAUs/s1600/79675962_10157982822228793_4171954149832785920_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbD8C1_COUhf0Gq3druAgzgIqYYs-ZDdoz1EwERHO3Th58CK6CH2XdmhOvcqh9KotZzHQgZtcTg6dZmTDe-aEp6nR5cSDcv0Vig7Sg4Jvunb5k1ko9pgUIg6yg8EdQ0s76IUCU85MZAUs/s640/79675962_10157982822228793_4171954149832785920_o.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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I wanted a rustic flair to this party and to me that means one thing only: burlap! I really love that Emmalee banner!</div>
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Spy glasses</div>
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I am grateful my sister is a preschool teacher and was able to give me all those paper towel rolls because we don't use paper towel in our home to be ecological. You can use normal towels that you wash and re-use, but you can't ask that of a pre-k teacher teaching 2 and 3 year olds with 25+ students. These were just painted black, which the girls painted most, and decorated with tinsel paper.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrjYeEJgy1z8OTUmwvt2cFnuTXtKs3mBh_bqRUMI0nEKzL8hsEUel5Hp-YSD-OKMIgNMKWUGizPBEBAkWfIi4LGmnTPM9SJOUI3tV9waO2NGOxlUWpEbI7GXvbmEVAoW91QKMkX3QY_8A/s1600/79223468_10157982825153793_2960584492584009728_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrjYeEJgy1z8OTUmwvt2cFnuTXtKs3mBh_bqRUMI0nEKzL8hsEUel5Hp-YSD-OKMIgNMKWUGizPBEBAkWfIi4LGmnTPM9SJOUI3tV9waO2NGOxlUWpEbI7GXvbmEVAoW91QKMkX3QY_8A/s640/79223468_10157982825153793_2960584492584009728_o.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Cardboard Pirate Ship</div>
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This cardboard pirate ship was gorgeous. People didn't believe the bottom is egg carton until I showed them the underside. You can find the link in my Pinterest board shared below which will take you to the website with the patterns and follow-up video to make this beauty. It took me about two weeks working it slow and steady. It was quite sturdy for the girls to play with and not render it unusable, though they did do damage to one of the sails which I didn't realize until I saw these pictures.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRWOebCKbILWBO0pQxs4NGvDWeC7ArYsxksFGwa2ifcdDCrEtreNOPxJgvuI1o7T8Ssl64i2uTQ9_4Ycti4cbv7pqznvH-_vL3NWrgKsYybJLXCnxPyQjvGHfwtGQSgA3w0jlqBF3UQf0/s1600/78503926_10157982827458793_5565102680067538944_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRWOebCKbILWBO0pQxs4NGvDWeC7ArYsxksFGwa2ifcdDCrEtreNOPxJgvuI1o7T8Ssl64i2uTQ9_4Ycti4cbv7pqznvH-_vL3NWrgKsYybJLXCnxPyQjvGHfwtGQSgA3w0jlqBF3UQf0/s640/78503926_10157982827458793_5565102680067538944_o.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Eye Patch</div>
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These were extremely easy to make, link with printable below. I had the choice to go the easier route and buy plastic patches on the dollar store. I opted for these ones because the girls had a set of the plastic patches from a party they had attended and never used them again. I didn't want the kids sending more plastic to the garbage and these are nice biodegradable paper and wool.</div>
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I had so much fun putting my sewing machine to good use with these pirate dolls. I did not make a pattern for these. I eyeballed them. I LOVED that Jack Sparrow compass paper model. Link with printable below. It was so realistic and it even had moving parts with the dial on the center moving like a real compass.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrPW1_50AAygnbZ405U3WlIhCnmSQrzhmPMQMnXXN8JsqdRa_eQ8rAJdR9CL1oVHOspPr3ndEWylC_QJgDe4v-eqY05wAU_5FMXRzmDY7efSt06YmVuTamOBt5VzU2Xpo0NLYtUwGgok8/s1600/78943149_10157982826803793_9056050543478177792_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrPW1_50AAygnbZ405U3WlIhCnmSQrzhmPMQMnXXN8JsqdRa_eQ8rAJdR9CL1oVHOspPr3ndEWylC_QJgDe4v-eqY05wAU_5FMXRzmDY7efSt06YmVuTamOBt5VzU2Xpo0NLYtUwGgok8/s640/78943149_10157982826803793_9056050543478177792_o.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Cupcakes</div>
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There were so many adorable cupcake wrappers for this theme available, I could not choose and made two. These cupcakes use tinfoil wrapper inside because the cupcakes were tres leches cupcakes. I had never done that before, but I had made such a delicious tres leches that I wanted to feature tres leches somewhere. The tinfoil wrapper held the cake nicely and the wrappers were extremely easy to cut and assemble. Link below!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2QitcwoapjLCXeuG_qQlGHnqCBDKvAq4fH477bNuM4Y-b_ysKhMaue52KT5mvKrYyKexwQRLYgcY_qdBCl6IQXMhlewBP7dE5eiyRf3rAZDsK6QmwoSFDjUEWfEQpsUt3AGqsGsOJT7o/s1600/78940739_10157982822343793_5486846133961490432_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2QitcwoapjLCXeuG_qQlGHnqCBDKvAq4fH477bNuM4Y-b_ysKhMaue52KT5mvKrYyKexwQRLYgcY_qdBCl6IQXMhlewBP7dE5eiyRf3rAZDsK6QmwoSFDjUEWfEQpsUt3AGqsGsOJT7o/s640/78940739_10157982822343793_5486846133961490432_o.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
Fruity Pirate Ship<br />
Honestly, I had so many pirate ships already that I almost skipped this one. I had made one before for Kaylee's Tinkerbell 2nd <a href="https://youknowwhatineed.blogspot.com/2015/09/kaylee-tinkerbell-first-birthday.html">birthday</a>. That one was nicer, but people still found this one whimsical. Use a big skewer for the sail as it is very heavy. Always try to offer healthy options at your parties.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6N3rfvV0QzegvuOowcLJ7BRnMWyILJ70HT1ncDHs8FEiA4p5maEy9n2smFqCtWOHzGoZ1l7DOn6IrlpZiYLVEZ_YvCyAyec1lfJdCJLgrZmrpc1O1l8-h6s4qTuk-2Fyzp6iD4AqAKn8/s1600/79187519_10157982825138793_7243942680961482752_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6N3rfvV0QzegvuOowcLJ7BRnMWyILJ70HT1ncDHs8FEiA4p5maEy9n2smFqCtWOHzGoZ1l7DOn6IrlpZiYLVEZ_YvCyAyec1lfJdCJLgrZmrpc1O1l8-h6s4qTuk-2Fyzp6iD4AqAKn8/s640/79187519_10157982825138793_7243942680961482752_o.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Shark fin Jello cups</div>
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I could not find blue jello. Last time I did blue jello for Emmalee's Rapunzel <a href="https://youknowwhatineed.blogspot.com/2015/12/emmalee-tangled-birthday.html">birthday </a>I used blue Jolly Rancher juice and unflavored gelatin. I could not find anything like that in Panama so I used White grape juice and blue food coloring. I thought the kids were going to be put off by the flavor, but I guess the whip cream and blue fondant made up for the bitterness of the grape juice. It looked a little greenish, but that mimics ocean water closer. </div>
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Treasure map cookies</div>
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These where so easy to make. I did not have a cookie cutter. I eyeballed it again. They came up closely sized. Using royal icing is so easy that Emmalee was the one who made the splash effect of the wave using a toothpick. Guest went nuts for these and were very impressed.</div>
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Another pirate doll. You can guess who kept this one with the pink shirt!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1l8ygoEZ0dIiFYBDR6MbWOZzTs-i8j1R9SF96zruBbSpAJ_wVxp27vu8u9N1ZsAacHOC7wJJBAoeLtrcE2qrq-hWcpJJ6bmFslx8PpsUqIS9pJ5UiJR5fGBzo1P5AzQ_SiYKn71mF9IA/s1600/79508410_10157982827273793_2864031793818894336_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1l8ygoEZ0dIiFYBDR6MbWOZzTs-i8j1R9SF96zruBbSpAJ_wVxp27vu8u9N1ZsAacHOC7wJJBAoeLtrcE2qrq-hWcpJJ6bmFslx8PpsUqIS9pJ5UiJR5fGBzo1P5AzQ_SiYKn71mF9IA/s640/79508410_10157982827273793_2864031793818894336_o.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Anchor bottles</div>
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I don't know if I should stop using these for parties. Kids don't use them much. I guess the problem is I don't pre-fill them. I'll fill them next time. These were done with some silver popsicle sticks a friend gave me. The flags were super cute with girl and boy pirates. This was my favorite printable and I'm sad I didn't picture the banner from that printable above the main table. Link below.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc8gp5X0LBlokkcO_sRxBWA3SHOPYHL0C0Ujg2k9_Tdnl7X_-RwUEi3u5ledHNe9stqD4DvDLp24yizN-vEpQUgvsFFuplCfiSM0gwRfQl2SmiixfOk4fmZ-vgJ9Ih00nJov4J7mRdxn0/s1600/79146367_10157982821333793_6203432337485594624_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc8gp5X0LBlokkcO_sRxBWA3SHOPYHL0C0Ujg2k9_Tdnl7X_-RwUEi3u5ledHNe9stqD4DvDLp24yizN-vEpQUgvsFFuplCfiSM0gwRfQl2SmiixfOk4fmZ-vgJ9Ih00nJov4J7mRdxn0/s640/79146367_10157982821333793_6203432337485594624_o.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Treasure chest chocolate boxes</div>
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I saw these on a Pinterest post, but I think it took me to an Etsy shop. What I did was search for a box template and make the birds myself. I wish I had done a pattern to share, but I eyeballed it. There is a treasure chest printable below.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcra4B8DMsdaCVBOGCo4KJ08w-dMS16D4k2fXmuSBUfupQlT_dQ5L_ksc0C9nJJEAnPT_T7dhwMrkX1jWjggI1t6eVb_i2ylhMMdGePN84TKZg9xhMygykm80ngzudclFtAaXdc_xDNPk/s1600/79440113_10157982827248793_2496846346670047232_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcra4B8DMsdaCVBOGCo4KJ08w-dMS16D4k2fXmuSBUfupQlT_dQ5L_ksc0C9nJJEAnPT_T7dhwMrkX1jWjggI1t6eVb_i2ylhMMdGePN84TKZg9xhMygykm80ngzudclFtAaXdc_xDNPk/s640/79440113_10157982827248793_2496846346670047232_o.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Pirate ship cupcakes</div>
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These were the second set of cupcake wrappers I used. I really loved them with the double sail and flag. Link below.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeuojNc2PXlO5KQA4s72vtaAbe-7l7KhE2_pDBgO338QmXHR_Z8nkkmkjwOIaF7wm_pQDg-6bge0o3Mz1BKAhPs3x3n622_u3T-Xx7ThANT9TWkOSDop0dXQrHZp4vrRAcmEmmraJGbSc/s1600/78822485_10157982827118793_5636844959081431040_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeuojNc2PXlO5KQA4s72vtaAbe-7l7KhE2_pDBgO338QmXHR_Z8nkkmkjwOIaF7wm_pQDg-6bge0o3Mz1BKAhPs3x3n622_u3T-Xx7ThANT9TWkOSDop0dXQrHZp4vrRAcmEmmraJGbSc/s640/78822485_10157982827118793_5636844959081431040_o.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Pirate Ship paper model</div>
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Ok! I'm a sucker for paper models now. I am totally in love with making paper models. I've been doing some more for the upcoming birthday. I made two ship, but I wasn't so good on the first one. It was too intricate and the pieces were too small. I shared both of the printables below, but I recommend making this one. It was so beautiful. I did add some wooden skewers inside the paper rolled posts to give it more structural support. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcXVyw1dx1oxFk_wVFzLOwd0Jl2GViwHO4WaG2j3y3XtLyEecZHsoDf7Zveb_v9AlOXoMV07156rWBip73F8OU5-QC9IZY85B2EcftOa9-gvmW6cH_E-6PfdkbSj9t3Vzv2u8gVZGuAf8/s1600/79417880_10157982844698793_2538605643674157056_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcXVyw1dx1oxFk_wVFzLOwd0Jl2GViwHO4WaG2j3y3XtLyEecZHsoDf7Zveb_v9AlOXoMV07156rWBip73F8OU5-QC9IZY85B2EcftOa9-gvmW6cH_E-6PfdkbSj9t3Vzv2u8gVZGuAf8/s640/79417880_10157982844698793_2538605643674157056_o.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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The cake</div>
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Someone kick me in the buttocks. Can you believe I forgot the cake in the car and did not display it!!! I can't believe that happened. So this beauty didn't make it on the table until it was time to sing happy birthday. I didn't get good pictures of it, but it was cute. It was my first time doing the spoon smooshing tecnique, but it was really easy. I am glad I've brought my fondant use to a minimum. The girls liked being feature on the cake in Emmalee's doughnut <a href="https://youknowwhatineed.blogspot.com/2019/01/emmalees-ice-cream-and-doughnut-shop.html">party </a>and asked to be featured in this one as well. They like Emmalee's hair being lighter and Kaylee wearing mainly pink.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxwwHYUY0_Rkuzcu-b6PWH7354lykX1xHzBZtarfmC2GkFYGV_uYDum83lIo4LwQZQzrk3abBLPbrwLpMiAVWHAE2MgSLFSgp5myBwUYQ5MltLlVda_Ba4R-qFvuBAUeM_jC2GnJstNDk/s1600/80098894_10157982827503793_7087074652652044288_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxwwHYUY0_Rkuzcu-b6PWH7354lykX1xHzBZtarfmC2GkFYGV_uYDum83lIo4LwQZQzrk3abBLPbrwLpMiAVWHAE2MgSLFSgp5myBwUYQ5MltLlVda_Ba4R-qFvuBAUeM_jC2GnJstNDk/s640/80098894_10157982827503793_7087074652652044288_o.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Cardboard sword and barrel</div>
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Just google: how to make a barrel. Plenty of Youtube tutorials will pop up. You can also find tutorials for the cardboard swords. I eyeballed the first one and used it as a template for the rest. In the "how to" post I'll give more info.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkGnL5AJSLFzmNA3jehcAQez1W2Mv7GDG_n_Gxg_GcpncRAu_izvM4SgMkZc6n0Rvwqg8o9j7btAdOH-0jNALdgY6QlW-YQdY_U4BhTd-FVEztD_pZZNjb7g1XxzjP14owf7vH2ubZRU4/s1600/78747486_10157982827203793_415537858254733312_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkGnL5AJSLFzmNA3jehcAQez1W2Mv7GDG_n_Gxg_GcpncRAu_izvM4SgMkZc6n0Rvwqg8o9j7btAdOH-0jNALdgY6QlW-YQdY_U4BhTd-FVEztD_pZZNjb7g1XxzjP14owf7vH2ubZRU4/s640/78747486_10157982827203793_415537858254733312_o.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Favor bags.</div>
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Easiest design ever. Made a shark fin for the boys bags and a mermaid for the girls.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1KG50h1xXYJBQVHPAaO2DruXuta80e55mLr3Cyd0LySWKnUEeqqRrB8GhPMf1ZfjhtAXjjbI5M0XSqKLePcxxQf-dYKjK7nIFLmgT3L0w8TRMpGhzMARethTgdoAYovAri2SOldFUNKY/s1600/78400618_10157982820123793_5764567425219559424_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1KG50h1xXYJBQVHPAaO2DruXuta80e55mLr3Cyd0LySWKnUEeqqRrB8GhPMf1ZfjhtAXjjbI5M0XSqKLePcxxQf-dYKjK7nIFLmgT3L0w8TRMpGhzMARethTgdoAYovAri2SOldFUNKY/s640/78400618_10157982820123793_5764567425219559424_o.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
Pirate Photo booth<br />
This was meant to be placed elsewhere, but it rained just before the party and I had to place it in that corner. I made it to be easy to assemble and disassemble because it was sitting in my house for quite some months. The girls used it for putting up plays and as a playhouse. Then I stored it under the bed. The girls helped me paint the waves and wheel.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD5Z-DerHkM1yfmOK2laF6p4tHia9_0PpM_2StbKZBwxumropPNpAEU3LbR7rOrOqvMobriA_IYelE0dCBaL0asXKlqt_RoFGkHmdJ-ZRTaTtncfR_YlF_wu8J7EwmPk0_WC5hd7ewEU0/s1600/79148850_10157982821318793_1680445395244679168_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD5Z-DerHkM1yfmOK2laF6p4tHia9_0PpM_2StbKZBwxumropPNpAEU3LbR7rOrOqvMobriA_IYelE0dCBaL0asXKlqt_RoFGkHmdJ-ZRTaTtncfR_YlF_wu8J7EwmPk0_WC5hd7ewEU0/s640/79148850_10157982821318793_1680445395244679168_o.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
Treasure map table runners<br />
Got the idea on Pinterest. Had too much fun drawing and feeling like a little kid. Here is an aerial view. I also love my pirate ship and paper boats centerpieces that doubled as serving plates for snacks and candy.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW0JREHvbn1Vx4HfNR39DEm9nkkxhQaM5LO1w0lHzSRxpKMFqSyS5FxrduOi6Y9YwCQ5uz37OSwnLZt5TQZpqFyj4R8Ct95CePuZGyg0N8B3Kpx6ENxmTYhsV-B9YQcoVWo4qGQIxV15w/s1600/79499034_10157982867923793_135171008876249088_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW0JREHvbn1Vx4HfNR39DEm9nkkxhQaM5LO1w0lHzSRxpKMFqSyS5FxrduOi6Y9YwCQ5uz37OSwnLZt5TQZpqFyj4R8Ct95CePuZGyg0N8B3Kpx6ENxmTYhsV-B9YQcoVWo4qGQIxV15w/s640/79499034_10157982867923793_135171008876249088_o.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
Pirate balancing game<br />
I had some games in the tables for the grownups. There is a link to the printable below. Really enjoyed it. It was hard. I could balance the pirates on the ground, but balancing them on the little ship was hard. I told the adults that whoever did it first got the paper model ship. No one was able! But many tried and had fun.<br />
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Next in the series will be the games. Oh, these were SO GOOD! Don't miss out!</div>
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All of the links provided include a download link and are completely free. This are awesome resources and the best compilation of freebies I found after HOURS of rummaging the net. Trust me, this is the best out there. It'll save you the time of opening endless Pinterest tags that say free and send you to an etsy link.</div>
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>Pirate Balancing Game: <a href="https://creativepark.canon/en/contents/CNT-0011034/index.html">https://creativepark.canon/en/contents/CNT-0011034/index.html</a></li>
<li>Pirate chest favor box: <a href="https://partywithunicorns.com/wp-json/mv-create/v1/creations/11/print">https://partywithunicorns.com/wp-json/mv-create/v1/creations/11/print</a></li>
<li>Pirate Eye Patch: <a href="https://www.chicaandjo.com/pirate-party-favors/">https://www.chicaandjo.com/pirate-party-favors/</a></li>
<li>Pirate printables: <a href="https://www.fleecefun.com/free-pirate-theme-printables/">https://www.fleecefun.com/free-pirate-theme-printables/</a></li>
<li>Secret Treasure Hunt Pirate Code: <a href="https://blog.partydelights.co.uk/free-printable-pirate-treasure-hunt-clues/">https://blog.partydelights.co.uk/free-printable-pirate-treasure-hunt-clues/</a></li>
<li>Cupcake wrappers with banner, pirate hat, and eye patch printable: <a href="http://makethingsforkids.blogspot.com/2011/06/pirate-paaarty-free-printables.html">http://makethingsforkids.blogspot.com/2011/06/pirate-paaarty-free-printables.html</a></li>
<li>Super cute pirate printables for flags, banners, and more: <a href="https://twopennybluemom.wordpress.com/2011/10/12/pirate-party-free-printables/">https://twopennybluemom.wordpress.com/2011/10/12/pirate-party-free-printables/</a></li>
<li>Pirate Favor Box Template: <a href="https://www.euroresidentes.com/entretenimiento/manualidades/cajas-imprimibles-de-piratas">https://www.euroresidentes.com/entretenimiento/manualidades/cajas-imprimibles-de-piratas</a></li>
<li>Pirate Ship Food Labels: <a href="https://www.creativecenter.brother/en-us/home/home-category/party-decorations/pirate-party/pirates-party-place-cards">https://www.creativecenter.brother/en-us/home/home-category/party-decorations/pirate-party/pirates-party-place-cards</a></li>
<li>Ahoy Sign: <a href="http://bnute.blogspot.com/2011/05/free-printable-lilpirates-ahoy-banner.html">http://bnute.blogspot.com/2011/05/free-printable-lilpirates-ahoy-banner.html</a></li>
<li>Adorable pirate ship cupcake wrapper: <a href="https://growingupbilingual.com/2014/recipes/pirate-ship-cupcakes-free-printables/">https://growingupbilingual.com/2014/recipes/pirate-ship-cupcakes-free-printables/</a></li>
<li>Girl and Boy Pirate party banners and more: <a href="https://www.itsybitsyfun.com/pirate-party-supplies.html">https://www.itsybitsyfun.com/pirate-party-supplies.html</a></li>
<li>Jack Sparrow Compass paper model: <a href="https://www.disneyexperience.com/models/compass_model.php">https://www.disneyexperience.com/models/compass_model.php</a></li>
<li>Pirate ship paper model. <a href="https://www.disneyexperience.com/models/wwench_model.php">https://www.disneyexperience.com/models/wwench_model.php</a></li>
</ul>
You can check out my Pirate Pinterest Board for more ideas; <a href="https://www.pinterest.com/ladyhimesama/emmalees-7th/">https://www.pinterest.com/ladyhimesama/emmalees-7th/</a><br />
I initially thought of making a mermaid under the sea birthday, and I have most of the pirate tags there, so check it out for more pirate ideas or a joint mermaid-pirate party too: <a href="https://www.pinterest.com/ladyhimesama/under-the-sea/">https://www.pinterest.com/ladyhimesama/under-the-sea/</a></div>
Linda Zelayahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02842164145067391301noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6259200682875369030.post-35087920812448728052020-01-15T21:38:00.000-08:002020-01-15T21:41:31.651-08:00My PTSD Struggle<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I feel so touched to have had many of you reach out to me. I was specially touched that most of those who reached out to me are from my Panamanian community, though none is Panamanian,and from friends around the world. So, here's how my appointment went.<br />
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It turns out I am not over my PTSD as I thought. PTSD, for those who don't know, stands for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. You remember how on this <a href="https://youknowwhatineed.blogspot.com/2020/01/the-one-thing-i-did-to-make-this-year.html">post </a>I shared some thoughts that had crept on my mind about postponing my screening labs? Well, my thoughts might have tried to go to the right place, but there was a physical response in my body that sent me cascading down this rabbit hole.<br />
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I googled PTSD and here are some of the symptoms one might experience:<br />
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>Negative thoughts about yourself, other people or the world</li>
<li>Hopelessness about the future</li>
<li>Memory problems, including not remembering important aspects of the traumatic event</li>
<li>Difficulty maintaining close relationships</li>
<li>Feeling detached from family and friends</li>
<li>Lack of interest in activities you once enjoyed</li>
<li>Difficulty experiencing positive emotions</li>
<li>Feeling emotionally numb</li>
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Who read my mind when making this list?</div>
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It all boils down to my fears. My fears spark chemical processes in my brain. I remember this happening last year with one of my checkups. In that time, my checkup wasn't still for another week, but I had been feeling flu symptoms. It starts burrowing in my mind that its cancer. I spoke to Bod Gunn, who is one of the few I can talk to and have him understand me 100%. He just said "Just go and do your labs a week ahead. You'll feel better instantly. It's what I do." And that time I did. </div>
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The fact was that I had no coping mechanisms in place. The fear was greater than my conscious mind thought, my body reacted to it, and with my early menopause and out-of-whack hormone balance including hypothyroidism, my brain also had no way of coping. </div>
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My doctor tried to explain it to me with a drowning man example. He survived a shipwreck and nearly drowning. Getting on another boat would be a catalyst. He could spend the rest of his life avoiding boats if that is how he copes. I have a check up every six months. That is my boat and I have no way to avoid it (unless I wanted to live oblivious which would in time make it worst on my fears). My traumatic event comes back to me on every check up. The cancer community call this "scanxiety." I thought it was a term of endearment to the nuisance that is having to do checkups, but it is so much more than that that the cancer community even named it. </div>
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"Are you afraid of dying?" asks my doctor.</div>
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"I'm confused," I admit, "because I don't want my cancer to come back. I do wish to see my girls grow up and grow old with my husband, but then I'm here because I'm having self-harm thoughts and thinking I deserve to die and cancer should have just taken me away and spared my family from me."</div>
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Jeez, Louise! I cried for the entirety of the 60 minutes with that lady. I'm crying right now as I put it down in writing. These lies are just so appalling! </div>
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She goes on to tell me that no happiness experienced is in vain. The fact that I could lose it all with one bad lab result doesn't take away the beauty of feeling joy in little things and happy memories. "It's about taking it one day at a time," she says. She goes on to tell me I need therapy in Let It Go!<br />
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There are videos in YouTube that show how Frozen and Frozen II are metaphors for mental health. Guess I could analyze that on the 100th time my girls make me watch Frozen II. (The "ah aah ah aah" of the soundtrack produced by Kaylee is driving us insane).<br />
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I got to let go of my fears, let go of cancer. It won't be easy. She says I'll need both therapy and medication to help me cope and get me in a good place again. She was happy the last time we saw each other was 18 months ago; and despite of how I'm feeling now, she feels I'm doing much better and looking a lot better too. She is positive I can get back in a good place in a shorter time frame and with less medication needed.<br />
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I was honest with her and I told her I was skeptical. I was skeptical that anything could help or that things could get better. I was skeptical when I heard her say I was a good mom and a good wife and human deserving life and happiness. I was skeptical that I could learn to let it go or that any of it would help. Poor doctors! They have to deal with us know-it-alls. But I told her the things she had said to me the last time had helped me move on from Kinsley's death, I had learn to let her go, and I had improved with her help. So, even though I'm skeptical, I'm here... aren't I?<br />
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I appreciate your words to me, even though I'm skeptical. You know I keep it real. But I appreciate them and my Spirit within me must receive them and pass them down to my heart despite what my brain thinks. I truly believe it was the right move to get help and hope to share with you better news soon. Please remember to keep praying for my hubs and his employment situation. Pray that God can give him wisdom in what should be his next move and his next entrepreneurship and that he may also feel capable and worthy and a good husband and father. It's hard on a man when he's struggling to provide and be "the man." But as my dear Sue always tells me: "But God." Even in the storm and struggle, God makes a way and calms the seas. The wind and seas obey Him; may I do so as well.<br />
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Linda Zelayahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02842164145067391301noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6259200682875369030.post-2257836290379738782020-01-14T15:29:00.001-08:002020-01-14T16:24:28.397-08:00I reached out in my depression<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Linda, Emmalee, Mom, and Kaylee making our 2020 sparkle sign!</td></tr>
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So, I have an appointment tomorrow with my psychiatrist.<br />
I haven't been to see her since October 2017. If I'm honest with myself, I did needed to see her between that time and now. But I was doing so much better. I was making friends, finding purpose in my life, feeling part of the community, feeling useful, feeling like a good mom and teacher, feeling I was being less of a burden to my husband, and even raising a pup with my family. But I'm not OK.<br />
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I went for my six month check up with my oncologist yesterday. Hooray! The labs are clean. He was a little concern with one test, but not too concern to raise any alarms. I can't convey emotion through writing easily so let me tell you that "Hooray!" was a sarcastic one. I'm feeling sick. I feel no energy. I'm tired all the time. I wake up feeling worse than when I went to bed. My head hurts constantly. My mood is terrible. I have no motivation, no joy, no excitement. I get out of bed out of pure obligation to my role as a mom and wife. If I were single, I would be stuck in bed til Kingdom come. Because my physical exams and check up came back clean, it was the oncologist who suggested I visit the psychiatrist to see what's ailing me.<br />
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"Do I have a mental illness?" I asked my oncologist through the tears.<br />
"No. Everyone just needs a little help from time to time," he replied.<br />
"But if I'm trying real hard, and I am, and I still need to see a doctor and take medication for it then I must be ill."<br />
"Depression is an illness. You are right," he concludes, while he hands me a tissue paper to wipe the tears flowing down my face.<br />
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"Isn't there a cap to how much one can suffer?" I ask my heavenly Father. "If I already battled and still battle cancer, shouldn't I have a break from having other health issues?" I can't take it. Our finances can't take it. Do people realize how expensive it is to pay for my labs and oncologist appointments? How up the real zinger that I can't get medical insurance with a precondition of breast cancer! Now I need to add therapy and antidepressants to that bill. I've been battling with self.harm thoughts and the thought of spending more money on me just intensifies these thoughts.<br />
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I did something I was reluctant to do. I sought help from a friend. I've never been able to open up to friends about my self-harm thoughts. My husband doesn't understand that I bite my nails to the point of bleeding as a relief from these thoughts. I like the pain. I mean, it gets so painful that at times I can barely do the dishes or cook. And I really hate how my hands look. But I feel such a release from making my inner pain manifest somewhere.<br />
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The more I talk to God and talked to this friend of how I feel, I realized some things about myself: I don't feel I deserve to have survived. My self-harm stems from the thought that I deserve to have died from cancer and not survive. I'm not worth all the money we spent on my treatment and my surgeries. I'm not worth all the hardships I make my family go through. They don't deserve a mom who is always tired and always cranky and can get no relief. Is this what psychologist refer to as "survivor's guilt"? It's so much more than just having watched Kinsley and Kara die when they were far better people than me, but it extends to the pain I feel from putting my family through this ordeal. Whenever I speak of my cancer journey, I never say "I". I always say "we." It didn't just cost me a lot. It cost my husband, my daughters, my mother, my father, and everyone that loves me and supported me. And it just doesn't stop. I finally feel I'm getting better and this happens! I go backwards. I'm bad again. I become more absent, more isolated, angrier, and sadder. And I know the girls can see it.<br />
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It was hard recounting to my friend face to face the thoughts that go through my mind. The images that go through my head that I don't even tell the hubs or my mom. She fears for me so that she wishes I had gone to psychiatrist first and the oncologist later. She tells me to be hopeful since the last time she was able to help and was able to improve for many months. She listens to what to her are clearly lies from Satan leave my mouth. And she gives me an amazing piece of advice...<br />
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Are you ready for it?<br />
It's really good...<br />
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"Lower your expectations."<br />
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Simple, right?<br />
Correct?<br />
I believe so.<br />
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She continues telling me: "Your anxiety lives between the distance of your expectations and your reality."<br />
Now, that advice can mean many things. so let me make clear what she meant. Lower your expectations on yourself as a mother, as a wife, as a Christian. Don't expect yourself to be perfect, to have it altogether, to get it right right away. Be kinder to yourself and how you speak to yourself. Lower the expectations of a perfectly clean house, or getting all you wanted done today, or your kids behaving or doing this or that. You would never talk to someone else the way you talk to yourself. But if you are beating yourself up, you will give back that hurt to those around you, you will continue to believe you deserve pain.<br />
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She gives me a second gem of advice.<br />
She says: "Allow yourself to be where you are. Let yourself acknowledge that you are going through a hard time and let that be your reality and let yourself feel it and grieve about it."<br />
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Oh, Dear God, Hallelujah! And by the way, I did not say that "hallelujah" sarcastically. I have seldom reached out in my pain and find someone who allows me to grieve. It's why I was so reluctant to reach out. I remember in 2017 when the strength of my thoughts finally convinced me to seek medical help, I was sitting alone in my apartment fearing for my life wondering who I could tell. Anyone that came to mind felt like an unsafe choice. Now, this was my prejudice, so it doesn't mean it was true. I could have been met with sympathy and care, but at the time I didn't feel safe opening up to anyone I knew. I had been burned with their faith talks and their "victory in Jesus" phrases of how to deal with my cancer, which is a very real and visible illness, to let them further wound me when I spoke of my very invisible and often denied illness as is depression. God was kind letting me hear someone else tell me my struggles are real, our time has been hard, and it's OK to suffer from our Valley of Death. After all, He never said we wouldn't walk it. He said He'd be with us when we did. "We have Getsemani," she says.<br />
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I often tell other people who suffer from depression that there is light at the end, there is treatment available, there is help at hand. I will live by my words and go to my appointment tomorrow and have hope that the scientific advances in medicine and mental health will help me out again. I open up this part of my life because I feel I'm not alone, but I also know that most won't open up about it. It's scary. When I open up about these struggles I have many women and even some male friends send me messages where they share with me similar experiences they've been keeping locked in.<br />
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Pray for me, please? Pray for that appointment tomorrow. Pray I can find the help I need to get the start of the year I wish I was having. Somehow, even with everything we're going through God has been spoiling me. I mean, this friend lets me meet with her in her house and talk while inside her very amazing hot tub. It's true what they say: Money can't buy happiness, but it feels better crying in a hot tub. LOL. In all seriousness, God has been spoiling me. We are currently staying at my cousin's house while she is visiting Honduras. We've been here since the 8th and will be here till the 20th. It's like a stay-cation. We really feel like on a holiday. And it's weird to feel that because we are almost through the mid of January and my husband has not been paid a penny from his work on December. That is very disheartening, and yet we feel on vacation? So amidst our hard, God shows us His kindness and how He is above our situation. The girls have enjoyed our stay here that they've worked on their school work faster and more efficiently to enjoy the pool in these summer months. Even the hubs has gotten to vent and enjoy the balcony sunsets. And that's how I carry through, searching for Him everywhere and finding Him everywhere I look. Isn't that amazing, even in my depression?<br />
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Dear God,<br />
I am sorry I don't feel worthy of your love. As my God friend Sue told me: "Don't contradict your elders." You know better. If you say I am worthy of love, I am. If you decide I am worthy of surviving, I am. It must be that You still have purpose for me down here. And I want to be well to carry it out. Please continue showing up for me and showing me how much You love and care for us. Please, please, please let this year be different career-wise for my husband and help him find decent and just employment. Please let us find more stability this year. Please let us continue to rely on You for provision and dependence. Thank you for the ways Your body has showed up for us in carrying us through. I love you, Father. Help me get better. Amen.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Look at that view!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6_fhWfqIjMaCjjOH_67E48tC-k5hewIVovF9wnNlJK0UKHVK8vOYTBgwMwIhCAu-FjcWrvpylp-hg29B5VhhgEzwgX-tR2h9bUaYc4vXHjj-I1xG1ZIT_A7h-BoEZzxSRFwHIze6wXx4/s1600/IMG_2630.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1066" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6_fhWfqIjMaCjjOH_67E48tC-k5hewIVovF9wnNlJK0UKHVK8vOYTBgwMwIhCAu-FjcWrvpylp-hg29B5VhhgEzwgX-tR2h9bUaYc4vXHjj-I1xG1ZIT_A7h-BoEZzxSRFwHIze6wXx4/s640/IMG_2630.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Clayton has always been my favorite place in Panama</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bentley the dog has been well behaved in her stay.</td></tr>
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Linda Zelayahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02842164145067391301noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6259200682875369030.post-14832806381013559292020-01-01T12:56:00.000-08:002020-01-03T16:25:58.084-08:00The One thing I did to make this year one of the best<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
The year is ending and two things have changed this year. First, I've barely written here. That greatly saddens me. I really love pouring my heart here, sharing with loved ones far away a small window into my heart and my life, hone my writing skills, and sort of document my life. So much happens and we forget so easily. Indeed the days are long but the years are short- too short! When I write and I read back, I get to re-live those memories, sharpen those images of what life was.<br />
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Do I remember what it was like barely sleeping and changing diapers to two babies at the same time? Do I remember what it was like barely getting a chance to take a shower or go to the bathroom uninterrupted? Or not having to wipe little butts and noses? Honestly, I just remember that sleep training my girls was torture, but I don't remember what really made it so terrible. My sleep deprived brain barely got to process those thoughts and store those memories. But I remember sitting with a child that was smaller than my arm praying I would never forget what it was to stare into her eyes and feel wonder. I remember praying I could remember what their baby head smelled like. I prayed that hearing them say "Mommy" would forever bring me joy. And now I understand how their tenth "Mommy!" in the day just wants to make me disappear, and how one day I will long for that feeling again too. I want to remember. I want to document. I want to recall with precision how I felt and what I said and what I prayed and how I saw God's mercy poured into my life.<br />
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I forget. I forget His mercy. Today I had to go do my extensive lab exams for my upcoming appointment with my oncologist. I told my mom I was not feeling so good and that I would change my appointment to next year, so I might as well do the exams next year as well. A thought crept in my mind with all the slithering vile of Satan: "What if you spend the rest of the year celebrating joy and love just to find out at the beginning of the year your exams did not come back clean?" I would lie if I said that it didn't get to me, that it didn't fill my heart with fear, and it didn't fill my eyes with tears. It did. I hate that those thoughts are part of my life. I hate that they could be true. I hate that I really don't know if they'll be true, and I hate most that people's response to that fact is :"Trust God." Trusting God doesn't mean it doesn't hurt. It means that I trust His Word in the things to come and find peace in His purpose and plan for my life, but it doesn't mean it doesn't hurt. Hurting is not antonym of trusting God. I wish more people understood that. But because of the second thing that happened this year, I got over that really quickly, shook it off, went on with my day and I can honestly say the fear is not following me nor am I letting it creep back. Satan can whisper His lies, but I can shut them... but shutting them doesn't come naturally.<br />
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So the second thing that happened this year is that I wrote a whole lot more in my personal, handwritten journal. I got to build up my relationship with God in ways I hadn't in many years. I got to seek Him at early mornings and share time just the two of us. I hadn't been consistently writing in my journal since 2009. That was shocking to me. I got to change the dynamic of that alone time with Him. I had been coming in compunction, pointing out everything I was doing wrong, everything I wasn't getting right with every single one of my roles and relationships, especially my relationship with Him. No wonder I wasn't consistently coming back. It was a penance! I was coming before "God the judge" and forgot about "God the father." I didn't know how to approach God the father. I didn't know if I even believed in ABBA. "Does He take care of me? Does He give me fish when I ask Him to feed me because I feel I'm getting snake!" I came to expect that God's plan for me was a good plan in the overall story, but not for me personally. Boy, was I deceived by the Devil BIG time. God the judge was not even my judge. He was not saying anything to me. It was I who was doing all the penance and contrition. I started changing the way I approached God, because when there is something wrong with your relationship with God you have to remember He doesn't change. It was you who changed. It was I who was coming to Him to pour out all my shortcomings and my inability to overcome them. It was I who was not being grateful for all the wonderful things He fills my life with.<br />
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I started pouring more and more my fears in our alone time, which brought to light my fear of feeling happy or my fear that He only had a hard road prepared for me. I started treating Him like a friend who besides understanding how I felt also hurts when I hurt. You have to remember He loves us. The Father hurts when His children hurt. He also knows that hurt makes us grow and change and live. He is a good Father, a loving Father. And I got to spend the year knowing this Father personally, changing lies that had me in shackles. The light of His Word brought the lies crumbling down and allowed me to see my loving Father once more. The more I spent time with Him alone and in His Word the more I understood how these lies were designed to rob me of joy and peace. Satan doesn't want me spending time with Him, being strengthen by His love and being held in my weakness by our fellowship.<br />
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My life was greatly blessed by my local church too. I joined a small group that has been a family to me in a foreign land. But they gave me more than camaraderie and companionship. They challenged me spiritually. They challenged me to do more for Christ, more time in His Word, more time in prayer, more time spreading the gospel. I also joined a Bible study. Oh, waking early on Sundays to get there in time was no longer difficult. The thirst I had for the truth and life I was receiving in my Bible study had me up and strengthened. We spent three months just studying the book of Ephesians, breaking it down verse by verse. It was amazing!<br />
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The more these things were happening in my life, the less earthly desires I had. I had no need for bigger homes or bigger vacations. I had no need for better looks or better behavior. I had no need to be a perfect mom or a perfect wife. I had no need to wallow in self-pity or in identifying as a cancer patient. I had no need to commiserate on my immigrant status or our financial status. These things still haunt me and are still part of my day to day, but they just hold less and less power on me and how I feel. Like the genius Jon Foreman put it so eloquently:<br />
"I wanna be rich in memories, not money,<br />
Our love is our inheritance, honey<br />
Our inheritance, honey."<br />
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And so, I hope next year I am able to post more here. I hope I can keep sharing my life with you, with it's ups and lows, with it's good times and bad times, with it's lessons and truths found. I hope I get to write more of what it's like to walk close to God and closer to His truth and His Word and His people. I hope it continues to transform me and mold me and I can remember. Don't forget to remember. And if you tend to forget, put it down in writing, in pictures, in drawings, in whatever form you can make yourself remember. Remember His goodness in the first years of marriage, or His goodness in the early childhood days of your children, remember His goodness in the teenage years and the empty nesting years. remember his goodness when you were single and when you had all your family with you for Christmas. Don't forget. Don't forget it comes from Him.<br />
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So, my dear friend Laura says she wants to capture the wonder of her children's childhood through the most amazing pictures. For this, she carries her very heavy camera around. Now, I'm not as talented as she is, but I've been trying to take the camera more places. Here are a few shots from this past week:<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We baked many christmas cookies and a christmas sugar cookie house (no gingerbread this time), but I didn't take pics of it with my cam.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">She didn't want to eat her pink cookie!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvv9Faq5i8n76ss-bCl0_Yeo3QLZ7oSBmvblanx-Yymae7vjsbH9yK7b7S4ntCkbYAs3-45BcMhgOdwqgVUMTz8cmqeOb1t1QQXhElSpH6z1qIt5oJMP5MALl59YKXZ-emlGbuNNqlSAI/s1600/IMG_2120.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvv9Faq5i8n76ss-bCl0_Yeo3QLZ7oSBmvblanx-Yymae7vjsbH9yK7b7S4ntCkbYAs3-45BcMhgOdwqgVUMTz8cmqeOb1t1QQXhElSpH6z1qIt5oJMP5MALl59YKXZ-emlGbuNNqlSAI/s640/IMG_2120.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Isn't she the most gorgeous grandma ever??!!!!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOkEkHAIcUpedkVYABvhEC_TFJD31QIrilP3s19SvROZszbgApZQsJcwMMSuCUPZjbgivMGc1nTQXaBiGB_AIWX2uez0smZXs7lwHD1cnej2bWQlwMSTqnkLcjDoiu6He6YXJEkUhp95o/s1600/IMG_2147.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1066" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOkEkHAIcUpedkVYABvhEC_TFJD31QIrilP3s19SvROZszbgApZQsJcwMMSuCUPZjbgivMGc1nTQXaBiGB_AIWX2uez0smZXs7lwHD1cnej2bWQlwMSTqnkLcjDoiu6He6YXJEkUhp95o/s640/IMG_2147.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Those sparkling eyes!!!!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlwyh4xzujZ_wEdn6RVEU1AbMkglO7yuIw4J5V6mEM5TGwRfxnzEsI04XO4QkF0AG4gE76b4JrUA5dHCS9wqf0ZM_1xjSTYlqhyRYiyu4BGI6M1ijb4YvqG4O-zlwyqBMkS5q4FKzc67M/s1600/IMG_2175.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1066" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlwyh4xzujZ_wEdn6RVEU1AbMkglO7yuIw4J5V6mEM5TGwRfxnzEsI04XO4QkF0AG4gE76b4JrUA5dHCS9wqf0ZM_1xjSTYlqhyRYiyu4BGI6M1ijb4YvqG4O-zlwyqBMkS5q4FKzc67M/s640/IMG_2175.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My sweet girl!</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdD4HlONb9EEKJICUYQqVqZGPOkLuxKXCnlBaxZ0Lj1vAn_kPgw_02H1hyphenhyphenOD7Y4gi0BVFBHPoH1LTHjqfb6YTQuSucdiR6e17DqluVvh1V0FFdtRCaNwzkdNLvxVqW8uFNWGAB-_daGOM/s1600/IMG_2245.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1066" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdD4HlONb9EEKJICUYQqVqZGPOkLuxKXCnlBaxZ0Lj1vAn_kPgw_02H1hyphenhyphenOD7Y4gi0BVFBHPoH1LTHjqfb6YTQuSucdiR6e17DqluVvh1V0FFdtRCaNwzkdNLvxVqW8uFNWGAB-_daGOM/s640/IMG_2245.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4ZMXGBUUNS599qTEsKnDQyI8qZHONs0wQ1e1i60L1EftpbSCC7QVviF-ppOYuadzXjkfwwWPZjfw9yhS7C3bl_BvgZnLUlPc0ZbsBxvALLXy_Rllg5x8zy93blnqDRAZVj0ikcLbpZ64/s1600/IMG_2253.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1066" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4ZMXGBUUNS599qTEsKnDQyI8qZHONs0wQ1e1i60L1EftpbSCC7QVviF-ppOYuadzXjkfwwWPZjfw9yhS7C3bl_BvgZnLUlPc0ZbsBxvALLXy_Rllg5x8zy93blnqDRAZVj0ikcLbpZ64/s640/IMG_2253.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">Who is loving the blue tree? </span></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVXTWaIQsVONWK0XfxJHB8twfwIaXh1J5_Slz7x0P9BHIHPIRee799vsJrjbZs2SyAO9ZTzH9TWi5NCuOUDAtGaeCQpb1SCRyBeEWdoKjxAclS9XjTK3Pz9rQvrevx9E3en-fWf9e_4g8/s1600/IMG_2254.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /><img border="0" data-original-height="1066" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVXTWaIQsVONWK0XfxJHB8twfwIaXh1J5_Slz7x0P9BHIHPIRee799vsJrjbZs2SyAO9ZTzH9TWi5NCuOUDAtGaeCQpb1SCRyBeEWdoKjxAclS9XjTK3Pz9rQvrevx9E3en-fWf9e_4g8/s640/IMG_2254.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyDcinJ2LyeiHwgp_9-esvj2hZeKbpDVkZhx2dAbusyctkY4mNMaFbgnjaCcWv4WIsvA3W9NDyCM2gl9DzKpeSXq74zRxleOf6CuCpEfwmCl2P0YUS5aSNilCab3jh2H9GvppjcbouiUA/s1600/IMG_2304.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1066" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyDcinJ2LyeiHwgp_9-esvj2hZeKbpDVkZhx2dAbusyctkY4mNMaFbgnjaCcWv4WIsvA3W9NDyCM2gl9DzKpeSXq74zRxleOf6CuCpEfwmCl2P0YUS5aSNilCab3jh2H9GvppjcbouiUA/s640/IMG_2304.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">Of course, she thinks the pink tree is hers. </span></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7TBRBPGQ1DIGvVDmx416LV5VFe3OHUdH0XioeuFPqVHZHPGzOP1Lqsvt33M_dJaCTi_y9mxnFGWBtVILEGe69unVCkROgzy1haz2MP6T9cZd5JmHqRZGVAfe8mzHoHDVzJH6T4YX3sSc/s1600/IMG_2306.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /><img border="0" data-original-height="1066" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7TBRBPGQ1DIGvVDmx416LV5VFe3OHUdH0XioeuFPqVHZHPGzOP1Lqsvt33M_dJaCTi_y9mxnFGWBtVILEGe69unVCkROgzy1haz2MP6T9cZd5JmHqRZGVAfe8mzHoHDVzJH6T4YX3sSc/s640/IMG_2306.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzxWU-l89-k-3HDYCKkTh7kE_kPUXTKLY4eU-ir4IQSD6pP7cCJhrLV50z0zTYrLyhD-xzk-Hz5qK1h7w2bQKM-H8r40HMlA6vbA-GvaJ_bgvBRY8M5yEOgOVXgzIFGeX1O_QK_O_4L0s/s1600/IMG_2325.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzxWU-l89-k-3HDYCKkTh7kE_kPUXTKLY4eU-ir4IQSD6pP7cCJhrLV50z0zTYrLyhD-xzk-Hz5qK1h7w2bQKM-H8r40HMlA6vbA-GvaJ_bgvBRY8M5yEOgOVXgzIFGeX1O_QK_O_4L0s/s640/IMG_2325.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Poor Bentley better watch it! The labs only wanted to say hi though, no rough-housing.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxLEnjB0gjWfpSNdzL-1Oz6ajH1huGqszhvz1MtI4j8jcSYBPvGOihG8l-L8h5Yp_bIkePD-Df9OFRaJSXwBOKHhmrPt25E0KTPBP6qzi9wI3Ff_v3T8NMi8Z68ltVHifqKTqmZGmTQvQ/s1600/IMG_2336.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxLEnjB0gjWfpSNdzL-1Oz6ajH1huGqszhvz1MtI4j8jcSYBPvGOihG8l-L8h5Yp_bIkePD-Df9OFRaJSXwBOKHhmrPt25E0KTPBP6qzi9wI3Ff_v3T8NMi8Z68ltVHifqKTqmZGmTQvQ/s640/IMG_2336.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">These girls live the high life!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizTOxaBE-81ytish79tUHTkMRhf3AjoZnTUnLirpqHsSE6wUMCIBEAYZr2mQ3NgFlGxaH_7mruFaWSkRu26-TLsm_73RPE9EJBjyJg4U6aJGALIaTY5n7TzKRbWmrHYJP1R82W95vO6dA/s1600/IMG_2340.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizTOxaBE-81ytish79tUHTkMRhf3AjoZnTUnLirpqHsSE6wUMCIBEAYZr2mQ3NgFlGxaH_7mruFaWSkRu26-TLsm_73RPE9EJBjyJg4U6aJGALIaTY5n7TzKRbWmrHYJP1R82W95vO6dA/s640/IMG_2340.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Why does her smile take my breath away more than that view?</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguBlG8B6EItGF8QeL8uYn7ewEjCY9HFIha2BtN_WopbHYM9BqePWs33QvrbQzZ9z1e9df4QDloO8rXMzNVUgAY1zUt7PZn20lo_7GcWZMflzmyZP3_7P0xKX29ZNXxjQagL5mKL1bYIJs/s1600/IMG_2341.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguBlG8B6EItGF8QeL8uYn7ewEjCY9HFIha2BtN_WopbHYM9BqePWs33QvrbQzZ9z1e9df4QDloO8rXMzNVUgAY1zUt7PZn20lo_7GcWZMflzmyZP3_7P0xKX29ZNXxjQagL5mKL1bYIJs/s640/IMG_2341.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLZ0j9eYFuV-8Yd_f8emj3Rhh9igw0boRMnxR6c8sLdb4ffEx3IxhD0BdjoZ9nrE49qYB5iPoDBCslpSg6am2i7cd4h8DIDGAagGmfHouz67ZBwknrf9wmK7g9uvIOlWqSAvWOBxkH4Tw/s1600/IMG_2357.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1066" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLZ0j9eYFuV-8Yd_f8emj3Rhh9igw0boRMnxR6c8sLdb4ffEx3IxhD0BdjoZ9nrE49qYB5iPoDBCslpSg6am2i7cd4h8DIDGAagGmfHouz67ZBwknrf9wmK7g9uvIOlWqSAvWOBxkH4Tw/s640/IMG_2357.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxCSnzpnleofrzloEltBKU6QfCtdCpKe1EnL-2TI5NVHvVRpUsXLvH2eL1eA63aTUng8Nm2I8pNHMmbikR_jxvia4A6lhJbDVu_ECjOSR0FzKo6gJr4mdKG-WE5id72hKfK7pmieseHK4/s1600/IMG_2364.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1066" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxCSnzpnleofrzloEltBKU6QfCtdCpKe1EnL-2TI5NVHvVRpUsXLvH2eL1eA63aTUng8Nm2I8pNHMmbikR_jxvia4A6lhJbDVu_ECjOSR0FzKo6gJr4mdKG-WE5id72hKfK7pmieseHK4/s640/IMG_2364.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtqmsQthb86dcL3FfhEkhXiApTQHDow1wGC8lxBHR0zDeiLny2mnjWcAWclyjp6uSt6x8lsHn0efYV0e4rbafx9Z0rXEFwgggIi1lZoq-BoWTSEgZpb1xhgoRG2xAfTH5ni7Cjf1J-KdY/s1600/IMG_2382.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1066" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtqmsQthb86dcL3FfhEkhXiApTQHDow1wGC8lxBHR0zDeiLny2mnjWcAWclyjp6uSt6x8lsHn0efYV0e4rbafx9Z0rXEFwgggIi1lZoq-BoWTSEgZpb1xhgoRG2xAfTH5ni7Cjf1J-KdY/s640/IMG_2382.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tio Boris and Tia Yami. We love them so much!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGqJ7d6x-XPLcK5Csa6ypt5XpzGR4k7-AthUUPTGoSlqi-_iOev12GyKXeTq7vY5Qrcbx5JWdnHtjA6M_y3_i3CuJzjV25GrT_IQTp8Au2_iHmJmOvfObFJ1IlpUl5c7_wmsBVakE86Fw/s1600/IMG_2389.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1066" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGqJ7d6x-XPLcK5Csa6ypt5XpzGR4k7-AthUUPTGoSlqi-_iOev12GyKXeTq7vY5Qrcbx5JWdnHtjA6M_y3_i3CuJzjV25GrT_IQTp8Au2_iHmJmOvfObFJ1IlpUl5c7_wmsBVakE86Fw/s640/IMG_2389.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My greatest blessing!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgCZ50I8Wm__k_6PXrz5q0FYnjXuA7YKVzNlcP26fK9nnwRF7nluJ751Jm9EI12XgE02UmKcfbp0leBJAk2dPomfkUtHwurLu_mOjpr2Sub0G48Vj446KUK3Dz5CukLnyensPeAJAKZc0/s1600/IMG_2395.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1066" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgCZ50I8Wm__k_6PXrz5q0FYnjXuA7YKVzNlcP26fK9nnwRF7nluJ751Jm9EI12XgE02UmKcfbp0leBJAk2dPomfkUtHwurLu_mOjpr2Sub0G48Vj446KUK3Dz5CukLnyensPeAJAKZc0/s640/IMG_2395.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tio Boris was a huge hit with the girls! They miss their grandfathers back in Honduras!</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT4otgtV3Xa5v__48IEENn4KODesSjAO73z8ONcDywwTK-AHOW-j_vSdE7OkEmh3dB6RZ5L2o6ym0vAREQDrIGA8wWs8Haj4S6u5sGbGYXqOk6DzdVF0msGqI2k3WYp4LZrSRtpnNCjpk/s1600/IMG_2398.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1066" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT4otgtV3Xa5v__48IEENn4KODesSjAO73z8ONcDywwTK-AHOW-j_vSdE7OkEmh3dB6RZ5L2o6ym0vAREQDrIGA8wWs8Haj4S6u5sGbGYXqOk6DzdVF0msGqI2k3WYp4LZrSRtpnNCjpk/s640/IMG_2398.JPG" width="426" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9ArlX2yEHqXICwK3CKk2As9tlbdsyWFSC2jSUWiDsrF613WMAhNWAOY2Z8a6KGDXTQP9FmaCGYFqN5iKmpcbxF_JVsb2f8ktaQ4gF9Hq669fML_Qi-47gMze64jPnUp6TclLg1_CMyhI/s1600/IMG_2413.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9ArlX2yEHqXICwK3CKk2As9tlbdsyWFSC2jSUWiDsrF613WMAhNWAOY2Z8a6KGDXTQP9FmaCGYFqN5iKmpcbxF_JVsb2f8ktaQ4gF9Hq669fML_Qi-47gMze64jPnUp6TclLg1_CMyhI/s640/IMG_2413.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My Panamanian Family. Drakonivich is standing in for Tia Lilly who refuses pics.<br />
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I was telling my mom how Rodolfo and I both agreed 2019 had been in our top 3 for "worst years of our life." I mean, we took a beating this year. A serious, hard, soul-breaking beating. It was not as intense as 2016 were we battled cancer, and it contended with 2017 for second spot where we also face terrible financial insecurity, new country, my long, hard battle with PTSD with some depression and anxiety. I mean, this year we survived by the tip of our fingernails, but my mom asked me to name all the good things that also happened this year, and it made me realize it wasn't all bad. In fact, the more I listed things, the more ashamed I felt of naming 2019 in our top three. I don't think that ranking was a wise thing to make at all considering that even in 2016 where I lost so much, I gained so much in friends, support, family, provision, and LIFE!<br />
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<span style="font-size: 12.8px;">So here is our year in review:</span></div>
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*The girls took the swim course and made it to the swim team. They spent the year training from Tuesday to Friday, making friends and having lots of fun.<br />
*We got our homeschool books to start first grade with Emmalee and Kindergarten with Kaylee having a more formal school year and feeling their education was headed in a good direction.<br />
*I quit my job. This was a tough decision because my boss was extremely kind to me and I didn't want to disappoint him. But quitting freed up the space to work on my mental health that sorely needing mending and work on my eating habits and yoga.<br />
*Mom got really into yoga. And it has made such a difference in how I feel.<br />
*Mom got into keto. I wished I would have kept doing keto longer and I definitely plan on starting as soon as possible this year. It made a difference in how I felt, how I looked, my energy levels.<br />
*Dad finished his masters. There were times during the year where we felt this would be impossible, whether because we didn't know how much longer we could keep up paying for it or if he was going to pass that last class that was grueling. But, he graduated!!!<br />
*We got our legal status. How did we manage to pay for all the paperwork and fees to get our legal papers can only be explained with divine intervention. The fees were WAY beyond our means, and somehow we managed without needing to ask for a loan. Praise the Lord. Do you know what it's like to have peace when you see a policeman? Agh! It's heaven!<br />
*The hubs had employment year long. It wasn't as we expected. It was harder than ever before. It was less paid than ever before. But for an illegal migrant to have had provision year long and managed to feed us and provide for our needs even after I had to quit my job for health needs was amazing.<br />
*The hubs got to back to the gym. We found this gym that had a $20 membership fee and we felt that the hubs needed a place to blow off steam and recharge his energy and work on his health. It has been a huge blessing.<br />
*The girls started piano lessons. We found this free online piano academy called Hoffman academy, that along with what mommy learned being in piano lessons, has been enough for the girls' musical training.<br />
*The girls joined the gym team. This was so hard I thought it would never happened. We could by no means afford this. Mommy got a standing mixer as a gift from Tia Yami to start my baking business. I started selling cupcakes and cakes and have been able to afford the girls gym classes without being a burden to dad. Here's hoping I can continue doing so in 2020. The girls love it and dream of becoming ninjas.<br />
*Lila, like my girls call my mom, finished her certification too. Only she goes back to school when she is as accomplished as she is. She is such an inspiration.<br />
*We joined a small group and we joined a bible study group. I can't keep writing how huge a blessing these two where.<br />
*Our pup Bentley turned one! I mean, that pup nearly broke us. I would reconsider having a puppy in such a small apartment in hindsight. But she has been such a blessing. Emmalee especially loves her pup. Kaylee has learned kindness caring for her. And mommy has found a relief from her dreaded night pain. See, Bentley sleeps right over my feet, helping them sooth when they hurt from my neuropathy. I love her and pray to be kinder to her. Mommy was not very kind when she came home to bitten books and furniture. After losing Alee, having Bentley turn one seemed like an important milestone.<br />
*We had two vacations courtesy of Lila. These where huge soul-refreshers and such wonderful family time.<br />
*We had Abuelo Edgardo, Tia Sara, Tio Tito, Bram and Pilar stay with us and visit.<br />
*Yuju, as the girls call Abuelo German, seemed like a goner. He spent 3 weeks in the ICU. He pulled through and spent a Christmas at home on his feet.<br />
*My family in Honduras keeps strong. Dad lost his cafeteria and Abuelo Rodolfo struggled with money too, but their families kept together and strong. Tio Luis finished highschool and started college, Tio Javier finished college and tio Kris stepped up as his dad's greatest support. Abuela Martha is healthy and going around town with friends. We miss them terribly.<br />
*Tio Ditto and Tia Lia got their permanent residency in Canada and are very happy in their jobs and life there. They got to spend Christmas with Lila.<br />
*Tia Jenny had tried for many years to get pregnant. She had started the year crying because her treatment had failed. And a few weeks later, she was pregnant with twins. She had two healthy twin boys who are today 3 months old.<br />
*Emmalee had her first cantata with mommy. It was such an amazing thing to see her up there.<br />
*Dad got a PS4. This seems so frivolous, but after we had burglars take our PS3 at the beginning of 2018 I had felt so violated and deprived from something I knew my husband had long waited for too. We waited long again but through friends and family sending him graduation gifts he got to get his long awaited fifa time.<br />
*Mom lost 40 lbs. I thought this was impossible, but now I'm going for those remaining 15!<br />
*Mom got over her PTSD. This was only possible with my time with God. All the praise to Him because He is capable of bringing me out of the pit of darkness and making me stand in the rock that is Him even when the world felt shaky and falling over.<br />
This definitely shows 2019 was actually a year of blessing.<br />
<br />
<br />
Steve, our pastor, asked us to name a few things we needed to stop doing or start doing this coming year. Here are mine<br />
+stop going to bed late, start raising up earlier<br />
+stop eating bad food, start eating good food. If you think this one is just for looks, you are sorely mistaken. Food is medicine. Food is fuel. Fuel yourself properly to properly serve others. This will be my year's motto.<br />
+stop wasting time, start investing it in your relationships, especially in knowing and loving the Lord.<br />
+stop using bad words, start seeing your mouth as a blessing fountain,<br />
<br />
They sound simple and easy. Well, here's to sticking to it to being faithful in the little to be faithful in the more.<br />
Happy new years, family and friends around! Make this your best year by making it your closest one to God.</div>
Linda Zelayahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02842164145067391301noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6259200682875369030.post-12613817524008347242019-09-25T17:21:00.000-07:002019-09-26T07:08:09.208-07:00Width, Length, Depth, and Height of God´s Love? <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4PmkVxn5vEG9eTqtPhAPgDgzV0j07BWVcwSFqK8IQJDwqX0Xuksfv7dUXmZzBnnnf_IL1v8kGmmFeESknHwfsdxiKO1W47AAD6K87z1AcoalYr6vxGkiC1ZGN5Niavvnbf7O1B9az_EQ/s1600/IMG_4775.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4PmkVxn5vEG9eTqtPhAPgDgzV0j07BWVcwSFqK8IQJDwqX0Xuksfv7dUXmZzBnnnf_IL1v8kGmmFeESknHwfsdxiKO1W47AAD6K87z1AcoalYr6vxGkiC1ZGN5Niavvnbf7O1B9az_EQ/s640/IMG_4775.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
Before I share this Bible study with you there is something you need to know:<br />
The pastor who was leading this Bible study, my dear Pastor Bob Gunn, has terminal cancer.<br />
Why do you need to know this?-you might ask.<br />
Well, because what I am about to share, which he shared to me, only makes sense when you comprehend it through the Spirit. It is a prayer that Paul the apostle made and he too understood this can only make sense through the Spirit. To human knowledge this sounds insane.<br />
But other than sounding insane, it might sound insensitive coming from the wrong person.<br />
If you hear what I am about to share with you from someone who has never experienced true grief and sorrow, it doesn't quite have the same impact.<br />
So it is important for me that you know that Bod has terminal cancer.<br />
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<br />
<span class="text Eph-3-14" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">Ephesians 3</span></span><br />
<span class="text Eph-3-14" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">14 </span>For this reason I bow my knees to the <span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NKJV-29266R" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NKJV-29266R" title="See cross-reference R">R</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span>Father <span class="footnote" data-fn="#fen-NKJV-29266f" data-link="[<a href="#fen-NKJV-29266f" title="See footnote f">f</a>]" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ephesians+3&version=NKJV#fen-NKJV-29266f" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #b34b2c; cursor: pointer; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: top;" title="See footnote f">f</a>]</span>of our Lord Jesus Christ, </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"></span><span class="text Eph-3-15" id="en-NKJV-29267" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">15 </span>from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"></span><span class="text Eph-3-16" id="en-NKJV-29268" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">16 </span>that He would grant you, <span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NKJV-29268S" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NKJV-29268S" title="See cross-reference S">S</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span>according to the riches of His glory, <span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NKJV-29268T" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NKJV-29268T" title="See cross-reference T">T</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span>to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in <span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NKJV-29268U" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NKJV-29268U" title="See cross-reference U">U</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span>the inner man, </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"></span><span class="text Eph-3-17" id="en-NKJV-29269" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">17 </span><span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NKJV-29269V" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NKJV-29269V" title="See cross-reference V">V</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span>that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, <span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NKJV-29269W" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NKJV-29269W" title="See cross-reference W">W</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span>being rooted and grounded in love, </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"></span><span class="text Eph-3-18" id="en-NKJV-29270" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">18 </span><span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NKJV-29270X" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NKJV-29270X" title="See cross-reference X">X</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span>may be able to comprehend with all the saints <span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NKJV-29270Y" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NKJV-29270Y" title="See cross-reference Y">Y</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span>what <i style="box-sizing: border-box;">is</i> the width and length and depth and height— </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"></span><span class="text Eph-3-19" id="en-NKJV-29271" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">19 </span>to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled <span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NKJV-29271Z" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NKJV-29271Z" title="See cross-reference Z">Z</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span>with all the fullness of God. </span><span class="text Eph-3-20" id="en-NKJV-29272" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">20 </span>Now <span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NKJV-29272AA" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NKJV-29272AA" title="See cross-reference AA">AA</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span>to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly <span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NKJV-29272AB" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NKJV-29272AB" title="See cross-reference AB">AB</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span>above all that we ask or think, <span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NKJV-29272AC" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NKJV-29272AC" title="See cross-reference AC">AC</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span>according to the power that works in us, </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"></span><span class="text Eph-3-21" id="en-NKJV-29273" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">21 </span><span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NKJV-29273AD" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NKJV-29273AD" title="See cross-reference AD">AD</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span>to Him <i style="box-sizing: border-box;">be</i> glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.</span><br />
<span class="text Eph-3-19" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><br /></span>
The last portion of this Bible excerpt is widely quoted and misused. "To Him Who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think...." What do Christians think this means? What do you think it means? Do you read that verse out of context and take it to mean that God will grant you whatever you ask of Him just because He can grant it?<br />
<br />
It is interesting that Pastor Bob started out asking: "When we pray for others, do we ask for external needs (financial problems, health problems, relational problems) or do we pray for others' spiritual needs (desire to seek His Word and obey, increased faith, a life that is intentionally seeking to glorify Him, and work for the Kingdom). I even ventured to remark: "What do we ask others to pray for for us?" Do we tell others to pray for a deeper relationship with Christ as much as we ask for prayers for our external needs? Paul is praying for our relationship with Christ. His encouragement to have might in our inner man through the Spirit is not so that we can be prosperous, get that job we've been praying for, get that relationship we've been longing for, get that raise, or health, or any other thing we seek on this side of life. He is asking that Christ may dwell in our hearts through faith.<br />
<br />
First, Bob made sure we understood the difference Paul is trying to make by saying inner man. You see, two man of equal physical capacity can go for a run, but the one who stops first will stop not because of a difference in their physical strength but a difference in their will (inner man). Paul had extensive experience in how what happens in this life can break your will when it is not rooted and grounded in love. This is the reason we have known many Christians who have walked away from the faith when the road got tough. They didn't have deep roots to keep them steady in the storm. They are a tree that has toppled over when the soil was soft.<br />
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What is Paul's prayer for having deep roots? Comprehend the width, length, depth, and height of the love of Christ. Here is were it gets really interesting. You see, God loves you too much to leave you as He found you. C.S. Lewis made this statement in <i>The Problem with Pain</i>. He even illustrated it this way: you get a new dog. This dog is not house broken. He doesn't like that you are training him. An older dog would tell him he gets in return a dry, warm home, a full belly each day, love and affection and safety. He would tell the young dog it is all worth it, but this dog can't see the benefits while its being house broken. He sees it as mean. The same things happens to a child. His parents say no. They explain to him that the "no" is to keep him from harms way. He perceives this as mean. As humans, we have experienced what a dog that is not house broken will do to a home. If the dog can't be house broken, he will not remain in the home. We have all experienced what a child who is used to getting his way and has no limits set looks and acts like. You don't want to be near a child like that and he has a very hard time making friends. Why, then, is it so hard for us to perceive the hard things in our life as coming from a loving God?<br />
<br />
When we try to picture the width, length, depth, and height of God's love that Paul is praying we comprehend, we picture His love as "loving." We think of His goodness, His blessings toward us, His mercies and forgiveness, His love in Christ dying for us, taking us on as His children, preparing a home for us with Him, seating us next to Him, interceding for us, and making us free of sin. We don't think that His love also involves changing us into a new creature and that requires breaking us first. We don't think that what He wants for us is holiness and He will not leave us as He found us and that house breaking will be painful. Sometimes, it will be VERY painful.<br />
<br />
This is why it was important for me that you knew Bob had cancer. He is someone, who only through faith because otherwise this is bonkers, that can say that his condition comes from a loving God still changing him, breaking him in love so that he may be more like Christ.<br />
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As Bob was sharing the Bible study, I started seeing that last portion in a different light. Exceedingly abundantly above all we ask or think.... What could that be for me? My personal answer: to be like Christ. I could never ask or imagine being like Christ. I feel like that is what Paul would have wanted us to think of when telling us of this power that <i>works in us</i>.<br />
<br />
Could we see a loved one in need or grief and say to them: "That is God's love in action!"? It would indeed be crazy talk if we didn't understand any of this through faith.<br />
I heard this while battling a strong bout of depression.<br />
I had been downcast lower than I could comprehend why. Is it clinical depression? Is there something wrong in my brain? It is my cancer coming back which is why my body feels so weak and aching?<br />
Can I openly share to you, whoever you are out there that reads this, that I've battled suicide thoughts?<br />
And in the grief-stricken state I was, hearing Bob say this dark desert is God's love in action somehow lifted my Spirit. I write Spirit with a capital "s" because it was not my own spirit that was strengthened. It was my <i>inner man through His Spirit</i>, just like Paul prayed.<br />
<br />
Bob closed the study by reminding us that the prayer said "comprehend with all the saints" and "to Him be the glory in the Church." And that is exactly what he did for me in that moment. He reminded me that the width, length, depth, and height of God's love encompasses so much more than I usually think. That in His love He is not taking my desert away as I've asked Him to (and which He could very easily take away), but He is with me there, changing me, transforming me, and making me (even beyond what I could ask or imagine) more like Him. And it was His church and His saints who strengthen that faith and love, as Bod did for me and we do for him.<br />
<br />
I have a very dear friend in a very deep, dark desert. I'm hurting with her and for her. I ventured to tell her: "All this is God's love in action. It is part of the width, length, depth, and height of His love. His love is too big for this to be out of its reach." She was strengthen by this and even shared it with those who are hurting along her. My brothers and sisters, this is crazy talk to the world. I pray you are strengthened like Paul strengthened Bob, Bob strengthen me, and I hope to strengthen you, all inside the width, length, depth, and height of His love.<br />
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Linda Zelayahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02842164145067391301noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6259200682875369030.post-39863525541733154232019-08-10T18:59:00.000-07:002019-09-26T07:23:27.160-07:00On believing in God´s promises<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<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/AVvXsEgBilHcfaG__mbXXg3bCH2_X5uX6QEmIxZfHf57Dp4JLm8OMOYwkNKe6mXptO_wXzJVQLJrZvqGrvkJttbZKbOqG2bquEu-eY1N79PL5EuC79OFEOYaf6gQTEYQ2mR5EjL0jLXO_9hqGO0/s1600/3eaef2a0-e75a-4338-9c1c-7d7a18bc79e7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBilHcfaG__mbXXg3bCH2_X5uX6QEmIxZfHf57Dp4JLm8OMOYwkNKe6mXptO_wXzJVQLJrZvqGrvkJttbZKbOqG2bquEu-eY1N79PL5EuC79OFEOYaf6gQTEYQ2mR5EjL0jLXO_9hqGO0/s640/3eaef2a0-e75a-4338-9c1c-7d7a18bc79e7.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is me enjoying a bike ride for the first time in more than a decade, feeling grateful I have an able body that can still do things like this. Feeling happy to be alive while also realizing I had fears holding me back.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br />
I've been grappling with a fear that feels like an oxymoron. I am afraid of feeling happy. It sounds ridiculous and it feels even more ridiculous, but there I was realizing I am afraid to let myself feel happy. I am too afraid it could all be taken away again, suddenly and without warning. I fear that feeling happy would make my cancer come back and make me feel the irony of feeling joy when I was a ticking bomb. Can I let go of this fear? Can I live, like Thessalonians says "rejoicing always"? My mom said the answer to that was in believing God's promises.<br />
<br />
What does it mean to believe in God's promises?<br />
I asked God that recently in our time together.<br />
I told God how a pastor once gave a new year's sermon saying "The best is yet to come."<br />
And I feel this is something that is tossed around a lot in many churches by many pastors.<br />
Just recall how many times you have heard Jeremiah 29:11 in a sermon promising what God has for you are "better times."<br />
Now, before I write what the Lord revealed to me in these talks we've been having lately, I want to tell you what I thought all of those sermons and tossing of verses meant to me.<br />
I thought it meant prosperity.<br />
It astounds me to realize there was a bit of "prosperity gospel" beliefs in me because I am very outspoken against it; but lo and behold, it got into my system too.<br />
Jeremiah 29:11<br />
"For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."<br />
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I've been despondent lately. My social media is covered with posts on the 3 mass shootings that recently took place in the US; covered with news, articles, pictures, videos of calls to rise against the Honduran President and the political unrest and economical stress the country is undergoing; covered in posts and videos of children crying because their parents whose only crime was being born in a different country have been jailed leaving them homeless and parentless.<br />
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I recently came across some studies that would indicate that I suffer from an empathic illness. Empathetic is when your heart goes out to someone in pain. Empath is when you physically feel another's pain in your own body. I don't know if I am indeed an empath, but these images and videos in my feed have left me housebound, heartbroken, and crying in my bathroom sobbing for hours multiple times feeling too sick to sleep or even eat.<br />
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I remember the first time I questioned God's promises. My friend Nancy died when she was 18 years old of a rare disease. One day she called her parents to pick her up at college because she had flu symptoms, and the next day doctors were flooding her hospital room trying to stop whatever it was that was claiming her life quickly and irreversibly. To this day, I still don't know what she died from, but I remember asking God "But she honored her father and her mother. What happened to long life on earth?" I was only 19 at the time and I remember bringing it up with some Christian friends and causing such polarized answers that I never spoke of it again. These questions came back when Giana and Kinsley died. Kinsley was 4 years old. How could she have possibly dishonored her parents to merit such a short life on earth? And Giana was the epitome of a good, honoring daughter at her tender 14 years of age. What happened? Where was the promise of a long life?<br />
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It became clear to me that I was diving into hard questions that I was ill equip to answer and even the pastors who I had asked the question "Why do kids die of cancer?" answered with a refreshingly "I don't know." I had to go with the words of the Wise man: "There is a time for everything. Time to live, time to die." The Bible has expressed that our days are numbered from our conception. Why, then, add this promise that is not given to everyone? I thought it was time to dig deeper into these questions.<br />
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Isaiah 57:1-2<br />
“The righteous perishes, And no man takes it to heart; Merciful men are taken away, While no one considers That the righteous is taken away from evil. He shall enter into peace; they shall rest in their beds, Each one walking in his uprightness."<br />
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Such is the gap between our thoughts and God's that we would never consider death as "taken away from evil, resting in our beds with our uprightness intact." </div>
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It is clear that those who die young don't die young because they were necessarily breaking the first commandment with a promise. If we need a better example that this is true, remember that Christ died young, at the very same age I am today of 33 years old. Was there a translation issue? Was this promise meant for the people of Israel, and in a broad sense instead of an individual sense? </div>
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This left me feeling uneasy about God's promises, to tell you the truth. My mom is always telling me to grab a hold of God's promises and claim them as my own. I don't subscribe to the belief that things become true because you "claim" them, but there was a truth in resting in God's promises that was changing the way my mother lived. The change in her heart was visible in her face, her way of talking, walking, thinking. She had been transformed into an immovable creature firmly planted in the Rock that was her foundation: Jesus. He was His endless fountain of joy and peace and this was evident in her life by those around her.<br />
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So, in my time alone with God I asked: "what are these promises I must grab a hold of to give this life purpose and meaning? How do I make sense of continuing in this broken, unfair, unjust, evil-filled world?"<br />
I went back to the first promise from God that I grab a hold of back when I was 7 years old.<br />
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Psalm 27:10<br />
Though my father and my mother abandoned me, the LORD gathers me up.<br />
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This promise was one of the founding stones of my faith as a little girl who felt fatherless because her earthly father had moved out of her house and would later marry another woman who was not her mother and start a new family. My father was always a part of my life, but it would never be the same. I had a hole and that hole was filled with the promise of God who would be my heavenly Father and would never leave me.<br />
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And then I started to recall the promises from God that had held me through all my life. And while some meant an earthly response:<br />
*Strength for the weak<br />
Isaiah 40:31<br />
but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.<br />
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*Financial promises<br />
Proverbs 13:11<br />
Dishonest money dwindles away, but whoever gathers money little by little makes it grow.<br />
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*Parenting promises<br />
Proverbs 22:6<br />
Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it.<br />
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*God's purpose promises<br />
Romans 8:28<br />
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.<br />
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*Peace and petition promises<br />
Philippians 4:6-7<br />
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. <br />
7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.</div>
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*Provision and care promises<br />
Matthew 6:31-33<br />
31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ <br />
32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. <br />
33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.</div>
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None of those promises made living in this world any easier or bearable. In my despondency, I wrote to my dear friend Sue Powell seeking her counsel. " 'The best is yet to come' is all a lie", I said, "It all just gets worse and worse." This was her reply copied from her texts to me:</div>
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"When Corrie Ten Boom would say: 'The best is yet to come' while going through hell during the holocaust, she meant 'Being in the presence of the Father and Jesus in Heaven' not on this earth. She knew all too well what men were capable of doing...-But God! Revelations and Daniel clearly tell us that as this world gets worse as time goes by the closer His imminent return. That is our hope, sweetie! Keeping our eyes on Jesus who is still 'King of the world'. The truth that the 'Best is yet to come' has kept this old sheep 'looking up' through it all. I need to remember everyday 'Nothing takes our sovereign God by surprise.' Love and hope!"</div>
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I should add a parenthesis here that God's Word promises friends can be closer than a sibling. Oh, how comforting to have such friends in one's life. Close parenthesis.<br />
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As I spent more alone time with God, as His Spirit kept flooding my mind of His promises and how I had seen and lived His faithfulness in the hardest and darkest of times, as He showed me how He had been with me through the valley of shadow and death, I remembered the promises that give my life meaning, and probably the promises my mom and Sue live by:</div>
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Romans 8<br />
35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 36 As it is written:<br />
“For your sake we face death all day long;<br />
we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”<br />
37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers,39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.<br />
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Notice how little a long life on earth matters to Paul. And fortuitous enough, this was my friend Nancy's favorite Bible verse. </div>
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The promise that kept resounding in my heart was:<br />
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Matthew 28</div>
18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”<br />
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He would be with me to my very end. Did I need more? Should more be promised after receiving that? And without doing anything to deserve it and doing everything to not deserve it, was there anything more precious I could desire or look forward to? </div>
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Is the best yet to come?</div>
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With Jesus by my side, you better believe it.</div>
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Linda Zelayahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02842164145067391301noreply@blogger.com0